This year, I surrendered to peer / work pressure and joined the ranks of the Crackberry users. One of the nice things about this was that I always had a camera to hand and, as you will see, I got well into recording even the most random of events.

So here are some choice moments from my year as seen from my Blackberry.

January

Saw the New Year in at a house party in Toronto.



We saw snow in London for the first time in years - this is an excited me in front of my house.

March

The opening night party of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical in London with tiny cupcakes.



Dim sum in Chinatown on Mother's Day.

May

First trip to Prague.



Me and my brother, Oliver, impersonating Japanese tourists in the courtyard of the castle on top of the hill in Prague.

June

Because of the Tube strike, river boats were running free of charge so I enjoyed gorgeous views on my way to work in Tower Hill from Westminster.

July

Summer in the city - people hanging out in St James' Park.



View from the bridge at St James' Park.



One of the many floats preparing to join the parade at London Pride 2009.



The 2009 London Pride March reaches Oxford Circus.

August

Dessert with visiting family members in Paul's near Covent Garden.



Me and my mohawk at the fancy dress 30th birthday party of my friend, Caroline (left), with our friend, Siobhan (right) - although from this picture you would've thought it was my birthday!




Hanging out with designer and photographer, Gerry Alexis, in Soho Square followed by our routine trip to Ed's for gravy fries.

September

Hanging out with Shirin Papillon (founder of One More Lesbian) at Eurout's first birthday in Hamburg; needless to say, much alcohol and jetlag played a part in our dishevelled state. The next day I made friends with a statue in the courtyard of St Nikolai's church.



The old PayPoint.net office in Tower Hill shortly before the move.

November

A rainbow graces the view from our new office in Finsbury Square.



Inspecting the new business cards that I designed for Regan Latimer at Bee Charmer Productions.



Me in Budapest for my Mum's birthday weekend.

December

Celebrating my brother's 27th birthday near Covent Garden.



My neighbourhood sprinkled with the sudden snowfall.



Anticipating Secret Santa in the office.



Anticipating Christmas at home.

Who knows what my Blackberry will see in 2010...?

Christmas is a great time of the year to volunteer for your favourite cause, charity or community group.  I used to volunteer several hours a week but, like a lot of people, my work schedule has overtaken me somewhat and I have not been able to offer pro bono hours for the last three months.

So, in January, I am giving away chunks of half days of my time to charities, social enterprises or community groups based in London.

Projects I have previously worked on in this time include

• designing flyers for training
• facilitating project planning for new websites
• putting together a marketing plan for a web series
• performing user scenario testing on existing websites to increase positive user experience
• brainstorming online marketing strategy for new blogs
• building a three page microsite for an event
• designing skins for Blogger, Twitter and other online platforms in keeping with existing brand colours and style (like I did with WRC's blog).

I'm open to most projects that can test and utilise my background in design, web strategy and marketing, so feel free to contact me with your idea.

Compliments of the season to you all and a very happy 2010!

**Update - 18 January 2010
I have had an amazing response to this, so much so that I'm scheduled deep into February.  Needless to say, all of my pro bono hours have been pledged for this window of my year.  Schedule permitting, I plan on opening up the calendar again in the Spring, so watch this space!