#100HappyDays: 1-20

Here’s a little motivational project I have going at the moment under popular Instagram hashtag #100HappyDays, largely to keep me positive whilst job hunting. These are the first twenty entries through Christmas and New Year 2014 and early 2015. The next twenty will have a far more serious bent I suspect, but it’s been nice to start out with family, food, puppies and booze!:

I thought my last day at my company might make an interesting day to start #100happydays, as a way to keep myself focused and recognise I have a lot to be thankful for, and to push myself to make the most of this time. It also makes the day after St Patrick’s Day the 100th day; a good target for working out and setting up what comes next. This #day1 pic is a certificate my colleagues put together in the style of our students. My send off included a champagne lunch and gifts. Its been surreal and emotional marking the end of my time at Berlitz, my only serious full time employer of around eight years, who I’ve worked with in four countries. Indirectly their hiring me in South Korea led to my meeting my amazing wife. Its the start of the holidays but for me this year also the end of an era in a major way. I’m going to miss this…

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:47am PST

#day2 has been a pretty quiet pre – Christmas Saturday. Post – baby, weekend nights for us often mean one in, one out. I drew ‘in’ tonight, so I’ll be entertaining myself with Norweigian punk and popcorn (while the little lads awake) and Korean cinema and local beer (while he’s asleep). I’m allowed a day off from the careers stuff before I dive in, right? A few interesting journalistic things coming together today, but I’ll save those for later! #100happydays

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:45am PST

Today (#day3) was our last day with these guys. Cubby and Peter Pan are eight week old collie / jack russell crosses. Their mum died during the birth, and they’ve been with us for ten days on foster from the DSPCA. There’s no way we could cope with them and full time jobs sadly (I don’t plan to be out of work for 15 years!), so they have to go back before we head to England for Christmas. But they’ve been a blast, if a messy un – toilet trained blast. I’ll miss them! #100happydays

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:09am PST

One thing I’m really looking forward to over the coming #100happydays is more time with this little hero. He’s shattered from saying goodbye to puppies, going to the live crib, buying oversized rubber ducks and painting pictures. He’s shattered me, too, but it really is one of those things you don’t get until you have your own. He utterly fills me with joy. I can’t wait to watch him open presents! #day4

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:01pm PST

Home for Christmas! Of course that means getting chubby (er) on mums cooking. She is actually incredible. Masterchef material. #100happydays #day5

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:19pm PST

Christmas decor #100happydays #day6 #feelingfat

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:44pm PST

The best bit of Christmas. Have a good one everyone! #100happydays #day7

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:00pm PST

The post Christmas leftover sandwich. Arguably better than Christmas dinner itself… #100happydays #day8

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:22pm PST

Last full day at home for Christmas. I grew up in Salisbury, largely, which is a beautiful rural city (‘city’) that’s very charming but has never struck me as very exciting. Definitely great for little ones though. Today we did sales, feeding ducks, reading toddler books and cider. Home tomorrow. #100happydays #day9

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 1:43pm PST

Home time. It’s been an awesome Christmas seeing this sleepy little man get excited about presents and play with his cousin, but good to be back in Dub #100happydays #day10

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 1:19pm PST

We seem to have an entire sick house today, but in between barfing I did find time to set up my coolest Christmas present, and learnt I walk over a mile around the house and 3000+ steps even when I’m trying not to move. Nice! #100happydays #day11

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 3:00pm PST

Another sick day meant a chance to read the December issue of The Thin Air properly. I’m a massive fan (and very biased, of course) of the Belfast mag. This is about my tenth ish full blown cover story, and a particular special one for me due to the links – although I’m not aware we’ve ever met – between myself and Brian of So Cow. We both lived in Korea at the same time and both got heavily involved in the music scene. In fact he remembers my first ever mag, Rokon. A good 40% of our interview was a kind of reminiscing. I think it reads really well because of that connection. But again, I’m biased! #100happydays #day12

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:32pm PST

A quiet day on the Shannon down in killaloe, Co. Clare for New Year’s Eve. Now time for some champagne! #100happydays #day13

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:19am PST

I prefer hugely ambitious, mind – focusing targets to resolutions, so today I spent a few minutes jotting down the ones currently occupying my head. I looked back at last year’s, too, and it went fairly well. Fingers crossed! #100happydays #day14

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Jan 1, 2015 at 1:31pm PST

It’s been two months in the ‘brewing’; my sloe gin is finally ready! It tastes fantastic, too! #100happydays #day15

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Jan 1, 2015 at 11:51am PST

Adam seems to be coming on leaps and bounds the last week or two. Today we discovered he understands ‘park’ when he nodded that he wanted to go and had the biggest, cutest smile of satisfaction when we arrived. It’s the little things! #100happydays #day16

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Jan 1, 2015 at 12:49pm PST

I love a good quiet Sunday, and this was a great one. Stressless and finished off with a nice sunset. Tomorrow, though, the real work must begin #100happydays #day17

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Jan 1, 2015 at 1:32pm PST

Today was the fist real day at work and so for me the first day staring at applications and sifting through possibilities. I’m feeling fairly positive early on, but I still needed a little escape. This is my retail therapy: 40000 products worth of Asian food imports at Asia Market on Drury Lane. Because very little makes me happier than exploring rice cakes, kimchi, dried clam snacks or black chicken #100happydays #day18

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Jan 1, 2015 at 3:43pm PST

Inspired by my niece’s pet fish Sharky and George, today Adam and I added two small new members of the family. He’s thrilled! #100happydays #day19

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Jan 1, 2015 at 1:50pm PST

My little man finished his first masterpiece. Offers over a grand considered 😉 #100happydays #day20

A photo posted by James Hendicott (@jameshendicott) on Jan 1, 2015 at 1:03pm PST