It’s been a while…

Massive apologies for the radio silence.

It’s been about three months since my last blog post and needless to say, a lot has happened in that time. In fact, looking back, it’s probably no surprise that the blog has taken a bit of a back seat!

The last few months have been a real mixture of highs, lows, uncertainty, adventure and reflection.

Three days after publishing my last blog, I received an email from the college where I’m completing my counselling course. The news was completely unexpected. The college was experiencing financial difficulties and would be entering liquidation at the end of May.

It genuinely came completely out of the blue.

As a class, we had no idea this was happening. There were no warning signs, no conversations beforehand and suddenly something that we had all invested significant time, energy and money into was thrown into complete uncertainty.

As you can imagine, chaos followed.

A student WhatsApp group was created across the different courses and for a period of time there were almost hourly updates. People were trying to understand what had happened, what it meant for our fees, what would happen to our qualifications and whether we would even be able to continue.

For a long time, it genuinely looked like the answer might be that we would all have to start again somewhere else.

It was a bizarre headspace to be in.

Starting the counselling course had been such a positive step. I was excited about learning, developing new skills and moving towards something that I genuinely believe will complement the work I already do with coaching clients.

The situation also gave me plenty to reflect on about the counselling industry and the systems around it. One of the biggest frustrations was the lack of practical support and direction available during such a difficult period. It did leave me questioning what the role of a regulatory body (The BACP in this case) should be when students find themselves in a situation like this.

Thankfully, the story does have a positive ending.

Over the last few weeks, another college has effectively adopted us. We have managed to complete year one (although it certainly wasn’t the smoothest year!) and, come September, we will be starting year two with new tutors and a new campus.

For a while, that outcome felt very unlikely, so I’m incredibly grateful that we’ve managed to find a way forward.

Earlier this year, I was training for another Spartan event.

I’ve completed plenty of challenges over the years, marathons, bike rides, obstacle races but this one was different.

This time it was a family affair!

My mum, my sister, my brother, their partners, my sister-in-law’s sister and myself all signed up with the aim of getting around together.

The goal was simple: support each other, give everything a go and cross the finish line as a group.

And it was brilliant!

The weather was on our side, the course was challenging without being ridiculous, and there were some great obstacles including a few new ones that were significantly higher than I remembered!

Having done many events solo over the years, there is something very different about sharing the experience with other people. The encouragement, the laughs and the fact that everyone is working towards the same goal completely changes the experience.

I’ve always enjoyed Spartan events because I think they strike a really good balance. You don’t need to be an elite athlete to complete one but you do need to respect the challenge and prepare your body.

A bit of training goes a long way not just to get around, but to actually enjoy the experience.

And ultimately, that’s one of the biggest reasons I believe looking after our health matters. It’s not just about weight loss or how we look. It’s about giving ourselves the ability to say yes to experiences.

At the end of May, I headed back up to Scotland for Orca Watch.

This was the third year in a row that I’ve made the journey north at this time of year, and it’s quickly becoming one of the highlights of my calendar.

The trip didn’t get off to the smoothest start though.

There were some issues with the accommodation and at one point we were told that if there had been more people staying, the booking may have needed to be cancelled altogether.

We ended up being moved from the original lodge into an apartment within the hotel, which actually turned out to be better in some ways. However, there were then issues with the insulation, meaning you could hear almost everything happening in neighbouring apartments...

After speaking with the accommodation team, I managed to get moved again. This time into an upstairs lodge overlooking the sea.

And this is where the story gets interesting.

I’m not someone who necessarily believes everything happens for a reason, but had I not been moved into that lodge, I wouldn’t have had one of the most surreal wildlife experiences I’ve ever had.

On the Tuesday, whilst cooking fajitas (of all things!), the Orca alert came through.

I looked out of the window.

And there they were.

Two male Orca, moving across the water from right to left.

They were a long way out, so there was no chance of getting any decent photographs, but through binoculars we were able to watch them several times.

A few days later, we had another sighting. This time we joined another couple and made our way to Duncansby Head to do the infamous "orca run" trying to see them from the cliffs.

We arrived just in time to see them before they disappeared over the horizon.

It was incredible.

It was my first time seeing Orca from land in the UK, and we were unbelievably lucky to also see otters, Risso dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and a minke whale during the week.

Another reminder that sometimes the best moments come when plans don’t quite go as expected.

Do I need to talk about the World Cup?

Probably not.

But considering how invested I was, I probably should!

I genuinely thought this could be our year.

The commitment levels were high! Staying up until 5am on a Sunday night and then heading into work at 9am on Monday morning will probably live long in the memory.

The Mexico game was an absolute rollercoaster. The delayed start, the nerves and then backs against the wall for the final 20 minutes.

It really felt like momentum was building.

And then came Argentina.

A mixture of strange tactics, a strange game and another feeling that an opportunity had slipped away.

Football does that to you.

Now I’ve got to try and switch back into domestic football mode and prepare myself for another Watford season, something I’m not entirely convinced I’m ready for!

One positive though: after 15 years, we have finally changed seats at Vicarage Road.

We’ll have a completely different view this season.

Although, as my Dad pointed out, we’re also now a lot closer to the exit…

Which may come in handy...

Professionally, I’ve really enjoyed getting back on the gym floor for a few hours each week.

Delivering one-to-one personal training and group sessions has been a great reminder of how much I enjoy face-to-face coaching.

Alongside that, I’ve continued supporting my coaching clients.

It’s been brilliant seeing clients preparing for holidays all over the world. Vietnam, Croatia, Dubai, Cornwall and the USA just to name a few.

One of the biggest things we’ve been working on is mindset.

Life is busy. Work is demanding. People need time to switch off.

A holiday is not something that needs to be “managed perfectly”.

A couple of weeks of eating slightly differently, drinking a little more, moving a little less and relaxing isn’t going to undo months of consistency.

Sometimes the healthiest thing someone can do is allow themselves to properly decompress.

We’ve also been supporting a number of clients who are using weight loss medication as part of their journey.

I think, when used appropriately, the medication can be genuinely life-changing for some people.

However, the long-term success comes from what happens alongside it.

Strength training.

Building habits.

Understanding behaviour.

Creating a lifestyle that allows someone to maintain their results.

The medication can be a tool but it isn’t the whole solution.

Finally, plans have started for what could potentially be my biggest challenge yet.

A circumnavigation of the UK by bike in summer 2028.

Despite the mess of the last few months, ’m still hoping to qualify as a counsellor in early 2028, and the current plan is to take a few months off afterwards to complete what feels like the final piece of my UK cycling adventures.

I’ve already completed Land’s End to John O’Groats — bottom to top.

I’ve completed Chase the Sun — coast to coast.

Now I want to complete the full journey around the UK coastline.

It’s in the very early stages at the moment.

There’s budgeting, logistics, route planning and a lot of research to do.

I’ve recently listened again to One Man and His Bike by Mike Carter, which I’d previously read, and it’s given me plenty of inspiration and ideas.

It’s exciting.

It’s also slightly terrifying.

But I think that’s usually a good sign.

When I look back over the last few months, the biggest theme has probably been uncertainty.

The college situation.

The accommodation issues in Scotland.

The highs and lows of sport.

Plans changing.

But actually, that’s life.

Things rarely happen exactly how we expect them to.

The important thing is how we respond.

And that’s something I’m continuing to learn, both personally and through my counselling training.

Anyway, thank you for sticking around despite the long gap between blogs.

Speak soon