See You Next Year…

/ December 31, 2015

After a two-week hiatus during which I ignored the internet – first due to illness and then due to family obligations – I do not want to let 2015 fizzle out without a quick message to all you lovely readers out there. I hope you had a nice end-of-year celebration, no matter what religion you may or may not place your faith in, with some harmonious time spent with your loved ones, some good food, warmth and festive cheer. With 4 hours to go before we start into a new year, here is the obligatory end-of-year message to all of you + Richard.

Edoras 3Thank you for another year of fun and games in our community of online friends. You have given me much joy in a year that was punctuated with highlights – both personal as well as communal – and that has pushed boundaries and widened my horizons, once again. My year started with a massive highlight when I spent February and March travelling in New Zealand. The Hobbit was never far off my mind, and neither was Mr A. I often wondered whether he had seen the sights I was seeing, and somehow I felt quite sentimentally grateful that his participation in those films had given me the impetus to finally make the dream come true and travel to the other side of the world.  I am still living off the memories of that unforgettable trip, the colours, sounds, sights and scents of New Zealand are still fresh in my mind, and I hope to get back there, one day.

Lough ShindillaIn April and May I rediscovered the beauty of Ireland when I travelled through ‘Pilgrimage’ country aka Connemara on the Irish West coast, first with Helen and then on a second trip with CraMERRY and Suzy. What a glorious part of this country. How lucky for Mr A to be filming in Ireland – a gorgeous little place on the fringes of the North Atlantic – I hope he had the chance to actually look around himself during breaks in between filming and enjoy this beautiful part of the world. I really enjoyed the thought of having Mr A in ‘my’ country for a bit, and it was great fun explaining the intricacies of Irish language, customs, history and culture for him on my blog.

Thorin charity raffleThe devastating earthquake in Nepal was the reason for a first fundraising auction in May – which you made a massive success with your generous contributions and bids. Together we raised over 1700 US$ – which were donated to Save the Children. You are an amazing lot of people – and even if there are occasional disagreements within the fandom when Mr A articulates opinions that are not shared by everyone, we are still united in our general appreciation of his charitable efforts, and in following his example. Thank you for participating and making a difference for those who are less fortunate than we are!

As predicted by my horoscope, July brought professional changes for me. I started a new job, and subsequently have much less time for my blogging and crafting endeavours. I miss the time and freedom I used to have – but I am also enjoying the new financial independence and the travelling that has come with my new role.

IMG_4721August was all about Hannibal. Who would have thought that a show about a cannibal would get me so excited? I admit, I was doubtful when the news first surfaced that RA would be acting in that show, but from the first moment we got to see him in the trailer he had me enthralled with his performance as Francis Dolarhyde. Right up there with Thorin and Proctor, imo. Oh, and he also got me really busy with my self-imposed challenge of creating a RAPS for every episode of the Red Dragon story-arc. – A second fundraiser in September surpassed all my expectations when I was joined by a number of gifted crafters and generous donors for a number of charity auctions that yielded another amazing donation, this time to the Syrian children appeal by Save the Children. You donated 2600 US$ – I am still shaking my head and my jaw drops when I see that sum written down.

thumb_IMG_5064_1024editedsm_newIn October I scraped the barrel and re-edited some stone-cold Berlin premiere photos. Little did I know that November would bring a new loot of pictures that were everything and more than I ever hoped for when I decided to fly over to Leeds for the premiere of UATSC. The weekend in Yorkshire was a resounding success – meeting up with fellow fans, watching the long-awaited film, and seeing Mr A interact with his fans at the two events, and my write-up of the premiere has become the most-viewed post on my blog. 8888 views – a great number, and one that will never be surpassed, I reckon. Thank you for reading me – it gives me much pleasure to share my photos and my thoughts with you all, and doing so gives me a little insight into what it might be like for Mr A, sharing his art and talent with the public, and receiving feedback – and love – back.

My personal highlight for December was Richard’s annual Christmas message which went a bit beyond the usual non-controversial “thanks and best wishes”, but touched upon some of the big issues of the present, namely online interaction and the refugee crisis. I am glad to see that he has also found a way to continue communicating with his fans by publishing a message through his Twitter. And even though he will never know, I’d like to respond to his message with the obligatory end-of-year thanks to him:

Dear Richard –

thank you for another year of inspiration and entertainment. Your performances as Dolarhyde and Chop have proven once again that you are one of the finest actors of our generation. And yes, you are an actor and not a politician, but you are also a human being. With considerable talent, a good heart and a mind of your own. While I do not feel like applauding each and every move you make – after all I am a human being with my *own* mind – I appreciate your efforts at spreading positivity and being a decent person, and at speaking up when it is important to do so. I am glad you are using your celebrity status for good causes, highlighting the great work of some charities, and inspiring others to follow suit. You are certainly making an impact on the little corner of the internet that I have made my home in, and I hope that you pat yourself on the back every once in a blue moon – you have earned it. Wishing you all the best for 2016 – new, challenging roles, exciting encounters, and fulfilment in both your private life and your career.

