THAT'S IT..... I'VE HAD ENOUGH!

The day I turned my back on my old life and became someone new.

This time of year, I always reflect on February 2005 when I packed my life into cardboard boxes, a removal van, made some sandwiches and moved my wife and my young daughter to Northamptonshire having made the decision to relocate away from my West London roots.

I had simply had enough. The stress, the strain, the frustration and feeling weighed down by the emotional weight of unhappiness.

It was time to leave my West London roots and get out.

Not knowing where to go, I had already spoken to my old football buddy who was living in a place called Wellingborough in early September 2004 what was life like and he said come up for a coffee and see for yourself. So I did and the next day, we put an offer on a house...... the rest is history.....

I returned to West London and back to what was internally eating me alive.... unhappiness.

Fast forwarding...... Travelling into Wellingborough on 25th February 2004, I passed a sign that said "Welcome to Northamptonshire..... Let Yourself Grow" and since then, I have.

I've been in the County for 19 years now having moved to Wellingborough knowing just TWO people. Our original plans were to move to Wellingborough, settle and then move to Brackley as we liked the area..... but little did I know we would end up going our separate ways, moving to Kettering and then onto Desborough which is where we're based.

I'm now surrounded by people who have been brilliant and welcomed me in when I thought I'd get a "here we go again" reaction from people not accepting people into the area. How wrong was I!

I'm often asked by people who still live in the West London area and follow me on social media "How do you do what you do ?" - well there is a simple answer to that..... "I'm not stuck in traffic most of the time, I engage with people and I breathe the countryside air which is on our doorsteps."

I've met some amazing people, got to see more of the UK from our East Midlands base and would never have experienced what I've experienced by staying where I was raised as a child.

Do I regret it ? No, do I look back at my past life ? occasionally, am I happy here ? 100%

Thank you Northamptonshire, you've allowed me to grow...... and now I'm repaying the favour.....