Finally back to work after a few tours off to heal from the dental surgery and all is well. I have joked a few times this year about “new year, new me” but I have to say I finally feel rejuvenated. I can honestly say that after a bit of time off, I have come back to work feeling supercharged and ready to go.

Now I should add I am writing this on my last shift before another two tours off, so the rest is not over, and I am looking forward more to this break than the last, as I have no surgery planned lol. So after that break, who knows what state I will return in.

I think the key here was the need to have a reset after training, a break away from the place to have a fresh start so to speak. I am sure others have come back to work after a long break and having to almost relearn the job, and remember everything. In this case it allowed my brain to reset a bit, and drop a few habits and thought processes. Nothing major, just I have more confidence and less self doubt now.

The mouth is healing well, my speech is up to a good enough standard to do my job properly which is a relief, and a weight off my mind. Not that it was ever bad after the surgery, but it was something I was very conscious of for the first few days. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by peoples interest, reactions to the “new look”, so cant wait to see what people think of the finished product. Not that it was ever about looks, but it’s one heck of an added bonus.

Where the last break was mostly spent taking it easy and healing the best I could, I wasn’t really able to do anything too physical, so no running or cycling, just long walks. This time around I am off to Wales with my wife and niece. It is the first time I have really spent any quality time with her.  And the best part is, it will be in the motherland (Wales), so I am excited to show her some of the history there, and take a walk down memory lane.

I have spent the last two decades or so visiting familiar parts of Wales whenever I could, and have always seen it as a massive reset. Taking my mind back to days gone by, when there was no stress, and some amazing adventures . It was always a nice break from the trials and tribulations of growing up in London in poverty. So with that in mind, whenever I get back there it always hits a massive reset button in my mind.

I am yet to work out a schedule for the visit, I am sure it will be quite busy, especially as one of the days is set aside for me to have my tattoo sleeve finished, hopefully anyway. Maybe with a little fun addition in the process. My niece has prepared a list of things she would like to do, so I want to do my best to accommodate that, and see if I can add anything else into the mix.

Also while I am off I am back at the dentist too, just for a check up and see how healing is progressing. The most exciting part of that is that I am also having a scan for my next set of teeth, which should be in the coming weeks. Word is that they will be a little less chunky, so my mouth should feel a little less full. Let’s see!

After the dentist and Wales, I have a little bit of time for me, to run and cycle, and start down my road back to fitness too. Something I am very keen to get started on, as the weight loss has slowed right down, and I really want to keep things moving and shift some more weight while getting some cardio fitness back again. After many years I am finally less bothered about big arms and chest, so am just focused on fitness, flexibility and all-round general health. Joe Wicks is my new best friend.

Right, this entry has been enough of an early morning ramble as it is, so I will leave it there. I am sure I will check back in with an update about Wales soon. Thanks for getting this far.