Where in the world has your daddy been?

Answer: Daddy has been super busy, he has done so many wonderful things over the last month or so and it has been really hard to find the time to sit down and edit everything for you Ariya. So first of my apologies, But daddy is doing so very well. below is just a taste of all the things i have been getting up to.

First off I ran the Another Half marathon

So last time i ran the Edinburgh Marathon to give something back to the people who helped me in my time of greatest need, This Half Marathon was for me, for my own self-esteem, for my own well being, and most important of all to continue the confidence and positive physical attributes i have cultivated over the last few years. I smashed it! Finished in just under 2 hours, was aiming for 1.45, but it was so very hot that day it really took it out of me. It was a very good day.

Medal, Medal, Medal, and My Running Jersy.

Next up was a very special trip to Switzerland to attend a Buddhist Retreat hosted by Stephan Bachelor and his wife Martine. It was a wonderful experience, a week of silence, meditation, contemplation and some of the best vegetarian and vegan food i have ever tasted. It is the most beautiful and calming place i have ever been.

Interlaken - Buddhist Retreat 

True Beauty

Centred.

After a week of hard concentration, I'm not going to lie it was really hard at times i came away knowing more about myself than i ever dreamed possible, It was an experience like no other and has helped me continue to cultivate the positive mindset and mental awareness that has finally allowed me to thrive and grow. It was a very good week.

Dream Job.

And finally, all my hard work has started to pay off. I started a wonderful new job, a dream job, cooking fresh organic, locally sourced produce in a beautiful kitchen. I'm managing a brigade of chefs and its truly a wonderful thing. It has been a very good month.

A lot to take in i know, I'm still adjusting to it myself. But all this hard work has left me feeling something i don't think I've felt for a very long time. so i will leave you with this thought my dear sweet Ariya.

I am a good person. 

x

Your Daddy

What have i been doing?

Hello dear little one, i hope you're well.

Daddy has been very busy, hard at work these last few months, its the reason i have not been posting as often as i would like, i want to keep you up to date with what's going on for me and how much we all miss and love you.

But enough about the real world i want to share some magic and wonder with you, your daddy is super creative and has been spending his downtime painting up models. A group of mighty sorcerers and magicians, riding atop great Dracolions into battle! 

They're led by a sorceress of unimaginable power and might, always leading the charge, clad in shining silver, riding atop the White Dracoline, They streak across the battle filed like a shooting star! i think you can guess where I'm heading with this, but take a look below.

That's right there led by Ariya Starr, you were the inspiration for this character from the mortal realms, Arriving in a bolt of lighting Ariya Starr and her Pack of Dracolion Riders appear to defend the innocent and punish the wicked! I hope you like them and hopefully, i will have more pretty drawings for you soon. All my love little one.

X

Your Daddy

You Can Do Anything...

This is everything i have been working towards, This is the line i draw under my illness, all the fear, the self-doubt and crippling insecurities are no more. I will never go back to the way i was, i am healthy in body and mind. I raised £405.00 for Health in Mind, To try and give something back to the real heroes, the people who didn't give up on me. the people who do one of the hardest jobs imaginable, The people who helped me come to terms with my problems, face them head-on, accept them for what they were, and leave them behind in a cloud of dust as i charge and change, ever forward always running towards a more positive life. 26.2 miles is just the beginning. All i know, that now, for certain is this.

I HAVE CHANGED

Proud Daddy

I have addressed my problems, i have beaten them, i have made myself strong, i have self-belief determination and joy, i am the person i should have always been, I am someone you can be proud of Ariya, And from this position of strength i can now focus all my attention on getting back to you, I love you Ariya, Be a good girl. 

X

Your Daddy

A Brave New World.

Hello, Dear little one.

I am so sorry I have not posted anything for you in a while, Daddy has undergone some massive changes in his life and its all been a bit mad lately. I'm off on a grand adventure and it's wonderful, I'm meeting new people seeing new places and working harder than I ever have before, But don't you worry, no matter where I am in this big wide world, no matter how far I go or what I do, you are always in my thoughts, I miss you so much Ariya and I am so very close to becoming a Daddy you can be proud of. 7 weeks until I am the Man! I promise I will have something special for you soon but for now, here's what daddy has been up to at work. In smashing it :) 

Take care little one, be good for mummy.

X

Your Daddy

A New Path

When you run out of paths to run down, just make a new one.

Beautiful day to build a path.

Propper Job. Done.

Spent the last day and a half building a new path for your Nannas allotment. When we put our minds to something, believe in ourselves and work hard there is nothing beyond our reach. Very proud of what I have achieved in the past week, I promise you, one day you will walk with daddy down this path and sit with nana and grandad in the sun. All my love little one, Daddy is better than ever.

X

Your Daddy

A Special Time of Year for a Special Little Lady.

Hello little one, I hope you're doing well.

It must be an exciting time of year for you, Santas on his way for your special day and I know you will be getting lots of presents for being the best girl in the world. (you can trust me on that because I checked) Daddy has been busy with his old friends Draco Starr and Tobias Plumppaw (you will meet him soon) putting together a wonderful present for you, full of magic and glee, the perfect Christmas gift to celebrate my daughters third year in this world. It's going to be another hard Christmas for daddy dear little one, not being with you is so difficult for me, but I have the love and support of my family to pull me through and I will never stop fighting for you.

Speaking of support the people around me have begun to rally and the donations for my marathon run have started coming in I have raised £170.00 of my £400.00 target. A massive thank you to all those who have donated and are still yet to donate. at this rate, I will smash my target with time to spare. If anyone is interested in reading my story and finding out why I'm doing this I have placed a link to my fundraising page below.

