MrBiffo
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NEEDLESSLY GUSHING END OF YEAR REVIEW
🕑 Added 2018-12-20 11:25:11 +0000 UTCWell, there have been some dips, but on balance... I've had a bloody good year. I got married, worked harder than I ever have done before - both in my day job and with the website and show - but to be my age and say you've had one of the best years of your life (admittedly, for a long time, that wasn't difficult) is overwhelming.
When I returned to Mr Biffo after six years away, I was pretty certain that I'd stay under the radar and remain out of the spotlight, but in 2018 I found myself in front of an audience at no less than three retro games events, fannied around on stage for two Cheapshow live specials, and recently ended up on a panel at BAFTA to launch Almost Never, the new kids show I have starting in January. For which I was sat next to Kimberley Wyatt from Pussycat Dolls and interviewed by Vernon Kay! Sadly, two of the other members of the cast - Emily Atak and Fleur East - were in the Australian jungle at the time, and couldn't make it...!
On top of that, I wrote things this year which starred Bill Bailey and the legendary Steve Guttenberg, so in anyone's book it would've been a banner year. And now I am running out of exclamation marks. But it was all a bit surreal to say the least.
And yet... Digitiser has come to mean more to me than any of the things I've mentioned above. If I could afford to just do Digi-related things, I would. I've written plenty about Digitiser The Show, but the reception it received - after an admittedly shaky first episode response - has rewarded me more than anything I've ever done.
The freelance fatalist in me is always, even if it's on a subconscious level, worried that my career will come to a grinding halt, and I won't be able to pay the bills. Yet, even if that did happen, your support means I have a trajectory now, if that makes sense, rather than years of feeling like I was running from one job to another, trying to keep the wolf from the door, floundering for actual solid ground.
Plus, being able to get up and do that stuff on stage - to put myself out there, as me - is, in part, down to feeling accepted by so many of you.
To those of you who've recently joined the Patreon, and those who have stuck with me since I launched it, your foundation is the biggest gift anyone could receive. You're the bedrock of what I do. I remain humbled by it, and don't ever take it for granted. I'd say I didn't deserve it, but I'd had enough shitty years that I was due some karmic rebalancing.
So, I just wanted to say - as we come to the end of 2018 - thank you. Again.
I've no idea what 2019 will bring, but right now it feels like anything is possible.
Paul
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Comments
Paul Rose (Mr Biffo)
You're too lovely. x
Thanks for all your hard work, Paul. Rediscovering Digi has tickled my goujons and put a frequent smile on my face this year! :) Now kick back and relax for a bit!
Thanks to you too, Paul. Your Digi-stuff makes most days a bit brighter round here. Long may it continue. Really looking forward to 2019 and whatever it might bring.
Sam Anderson
This is so wonderful to read, I'm so happy that I am able to support you, and since YOU'RE gushing, I am going to attempt WORDS... Digi has come to mean so much to me, for so many reasons. I have never felt more accepted and at home than I do in the Digi community, and I have made some incredible friends through it. Having the opportunity to be involved in Found Footage and Digitiser, to work with you, AND so many other people I respect and admire has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. I can never thank you enough for these things.
Paul Rose (Mr Biffo)
That's 4 O'Clock Club too! We got him in the 100th episode special!
John Veness
Thanks for everything you do Paul, and for the community you've helped form around you. I'm so glad this year has been so good for you, and I hope 2019 will be even better :-) PS I know Bill Bailey is in your 4 O'clock Club ep at Christmas, but what's the Steve Guttenberg thing?
What an awesome post. You have brought much happiness to so many of us this year! Thank you! :-)
Pete Davison
I'm so happy to read this. You've obviously thrown your heart and soul into Digitiser (particularly the show) and it's really paid off. I'm glad you feel like it's help bring you some "direction" and a sense of trajectory; I, too, know firsthand what it's like to live freelance and worry about where the next paycheck is coming from and when. I have a day job now, but it takes time away from my real passion, which is working on my site MoeGamer and the related videos. I still work hard on both, however, and I greatly enjoy it; as a result, I get people who are happy to support me, and who show their gratitude for the fact I'm doing something a bit different. (Someone even reached out via DM to say it was nice to finally see a genuine hobbyist writing about gaming rather than the cynicism of the modern press; that was a lovely message to receive.) It sounds like you've had an amazing year. I hope 2019 is even better for you. Thank you for all the laughs so far, and best of luck.
Wagoo
You're a natural in front of the camera, Mr. B. Cheers for all your hard work on Digitiser the show!
