26/06/2026
It’s been a pleasure working with Colin, and what he’s achieved is absolutely remarkable 👏
A real testament to what you can accomplish with commitment, determination and probably more attention to detail than anyone I’ve ever worked with 😂
We've not seen much of our Colin for a while......
"One year ago today, I had some chest pains. I felt awful, but I tried to put it down to just being tired and went home for a rest. Fortunately, I couldn't settle.... something told me it was serious, so I made my way to A&E. My heart was fine, but my blood pressure was topping out at a pretty high 245/145 mmHg. At the time, I had no idea what those numbers meant.. but when your A&E doctor looks genuinely worried, you know it’s a bad sign.
I later found out it was basically double what it should have been... my system under a seriously dangerous strain & I was a stroke or heart attack waiting to happen. If I had just gone to sleep that afternoon, I likely would never have woken up.
After a short stay in hospital for observation, some very stern words from the medical team, a bag of pills, and firm instructions on lifestyle changes, I left with a massive wake-up call.
I knew I was overweight, but combined with working at my desk until 3:00am or 4:00am and zero exercise, my body was at its limit. For me though, the biggest culprit was stress.... anyone running a business knows the pressure, but as a self-confessed control freak, trying to be across every single detail of a growing company for 7 straight years while also worrying about every potential threat was simply too much... and wasn't necessary!
I’m incredibly lucky to be part of a fantastic team here at Drainwise, who are more than capable of getting the job done without me on their shoulder.. over the past year, I’ve had to step back & the team stepped up magnificently. I am forever grateful to everyone, especially my fellow directors, who shielded me from my stress triggers and ensured I was left alone to recover. It created extra work for them, but it was desperately needed. The fact that this happened without being asked or any grumbling is the sign of a proper team working together.
The shock of how close I came was overwhelming at first, but it gave me all the motivation and willpower I needed. Without any medical aids or weight-loss jabs, I fixed my diet, addressed my stress, and sorted my sleep. On the exercise front, walking alone wasn't enough.... having no clue what I was doing in a gym, I signed up with my PT Callum Graham Personal Training , LActive. Since January, he has been doing a marvellous job of torturing me four times a week! It seems to be working, and I can't recommend him highly enough.
Twelve months later, the change is pretty significant:
📉 Weight: Down 52 kg (8+stone)
📉 Blood Pressure: Down to an optimal 118/68 mmHg
It is not a year I care to repeat anytime soon... but it has taught me some powerful lessons & seen some much needed improvement in my health.... now I'm incredibly excited to get back into the thick of it with Drainwise and get stuck into planning branch number 4!
If you take one thing from my story, please get your blood pressure checked regularly. It takes minutes, and you can buy a machine for your home. You don't have to look clearly unhealthy for it to affect you—it isn't called the silent killer for nothing"
