Bucket List

Top of the list The Grand Canyon never done it, don’t know why, just got to see it!    However, it’s not urgent yet.

Next?   Well, seeing City win something again in my lifetime was there but an enjoyable trip to North West London last May sorted that one.

Anything urgent?   Well, as it happens yes, I’ve always said I’d run a marathon.   I must have been saying I’ll do it next year for 30 years now.  So, in May, when I noticed a half-marathon taking place at Lake Vyrnwy, I impulsively sent off my entry which was promptly confirmed by the organisers.   Done.   Sorted.    I had to do it now, and if I can do that maybe a marathon was possible?

Next was some training, and who do I bump into for the first time for years but an old friend and neighbour who I knew was a member of Newport Running Club.    I committed myself to joining them for a run the next week, and turned up for a very pleasant, gently paced 6 mile run (with breaks!) around the outskirts of Newport and Church Aston (we live in a beautiful part of the country you know).    Just what I needed.

I was doing OK until the home straight when my knee started to play up big style.    I could hardly walk the next day.    I was really surprised, because I’ve never had anything wrong with my knee – ever.   I was also really annoyed with myself!   Everybody from my Mum, my wife, my children, my colleagues at Henshalls, everybody shook their heads wisely, smirked, tutted, and generally had little sympathy and plenty of advice!

Fool!   The biggest thing to hit me wasn’t that I couldn’t train, it was the effect it had on other parts of my life that are important (to me at least!).    It meant I couldn’t do my Thursday night old-man-six-a-side-footy, and it also put a halt to some signs of improvement on the golf course (important stuff ask any amateur golfer!).

Thankfully, it was not serious enough to prevent me attending some very important work meetings the following day, but it made me think about what might have been if I’d been unable to make them because of something more serious.    An opportunity missed, financial consequences?

It also made me grateful I didn’t rely on that leg for my work like many other people do.

Like most people, I assume I don’t have serious accidents, maybe because I touch wood all the time, but I’ve read that you have a one in seven chance of being off work for 6 months due to illness or accident, during your working life!

There are around 3 million accidents in the home every year, and around 2 million at work.

So, if you are running your own business, what would be the financial consequences of not being able to work for a while?     If you are employed, Statutory Sick Pay is £81.60 per week, and lasts 28 weeks.   Most employers will make your pay up for a short while, but then it’s just SSP.

If you have not done so already, speak to us about Personal Accident Insurance.   It’s not expensive, but it will give you Peace of Mind that you can tide things over when the unexpected happens.    A recent claim we helped with involved a farmer injuring his back falling off a quad bike whilst tending sheep.   The policy paid out for 104 weeks allowing him to employ casual labour to keep the farm going.

You know it makes sense!