The 2012 post.

And so, with the year winding to a close, it's time to go over what us Cooks have been up to. If I'm honest, it's been a mixed bag of a year. 2012 was meant to be a year where me and Bexs settled things down and looked at what was to come next. But instead it was a bit of an up and down year.

The first few months continued as usual, although it did mark the beginning of my webcomic project, which I managed to faithfully produce until around October, but there was a good reason for that which I'll get to. Bexs continued to thrive in her job, and I pondered what the next step was for me. But looking forward came to a standstill at the end of March. My dad took a turn for the worse, having contracted double pnemonia. This had an adverse affect on his heart, and he went from joking around to being whisked into the emergency room. He spent the next month in a medically induced coma. Needless to say, it was a tough time for me and my family. Eventaully he recovered, and is now back to his usual self, for which I am grateful.

Things trundled on for a bit but I had a new focus- it was time I thought, to seek out something new. I was offered a position in a pub in Shrewsbury, which looked to be a great opportunity to further myself in a new company. This however, did not go as planned. Once I was in place, much of the things that were meant to happen did not. In fact, I was left in quite a bad position financially. The travel was knackering as well. Finishing at 1am, getting in at 2am after an hours drive and having to return at 9am... yeah, it wasn't a great job. It drained both me and my savings.

Thankfully, I'd made some good friends in my old job, who helped me return to my old company, although not my old pub. I'm currently working there helping to cover a member of staff at my level until they return after having had an operation. Knowing I was covered jobwise until the next year, I thought the worst had passed. However, another curveball was lobbed our way as our landlord revealed he was selling our house. Thankfully we do not have to move out until the house is sold, but now the stability we once enjoyed is now more of a wobbly.

So, that's been our 2012. Needless to say, a bit crap. It seems like it may be all change again for us next year. By the look of it I'll need a new job and we'll need a new place to live before 2013 ends. I am however, hopeful, rather than dispairing. Change can be a good thing, and after this awful year it can only be for the better. Onwards and Upwards!

The 2011 Recap post

2011 was a crazy crazy year for the world, and for me and Becky, there were quite a few changes to our cicumstances! When last I blogged (March 2011? Seriously??) We were both in the planning stage of what was to come. By the end of July, our big plans had come into fruition.

March all the way through to the end of June were spent knuckilng down and earning cash which we'd need for the first of our big plans for the year- moving house. Tired of living in our grotty little flat for the past five years or so, we found ourselves in the position to actually do something about it for the first time in ages. By August it was farewell to our naff old residence and hello to our new house in Sandwell. It's much nicer, in a great location and is everything we need for our future plans.

Another big change that happened in August was an opportunity for Bexs to move to a job in a renowned school. We both felt it was a good move, so that was big change number two for us last year. Since then we've been trying to generate a new style of status quo.

My personal projects are a mixed bunch to say the least. Moving house is disruptive! My games blog has a few posts on it, and now we're mostly settled in our new place I'm planning on launching a new webcomic, one which hopefully I'll stick with. Christmas was a rather busy affair for me this year, but it was ok. Now squarely into the new year, me and Bexs are anticipating another interesting new year. 2011  was a year of great change, I'm hoping 2012 will bring just as much exitement!

2011: The Story So Far

Well, here we are squarely into 2011, and so it's time for another update on what the Cooks have been up to.

2001 started on a somewhat downbeat note, as I attended three funerals within the space of a few weeks. One of them involved a trip to Lincoln to say goodbye to a very close friend of Becky's family. They will all be missed.

This year was going to be a about creativity, supposedly. All I seem to have done is tidy up instead. This is not a bad thing however. Now me and the lady wife are in a stableish place, we've decided to take the plunge and save up to move house. So out with everything I don't need, replacing things and so on. Wading through 5 years worth of stuff is an arduous task, so I decided to get a headstart on it so we don't have to worry about it when it's moving day!

Speaking of creative things, soon I'll be launching me new blog. My graphic novel is proving hard to begin as I can't quite figure out a starting point. The gospel tract thing is still in the pipeline somewhere too. The biggest problem I've had if I'm honest is a touch of apathy, fuelled by long shifts at work. Still, I'll get there eventually.

Other than that, we've been quite busty. February was 'birthday month' as all my nephews and my niece all got a year older. I even gained a new nephew too! Now the dust has settled from that, it's back to business as usual. There's much to do!