1812.29 CHRISTMAS SICKIE

I was going to call this post "Christmas Hangover" but circumstances have meant that has had to change. But first let's go back to the beginning.

1812.25 THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

I like to take this opportunity to look back on my year at this time. As usual I'm publishing this post at the same time the Queen gives her address to the commonwealth. In reality I'm probably eating my dinner at this point, if you're catching up later I'll probably drinking beer.

1812.23 YULETIDE CHEER

Christmas has lost its way. There I said it. That's not to say all is lost, you must look at the whole celebration and how you view it. If you strip Christmas back it's supposed to be about gathering with those important to you. It's about the feast. It's about family.

1812.21 THE FESTIVE TV ROUND-UP - WEEK 1

One of my favourite Christmas pastimes is scrutinising the festive edition of the Radio Times (other listings magazines are available but to be honest they're just a bit shit - in my opinion).

1812.17 HARD TABLET TO SWALLOW

I love drawing, it's a good way for me to process my thoughts and to channel them into a physical manifestation. It doesn't matter if I'm any good at it - I enjoy it and I get a lot back from it.

1812.02 CHRISTMAS PRELUDE

Christmas has come around so quickly this year, my head is still spinning from the last on. Isn't it time Christmas was like the Olympics? Then we'd have a few extra years to catch up.

1811.18 GET ME OUT OF HERE!

As a rule I don't like reality tv. I find it unstimulating and dull. Luckily Morticia generally agrees, with one exception.

1811.11 WE WILL REMEMBER

Sunday 11th November 2018 marked 100 years since the armistice that signaled the end to the Great War, World War I. 

1810.29 DARKNESS FALLS

It's that time of year, the clocks have just gone back and the nights are getting longer. The temperature is starting to drop and the weather is turning. It's time to get the big coat out.

1810.22 ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

I'm not a big political commentator but no one in this world can escape the madness, it's like a Bond film where the villain wins. If I'm honest this kind of post is uncomfortable to write but I feel it must be said.

1810.10 HATERS AND GATEKEEPERS

This post is a bit of a rant. Everyone knows that I love sci fi and we've got some good sci fi around at the moment. This isn't about the shows though, it's about the fans - well some of them anyway.

1810.06 LICENCE TO... DRIVE

Having kids is an ever changing adventure. Every year with every birthday there's something new. On Thursday it was my youngest daughter's 17th birthday.

1810.01 PLASTIC (NOT SO) FANTASTIC

I like to think that I've always been environmentally aware. I've never thrown litter and always tried to take the recycling option. Excessive packaging has always bothered me. So why is it now that it's just becoming a thing?

1809.26 WEBCOMIC: LATE NIGHT SHOPPING

It's been a long time since I did a webcomic, I find it difficult to harvest the jokes to draw. Enjoy it and I'll try and find some new jokes (I welcome submissions, there's no money in it but I do give full credit).

1809.21 TRYING TO BE A HERO WITH A ZERO

Most know that I like a beer occasionally but most of the time I prefer to abstain. I find I have to be in a complete relaxed state to enjoy a glass of ale, a state I'm rarely in if I'm honest. However I do find myself in a pub occasionally and I might not be in a position it partake. I don't need a drink to enjoy myself but there is only so much carbonated soft drinks one can take.

1809.18 NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT HER

It usually happens at least once a year and it usually means I get a taste of what it would mean to live a single life.

1809.09 RESUMING THE ONSLAUGHT

So my summer is effectively over and I'm back to work. My trip to our happy place is sadly in my rear view mirror and I find I must get on with my life.

1808.29 MY HAPPY PLACE ...NOW WITH ADDED SEA MONSTER

There are few that understand what I'm talking about when I talk about my happy place. I have come to believe that there is a place for everyone in this planet and it will resonate at the same frequency as the person - you know when you've truly found it. Don't get it? You've yet to  find yours, some people are lucky enough to live in theirs. I'm not that lucky - yet!

1808.23 MY POSTCARD FROM CEI NEWYDD

Bore da! It's time for my annual post card from my holiday in my beloved New Quay on the Welsh coast. I'll be brief since I don't want to waste too much time...

1808.17 CAR TETRIS

Ultimately the most stressful part of the lead up to any holiday is the packing and preparation before setting off, at least it is for my good lady wife - Morticia. She panics about all aspects of the process, I guess I get it easy but I've always had the attitude that if it's not sorted then don't worry.

1808.12 HEATWAVE

If there's one thing most people will remember about 2018 it will be the record breaking heatwave and it would be remiss of me to mention it. I've chosen to use this current hiatus in the soaring temperatures to mention it.

1808.06 SUDS LAW

As a cyclist I take a lot of showers. I'm lucky to have the use of shower facilities at work for when I commute by bike (which is practically every time). There's no bin in the shower room at work so I've been stacking spent shower gel bottles on the bench. What's concerning is the amount of bottles I seem to get through, this has got me thinking...

1807.28 TOUR DE FRANCE

In a summer that's been obsessed by the football World Cup I finally get my little oasis of pleasure with the best sporting spectacle of the year - The Tour de France, the world's biggest bike race.

