Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech? The other day, I was chatting with a friend and admitted something that might sound odd: I get crippling anxiety about going for a haircut. In fact, I told them I’d much rather give a presentation to 100 people than sit in that chair waiting for someone to cut my hair and trim my beard. And I’ve done plenty of presentations—webinars online and training sessions in person. Sure, I get nervous, but nothing compares to the awkwardness of a haircut.

Is your life today what you pictured a year ago? Where does a year go? It was this time last year that I was contemplating all of my New Year’s resolutions well ahead of time. The context of these considerations were all of the work events or social events that had eventually added to my waistline, you could actually see the mince pies attached to me. So surrounded by Celebration wrappers and an empty tub (yes I even ate the eclairs and fudges - Fuck Off), my friend and I decided to make a ‘6 Pack Pact’.

Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met? This is quite alarming, upon reflection it is scary to think that the closest I have come to fame is standing in a Rihanna concert in my twenties. I am really thinking and I accept that memory isn’t anything special, but I literally can’t think. I have just asked my wife the same question and she pulls up a picture of her hugging Simon Cowell after randomly spotting him in London. I am pretty sure that I saw Klopp (the old Liverpool manager) having a fag out the back of a hotel about 4 years ago.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? An old boss once said to me ‘People don’t change’. She wasn’t the nicest person, but to be fair she was committed to doing well and always put the effort in. During a rather boring performance meeting and completely off topic she said that people don’t change, she was making reference to her self and I believe was being completely honest with me in her beliefs.

Daily writing prompt What's your #1 priority tomorrow? View all responses After a relatively relaxing few days away from the family in Turkey, my priority will be ensuring that I get to the ariport on time and don't miss my flight. My mum always used to say that I was a home bird and I have to say that she was right, the sun is great and there is no chance of me being able to sit and read my book for over eights a day at home. But I would have crying kids, nappies and playing bluey figures for hours on end.

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world? It would be nice if my blog could take people away from the endless shorts and video entertainment given to them by social media. I have fallen victim to this on numerous occasions where five minute toilet breaks turn into 30 minute sessions with dead legs and whilst there are smiles and laughs to be had, generations are moving away from reading, writing and to a more dramatic extent having dreams that don’t amount to 15 to 30 second clips For likes.

Describe your life in an alternate universe. Nelson the mountain goat. 🐐 Free to roam through nature with only sleeping, eating and shitting to worry about. Nelson has never once been tasked with booking an MOT, dinner with the in laws of being requested to do DIY to an unachievable standard for an average middle aged man. He roams the mountains drumming fresh water munching on grass.

Daily writing prompt What's the most money you've ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it? View all responses It was my 28th birthday and my then girlfriend (now wife) had a glorious evening planned of a taster menu at a vegan Michelin Star restaurant. I had spent the day at work looking at the Nando's menu salivating at the amount of chicken I was planning on eating with a pack of Rennie at the ready for afters. Alas this was not to be fate, we sat in a cave - yes a cave.

Summary Paradise, it turns out, comes with a side of chaos when you’re travelling with little ones. Fourteen days in what many would call heaven on earth, yet serenity is often interrupted by a seven-month-old who treats everything in sight as a potential snack, and a three-year-old whose attitude suggests they’ve been binge-watching far too much Top Boy. Sometimes, the breathtaking views lose their magic in the face of relentless parenting. Still, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I adore my kids, I cherish my partner, and I’m genuinely grateful for this getaway—no matter how many messes and meltdowns come with it.

On a family trip and thought it would be a good idea to take the kids on a little safari at the Yala National Park. Driver was amazing and the people in Sri Lanka are next level in terms of kindness but the animals were a little less forthcoming. We were lucky enough to see an elephant: There was also a paw print or two from the leopards: They were nowhere else to be seen, I told the wife it was probably because we had come at the off season. She rolled her eyes.

I've not found the time or energy to write anything recently, which is crazy really a this I whilst I enjoy this it is also an outlet and a pleasant distraction from the perceived woes in my life. What I have noticed thanks to Apples ruthless yet effective screen indicator that my scrolling has increased whilst not blogging. There are a couple of stand out laughs from the short term dopamine hits but nothing that memorable that I could describe it - mostly people falling over or kids being sassy.

