2013 - a vintage year
In fact, the reoccurring theme for 2013 is TEAM. I enjoyed the genuine privilege to be part of many MANY great teams this year - whether they be at work, on STAG DOS!, walking up large & snow covered mountains or traversing insanely constructed assault courses.
Here is my 2013... with all its 'highs' and the 'lows' summarised with a few photos to help jog memories. This is not my usual type of post and it is a long one -so buckle up :)
JANUARY
Dry slope skiing for Pop's Birthday weekend
I have never skied before, so for when we visited my friend Pops in late January went along to the local dry slope. I learnt that I am distinctly average at skiing but it is something I definitely want to try for real. Perhaps the visit to the 'local' the night before didn't help my balance ;-)
MARCH
San Francisco Trip
I flew to San Francisco for an Executive Briefing Event to meet a customer through my work at EMC. Whilst out that way I caught up with one of my favourite people (Rob) and his lovely family - Lisa, Polly and Matilda. I have really missed them and it was great to see them all so happy having only recently moved to the US. From a work perspective, Silicon Valley is an incredibly cool and awe-inspiring place if you happen to be a technology nerd like me!
Brecon Beacons Snow Walk
When I returned from San Fran, I went for a walk in the Brecon Beacons with a group of friends -Carl, Pops, Needles, Bondy & Timbo- and my dog Winston. The temperature plummeted and the snow hammered down. Despite staying below 600m we still got caught in a snow drift over 5ft deep and a blizzard that tried to melt our faces off. It was emotional, and for about 30 minutes we were convinced we would end up on the news as 'those stupid guys who took on the weather and lost'. We survived and I am using the word 'survived' in a literal not figurative sense!
Carl joined EMC
Carl is my best bud and now we work together as a team at EMC. We bring the best out of each other and I am looking forward to 2014 now that he is has finished toasting his feet over the Boston coals.
Exmoor Walk
This was my first time walking Exmoor with my friend and work colleague Timbo - amazing place, perfect weather, great company and stonking whiskey :) It was also great to catch up with his family -Arwen, Eleanor and Izzie- when got back.
JUNE
Tough Mudder
My good pal, Marc, talked me into a 12 mile cross-country assault course called Tough Mudder. It's obstacles included frozen water, 15ft walls and electric shock gauntlets. It was hard work but fun being part of team where everyone had to dig deep and help out as we crossed the line together and as a team.
Carl Stag pt 1 - Ben Nevis
Carl got married this year and I had the honour of being his best man. I planned two stag outings, this was the tougher of the two. We dressed him as Frodo from Lord of the Rings and made him climb Ben Nevis with a 20kg replica of the One ring around his waist. The ring was made from an old car tire! He did us proud and completed the task whilst sleep deprived, severely hung over and still smelling of cheap perfume! On a serious note, I also got to meet Carl's 'other' friends who I now have the pleasure of calling my friends too! Great bunch of lads -Sean, Mike S, Mike K & Paul- and again an immense effort from all was needed to complete the tricky >1300m obstacle.
JULY
British & Irish Lions Series Win
I watched every game with my pal Neil. This is somewhat a tradition for us and made even better by the series win. There were some seriously boozy celebrations and equally dark morning's to follow. Lions back to winning ways! :)
Body broke down
I picked up a weird hip/back/abdominal injury that stopped me from exercising for the rest of 2013 and had me spending too much time faffing around with wrong diagnosis' and treatments. This was a big LOW for me because I was loving my running, orienteering and cycling.
AUGUST
Liam's Stag pt 1: Berlin
Liam is another life long friend who chose to get married this year. I didn't know that many of the people on this stag before I left for Berlin so I wasn't sure how the stag trip would go for me. It was EPIC and now I have a bunch of new pals to get to know better in 2014. The highlight of this outing was a couple a new games I got introduced too - 'peg on' and 'assume the position'. Much fun was had by making the >100kg muscle bound stag -dressed as a German beer wench- drop to the deck and pretend to be a sniper (wherever he happened to be) :)
Marc' Stag: Ville
Another life long friend chose to get married in 2013 - this time it was Marc (the chap who made me run Tough Mudder). This stag do was a local affair and involved dressing him up in the infamous Chancey 'wedding dress' that has been worn on many occasions such as this, yet it has never -EVER- been washed. Marc looked incredible! if only he could drink as good as his various outfits made him look that night!