My Fundraising Page

With that in mind my brilliant little girl, all I have to say is keep watching this space as I will be uploading your present very very soon....oh what the hell its the season of goodwill and little treats each and every day so I'll give you a little sneak peek below, I hope it puts a smile on your face, I miss you Ariya, take care.

Tobias Plumppaw, Says hello.

Merry Christmas Ariya.

X

Your Daddy

Marathon For Health in Mind.

Next year I am running the Edinburgh Marathon for Health in Mind, a mental health charity. If you wish to read my story, find out why I am doing this and support me in this endeavour, then please visit my Fundraising Page by clicking the link below. 

My Fundraising Page

Thank you all for your time and support.

If you never give up, you never really lose.

Hello dear little one.

So once again i have gotten back up and worked hard, harder than i ever have, I have found another job, a really good job that i am loving, its rewarding, fun and i get to be creative all day long. Its looking really promising and if i keep it up i have a feeling it is going to lead to bigger and better things for me. There is always a chance that things could go wrong again, but this time i have been honest and upfront about my past problems, yes it was hard but i think in the long run its going to be so worth it, its really satisfiing to be honest with a complete stranger, and have that trust be rewarded by them giving you a chance to shine as the new person you claim to be. Anyway as always daddy dose like to show off so hers a little taste of what i have been doing at work.

Yeah, Im pretty good.

 My confidance is throught the roof at the moment, and for the first time i think  in my entire life, i can say with absolute truth that it is honest, its not a fake confidane or a mask that i used to hide behind, its real, its such a good feeling, I am strong, I am proud of myself, I have addressed my problems and i wont let anyone tell me otherwise. This is who i am now. Your strong, confident Daddy. I love you little one, the path i am on leads back to you, of that i have no doubt. Be a good girl for Mummy.

X

Your Daddy

Ok, now Daddy is just showing off.

Another helping of what I have been up to this last week, so proud of myself, I'm working so hard for you Ariya, and for myself. This is the best job I have ever had and I am being paid really well, I'm really hoping I will be in a position to send you some money to help mummy look after you really soon, I'm also going to try and start putting a little money away for you each month so that one day you will have the money to follow your dreams :) so, for now, I hope you enjoy the pretty pictures of Daddy's work, I'm showing off, I know, but your my daughter and I want you to be proud of me.

Daddy's Super Pop Up Noodle Bar and Wonderful Salad Bar

X

Your Daddy

Daddy loves his job.

Good Morning little one. I just thought it would be nice to show you what daddy does for a living, I'm a chef and I really really really love what I do. Its taken me a long time to get to where I am but I can honestly say its worth all the effort, I love working hard and getting up each and every morning, I have changed so much since we were last together, I have been really busy this week, there is a big event on so we have been working long 12+ hours, its super hard but oh so worth it when we hear the comments people leave about daddy's food. But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words so take a look at what daddy has been up to this last week.

Fine Dining at its Best.

This is the best job I have ever had, I love what I do and it breaks my heart that I can't share it with you and mummy. the person I am now is someone you can both be proud. I am very proud of myself, I have addressed my problems, worked really hard to get to where I am and I will continue on this path because I know it leads back to you, my dear sweet Ariya Starr. I am a better man because of you. I miss you all.

X

Your Daddy

Proud of myself

Hello little one, I have some exciting news for you. Your daddy has gotten a new job! you see I have many talents and if I'm honest I have never had enough belief in myself, I have always been plagued by self-doubt and insecurities, I've always hidden it behind a mask of confidence, afraid that people would not like what lay hidden beneath. But that's all changed now, I believe in myself, I have my self-worth and I won't ever let anyone take it away from me. I owe it all to the hard-working people who helped daddy get better and to accept and deal with his problems. All of this has helped me push myself to a new level and I'm so proud of myself, I have just got to tell you about it.

I went for a work trial in a very high-end kitchen, you see daddy is a really talented chef, I love food and how it brings people together and makes them happy, and that in turn makes me happy. Anyway, it was simple stuff, to begin with, cut a few things here, prep a few things there, then the head chef comes to me with a wooden crate full of beautiful ingredients and says right cook me something you have an hour. It was fantastic, it was just like master chef on the tv! so I planned it all out and went about creating a dish from scratch with what I was given.

I came up with a Moroccan Prawn Dish, Prawns marinated in orange juice, lime, and harissa with a light couscous salad, finely sliced spring onion, fennel, and onion softened with lemon and orange juice dressing. I also made a couple of flatbreads and a yogurt, harissa and rosewater dip to go with it, got to use a pizza oven on that one, was great!

So the head chefs all tried it and seemed to enjoy it without giving too much away, they had really good poker faces, they told me how I could improve it but overall giving the time scale and how I had to improvise the dish I had done a really good job.

So the moment came, they sat me down in the office and said something that amazed me and made me so proud I just had to tell you about it. They said they thought daddy was a very talented chef, a real find, and they don't normally do this but they would like to offer daddy a job there and then! now, these guys are competition chefs they compete all around the country so for them to say that was just incredible.

It has done wonders for my confidence, self-belief, and I'm even more determined to succeed, this is my career, I love what I do and this is the start of bigger and better things for daddy. I know there may be more bumps in the road ahead for me but I know now that I have the skill the talent and the drive to get a job in any kitchen, I am good enough, I am strong and I will never go back to the old me.

X

Your Daddy