Uncharted Thoughts.

My beloved readers, here we are, at the end of another year of trials and turbulation. I must admit it has been a while since I updated Uncharted Thoughts, and usually I would be somewhat ashamed of this, but to be honest with you, it was much needed.

I want to wish you all, a very happy, New Year and the safety and health all people deserve. In these trying times, I hope you find time to hold those you love close, and to speak with them honestly and without judgement.

This post is a personal one, it involves some Uncharted Thoughts chitter chatter, but if you are not interested in peeking behind the curtains of this blog, it is skippable.

It has been such a strange and defining year for me. Some incredible ups, and some real hard lows.

Lets start with the ups.

• Moved to a new city.
• Made some good money.
• Made a documentary.
• Made a second documentary.
• Produced some incredible work at university.
• Made some great friends.
• Infiltrated a Neo-Nazi group operating in Manchester and shut that shit down.
• Got my first and second front page story.
• Travelled to Pakistan to interview women fleeing the Taliban.
• Got my first paid news articles.
• Explored some of the UK I have never seen before, and some I have.
• Watched summer solstice at stonehendge.
• Hiking the Great Glen Way for a second time.
• Proposed to my fiancé. (she said yes)
• Completed my masters degree, at a high level.
• Moved to another country.
• Got a new job, again.
• Managed to keep the drinking, smoking and partying to a minimum.
• Tripled my viewership on Uncharted Thoughts, and quadrupled my subscribers.
• I also managed to battle my way out of some serious brainwashing experiments. Left, right, left, right… further right, even further right.
• I am also proud of my work here on Uncharted Thoughts, done some really good stuff I think.

I really am proud of the work I had accomplished this year, both at university, at the pub and on Uncharted Thoughts. Although it was tough, and there were some real low points, I feel like this year is one that I will remember as a year of growth and learning.

However, with every Ying, there must be a Yang. And there were plenty of Yangs.

• Developed some serious sleep issues.
• Gained weight (again).
• Lost money.
• Health issues (not serious, but some substantial discoveries)
• Had to deal with some of the most irritable people I have ever met for long periods of time.
• Got beaten up at a Tommy Robinson rally.
• Got tracked down by Neo Nazi’s. (no harm done).
• Family drama.
• Substantial loss of friendships (not dead).
• My fiancé had to move back to her home country because we couldn’t afford the visa extension.
• I fucked up my visa to her country meaning I wont see her for about eight months.
• Started, stopped, started, stopped more projects than I can count.
• Failed a podcast.
• Failed a hike.
• Forgot people’s birthdays.
• Once again, failed to even attempt my driving lessons.
• Went through a very small chaotic period of self destruction.
• Been on less than 10 runs this year.
• Writers block and procrastination.
• Some really heartbreaking betrayals from people I trusted.
• Ill for Christmas.

Although I am prone to do so, I do not like to look at the world in a negative light. Every low is a lesson learnt, every high is a blessing and one that should not be overlooked.

Whatever the next year brings me. I hope it is filled with as many lessons, and with as many highs.