This is an excerpt from a Thoughtbubbly thing I’m doing.

I’m covering all the options for keeping cool today. I’m even showing my knees. Have a good weekend!

It is also time for ice cream and skiving, I think.

It looks like I’m going to spectacularly fail to get all my hundred panels finished in the specified 100 days for one reason and another (the project ends next week). I expect I’ll need at least 300 days…

However, I’m determined to finish the story (just to find out what happens next!) and will continue to post it here as it happens. I’ve really enjoyed doing it so far and it’s taught me a few things, so I think I can claim it will ‘make me a better person’ as was the intention.

In the meantime, there’s a big event to celebrate the project (which has been part of the London Word Festival): on the 10th March there’s a party at Work Dalston , which is hosting the ‘Museum of 100 Days’. There’ll be comedy, music and art on display (including a handmade book of my first 50 days which I’ve managed to sneak in – the title of which is above). Unfortunately I can’t make it, but it sounds like a whole 100 days of fun packed into one night. More details can be found here.

This weekend saw the annual emotional carnage of St Valentine’s Day, the patron saint of unrealistic expectations, ready-meals for one and nights in with only the cold shoulder of loneliness on which to shed bitter, melancholy tears…

Anyway, back to me: I was at the Alternative Press Fair, celebrating its first birthday, and a jolly event it was too. Not as busy as last year, but I came away with more cash than the previous event, perhaps because I was selling more ‘big ticket’ items. It’s swings and roundabouts with these things I suppose.

It was a sort of pre-launch for the Birdsong/Songbird anthology (available here), which looked very fine and had a lot of interest, and I sold quite a few saucy Valentine’s cards (example above – one lady bought two even though she was single. Bless.), as well as prints and minis. Thanks if you came and bought something and said hello!

I was sat next to the master of ink and wash, Joe Decie and we put the world to rights with the help of a few beers and Al Maceachern later on, even the bits of the world that didn’t necessarily need righting. I also sat next to Will Morris, comics newbie, whose work was getting a lot of interest and who I’m sure is someone to look out for in the future.

Other discoveries: Kristyna Baczynski, who traded prints with me and does some lovely work. Also, the unofficial book of the show, The Static Revolter, by Kevin Ward and Lord Hurk. Beautifully produced – everyone seemed to be carrying a copy.

Congrats to Jimi, Peter and team on another great event – just the right cosy mix of social stuff and art stuff. The perfect antidote to romance.

PS. I’ll be catching up with my 100 days project shortly. Angouleme put a spanner in the works temporarily but I’ll be back on track soon.

For 100 days project.

Half way through! And ending the half-century on a cliff-hanger…

For 100 days project.

For 100 days project.

For 100 days project.

For 100 days project.