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For once, I've had a pretty quiet week. There have been no health problems, anxiety or stress, so as the video above explains, I am feeling practically stress-free. Now that is a first for me! I am feeling that good, that I don't have any IBS symptoms, and I am actually sleeping well; better than I have done in years. Despite the nasty weather in Perth at the moment, I have absolutely nothing to complain about, now that is a shocker for me and probably you as well.
With all my health issues more or less cleared up, I am beginning to look forward to our holiday in Thailand and Singapore. This is where my mind is right now, and I am starting to feel excited about our 30th anniversary trip. I am of course making preparations to hopefully avoid contracting an infection this time around, and I am doing what I can to stop any future staph infection, from manifesting while we are abroad. Interestingly, after much research, I have discovered that probiotics could be key to beating this god-awful disease.
Normally I take a probiotic every day, but on holiday I don't. There is no real reason why, rather, I just don't take them with me when I am travelling. In Asia, I do suffer from infections, and yes, you guessed it, home in Perth, I do not. I am hoping that by taking a strong capsule daily; while touring Southeast Asia, I will be able to stop any nasty bacteria in its tracks. Here's hoping anyway! I am well aware of how destructive staphylococcus Aureus can be, so anything I can do to avoid it for a third time, is worth a try!
Just one other thing to mention, before you check out the video, and it's about a person I haven't seen in eight years. Dawn, was a fellow expat, and close friend I knew, while living in Gran Alacant, in Spain. She just happened to show up in my store in Midland a week ago — just out of the blue. She was visiting a friend here in Australia and was passing through, before travelling onto Africa.
Dawn was part of The No Wives Club in Spain. All of us, who were close at that time, had our respective partners and husbands working or living abroad. We formed a close bond, during difficult times. Sadly, we lost touch over the years and I never believed I would see her again. For Dawn to just pop up, unexpectedly, over the other side of the world, was extraordinary, but extremely lovely. It was a joy to catch up, even briefly. Sadly, I won't be able to see her again, as our paths once again take different directions. However, it was a precious moment that brought a much-needed smile to my face. Of course, I wish her all the best — and who knows, we may bump into each other again one day.
That's it this week, short and sweet — enjoy the video!
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Well this has genuinely been the month from hell, and even though I am still suffering from an ongoing infection, I am at least at the end of the 'heart saga', that has been plaguing me in recent weeks. As readers of my blog know, over the last fortnight, I have undergone a series of tests, after ending up in the ED here in Australia for unexplained chest pain. While seeing a consultant in the Cardiological Department at Midland Hospital, I was informed that they had discovered a Systolic Grade II Ejection Murmur. They told me, in no uncertain terms, that it could be of concern and I had to follow up with my Doctor as soon as possible — which I duly did!
The one aspect of Australia that I like, is the health care this country provides. Yes it does cost a lot of money for patients like me, compared to The UK, but the reality is, it is worth it. I have built up a good relationship with my GP, who understands me more than most. He is aware of how hyperaware of my health and body I am, and will always advise in the best way possible — not always the way I would want, I have to say.
After referring me for an Echocardiogram at a private clinic in Joondalup, he told me to get it done as soon as possible, so he could give me the go ahead to go on holiday next month. Without the results, it would have been very difficult for me to travel abroad, especially without the express permission of my GP. Thankfully in Australia, I didn't have to wait long for a private appointment and it was done and dusted in a few days, rather than waiting a month for a bulk billed test.
This week I had a follow-up appointment with my Doctor, after an anxiety inducing seven days wait. I was very nearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Over the last few months I have suffered with penicillin resistant staph infections, a cancer scare and heart problems — my body really wasn't up to taking much more! However, I plucked up the courage once again and headed to my surgery for the results.
Sitting there waiting to be seen, I was exhausted and full of emotion. I was absolutely sure the murmur they found was serious. In my head I planned for a future of operations, medication and constant trips to the specialist. With all these dark thoughts going on in my head, by the time my Dr called me in, I was a mess!
Sat in his office, I immediately asked him how bad it was. He took one look at me and said, 'it isn't bad at all, in fact the complete opposite'. I do have a murmur yes, but it has likely been there for many years, and is caused by regurgitation, which is quite common and normal for a man of my age. I also have a leaky heart valve and a few other minor issues — nothing sinister, nothing bad, just all part of growing old.
Shockingly, there was an upside to all this. The treadmill stress test that I had to undergo highlighted my current level of fitness. In the consultants words, I was fitter than most 55-year-old men, achieving 13 MET's in my test. Now, I really don't know what that means fully, but I am reliably informed I am at the higher end of physical fitness for a man of my age. My heart health is firmly in the excellent category on the Bruce Scale, which is used to measure just how fit a person's heart is.
I don't mind telling you how shocked I was; I have evolved from a smoking, drinking obese man, to a fit, healthy 55-year-old in optimal health — I couldn't have been happier. My week of anxiety had changed into a week of positive vibes and good thoughts. I don't think I can ever describe the elation you feel, when you are told you are fit and well and more importantly, do not need medication or any form of follow up with the hospital.
After losing 30kg in weight, I have finally been vindicated. To everyone who told me to slow down, I was too thin and gaunt, I can say, you were wrong. This is how I should be, this is what being healthy is all about, and I am bloody proud of myself for the achievements I have under my belt and looking forward to a productive future ahead.
In the words of the Cardiologist who conducted the tests last week, things could have been very different if I hadn't changed my life. Instead today, I am looking at a future I never really believed I had, and I am emboldened to do even more in the pursuit of physical fitness and looking after the only body I'll ever have!
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Press Release
Echoes In The Hallway
Blogger, Luke Martin-Jones, writing under his real name Darren Light, has written a nostalgic anthology through Memory, Identity, and the Architecture of Belonging. Echoes in the Hallway, is a childhood journey and a reflection on the past, that made Darren the person he is today!
Perth, Western Australia — 3 August 2025
Roaming Brit, the evocative voice behind a growing archive of cultural memory and personal storytelling, announces the release of Echoes In The Hallway — a richly textured exploration of childhood, resilience, and the spaces that shape us all. Blending atmospheric detail with emotional truth, Echoes In The Hallway invites readers into a world where 1970s smoky pubs and school corridors become portals to the past. With a meticulous eye for period-accurate design and a deep reverence for British cultural moments — from the Silver Jubilee to the quiet rituals of everyday life — Roaming Brit crafts a narrative that is both intimate and universal.
“This book is a love letter to the places and people who made me — and to the echoes that still linger in the corners of memory.”
Through flash fiction and biography, short stories, and visual storytelling, Echoes In The Hallway captures the rhythm of growing up in a world defined by social housing, community ties and the long hot summer of 1976. Nashe House, and the unforgettable presence of figures like Mrs. Hat and Mrs. Rogers, charter a vignette of vulnerability, nostalgia, and the quiet strength found in belonging.
Book Highlights:
- Sensory-rich scenes from 1970s and 1980s Britain
- Emotional portraits of family, community, and identity
- A fusion of visual design and narrative craft
- Reflections on how childhood echoes into adulthood
Whether you're drawn to retro aesthetics, cultural storytelling, or the emotional resonance of memory, Echoes In The Hallway offers a deeply personal yet widely relatable experience.
Availability
Echoes In The Hallway is available at 'amazon,' in the UK, Australia and the USA. It is available in hardback, paperback, and Kindle versions.
Connect with Roaming Brit
Follow the journey and behind-the-scenes reflections at www.roamingbrit.com.
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