Feb. 2025; The Resurrection

New years resolutions are often-slash-mostly a load of bollocks rubbish. Not the heartfelt good intentions we convince ourselves we’ll achieve in the new year, but the actual execution of them. Every year I write a list, my resolutions for the year ahead that’ll improve my life in some small way, and at the end of that year I look back and, invariably, have successfully implemented none (or almost none) of them. For 2024 I had 14 New Years Resolutions, and how many did I manage? Sweet Fanny Adams. Bugger all. Not even one. But, this year is different. Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps…

Part of my list for 2025 is to get back to writing this, this self indulgant scribble that I tell myself helps hone my literary skills and keeps my mind sharp as a razor. I’m promising the cosmos that this year I’ll write (at least) 12 blogs entries such as this, and also record (at least) 12 YouTube videos on photography. So far I’ve recorded 2 YT whatsits, but am unable to edit the sods because I still haven’t bought a new computer (which was, coincidentally, number 11 on last years resolution list) and my current laptop is from 2010, and needless to say, somewhat underpowered for video editing. I digress. So, merely by writing this scribble, and adding some photos and sticking up on the website for all to sneer at, judge, ridicule and feel better about themselves and their photography, I’m actually achieving one of my resolutions for 2025. Back to writing. And it’s far from a hardship. I write because I like.

The format for this will be on par with my previous experiments in writing, namedly The Sunday Scribble I used to post on WeChat (just with a bit more stuff on photography, I imagine.) I’ll be blowing a raspberry to them and choosing not to post it on wechat in the future, as previously I got reported to the wechat police for daring to write the truth about the mass exodus of foreigners from China, some by choice, many by not. Living as a foreigner in China, you’ve got to tow the line and play by their rules, or life can be made rather difficult for you. Speaking the truth can often lead to serious troubles, and as the great George Orwell said; “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” (But, just a few years later we can see the extent of that said exodus. Foreigners registered as living and working in Shanghai 2019; 320,000. But in 2024? 70,000. Same, Beijing 2019; 105,000. But 2024? 30,000. My city, Shenzhen, the same. Like lemmings off a cliff they merrily dance. But, I’m still here. Somehow.)

2024 was somewhat of a disappointing year, as in that nothing especially good or bad happened. The economy here is still in a pickle, and likely to get worse before it improves, but we still have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Some years feel like you are making great strides of personal progress, and some, like 2024, felt more like treading water just to keep your head above water. I did less photography jobs, but more teaching, and I thoroughly enjoy teaching. I’m a far better teacher than I am a mediocre photographer. Fingers crossed, 2025 will be a marked improvement. I aim to push myself a bit harder when I need to, and forgive myself a little more when I need to. Be a bit braver at times, stick my neck out on the butchers block a bit further. Embrace my uncomfortable zone like a wet kiss from an old aunty.

So, consider this little taster as the bread basket before the meal. The spraying of perfume before the hot date. The brushing of teeth before the job interview. These snippets of text and image will be musings of trips, experiences, conversations and the following inner reflection afterwards. Last year I got to visit some pretty incredible places, and I’m hoping my writing can do these places better justice than my photos did. And so, dear reader, this is just adios, and not goodbye. I’m not sure what the first “real” blog scribble will be about, but it’ll be coming real soon. Until then, au revoir, mon ami.

Kisses,

Jay

Starting 2025 off with a 5-day photocamp in Hong Kong, immediately after this it was another photocamp in chilly Hangzhou. These bunch of students were creative little angels, and made some gorgeous photos on the trip :)