So, as 2014 comes to an end, we find that my stated aim for this section of the blog from October was a miserable failure. After a review of one episode of X-Factor and a single review of The Apprentice, well, that was all I managed to do.
The reason (or excuse) is the same as it always is. Time. Or lack thereof. That’s the thing about having a responsible job in a sector of the economy that is suddenly thriving. The job ends up taking up all your time and sapping all your energy. The key is to find a good ‘work/life balance’.
But let’s be honest, there are entire writing careers based on teaching people to achieve said balance, so if it was an easy thing to do, we’d all be doing and the ‘life coaches’ would have to find other ways to fleece us of our hard-earned.
But overall, for me and in many ways for the UK, 2014 has been a good year. Certainly, it’s been a better year than some of recent times. Oh, I know there will be people that disagree, people that lay the blame of every ill at feet of the government and maintain that because ‘those evil Tories’ are in power the country is in a worse state than its ever been.
But honestly, I don’t see it that way. Perhaps it’s because I’m not on benefits – or maybe that’s just me being typically un-PC. But you know what? I don’t care.
From my point of view, 2014 has been great. I’m earning more than ever before (and getting another pay rise in January 2015). I published a couple of short stories and a novel and I’m selling more books than ever before. I’ve met some great people on Facebook and made some good friends. My personal bank account is healthier than it’s ever been. Indeed, through some careful planning, prudent changes and finally learning how to controlling my spending properly, I’ve stayed in credit all year. Not gone overdrawn once – and that’s a first for me in the twenty-odd years I’ve been looking after my own money.
So, all in all, I’m in a good place. And I’m looking forward to 2015. I have a few things planned for my writing career, and I’m hoping that will include more time dedicated to the blog in general and this section of it in particular. There’s also a general election coming up in May, and that opens up all sorts of possibilities for The Grumpy Blog.
So to everyone I know, thanks for a great 2014, and here’s to an even better 2015.