Baby Chance no.2 announced
Louise and I announced to our family & friends that we were expecting another baby after our 12 week scan. After the 20 week scan we discovered we were due a baby boy! Baby is due late Feb/early March 2014
Thanks for reading,
Chancey
I have never skied before, so for when we visited my friend Pops in late January went along to the local dry slope. I learnt that I am distinctly average at skiing but it is something I definitely want to try for real. Perhaps the visit to the 'local' the night before didn't help my balance ;-)
MARCH
San Francisco Trip
I flew to San Francisco for an Executive Briefing Event to meet a customer through my work at EMC. Whilst out that way I caught up with one of my favourite people (Rob) and his lovely family - Lisa, Polly and Matilda. I have really missed them and it was great to see them all so happy having only recently moved to the US. From a work perspective, Silicon Valley is an incredibly cool and awe-inspiring place if you happen to be a technology nerd like me!
Brecon Beacons Snow Walk
When I returned from San Fran, I went for a walk in the Brecon Beacons with a group of friends -Carl, Pops, Needles, Bondy & Timbo- and my dog Winston. The temperature plummeted and the snow hammered down. Despite staying below 600m we still got caught in a snow drift over 5ft deep and a blizzard that tried to melt our faces off. It was emotional, and for about 30 minutes we were convinced we would end up on the news as 'those stupid guys who took on the weather and lost'. We survived and I am using the word 'survived' in a literal not figurative sense!
MAY
Carl joined EMC
Carl is my best bud and now we work together as a team at EMC. We bring the best out of each other and I am looking forward to 2014 now that he is has finished toasting his feet over the Boston coals.
Exmoor Walk
This was my first time walking Exmoor with my friend and work colleague Timbo - amazing place, perfect weather, great company and stonking whiskey :) It was also great to catch up with his family -Arwen, Eleanor and Izzie- when got back.
JUNE
Tough Mudder
My good pal, Marc, talked me into a 12 mile cross-country assault course called Tough Mudder. It's obstacles included frozen water, 15ft walls and electric shock gauntlets. It was hard work but fun being part of team where everyone had to dig deep and help out as we crossed the line together and as a team.
Carl Stag pt 1 - Ben Nevis
Carl got married this year and I had the honour of being his best man. I planned two stag outings, this was the tougher of the two. We dressed him as Frodo from Lord of the Rings and made him climb Ben Nevis with a 20kg replica of the One ring around his waist. The ring was made from an old car tire! He did us proud and completed the task whilst sleep deprived, severely hung over and still smelling of cheap perfume! On a serious note, I also got to meet Carl's 'other' friends who I now have the pleasure of calling my friends too! Great bunch of lads -Sean, Mike S, Mike K & Paul- and again an immense effort from all was needed to complete the tricky >1300m obstacle.
Stephen's Wedding
One of my rugby pals got married in June! - It was quite literally the only wedding I was invited too whereby the stag do was kept a secret from me! smart man, very smart man.
British & Irish Lions Series Win
I watched every game with my pal Neil. This is somewhat a tradition for us and made even better by the series win. There were some seriously boozy celebrations and equally dark morning's to follow. Lions back to winning ways! :)
Body broke down
I picked up a weird hip/back/abdominal injury that stopped me from exercising for the rest of 2013 and had me spending too much time faffing around with wrong diagnosis' and treatments. This was a big LOW for me because I was loving my running, orienteering and cycling.
