It's been a long time since I've taken opportunity to reflect on my life's direction.  Although I had hoped to be back in the US by now, or at least globetrotting in some capacity, I remain land-locked. The momentum built up during last year's adventure is still there, however. Just trundling along amid other distractions.

The main distraction of the moment is the full time web-development job I seem to have fallen into. I'd normally be able to balance such a grown-up responsibility with everything else that's going on in my life, especially as the office is less than half an hour's commute away.  However, within a few weeks of my starting, I found my role upgraded to de-facto team leader - a challenge approached with the usual level of dumbfounded bewilderment.

Although it's a great opportunity to brush up on my PHP and Javascript skills, the additional responsibilities have been somewhat draining - hence the lack of blog updates and general life-living.  I'm learning enough to help spruce up my website and others when I get the time, so it's not all that bad.

The Seven Wonders in Seven Days excursion seems to be on hold for a moment, pending sufficient funds. Although I can't say I'm surprised, I hope we make it out at some point. There's been a lot of effort behind the scenes to pull things together, so I'm still along for the ride. (And it's nice to see fellow traveller Alissa popping up on Coronation Street recently!)

Closer to home, I'm still thrashing out CGI for 'On the Shoulders of Giants'.  Although I was a lot more productive prior to the whole gainful employment thing, I'm still churning out various scenes and monitor effects in my spare time.  In an ideal world I'll be doing this full time, but for now I do what I can when I can.  Now the film's coming together, I find myself rather impressed with how it's turning out, and look forward to putting together a genuine demo reel to flaunt my wares.

The movies I worked on overseas are also coming to fruition. 'The Breakup' has already premiered at the 2011 San Antonio Film Festival, where it received an encouraging reception.  At the end of the month; 'Amounting to Nothing' will be released to an eager local audience at the Josephine Theatre in San Antonio, hopefully to much mirth and merriment. I'm really happy for both film crews, and just wish I could be over there to share in the glory!

Sometimes you get the breaks. Sometimes you get broken. Life goes on, and there's plenty more opportunity ahead…

Once again, life has thrown another exciting opportunity my way. After a chance email from a friend, I've landed a rather impressive gig doing something I love.

For the next few months, I will be assisting with CGI Effects and Video Composition for a locally shot sci-fi movie - "On the Shoulders of Giants". Produced by Water on the Rock, this film promises to be a retro homage to classic science fiction movies - from what I've seen it looks like it'll hit the mark. Despite my inherent nerdiness, digital effects are virgin territory for me, so I have much to learn with both Blender and After Effects. Luckily, the rest of the team seem encouragingly enthusiastic, so I hope to get up to speed quickly enough to make a significant contribution. Alas, there'll be no preview pics or videos until the film is ready. But after that I'll be sure to flaunt a significantly bloated portfolio.

The only drawback, if drawback it be, is that I've finally had to assimilate myself into the Facebook collective. A necessary evil, as this will provide the best way to collaborate with the rest of the team. Later on, I'll see about tying it all together with the rest of my internet presence.

Still looking for another paying job to help replenish the coffers, but at least I won't be sat around twiddling my thumbs all day.

As expected of seasonal employment, the customer service job I've been languishing in since October has come to an end. I can't say I'm surprised, and if truth be known the work was starting to get be down a little. Nevertheless, it would have been nice to know before I'd paid for another month's train pass. So it goes…

It wasn't all bad. Met some new, interesting people, and made a few good friends along the way. And I'm sure I've got a foot in the door next time there's a rush on.

This leaves me with an abundance of free time, which I'm already putting to good use by working on some more scripts. As is the way of these things, I find my writing gets better the more I practise it, especially compared to the scripts I was scribbling out a year ago. Once I'm sufficiently relaxed and re-focussed, I'll be sure to spill my creative juices in other media as well.

I'm still looking for more work, obviously, with an aim towards something more akin to what I actually want to do with my life - or at least a close approximation. Money may be getting tighter, but I'll find a way. I always do.

Speaking of customer service, I have to give a huge shout out to Plusnet, my new Internet Service Provider. Not only are they apparently cheaper and faster than my old one; but they went out of their way to hook me up ahead of schedule when my old ISP disconnected me a day early. This was amazing service, especially as they took the initiative to help after reading a mildly frustrated tweet I made this morning. Proactive customer service is an excellent first impression. (Disclosure: That Plusnet link up there is a referral link. I'm a whore.)

So, here's to free time! Now to catch up with everything I've missed over the last three months. Can't believe it's already been a year since I first went to America.

A few days back, a rather interesting post appeared on the Seven Wonders in Seven Days website. Reimagining the project as an exercise in storytelling, and asking for the 'Why?' behind the tale.

I've found the stories we tell in life to be as vital as the reality in which we live. Stories act as both mirror and lens for the human equation, offering reflection and scrutiny. Technology progresses and we discover new ways of sitting round the campfire, in turn creating stories of our own through the tools that define us.

From the first time I sat cross-legged and awed with the War of the Worlds gatefold, the idea of telling a story that transcends the written word has always excited me. Merging multiple art forms and disciplines in unexpected ways, and discovering new realities at the intersections. (Which reminds me, I really ought to subscribe to The Mongoliad at some point!) 

