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Given it’s the year-end/start of a new one (and my birthday – today!), my SEO guy said that maybe I should write something to keep the bots and meta-thingys talking nicely to each other, Google and the entire world wide web, favourably, on my behalf.

For this, I’m told, is how it’s done in SEO-Land.

The thing is, if I were to write declaring what a great year it’s been, from either work and/or personal perspective, that could sound like I’m crowing and, as my dear old Dad used to say, might put me in the “why does everybody call me big ‘ead?” category.

If I were to type on a different keyboard, telling everyone of the, frankly, ‘rubbish’ side of 2022, both personally and professionally, I’d be classed as a moaner and a whinger.

Where’s the middle ground, I wonder? The place where I can safely write some true, unbiased thoughts as to what ‘great’ voice-overs I’ve done (as opposed to the less than great ones), as well as being forthright when vocalising how, at the time of writing, I have covid, my hot water and heating systems have shutdown with no one available to fix them for another two weeks – and my girlfriend of 5.5 years recently decided she didn’t want to be in a relationship anymore?

Well, there is no ‘middle ground’, so stand by your bunks as I let it all hang out (in case you’re wondering, that’s the title of a classic 1967 one hit wonder by American band, “The Hombres”)…

Whilst covid is not now and never will exactly be ‘behind us’, the restrictions in the UK have recently been dumbed down to the following, rather blunt statement via www.gov.uk/coronavirus:

There are no coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in the UK.

If you have COVID-19 you should try to stay at home.

And so, here I am with the ‘rona virus (along with no hot water or heating), but, on the other hand, I’m fortunate inasmuch as I only have a sore throat, cough, stuffy-nose, fever, night-sweats, no taste or sense of smell and am generally lacking in energy, whilst others are much, much worse. Mind you, the throat-thing isn’t overly good for a bloke who talks for a living…

So, apart from the back-and-leg-from-hell (the result of a discectomy several years ago), physically, for a guy who’s about to hit ‘pension age’, I’m luckier than most.

Work wise, I’ve done my fair share of “good” voice-overs this year, have had my contract with Disney (FOX) in the Middle East renewed, voiced a series of very interesting meditative narratives and sleep stories which may or may not end up on an App in some future, spoken words for some equally interesting e-learning texts, narrations, documentaries, and many, many auditions, some of which landed, others did not (the nature of this crazy business).

Not to mention the culmination and publishing of an AudioBook which has been three years in the making, derived from a story written over 10 years ago. With me as the narrator, a cast of over a dozen voice-overs/actors, music, songs and sfx, it’s more of a radio-play than a book.

Sadly though, in a way, it was a contributing factor to the demise of the 5.5 year relationship.

Shutting up now!

When all is said and done (thank you, ABBA), stuff happens, good and bad.

One of the best things for me this year was finally getting to see my extended family in Australia for the first time in three years. My hope is that I will be able to get back to seeing them at least once a year (plus doing some business), downunder.

Sincerely, I’d like to wish any and everyone who’s reading this little blog love, peace, happiness and hope…