Glad Tidings of Comfort and Dismay

So that’s another year almost done and dusted. Just the celebrations, the gifts, the food, the reflections and the regrets yet to come. And you won’t need me to tell you what a grotesque year we’ve all lived through, but I hope that you found your own small pockets of joy somewhere amongst all that misery.

My festive illustration this year is based on another of my local photographs from the great snowfall of February 2018. I was intending to start a new series of cards this year, but as often is the case, other things took precedence. Fortunately, I found another small stash of unused snow photos, including this beautiful scene of Leigh’s St. Clement’s Church.

I did use a similar reference image for a Christmas card way back in 2012 and if you remember that, then you are hereby promoted to Millidge Maven Master Level 4. It’s a great view of the church and well worth revisiting for a different take. I hope you agree.

I have been neglectful of my regular newsletter subscriber friends this year, I’m sorry to say, as well as forsaking my social media somewhat too. Most of what time I would have usually dedicated to those pursuits has been spent on creating regular posts for my Patreon members, which was launched last December. More on that later. Please accept my apologies, but it’s all in aid of facilitating more Strangehaven.

On that note, I’m happy to report that I’m a great deal closer to finishing the epilogue than I was last year, but there are still a small number of pages to complete. I should really have been even further along if not for the fact that I’m (very reluctantly) in the process of selling up and moving house.

Those of you that have also done so – particularly those who have had to buy and sell as opposed to rent – will know what a gruelling procedure it is. We hadn’t planned on moving before Strangehaven: Epilogue was complete, but circumstances dictated that Geenie and I took urgent action this summer. That involved repairing and redecorating the house, selecting a selling agent and putting it on the market; followed by the search for our new home, each phase even more anxiety-inducing and exhausting than the last.

What makes our house hunting less enjoyable is that we’re having to downsize (i.e. in terms of property value). So, we’re looking at houses that might be smaller, with fewer facilities, in poorer condition, in a less desirable area, or all of those things. It’s a daunting compromise, but we’re both looking forward to the next chapter together .

A portrait of the tired but Christmassy author. Photo and tree decoration by Geen Geenie

This year also was peppered with technical issues with my work computer, which is a creaking, groaning mess of components trying to hang on to the coattails of increasingly resource-hungry apps. But it continues to hang together, for now. I also had to find an urgent solution to a surprise shortfall in my state pension contributions (the solution being as ever, money, which is in short supply here at Abiogenesis Towers).

Age continues to catch up with me, this year having to contend with mild but frequent migraines, some form of sciatica, an ear infection and a couple of urgent trips to the dentist. But not everything is terrible. Following my hospital procedure last year, my heart has been behaving itself and beating vigorously and regularly, albeit slowly. In other positive health news, Geenie finally received a long overdue and miraculously effective treatment for her chronic urticaria. Another hurrah for the NHS and medical science.

Then there was also a whole year of great gigs, exhibitions, books, comics and films for our rapacious brains to absorb. We enjoyed walks in the woods, along the world’s longest pleasure pier, and once again travelled back to Geenie’s hometown of Derry in Northern Ireland.

Bogey, the furry assassin.

That’s not to mention our in-house furry assassin, Bogey, the feline version of Inspector Clouseau, who in between killing, eating, biting and scratching things never fails to bring a smile to your face. But what I’m thankful for most of all, is the best life companion, girlfriend, and creative accomplice anyone could wish for, the gorgeous Geen Geenie.

And then there’s you, my ever-patient and faithful readers, for which I am eternally grateful, especially those of you who support me on Patreon. On that platform I find that I’ve already created more than forty posts, detailing my gradual yet relentless progress in completing Strangehaven: Epilogue (including snippets of the work-in-progress). I also share the daily trials and tribulations of an independent creator, as well as all the film, television, comics, books and gigs that we have consumed. If you’d like to support my creative projects, you can do so here.

Otherwise, it’s been a bit of a clusterfuck of a year. I may be hitting the Bailey’s pretty hard this Christmastime. Hug your loved ones, keep warm and healthy if you can, avoid the superflu and the scourge of AI and try to enjoy the good things where you can. 2026 will be better, I feel it in my bones.

Lashings of yuletide love,

–Gary Spencer Millidge.