AUGUST
Liam's Stag pt 1: Berlin
Liam is another life long friend who chose to get married this year. I didn't know that many of the people on this stag before I left for Berlin so I wasn't sure how the stag trip would go for me. It was EPIC and now I have a bunch of new pals to get to know better in 2014. The highlight of this outing was a couple a new games I got introduced too - 'peg on' and 'assume the position'. Much fun was had by making the >100kg muscle bound stag -dressed as a German beer wench- drop to the deck and pretend to be a sniper (wherever he happened to be) :)
Marc' Stag: Ville
Another life long friend chose to get married in 2013 - this time it was Marc (the chap who made me run Tough Mudder). This stag do was a local affair and involved dressing him up in the infamous Chancey 'wedding dress' that has been worn on many occasions such as this, yet it has never -EVER- been washed. Marc looked incredible! if only he could drink as good as his various outfits made him look that night!
Baby Chance no.2 announced
Louise and I announced to our family & friends that we were expecting another baby after our 12 week scan. After the 20 week scan we discovered we were due a baby boy! Baby is due late Feb/early March 2014
SEPTEMBER
Pop's Stag pt 1: Plymouth
Yet ANOTHER life long friend decided to get married in 2013! I also had the honour of being best man again, but this time for Pop's and in a duo with Neil. His Plymouth stag run was easily the most intense and dark stag 48 hours I have ever endured. It required every last ounce of my drinking prowess and mental strength to survive and it wasn't even my Stag! Pops was quite literally battered to within an inch of the Geneva convention. The seminal moment - Pops being hosed down in a pub basement by the landlord because he was covered from head to toe in sick. Some was his own, some wasn't :)
Carl Stag pt 2: Oxford
This was supposed to be a more relaxed affair for Carl. It inevitably turned into another 48 hour drinking session. Seminal moment: Purchasing an entire cake from a bakers around midday whilst completely drunk and casually consuming amongst the drunken group before hitting the next pub. I say consume, wearing would be a more accurate description. I also got to meet Mark, the greatest puzzle master in Oxford.
Carl's Wedding
An awesome and emotional occasion. It was great to see two wonderfully modest and unassuming people in the spotlight for a day. As best man, it was a challenge to keep Carl from crying (happy crying!) the whole day, as his family and loved ones all made deeply touching gestures leading up to the ceremony, but he just about managed to keep it together for his beautiful and elegant bride -Sammy. Seminal Moment: Carl fencing whilst drunk and getting a black eye from an even more blattered Needles who has no idea how to use a sword... OR.... Gangs of suited but very drunk wedding guests (of all ages) 'trying out' the assault course (the wedding was at the Royal Marines Museum)
Pop's Stag pt 2: Brighton
This was supposed to be in Amsterdam but Neil -the other best man- had a Mr T moment and couldn't fly! We went to Brighton instead. Seminal moment- either, Pop's squeezing into a lycra fetish suit and necking a can of Tennent's Super on the train OR naked swimming in the sea by Brighton pier at a mere 7pm
Popplewell Wedding
This was definitely the most unique, colourful and individual wedding I have ever attended. Pop's and Kayleigh put so much time and effort into their big day. As there best man, it was a pleasure to spend the entire weekend with them both as it allowed me to see -first hand- how much this occasion meant to them. It was a very special day and I am so pleased for them both. My unique contribution was to hang several hundred glow sticks around the venue - and then snap them all individually when night fell. :)
Marc's Wedding
I am gutted to have missed this wedding- I was already committed to Pop's wedding when Marc let me know his dates and as a result I just couldn't make it. Still very proud of Marc and Kelly and I know they will enjoy a very happy and 'fit' life together :)
NOVEMBER
Amelie's Second Birthday
Amelie loved her 2nd birthday party as she is now of the age that she really knows what is going on. She is learning so much and so quickly. It is also the cutest thing to see 15+ kids sat at a mini dining table eating their party food together :)
Liam's Stag pt.2
It was great to catch up with the Berlin boys again in a slightly more civilised manner! slightly.... PEEEEEEGGGGG ONNNNNN! :)
DECEMBER
It is Christmas Eve as I write this...
