Who saw that coming?

Another year and I'm still here! (Rhyming on purpose because I'm like that).

Every January we usually start off by saying 'Happy New Year' to each other. Normally because it is a new year. Happy? It's too early to tell yet. We wished each other a 'happy' new year at the beginning of 2016 and look what happened to us.

Me? I'm not really complaining. Last year, while long, tedious at times, depressing, and sickening, was also an amazing year of my life. I decided to step into a theatre class and I ended up performing in three of Brisbane Arts Theatre's main house shows and I got to perform in a 10 minute play in a couple of theatres as part of the South-east Queensland Drama circuit.

I met so many awesome people and learned so many new things last year. I quit my old job (one of the best decisions of my life), I started a new job that's at a fantastic restaurant and I'm working with some top notch folk, I finished another year of study, I performed in plays, I competed in NaNoWriMo again and came out a winner with a finished book. It was a pretty good year.

I don't mean to brag or rub my year in anyone's face. It's the last thing on my mind. It's just a quick update as to how my year went. It's also sort of an explanation as to why I haven't written a blog post since September.

My last update was about Jurassic Park: The Musical. The Australian premier was a sold out success, and they are bringing it back later this month for another run that will hopefully also sell out. I'm not in it this time, the original Gennero is back and I can't wait to see him perform.

Straight after Jurassic Park I auditioned for a role in A Christmas Carol (at Brisbane Arts Theatre), and I got the role. Five roles actually. Thankfully I was able to have that changed to four. So many amazing costumes. Also, so very hot! Imagine dressed up in Victorian winter dress in the middle of summer and you'll get how I felt because that's exactly what I was doing.

And then during A Christmas Carol rehearsals I started a new job, wrote another book, finished studying for the year, then it was show time, then it was Christmas, then it was laze around and try to relax after almost a constant 6 months of rehearsals and performances. So, you get the picture? Right?

Now my goal for this year -it's not my resolution because I only half-halfheartedly make a resolution and I like to keep those to myself in case I fail and embarrass myself- is to edit and hopefully self-publish my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel by mid year. But I also have work, and I'll have studies starting up in February, and I'll be looking for more theatre work, so really we shall see how that turns out. Even if I just get it into a nice shape for sharing online for free, that'll be fine with me.

I have plans for the second half of the year, writing wise. I've got books to finish off, and I have to plan NaNoWriMo 2017's novel. This year is going to be busy, hectic, probably just as weird as last year's, and, hopefully, it will very much be a 'happy' year. Which I also hope, if you're read this, and even if you aren't, I also hope your year will be very happy.


-Peter