After the judging process, all that was left to do was wait. I went back to the shed, back to normal life, and tried not to think about it. Then November arrived, National Freelancer's Day rolled around, and suddenly I was heading back to London in a suit. I don't wear suits. This was a notable event.
Glitz and Glamour
IPSE didn't hold back. The finalists were treated to a stay at the Park Plaza County Hall Hotel, which is considerably more glamorous than my garden shed. We gathered nervously in our finest attire before heading over to The Hospital Club in Covent Garden.
There was a lot of rehearsing walks onto the stage, which felt a bit surreal for someone who spends most of his time in a hoody. Eventually the event got underway. I sipped champagne. Well, Diet Coke. Once a geek, always a geek.
And the Winner Is...
What happened next was a blur. Speeches were made. Applause happened. The finalists were on stage, and comedian Shappi Khorsandi started revealing the winner.
She began reading a bio. I listened. It sounded familiar. I frantically racked my brain - did any of the other contestants have a similar story to mine?
Apparently not.
In total shock, I shook hands with Shappi and the hosts, took the award, and blinked at the cameras. I'd been pitched against nine other successful freelancers, and I genuinely hadn't dared to think I'd win. The developer from the garden shed, Freelancer of the Year. Honestly, it still doesn't quite compute.
Pizza, Anyone?
The best thing about the IPSE Awards was that despite the competition, everyone got on brilliantly. After the ceremony - after the schmoozing and handshaking and interviews - the finalists collectively decided it was time for food.
We headed into Covent Garden for a late-night pizza. A few of the IPSE PR team came along. It was the perfect end to what had been a genuinely unforgettable evening.
I got back to Essex with a swanky award and some generous prize money, and it took a while to believe the whole thing wasn't a dream. Before long it was Christmas, and life was almost back to normal. But the prize money and sponsor support meant some exciting plans were already forming.
More on that in the aftermath.
