And so here we are in 2018. It hardly seems a moment since I was sitting in The Romany pub in Northampton with my bleeper attached firmly to my waistband, just in case the Millennium bug hit. Where have those intervening years gone? What have I achieved since then?
At the start of a brand new year, I do like to take a look back and take stock of what has happened over the past 12 months. This time last year my show was about to go through massive changes.
I had been wanting to do something a bit different for a while, and managed to sell my ideas to my boss who got behind us and helped us create what I think is a far better listen. I am proud of what my programme sounds like now – and of course it’s an hour longer than it was this time last year too.
Helen’s Big Healthcheck in April was once again hailed a success. Lots of local health and wellbeing experts in one room, with direct access to services for local people.
We know that in 2016 we saved one person’s life as a result of our initiative after it was discovered she had an aggressive form of skin cancer. I’m hoping we managed to make a different last year too. As you read, planning will be underway for this year’s event which we’re hoping to hold in September.
Ironically, this is the year my health started to suffer a bit. I can certainly say I got my money’s worth out of the NHS this year. What a fantastic institution it is, I can only offer praise.
As I was being injected in the wrist (painful!!) in December the doctor who was inserting the needle said to the student nurse in the room “I expect you’ll be off to Australia after you finish your training?” to which she replied “No, my heart is with the NHS.” It was so lovely to hear.
As I said, it might have its faults, and things could be done differently, but the NHS is something we should be so proud of.
Thank you to the many health professionals who’ve helped me out over the past 12 months. With luck, I’ll see less of you this year!
I’m not one for new year resolutions, I lack the willpower to keep going with them and have generally given up by January 3rd. Last year I did decide I would try to read more. One of my earliest, and fondest, memories is of being curled up next to Mum in her armchair, both of us reading books. I love escaping in to another world through someone else’s writing and I discovered some fabulous new authors last year. LJ Ross and her detective series featuring DCI Ryan is one of my favourites, and I’ve had the very great pleasure of meeting and interviewing her a couple of times. I can thoroughly recommend her books.
Another great author I discovered is Joy Ellis, her books are all based around the Fens. A bit gruesome in places, but then I’ve always enjoyed crime novels. All in all, I read about 60 books, finding time to read at least a chapter every night before bed. With some of the grittier crime novels it led to some fairly interesting dreams!
Onwards then in to a brand new year. 12 months of not really knowing what lies ahead. I always have the same feelings at this time of the year. A little apprehension and anxiety, but a feeling of excitement and joie de vivre as the possibilities unfold.
