Today is all about…April 2025

April 2025 surprised everyone with record sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures across the UK. With hardly any rain it felt more like early summer perfect for barbecues and sunglasses and a welcome break from the usual April drizzle.

Talking Points

Rosie

April saw my great niece Rosie come into the world.

I feel properly old now, having become a great uncle again but honestly, I couldn’t be prouder of my niece, Ash and her growing family.

Rosie is absolutely gorgeous, and when we met for some snuggles, she slept the whole time. Enjoy it while you can!

Great uncle duties have definitely stepped up a gear, which means more cuddles, more silly faces and possibly more naps to keep up with all the excitement.

Fitness

I’ll be honest, it has not been a good month when it comes to my fitness, and it has taken a bit of a toll on my mental health too.

Shoulder injury

After unofficially competing in the CrossFit Open, I picked up a shoulder injury that just would not go away. It was not painful and it did not stop me from moving, but it was very tender to touch and a few exercises really aggravated it.

So I booked in with a physio, who confirmed it was a bruised tendon. Slow and steady healing ahead. The rehab exercises they gave me seemed to be working though, which was reassuring.

Gymnastics seminar

I also took part in a gymnastics seminar, which was really positive and good fun. I got the chance to sharpen a few skills, which was helpful. That said, I was still a bit gutted not to progress with things like the bar muscle up. That would have been a great way to finish the weekend.

Cardio crash

As the month went on, it started to feel like my overall performance was slipping. Not because of the shoulder, but my cardio just seemed to fall off a cliff. I felt like my fitness had disappeared.

The post workout buzz that usually lifts me just was not there. I felt flat, deflated, and honestly, a bit shite about myself.

And then the back goes

To top it all off, during a workout that was bothering my shoulder, I ended up overcompensating and pulled my back.

The pain was unreal. Easily the worst I have felt in a long time. Every tiny movement felt like a shock to the system. I could barely breathe at points and the painkillers did nothing.

And of course, this all happened just as we were heading off on a road trip. So I spent the first few days dosed up on painkillers just trying to get through it.

So yeah… not the best month when it comes to fitness. But here’s hoping next month brings a bit of a reset.

Crochet

As a kid, I used to knit. I would take all my mum’s wool scraps and turn them into a scarf. To be honest… that was all I could manage. My scarf would have made Doctor Who jealous!

As you’re probably aware, for the past few years I have been cross stitching, and I really enjoy it. I find it therapeutic. Granted, I have not done much this year.

While I am not the most artistic person, I do enjoy making things, and I am always up for trying something new. So I thought I would give crocheting a go.

And I came up with the perfect project, a mascot for our holiday.

When the kit arrived, it looked like absolute gobbledegook to me. But I spent a lot of time watching videos and trying to get my head around how to follow a pattern.

And for a first attempt, I am actually quite happy with how it turned out.

Was it perfect? Absolutely not! I need a lot more practice to get the loops nice and even. But it is surprisingly easy to learn the different stitch types.

The hardest part for me was the counting. It was far too easy to lose track of where I was. I had to frog quite a bit to get back on track. So with all that concentration, I have to admit I did not find it all that relaxing.

Honestly, I do not know how people manage to sit in front of the telly and crochet without completely losing their place!

Would I try it again? Yes, but maybe something a little simpler!

NC500

The end of April was the start of our holiday and I wanted to do something different from just sitting next to a pool.

Scotland is a beautiful place and there is still a lot of it I have not seen, so I decided to go back to my roots and explore the Highlands by doing the NC500.

I will write a full blog about the trip soon, but for now I just want to say that I had a great time.

We went on a wildlife boat trip because I really wanted to see dolphins in the wild. I saw other wildlife, but no dolphins. Not one. Absolutely gutted.

Anygays, I have gone on for too long. Enjoy the photos

‘Today is all about…’ photos