The universe is on your side!

To you and all the readers of this blog:

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45 thoughts on “See You Next Year…”

  1. Happy New Year, my friend! May you be blessed with health, continued prosperity and joy in your heart. May your creative juices continue to flow and a steady stream of work come your way. May your family have peace, security and grow stronger in love the more time goes by. Big hugs. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

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    • Thanks Perry – I always find it so hard to find my way back into blogging once I have gone offline for a few days. Weird. I think it’s my inherent laziness that makes it so hard :-). Happy new year.

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    • *hust* Ja, das war alles ein wenig knapp und kurz. Nachdem ich mal wieder aus dem Trott raus war, war es sauschwer, wieder reinzukommen. Aber nun ist ja der Anfang wieder gemacht, und sogar der erste Round-up ist raus. Weitermachen wie gehabt.

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  6. Guylty, this is a beautiful letter and a very nice outline of some of the events throughout the year, even the sad or disappointing ones.

    As soon as I saw your pictures of LIFF I knew they would be well circulated and appreciated. They are glorious of him, like Stage Door with daylight, and are among my very favorites – not only because they are perfect of him, but because heart behind the art in them.

    For your sake, and for us all, I hope he takes, or is given the opportunity, to do more such live events. The ones that are non-Hollywood and more intimate as LIFF and Stage Door were.

    Bless you and you family with as generous and giving a new year as you have been to us with your art and kindness!

    Crystal

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    • “Stage door with daylight” – you sum up what I thought about them, too. They were so much easier to take – and turned out better – because I did not have to deal with flash or other artificial light sources. And it was also really nice to witness the encounters, too, without darkness obscuring the scene. Knowing that there is an audience out there who will appreciate and enjoy the images, is much more than a mere bonus; it’s part of the motivation, really. It’s fun to make these pictures and to share them. And if they convey at least part of the fun and enjoyment I felt while I was taking them, then they have fulfilled their purpose.
      Ah, and it would be fabulous if there was more opportunity for pictures in 2016 – and for meeting up with other fans and enjoy the occasion together.
      Happy new year to you too! xx

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  7. Happy New Year Guylty! What a lovely post for us all to enjoy. It’s funny because as much as I love to see new pictures of Richard, I LOVE the first two landscape pictures. Thanks for being so generous and sharing your pictures!

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    • Thank you Tree – and a happy new year to you, too. Loved your series of picture quizzes, btw!
      And btw, I am really chuffed to read that you like the “other” pics, too. I mean, RA pics are the best, that’s a given, but if another pic receives a comment, I take that as a massive compliment. 🙂

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  8. Thank you for another year of sharing your talents, humor and kindness. you enrich my RA life immeasurably, and other parts as well. Better watch out, some crafty person might make a shrine to you.

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    • Thank you for such lovely words, Kathy. It’s enriching for me too, and it still gives me quite a thrill to see that someone reads me and even comments back :-). I am more than grateful for the encounters I have had due to this “RA life” – “beyond words”, as himself said 😉 – and I am looking forward for more such this summer! xx

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  9. A wonderful review of the events in your blog. You are still the wittiest of writers and never critically mean, even when I think you’d like to be. Your tour of New Zealand with the grumpy dwarf was my inspiration for my own Thorin conversations. Not sure what happened but, in the last month, his FB page following has more than doubled so now I feel like I have to keep up the stories. It’s not a blog but I think you must feel the same way at times. I hope you’ve had a chance to catch some of them.
    Your reviews of Leeds made us feel like we were there. And the pictures! I may never have the opportunity to be where Mr. A is so I will live vicariously through your good fortune.
    So glad you had time with your family. Did the grumpy dwarf travel with you? I think Christmas is the worst time not to see family because you have all these memories of past gatherings and no one to remember them with. My sister and I talked about some of our own memories, especially the funny ones. Her kids learned a bit more family lore this trip.
    May 2016 be a blessed year for you and your RA-tolerant hubby.

