26/04/25 10:15

Today is Sunday.  The London Marathon is on and I’m away with Nev, the boys, my rugby team and the mini’s section of the rugby club.  That includes coaches and grown-ups.  I’m currently sat beside the indoor swimming pool of Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight.  It’s an Away resorts holiday site with caravans and chalets.  This is my last mini’s tour and the last of the Isle of Wight for my rugby career.  It’s actually rather emotional.  I’ve been coming here with the boys since 2019 (2020 was nothing because of Covid and 2021 was an impromptu rugby tour to Dorset because of the clean-up after Covid).  In total, this is my 5^th tour here.  And my little team of rugby players have grown, come and gone, changed and almost matured both as children and as players.  As a coach, it’s rewarding to see these players bond, protect and work together.  As a parent, that’s a whole heap of Sundays I’ve given up over the years.  And here I am, sat at the side of the swimming pool, writing away, watching Rory look after not only Jasper, but Clark, Billy, Ronnie and now Noah.  They’re in the jacuzzi getting match ready for tomorrow.  As a future coach, Rory will be absolutely amazing.  Of course, we’ve still his playing career to monitor.  As for Jasper, once his voice gets louder, he’ll be the one his team listen to on the pitch.

This has to be the hottest place I’ve ever written.  The heating is on and the windows are closed.  I have sweat on my brow and in the creases of my elbows.  My fingers are covered in the ink of two new cartridges that were meant to fit in 2 new pens.  I don’t think that worked.  I’ll get some spare time soon to work out what happened.  That’s once I’ve whittled episode 3.9 down to try and give me some extra material for what will most likely be a very strained Season 4 in terms of episode length.

My main focus right now is how to overcome the £1100 a month shortfall I face every month.  There are some things that will need to give, but even if I’m doing little bits, it won’t be enough to plug the hole of the sinking financial ship I’m sailing on.  The plus side is it won’t affect the podcast for possibly 2 years as I have enough footage to do another 4 seasons the way I have just done Season 3.  The downside is less trips to Paris.  And possibly finding more creative ways to record my monologeous episodes that I decide to write for any shortfall of video material.

But I’ll get there.  Yes, Patreon is more up-to-date than it ever has been, but that doesn’t bring any monies in.  Hey ho.  Work on Tuesday.