Still not quite comfortable, is it? The variant that's crept up has put us all on edge once again. Just little things...we were discussing the idea of a little student showcase Christmas gig for my Drummers to the Rescue project but have realised it's best to maybe do a virtual event instead. At one of my schools today, I was told that the Christmas drumming assembly I was to be hosting (giving the kids a chance to perform in front of their families) now can't have parents in the audience...just minimising the amount of people in the school. I get it, but it's quite sad. It's like the drumming equivalent of a nativity. I guess I just hoped that nearly 2 years into all of this, things would just be a bit more, well, certain, I guess.

I know, I know - compared to many, I shouldn't grumble. So I won't. I'm still working (more than ever) and as long as Christmas happens somehow and I'm allowed to see my core family (I live with my wife, if we can have over her parents, her brother, my mum and my sister) we'll have a lovely time. It just feels like some of the fun has been cancelled; I had two Christmas plays about to go live in December but we backed out due to pandemic-based fears. Sorry, I'm grumbling again.

I've done plenty this year, quite a few nice gigs, the movie (more on that soon), London and Bristol runs with the play. I've recently taken on an extra school and it's a wonderful place to teach with lots of space, great equipment and the students really get it. We've been to the West Indies for our honeymoon and have somehow acquired the most amazing puppy you could possibly picture (despite his constant wind breaking). Nothing to grumble about.

But. Well. Just like everyone in December, I want to make plans for next year. I have huge plans. Mostly theatre company based plans. And ways to get my students onstage. But other plans, too. They all involve live performance, in some way or another. That involves booking venues, tours, committing quite a bit of money and energy to making this come alive. But will it actually happen? Here's hoping 2022 is the year of actual freedom, not tentatively booking things in whilst constantly looking over our shoulders...