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    • Thank you for your lovely comment, Tommie. It’s an absolute pleasure to write for an appreciative audience – it’s what makes blogging so attractive – and to get to know readers over time. Sharing the photos and the thoughts with you is a major part of my fandom experience – I don’t think I would have even half as much fun if I only appreciated Mr A on my own, without discussing him/it with my fellow fans.
      The grumpy dwarf travelled with me, yes, as did plushie Guy. Unfortunately my time at home was hampered by a stupid, resistant cough I had brought along, and the on-going difficulties that my mum and I are having with each other. Things continue to be very difficult, but well – no one ever said that life was meant to be easy.
      Sending you best wishes for 2016, too – looking forward to more of your little Thorin’s adventures, too!

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  11. Happy New Year Guylty! Looking forward to another year of fun and fandom friendship here, thank you for all you do in celebration of what is so wonderful about this RA community of ours. Your LIFF photos and Urban review would have to be a highlight for me – a few of those 8888 views would’ve been mine! Wishing you and those who visit here a 2016 full of love, good health, happiness and success.

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    • Hehe, well, I am glad if you enjoyed the LIFF ride as much as I did. What a surprise that was. Just another proof that the best things are always those where you had little expectations. I never expected the event to be as nice as it was…
      Lots of love, health and fun for you in 2016, too. And many thanks for your continuous support! xx

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  12. Happy new year to you too! And thanks for the reminder of all the great RA related things the year has been filled with! And the letter to which I nodded along all the way. You and all this have brought much joy to my 2015 too and I look forward to sharing more exciting things in 2016 😊

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  13. Thank you for taking us on the ride for 2015. I enjoyed your posts of New Zealand and Ireland along with the Richard posts. Have a Happy 2016 and I look forward to reading your blog in the new year.

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  15. That was a lovely read. Thanks to you for all the enjoyment and (charitable) crafting you bring and for your generosity in sharing all things Richard. I wish you a wonderful and happy 2016!

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  16. Happy New Year, Guylty! Sending out wishes for a healthy and fun 2016, filled with excitement and discovery. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us, whether across the globe or across the Channel. (Chalk me up as a few of those 8888 visitors. 😉) Let’s hope the coming year provides more opportunities for star-gazing, up close and personal. 😊

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    • Thank you, Zan, and the best of luck and health back to you for 2016. I wonder whether we will be so lucky again in 2016, with occasions to meet Mr A in the flesh. At least we’ll get to see some of his new work, so there’s definitely something to look forward to… x

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  17. Happy new year! Ich wünsche Dir Glück und weiterhin soviel Kreativität bei allem was Du schreibst, fotografierst und “produzierst” und uns Leser damit erfreust ❤
    Unser Treffen im Mai gehört auch zu meinen absoluten Highlights des Jahres und ich hoffe, wir schaffen das auch in 2016 noch einmal……
    Zu Nepal: von einer Freundin, die intensiven Kontakt zu einer Familie im Erdbebengebiet hat, habe ich die Info, dass bisher von den vielen gespendeten Geld noch nichts angekommen ist. Die Familien wohnen immer noch in Zelten, bisher wurde noch nichts wieder aufgebaut. Das finde ich sehr frustrierend 😦

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  18. Happy New Year, Guylty and best wishes to all who visit your highly amusing and enjoyable blog.
    Thank you for your commentaries, your photos, your lovely RAPSs, your weekly Round-Ups and for starting (and moderating) lively discussions among us fellow-fans about a vast number of different themes.
    Have a good start in 2016 and always interesting news to write about!

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    • I’ll pass on your praise for the fundraising to those who gave so generously and made the auctions the success they turned out to be. I was only the facilitator – the money was raised by all the kind supporters.
      Happy new year, Grati x

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  21. Happy New Year Guylty! Thank you for all you do and in every way you do it. Looking forward to sharing this year here with you. xx

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    • Hatte ein ganz ruhiges, unaufgeregtes Silvester – ohne Kinder. Und trotzdem war es schön. Hoffe, ihr habt den Jahresbeginn auch schön verbracht. – Freue mich auf mehr Lachen und geteilten Spaß hier mit dir in 2016.

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      • Ohne Kinder ist sicher auch mal schön 🙂 Ich hab mit family & friends bei mir daheim gefeiert….15 bis 20 Mann beim Raclette-Essen, Quatschen und Spielen. War sehr nett und der Hund war auch nicht allein daheim, obwohl der ab 22 Uhr nur noch gepennt hat 🙂
        Lachen und Spaß ist immer gut, da bin ich voll dafür 😀

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