A Long Time Passed...

 As the title states, it has indeed been a long time passed since I last posted. I must confess, it's entirely down to me, my procrastinating mindset combined with a lacklustre imagination fuelled by a plethora of external - and some internal - conflicts, mini-dramas and distractions.

For that, I most humbly regret.

But here we are, early hours of Saturday, 23rd of August, 2025, and another epically uninspiring Summer has dragged its unimpressive arse closer to handing over the baton to a toe-tapping Autumn.

So, to catch up, let me think...

I still work for the NHS in an Auxiliary role, but now as Bank (NHS version of Agency) and in an A&E department, but work has reduced since they hired new full-timers. I'm now twenty years into being a Sports Massage Therapist, again, part-time. To be honest, I still enjoy it, but my one thumb grumbles frequently, due to the ravages of the job on its joint, but I just think, "Shut the F-up!" Seems to work.

Believe it or not, I still write. Currently working on something I hope can get published, but I'm mid-point, and it feels like pushing a car up hill with the handbrake still on. Apparently that's a thing at the juncture I've mentioned. So trying not to sweat it too much.

Thankfully I'm still able to train, though my poor old body does protest often, to which the same rule applies as does to the grumbling thumb issue. I just have to shout that bit louder - in my head, that is, otherwise the neighbours would think I'd lost my marbles.

We have two adopted dogs from Spain - Aldo and Chica. Aldo is a black Lab-Retriever mix, an old lad, extremely food orientated and always up for a walk. Chica on the other hand, is a big girl, looks like a cross between a large Greyhound and a Wolfhound, totally neurotic, scared of her own shadow - literally, but such a sweety with a very jealous side to her personality. Every night, when I climb into bed, she has to come to my bedside to stick her face next to mine so we get to say "Goodnight". She is very routine orientated. Very. And loves her sofa. I think, given the opportunity, she'd sleep 20 hours-a-day.

I still dabble in online gaming, though the number of games I invest time in are greatly reduced, but of late my biggest time sink has been Cyberpunk 2077 & Phantom Liberty, currently clocking up 700+ hours since release. Next to that is Grand Theft Auto V - my buddy Pedro (from Portugal) and I have a blast being total nobs, causing mayhem and laughing like loons, all the while, chatting away via Discord on everything from the day we've had, to the current crap state of things we watch on streaming sites, and some of the good.

I've now stepped away from running Guilds in World of Warcraft - such a headache. Really. But on the upside, I'm still chatting to a group of former guildies on Discord, and on occasion we dive into some random game or two for the 'lols'. Yep, that's still a thing.

There are those from my gaming past that I miss, and often wish I could turn the clock back and speak with them once again - and yes, Norna, you are most definitely one of them, reach out if you ever feel like. I won't bite.

Ultimately, I'm thinking it's time I picked up the blogging habit once more, if nothing else but to get into the habit of writing on a broad swathe of topics and exercising my brain outside of the writing of fiction. Annoyingly I have noticed some videos I've linked in the past has since been removed by YouTube and their copyright/ownership BS, etc. I say 'BS' as these videos still include links to embed onto sites like Blogger. I think they just like f-ing with people.

So, as is my want, I'll close with a music video, and with any luck it won't get removed - but if it does, now you know the reason why

Here, from the brilliant game, 'Death Stranding' is Low Roar - Don't Be So Serious. Norna, hope you're reading this, this one's for you - said with a smile.