If I were to sit down and tell you about my Christmas day so far, you'd probably look at me a bit confused and say...
"So?"
This has been one of the best Christmas' I've had, and the highlight has been...nothing. Absolutely nothing earth changingly dramatic has happened, and it's been beautiful. So far it has been a completely normal, everyday, happy Australian Christmas. It's so normal in fact that some people may say it sucks - while my family are shelling prawns, starting the barbecue, setting lunch places, and playing with the toys they opened this morning, I'm sitting at work writing a blog.
The normality started last night when my wife and I joined my family and some friends for Christmas Eve dinner at my brothers house. The main topic of conversation was the wedding of our family friends that the groom declared a "no crying event," but then my brother showed a video of the groom breaking down in tears when he sees his bride walk down the aisle. As people headed to bed early, it was to the sound of my niece singing "tis the season to be Charlie, fa la la la la, la la la la."
I woke this morning to the screams of my nephew "Uncle Barns, I got a Leonardo!" My parents and sister joined us and we all sat around the tree opening our presents. Then, dressed in my sexy new threads my wife got me, we were both lured to the mobile coffee van sitting over the road where Rick, the owner told us he wasn't open for business, but he'd make us a special one at no charge for Christmas.
With drinks in hand, my wife then drove me from the Northern beaches into work in the city (massive!) I sat down and started writing a blog, and that brings us up to right now.
"So?" - I hear you say, but that's my exact point. There has been nothing extraordinarily amazing about this Christmas, and that's why it's been so good - I've just been eating, drinking, opening presents and generally just hanging out with the people I love.
Merry Christmas everybody - I hope absolutely nothing happens today, and that you love it.
Thursday 25 December 2014
Tuesday 16 December 2014
163-Riding to conquer cancer
When you celebrate the little things in life, the big things seem so much more special, so next year, my wife and I will be riding in the Chris O'Brien Ride to Cure Cancer.
When our friends Mary and Ramy asked us to join their team for the 200 km ride in October, it took us a New York second to say yes. Today is Angela & my 1 year, 3 month and 16 day anniversary, we recently reminisced about the first time we held hands, and one of our favorite things to do is have a cup of tea at our local coffee shop - Angela and I love the small things in life, so a 2 day ride with a nights camping by the Hawkesbury River, and a requirement to raise $2500 each is a challenge so big I'm quivering with excitement.
The ride is on the 10th & 11th of October, then a couple of weeks later, Angela and I will be heading to Papua New Guinea to try and walk the Kokoda track. For both the ride and the trek, we will be trying with everything we have to reach the end, but we are just doing them for the same reason any other married couple would do it - to share a challenge with the person we love.
When our friends Mary and Ramy asked us to join their team for the 200 km ride in October, it took us a New York second to say yes. Today is Angela & my 1 year, 3 month and 16 day anniversary, we recently reminisced about the first time we held hands, and one of our favorite things to do is have a cup of tea at our local coffee shop - Angela and I love the small things in life, so a 2 day ride with a nights camping by the Hawkesbury River, and a requirement to raise $2500 each is a challenge so big I'm quivering with excitement.
The ride is on the 10th & 11th of October, then a couple of weeks later, Angela and I will be heading to Papua New Guinea to try and walk the Kokoda track. For both the ride and the trek, we will be trying with everything we have to reach the end, but we are just doing them for the same reason any other married couple would do it - to share a challenge with the person we love.
Wednesday 10 December 2014
162-Barnaby to give stand up comedy a crack in 2015
I thought I was pretty funny when I was younger, and next year I'll get my chance to prove it at Give it a Crack, when I perform a solo stand up routine.
I'll be telling the joke I made up when I was about 12, I'll be revealing the comedy skit I wrote with my mate, Andrew Bowers, in year 9, and I'll be doing it all at the Sydney Comedy Store on November 18 next year.
I have already written my "set" (that's what we call it in the biz), but if anyone has any cracking jokes or stories, pass them on and I'll see if I can work them in.
Tickets will be on sale next year,
I'll be telling the joke I made up when I was about 12, I'll be revealing the comedy skit I wrote with my mate, Andrew Bowers, in year 9, and I'll be doing it all at the Sydney Comedy Store on November 18 next year.
I have already written my "set" (that's what we call it in the biz), but if anyone has any cracking jokes or stories, pass them on and I'll see if I can work them in.
Tickets will be on sale next year,
Tuesday 9 December 2014
161-Send someone you love to Kokoda for Christmas
The crew I'm taking to Kokoda in October 2015 is shaping up to be pretty epic, so if you're struggling to think of what to get your loved one for Christmas, why not send them with us?
Spots are going quickly, so now is the time to book. Group numbers are limited and once capacity is reached, no more bookings are accepted. So have a look at the details below, and if you are keen to be a part of this epic crew, or you want a family member or a friend to get amongst it, have a look at the details below and put your deposit down:
Spots are going quickly, so now is the time to book. Group numbers are limited and once capacity is reached, no more bookings are accepted. So have a look at the details below, and if you are keen to be a part of this epic crew, or you want a family member or a friend to get amongst it, have a look at the details below and put your deposit down:
Kokoda To Owers Corner
- Duration: 8 days
- Departs: 21/10/2015
- Arrives: 29/10/2015
- Price: $3,685
- Led by: Australian Led
Friday 5 December 2014
160-Appreciate the small things
Eating a Woolworths cookie might not be considered an achievement in most people's eyes, but I just did it using my left hand and I felt like giving the dude next to me a high 5.