In my opinion, the modern successor to the concept album is the MMO game. These games (or at least the good ones), create virtual worlds that can be explored in many different ways, from different perspectives, and with different objectives. Yet they have to remain consistent; with a stable grounding and backstory that may not even be obvious in the game itself. There's been a growth in spin-off books and graphic novels that capture part of these worlds, and the players in turn are inspired to riff off the concept through fan fiction and their own artwork. In essence, the world grows through the merging of wills. Both creator and citizen have their say, and exercise their stake.

Nevertheless, current virtual worlds barely scratch the surface of potential. In cinematic terms, we're still watching the steam train rattle towards the camera. In time the need for a richer experience, the basic human need to define ourselves through our storytelling, will and must assert itself. The alternative is a future plagued by shallow superficiality - and we get enough of that elsewhere!

But of course, that's fiction. And I've always believed life to be more enjoyable when it proves to be stranger than.

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A year ago to this day, I made my choice to pack things in at work and begin the next stage of life's journey. Although the regular income from my old job made things very comfortable indeed, I knew that existence wasn't for me. I was unhappy, undervalued, and in a malaise that no amount of money could (or should) fix. Since then, my life has taken many interesting turns, mostly for the better.

I've crossed the sky twice now, making friends and contacts in faraway lands. Discovering that I may actually have a talent for effects and production work, with all the fun and insanity that entails. Slowly, surely, finally belonging to a creative, somewhat eccentric, team. And never feeling more at home.

Aside from my film work, I've found I'm more at peace with myself than in previous years. I'm unsure whether this is a natural mellowing of age, or as a direct result of my decision to change. Probably a bit of both, really, and I like it.

Certainly, things can be better than they are. But I figure that life works better if there's something to strive for, instead of bland complacency. So I'm always going to be restless, wanting to experience more with every step. I can live with that.

I don't know where the next year is going to take me, but it's going to be awesome.

Well, the fun times of lazing around all day are over, and I re-commence work tomorrow! Once again I'm off back to a Customer Service role for the Supermarket Chain mentioned previously. This is going to be a temporary role, taking me up to Yule, and should replenish the coffers nicely.  I've still got a few other opportunities to pursue, having registered with Northern Exposure regarding crew work. At least with a bit of regular work to back me up I can afford to keep looking for the good stuff!

Things have gone a bit quiet on my end regarding Seven Wonders in Seven Days, mainly due to focussing on gainful employment. Once I've got back into a routine, I should be able to pick up the slack there as well.  There's lots of new updates on their Blog, so I guess I've got some catching up to do!

Nothing new to report with The Darkness FX. At least not officially. Suffice to say there's been lots of positive rumours finding their way across the Atlantic, but I've been sworn to secrecy. This can only be a good thing, I think…

Finally, I've started scribbling the occasional article for Starbase UGC, a blog covering User Generated Content in the Star Trek Online MMORPG. I've always been interested in the challenge of writing compelling content for these games, so I have been watching the development of UGC carefully.  The Foundry toolkit looks like a robust start to fulfil many nerds' Star Trek related fantasies, and can only get better with time.

So yes, been busy. We'll see how much energy I have once I'm working a regular shift pattern again…

This week brings another setback with the Seven Wonders in Seven Days expedition. Due to the lack of short-notice sponsorship, the trip has been postponed until July 7th 2011. Almost nine months away.

Although not entirely unexpected, I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I have approached this with the full knowledge that things may not work out entirely to plan, so any disappointment is fleeting. Chi-Chi has offered reimbursement for costs, but I would rather that money go straight to the cause. The Donation Page is still open, and every penny matters.

We now have until May 2011 to secure sponsorship. Although that date seems as distant as the corners of the world, I'm sure it will creep up on everyone before we know it.  For now, at least, I will still be participating in the expedition; visiting China, Italy and Mexico as previously arranged. Of course, this assumes circumstances won't change, but July is far enough away to ensure I can plan around it.

For now I recommence my search for work. One of the fortunate things about participating in Seven Wonders is that I have been in contact with many positive, enthusiastic people. People who happen to work, or know people who work, in roles that I am very much interested in.

Time to polish up my CV…

Just over a week to go until my trip to China for Seven Wonders in Seven Days, and there's been a bit of progress. I'll be picking my Visa up from the Chinese Consulate later on this week, and I've got a better idea of how the trip is going to pan out.

Current plan is for me to leave Manchester Airport on the 8th of October for a change over at Dubai, then on to land in Beijing about 18 hours later. It's going to be a tough journey, but worth it. When I get there, it seems I'm going to be staying at the Grand Mercure Xidan Hotel right in the middle of the city, and around the corner from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. An ideal touristy location, but I still don't know exactly how I'd be getting to The Great Wall from there. Nevertheless, WiFi Internet Access is graciously provided at the Hotel, so I can keep in touch and plan my onward journeys. I'll be travelling back again late on the 11th of October, so I hope at least to get some interesting sightseeing done while I'm there. This is, of course, all subject to change. But I feel that the uncertainty makes this more exciting, and seem to be planning for the best.

There is also chance for another traveller to win a trip to Rome to see the Colosseum, just by answering a few simple questions. Unfortunately, the original winner had to drop out of the competition, so this is an ideal opportunity for a lucky reader to be part of the expedition. Alas it's short notice, as any applicants would need to enter by the end of the day, but it's all to help raise donations for seven worthy causes!

Donations don't need to be that much, and would be split equally between all seven charities. Even a humble donation of £7.77 will make a difference, which is barely the cost of bus fare and a fancy coffee these days. Gift Aid will generously add another 2-and-a-bit quid to that, ensuring every penny counts.

It's all worth it.