The Turning Of The Year

2006 was a great year. Looking back through the mists of time it was the long nights and hard graft that made it good. The birth of my second son in February was a lifeñchanging event. Lots of hard work and an encyclopaedic understanding of the true meaning of sleep deprivation ensued, followed by intense moments of joy that made it all seem as nothing. Watching a grinning nine month old baby boy cruising next to the sofa, dancing with hyperactive frogñlike abandon on wobbly legs to nursery rhymes is a delight to behold, not to mention comedy gold. So regardless of anything else, 2006 was a great year!

For the Collective, highlights have to be some of the projects and people we were lucky enough to be involved in and work with. Word Of Sport Bookshop stands out as a particular favourite; a genuine labour of love resulting in a first phrase development that weíre very proud of. Having two sites awarded second place in two different categories of the CSS Mania Web Design Awards 2006 was a bonus too. Itís fantastic to produce work weíre proud of and then to receive a little kudos is the icing on the cake.

There are no official New Year resolutions but if there is a discrete ambition for 2007 it would be to find the time to read and learn more, then publish and share more. If anyone has a panacea for balancing a heap of clients, the desire to spend time with the family and the ambition to be more social with colleagues then let me know; otherwise a magic pill for generating a few more hours in the day would be welcome! No complaints though, itís fortunate to feel so lucky and smile when engaging in a little end of year contemplation.

Upcoming in 2007 is lots of goodies from the work and personal treat tin. Personally, thereís a first birthday looming, a fourth to follow and a lot of old friends to see whoíve been neglected in the baby storm. Professionally weíll soon be launching the full Chocolala store (chocolate fans take note!) as well as reñaligned personal sites for PHP security guru Chris Shiflett and St Martinís College Of Art ëdesigner in residenceí, Denna Jones. Along the way there will also be a reñdesign for an old client and a totally fresh site for an new one. Plus lots of new work in discussion that will hopefully convert clients in to friends once again. If I sound as happy as a designer with a new crayon it may well be true. All in all I have a feeling it’s going to be an interesting and busy year. I hope the same is true for you; peace, good will and all the best to you and yours for 2007!

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