The reason I was so excited is because I have a cerebral tremor in my left hand caused by a stroke, so gripping anything in my left hand is incredibly difficult - if the exaggerated grip strength doesn't crush the thing I'm holding to oblivion, the violent shake will inevitably end up with me dropping it on the floor.
The tremor gets worse when I'm trying to manipulate something in my fingertips, but the only way to improve the control in my left hand is to use the hand as much as possible. So over the last few weeks I've been rolling a straw in my left fingertips to try and improve my control, and when I got a cookie from Woolies yesterday, I decided to see how far I'd come and eat it in my left hand. I was amazed that I could break bits off and put it in my mouth before crushing it or dropping it on the ground, but I was more amazed by the joy that something so simple brought to my life.
It dawned on me yesterday that I struggled to remember the last time something simple in life made me sit back and say "Wow" - I used to send a friend "Left Hand Achievement Reports" when I found I could do something again with my left hand - picking up a Tic Tac, using cutlery. eating an apple or doing a cuff link up all floated my boat - so after my Woolies cookie success, I'm going to keep twiddling my straw and looking out for more "Wow" moments.
The reason I was so excited is because I have a cerebral tremor in my left hand caused by a stroke, so gripping anything in my left hand is incredibly difficult - if the exaggerated grip strength doesn't crush the thing I'm holding to oblivion, the violent shake will inevitably end up with me dropping it on the floor.
The tremor gets worse when I'm trying to manipulate something in my fingertips, but the only way to improve the control in my left hand is to use the hand as much as possible. So over the last few weeks I've been rolling a straw in my left fingertips to try and improve my control, and when I got a cookie from Woolies yesterday, I decided to see how far I'd come and eat it in my left hand. I was amazed that I could break bits off and put it in my mouth before crushing it or dropping it on the ground, but I was more amazed by the joy that something so simple brought to my life.
It dawned on me yesterday that I struggled to remember the last time something simple in life made me sit back and say "Wow" - I used to send a friend "Left Hand Achievement Reports" when I found I could do something again with my left hand - picking up a Tic Tac, using cutlery. eating an apple or doing a cuff link up all floated my boat - so after my Woolies cookie success, I'm going to keep twiddling my straw and looking out for more "Wow" moments.
Thursday 4 December 2014
159-Ange & Barns Honeymoon world tour - Leg 1, Auckland, New Zealand
My wife, Angela Guirguis-Howarth & I (Barnaby Rhoderic Guirguis Howarth) are travelling the world on our honeymoon and filming a documentary about the trip. Leg 1 was Auckland, New Zealand, and Angela & I are pleased to bring you the first installment of tour world trip documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tI6ySa2r-0&list=UUtQEmQ7PHVMsiXZzLm8gpvA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tI6ySa2r-0&list=UUtQEmQ7PHVMsiXZzLm8gpvA
Monday 1 December 2014
158-Barnaby Howarth to speak at Diabetes NSW Live your Life Ball
After starting my motivational speaking business in March, 2013, today I'm excited to announce that I just booked my first keynote address at Diabetes NSW's Live your Life Ball.
I'll be talking about how I've just kept living the life I wanted despite diabetes - after I was diagnosed I played AFL for the Sydney Swans, survived a non diabetes related stroke, wrote a book, climbed Mt Kilimajaro, filmed a documentary, was admitted to the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame and married the girl of my dreams.
If you're looking for some assurance that the life you're living RIGHT NOW is something you should be proud of, come to the Diabetes NSW Live your Life Ball next February
I'll be talking about how I've just kept living the life I wanted despite diabetes - after I was diagnosed I played AFL for the Sydney Swans, survived a non diabetes related stroke, wrote a book, climbed Mt Kilimajaro, filmed a documentary, was admitted to the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame and married the girl of my dreams.
If you're looking for some assurance that the life you're living RIGHT NOW is something you should be proud of, come to the Diabetes NSW Live your Life Ball next February
157-Thoughts on Barnaby Howarth from cousin Shea Wittig
I've written a lot of blogs about myself over the years, but this morning my cousin wrote a blog about me that is so humbling I wanted to share it. This is from Shea Wittig's blog "Conversations with my sister"
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Our Little Girl is scared of the rain so, to highlight the #fun side of storms, we took to #playing in the puddles.
Sound advice from @BarnabyHowarth, a former AFL Footballer who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 14 and survived a stroke at age 25 after being 'king hit' in a gang attack. Since then he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, published a book and, one of his proudest moments, recently getting married. Now he and his beautiful Wife are travelling the world on their Honeymoon while he delivers #Motivationalspeeches in each country they visit - look him up here: http://
Now there's some #inspiration to start your week -#happymonday
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Our Little Girl is scared of the rain so, to highlight the #fun side of storms, we took to #playing in the puddles.
Sound advice from @BarnabyHowarth, a former AFL Footballer who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 14 and survived a stroke at age 25 after being 'king hit' in a gang attack. Since then he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, published a book and, one of his proudest moments, recently getting married. Now he and his beautiful Wife are travelling the world on their Honeymoon while he delivers #Motivationalspeeches in each country they visit - look him up here: http://
Now there's some #inspiration to start your week -#happymonday
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