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.