“the longest-running and arguably the most influential natural history series in the world with over 100 volumes published in over 60 years”

On my wish list – London’s Natural History, Britain’s Structure & Scenery, Climate and the British Scene (the effect of fog on Sherlock! etc), The Sea Coast, The Open Sea, The Common Lands of England & Wales and Trees, Woods & Man.

There is also a book about the series featuring the editors, authors and also illustrators of the series – initially Clifford and Rosemary Ellis; the latest ones are by Robert Gillmor – showing roughs and sketches of  the beautiful jackets and plates.

For now I’ll content myself with reading the passionate and immersive writing of Roger Deakin on wood, woodlands and all things concerning the ‘fifth element’ in Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees. So far he has mostly been describing his various bosky dens, sheds, bothies and finally the house that he restored, reclaiming it – just –  from the encroaching undergrowth in 70′s Suffolk, and it is all making me want to go and  live in a treehouse!

I’ve recently been making a start on an allotment-ette in a local Nature Garden, and looking for useful tips I came across a book in the successfully redesigned Shire series. The author’s name – Twigs Way –  suits the somewhat eccentric collection of books published by Shire, but can it be real?

If the words Vomit, Flu, Deadline, and Lethargy had been some of those omitted from the Junior OUP Dictionary, I'd have done quite well these past four days of Every Day in May… I don't seem to remember them on the list though, so I get back in the saddle with Lobster instead.

I used to have a rubber lobster bath toy that I think I ate the antenna, or at least some of the legs of.

I couldn't say lobster then ( I was v small) so he became a snobber instead. So here are some dancing Snobbers. (Lino-print / acrylic / some scribble & Photoshop)

Well, exactly….!

May 2nd, and it's a newt in a jar!

Eugh – been a little while since doing some painting, and feels a bit stiff; these catkins (although I'm happy with the colours) look a bit like gherkins to me! Still, it was fun using the masking fluid and having to think backwards a bit (masking is quite like skil-screen printing in that respect), even if I was too impatient in waiting for it to properly dry – ooops!

…and some friendly lions.

From my sketchbook / Jan 2008

Woke up too early again this morning so did a bit of painting before breakfast…

The pear’s a bit floaty and the flowers look like they’re in a cup of blue tea but it was fun to do them…

So anyway… I was up at quarter to seven doing some drawings for Singapore Airlines magazine – and because they are 8 hours or something ahead, it meant the deadline was deadlier than I had supposed – phew! all done now though… back to the real work I’m doing for UKTV…

Just a bit of time to post up about some craft though; the ornament swap I’ve signed up for (just think – 8 surprise packages from around the world will be sent, and arriving – exciting mail again!). And also the book the lil birds are in – look, one even made it to the cover – yay! Got the proofs back for my section so it’s looking like it’ll be out soon..

Lastly – tonight the Actionettes will be over at The Bethnal Green Working Men’s club dancing at Legal Tender…we’ll be on about 10ish so come shake a leg and say hello!

We went to Cinders Gallery that had an exhibition of posters by bon goût – made me super happy looking at them and then a bit cross I wasn’t doing more drawing myself.. one of the books reminded me of work done by Nate Williams so here is a link to his site just because it’s good to look at..

… got some cool ideas about doing a new Banjo show…

oh and I bought a copy of The Drama cos it featured an interview with the amazing talented Geneviève Castrée about her, and her new book – Pamplemoussi.

Also saw in ReadyMade mag a link to fallenfruit.org and it reminded me of how we made the jam this summer -  blackberries from Wormwood Scrubs and apples fallen on the grass in K’s back garden.

Also on the plane home watched the film Crash (Paul Haggis) a brilliant film about people living in LA and their racial (in)tolerence… made me cry…