Barefoot ramblings of a geek dad

I have an addiction to biscuits. Some people can open a packet of Hobnobs, have one and then put the rest away for another day. Even the dark chocolate ones. What is wrong with these people. Rachie, my amazing wife, will store treats in a cupboard for days and weeks (hidden from me). Nibbling on the odd biscuit when the fancy takes her. I, on the other hand, take considerable pride in my ability to transform a full packet of chocolate loveliness into nothing more than a crumpled wrapper in a single evening. Supported only by the steamy promise of a cup of tea. The truth is I simply can't help myself. The first biscuit tastes utterly perfect. There simply aren't the words in the English language to portray the impact that first bite has on my taste buds. My mouth is watering now at the very idea of it. The second biscuit tastes good and follows soon after. By the middle of the pack the enjoyment has largely gone though. Something deep in my lizar...

Last year I had a breakdown. It wasn’t big and dramatic. Only those very close to me even noticed. I was a high functioning breakdownee. Looking back it was always on the cards. Lots of dramas and change in recent years coupled with 20+ years of pushing myself to my limits in high stress jobs involving long hours of work and worry.  It all started very slowly. Sleepless nights, reducing energy and a loss of my passion for living. Somehow I just kind of lost my mojo. I remember riding my motorbike home one evening and thinking that I didn’t any longer care if I happened to fall off and hurt myself. It all seemed so normal at the time. I spoke to a doctor about it and he told me that reduced sleep was part of the ageing process and could have a profound effect on motivation. Looking back that was very poor advice. It all came into clear focus when I quit my job. A job I love but one with enormous demands. The moment I quit I felt a huge sense of relief and ...

Some things in life get easier over time.  I no longer worry about complaining when services or products don’t meet their promised standards. I am no longer reluctant to make a fool out of myself; people can think what they like, as long as those who love me think I’m generally an okay person I’m happy.  I no longer have sleepless nights ahead of visiting the dentist. I know it will be uncomfortable and unpleasant but age has taught me that there is no use worrying about it. This too will pass. As I say, with time and age, so it is that some things get easier. When my ex-wife and I split up it was quite simply a very difficult time. A relationship failing is a tough thing to admit to. Moving away from my kids though was on a different level of toughness. The first few months I felt a pain I had never previously experienced. A physical part of me was missing. I knew it and felt it with every breath I took. It was extremely raw. It was right that the kids s...