This is the end My lovely friends, the end!

So where oh where do i start this update. Rambling may occur.

OK, so while Sian and I were away i took some time out to think over where my future lies, what i need to do and where i need to be.

People always say when making a decision on an important issue "It was a tough decision to make", for me this decision wasn't tough to make at all but it was one that needed making.

For 19 years Zakynthos has been my main home which isn't bad considering in 2001 i was only meant to be there for 6 months.

I started off on Zakynthos as a young single cocktail barman at The Tropicana in Argassi with my great friends Andrea, Dez and Mia. I ended up running the bar for 6 great years and had some amazing crazy nights, it was party, party, party hard as long as my body would let me.

Forward to Oct 2006 and i find myself sat in Drunk Corner with no work, expecting 2006 to be my last season and making new friends with my best buddy on the island and nicest guy Tasos and his lovely wife Demi, both are the most genuine, helpful, amazing, funny and honest people i have ever met in my life and they were always there for me for the next 13 years. I love you both.
A day before leaving in that Oct of 2006 i came across an empty old run down bar called "ISIS", who would have thought that in years to come that name would become linked to terrorists. This was a turning point in my life, i took on the building and called it "Oceanic".

Year upon year i made improvements on the building and decor, came up with unique cocktails that were only served in Oceanic and a playlist other bars were to afraid to touch.

I started the bar as just a lifestyle, just enough money to pay the bills and a little bit of spending money, that's it, the sun, warmth, beaches and peacefulness of the island was all i wanted, money and possessions never drove me, i'm not materialistic, i think that showed in my prices as i didn't raise them in the 13 years i had Oceanic. I just enjoy life.

I took the bar on Tripadvisor from No.1 in the resort, on to No.1 on the island, even further to No.1 in the Ionian and finishing 2018 off as the No.1 bar for the whole of Greece. How many people can say their business has been No.1 for a whole country? Well..........there may be another 194 people as there are 195 countries but never mind about that. All this was done just by doing something i enjoyed, i wasn't trying to get recognition, i was just being me and doing my job.

Every single night in Oceanic was a joy to work and had some great times with my friends and customers (apart from 2015, that wasn't down to me but we all know that). I can honestly say there was never a night i didn't want to go in to work, i loved getting ready to open and there wasn't another bar like it in the resort or on the island, all proper branded spirits, unique cocktails, low level music, and most of that music being rock/punk/indie or alternative. It was one of a kind which no one could match or come close too.

As the years rolled on the bar grew and grew until i had created a monster. This is what i didn't want but it was what it had become. Gone was the lifestyle bar and a real business had taken over from season 2017, up until then it was nice just treading water. Now, don't get me wrong it was great being packed out night after night turning people away as you were full but when your not motivated by money then its more of a sadness than a happiness if you can understand my outlook on life. My life has always been about being happy, that's it! Money doesn't make me happy.

I loved every single minute on the island, I was happy there, i was happy with my bar, i was happy riding my motorbike and i was happy with the company my customers gave me.

Now this could go on and on as i got 19 years worth of amazing and joyous memories so i must move on.

Where was i ............oh yes.

So while Sian and I were away i took some time out to think over where my future lies, what i need to do and where i need to be.

4 Weeks ago my mum who is 82 this year was diagnosed with a heart murmur, i know its not a major problem and she's very fit and active, you all know where i get it from now.
This got me thinking, do i want to be over 2000 miles away if my mum ever needed me or if something ever happened to her and the answer straight away was , No. As the years have gone on my priorities have changed which changes where i need to be.
My mum has given me so much and done so much for me that now its time i want to be there for her if ever she needed me, being in Cardiff means i can get to her within 40 mins if needed and i go to visit her twice a week. Being over 2000 miles away means it could take me 24 hrs to get back which doesn't sit right with me.
Also my personal life has changed. Do i want to be away from Sian for 4 1/2 months of the year and the answer came back again, No. Sian would move out to the island in a heartbeat as she loved it there but our life will start a new chapter in my life with new adventures and we just enjoy being together whatever we may be doing and we don't need money to have great times, happiness is the key for both of us and i love her very much.

So there you go my lovely friends, what i'm trying to explain to you is there will be no more Oceanic, 13 years and gone but will never be forgotten. To every single person young or old who visited Oceanic you were what made Oceanic become what it was, a friendly, relaxing, socialising bar with No TV's, No WIFI, No Gimmicks, No Entertainment and No Hassle, just a plain and simple back to the roots bar with other bars not understanding why it was so busy, but we know my lovely friends,we know.

I want to thank every single customer for making my dream a reality and believing in what the bar was about, Chill Out. Without all of you there would be no Oceanic, the bar was always about the customers, never about me, So i thank you from my heart.