1807.05 HAPPY BIRTHDAY NHS

*

A British Institution, often maligned and taken for granted, this week this pillar of our society turned 70. I thought I'd look how this amazing organisation has touched my life.

1807.03 NINETEEN YEARS MANACLED

Nineteen years ago this very day Morticia, for reasons only known to her, agreed to marry me.

1806.29 YOU SHALL GO TO THE BALL

Proms are a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, a product of the American influence of TV and films. Prior to 2000 you might be lucky to have a bit of a school disco to mark the end of your school life. I didn't get anything - I remember just walking out of school after my last exam, never to return.

Both my daughters have had the privilege of the prom experience.

1806.25 FOOTY OVERLOAD

You'd have to have been living in a cave to realise that there is a little football tournament going on known as the World Cup.

1806.21 HOW DO YOU CARRY YOURS?

Most people who commute by bike have to carry some sort of luggage with them. Be it a change of clothes, a uniform, sandwiches or even tools and equipment there's always 'stuff' that needs to come with you.

1806.15 LEAVER

I left school 31 years ago. I remember it well. There was no fanfare, no prom (we didn't have such things back then) no gathering or inspirational speeches - I just finished my last exam and walked out the door never to return.

1806.05 THE WEIGHT

Time is a commodity I don't have loads of at the moment. When I do get a precious moment I am so tired I don't feel like doing anything.

1806.02 PINK MEANS A TRIPLE

The first of the Grand Tours is the Giro d'Italia, basically the Tour of Italy. I love bike racing and especially love the spectacle of the Grand Tours. This year's though proved to be the biggest spectacle I've ever seen.

1805.15 WORK IS WORKING

A few of years ago my position at work was put 'at risk'. Then came the dismantling of my department and the merging with another. We were at risk for about a year and the ensuing turmoil saw my place of work closed and everyone 'shoehorned' into another location.

1805.09 WEBCOMIC: CHUNKS!

Been a bit out of sorts recently so drawing has been pretty much down my list. Hope you enjoy my little comeback.

1805.07 ANOTHER YEAR CLOSER TO DEATH

So my birthday has come around again. As I get older they seem to get closer together. It's been fortunate that my birthday has fallen on the May Day bank holiday weekend this year. So what have I been up to?

1804.25 STRESS HEAD

Sometimes everything just gets on top of me. My world detaches from my mind and I lose my way. Why? I wish I knew. I don't have a reason, it comes and goes at random with no cause or catalyst.

1804.22 WEBCOMIC: WORK-WEAR

I've been really busy with work and other things so this has been waiting in limbo for a while.

1804.16 TALKING TO IDIOTS

I watch local news a lot. I like to be informed about what's happening around me. But local news has an annoying habit.

1804.14 THE NATIONAL

It's that time of year when the average person who never watches horse racing watches horse racing. It's the Grand National!

1804.08 WEBCOMIC: ROBBED!

A little bit of politics! We've all been robbed by the current government.

1804.05 NO TIME TO BE ILL

At the weekend I picked up an 'irritation' on my chest which meant I was coughing a little. Today, after just a few days I'm in the grip of a full blown cold. 

1804.02 IT'S EASTER!

It's that time of year when we celebrate the rebirth, when colour returns to the land and new life starts to appear everywhere. When we crawl out of our holes to embrace the great outdoors - it's Easter.

1803.20 WEBCOMIC: NOT A RUNNER

OK, here's something new. I've decided to star in my own webcomic adventure. And why not? Here's a question I'm often asked...

1803.17 THE GREATEST MIND

This week we lost one of the greatest minds of our generation and perhaps ever. Professor Stephen Hawking passed away.

1803.13 GET WELL SOON NAN

Yesterday I went to visit my Nan in the hospital. She'd had a fall at the weekend and fractured her arm and hip. She's in her 80s and a little frail these days. I was worried what I would find when I visited her.

1803.06 WEBCOMIC: ROLLO #41 - HOLE

Rollo #41; It's been a couple of weeks since I did the last cartoon, here's my latest offering and now the snow has cleared we can all get back out into our gardens...

1803.04 THE BEAST FROM THE EAST

The great Siberian freeze and follow up storm came. The snow was followed by a mighty freeze with a 'feels like' temperature reaching a bone chilling -12°C! The landscape became white and services ground to a halt. The storm became know as "The Beast from the East"

1802.25 ZERO - WILL I EVER BE WARM AGAIN?

Winter is my least favourite season, especially as I get older. All it does is stop me from doing stuff I like to do. If I had my way I think I'd like to hibernate until the spring.

1802.20 WEBCOMIC: ROLLO #40 - SKATE

Rollo #40; I can't believe I've done 40 Rollo cartoons, this one is in honour of this year's Winter Olympics.

1802.17 THE ENTERPRISE HAS ARRIVED

Star Trek Discovery season 1 came to a close last Monday (in the UK). I've had a week to digest the whole thing, so what did I think? 

1802.07 WEBCOMIC: CYCLING JOE #1 - POST-RIDE

Cycling Joe #1; I'm trying something new this week. I'm keen to develop new characters and this guy is a chance to merge two of my interests (cartoons and cycling).