Here I am back in the land of the living after working my five 12 hour shifts. I had a very welcome rest day on Wednesday, although “rest day” is not how I would really describe it! This, I hasten to add, was all my own doing, but more about this later.
In my last blog, I was telling you that I had approached a couple of businesses with regard to some sponsorship. This was a big deal for me as I knew I had to explain to them about what I was doing and, more to the point, why I was doing it. This meant I had to tell them about my own struggle with a mental health problem. However, I knew I had to do it. To be honest, it was not as bad as I thought it would be. The first business I approached was a local bar/restaurant. I was well known to them as a patron as my wife and I eat there quite regularly. They were really interested in my story and said they would never have guessed what I have been through because I always seemed, for want of a better word, “normal”. This made me feel 10 feet tall as I was going there when I was at a very low point in my life. It just goes to show how powerful a tool the mind is as, at the time, I felt everyone knew there was something wrong with me because of the strange behaviour I thought I was exhibiting! Anyway, to my absolute delight they said they would help me in any way they could. The one thing they insisted on was they want to provide a venue for the gig I intend holding in 2016 just before I leave for Nepal. They have a restaurant in another part of Bristol and have put this at my disposal. I couldn’t believe how generous this was of them. One major item off my ‘wish list’!
One down, one to go! The other business was a veterinary practice my family and I have used for a long time, taking various pets there for treatment etc. In fact, we still go there on a regular basis with our beloved chihuahua, Mabel! We have spent so much time there that we are almost part of the furniture! I knew that Richard, the vet I wanted to see wouldn’t be there as he is a partner in the business and a very busy man so I spoke to the veterinary nurse. By the time I had finished explaining everything to her, she was quite emotional and again said she would never have guessed! She said he was away for a few days but she would speak to him when he got back. I feel reasonably optimistic that the outcome will be a positive one and, as I write, I am waiting to hear from him. So, watch this space. You will know as soon as I do, so keep your fingers crossed for me!
Back to Wednesday. I managed to get to bed at about 8.30 am after my nightshift. By 1.00 pm my wife Helen and I were in the city centre meeting up with friends for lunch! It was great to socialise for a few hours after working such long shifts. Not so long ago it would have been unthinkable for me to have so little sleep. I would have spent the whole day in bed feeling totally exhausted. I can’t believe how much of my life I have wasted because I was always feeling anxious over something or another. I feel I am now in control of my life! We went on to meet up with our friends Tony and Sian and while the girls went home to have a girly chat and get a meal ready, us boys went to a local boxing club. We had been talking for some time about wanting to take up boxing and decided that tonight was the night! We had a fab time, but it was such hard work! Apparently Tony could hardly move the next morning but I didn’t feel too bad, mostly because I knew when it was good to stop but he didn’t! We intend to go back next week. We are certainly gluttons for punishment!
On that note, I will leave you. More from me soon.