A Farewell Blog

Introduction

Welcome to my first blog since December 2015. After my last post entitled, 'Going Off The Grid...', I made the conscious decision to cease writing for a while, as many as the topics discussed related to my Kenyan family, which were obviously very personal, and I wanted a certain amount of privacy as we went about trying to plan our future and coming to terms with impending parenthood. So this blog is really just a quick overview on what's happened since then, and an update on what may occur next year before I sign off for good.

Recap - 2015

Firstly, here is a brief excerpt from my last entry, 'Going Off The Grid...' to set the tone:

 "The sole purpose of this blog is just to let everyone know that I will be "Going Off The Grid" for a while, from next Monday December 21st until Thursday January 21st.
Due to a combination of holiday and paternity leave I will be enjoying a whole wonderful month off work, and also off social media as I 'unplug' myself from the world to visit my gorgeous fiance and be there for the birth of our child. I am so excited at the prospect of impending fatherhood as I thought this amazing experience had passed me by. Being a dad may well have come to me late in life, but I'm going to cherish every precious moment of this amazing, little miracle that we've been fortunate to be gifted with.

2015 has been a very tough year for me, both personally and professionally. Although some of my closest friends have an idea of some of the issues I've had to deal with, I don't think others really appreciate and understand just how much pressure I've been under. If this was entirely self-inflicted then I could have no complaints, but alas this hasn't been the case. I rarely suffer from self-pity, but it's been really hard trying to be so strong for everybody else all of the time, whilst most people around me have been totally oblivious to how I've been feeling, and what I've had to cope with.

I have sacrificed so much over the years, probably far more than most of you know, and it's been a hell of a struggle at times, financially, emotionally and spiritually, but despite these hardships I have continually proved to be a survivor, an optimist, and an old, hopeless romantic..."

2016 - The Year So Far

And here is a brief update on 2016 which happily celebrated an upturn in fortunes:

I celebrated Christmas and the New Year in Kisumu alongside a very heavily pregnant fiance (now official after presenting Nancy with an engagement ring on bended knee), as well as with dear friends and family. We had hoped that Nancy would've given birth by then, as her original due date was Boxing Day...but in the end Jerome David Muskett decided he was finally ready to enter the world on 11th January. Unfortunately, this only granted me eight days with JD, but they were eight unforgettable days. Nancy was amazing and I still can't believe that somebody as ugly as me can help to make someone as adorable as our gorgeous baby boy! So it was a very emotional and tearful farewell when I left towards the end of January, switching from the dust and heat of Kenya to a cold and unwelcoming winter back in the UK. Leaving my loved ones behind gets harder with every visit, but this time it was additionally tough as I wasn't only leaving Nancy and Jojo behind, but our newborn son too. So around March/April after much discussion back and forth, we decided I should try to look to see if it was possible for me to relocate permanently to East Africa. With this is mind I broached the subject with my bosses at work, before deciding that I had little option other than handing in my notice and thus lifting a great weight off my shoulders. Fortunately, my next visit soon came around as I headed back to Kenya in June, in time for Nancy's birthday celebrations, as well as for my first ever Father's Day. We were able to move into our new home, and I was soon settled back into domestic bliss, helping out Nancy with the nappy changing and midnight feeds as best I could. Once again when it came to leaving my family behind after two amazing weeks it was incredibly hard, but the comforting thought I had was that I could now start planning the next chapter of my 'African Adventure'.

Political Landscape

Part of these plans included assessing the varying landscapes of both Kenya and the UK, and trying to anticipate future developments, both politically and with a practical, logistical mindset. 2017 is due to be an interesting year all round. Escaping the UK may be a wise move what with 'Brexit' and all that, but Kenya itself is also due to be quite volatile with national elections in August and political unrest. In fact the fate of both nations is entwined due to the uncertain future of Kenya's free trade agreement with the EU. It is anticipated that tensions will rise in Kenya next year, but it is not all doom and gloom: Kenya's population continues to grow (I had a help with that!), with incomes on the rise and improvements to transport and energy infrastructures taking place, as well as government spending and foreign investment both showing signs of an increase, despite the ongoing transparent and blatant corruption continually taking place.

Seven Year Itch

Professionally speaking too, I felt it was time to move on. Initially, I had intended to possibly semi-retire at the end of next year * (see below), but my plans were brought forward due to unrest, unhappiness and a burning desire to be with my family as soon as feasible. Therefore, I am flying out overnight on Monday 31st October via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to rock-up in Nairobi, Kenya on the following day. As always, I'll only be traveling with hand-luggage as all my worldly possessions can fit into one holdall...that's just the way I roll which makes the transition and relocation much easier anyway. I'm going to be spending a minimum of three months with my precious family, enjoying some quality time with JD over Christmas, the New Year and of course his first birthday in January. Thereafter who knows? But I genuinely believe that something will turn up; an opportunity or an opening will present itself and then our future will become clearer. Alternatively if not, then I still get to spend precious time with my family and nobody can ever take that away from us. Worst case scenario I'll return to the UK after three months, find some temporary work and then head back to Kenya at the end of next year, by which time I'd have hoped to have secured a residency permit based on a change in my circumstances. * (see below, again)

* (change of circumstances)
2017 will also mark a personal milestone: I will be celebrating my 50th birthday in October!
This will also trigger a release clause in an old protected at 50 pension fund that I have, so this will give us further options to plan for our future, whether that be in Kenya or maybe even with a view to bringing my family back to the UK? Watch this space... 

"...There's an old man on a warm and sunny island
  No job, no money, just a smile to call his own
  Know what he says? "The past will only haunt you
  Live for today, each day's an open door..."

So, I will definitely be seeing out the end of this year and seeing in the start of the next at home in Kenya...a place that I can now truly call 'home'.
I am so looking forward to being able to feel the sun on my back once again; shoot the breeze and shoot some pool amongst friends; have fun with the kids as we mess around and play games; enjoy a beer with my gorgeous girl as we share a beautiful sunset over Lake Victoria ...it's the simple pleasures in life which mean the most ~ Live the life you love ~ Love the life you live!

Leaving Party

Finally, just to let you all know that there will be a leaving party on Friday 28th October, starting with drinks from midday at the 'Crate & Apple' in Chichester, before moving onto 'The Belle Isle' just down the road sometime around 4pm. All are welcome, and it will be a day full of mixed emotions as I bid my fond farewell. I would just like to sign off by thanking everyone for their continual love and support. There are so many people who have enriched my life over the years; from close friends near and far; to family here and abroad; as well as work colleagues past and present...but to list them all would take forever, and I wouldn't want to embarrass any individuals by singling them out. Needless-to-say you all know who you are!

Thank you all for your support throughout all my blog writing years.
Stay safe, take care & be happy

Steve Muskett - 30/09/2016