I'll give a more detailed recap in a different blog post, but for now, I just wanted to start documenting the trial of my new plant based diet.

So, last Friday (5th October, for the record), I thought I'd have a chilled night and rent an action movie, so I had a look on Google Movies and saw a new film called "The Game Changers" produced by Arnie, and Jackie Chan. About a UFC fighter that discovered everything he'd been told about protein was a lie... I didn't realise that it was a documentary, but after 20 minutes I was hooked.

They interviewed all kinds of athletes who have opted to switch to a whole-food plant based diet, and the results were astounding. More energy, better recovery time from injuries, and much much healthier.

Over this summer, I've had huge problems with my thumb (diagnosed as osteo-arthritis) so I've not been able to play much tennis (although drinking more water seems to have helped with the inflammation and pain almost overnight.)

Anyway, after watching the documentary, I've decided to give it a try to see how a plant based diet will help (if at all) my joint pains, stress and overall health and energy levels)

So, for the record - I'm weighing in at 87kg and have been really stressed with a few projects that are now, nearly complete.

I'm two days in, and will check back every few days with an update.

Fingers crossed

Things just got interesting.  I had an estate agent come over this weekend, and they valued my property at £475k. This makes a big difference because it means the equity I'll have from selling, will definitely get me a nice place in the Sun.

Moving to Mallorca is now my number one option.

Initially, my parents were not happy with this. Worrying as usual, and only seeing the negatives. But I think, I've managed to get them to see the benefits of what I'm trying to do:

I've been to Mallorca a number of times, and I love the place. I know a few good tennis resorts, and my friends could come visit whenever they want. The thought of not having a mortgage or rent commitments is so appealing, I genuinely think this could be what brings the old "happy" Ben back to life.ive

Well, the first step is to sell my house, so it's going on the market this week. (Sad I know, but needs must etc...)

I think I'll need a few months to get my bearings out there and find a nice place, so I'll probably rent a place or a room over here for a few months, and Simon has kindly said I can set up my office at GGS head quarters so I can still work.

Doing this will mean that I'm in a great position to build up my business from out there without the stress of money. Once the business is growing (which it will), then hopefully I can save up enough to buy back over here, and keep my Mallorca place as a holiday home.

I'm actually feeling happier already just thinking about doing this. For seven years I've plodding along, struggling, without much changing. Obviously there's been some great highs in the past few years, but the underlying issue of money has always brought me down.

Maybe now is the time to do this !!!  In the great words of Billy Joel....

However, since things have been really busy with work, but money is slow, I've decided to cancel my tennis membership for a few months, for two reasons

1. To help the finances a little
2. And to help me focus on work a little better

So, I'm determined that when I return back to playing tennis, I'm going to be as fit as I have been for a long time.

My goal is to lose just over half a stone in a month. I'm going to do this by running every other day, and doing a few other bits that don't cost anything, press-ups, sit-ups etc...

Hopefully, I can still maintain my mixed diet of healthy food and take-aways and I'll still be able to achieve my goal.

Aiming to be back at the tennis club in April, so watch this space.

It's one thing getting the new website live, but it's all pointless if nobody knows about it. So, at the start of November I decided to do a little bit of networking to get the name out there.

I've done a few networking events before, and to be honest, didn't find them that beneficial, but armed with my new business cards and a fresh air of confidence, I decided to give it another bash, and to my surprise, not only did I enjoy it, I made some great contacts.

So, one networking event down, and straight away I was invited to a Chamber of Commerce breakfast networking event the next day.... Get me !!!  Again, this was beneficial, but with it being a breakfast event, it did mean getting up early, which for anyone that knows me, is not my best time of day. And on top of that, the room we were in was like a sauna, so from the outset I felt uncomfortably hot.

Halfway through the breakfast I was told I would need to stand up and talk to the room for a few seconds about my business. Now, I don't mind talking in front of people, but to be honest, only having a few minutes to prepare myself and get "in the zone" isn't my preferred way of public speaking. Ah well, I got a few laughs (at jokes, not just at me stumbling for words) and again, managed to meet some good contacts.

So, it looks like networking could be a regular thing to help promote the business. Watch this space...

Now, I enjoy a drink, and I'm quite partial to a few JD's every now and then, and maybe a glass of wine at dinner, but knowing that I had so much to get through this month, I also decided that I would go a month without drinking, hopefully giving me that focus that I needed.

However, halfway though the month, it was my cousins birthday party, so I knew that I may have to have one night where I broke the drought, and I have to say, it was a great night.

But other than that, I've made the rest of the month without a drop... No hangovers, completely focused, and I have to say, barring a few "panic moments" about my finances, on the whole, I'm feeling really up beat and happy.

Roll on December though, I've got a large bottle of JD waiting to be enojoyed.