I confess I am not a great fan of autobiographies that begin at the beginning and follow a temporal path up to the present day – not that the person might not have some interesting stories, facts and opinions strung on their necklace, but it just doesn’t appeal as a structure. On the other hand, in my last, extra year at school in Oxford, retaking an A-level and adding a couple more, I was allowed out of school on my recognisance and saw a fascinating Exhibition at the Modern Art Gallery. The Artist had laid out and photographed every single possession of a single person – for example, all the cutlery was laid out in one shot, all the shoes in another. This more thematic approach appeals more and although I am not arranging the objects which I have chosen to tell my story in chronological order, I hope that my writing will be sufficiently interesting to keep your interest Dear Reader, and that on the journey from A to Z, you will assemble an impression of my life and who I am…
Zoom…
How many are the ways we communicate apart from face to face that is… Phone calls, texts, WhatsApp, messages, Messenger DM’s, Skype and Zoom (not an exhaustive list lol). Zoom and its brothers and sisters from Microsoft et al, came to the front duringthe Covid Lockdown when you could use it to keep in contact with friends or work from home or even have a remote consultation with your doctor. Skype – a Microsoft product was the go-to product for a long time but it is now being pulled because Zoom and it’s compadres do much more – multiple participants, recording and transcribing those recordings etc. One of my favourite things done with Skpe, was a guy who corresponded with lots of people all over the world and then edited themed conversations for the BBC on topics like work or marriage or migration. So adios Skype and welcome Zoom on which I attend a Writing Group, read poetry for the dVerse Poets Pub open mike night, not to mention work meetings, and speaking to my sister in Nova Scotia…
Which is all I have to say about Zoom, which seems a whimper rather than a bang for the ending of what has been as in depth an A to Z as any of the five before it – but at least I have written a memoir of sorts, if I do no other! At the outset, I expressed the hope that you would “assemble an impression of my life and who I am” and I hope indeed, that you have – only you know…
Adios, Amigos – see you on the road…
I leave you with a few photos of myself over the years…
I teach Digital Fashion Design on Zoom! And I love it! It’s perfect for teaching techniques in Photoshop and/or Illustrator. My next challenge for myself is teaching Procreate online… no desktop version so trickier. Yes, I know I can hook up my tablet as a “second screen” but there are lots of hand gestures involved, which would be helpful to see as well.
Back to Zoom, experimenting with recording myself doing various design activities with the intention of turning snippets into Instagram Reels.
Another idea, recently suggested in a workshop, is to make a Zoom journal – record daily thoughts. Have yet to try.
I’ve enjoyed your A-Z walk down memory lane this year! Intend to go back and read the posts I missed.
Thanks Anne, I’ve enjoyed connecting with a few regular readers too! I wasn’t sure whether my story would interest anyone just as last year I wasn’t sure commodities would cut it either but its been a blast…
Not sure how the journal thing would work – you mean you would have to set each one to record?
Love your pictures, and this entire series. You most definitely succeeded – it’s been lovely to get to know more about you.
Thank you Deborah, I think each year I have known more about you too, I am so glad it worked!!!
(Sorry for delay. Many shiny objects). Yes, you record yourself talking to yourself. Hah!
And now we ZOOM onto our next adventures. Be sure to drop by my blog tomorrow and help me decide what to do next.
Donna: Click for my 2025 A-Z Blog
I will do Donna – and it has been a real pleasure having you along on the journey – I went to Zenith and it said 13 comments but wouldn’t show them or let me comment…
You zoomed to the end and it’s been so interesting to learn about you and your life…you’re a man of many talents. Such delightful photos progressing for childhood to now. Congratulations.
Thanks Pauleen, you have been a great travelling companion, all the best for your future journeys…
You zoomed to the end and it’s been so interesting to learn about you and your life…you’re a man of many talents. Such delightful photos progressing for childhood to now. Congratulations.
Congratulations and well done! I thoroughly enjoyed your approach to autobiography and think it suits you perfectly. I’ve missed few so, look forward to returning soon to catch up with them. Cheers!
Thanks Josna, I too have a lot of catching up to do – might see you on the road…
Zoom certainly is a big part of our lives now. Sometimes it’s a great convenience and opportunity, and other times it’s tiresome and intrusive. It’s still nice to have the possibility, though.
Congratulations on reaching Z!
The picture of you as a boy (the third picture). Adorable.
Aaww shucks!
Hi Andrew, what an excellent and topical ending! It took me a minute to get through all the posts, but I’m happy I did. I’m thoroughly impressed at how much of your life you’ve added in these posts, most of which are bursting with details and specifics. It seems that focusing on a specific letter and theme gives the memoir a focus that might have otherwise gone off the rails given the endless amount of material, something I’ve seen other memoir writers talk about in workshops or various writing spheres. I really enjoyed reading all of this and thank you for sharing here! It’s funny that we’ve only met on zoom and the internet (thus the Z post) but I feel I know you so much better after reading this collection. Congrats on finishing this! Looking forward to our next meeting.