2011 in review and what I wish for 2012

2011 - What a year! It almost feels redundant to say it. So much seems to have happened in the wider world over the last 12 months, you could almost believe the Mayans: 2012 is the end of days, and we're hurtling towards it in a rush of revolution, natural disasters, terrorism, riots and economic meltdown. I almost feel guilty that, against this backdrop - and in a country that feels increasingly like it's unravelling while an unfeeling bunch of unelected elites line the pockets of themselves and their school chums - I have actually had a pretty good year.


It's certainly been a year of big personal changes: in May I resigned from my job to go freelance - a decision that in some lights could be seen as madness in the middle of a recession, but felt like the right thing to do for me and so far, touch wood, has paid off - at the time of writing I have enough clients to keep me going until March, and so far the work I have been doing is generally enjoyable and rewarding - so I hope to see more of that in 2012!

My writing has also gone amazingly well - I'm finally justifying that enormous collection of notebooks! My involvement with theatre magazine Exeunt has not only mean I've seen some great shows, but also met some fascinating people: several of the other writers I would now count as friends, and the last group night out we had was one of the most enjoyable I could remember. A short play of mine was performed by the CP Players in June, a fantastic experience that made me want to get more involved in playwriting, and in October my Body of a Geek Goddess blog was shortlisted for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards (I didn’t win, but I did get a goody bag, so I went home happy…). I also, excitingly, finished a new book, something I have been meaning to do for years but constantly got sidetracked, and am hoping to get that out in 2012. Perhaps more importantly, I rediscovered joy in my writing this year in a way that I'd lost sight of, and it's that, more than anything, that I hope to carry on into next year.

Personally, life was pretty good too. My romantic life was a bit of a bust - though in fairness I was neglecting it in favour of getting my business going - but I managed to spend quality time with lots of friends this year, and some new friendships were built upon. It was especially good to be able to reconnect with a lot of my Glasgow friends who came to London this year, and to get to stay with my friend Shiv in New York. (Obviously, going to New York wasn't exactly a hardship either). My own good fortune was added to by the fact that a lot of my friends had great things happen this year: new jobs, new books, new exhibitions or shows, new babies, even new kittens, so I felt like there was plenty to celebrate all round (and with two more babies on the way for 2012, hopefully more celebrations to come…)



At home, my home working has made me even fonder of my flat (I bought a new Hoover – I’m becoming scarily domesticated!) and despite the scariness of the summer riots, the response to them - the pulling together of a city to mend its communities - made me realise that for all its flaws, London is a great place to live, and at the minute I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

So... All in all, 2011 was a pretty good year. Have I made any resolutions for 2012? Not really. So much of the good stuff last year was unplanned and just came from a commitment to being open to new opportunities and new people that I don't want to constrain myself this year. I have some loose goals, of course, but no rigid plans.

I want to keep writing, of course (I'm already working on a sequel to my book!) and get my writing to the widest possible audience. I want to be more patient and kinder, because I think that should always be a goal. I want to support my friends in their endeavours, even when I'm jealous of their success or uncomprehending of their motives - I want to try not to judge or envy anyone else's life choices or path. I want to be more conscious of how I spend my money: supporting local and/or independent businesses, and those organisations whose ethics and ideals match my own: I’ve already started that by buying some commissioned pieces and some cards on Folksy – stuff I’d buy anyway, so why not give my money to indies? (I'm not giving up my Sky subscription, though, sorry – I love Game of Thrones too much…).

I want to see more of my friends, I want to meet and connect with new people, and I could do with some wild romance thrown in, if anyone is offering… I want to travel and try new things; I want to make my flat more of a home now I spend so much time there (and I want to have more people to stay, which at least gives me an incentive to stop the spare room turning into a dumping ground for empty boxes and old suitcases). I'd like to get in shape, less out of vanity (I'm pretty comfortable with how I look) but more to get into the clothes I love that are currently hanging in my wardrobe, mocking me, and to try and shore up some fitness and wellbeing now I'm getting older. I'd like to do something to help in the wider world, too, seeing as, y'know, it seems to be going to hell in a hand basket...

Other than that? I just want to have fun, to be open and loving... And, yeah, if this is the year I finally get to marry Jeffrey Dean Morgan, I'd be fine with that.

What? It could happen.

Here's wishing you and yours all the best for the coming year...