I began to write this blog in the first week of March 2020. For some reason I never got back to finishing the blog entry. However, the way the year 2020 has shaped up to be, I think it is worth posting titled "2020 Act I, Anything Goes!"

We are living in interesting times which we would have never expected six months ago. Six months ago, I was planning a trip to Mexico to attend the ISAAC International Conference in August this year. I was also worrying about how I going to pay for the trip, given that I have you take a support worker with me. Yet, I was hoping that NDIS would assist somewhat. I was looking buying a tricycle like I had while growing up in the 70s and 80s. With the extra support NDIS, I was beginning to shape my life with more freedom and enjoyment. After years of restraints of having a lack of funding to really participate in society and years of studying, my life was starting to open.

In the middle of last year, I had received my PhD results. I was pleasantly surprised I only had to minor amendments to receive the marks the examines gave. After doing the amendments and resubmitting for the last time, I remember feeling, what I imagine someone might feel like being released from prison, the need to rebuild my life. Having to reconnect with friends, starting hobbies and enjoying life.
Although, I could have graduated earlier in September and become Dr Darryl James Sellwood, I decided that it was important to Pammi, my primary supervisor, present at ceremony. So, December was special, I was able graduate and celebrate my achievement with my three supervisors and close friends.
Christmas was good sharing time with friends and close families. It so good not having a thesis waiting to be worked on at home. It was lovely to have the paid support with me so friends could enjoy my company without needing to help me do thing, such as going to the toilet. They could just chat with me and if they had my support worker to help understand my speech. I was able go to breach to take my dog for a walk along the sidewalks. My world also opened up with buying an old 1990 Holden Combo car made possible through the creative used of the NDIS transport allowance I receive fortnightly.
Life for me was starting to open up like a sunflower with its seeds of possibilities posing to go forth. The New Year was gearing up to be an exciting period of my life. After enjoying celebrating my 50th at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, the Corona Virus was starting to becoming a global issue. So much so, it was casting a bit of the shadow over my favourite event of each year, Womadelaide, a beautiful weekend long world festival. As the media and social media chatter on the virus increase the week, Ziggy Marly cancelled in the week before headlining Womadelaide 2020.