There are now some named thank yous. There are hundreds maybe thousands over the 13 years i need to thank but that would take forever, these people deserve more than a thank you but gifts cost money and now i'm unemployed so........there you go, a thank you it is:

Tasos and Demi - Well what more can i say, i will miss you very much.

Phil and Jan - My assistant manager and his lovely wife, i got your tips here, 25 cents, where you want them sent?

Jeanette and Nigel - Nigel wake up, Jeanette no more getting squiffy in the early hours and trying to get your steps in on the way home.

Lee and Emma - Emma text me with more embarrassing stories about Lee, Lee don't text me i'll text you when i get the embarrassing stories

Brian and Penny - Keep on being the resorts oracles when it comes to tourists information questions that i passed on to you

Chris and Sandra - Keep up the good F**king work, keeping it F**king real, you pair of lovely B***ards you

Paul and Lynn - Where you gonna drink now before bedtime? I'll leave you the keys to bar, let yourself in.

These people know me so well and they always were the latest and the last to leave on many an occasion, they have drank in my bar every night of their holiday for every single holiday they have had with some holidaying in Kalamaki for the 13 years i've been open.
You gave me some great late night drunken laughs, not me as i've never been drunk in my bar but you and those are some of the best moments of my life, i've laughed so hard with you that its hurt.
We still stay in touch through the year so i'm sure we'll meet up again sometime to have those laughs once more.

To everyone else i've met through this wonderful crazy journey, you've been amazing and i've loved it.

So i guess for the last time ever for a blog update.........................until my tell all expose of life on a Greek island

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!

You know i'm only joking.

I will leave you with some wise words.............

"Its better to be someone for a day than a nobody for a lifetime"

THE END?

O Canada! Our home and native land!

OK, so we did so much, walked over 65 miles around Calgary and it was the most amazing holiday we have ever had.
We stayed in Downtown Calgary on the bank of Bow River in a beautiful apartment with a living room, 2 bedrooms and balcony all overlooking the river and North Calgary.
Every single person we met were friendly and welcoming, i don't just mean the people serving in the bars, restaurants and shops, i mean every single person. Even a 20 year old Canadian student who was crossing the lights the same time as us asked where a certain building was and we told him we didn't know as we weren't from Calgary and he just started talking to us really friendly about where we were going and how we would love it. Where would you get that in the UK, you'd be lucky to get a grunt off a 20 year old here.

Anywhoo, there is just to much to write about so this update is for the hard of reading, its all piccies!

Our views from living room and balcony in day and night time and yes.....the river is frozen over.

Our apartment, with those views, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms along with a washer and dryer not bad for £55 a night eh!

Go Flames Go!

FOOOOOOOOOOOOD! So good!

Brisket burnt ends!

Brisket Poutine which is brisket with chips, melted cheese and gravy, OMG!

Brisket Sandwich.

The largest sandwich i have ever had, 8 meats, 4 cheeses and salad to make it healthy.

Corn dogs are the dogs, i want more!

And our Stranger Things snacks.

Calgary is a wonderful place even when it got down to -16 degrees the one day.

Calgary Tower in the distance, it is soooooo tall.

Free public skating rink, that would be demolished by vandals if in the UK.

Calgary Stampede sculpture.

Gooses, bloody millions of em!

Our fav food hang out.

Some great architecture!

IT'S SNOWING YAY!

And the ice on the river was a couple of feet thick.

Calgary Zoo is huge and all the animals were awake, just! There were so many animals so here is just a few.

I want a Red Panda, NOW!

The Core shopping mall that also included an indoor woodland area with plants, trees, waterfall, fountains and birds.

And finally, this great hand written sign.

I took more pictures in Calgary than anywhere else i have been in the world and what i've shown you is just a fraction of them. Its a amazing place and we're going back for a another holiday next year but this time its a 2 city vacation taking in Calgary and Toronto.

We had 2 return flights from the UK with baggage, food and alcohol included, hundreds of movies to watch of our choice during the 9 hour flight, comfortable seats, an amazing apartment for 9 days and all that cost less than a week package holiday at the Cavo Doro in the second week of May for 2 people. It's a no brainer but the flight time for someone like me that can't sit still for to long is a killer but in saying that the time did fly because i love watching movies and Sian likes a good movie show also.

Then back to reality and a quick stop over in London for the weekend before arriving back in Cardiff today.

The view from our hotel bedroom window on Tottenham Court Road.

1pm, Saturday afternoon, Trafalgar Square, EMPTY! Never ever before in all the years i have worked, lived and visited London have i seen it this quiet on a weekend in the afternoon.

That's our short tour of Calgary, Canada. What a amazing place.

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!