Some of us are not born to greatness. Nor do we have it thrust upon us. Some of us are destined to skulk in the shadows, chasing obscurity with all our might.

I look at the sum total of my achievement and can be proud of it, though most of it has gone unnoticed. As a linguist I showed promise, as a gardener I was successful, but that all lies in the past. It is now too late to bask in those former glories. For a while I thought that I could make my mark with writing, or drawing, but realistically, I am not going to get the words I write published, nor am I going to find myself well-hung in public galleries. My output caters to a minority taste, sometimes only mine. And besides, I have nothing to say. However beautifully I may put it, fundamentally, all my verbiage and visual creations arrive at the same verdict – ‘no comment’. I don’t understand the world, and I don’t fit in. Not in this no-man’s-land with the high-powered ammunition flying over my head. Because, let’s face it, this is the world of the opinionated, of those who shout the loudest, and mine is a quiet voice, sighing, not howling like a cliché in the wilderness.

As a result, I have decided to change my approach, to life, to art, to creativity. No longer will I fashion words into books that seek a readership. No more will I draw or paint works for other people to see. I will inhabit the quiet space where friendship lies, and make gifts for those I care about. Better to be remembered for a short time by the few, than to spend yourself courting the masses.

So. I shall be making and sending out small tokens for those I believe will appreciate them. If I have your address, you may receive one. Or you may not, because I have renounced all pressure and all deadlines. If you don’t get one, it is probably not because I haven’t thought of you. I just haven’t got round to it yet.

The latest projects have been Artist Trading Cards with a twist. I have also moved on today to boxes. Boxes are good, because they can hold more gifts. Even Artist Trading Cards. All with a personal message.