The Year in Numbers
It's traditional at this time of year to glance back at the previous twelve months, take stock and try and make some sort of sense of it. I did one last year cheerily titled Horrible Annus. And what an annus it was.
Well, I can't say I am capable of putting 2021 into some sort of order. It took my re-reading of my own archives to jog my memory of what had even happened, nevermind mould it into some sort of thematic shape. Some things I had completely forgotten. Some I still have clear memories of, such as sitting in an architect's holiday home following lockdown and enjoying the silence.
In place of trying to bring order to a chaotic world, take this summary of the year as a series of vignettes. A kaleidoscopic snapshot of stuff that happened, if you will.
Here is my year in numbers:
Jabs, I've had a few. Two vaccines, a booster and one for flu. And so I ended the year bug free (at time of typing).
The number of medals Phil earned for climbing a Japanese mountain during lockdown.
The number of pages of comics I accidentally lost due to my inability to master modern technology. No one is more shocked than me.
Pages of comics drawn for my patreon. One of my frustrations of the year is how few finished pages I have drawn in 2021. I have done a mountain of thumbnails and layouts that no one will ever see (unless you sign up to my patreon, that it is). But then I remember I have consistently put out new stuff over there.
Number of bikes not stolen during our shed break in. Not only are thieves a superstitious and cowardly lot, but they are also too lazy to steal bicycles of dubious value.
Trips to the dentist. Who can forget the time I spent a month with a broken molar after eating a toasted bagel for lunch? I had. It wasn't even a thinly veiled piece of state of the nation satire. Thank goodness I can capture these beautiful moments, otherwise they would be lost like tears in rain.
Of nuisance calls interrupting what would have been long periods of writing. There were intense periods of robo-callers urging me to have my oven cleaned and then nothing for weeks. I fear, like Covid, robo-calls are endemic. Many of us are homeworkers now and will have to learn to live with this scourge.
The number of times I've put Thursday Afternoon on in the background while working. Probably more. I did add a wrinkle to this routine following this newsletter.
Saarinen chairs positioned around the table of the architect's holiday home. I am reminded of the kitchen drawers which silently closed themselves and the spires of Ely cathedral on the horizon.
Alan updates. Alan is doing well (as is his progeny) and is currently sat on the kitchen counter facing the french doors alongside his fellow university houseplants. He will again apply for a place on next year's University Challenge (as a contestant, not as a mascot). Fingers crossed he gets on the telly in 2022.
Awards nominations. The Book Tour got a nod from the Eisner, Harvey and Dragon Awards. I took the opportunity to toot my own horn.
Zero
Number of awards won. I did not toot about it.
And zero books published this year. I have been working on four new projects. Two of my Punycorn books. One book for grown ups and one collaboration. One of those will be out in 2022 if supply chain chaos allows.
The number of parcels the post office and bank tried to stop me posting.
Mermaids who kidnapped my daughter at a music festival. We eventually got her back, but it cost us a fortune in kelp.
The number of pounds it (probably didn't) cost Sir Keir Starmer to buy a small bag of candy striped pasta from a deli on the Devon coast.
Of tears shed watching Little Women again.
Number of grown ups who got themselves into a tizzy over their so-called professional status. I sniffily put myself above such things, which just goes to show I am as anxious as anyone else.
Newsletter outings (including this one). Let's hope I manage at least as many again next year and don't have to break a tooth in search of material.
Thank you for reading and wishing you all the best for the new year. See you all back here in 2022!
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I have books out in the world, Kerry and the Knight of the Forest & the awards nominated The Book Tour. Support my efforts through my store – digital comics – patreon or by leaving a positive review online.
In the spirit of recycling old content, here's last year's final Patreon comic. Just scratch out the last zero of 2020 and pencil in 1. Should do the trick.
