As a complete newbie finding their feet on this platform I was asked to introduce myself by @macchiata so thank you for that!

Casey

The youngest of 6 children it seems all names had been exhausted by the time I popped out. Leading to me being referred to as 'Ug' for at least two weeks by the fam and 'Mrs. Poo' by my then 15 year old sister - a term of endearment still occasionally rolled out for the odd birthday cards 27 years later. At around 2 weeks old my mum was pushing me and my big bald square head through an alleyway, or perhaps a ginnel or a snicket, too much time with someone from York has ruined me. But there was 'Casey' graffitied on the wall. And so 'Casey' I was baptised, by my father, a many times over lapsed Irish Catholic, in the bathroom sink.

Then What?

Since then life has certainly happened and I've completed many a milestone which although trivial to some (and maybe to me retrospectively) seemed absolutely insurmountable at the time. Please allow me to talk you through a couple and what I've learnt from them.

Kissing a member of the opposite sex
I spent ages 11-16 in an all girl's school and the mere idea of meeting, let alone forming a relationship, romantic or otherwise with a boy (!) seemed completely alien (sometimes still does).
Resolution - Much Ado About Nothing

Getting a degree
I was the first of my family to enter higher education, studying English Literature at Sheffield University. After switching from Sociology to English and then suffering about a million breakdowns in the library (plz let me never consider Derrida again) I graduated with a 2.1 (like literally everyone it seems) in 2017.
Resolution:
(i) As a lover of literature and reading it seemed like it would be, and probably was, a worthwhile use of 3 years.
(ii) As a waitress 4 years post-graduation sometimes I think maybe I should have just done engineering or something.

Travelling and Living Abroad
Foreign travel is normal and expected for many but our family holidays were to Camber Sands approx an hour and a half away by road. Don't get me wrong I had honestly the most amazing times on these holidays with my mum and sisters, all I mean to say is that the idea of 'abroad' seemed, well, foreign.
At University I spent 6 months studying in Amsterdam and post graduation spent 3 summers working in theme parks in Germany. A typical Brit I drank a lot of beer, ate a lot of currywurst and picked up very little of the languages.
Resolution - Being lonely abroad feels a lot like being lonely at home

Running a 5k
Although it might seem unusual to people who bust out three od these a week, this is probably the thing I'm most proud of. I genuinely didn't think my body could do that.
After being a smoker for at least 10 years and a slob for much, much longer, only a series of seemingly unrelenting lockdowns finally forced me to complete coach to 5k (by complete, I mean did literally one 5k and never donned my trainers again).
Resolution - feeling fit is great, bodies are incredible, running is fucking horrible.

Now What?

Pre pandemic I quit my theme park job and moved back to my home town in East Kent. Idea being I'd work for a couple of months then do a year or so of backpacking with my closest friend...about that.
So here I am nineteen months later, still in East Kent but now with a dog and a cat in tow.

I spend most of my time with my ever expanding family (12 nieces and nephews to date), walking, reading, and eating. I love dancing (badly), drinking (heavily) and laughing (constantly).

I decided to join Hive after a recent lunch with my Auntie, who far cleverer and more technically able than me sort of explained the concept to me. I'd love to use Hive to write, read, learn and discuss with some new people. And hopefully have a laugh along the way.

Anything else?

yeah loads, please ask x