It appears to be the case that you get to a certain age and your back goes. I’ve hit 38 and the simply task of picking up my son who weights an impressive 8kg has resulted in me becoming a borderline cripple, this is despite me being able to throw around 30kg dumbbells easily. I’m now in the realms of making noises whenever I get up or sit down.

Update on my week, I am off tomorrow to spend some time with the family. Its raining and actually cold and it June which is mental. This has meant that there has been no progress on the patio and I will likely end up indoors rather than being outside with some sun and nature. Where has the sun gone! There is only so much Bluey I can allow the children to watch or playdoh pizzas that can be made. Come on sun do me a solid and save my Friday!

Daily writing prompt Describe your dream chocolate bar. View all responses In a world of diminishing scale of chocolate treats there is one front runner for a chocolate bar than can offer some real substance. The collection of caramel, nuts and nougat could fuel you through a marathon. It's comes from a company that is out of this world. It may not be a everyone's favourite celebration but its never left behind like Bounty or the Milkyway. It's a dream come true and thank you Snickers you will forever be my number one.

Do you remember your favorite book from childhood? One my earliest memories was a book called look. I found a copy recently for my daughter. I’m not sure the question was intended to be answered with a book such as this, but I remember it because it was the first book I finished all on my own and it was the first time I felt pride. The book was actually just the word ‘look’ in different places like the zoo or garden. For me it was fascinating and exhilarating! Completed it with minimal effort and I remember my dad being chuffed as well.

It's that time of year where I think about how I want to spend some time away from home and go on an overpriced holiday! My mum always said that I didn't like being away from home, I was that kid who found reasons to avoid school trips and sleep overs and the idea of something was always netter than doing it.

I have written about privilege and stress and concerns a few times. I actually think about it most days, mainly because my brain has tricked itself into a high state over stress on things that don't really matter. I cannot remember the last time I was actually hungry with the fear of not eating or a time that I was actually cold with no real way of getting warm.

It's Sunday night, the work thoughts are already creeping in and I am thinking where on earth has the weekend gone? Doechii's Anxiety on repeat in my silly little head. It's always been the same since school and I don't think it will ever change. I try and use this nervous energy more often than not but some times I just think I can't be arsed! I mean I could be checking emails in readiness for tomorrow but instead I am on this and just done 15 minutes of weights and thinking about what to rewatch - my go to when I want to chill are:

Free bricks obtained to do some edging. I’ve ordered a ton of sub base (not sub soil) to be delivered tomorrow along with 2 bags of cement and 5 bags of sharp sand. Still no slabs but they go on last so no worries. I’ve even put some wonky guide lines in: It’s happening!!!

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life. I’ve mentioned how much I love my family and kids and of course they bring me joy. But there is also that feeling of being content. I achieve this by hiking or some form of physical activity, hopefully there is rain and it’s cold and then you finish and you are tired, hungry and cold. Essentially you hate the activity until it’s over haha. You get on location and you change and start to get warm and eat a meal like a pot noodle- something that you wouldn’t dream of eating at home - and it just hits different!

I woke up this morning at 4am thinking that if I get all my admin sorted I will be able to go for a run before the kids and wife are even awake! Alas fate had different plans for me. As I am typing now my three year old daughter is shouting Pirate over and over again! At about 5am, I’ve had some water watched some TV and I am about to get dressed when my phone pings - ping ping ping. Wife: She’s awake and has been awake for a while now if she wakes him up I will be fuming!

What are you good at? Not a great deal. I don’t mind having a go though. Not being good at things is something that I have come to accept, but on the other hand I am not terrible at things. I am simply average to poor... as the title of the blog indicates. It’s all good fun though, I see friends play golf or computer games and get so frustrated.

We and had a nice family walk today in and around the rain. Walking across to the park and field where there is a fancy little cafe, inevitably my three year old negotiated (demanded) an ice cream at 1105 in the morning - please don’t judge. The queue was awful and the server took my order of a chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone with flake and chocolate sauce - my kid doesn’t know she is born, 99 mr whippy with fluorescent red sauce was my childhood. The server, then popped the order into a complicated till and took to creating the chocolate ice cream.

My son just turned six months old and he has started smiling and showing his personality. Today we gave him mango for the first time and he went crazy for it! After his first taste you could see the passion in his eyes! When we took it away you could see the hurt. Such a bitter sweet to see all these first times.