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COVID cries and how this year is going.

2020 is quite the shitstorm, isn’t it? My plans for this year were to buy a home of my own and travel as much as I can throughout Europe.   Unfortunately, due to the pandemic these plans have not come into fruition.   Despite job losses and the economy collapse the housing market has went up by 10% meaning the houses that I do see and bid for are going for more than I can afford. Luckily job-wise I’m in a pretty decent position.   I was furloughed for about 4 months full-time and then a phased return back to full time work.   Throughout the organization where I work there were major job cuts and reduced hours, it was only due to my teams’ job choices that I was able to keep my full-time hours in the same position.   For this I am grateful but I am fully aware nothing is guaranteed going forward. Being furloughed/unemployed has thankfully allowed me to save more money as all my holidays/social activities were completely stalled for this entire year.   The only holidays I had plann
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2020 – Half way checkpoint.

Half way through and how am I doing? Normally at this point I would have some checkpoints I have completed, some I have plans to do and others I just haven’t made enough effort to accomplish.   However, when a global health pandemic (COVID19) hits you gotta take some time to reassess. Visit at least 2 new countries My trip to Poland and musical cruise (stopping off in Belgium) have sadly been cancelled.   Its’ just not a safe time to travel and if I did I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the country properly.   This is on hold for now. Buy a house I have tried! I have put offers on a number of houses which have initiated a bidding war which brought the house to a high price I just couldn’t go higher than.   I am still on the lookout. Go camping Not done yet, decent opportunity to do this now though while stay cations  are a thing! Volunteer and do training in sexual health Again, I have tried.   I did do ini
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2020 Goals

Visit at least 2 new countries Buy a house Go camping Volunteer and do training in sexual health Buy a new car Read at least 20 books Make soap Be more eco (buy zero waste, less single use plastic, cycle in spring/summer, buy less, continue terracycle) Date Continue to volunteer locally with AWB/HPB
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30 before I'm 30 - the results

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11.    Do a sky dive or similar adrenaline event for charity. 22 nd Sept Descend the dome for Action Cancer. 22.   Become a homeowner. Sadly this one didn’t work out after two months in the process of buying a home.   Thankfully due to the legalities of the deeds I actually dodged a bullet.   Luckily, I have been able to save for the next place as a result. 33.    Do a trip outside of Europe (that doesn’t speak English) I was able to visit the Dominican Republic from 1 st – 15 th October. 44.   Go to and support a political march/rally. On 7 th September there was a women’s rights march for safe, free and legal abortion which I attended.   An emotional and powerful day. 55.   Become a volunteer for a charity (outside of work) This year I have helped and donated to Another World Belfast and Homeless period Belfast. 66.    Do a pottery class I took part in a pizza and pottery class at LOAF pottery in Crawfordsburn.   I made a very handmade looking v
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Life update.

Long time no public write! Despite this blog being a mostly “just-for-me” premise it does give others the opportunity to read it so I try and not to get too personal with my feelings, experiences and relationships.   I have therefore endeavoured into a new world of JOURNALLING, which has meant I’ve had less urges to write here.   I’d ideally like to do both though as they are both valuable. Life has been BUSY.   I have found that outside of work my free time has been filled with barely a few hours a week where I have no plans.   I have recently started to ad-hoc volunteer with an organisation and I’m realising how extraverted I can be when I’m in a comfortable and happy environment.   I’ve also booked two trips away to Dominican Republic (Oct 19) and Prague (Nov 19) which has taken up every scrap left of my leave until April when my leave is replenished. I’m slooowly getting there with the 30 before 30 although there may be one of two things which might not happen which
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Day out on the Poll

On Thursday 23 rd May 2019 another election took place for European candidates.   My Dad has been involved in working in the elections for years as polling station manager and advised they were taking applications for Poll Clerk so I did a 5-minute application via email and I thought no more about it. I got a call on the Friday 17 th May asking me to come in on election day.   No training, no run through beforehand but they’d go through it all with me on the day. It was a long 16 hour shift from 6:15am to 10:15pm but the money was good so I agreed.   A bit of variety would be good and get me out of my own office for a day! I was stationed at a local Primary school a short distance from my home in a semi-rough area of East Belfast.   Some of the things that happened were noteworthy… Several people came in to vote with their adorable dogs.   One of which was a bloodhound/pointer cross who stood dramatically at the door awaiting his owner. A man came in to vo
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