Greetings, bonjour, what’s happening!
So, it’s been a few months since I’ve posted anything on here, this is just a little update to let you know that I’m still alive, and that I’ll be back up online sticking things out, Lager style, pretty soon. Probably from September onwards, possibly earlier; I’ve got a few ideas for some things I’d like to do, including something non-fictiony, type stuff. A few attempts at essays and the like.
You might be wondering what the faaaack has been going on??? Where you been, Paul??? It’s really nothing that exciting, or alarming, possibly disappointing, definitely dull. A few months back I just decided to cut back on my creative endeavours, so I could concentrate on getting this flipping qualification finished that I’ve been doing (and longing-it-out longer than a disembowelled man’s intestines laid-out in a school-hall) – as well as keeping up with my regular work commitments, which have been quite a lot this year. It’s possibly the most mature decision I’ve ever made (even though I’m way past the deadline to hand in all my work!)
In all my years of writing, in whatever capacity, I don’t think there has ever been a time where I’ve not been working on something, so this is the first time I’ve ever put it all on hold, so I could; dare I say it, prioritise.
It’s not exactly been plain-sailing, I’ve still struggled to get the damn thing finished and the various workshop programs I work on (which is how I earn my living) have kept me double-busy. As well as running round London, I’ve been out and about to Cambridge, Bedford, York and Canterbury running sessions. Workwise, it’s been pretty nuts.
I’ve also had a few things happen personally, which has made me reassess a lot of what I’m doing and how I’m living, for the better, I’d say. I recently turned 40, and whist things are far from perfect, it’s probably the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m learning to be a bit kinder to myself and it’s a lot harder than it sounds. Anyone vaguely familiar with my work, will perhaps have noticed how self-deprecating so much of it is. That’s never been by design, it’s more of a reflection of the noxious arse-wind my head is often filled with. And whilst I’m certainly not about to ride the slippery-slide down some melty, disingenuous, self-love rabbit hole, into some narcist-convention of online influences, talking about their mental-health struggles, with everyone pretending to listen to each other; I am trying to do things a little differently.
So there you have it, for now, like Arnie, I’ll soon be back (but not like that) – In the meantime, one of the projects I work on in London, called Friends From Afar, with Dream Arts – are performing their latest show – The Big House – on the 10th August at Somerset House. The group is largely made up of unaccompanied asylum-seekers, some of which we’ve worked with over a few years now and are a wonderful bunch of young people
I’ve written the script and made the music, and it’s co-directed it with Catharine Palmer. It’s set 100 years in the future, in a dystopian prison-like compound, in which everyone lives, but no one is allowed to leave, until it all starts falling apart… the show is nuts. If you’re interested, its strictly a guest-list affair but tap me up and I’ll link you all in
For those of you subscribed on Substack, I’ll probably ping out a few more little updates with a few bits and pieces that I’ve been doing, the rest of you, subscribe, lively!
That’ll do for now
Peas and taters, Paul
