End of year missive 2005

"I'm a celebrity get me out of .....Siberia"
Another year of change and challenges – however the most important has been the finishing of the decorating, the main bedroom now has carpet (after 3 years of floorboards!) and Joan handing in her MPhil, so no more punk, no more fanzines (and as John Lennon pointed out fan is short for fanatic!) and no more late nights at the computer for Joan – she doesn’t know what to do with herself.
Little Joe is still getting bigger but his little furry nose has been put out of joint by the arrival of two characters called Chick and Jenny. These two ‘rescue’ cockatiels now seem to dominate the household; they’re demanding, noisy and have real personalities, who would have thought that little birds could be such company. Jenny has laid four eggs this month – nothing to do with Chick, well we hope not, they’re brother and sister. No, evidently it’s my fault as she has become fixated with me and is in love! The living room is like a pet shop!
I started my company in January but continued doing some freelance work for the Design Initiative, however it didn’t last long in that incarnation as I was joined by two old colleagues from St Helens and we formed a social enterprise company to work with other no-governmental organisations specialising in cultural heritage, the creative industries and digital content. We are based in a great office in the refurbished Marconi building in Liverpool on a very good deal; thank goodness for EU funding, the Labour government and the regional development agency. I also mentor young start-up designers on a project for the Arts Council – the nearest thing I get to teaching these days.
My most exciting adventure of year came in April when I was sent to Siberia via Moscow, courtesy of the British Council. My mission was to encourage the development of design industries in a post-industrial city, Krasnoyarsk, 6 hours by air from Moscow. As they rarely see ‘outsiders’ I had celebrity status, interviewed on television – several times, including the Siberian version of Richard and Judy, press conference with the mayor, flash guns going wherever I went etc. I have to admit I enjoyed the experience. I also had to judge a fashion show.
My other European project trips of the year were to Kosice in Slovakia, Vienna and Poland to Warsaw and Lodz.

“ Aspens all the way to Lodz
At the rail crossing a heavy man stands
puppet chamey covering his hand…”

Joan went to Florence and Pisa in September with JMU 3rd years – purely cultural trip of course and Ellen went to Mons in Belgium and stayed with a family who only spoke French. It was a good experience for her and confirmed her intention of specialising in French. So her first choice for university is UCL and a joint honours course in French and Art History (I wonder where she gets that from!). Ellen also went to the Edinburgh Fringe performing with the Shropshire Youth Orchestra and apart from getting lost I think she had a good time. Although she still plays piano and violin she has now discovered bands and seems to spend all her time seeing The Coral, The Dead 60’s and the Babyshambles (and went to see Bob Dylan – why?).
I was in London in September with designers from the NW at 100% Design Show at Earls Court. It was the first time for me and it was a terrific experience although hard work having to promote and encourage our designers in a World class show.
Joan has had some ups and downs with the band, The Tomcatz are a great band, all good musicians and have had some very good gigs but for Joan they just don’t take it seriously enough so she is now looking to go professional again. She was invited to join Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds but….
…so if you know of a rockin’ band that are seeking a bass guitarist of quality let us know.