January. A New Year, a New Project. Well…projects…

On By Mick CanningIn Art, New Year, Work in progress, writing

Well, here we are again. A New Year. At least we’ve had a few sunny days, recently:

On Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Sussex.

Heading up on to the South Downs from Clayton, Sussex.

‘Jill’ windmill, near Clayton, South Downs.

‘Jack’ windmill – no longer working, and now a private dwelling.

And another shot of ‘Jill’ – restored and now working

I don’t miss 2021 at all, although I’m sure I’m not alone in that. But I got off much easier than many people, of course. I’m still here, for a start. But I had a few health issues that I’m now stuck with, and these have slowed me down a bit and have forced me to alter my lifestyle in small (but annoying) ways. And I feel old. I am old. If you’re under twenty one, then I’m incredibly old!

And for various reasons I had a very unproductive year in that I found writing really difficult and just couldn’t get my head around any art. Although I don’t make New Year Resolutions as such, I’m tackling the uninspired non-productivity by setting myself, well, not exactly goals, but projects for each month of the year.

I have been researching my family tree, and instead of nice neat charts and tables, I have reams of scrap paper with partly legible duplicated notes (and a few charts and tables). For January, then, I am sorting all of those out and making those nice neat charts and tables, and trying to fill in some of the many gaps I’m discovering as I do so. It’s only halfway through the month and it’s going well, so that’s a success so far. But the rest of the year will comprise creative projects. For the next one – February – I intend to fill all the gaps left in my work in progress, A Good Place (the novel I’ve been working on for four or five years). I won’t get around to editing it, but I intend to complete what I am determined will be the final draft.

And then for March, I shall…well, I’ll tell you that in February.

42 thoughts on “January. A New Year, a New Project. Well…projects…”

  2. It seems that many of us have found that creativity is more asleep during those
    Covid year. Maybe both fear and necessary isolation to some extent has been numbing.
    As to old, yes, every day sees us older ……and every minute.😊. Really , this is not how I feel. You finish that final draft.

    miriam

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  4. I love that photo at the top: the one of the building. And it’s fun to see the windmills. I grew up about 25 miles away from an Iowa town named Pella, that was truly a Dutch town. They had Dutch bakeries, and a yearly Tulip Time with marvelous gardens, parades, and such, and they had canals and windmills. When our band marched in their parades, we wore wooden shoes; it was great fun, except for the blisters.

    Here’s to a blister free year, metaphorically or otherwise!

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    1. Pella sounds a super place! I’m not sure about compulsory clogs, though. I’m guessing it was a small town, though. I can’t imagine a large place doing those sort of things with the ‘right’ atmosphere.

      So yeah, no blisters!

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  6. Why didn’t anybody tell me I had a windmill in South Downs? I would have helped restore it, had I known! Like you, my friend, I have had serious health issues that have slowed me down considerably. I’m gaining strength, slowly but surely, though at a much slower pace than I’d like, so I can understand what you’re dealing with. It’s really great to see you back here, though! And to see that you have goals/projects for the coming year. I look forward to seeing more from you when you feel up to it. Happy somewhat-belated New Year!

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    1. Many thanks, Jill. Sadly, it sounds as though your health issues are a good deal more serious than mine, but I’m delighted to see you slowly coming back from them. Is the area or town you live in called South Downs, then? Our South Downs is a long ridge of chalk hills – beautiful area, and one of our favourite places.

      Yes, setting some proper goals and projects this year, so I can hopefully get something achieved (much unlike last year!)

      Happy new Year!

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      1. ‘Slowly’ is the operative word, and some days I seem to take a few steps back, probably due to lack of sleep.

        Ha ha … no, I live in a town called “West Chester” … I was just having some fun with the windmill that shares my name!

        And now, you’ve got me thinking about some possible projects/goals for the coming year. I guess I better get busy, since January is already half over, meaning the year is already 4% done!!!

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  12. I’m sorry to hear about the health issues – same here, and what a bore it is to have that stuff occupying one’s mind. Your family history project sounds great. My father wrote a wonderful little memoir and I keep thinking I should do that, but if I do it won’t be organized normally, I think it would be more scrapbook-style. But one still has to gather all those bits and pieces, like you’re doing, and I haven’t done that. Don’t know when or if I will so it’s good to know that someone out there is doing it! 😉

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    1. Largely it’s something that ticks along in the background – I go online and do an hour’s hunting now and again, but that does lead to piles of scrappy notes. I’ll put mine into book form, the idea being to give a copy (with photographs) to children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews. I’ll take the research so far, and they can pick it up as and when if they feel so inclined.

      Sorry to hear you have health issues too – what a pain they are! We just have to get on with it as far as possible.

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  13. Good luck on A Good Place. Keep at it. I was unproductive in2021 too compared to 2020. That extra year of pandemic did me in, although I did revise a complete novel and reissue it, nothing new was written. I’m determined to make changes this year, find new ways to be creative, new projects even though I’m OLD. As for genealogy, I spent some time last year on WikiTree and found it helpful.

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    1. Thanks, Mary. I’ve never heard of WikiTree – guess I’d better take a look.

      Yes, I’m determined to be more productive this year and hopefully this will be the way to do it. I’ve made some good progress on the family tree and looking forward to getting stuck into the novel in a week’s time.

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  14. Hi Mick, I love your photos, especially of Jack and Jill. It’s lovely to see old buildings restored to their best, although, I think there’s a lot of beauty in the original, old buildings too. I think you can say the same thing about people, in a way. Or am I saying that to convince myself that old (me) is very acceptable!? 😉

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