So here I am on my highly neglected, largely redundant personal web site. I enjoy flicking through the old postings, pre-Facebook, with how my life was 20 years ago and the beautiful photos of Becca and Jamie and various milestones.
So, a quick resume of where I am in December 2021 maybe? If you are reading this many years in the future, we’ve endured a couple of tough years with Covid coming and going and various effects on the family and friends. I was fortunate as I’ve worked from home a lot over the last couple of decades so it was relatively ok for me.
Hockey
After my family, my first love of hockey has been a very mixed bag. I was delighted that I could spend time playing with Jamie as he started his hockey path at ACHC adult section. It was great playing with him for 18 months from the 7’s to the 5’s. Unfortunately, as usual, injury struck me, first a torn rotator cuff (in a badgers game helping the kids come through) and then after a lot of running instead of hockey, both of my knees have temporarily given up the ghost. I love the sport so much, but my body just cannot cash the cheques I’m trying to write. A second best has been helping with coaching with the Men’s 3-7s and the U16s and then U14s. Up to 70 people have turned up for coaching in a single session, something I could never have foreseen me doing in my teens when I wouldn’t say a thing in class!
Jamie at 1s/2s hockey training 
Over 50s St Neots Nov 2021
In 2021 I have played in two over 50’s games (around 80 minutes in total), an over 40’s game which was so enjoyable with my old 1s / 2s team mates and a 6’s game where my achilles prevented me from running due to the pain and play awfully. The St Neots game was a highlight as I scored one of the best goals I’ve ever scored – though that led me to try and play the following week in the 6’s. Jamie has been playing in the 2’s since Oct 21, a big leap from the 5’s where he previously played pre covid shut down, but now getting up to pace. He is a joy to watch with his lightning quick hands. Sarah is still playing 3’s and relatively injury free.
I have been doing a lot of indoor cycling on Zwift, but only on the road in the Isle of Wight (see below) and with Martin in Rutland. Martin is one of my oldest / closest friends and I was pretty gutted when he moved up to Lincolnshire at the start of the year. It was great to spend some time with him and his family at his lovely new place in October.
Becca has been doing really well at school and working towards Uni next year maybe, much more diligence and work ethic than I ever had at school. She was unlucky with her GCSE’s going on her mocks as that was right when Sarah’s Dad passed away. Both my parents are still around and at this precise moment of typing doing ok. Below is a photo of us with my parents for Mum’s birthday.
Eastbourne July 21
Chalfont Web Design
Business has been interesting, the entry level web design market has kind of disappeared with self service web sites such as Wix, Squarespace and a lot of people willing to do web site design for practically nothing, so not a particularly viable long term business at present. Interestingly, the market that has boomed in the last five years is SEO, but I’ve been distracted for too long with my Cater For You business to have properly built that side of things up. Cater For You is now rather successful with a fabulous team running it on a day to day basis with me only chipping in occasionally.
So, I haven’t got much work and think I still have some pretty good business and marketing skills so went after a new challenge to see if I was actually still as good as I need to be. To test my skills, I started up a new joint venture with a couple of friends I’d known for a while, thus HKUK has been born selling Replacement Kitchen Doors and Clicbox cabinets to start with. So far after just over a year’s trading (two years work), the business is doing ok – it is profitable and already cash positive and most importantly, I’m really enjoying the work and being in a positive team.
Gardening
Another love of mine is gardening. I oddly didn’t spend as much time as usual on it, but we did do some major upgrades to the back garden. We didn’t have much money to spend so did the work ourselves which included:
- New hedge to help out the birds and other wildlife after our neighbours pulled theirs out
- New flower beds
- Pond, again to help wildlife
The project was a family affair and everyone got stuck in. We did get some veg as usual this year, runner and french beans, beetroot (still some left in the ground), squash, broad beans, potatoes, carrots spinach, lettuce and parsnips.
New Garden Pond 
New raised beds in the garden
Yarmouth Holiday
As usual, we had our family holiday in Yarmouth on our little boat. This year was particularly important for the mindfullness of the family. We were a little unlucky with a few of our favourite spots closed for Covid, burnt down or not enough staff and everyone taking a holiday on the island! However, we kept ourselves busy with walks around the local area and I took my hybrid bike out to travel a bit further – I also did the round the island again, which was really hard work as I wasn’t as fit as usual and it wasn’t the road bike. I did some really exhilarating off road trails though. We also took the car for the first time to carry the bikes though that didn’t go well as an expensive brake problem ‘happened’.
Freshwater Golf with the in laws 
Lunch at the George Yarmouth 2021 
Yarmouth Tennyson Down Walk 2021
Yarmouth really is a second home for us with its beautiful scenery, walks, cycle rides, beaches and eating out.
Gigs
Gig going was severely curtailed this year, but when things got going it all happened at once with re-arranged tours. I managed to squeeze in New Order at Heaton Park, Heaven 17 / Human League Mk 1 at the Roundhouse and Human League current version this weekend at Wembley. Unfortunately, I missed out on the re-arranged Sleeper gig on August bank holiday.
Other Photos
Some other random photos from last year. More are posted up on my Facebook account, though i’m not prolific. I’m also on Twitter, but that is mostly to make suggestions about things that perplex me in the world…
Boat Show Oceanis 30i Sept 2021 
Sushi with Becca in Amersham 
Covid lockdown walks to Chalfont St Giles 
Just us for Christmas 2020 
Molly on walk to the Dumb Bell
2022
There are a few big things happening next year. I’m toppling over into my 50th year and looking forward to it with a short golf trip to Tenerife. Hopefully it isn’t Covid affected as I’ve been planning it for about 18 months. Becca and Jamie have their exams and Becca may leave to go to Uni with Jamie changing school / college. Hopefully work wise things pick up and leave me with less time to play as much golf! I’m doubtful I’ll be playing hockey again, well until at least the Summer, so more golf, cycling and walking to the Dumb Bell with Molly. I’m also hoping I can do some sailing qualifications ready for when we have more free time to take our little boat out.
I’ve a number of gigs coming up including Bikini Kill, Redd Kross, Echo and the Bunnymen and Queen.
I guess this means I won’t be updating my blog now until 2023!
Please stay safe and healthy whoever you are.