Liam's Wedding
This was a crazy day. I flew to Edinburgh at 630am after 2 hours sleep because my flight the night before was cancelled due to fog. I had a quick customer meeting then hit the airport for my a flight that was supposed to get me into Heathrow for 1pm - the wedding was in West Sussex at 3pm. The plane landed at 2pm which resulted in me being 15 minutes late for the ceremony. I managed to sneak in the back way and catch the happy couple pronounced man and wife. I then proceed to enjoy a great wedding occasion that had one of the best 'best man' speeches I have heard in a while. Martin you rocked!
EMC Company Jet Trip
I got to fly on the company jet to a customer event -a window into the executive lifestyle. Quite amazing how pleasurable flying can be without all the rigmarole of commercial flights and great motivation to continue the hard work I am putting into my current job. One day :)
End of Year at EMC
It was an intense 12 months at work where I took on a difficult assignment. I managed to end the year on a positive note by exceeding the targets set by my leadership but the more significant thing for me has been the relationships I have been able to build with my relatively new team at EMC and moreover my customers.
Amelie's first proper Christmas
Much the same as her birthday, she is old enough to appreciate it now. This year she knows who Santa Claus is, she loves his reindeers and can't wait to open her presents in the morning.
Pop's Stag pt 1: Plymouth
Yet ANOTHER life long friend decided to get married in 2013! I also had the honour of being best man again, but this time for Pop's and in a duo with Neil. His Plymouth stag run was easily the most intense and dark stag 48 hours I have ever endured. It required every last ounce of my drinking prowess and mental strength to survive and it wasn't even my Stag! Pops was quite literally battered to within an inch of the Geneva convention. The seminal moment - Pops being hosed down in a pub basement by the landlord because he was covered from head to toe in sick. Some was his own, some wasn't :)
Carl Stag pt 2: Oxford
This was supposed to be a more relaxed affair for Carl. It inevitably turned into another 48 hour drinking session. Seminal moment: Purchasing an entire cake from a bakers around midday whilst completely drunk and casually consuming amongst the drunken group before hitting the next pub. I say consume, wearing would be a more accurate description. I also got to meet Mark, the greatest puzzle master in Oxford.
Carl's Wedding
An awesome and emotional occasion. It was great to see two wonderfully modest and unassuming people in the spotlight for a day. As best man, it was a challenge to keep Carl from crying (happy crying!) the whole day, as his family and loved ones all made deeply touching gestures leading up to the ceremony, but he just about managed to keep it together for his beautiful and elegant bride -Sammy. Seminal Moment: Carl fencing whilst drunk and getting a black eye from an even more blattered Needles who has no idea how to use a sword... OR.... Gangs of suited but very drunk wedding guests (of all ages) 'trying out' the assault course (the wedding was at the Royal Marines Museum)
OCTOBER
Pop's Stag pt 2: Brighton
This was supposed to be in Amsterdam but Neil -the other best man- had a Mr T moment and couldn't fly! We went to Brighton instead. Seminal moment- either, Pop's squeezing into a lycra fetish suit and necking a can of Tennent's Super on the train OR naked swimming in the sea by Brighton pier at a mere 7pm
Popplewell Wedding
This was definitely the most unique, colourful and individual wedding I have ever attended. Pop's and Kayleigh put so much time and effort into their big day. As there best man, it was a pleasure to spend the entire weekend with them both as it allowed me to see -first hand- how much this occasion meant to them. It was a very special day and I am so pleased for them both. My unique contribution was to hang several hundred glow sticks around the venue - and then snap them all individually when night fell. :)
Marc's Wedding
I am gutted to have missed this wedding- I was already committed to Pop's wedding when Marc let me know his dates and as a result I just couldn't make it. Still very proud of Marc and Kelly and I know they will enjoy a very happy and 'fit' life together :)
NOVEMBER
Amelie's Second Birthday
Amelie loved her 2nd birthday party as she is now of the age that she really knows what is going on. She is learning so much and so quickly. It is also the cutest thing to see 15+ kids sat at a mini dining table eating their party food together :)
Liam's Stag pt.2
It was great to catch up with the Berlin boys again in a slightly more civilised manner! slightly.... PEEEEEEGGGGG ONNNNNN! :)
DECEMBER
It is Christmas Eve as I write this...
