As most of you have realised Pidgeo.com and the person behind the site has been extremely quiet of late. A very small group who visit this site know that there have been some major changes and battles in my life of late and although many will say I shouldn't use this forum to discuss them, I feel that not discussing it openly only adds to the stigmatism that this certain battle already struggles against.

The last month has been chaos. It is the only word to describe it accurately. Probably the most relevant news to you guys is that I resigned a month ago and have officially finished up at Microsoft as of last Friday. It was a difficult decision and one that some may question my sanity but it is one that has been made and I look forward to new and exciting challenges in the weeks and months ahead but having a small break in the meantime. In my five years at Microsoft I got to experience and learn so much from so many amazing people but it was time for a change and a new challenge. I certainly believe that both sides remain friends and I look forward to watching the business move and shake from an observers point of view. Microsoft is and will continue to be an amazing company with even more amazing people behind it and I wish those who I worked with all the best in the future.

That last paragraph obviously leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Over the next few days I will answer those questions but I'll start with the obvious one of "what becomes of Pidgeo.com?". Well its not going anywhere but the focus will change a little bit. Instead of the old mantra of "Microsoft Gaming, Gadgets and Technology Down Under", my new mantra is...

Positive Technology

I don't know about everyone else but I am finding that there is a lot of negativity in the coverage of technology and especially gaming on forums, in previews and reviews and the like. I for one don't feel that there is the need for that as I believe that nearly every game and technology has positives about it and that is what I will be focusing on - the positives about gaming and consumer electronics and the culture around them. Pidgeo.com will be a positive place to discuss and hear about the latest games and technology so I hope that you stay around.

I also look forward to still being a contributor to the amazing Xbox and Games for Windows communities so I will be active on the forums and playing on Xbox Live.

What's with all the positivity you may ask? Well as I alluded to previously things have been chaotic and the major contributing factor to that is that I am one of the many Australians that have the crazy highs and lows of Bipolar Disorder. Over the last two weeks I've had to spend some time in a specialist clinic to get things back in order as things went haywire a fortnight ago. The way I feel right now is that things are well and truly back in order and everything that needs to be in place the bipolar managed is where it should be. I don't say this publicly for any sympathy or garbage like that but because I want to do my tiny litte bit to help lessen the stigma around mental illness. If you have a broken leg you tell everyone and don't feel ashamed, so why do we hide mental illness? Well I'm not ashamed now nor am I going to hide it - its just an illness like any other that is managed by medication and treatment. Which is exactly what I plan to do. I do hope however that this admission explains a few things for the guys from the community who have been dealing with me over the last few months  On that note I will be sending a handover document to the team at Xbox AU with contact details, notes and action items (like some prizes that need to still go out - don't worry I haven't forgotten!!) so hopefully someone will take that on and you will hear from them soon.

Again I just want to highlight that I don't want sympathy... just positivity here at Pidgeo.com

If you are experiencing or are concerned about some close to you in regards to mental illness, please visit Beyond Blue or The Black Dog Institute

One great thing about the enforced lay-off was that I got to play some Baldur's Gate and Chrono Trigger and they are living up to the hype however I am very glad to be home to get back to my Internode ADSL2+, my Samsung M8, Fox Sports and my gaming beastie (it can't seriously be called a beast now)

Anyway that will do for now. The contacts page still works if you want to say hello or contribute to the site by sending in a Top 10 of your own or whatever you like. Just stay positive!!