So here we are, the first day of 2021 and looking back, what a year we're saying goodbye to. "Good riddance" springs to mind. 

Although 2020 has been phenomenally hard on nearly all of us it has had it's share of good points.

I'm a firm believer in making grateful lists every day, no matter how tough the day has felt. It doesn't have to be a great event that prompts me to be grateful, it's usually the littlest things that stir this feeling: watching the birds feeding in the garden, feeling some sunshine during a grey day, winning £2 on the lottery, eating home made pizzas.

Slowly, but surely, I'm training myself to keep finding those silver linings during the sunny days and stormy days. 

Back to 2020...

Instead of all the negatives, what are some things I can focus on to be grateful for?

• Concentrating more on 3d work and illustration has meant I can continue to work and produce pictures without relying on close contact with people. Working digitally, from the corner of the dining room (a step up from the cupboard under the stairs) is a pretty Covid-safe environment.  
• I've realised that my main focus is on making pictures. The methods involved have become secondary. Since I was 16 I've considered myself to be a photographer. In my mid forties I now consider myself an image maker. 
• Realising I needed to create and be organised to preserve my sanity, this has been one of my most productive years. 
• I'm seeing regular improvements in my work. 
• I've managed to exercise fairly consistently.
• I'm eating better than I was a year ago.
• I'm growing a winter beard and quite like it. 
• My loved ones have stayed safe and hopefully that'll continue into 2021. 

There's many more, but you get the idea. 

It's been a while since I updated this blog, but one of my goals for this year is to bring it back to life and write posts more regularly. Hopefully it'll be of interest to you reading.  

That's probably enough to get started.

I wish you all a happy, safe and successful 2021 and hope sincerely that the clouds of doom will pass soon.