.....contrast

......have i done a bit of a personal review for a while? No? Well let's do that then!

A year down into my new job (as a lecturer in Social Work - if you're catching up) I find myself in a very good place. The last (academic) year has had a reassuring meter to it which I'm told by my colleagues is how it feels year on year. The academic year has a structure that leads you along to a satisfying conclusion.

That satisfying conclusion found me at the Stadium of Light at the Graduation Ceremony walking in as the part of the Academic Procession!! What's that all about! Me! Council house kid from a pit village walking into a graduation ceremony as part of the Academic Procession! Result! It was a really nice event and we had Alistair Stewart there presenting the students. He gave a great rousing speech bringing in elements of his own life, the cultural heritage of the North East and, the importance of education. What with that and the students being presented there wasn't a dry eye in the house. One of the Social Work Students gave a wonderful speech as the student vote of thanks and this only served to moisten the eyes even further!

This event was juxtaposed against a weekend of two wiseguys activity. We had a great weekend planned - playing and dj'ing at Nancy's Bordello on the Friday then playing a private party on the Saturday for Richard and Miriam. The Friday night was going well. We played a decent set (not our best - but Ok) and then we tried out me dj'ing while Karl played percussion... this worked an absolute treat and the crowd were wowed! The night came to a grinding halt and was completely marred though when a fight kicked off and one of the guys got a bit of his ear bitten off right in front of me..... now anyone who knows me well will know that this kind of thing makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach sometimes for days. Now this was bad enough but as well as this they feel into Karl's gear completely wrecking one of his stands and cymbals. Not a good conclusion to the night....

Thankfully Richard and Miriam were celebrating their wedding anniversary and birthdays the night after and it was wonderful for two wiseguys to be there. They had seen us play at the Brandling Villa over a year earlier and booked us for their 'do'! And it was a great night. An appreciative audience. Two killer 45 minute sets with some of our own stuff and a bunch of covers made for a fun night for us and the audience. Lots of really positive comments which was lovely to hear.

You can't escape the weather! It's glorious! Stop complaining! Us flippin' British! You can't win! Oh it's too hot... we wanted it hot but not this hot... ohh I wish it was cooler! Shut Up!! The great weather has seen me outside, top off, builder style, painting and painting and painting and it's been great! Even been up the ladders! Serious business those ladders.. feel I'm going to fall off at any moment! lol! Painting gives me the same feeling as housework. I don't think I like the activity (although I think there is a therapeutic, switch your mind off, dimension to it) but I love stepping back and looking at the results. I'm making Christine walk around the garden every night! She's lovin' it ;-)

The summer stretches out in front of me. Been off this week, I'm working from home next week, and then I'm off until September.... now that's good! Working 4 days a week is really good. It feels as though it gives some balance to the week and I can highly recommend it ;-) Christine keeps mentioning the financial impact but I'm doing well at just ignoring her and soldiering on regardless. Difficult I know but I'm managing somehow ;-)

Physically things are good. I've done no exercise this week unless you count 10 hours of painting each day! Which I think you can! It's been a good first half to the year with the running with 2 sub 2 hour half marathons - and that's been a while. Lots of weights and some cycling with a coast to coast under my belt. An important part of well-being is also fitness of mind. I've been doing some yoga - trying to do a little 20 minute routine most mornings which is really helping my flexibility (I've never been flexible at all!) and starting my day off with a mindful approach to my mental well being. Also, my friend Faith is studying relaxation and hypnotherapy (not sure of that's the right description) and I have a weekly session with her which is really relaxing and is helping keep me focussed on well being and weight loss. It's making a real difference to my attitude to the day, my physical well being, and my general well being. Proper chilled I am! We've had my sub-conscious mind talking to my conscious mind and we've had me encounter my young self - all wonderful - and I now have my special place to go to - which I can do on my own now and really helps if I'm feeling a bit stressed!

...and I'm this close (makes that thumb and first finger close together sign) to never watching the news channels again because they just annoy me! Sensationalising the insignificant on a daily basis while treating the big stories with a lack of clarity! ....come on now Stephen off to your happy place!