Why do we do what we do?

It’s a question that I keep asking myself. At the outset, I used to draw for a living. It was generally a collaborative sort of thing; in short, I was a commercial artist with a bent for large noses. I’ve drawn a lot of stuff, and generally, I was asked to do it for money, so I got lucky. Later, I was asked for ideas on what to draw, so although collaborative, I sort of got more authorship, if you want to use a fancy name for it. I came up with some of the odd ideas all by myself. … Continue reading Why do we do what we do?

‘Tis the season of ye additive.

What is it with food people, the ones who decide that it’s a good idea to lace food with booze, for instance? It sells is the answer. In a moment of ‘idea spasm’ when shopping for ‘someone difficult’, some shoppers think that buying a jar of overpriced marmalade that has brandy or whisky added is a jolly good idea. When aforementioned marmalade is unsullied by alcohol, it tastes good; but laced with booze, it tastes odd. Once the idea gets a grip, there’s an outbreak of buying additive-added foodstuffs. Double cream is probably bad for the waistline, but with added … Continue reading ‘Tis the season of ye additive.

I’m very close to Amanda

In fact, we have a bit of a relationship. I go to see her whenever I need some fruit, if you get my drift. Might this be a midlife crisis? No, not at all. It’s a fiction conjured up by that stupid spellchecker: “I know what you want to say thingy” on my text messages. “Who is this Amanda?” asks Mike with a bit of a smirk as the wait for him outside Marks and Spencer comes to an end. I look at him and then check my messages. “I’m very close to Amanda”, it confesses. MandS. The job in … Continue reading I’m very close to Amanda

“The holidays?”

All heard within an hour on a walk from one area to another yesterday. ___________________________________ ” Mummy, I want to be a Muslim” “Why is that dear?” “The holidays?” ____________________________________ ” Well I was going to go to Edinburgh but if they want to amputate I might have to go to Wales” _____________________________________ Father to two small daughters: “… He just wanted to keep his nuts dry” ( Much laughter from the two daughters ) One suspects a Squirrel joke _____________________________________ Continue reading “The holidays?”

Bruvver.

There are 11 months between us, and my surprise arrival may well have generated some ‘heat’ for our father at the time. Me on the left, John with one hand protecting me and the other picking my pocket, perhaps. His birthday is on the same date as the King’s, so he gets a reminder. The cartoonist and the antique dealer, who would have thought it, both now at an age where we are both not quite antiques but might be termed ‘collectables’. The plan was to take a trip to West Wales to celebrate my brother’s significant birthday. I thought … Continue reading Bruvver.