OK so in the absence of a proper life update, how am I doing on those new year resolutions? Ready for some excuses?
Get my new company, Fusions, set up with one of my fabulous friends/clients Jules Francis.
Well no progress on this really as there has been an unexpected personal development which I can't disclose right now, but all will be clear soon. The business planning process continues and I expect that this will be launched properly in 2010.
Be a great uncle-slash-godfather to my friends' new twins.
I still have not seen the twins but keep in touch through photo updates. It is not through want of trying but schedules seem to clash. I have until December 24 until to deliver on this objective!
Drop another two stones and/or get my body fat down to 12%.
Bodyfat is down to 16.5% but there is little progress. I am trying to move to London and when I am here I plan to devote much more time to the gym while I build up my social circle a bit more. Going to the gym is a good way to save money too!
Complete a second musical and make some kind of reading/performance happen.
New lyricist has been ill recently which has delayed work on the project but I have done some storyboarding after being really inspired. Hopefully this will get underway before the end of the year.
Prepare to do something on Edinburgh Fringe in 2010.
Am hoping that I can get involved in some of the great work some of my friends are doing. I can't see any of my own projects being ready in time, but you never know.
Get a new job on the West End or pretty damn close.
The market is really, really slow right now and nothing is taking my fancy. Also things where I am are going pretty well and there is much excitement about the run up to the 2012 Olympics. It might be a good place to stick around.
Re-write my string orchestra piece, Stop All The Clocks.
Will easily get this done by the end of the year!
Reorchestrate Dracula.
No further progress on this really due to the whole having to change from Tascam Gigastudio to Yellowtools Indepedence (music software). The real priority will be the Dracula site update.
Finish my Piano Concerto - Phoenix.
Haven't done any more work on this for the reasons outlined above. It's "on my list".
Learn the saxophone.
Jules still has my saxophone which needs servicing anyway (must get it back) but I wanna take lessons when I move to London and have a lot more disposable income.
Reach my freelance income targets.
No idea how I'm doing on that front - I need to revisit the targets to know for sure, but working on a financial year for targets I couldn't say how that fits.
Spend more time with or contacting friends who I haven't seen for a while.
Totally nailing this objective and delivering!
Do what I say I am going to do - keep appointments and stop taking rainchecks all the time.
I have done so well at this objective that I am making other people feeling guitly for cancelling on me.
Finish my tuned percussion piece - Nexus.
Yeah, this also goes in the "on my list" pigeon hole!
Learn how to use a Mac so that I am not longer restricted to "being a PC" (I really hate those adverts) and so my Mac friends no longer make fun of me.
Still unsure about how I can deliver this one considering I don't have access to a Mac and Windows 7 looks good. (did I say that outloud?)
Stop spending money on things I don't need/going out.
Well on the one hand, this is going really well. I am very strict. On the other hand, my season ticket came up for renewal and now costs me £450 a month. Expense I need? Hell no! Move to London? Hell yeah!
Network more and start doing some hardcore self promotion.
Well the on-line stuff is going well but I need to be "working the room" more.
Get back to New York/Long Island.
How bout you ask my bank manager about the possiblity of that happening?
Try to read a book every night before bed so I have read all the books people have bought me but also to relax.
Got a lot better at this and am consequently sleeping well. Also a good way of getting through those books.
Get a proper website set up.
Am pretty proud of it considering that it's a DIY job! Check it out at www.xanderhough.co.uk
Acquire some basic piano skills.
This also goes on the "Step 1 - Move to London, Step 2 - Save tonnes of money. Step 3 - Do stuff that costs money".
Learn how to use Adobe Audition so I can record live performances of my work.
Can't even think about this while I learn another new key piece of software.
See more theatre on the West End and London Fringe.
I've actually managed to do quite a bit of this so am feeling quite proud of it. Barbican autumn season starts late September.
Write on my blog more.
Count yourself lucky.
