As we near the end of 2023, I thought it would be good to update you all after what has been a period of big change for me.
This year, I made the decision to leave my job of managing a community pharmacy. After reflection, I decided that, although the sixteen years I spent there had been such a massive part of my life and one that never stopped being rewarding despite the stresses, it was time for me to move on. There is much I miss about the job, mainly the people. And the outpouring of thanks and heartfelt goodbyes from the many patients I helped over the years genuinely moved me and made me realise how much I love working in healthcare. As for where I go next, 2024 will hold the answer. With a clinical diploma and independent prescribing qualification under my belt, the opportunities available are certainly exciting.
Being technically unemployed for the first time in my life has felt odd and at times scary but I now view this time off as a sabbatical, during which I have managed to achieve so much I could never have done while in work. As a keen runner, I was able to train most days, and in October I ran the Manchester Half Marathon in 2 hours 2 minutes 20 seconds. The final few kilometres were brutal but the brilliant crowds really drive you on. (Not literally, that would be cheating.) I started off running with Couch to 5K several years ago and I never imagined I could achieve this. The feeling afterwards is incredible. Next year, I'm 'fortunate' enough to have a place in the London Marathon. I look forward to that with a mixture of excitement and terror, lots of terror.
This year, I made the decision to leave my job of managing a community pharmacy. After reflection, I decided that, although the sixteen years I spent there had been such a massive part of my life and one that never stopped being rewarding despite the stresses, it was time for me to move on. There is much I miss about the job, mainly the people. And the outpouring of thanks and heartfelt goodbyes from the many patients I helped over the years genuinely moved me and made me realise how much I love working in healthcare. As for where I go next, 2024 will hold the answer. With a clinical diploma and independent prescribing qualification under my belt, the opportunities available are certainly exciting.
Being technically unemployed for the first time in my life has felt odd and at times scary but I now view this time off as a sabbatical, during which I have managed to achieve so much I could never have done while in work. As a keen runner, I was able to train most days, and in October I ran the Manchester Half Marathon in 2 hours 2 minutes 20 seconds. The final few kilometres were brutal but the brilliant crowds really drive you on. (Not literally, that would be cheating.) I started off running with Couch to 5K several years ago and I never imagined I could achieve this. The feeling afterwards is incredible. Next year, I'm 'fortunate' enough to have a place in the London Marathon. I look forward to that with a mixture of excitement and terror, lots of terror.
Showing off my Manchester Half medal
In addition to exercise, I've been able to devote much more time to my artistic side, and I entered a painting into the Manchester Open 2024 event, a biennial art exhibition. Unfortunately I didn't get through, but it gives me great pleasure to present the painting to my sister and her partner. (Well, it is of them!) And some of you may know I crochet. I've done lots of crochet!
 My entry into the Manchester Open 2024 (acrylic on canvas) |  One for Heartstopper fans - portrait of Kit Connor (acrylic on canvas) |
Crocheted blanket to commemorate the King's coronation
 Crocheted raccoon - his name is Pom-Pom! |  Mr Gingerbread Man |  Boo! the ghost |
And now for the bit that's really relevant to this blog. November is NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - and this year I decided to take part for the very first time. For those unfamiliar, the challenge is to write 50,000 words throughout November. I relished the structure this gave to my time off, part of each day set aside to write. Some days were harder than others, especially earlier on in the month. I recall at about the 15,000 word mark, I was ready to quit, but I managed to keep going, and at this point I have to thank my good friend Kath Middleton, who spurred me on daily. Other days, the writing poured out of me, and I'd look up from my computer four hours after starting and be in a daze! By the end of the month, I'd hit over 60,000 words. As of now, the novel stands at 96,000 words, by far the longest work I've produced. (FAG, my next longest work, is around 75,000 words.)
 Badge for hitting 50,000 words in November |  FAG's 10th anniversary is in 2024 |
I'm hugely excited to release the novel into the world early next year, and this neatly ties in with FAG's tenth anniversary. I am still hugely proud of that novel and the impact it had on readers, some going as far as to message me to describe the effect it had on them. As I go into editing my new story, I am quietly confident this will be at least as striking and compelling. I look forward to sharing details in the near future, but for now I'd describe it as relationship drama meets thriller.
And now to Christmas! I wish all my friends and readers a happy and healthy festive period. From today (19th Dec) through to 23rd Dec, I've made most of my Christmas reads FREE on Kindle. And if you don't own this e-reader, you can still download the books free of charge onto your device using the Kindle app. The free selection includes my ever popular Maureen festive shorts and a laugh out loud Christmas coming out tale. And if you prefer your stories a little darker (or perhaps a lot darker) try The Anniversary, also free to download. The links to all these are below.
And now to Christmas! I wish all my friends and readers a happy and healthy festive period. From today (19th Dec) through to 23rd Dec, I've made most of my Christmas reads FREE on Kindle. And if you don't own this e-reader, you can still download the books free of charge onto your device using the Kindle app. The free selection includes my ever popular Maureen festive shorts and a laugh out loud Christmas coming out tale. And if you prefer your stories a little darker (or perhaps a lot darker) try The Anniversary, also free to download. The links to all these are below.
Christmas freebies
Lonely this Christmas - a Maureen comedy short story
Mo Mo Mo! Merry Christmas, Maureen!
A Surprise for Maureen
Maureen Gets Crafty
A Christmas Outing
The Anniversary
Mo Mo Mo! Merry Christmas, Maureen!
A Surprise for Maureen
Maureen Gets Crafty
A Christmas Outing
The Anniversary
I hope you all have a wonderful time. And see you early next year!
Jonathan
Jonathan
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