Liam's Wedding
This was a crazy day. I flew to Edinburgh at 630am after 2 hours sleep because my flight the night before was cancelled due to fog. I had a quick customer meeting then hit the airport for my a flight that was supposed to get me into Heathrow for 1pm - the wedding was in West Sussex at 3pm. The plane landed at 2pm which resulted in me being 15 minutes late for the ceremony. I managed to sneak in the back way and catch the happy couple pronounced man and wife. I then proceed to enjoy a great wedding occasion that had one of the best 'best man' speeches I have heard in a while. Martin you rocked!
EMC Company Jet Trip
I got to fly on the company jet to a customer event -a window into the executive lifestyle. Quite amazing how pleasurable flying can be without all the rigmarole of commercial flights and great motivation to continue the hard work I am putting into my current job. One day :)
End of Year at EMC
It was an intense 12 months at work where I took on a difficult assignment. I managed to end the year on a positive note by exceeding the targets set by my leadership but the more significant thing for me has been the relationships I have been able to build with my relatively new team at EMC and moreover my customers.
Amelie's first proper Christmas
Much the same as her birthday, she is old enough to appreciate it now. This year she knows who Santa Claus is, she loves his reindeers and can't wait to open her presents in the morning.
Finally got a diagnosis on my injury
Today, my 6 month wild goose chase came to an end as I finally have a diagnosis that is consistent with my symptoms and pains. Ordinarily I wouldn't celebrate an 'Anterior Labral tear of the hip' but considering I have had kidney/liver scans and blood tests for various cancers and other nasty illnesses, I am somewhat relieved. I am Likely to undergo surgery in the new year. I have no idea how long the rehabilitation will be or how long it will be until I can run and cycle again, but at least I now have a path to follow :)
2014...
So, that is 7 stags, 5 weddings, 2 best man gigs, a baby on the way and a shed load of memories. I only hope -for my body's sake- that 2014 is less than half as eventful because if there is anything that 2013 has taught me to remember it is this plain, simple and undeniable fact: I only have one body and it isn't getting any younger! :)
Today, my 6 month wild goose chase came to an end as I finally have a diagnosis that is consistent with my symptoms and pains. Ordinarily I wouldn't celebrate an 'Anterior Labral tear of the hip' but considering I have had kidney/liver scans and blood tests for various cancers and other nasty illnesses, I am somewhat relieved. I am Likely to undergo surgery in the new year. I have no idea how long the rehabilitation will be or how long it will be until I can run and cycle again, but at least I now have a path to follow :)
2014...
So, that is 7 stags, 5 weddings, 2 best man gigs, a baby on the way and a shed load of memories. I only hope -for my body's sake- that 2014 is less than half as eventful because if there is anything that 2013 has taught me to remember it is this plain, simple and undeniable fact: I only have one body and it isn't getting any younger! :)
I started the year at 88 kilos, sub 15% body fat, running 20 miles a week and cycling 30! I ended the year weighing in at 100 kilos not being able to run or ride and my doctor has my blood pressure on her watch list.
Whilst I recognise the fact that I will enter 2014 still paying the bill for 2013, I will also be carrying a boat load of memories and experiences that will enrich my family and I for many years to come.
2013 was a vintage year.
2014 will be the year or recuperation.
I remain philosophical though, for what is each day but a series of conflicts between the right way and the easy way?
2013 was a vintage year.
2014 will be the year or recuperation.
I remain philosophical though, for what is each day but a series of conflicts between the right way and the easy way?
I will let you know how I get on in 2014 ;-)
Thanks for reading,
Chancey
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