A breakdown of my life into different phases — the good and the bad. Starting from the beginning. Photos to be added as I go.
Met my wife, Runa, at Santosh Medical College. We’ve been together ever since.
Proposed to Runa.
Finished my physiotherapy course.
Before this, I worked at Harsaran Das Medical College and Dental College. Then I left India to study a Masters in Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy at Keele University in the UK. I still remember my mum making me sambhar chawal before I left, my favourite. Sinu picked me up from London Heathrow, and I stayed at a doctor’s place for a couple of days before heading to Keele.
Started my first job as a physiotherapist in Herne Bay. I still remember getting my first salary, around £1,900, and it felt like a huge thing. I paid back £800 I’d borrowed from a friend to buy my first car, a Toyota Carina, which I’d bought for £450 off eBay. A bit of a funny story: I was so scared to drive in the UK that I didn’t even go to collect it. I asked the seller to deliver it instead, and paid him extra for the trouble.
Got married. Runa then came with me to the UK, and we settled into a bungalow on Barnsdale in Whitstable.
Bought our first house, 35 Richmond Avenue. We took a 110% mortgage at the time, and then the market crashed not long after.
Navya was born, while we were living in a flat in Margate.
Siya was born.
Before this, I’d had a fairly rough run with cars. I remember my Nissan Primera breaking down on the road, which was a huge stress at the time. Then, luckily, I managed to get a small car on an NHS lease, a Toyota Aygo, and it completely changed my perspective on how reliable a new car could be, and what real peace of mind actually felt like.
The lease was meant to run for three years, but I finished it early, in two and a half. That’s when I bought a car that felt like a dream to me at the time: a BMW 3 Series. One of the big names in the world, and it gave me so much joy, so much fun to drive. It felt like I’d achieved something. Genuinely one of the happiest days for me.
We moved into a new house. A comfortable stretch followed, no work needed on the house, and job and life just felt settled.
Aditya was born.
Clinic renovation finished.
Renovation
Renovation 2
Saw my first patient at ProHealth, at least according to my diary. Her name was Sharon Mumford.
Clinic opening ceremony for ProHealth Physiotherapy & Pain Clinic, a big project, and a big deal for me.
Clinic Opening Ceremony
Had surgery to remove a paraganglioma. Doing well now, thank God for everything.
