Matches and Mountains

Self preservation was how a friend described to me the art/discipline of balancing lifes priorities and it's a lesson I've been putting a lot of effort into learning these past two years.
Youth work tends to bring with it many challenges but one, which can soon become the downfall of many, is it's constant provision of unsocialable hours, weekend work and the battle to 'switch off' or leave the job out of sight and out of mind when your not working. I think I've adapted pretty well after having been doing it so long, even before taking a full time post, but perhaps it's more due to the fact that at one point I hit burnout and determined never to let it happen again.
Some things work better than others,Ive certainly become a bit more of a late bird having occasional 11pm-1am rendevous with friends after work: well theres no point getting up early the next day when Im off in the morning if theres no-one around to hang out with.
Then of course there are the times of pure refreshment, holidays!:) Can't wait for this day in the very near weeks when I'l be relaxing on Honeymoon. Iv'e been known to always have a holiday or city break booked 6 months in advance as something to look forward to. im thinking Barcelona for New Years.
Above are pictures of last weekend . which I have to say was brilliant. It started with Pete Martin and a pre-match lunch before Linfield won the double for the third time in a row, continued with having dinner with friends and climaxed with an absence of the 'sunday night feeling'because the next day was May Day. We made the most of it as Leanne and I climbed Slieve Donard for Charity. Great...and I even got a sun tan/burn for the wedding. Cheers for the Aftersun Mrs Martin!