What I did During The Christmas Holidays of 2024

Hello world! Welcome back to another blog and my first one of 2025! Yep I'm back, after a 4 week break to enjoy the festivities, and its been a very relaxing one indeed. But I also got alot of stuff done both professionally and personally! So here is what I got up to during the festive period!

Professional:

Belvoir Castle:

During the festive period, Pinky the elf made another appearance. But I think this year was abit challenging as along with the Grotto, there was also the infamous trail in the playground. But thankfully I said to her that she can borrow my Zara coat as even Elves need layers. But overall I think she had a really good time!

Theatre Sports:

The week before Christmas, my final acting class took place, where we took on many improvisation games in the form of Theatre Sports. This is a tradition which takes place every year a week before Christmas, and as it was my fifth one, I enjoyed it even more! Although as it was the final class of the year, we did it in teams. Yes my team didn't win, but all in all I had a really good time doing what I love in my favourite acting gym before the holidays.

Short Film Festival Search:

As I'm writing this, I'm still on the hunt to take my short film "Unmasked", to as many festivals as possible. At this point (although it might change depending on when you're reading this), I have saved some more festivals onto my lists, but they all include the category of diversity and inclusion. I also got a notification from someone who helped with some BTS at a screen acting course I did back in June, who is launching a film festival within their place of study, so this was a perfect opportunity to showcase my work. Fingers crossed I have some success and the panel like what they see.

Passion Show:

During the holidays I also continued the hunt for people to take part in my passion show as part of Autism Acceptance Week! As I’m writing this it’s got to a point where I needed to reach out directly but I’ve managed to gain so far two responses. Anything is better than nothing, but depending on when you’re reading this I’ll be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of not having enough people to do it. But when there’s a problem, there’s a solution. As if I still have the same limited number of people to take part then I do have a backup plan. Where in moments like this where you want to raise awareness for something you’re passionate about is always important. 

Own Material:

During the holidays I managed to note down some stuff for potential new material. After turning down the stand up comedy course due to overwhelm, the notes I made may be used for some experimental stand up material. Or at least use some of it in some new potential monologue, and I think I know where to begin after starting a draft a couple of years ago about working at my current day job. 

Shows:

Along with the usual soaps like Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Eastenders and their explosive Christmas Specials, I also watched some shows and films which helped me to not only relax, but to keep my love for the industry alive! These include Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance is Fowl (where Ben Whitehead did an excellent job in memory of Peter Sallis), segments of Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (which never get old), and also watched the Outnumbered Christmas Special (which was full of nostalgia), along with films Bad Tidings and Wonka to end the year (which I'll post about in my final instalment of films I saw in 2024 in a later blog). And along with the Les Miserable Anniversary Concert (which did make me shed a tear or two), and the start of The Wind In The Willows to help me keep my reason of why I want to pursue a career in the industry alive, all of this definitely helped me relax whilst I also managed to keep my love for the industry alive.

Personal:

Christmas itself:

Christmas this year was a relaxing one. I didn’t do much on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day (which is also okay as particularly for neurodivergent people like us, we don’t have to do what society thinks we should do at Christmas), but I managed to get some rest and relaxation in. Along with seeing some family on Christmas Day, I also managed to catch up on a lot of TV, some of which I already mentioned, but more of which I shall mention later on in this post. For New Year’s Eve, I just simply did my usual tradition which was to order a takeaway, get through the last of my Christmas chocolate (which you can see below), and watch a film (which as mentioned earlier I'll post about in my final instalment of films I saw in 2024 in a later blog). I also managed to have abit of self-care by painting my nails as seen below.

Darts:

One of my many hyperfixations where I could go on for days about! Yes it was that time of year where players from all over the world come to the famous Alexandra Palace in London! And you know when it's my time to switch off from all things acting, when this iconic tournament comes on! I must say though, it has been an interesting tournament, as it was the year of the underdogs, and a record breaking 14 seeds got knocked out before Christmas! Along with the return of great legends like Chris Dobey and Josh Rock as seen below and some newbies on the scene, ultimately, Luke Littler took the title, and honestly, with the year he's had, I'm not surprised he won, but in a good way as he was never in it for the money.

Book:

On New Years Eve I finally managed to finish my most recent read which was "Bloodflowers" by Jay McGuinnes. I'll be honest, it was abit of a slow burner but there were definitely moments where I got some visualisations, which is a sign that I'm fully invested in it. But all in all, a good read and a good way to end the new year.

Catching Up On TV:

During the holidays I managed to catch up on all of the Christmas Specials of the many iconic shows. These include a Christmas Special of The Piano, which was also Lang Lang's final episode, and also got a glimpse of the iconic gameshow Bullseye. I also saw The Masked Singer: Christmas Special, which I was surprised by the people who were behind the mask, one of which I guessed and knew it, turning out to be the best reveal yet (and I'll let you reading this watch that episode yourself to see what I mean). I also caught up on Gogglebox from both the whole year and the Christmas Special, and I had a feeling I knew what they were going to react to, and I loved the festive special. Particularly Gavin & Stacey, as even though I haven't seen it, I knew more about that final episode than I did throughout the whole show.

Surveys:

During the festive period I also managed to catch up on the many surveys I had, and even though I did no more than I do on a regular week, doing it was better than nothing. But I'm proud of myself for even having a go at continuing this brilliant hobby/side hustle.

Archery Frostbite session:

I managed to get my inner Robin Hood back and was delighted to be at a Newark Castle Archers session once again. Although I had to go right handed due to reasons beyond my control, so the session was more about shooting some arrows again. But you know what? I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Seeing people i haven't seen in ages, breathing in the fresh air. It was great. There was also a traditional memorial shoot where I didn't know the person personally, but what they did was a lovely way to remember them.

Hard Times:

I guess some of the difficult moments during this period was a reminder of another Christmas without my mum. And I know it may have been difficult for anyone else who is spending Christmas without a loved one, whether it’s their first or multiple Christmases. I also got emotional when it came to New Year’s Eve, as even though I liked being home alone, it can get abit lonely. But then at the same time going out for New Year’s Eve will just get extremely overwhelming for me. And that’s one annoying thing about being autistic, and I describe this phase as Jekyll and Hyde. One minute you wish to go out with everyone, the next you get so overwhelmed you just want to leave and never come back. So whatever you did, whether you stayed in home alone or went out with friends and family but set your one boundaries, just know that you made that decision for yourself. Not for anyone else, you. 

And that is what I got up to during the festive period! Keep an eye out for my last installment of films I saw in 2024 along with my first weekly highlights of the year!

See you soon for another blog. Until next time...

This is The Autistic Actress signing off :)