Five years. F I V E.
If this page/account/website/niche-content-provision was human, it would off to school in September. Fortunately, for all concerned, it has not yet gained sentience. This is helped by its being run by a choral singer, not best known for their consciousness at the best of times. (And August, for a choral singer, is not the best of times.)
Five years is a lot of memes. Let's crunch some numbers.
Over on Instagram I've shared over 740 posts. (741 when this gets shared, I guess.) I'm fairly sure there will be more on Facebook but there's no quick way of ascertaining that, and honestly, who has the time. (Not me. Too busy with the memes.)
Over here you've placed over 2,000 orders. That's not 2,000 people, mind. Some of you keep coming back, you legends. Still, that's a lot more niche merch than I anticipated back then.
You've ordered 1,200 copies of Evensong - Notes from the Choir since April. And counting.
We had a whole Kickstarter for a book about descants, successfully funded, and distributed worldwide. (Copies still available.)
Two - count 'em - TWO brand new entries made it into the Classic FM Hall of Fame this year and last. What's next year's choral classic going to be? Can we get it higher?
I've said many times that I started this merry show because I wanted to tell jokes. The world was on fire. And somehow, on the way, I became a sole trader, publisher, and author.
Athough, sole trader is a bit of a misnomer, really, because you're never actually sole. You've all come with me on the journey, and connecting with everyone here, on the socials, and - more recently and unnervingly - in person, is, and continues to be, a real joy.
So. The question is, as it always is: what's next?
In The West Wing (the best TV series that doesn't have the words "Trek" or "Star" in it) there's an incredible exchange between Mallory O'Brian and Sam Seaborn.
"We went to the moon. Do we really have to go to Mars?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"'Cause it's next. 'Cause we came out of the cave, and we looked over the hill and we saw fire; and we crossed the ocean and we pioneered the west, and we took to the sky. The history of man is hung on a timeline of exploration and this is what's next."
(Galileo, Season 2, Episode 9, for fellow wingnuts)
This is my evolution. And what's next is two things.
ONE. Another book.
When I visited London for the book launch back in April I was asked this very question: what's next? In answer, I said I'd been there earlier that morning, at the London Archives, researching.
Bubbling away in the background, is Book Two. What's it about? For that information, my friend, you will have to wait. (I'm only 6,000 words in.)
TWO. A book tour.
Next year, I'm taking the book on tour. A few dates are lining up and I'll be sharing more details in due course. If you want me to come to your church or cathedral to chat about all things evensong, let me know.
However, before we get to next year, there's an advance guard, a sneak preview, at St Michael and All Angels, Mount Dinham. Some of you may remember last year when I shared a petition started to help save the church. The campaign was successful, the church saved. I'll be there on Saturday 27 September 2025, talking about my book Evensong, after Evensong. Come for the service, sung by the University of Exeter Chapel Choir, stay for the talk. Join me after for a pint in the pub.
Here's to the next five years.
Oh, go on. 5% off everything on the website for the next five days.