This sense of limbo is akin to what my mental state has been like for most of the year. I have been unable to make plans or firm decisions, and I've not allowed myself to relax. Hopefully, the finishing line is in sight.

But only half the task has been completed! We still have to finalise the purchase of our new house. While we stay with my sister-in-law, who has kindly taken us in, the majority of our possessions are in storage...

It has been the most serious and consequential process that I have ever had to endure. Eight months of forcing myself to make phone calls, studying documents, and dealing with all manner of unforeseen problems has taken its toll, but the elation of completing the sale has made it all worthwhile...

I have been even less productive than usual, my creativity has suffered and my hobbies have been discarded. Reading is one of my favourite activities, but I've been unable to concentrate on this for longer than a few pages at a time...

I'm hoping that my hat will deter people from inviting me to join in!

If I wear it like this, I can at least reduce the amount of eye contact and small talk that I'm subjected to over the next few weeks!

To avoid the trick-or-treaters, we left our house as soon as my wife returned from work and stayed at the home of my sister-in-law, who answered the door more than twenty times to approximately fifty children. Thank goodness I didn't have to do that! 😳

My wife and sister-in-law were highly amused by the sight of us sat next to each other on this bench during our recent holiday in Mallorca 🇪🇸

Maybe I have reached the point in my life where I choose comfort over style. Or perhaps I just dress like an octogenarian! 👴🏻

There were not many significant landmarks or things to do, but I was just happy to amble around in the sunshine. Anyway, I prefer peace and quiet rather than "lively". I can appreciate my surroundings more when I don't have to worry about sensory overload 🧠😎

Although we are not all together tonight, we are thankful for what we have, and we wish everyone good health and happiness ❤️

Traditionally, we gather for a big family meal. This year, however, we are scattered across the globe: my wife and I are in Mallorca with her father and sister, my mum is in Hong Kong with friends and family, my auntie is in Canada, and most of my family is in the UK...

The final challenge required two teams of three to push a large trolley towards a plane and then transport it up the stairs before taking your seats...

No doubt a result of earlier having read about the running of the bulls in Pamplona, one of the challenges was to outrun hundreds of chickens that were released on the street behind us 😆 I was not only upset about losing the race, but also annoyed at myself for taking part in act of animal cruelty..

My brain must have decided that I had it a bit too easy yesterday, as overnight it subjected me to some bizarre dreams. One of them involved me taking part in a series of team-based tasks...

Otherwise, there would be the temptation to constantly chase or enhance this feeling. I'll stick to my one or two drinks a week! Apart from when I'm on holiday, though. This photo captures my first tipple of the trip — a pint of shandy. A proper manly beverage to bring out the one-pint version of me

These things still affect me, but to a lesser degree. The edge is taken off.

Thankfully, I only feel the benefits after consuming one drink; it's all downhill from there! 😆

Cont...

After one pint, I feel like how I imagine most (neurotypical) people do as standard. I worry slightly less about what people may think of me, and I'm not quite as concerned about potential mistakes or embarrassing moments. Anxiety levels are reduced.

Cont...