2012.25 THE CAPTAIN'S YULETIDE MESSAGE

This is probably the most difficult of seasonal messages I've had to deliver. The world in in the middle of a pandemic that that effected everyone in some way.

2012.16 THE GREAT FESTIVE TV ROUNDUP

It's become a bit of a tradition now, I check out the televisual offerings armed with the festive double issue of the Radio Times and a highlighter pen. Then I share my favourite upcoming delights...

2012.07 GOLDEN TIME

Mum and Dad celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary this weekend gone. By 'celebrated' I mean it happened - celebrations are not permitted by law at the moment.

2011.17 GOING NUTS

I'm so tired. I've been struggling recently, both physically and mentally.

2011.08 LOCKDOWN 2.0

So from last Thursday the UK is back in a full lockdown which means we can only leave our homes for essential journeys. All non-essential shops and hospitality have been closed.

2010.13 LOOOOOONG COVID

It's difficult not to talk about coronavirus these days. It's on every news channel and is even seeping into dramas, only a matter of time before they make a movie about it.

2010.01 RESTRICTIONS AND CHIPS

So the second wave of Corona virus is apparently upon us and with it there is a raft of new restrictions. In the midst of all this I've planned a holiday.

2009.06 COUNTDOWN

It seems I am always counting down the days to my next day off or to my next pay day. I can't wait for the time to pass but as I get older I realise I shouldn't be throwing time away.

2008.21 STAYCATION NO MORE

The word 'Staycation' is being thrown around a lot at the moment. People are using it to describe their alternative holiday plans, it's been used in advertising and media too. I hate this term.

2008.07 GOODBYE NAN

I've always considered myself lucky that at my age I still have a couple of grandparents left. Until this week...

2007.13 THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES

Did I say Tribbles? I meant Guinea Pigs.

2006.19 WHOLE NEW WORLD?

So the lockdown is starting to be relaxed, people are returning to work and pretty soon shops will be reopening. We have been promised a "new normal" but what does this look like?

2006.07 BLACK LIVES MATTER

I've deliberated about this post for some time but I can't ignore what happened. I can't be silent since that would make me complicit.

2006.06 THE BIG BUILD

We've been enjoying some glorious weather recently. Sunny and dry every day (in fact it is too dry and gardeners all wishing for a downpour). I sought to take advantage of this gloriousness and build my new shed.

2005.27 ASYLUM - COPING IN LOCKDOWN

Lockdown continues all be it slightly relaxed and it feels pretty heavy going for most of us.

2005.09 NOT HOLIDAY

Ok, the plan was to be in Wales for our birthdays. I'd booked the time off and was really looking forward to some quality time in our 'special place'. Of course that was not to be.

2005.05 LOCKED DOWN BIRTHDAY

Like many others I celebrate a birthday in the Coronavirus lockdown.

2005.02 I AM NORSE - GET OVER IT

People in the real world may know and have noticed my leaning towards the Norse. Its an important part of my world. But what should you take away from this information?

2004.26 PROJECT SHED IS ON

The day I've strived for and saved for for many many years is finally in front of me. I've ordered my shed. Some may scoff and roll their eyes - a shed? After all a shed is just a garden building for storage isn't it. Well I hope not. For years I've wanted a space I can look after my bikes, do little DIY jobs and maybe even escape too when life gets a bit too much.

2004.20 WORK IS A ROLLERCOASTER

Some time ago I wrote about the review on my role at work and how it'd been pushed through resulting in a nasty pay cut. 

2004.12 EASTER LOCKDOWN

Easter or Ostara is a time of rebirth, a time to celebrate the end of winter and that our passage through the darkness and the cold is over for another year. But this year is different. We are locked down at home, family and friends are apart and that hurts. 

2004.06 KEY WORK

So I've been back at work now for a week (6 days actually) and things are slowly returning to normal. Except its not. The new normal is different - the world has changed overnight and everything has become almost like a bad apocalypse movie. 

2003.24 THE ISOLATED

I've been off work with suspected C19 and I'd like to tell you that it's no 'walk in the park'. I'm late forties and always considered myself fairly fit and healthy so expected light symptoms.

2003.18 QUARRANTINE

After a couple of days feeling a bit 'off' I started coughing. Couple that with a slight elevation in temperature and a conversation with my supervisor at work means I'm effectively in isolation for next 14 days.

2003.12 OUTBREAK

It's worldwide news, everyone's talking about it. No, not 'Love Island' or whatever the current reality TV fad is, I'm of course talking about the outbreak of Coronavirus.

2002.28 WEBCOMIC: DEODORANT and others

If you follow my cartoon series on other media (I publish on Tapas and Instagram) then you'll know I'm up to 30 cartoons - publishing one a week now. Here's a little catch up for you...

2002.24 RAIDING AND PILLAGING ANYONE?

Recently I started exploring some different music, something that's taken a back seat in my life for a while now. I'm having a bit of a renaissance with folk metal and some other Nordic and Pagan rock.

2002.15 THE RETURN OF JEAN-LUC

Star Trek is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment via streaming. There are 2 new series current with more in the pipeline.

2002.03 STRESS, SNEEZING AND SHOES

It's been a manic few days, we had a serious thingy happen at work which has turned everything upside down.

2001.26 MOVEANUARY

So as January draws to a close many will be patting themselves on the back after partaking in some sort of abstinence task.

2001.14 STUMBLING START

So the Yuletide season came and went, it's like it never happened except for the fact we are hundreds of pounds skinter and a few lbs heavier.

2001.09 WEBCOMIC: SOMETHING ELSE and others

I've made it my aim to do create more comic strips, but I haven't been sharing them on my blog (I publish on Tapas and Instagram). As part of the process I redid the first few strips to fit in with my preferred style.

2001.01 THE ROARING TWENTIES

As another decade closes I can't help look at the time that has passed. So whilst looking back on the last year I also find myself going back over the last 10 years, and some of it was very painful.