There are a number of things in my life that are taking shape at the moment.  Some are good, some are not so good.  But this is the way life goes - as one phase of life ends, another begins.

So, I'll assume you all want to know the bad new first...

I recently had my 45 birthday checkup.  My doctor was particularly pleased to hear I'd given up smoking and had started exercising instead.  While there, I also had the usual checks - weight, body fat, blood tests etc.  All of these are fine.  Thanks to my gorgeous wife and her impressive culinary skills, my diet is very good.  I'm also sleeping particularly well and am feeling sharp as the proverbial tack.  I'm the healthiest I've been in my adult life, and the heaviest too.  But this is not the bad news.

I also decided to have my hearing checked again. 

For those of you who don't know, I suffer tinnitus - ringing in the ears - and while this has been a bane to my musical career, I've been pretty functional despite it.  Well, this is about to change.  I had a hearing test and my right ear particuarly is quite bad.  Given the last couple of years worth of band practices, it is a safe bet to say my hearing has suffered further because of this.  The only real measure I have left is it lead a quieter life to prevent further damage and complete deafness.

I've yet to tell the band but I know they will be disappointed.  The guys are like brothers to me and it is a decision I haven't made lightly.  I still want to be able to play the guitar and listen to music so the only real option I have is to hang up my headphones and producers hat.

Now, on to the good news...

First of all, I've been writing and posting a lot on a wonderful site called ABCTales.com, thanks to the lovely Tova, who kindly let me know about it.  I've been very pleased with the reaction a lot of my poems and short stories have received but the best news came in the form of an email.  A short story of mine called 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' has been selected to be published in the ABCTales magazine.  This is the first time a piece of fiction of mine will be published and I'm absolutely chuffed.  While there will be no payment for the piece, the fact it was selected and that it will be read by many people is more than enough payment for me at the moment.  What is more important to me is the validation.  It has inspired me to continue writing and trying to produce as high a quality as I can.

The second piece of good news is regarding my ongoing tattooing.  I've posted some previous articles about this adventure but I haven't updated you all about this recently.  I wasn't going to post any pictures until the job was done but have changed my mind.  Rather than tell you all about it, simply have a look and let me know what you think of it all so far.  There is still a few more sessions to go before the work is finished but you will get the general idea of where it is going.

This is the back of my arm and leading up to my shoulder. 

This is a close up of some of the work.  You can tell it is still fairly fresh and that there will be further touch-ups required.

Finally, here is a shot of the other side of my arm and a bit of a look at the whole piece.  It is quite difficult to get all of the work into one photo.  I wasn't able to include a shot of where the work runs over my shoulder and onto my back but it also looks great.

So, there you have it.  As I said, as some things end, others begin.  Such is the circle of life.  The only thing I can do is accept it and make the very best of it I possibly can.  Hope this finds all my friends here well and happy.

Peace!