Category: Reflections

This series of posts is an insight into the world of adoption from the viewpoint of a same-sex, male couple. I decided to publish our story for a number of reasons: 1) because I’m a private individual and rather than talk to people, sometimes it’s easier to put it into writing. 2) to help others who are thinking about going through the process, and 3) so we have something written down to show our future children how they came into our lives.

This is the first in hopefully a number of posts charting our journey.

After I finish work on a Friday, I like to reflect on the week that’s been. Whether it’s in the car on the way home, or with a glass of wine later in the evening, I think about what we* did well, what we could do better – and what was just a complete disaster.

(* when I say “we”, I mean the awesome group of people I work with at Premier Software.)

This week has been a rollercoaster at complete opposites of the scale.

I was lucky enough to have received tickets for the opening night of Take That’s Wonderland 2017 live tour.

The boys played the Genting Arena in Birmingham and were supported by 90s girl group, All Saints.

I’ve been a Take That fan since before the breakup. I’ve supported them since the re-formation, the arrival and departure again of Robbie, and the more recent departure of Jason. I was gutted to have missed out on The Circus tour (regretted not trying to get tickets after seeing the DVD!) so I was extremely excited for Wonderland Live 2017.

The Walt Disney World resort announced on Twitter earlier today that it will be closing all theme parks, water parks, golf courses, Disney Springs and the ESPN sports complex for hurricane Matthew’s arrival.

The closure comes as President Obama declared a state of emergency in 28 Florida counties. Local Governments ordered coastal counties to evacuate, and advised residents in other counties to be off the streets by 6pm this evening.

It’s getting cold outside, the trees and foliage are turning a different shade of brown or yellow with each passing day and the dark nights are drawing in – Autumn is most definitely here.

What better way to spend a chilly weekend afternoon than exploring the local area with my four-legged buddy, followed by an evening in front of the fire? Last weekend I took Mickey to the local nature reserve to visit the ducks and explore the multitude of colours nature has blessed us with.

I struggle with anxiety of varying degrees. Sometimes it just stops me having a good time with new people because I’m worried about what they make of me, other times it takes hold over weeks or months, ever-present at the back of my mind.

This weekend was one of the latter. For over a year, the burglar alarm at our new house hasn’t worked. We tried everything. The only solution was to rip it out and replace it.