The last 12 months - where did they go to?

I suppose year endings are always a time of reflection and resolutions to do things different or better in the future and this will be no exception. However, the added spice for me is that I have been going through my last 12 month's blog entries so what have learnt?

Well I suppose the first thing I have learnt is what a wonderful thing blogging is. I have no idea how many people will read this or have read my previous 12 months entries. I suspect the answer is fairly low but that is not the point. It has given me the space just to ramble on about things that concern me and have caused me to write something. At the time they may be nonsense but when looked at with the benefit of hindsight they do take on much more meaning - well at least to me.

The next thing is to realise that life is full of ups and downs and plans just don't come to fruition. I started the year still on the MA course at the DMU. From reading the blogs I was clearly in trouble by the start of the year and this trouble culminated in me leaving the course in March for medical reasons. I have to say at the time I was devastated as this had been a corner stone of my post retirement life. However, as time passed I came to realise that the course was not the way forward for me, well at least not photographically. It is a great course and I learnt a great deal but I have to wonder if it is worth paying all the money for. Don't get me wrong I would have been a very proud man when I had been granted my MA but at the back of my mind I still would have felt that this may not have been value for money. Beyond personal development I cannot see the course leading to any career advancements other than should a person wish to teach photography. My abiding feeling about the course is saddness.

So there is life beyond studying for the MA. You bet there is! I had my work selected for an international photographic exhibition and I was short listed for another competition. I have continued to develop my knowledge about photography and art in general and towards the end of the year I have started to carry out some new historical research.

None of these were on the plan at the start of the year and yet some how they have come along and made the last 12 months some time memorable and some time sad, even dull but overall I feel that I have achieved many things and many new things I still have to achieve. In short a good year. I wonder what next year will bring?

Any way to the one or two people who may come to read this may I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year and hope your year ahead is fulfilling as mine promises to be.