2024

 The year started with a big shake up as I chose to seek a new opportunity In my career. One of the things that I wanted to explore further which had been part of my time leading a team and creating a new business for a start-up was my writing. As an engineer and scientist creative writing was never really Something I had undertaken. But over the previous three years, I’ve been published quite a lot and in some pleasing magazines and Journals. I’d also been forced to travel a bit with my job and I wanted to address my outstanding ambitions in life. So I sought opportunities for writing and content creation and chose to be courageous. Having travelled to the states twice once to Detroit and once to New York in my old job it transpired that my new job was to take me to such exciting and exotic places as Coventry and Leeds. 😂 

But I have explored the writing and content creation. I worked pro bono for a technology start-up Which also embraced my interest in mental health. I have written 20 articles this year and many one page documents that I’ve published on LinkedIn where I have researched subjects around business management leadership engineering water and waste water treatment, mental health and sustainability. I’ve drawn on my Quaker heritage and also written about inspiring women. Despite all this writing, I continue to struggle to read novels and I continue to manage my anxiety. 

I’ve continued with my professional development building on my CPD and it would seem I’ve taken a lot more interest in food again as is clear from my Facebook feed. I Continue to enjoy my heritage for using old plates and looking out memories from old photographs and using the technology that’s now available to build on my family history . Because I have no income, the holidays after Tenerife was somewhat muted, But the Isle of Man transpired to be delightful. The transport Museum is quite different to that in Lucerne and Detroit but the sea sides are amazing. The nature is wonderful and it was a cheap and lovely holiday where I saw a Wallaby in the wild and really excited that side of me which enjoys engineering and water engineering as there is so much water powered of interest there . I walked in the footsteps on my great aunts And carries help we created a number of scenes they took themselves 50 years ago. Of course all of this may have been overshadowed by Gary falling in a river and thoroughly soaking himself which may be the outstanding memory of our trip. 😂 

I set up Dr Bigg my own business so that I could promote my writing. I have spent the year creating content.. 

The Isle of Man wasn’t  our only trip out though the others were equally as low-key, but also equally lovely. I visited the local sheep fair which is in its 786 year. You read that right. Nearly 800 years old. I visited Grantham for the Heritage Day and belvoir Castle to meet up with friends. I grew my own basil on the windowsill to save money when cooking and my lavender garden grew wild which is my own fault for encouraging pollinators.

On the way back from the Isle of Man, we visited the RAF Coxford and Wolverhampton and Birkenhead and I fulfilled a long held desire to see the statues on Crosby Beach.

Many places I visited have also been filming locations and I took the opportunity to photograph places of interest in Wolverhampton, Norfolk, the calf of man, Beaver Castle and Swaffham who have all featured on the big screen.

All of these have been unexpected joys of my favourite people. I even went round the TT course in the family car. 😂 But we also enjoyed the electric train and no one appreciated by joke about riding in the Mercedes-Benz when we took the bus.

I Discovered by chance that the name Bigg is most common in a place called Norfolk Island Australia. Investigating that I found that it’s a penal colony for criminals acquit Australia was a penal colony for criminals. They sent their worst offenders the criminal criminals try an island of the coast. Bigg is the most common name. 😂 

I applied for creative writing jobs and content creator jobs - and learnt the difference. There are jobs I didn’t get and it was all part of the journey. I visited the art at Corby Glen and watched the Olympics on TV and spent the year embracing the nonsense of life. I took my son on small but reckless shopping sprees And tried hard to keep him warm as he’s cold, even at the warmest temperatures for which I suspect is the diabetes.

I took qualifications in coding and in trauma. I researched small quirky places of interest in the UK as I brought together the worker needed to make an app to allow people to visit these hidden gems. Of course I continue to learn languages.

I missed all of the northern lights.

I visited mum again in Leicester.

I developed a new medical condition and am managing that but on the good news side Gary has had the all clear for his.

Now Back in work, I’ve continued to write and publish my articles although it’s not part of my job now it has become a hobby and an outlet for when my head gets full. I Presented for British water and oddly have taken a lot of pictures of rude veg. And this year will be my second Christmas relying only on a small air fryer as the oven is still broken.

I wish you all joy as you continue your journey through life and congrats congratulate all of you have undertaken new projects new careers made a step change in life and more of you who have survived. Honestly surviving is no mean feet. ❤️