As part of my new year's resolution - to try and improve my art/drawing skills - I decided to try and draw a sketch a day, with a fantasy twist. So I picked up a pencil and paper, and looked for a subject.

Last year's calendar was sitting in front of me, complete with a photo of a red sqirrel, so I decided to try and draw that. A little while later, and with a couple of embellishments, my first sketch was completed. Choosing animals and birds for my theme seemed appropriate after...

Ok, so I'm not John Lennon - "Eight days a week..." as the song says but my secret is tried and tested.

I get up at 8ish. Graft my nuts off til 4PM. Then I go home and have a sandwich, followed by a little sleep. I usually doze till 7Pm and when I get up and feel totally refreshed.

Then I go like a bees wing till 2AM when I retire to bed - for the second time. The cycle starts again when the alarm goes off at 8

I can get more done this way...

Am sat in darkness, listening to Ultravox 'Lament' the extended mix. Reflects me perfectly at the moment.

Last year, in the last few months, I've been fighting a dark and horrible battle. 'In moments of madness, returns that softly, sighing, lament'

I'm not in a great place. I've been fighting many demons for months, and have feared coming here, because I want to be honest here, and I don't want to lay my burden at anyone else's feet, for it's a horrible one. ...

The father of science fiction speaks!

(Warning: contains bare, pasty legs)

Just watched this on Channel4

I am all for travelers - live and let live as they say but for God's sake please bring yourselves into the 21st century, if not for your kids, then do it for yourselves.

I'm sick of macho men. Boil them down to their core ingredients and you have inadequacy - insecurity and obsessiveness of the past.

Nice people but you need to forget what your father and grandfather did - YOU DO, NOW, for the sake of your family.
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