One year on

Eyeing THAT rounded bulge.
Right Unconquerable, Stanage.
Pic by Edwin Jenkins.

Last Friday, 13 April 2012, marked a year to the day that I wrecked me leg.  It is tempting to say that I don't know where the year has gone, but that wouldn't be true.  I know exactly where the year has gone - a blur of sleepless nights, changing nappies, hobbling around for weeks on crutches, interminably dull sessions on the leg press machine in an underground gym, physio sessions, swollen ankles, creaky knees and lots of painkillers. But thats just the bad stuff.  There has also been a huge amount of fun and laughter, mostly involving Lara.  In the space of a little over a year she has gone from a tiny helpless baby, seemingly incapable of doing anything other than sleeping, crying, eating and pooing, to a little girl - almost not a baby anymore - who laughs, smiles, gurgles, crawls, and most recently, toddles around taking her first tentative steps. Anita and I have gone from being a couple to being a family of three, and I find it difficult to remember what life was like before.  A lot quieter, probably.

I've also skied, climbed, and, last weekend, went for my first run in over a year (a paltry five miles - half the distance of one of Anita's 'short' runs). I've taken a pay cut, changed my job and joined the growing ranks of the part-time employed.  I have less money but far more time. And I'm having more fun than I thought possible.  Later today I'll head over to the climbing wall with my friend James and his son Louis.  Whilst the kiddos sleep we'll get a couple of hours of climbing in. But that's this afternoon.  Right now it's Monday morning, the sun is streaming in through the window and the coffee shop beckons.  Does life get any better?