Happy New Year!
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| Supermodel sloth photographed by Lucy Cooke; graphics courtesy of Rachel Gale |
And so begins 2019, the first year in which I'm essentially going it alone, minus the safety net of school or university. I've only just realised that, and it's a strange thought (though one that's also rather exciting)... Before I get onto what I hope to achieve in 2019, let's take a look back at my 2018. Safe to say it was a rollercoaster of a year...
What did I achieve in 2018?
1. I gained a CertHE with Distinction in Television Production
My time at university was plagued by mental illness and a horrible feeling of being stuck - it took a while for me to come round to the fact that I'd made the wrong choice with regards to my study subject, and then a lot of courage to decide that I was going to leave after the first year.
Despite the hardship, I managed to earn myself another qualification (with Distinction), meet some wonderful people, and gain some valuable skills and knowledge that I can carry with me into the future.
2. I managed to squeeze in some television work (and almost got hired by This Morning)
This year I did another stint as a production runner on Loose Women and, during the autumn, worked as a stand-in on Celebrity Juice. Back in January, I applied for an office runner role at This Morning, and had only a very near miss... Out of almost three thousand applicants, I was chosen as one of thirty to go along to an assessment day in Studio 8 (ah, good old TLS)...
3. I read quite a lot of books
After reading (ironically) Lucy Cooke's The Unexpected Truth About Animals, my inner nature nerd began to stir again following a long slumber. This was quite a big turning point for me, as I re-engaged with my lifelong passion and committed myself to learning, writing and talking more about animals and the wider natural world.
I was keen to get stuck into more nature books, and have since read (or am currently reading) Other Minds, Sex On Earth, The Greatest Show On Earth, The Inner Life of Animals, Half Earth and The Ancestor's Tale. Add to that the handful of fiction books I've read, and it's not too shabby a list...
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| Turtle dove champion Nicole looking valiant in the rain, whilst demanding justice for the moths. All in a day's work... |
5. I became a self-employed freelancer and started a job in music PR...
...And it was this blog that was partly responsible for my being scouted. A month after leaving university I began working for an independent music PR company, producing press releases for Cygnus Music, AudioPorn Records and Program. I'm now a social media manager for the world-renowned drum and bass label, RAM Records.
Not only did I produce a reasonable amount of posts this year, but I also bagged quite a lot of page views, too. My piece about our troubled relationship with the natural world (written in anticipation of the People's Walk for Wildlife) was read by some well-known zoologists, a couple of BBC natural history presenters, and a publisher (clearly the book deal is yet to come)...
6. I landed a job with zoologist, author and broadcaster Lucy Cooke
I struck lucky at one of her book talks last spring. You can read more about my unusual job here.
7. I gained a LOT of sloth knowledge
To do my job properly I have, of course, had to swat up on all things sloth. From chatting sloth sex in the pub with writer and broadcaster Jules Howard, to learning to see sloths as the ultimate energy saving icons, it's been an interesting journey. I now harbour a (perhaps unnecessary) wealth of sloth-related knowledge, and I plan to start sharing some of it with you very soon...
8. I took action for animals and the planet
In September, I joined Chris Packham and thousands of other nature lovers at the People's Walk for Wildlife. It was cold, it was wet, but it was brilliant: I left feeling hopeful and incredibly inspired. I've volunteered at a Scottish donkey sanctuary, supported the work of the WWF, and - more recently - gathered material with which to raise awareness of turtle conservation out in the UAE.
I've also had the chance, of course, to communicate information about sloth ecology and conservation to a huge audience, and to support the other people and organisations who strive to do the same, alongside rescuing and rehabilitating wild sloths and other animals.
What's more, 2018 was my first full year as a vegan. According to thevegancalculator.com, during this time I've saved roughly 365 animal lives; 1,519,823 litres of water; 6,607 kilograms of grain; 3,322 kilograms of CO2; and 1,022 square metres of forest when compared to a typical meat eater.
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| Feeding the hungry (or just downright greedy) residents of the Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary |
This year, I'm looking forward to getting stuck in to various new projects, as well as making progress with existing ones. Here's what (I hope is) in store for 2019!...
My goals for 2019...
1. Learn to drive
This'll help me massively when it comes to finding more work. I've been meaning to do it for a couple of years now, so I think it's about time I got a move on...
2. Blog consistently
I've already got some good content lined up for the next couple of months, and aim to start publishing a post a week. I've always seen this blog as more of a personal project, but I really want to try and build up my audience this year.
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| See point four: besides, I now have a name to uphold... |
I definitely want to get into the habit of writing more regularly, and love the idea of being able to share my thoughts and ideas with a wider audience. I've already begun working on my first pitch of the year - here's hoping that the next twelve months give me plenty to write about...
The Sloth Appreciation Society has a BIG piece of my heart, and this year my main mission is to continue to spread the sloth love far and wide. Lucy, Rachel and I have lots of exciting things lined up for the next twelve months, so keep your eyes peeled...
5. Give some talks
Next month I'm due to give a talk at my old school, all about my media 'career' so far. I'm hoping that it's the first of a few....
6. Work on a natural history broadcast (or one, or two, or three)...
This would be a dream come true, and this year, I think I might just be in with a good chance...
7. Produce some more short films and start putting together a showreel
At the moment, I'm not aiming for anything groundbreaking - it would just be nice to get out and film the wildlife that can be found on my local patch. Doing so will provide me with the perfect opportunity to purposefully investigate the ecology of the area, and to capture various stories as they unfold throughout the seasons.
I've been running from the showreel thing for a while now - maybe mentioning it here will help to hold me accountable...
8. Continue taking action for animals and the planet
This year's already presented me with a chance to get involved in something exciting (updates to come), and I'm sure there are plenty more opportunities lurking just around the corner. I'd love to get involved with an overseas project this year, too.
9. Take each day as it comes
I look back on last year and think of all the time I spent wishing the days away. I was always worrying about where I'd end up, and that I was never doing or achieving enough. This is typical of me, but now that I've reflected on last year's achievements, I realise that I needn't have worried quite so much. I need to try and reduce the amount of time I spend thinking about things that may or may not happen in months', and even years', time... I want to learn to just go with the flow, and to continue to embrace the little things.
No doubt I'll add to this list as the year progresses, but for now...
2019: let's go!
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