2019 Retrospect...

2019 has been a year of moving forward in lots of areas in my life with a lot of good positive stuff.
A recovery year, a new job, getting out of a financial rut, and making the most of daylight time getting out and about.
I started putting this post together on a wet November evening reflecting that it was nearly a year to the day that following an MRI scan as part of my MS diagnosis a follow up CT scan diagnosed me with cancer, a kidney tumour,

My Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is something i have tried to bury and not think about in the last year, and that was made easier when being diagnosed with Cancer, making that priority and no treatment for MS until the all clear on the Cancer treatment...

Preparing and being positive about everything despite being terrified of the news of Cancer and things not working out payed off,  and i got my home ready for the coming 2 months post Op recovering,
A successful Operation mid December and the tumour was removed and the Kidney saved...
I was at my mums for a week once out of Hospital, then i was home for Xmas eve in the comfort of my own home...

I have to say it was the most stress full and sorest thing i have ever experienced after the Operation when in Hospital when i had the Morphine drip tubes removed from the wound after it was discovered i was allergic to Morphine, and the dressings getting changed...

At 6 weeks i was given a thumbs up on a successful Op and i spent two months off work recovering and i did so very quickly, pays to be fit and healthy. All the time i had the support of my family and M who was there in the hospital when i came round, and after a few weeks i was soon out for walks and started to put plans for the future together.
First was a change of job, disappointed there with things not turning out what i envisaged and unsatisfactory working conditions,  i decided to do something about it,  and accepted a Greenkeeping position at a nearby very prestigious Golf course,  and with brilliant working conditions and extra summertime overtime available i have cleared my feet financially after being stuck in a rut on the same salary for 8 or more years (yes really!),   and we got a salary rise in November,  so onwards and upwards...

With no cycling in January and February i kept myself busy reading,  re posting old favourite and popular blog posts, looking back over 10 years of riding Fatbikes here and further afield gave me a lot of inspiration and ideas for future plans.
Then after a month feeling a lot better i repainted the house,  well all except for the ceilings-too much of a stretch!,
I was never bored when off work and at home, `Only boring people get bored` as my Dad used to tell me,
I built up a lovely Surly frame set, the new  Pugsley 2.0 that was sent out by HQ, and with a start date for March 7th i looked forward to getting back to work which i have done all my working life, so the time off went in quick...
My first wee careful cycle was with M and it was great and also quite emotional i have to say as the time off recovering made me realise how much i love what i do and will never take a day out and about for granted....

`Never put your life on hold` is a new saying i remind myself often...

The first time i mentioned on here about all that had happened was in February after a 6 week successful Op and i breathed a sense of relief, you can read that post Here...

Building the new Surly Pugsley was good to do as it gave me a new Bike build blog post...

Here is the film of the build;



Starting work again in March i was tired at night and i changed my cycling to suit with short rides from my van, just an hour or so, enough for some pics and film for the blog.
I still had to be careful as it was still early days and Junes 6 month check up kept me hoping fingers crossed all the tumour was removed and i would get the all clear.

In April i held Forth Fat 2019, full report here Forth Fat 2019
Was a sober weekend for me as had not touched a Cider since my Operation,
Thanks all who made it on either day...

Warmers days of May and longer warmer daylight hours,
Work was getting busy preparing for July`s Scottish Mens Open Golf Championships, Early starts now at 5.30am meant 1.30pm finish and afternoons out on the coast and trails ...

Evening cycle with M....


Horse and Bike ride; West Fenton; June 2019 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

I often borrowed M`s dog Jake for an afternoon run along the coast...

One of many happy afternoons with Jake Dog...


Beachride with Jake Dog; June 2019 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Summer Solstice...

Solstice Cycle 2019; Pt2 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


In July it was 50 years since the Moonlandings, i dragged out my Surly Moonlander Fatbike and to celebrate rode out to Holy Island across the vast exposed low tide sands with friend Chris on his Moonie, blog post of the event Here...

The ride out to Lindesfarne...


Surly Moonlanders; The Need for Mead... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


I also got the 6 month all clear from Cancer and met the surgeon who preformed my operation,
I nearly broke his arm shaking his hand thanking him!, walking out the Hospital was an emotional thing and i felt elated.   Still a bit sore and the odd twinge on the scar it is an estimated 2 years to fully heal from such an operation,  i know i am real lucky, so many people are not so...

July and August were wet months at work and was out a lot in the rain during the Scottish Men's Open in July then the Ladies in August, Was a great team with the added Greenkeepers from other golf courses who came and volunteered  to help out...

Real early starts for the Men's Open in July, but was a good experience with lots of good memories...

Home early on summer hours i often spent wet afternoons chilling, reading and often snoozing! in the  driftwood lean to which now has off grid solar charged 12v lighting...

Harvest time seemed real quick this year with the rain but one local field had bales for weeks in it so often made for a short cycle and film..

Harvest Cycling 2019; Pt1 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


This summer i cycled a lot with friend Chris who had time as he wound up his farming career and we enjoyed many local cycles on coast and trails, and lots of cake at Tyninghame Cafe!

Into October and November and a lot of short cycles after work and many at Tyninghame, Archerfield, or Aberlady Reserve...

Surly Pugsley; Evening sun, Archerfield beach; Oct 2018 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

End of of November and another Hospital appointment to discuss my MS diagnosis and treatment which will start in spring next year,  treatment will be a preventative medication that may treat any future Relapses, the worst scenario of these is suffering side effects, and another drug programme can be tried.  Trying not to worry about it as stress and anxiety can trigger things, so be calm and carry on... I`m just going to keep cycling and enjoying life the best i can...

Nearing the winter Solstice daylight cycling now just on Friday afternoons and weekends...

21st December will be the Mid Winter Solstice, and the shortest daylight of the year,  I will cycle to work off road to celebrate as usual and look forward to New Year and the daylight hours starting to grow longer...