2017 WAES HAEL!

The longer you put something off, the harder it is to do it, right?  That’s how I felt in September when I saw that my last bit of news here was in July.  I felt it again in November, even though by then I had had a book published, achieved my next canoeing qualification, got a new commission, successfully lobbied Government and I had much to tell.  Then December came.

“I’ll send a Festive Newsletter!” I cried.  But Christmas was just too merry to think about newsletters.

“I’ll send a New Year Newsletter!” I sang.  But New Year was just too happy to think about newsletters.

Now it is January and for the life of me I can’t remember what happened last year.  “Oh well done, Jayne.”

And I’m not likely to remember because where I live, it is now the Wassailing Season.  Yes it can involve marching round orchards, sticking bits of toast in the trees but more than that, it’s about wishing your neighbours and friends good health for the coming year, “Waes Hael”, and sharing cakes and ale.  And singing.  And dancing.  And, did I mention the cakes and ale?  That has nothing to do with me forgetting whatever it was that happened in the latter half of 2016, nothing at all.   It’s just that looking backward isn’t always the way forward.   As January strokes its double beard, I will stroke mine and look to what’s ahead of me in 2017:

• Being part of a lovely writing team for a show that’s just been green lit for CBeebies!
• Tracking the progress of the Digital Economy Bill through Parliament, facilitating scrutiny and debate to make the online child protection section fit for purpose.
• Spending time with my new best imaginary friends, Lady Katherine, Lady Katherine, Hardeep, Lady Katherine’s Mum and Cake the Goat (one of them’s a dragon).
• More poems and stories for radio broadcast.
• Wishing my neighbours and friends both at home, abroad and online good health at regular intervals throughout the year.

Having mentioned these, it would be unkind not to come back with more information so, by my January beard, I will endeavour to write more frequently and usefully.  But in the meantime, Waes Hael!