Steady as she goes

So, I'm writing this having recently returned from a short break in Turkey with my son, and in general things are looking pretty good.

I completed on my flat purchase in June. I'm now fully moved in and renovations are in progress, it was always a fixer upper, but I'm enjoying the chance to put my mark on the place. I got my deposit back on the old flat and I was even able to sell on the washing machine and fridge that I had to provide for myself (there was a hilarious moment when a prospective new tenant was viewing the flat and the agent tried to spin it as a special feature that the landlord was providing the built in hob and cooker but the tenant had to provide the fridge and washing machine). I heard they were putting the rent up to £1,100 a month which is shocking for such a pokey little place with rather limited appeal.

Career wise my secondment as team leader has been extended whilst they sort out making it permanent, I'm still not sure what that means pay wise, but I'm guessing I will keep the higher duty pay I got when I moved up. I'm settling in to the role, and I've decided not to pursue my interest in Data Architecture as it's not the right move for me, there's a possibility I may look at product management in the future, but for now I'm happy.

My health and fitness is holding up pretty well, I'm hovering around the 97-98kg mark depending on how well I eat in any given week but I have plans for improvement. With the moving and the holiday I haven't run or been to the gym as much I'd like recently but I'm making an effort to get back into it. 

I've been sent an invite for renal replacement education at St Helier Hospital next month to walk me through the process of transplantation, it's still early days, but they're getting me ready for the journey. Apparently I missed an appointment in July, primarily because I didn't know anything about it. I've already had a session with the dialysis clinic down in Crawley, but ideally I'd want to do home dialysis when the time comes.

In my last post I mentioned how I'd met someone through dating and there were signs it might develop into something more. Well, I'm glad to say it has, we've built some momentum in our relationship and it's been fantastic sharing intimacy and trust with someone again. Forming a new relationship in your 40's is different, we're fully formed as individuals in a way we wouldn't have been had we met earlier, but I think we're both optimistic about a long-term future together.

My relationship with my son continues to go well, there's been a slight improvement in my relationship with my daughter. Last month she came to my birthday dinner with my parents and my girlfriend which was a positive development. I've started looking for other ways in which I can invite her into my life without putting too much pressure on her. 

Overall the future looks bright right now.