Hello and welcome to the very first post on my brand new blog of random ramblings, my own little soap box from where I get to write about absolutely anything I like, and you get to choose whether or not you read it.

First and foremost, please allow me to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you a very belated happy and prosperous new year for 2026, and wish you all the best, not only for the next 12 months but for many years to come.

They say that strange things happen for a reason, a great reminder that life can be unpredictable sometimes, often leading to unexpected opportunities and lessons, and it’s following a few previous failed attempts at blogging already, that one of those unpredictable and unexpected moments has decided to present itself to me, urging me to give things another go. Why? I might hear you ask… well it’s pretty much down to one man really, someone I only know to say a quick hello to at the bar and someone I’ve only ever conversed with for a couple of minutes here and there at most, definitely not someone I’d call a friend as such, just someone I’ve spoken to on occasion and in a sociable sense.

It’s whilst I was searching Google a few weeks ago looking for something totally unrelated, that this guys photo appeared on my screen along with a link to his personal blog, one that he’s had running for over 20 years already, and me being somewhat of a nosey disposition, I decided to have a quick read through two or three of his posts and I soon had the bug again, his style of writing and the honesty he portrays in his posts is second to none, and it’s exactly that style I want to try and get across in my own blog and posts. It’s not a case of copying someone else’s idea’s or work, it’s a case of being inspired by them and learning from them before finally putting my own spin on things and doing them my way.

I wanted to start blogging again not for likes or shares, or even to engage in conversation or debate, but as a way of allowing me to sift through some of the junk that’s floating around inside my own head and to try and clear out the cobwebs a little, blogging gives me that opportunity and presents me with the chance to chat about the things that are important to me such as family life, music, my health, both mental and physical, and my interests, as well as some of the obstacles, challenges, and difficulties that life may throw my way from time to time, all without the need for anyone to have to sit there and listen to me drone on for hours on end.

Like many men my age I often find it a struggle to talk and sometimes even find the opportunity to get to talk difficult, choosing instead to bottle things up to the point where the lids about to blow, and I find that writing helps to alleviate that pressure somewhat and offers me a release which if nothing more, I find a major benefit when it comes my health and wellbeing.

It’s very early days yet and I ask that you respect that this blog’s an ongoing work in progress that’s going to take time to grow and find it’s way, and that things like layout and design etc. will no doubt change as time goes on, but until then, if you’ve read this far, please accept my sincere thanks, it means a lot more to me that you might think, not that I’ll ever know whether anyone’s read it or not of course, but that really isn’t the point anyway.

Here’s to 2026, take care, look out for one another, don’t take life to seriously, and just be happy.

All the best, Daz…