Happy New Year and 2013 in Review!

[fredbassett]

Posting a day late yesterday as I was out most of the day and evening.

So, 2013, what did you bring?

The year started badly with Mr FB in bed with a horrible stomach bug, having been ill all over Xmas, such that we didn't even open our presents on the day. In total, he was laid up with it for nearly two months. So the year that stared in bed with a stroke, ended up with him in bed with sickness. Things perked up after that, though. His general fitness increased a lot, and by Easter we'd worked out that his leg pains were being caused by the statins he was put on after the stroke. Thanks to helpful advice from the lovely fififolle he spoke to his GP, came off that type (leg pain disappeared almost immediately), got new ones, is fine now. The improvement is such that he can now walk for around 3 hours, which is good.

We spent about three months of the year in France, going for three weeks every six weeks or so. We even spent most of August there and to our surprise, it was very nice. Hot but not unpleasant. Being there really helps us chill out, which is great.

Our new companion, Lady Lurcher, who joined us at the end of last year has really come on. From a terrified little creature who had clearly never known comfort or happiness, she's grown into a thoroughly lovely, obedient, sweet-natured creature who is a delight to know. No dog ever 'replaces' the one you've lost, but Lady filled a very huge hole in our lives and I'm so pleased we have her. She adores Crisp, and he regally accepts her adoration.

On the social front, I saw fan friends a lot throughout the year, which was lovely. The friends I've made through fandom/LJ/Primeval are now some of my strongest relationships, and I value my interaction with friends both on and off line hugely. My fan friends have been with me through some very difficult times, and I hope to be able to return some of that support.

Writing hasn't been quite as strong this year, as for various reasons the depression/anxiety problems have still been problematic, and various problems throughout the year have given me some issues, but it's mostly controlled, and I was pretty pleased to end the year with a very strong mont, with 28,884 of fanfic and 3,902 of book reviews, to give a monthly total of 29,786, which really boggled me. It was my best month for a few years! In all, I wrote 125,829 of fanfic, 7,206 of other stuff, mainly an academic paper, and 31,071 worth of book reviews, to give a grand total of 164,106, so I wasn't displeased at all. In December, most of my productivity has been on fandom stocking and secret santas, all of which I've really enjoyed.

In 2014, I'd like to continue with all this, and also get back to my original fic. I have some changes I'd like to make to the first of my novels, so I will be setting aside time for that. But December has shown me that my fandom writing is by no means played out. And I will be doing the primeval_denial fic finishing challenge in the hope of nailing one old, and long, fic.

The year, in typical fashion, ended with the news that Mr FB's dad has lung cancer and the prognosis is not good, so 2014 will bring some difficulties, but we'll cope with them one way or another.

Thank you all for your support and friendship in 2013, and I look forward to 2014 with a lot of optimism.

Comments

[fififolle]

*hugs*
Wishing you strength to cope with everything ahead.
You've had a brilliant wordcount last year, really awesome. For which I am very grateful, as I love your fic. You always write things that feel very real.

*runs away before I make a fool of myself*

[fredbassett]

*hugs*

Thank you for all your support, especially with the advice re Mr FB's statins. You set us on the right track with that and he is now masses better.

[fififolle]

I'm pretty sure you were on the right track anyway, but I'm so glad he's much better. It was brilliant to see him, and meet Lady! <3

[reggietate.livejournal.com]

You've done very well :-)

Here's to the hope of 2014 being a bit better all round - sorry about MR FB's dad, though.

[fredbassett]

Thanks. It's all a bit grim on that front.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Well done for words.

Hoping that 2014 is far better for you. *hugs*

[fredbassett]

*hugs back* Thank you!

[jaynedoll.livejournal.com]

That's a good wordcount + glad to hear Mr FB is doing better tho sorry to hear about his dad.

Hope 2014 is good for you + hopefully we shall finally get to meet up

[fredbassett]

Thanks.

I very much hope so!

[deinonychus-1.livejournal.com]

Brilliant word count, especially considering the RL crap that's been going on.

*hugs* re Mr FB's dad. Hope 2014 is a better year health-wise.

[fredbassett]

Thanks. I wasn't too displeased.

*hugs back*

[eriah211.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot for sharing bits of your life, the good and the not-so-good. It was great to hear from Lady Lurcher and the recovery of Mr FB (he got me worried for a moment there, tell him not to do that ever again).

I wish you the best for the new year. I know it won't be perfect (sorry about Mr FB's dad), but, then, what is perfect in this life? *hugs*

[fredbassett]

*hugs back* Thank you for sharing the good bits and the bad bits with me. It's a privilege to have such good friends here. You;re right, life is never perfect. We just have to play the hand we've been dealt.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

{{{dad}}}
I'm glad you've written so much. And the original story sounds very interesting coming from you-without even knowing what it's about. :)

[fredbassett]

Thank you. *hugs*

I think you've read some of my original stuff as there's some stuff posted to my journal under the tag original fic and otherworld investigations. My novels are in the same universe.