An Accidental Memory; Progress, Sickness & Woodwork

Two months is nothing when so much of it is occupied with survival. Don't let that detract from minor victories though, progress while surviving needs to be celebrated.

December is always a blur, but this year we were hit with more sickness. My partner was hospitalized, my boy was sick, and I was sick. I thought I was the least affected, but when I didn’t fully recover after 7 weeks I went to the Doctor. Chronic Sinusitis, time for antibiotics and a steroid spray. Luckily it did the job quickly in the end.
I didn’t question why I had been caught in such a brain fog for so long, but that goes part way to explain it.

Amid that, in December I signed a publishing contract. I can’t talk too much about it until I’m told I can, but I’ll share more news here as soon as possible. It means that there are now deadlines, and it means other people believe in me in a professional capacity. This is still mindblowing, and I can only hope to make them proud they backed me. I’m very excited about it.

I’ve also been working really hard on drawing more Haru pages. You can see some spoiler-free images above. I’ve now drawn the pencils for around 45 pages, and have a further 80 to draw. Time to crack to the whip.

Since my last brush with publishing shook me somewhat, I have also been taking on some design and web projects, in the need to earn a living. These are interesting projects with good people. A theatre company, a video game publisher, a community project. Good people.

I also designed and built this wooden unit. I’m fairly proud of myself for this, and I hope Dan Berry appreciates it too (if you don’t know already, he’s handy). I doubt my skills reach his level, but I did my best. We don’t have much space for woodworking, and we don’t have many tools or space for tools, so part of the challenge is building something within my own limitations.

Anyway, I planned this out, I measured for a specific space, ordered some plywood, and then got on with creating some new problems to overcome! Woodwork is fun.

Now I’m ready for February.