Greetings, bonjour, what’s happening?
What’s happening indeed. Hope you’re all good out there in Lager Land. I’ve not been active on here for a bit, took myself a little hiatus. This will remain the case for the time being. I’ll explain. Long and short is that around November, I (finally) realised I was trying to do too many things at once, so I took the slightly rash decision to stop all my personal creative projects. That includes this here Lager Time. I know, I know, it all sounds overly dramatic, who cares etc - but for me, it’s something I’ve never done before.
In some way, shape or form, I’ve consistently created things since the age of seventeen, when I first started scribbling lyrics on bits of paper. I’ve never stopped, until now. I’ve thought about it in the past and got scared that part of me, the creative bit, might die, or seize up, or I’d miss a big opportunity. It’s been almost three months and I do miss it. A lot. I often get tempted to just start banging something out, when an idea pops in my head. Being impulsive like that is how I’ve done many things. Not always the best strategy. At the moment, I think it’s better that I don’t and just leave this stuff alone for a while.
By doing this, I’ve been able to concentrate more on things that I needed to concentrate on, like work commitments and generally trying to be a more useful husband. Currently, I’ve probably moved up the scale from barley useful to slightly useful. I would like to continue that upwards trajectory, I changed the fuse on a plug a few weeks back, felt like I’d cracked the enigma code.
So far this year, work has been really busy. Since January, I’ve been flying all over the gaff – well, not flying per-se, but getting on trains - doing workshops and projects from Devon to Mansfield, Leicester and soon Liverpool and Exeter, shortly followed by Scotland and Sheffield, as well as all my regular work in London. When I’ve been at home, I’ve been recording demos for potential voice over work, which I’ve been trying to build up for a couple of years now. It’s been a long process and there’s been a lot to learn, with so much more that I still need to do, like starting to earn some money from it. That was the whole point, coming out the pandemic and just about keeping my head above the water, financially.
Once things with work settle down a bit and I’ve got some voice gigs under my belt, I plan on finishing a rap EP and putting together a load of poems I’ve written over the last couple of years - maybe into another book? Not sure. And of course, banging out some Lager Time episodes. I’m hoping that when I eventually get back to doing what I love doing, I’ll get stuck right in and not waste any time; or allow myself to be distracted by inane bollox. (You Tube is next for the chopping block, that one will be tough)
This is the first time I’ve ever put my own creative stuff aside, in sacrifice to more important things. For the longest time, I’ve always been stubbornly uncompromising when it comes to doing this stuff. I’ve rolled over for people on many things – but never this. I’ve got in trouble at work for doing this, missed weddings to do this, social events, football matches, mornings, lunchbreaks and evenings to do this. It’s taken all these years for me to realise that being selfish, just so I can practise my art, has had massive consequences – some good but some not. For all its good, I was hiding behind it. Using it as excuse to shun or defer responsibility. When I return, I hope I’ll be all the better for it and so will the stuff I make.
Peas and taters. I’ll be back.
Paul
P.S
In case you’re interested, my work with Dream Arts Rep Company (which is the theatre project with Unaccompanied Refugees) is cracking on. We’re mid-way through developing our next show and are getting ready for our next perfomrance in May, which will be at the Exeter Northcote theatre; the show is called Head’s Up: Frank’s Story. I’m also working projects with De-Montford University, National Literacy Trust and Rambert Dance School as well recording an audio book for kids and trying to be more generally more useful. I got plenty to keep me busy.
Friday 28th March, I’m back doing a set of poems at Poetry and Poppadums in London, Wood Green, which I’m excited about, I always enjoy that gig. Decent food, entrainment and a fully licensed bar.
That’s it for now. I’ll be back at some point. I’m excited about it
Keep it Lager than Life
Paul
You're doing great. Keep it up, friend!