The previous summer has been a busy one for Josh Navidi. Frankly, the next 12 months won't be any less hectic.
In the past few months, Navidi's toured South Africa with Wales, beaten the Springboks on their own turf and got married. On the checklist for the next year is desperately trying to improve Cardiff's fortunes in the BKT United Rugby Championship while also having the usual autumn and Six Nations duties with Wales.
Oh, and there's a World Cup in France at the end of it. Right now, some would be desperately pencilling in the moments they can stop and take a breath throughout it all.
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However, with Navidi currently sidelined with a 'neurological' neck injury, it's clear that the back-row is craving a return to the fray. "Slow and steady at the minute," he says when asked about his recovery.
"Hopefully I'll be back in a couple of weeks' time. I've just had injections. We're currently rehabbing it and seeing how we're going with that. It's taking its time but hopefully it'll be a couple more weeks.
"It's just a nerve and discs putting pressure on it. That's why I'm getting issues.
"I can only take it week by week. Hopefully it settles. Working with the physio, we've done everything to get back on the pitch and get playing again. It's just a bulged disc really. I think the word (neurological) scares people, but it's just a bulged disc.
"It would have been great to come straight back in with pre-season and get into the mix with Cardiff. I find it quite frustrating. The boys went well and you want to be out there with them."
However, while Navidi understandably wants to be involved in the action, the unexpected respite might be a blessing of sorts in a year when pacing yourself becomes something of a fine art. Nobody wants to miss rugby injured, but it has at least provided a clear form of punctuation on a bustling summer ahead of an even more strenuous year to come.
"It's been busy!" he added. "It was good to go out to South Africa with crowds back and picking up a win out there.
"Shame we couldn't see off the series by winning it but there are a lot of positives to take from that moving forward to the autumn and Six Nations.
"It's pretty much a flat-out year with rugby. Lot of different new boys coming into the mix with Wales, which was good.
"Leading into a week where I was getting married. It was a special occasion and spending it with friends and family was amazing.
"Then it was straight onto the honeymoon. It was non-stop, all around Italy. I've been out there so many times with rugby where we've flown straight in and out, so it was nice to see a bit of the country."
Navidi's wedding even saw him help out the band by getting on guitar for a soundcheck. However, the back-row, who DJed for his Lions team-mates in South Africa last year, couldn't be convinced to offer any more musical contributions on his big day.
"I was just helping the guys out!" he said. "I don't play too much guitar anymore, so it wouldn't have sounded any good recorded.
"After a few beers, I don't think I'd have been able to play much. But the band were amazing.
"I left the decks too! We had a DJ friend of mine do it. I let him crack on and I enjoyed the evening."
When it comes to the next 12 months, Navidi's first priority is getting back fit. A host of new signings at Cardiff in the back-row means he's got some competition for his jersey when he gets back.
He wouldn't have it any other way. "I've always thrived on that," he explains. "Fingers crossed, I can get out there sooner rather than later, but the extra boys add standards to training."
Those new signings, in particular Navidi's "outstanding" Wales team-mate Taulupe Faletau, have added to a positive feeling within the Arms Park. Outright targets are rarely vocalised by players early on in the season, but Navidi is clear about what he wants.
"You want to be winning silverware and competing at the top," he added. "Having two Challenge Cups under the belt is nice, but hopefully we can get some more silverware and keep pushing forward to play in the big games we want to play in.
"We've strengthened across the board. As a player, you're excited and you can see the enthusiasm and that everything is a lot different to last year. Hopefully that can translate to the weekends and bring us the wins we're looking for.
"There's a lot of positivity. We just need to build on it now."
As for his hopes with Wales, the next game happens to be against an All Blacks side that have lost six out of their last 10 Test matches. Does Navidi sense there's a chance of making history this November?
"Well, you could say that but at the end of the day, they're a world-class team," he admits. "It doesn't matter who they put out, it'll be a tough game.
"They're the All Blacks and they won't be like that for long. Funnily enough, I spoke to a Kiwi who is over here travelling.
"He was a little bit worried, but I don't think they have to worry too much. You can see the game is changing and international standards are closer than they used to be. They might feel pressure but they're one of the best teams in the world. It's a couple of months away, so we'll see."
Further beyond that is the World Cup . Having missed the semi-final four years ago after picking up an injury in the quarter-final win over France, there's a sense of unfinished business for Navidi.
"It feels like a stone that we need to turn," he explains. "Again, it was disappointing to pick up that injury in the French game and have to watch the semi-final.
"We could have made the final. It was frustrating and you feel like there's something left out there. First and foremost, I need to get back on that pitch and get playing again."
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