Off The Wall Post!

Hello!

A few weeks ago, I was on a podcast. It is called Off The Wall Post and is about the internet and social media. You can listen to the episode by clicking this link - although you have to promise not to laugh at me. I didn't realise my voice was so...duck-like. Quack quack quack! Except at the start when I try talking with a Dick Van Dyke-accent... Then I just sounded like an idiot.

That's how I roll!

Anyways. So, I talk/quack away about a bunch of things. The lovely Dan, Baz and Kat are in charge of the whole thing and were really lovely. Especially because I'd hardly slept at all - it was a crazy week and I was mostly powered by Mini Eggs.

Listen to the podcast and you will discover:
- what my Dick Van Dyke impression sounds like
- how People I Know started
- what pen I like
- the phrase "cray cray popular"
- how gross my laugh is
 - AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS TOO!!!!

But you will also discover other things that aren't about me. Things about QR codes and Google Ads and all sorts of things. If you're interested in the Internet, I would officially recommend subscribing to Off The Wall Post. It is a good way of learning what is going on online and also a good way to have some fun. Plus they have some ace guests in too!

There was an awkward moment (that got cut out) where I had to explain that I didn't have 12,000 Twitter followers, but we won't talk about that.

Before the recording, I had a panic about not having anything to talk about...so I did what I always do during a panic and made a survey! The response was amazing and made me laugh a lot. Thanks to everyone that had a go and I'm sorry that we didn't talk about it on the podcast.

Here are some of my favourite answers:


What does the Internet smell like?

• "Robots. Possibly the none-too-friendly kind, too..." - Estragon Helmer
• "Musty cat fur and shame." - Euan
• "Troll blood, unicorn pee and Eau d'Ordinateur aftershave" from James
• "The chocolate cake stuck between the letters of my keyboard" from Not Bazza
  

Do you remember the noise that dial up made during connection? How do you spell that noise?

• "BrrrrrrBoopBoopBoopBoopReeeooooreeeeooooochchhhhhhhchhhkkkhhhhh" from Rebecca
• "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-eeee-e-e-e-eeeeeeeeee its like george of the jungle but autotuned" from Corpius
• "Yes, it gurgled like a turkey. Gluhaaaark-huaarghkl-huraaahuraaghkl-gluh-gluh-klaaaaaghkh-huh-huhkluh-gluh-buhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-kuk" from Krikri
• "rrr beep beep beep boop beep beep boop...zzzz bmp. weee weee weee weee waoaoaoa ena ena eeee haaaaaa ccccccc ena ena eeeee bmp" from Anna

DAN Acronyms

• "Delicous Animals Near" from Alma
• "Do A Noise" from Kat
• "Dinner at Nando's" from JulieNotLaura

BAZ Acronyms

• "Boltonians Against Zebras" from Trevor
• "Brain Adjustment Zone" from James
• "Bacon Addicts of Zimbabwe" by Bits

KAT Acronyms

• "Kestral Analysis Team" from Phil
• "Ketchup and Twin" from Izzy
• "Not sure but I bet it's dirty." from Seb

Obviously Dan, Baz and Kat aren't really acronyms! They are the names of the Off The Wall Post! Oh how we laughed!

I also did a drawing for the gang! Here it is!

So yeah... that was my first experience of being on a podcast. I hope you enjoy listening to it and I hope I get to do something like it again! Thanks to Dan, Baz and Kat for inviting me along and thanks to everyone that filled in the survey!

In other news, I hope you're enjoying the current Matchmaker storyline. It's back to three updates a week next week... but what a journey we've been on since Valentine's Day! And there will be a survey about the Witch too so we can all vote on her name. Exciting!






IN MORE OTHER NEWS! I have a table at the London Super Comic Con this weekend! It is the first time they have run the event so I'm not sure what to expect (or even what forms I need to bring along) but I hope it all goes well. Come and say hello - I'll be wherever the small press comics are.


Have an ace weekend!

Stay out of trouble
TWx

Manchester MCM Expo - Thoughts and Stuff

Hey There

Sorry I’ve been so lame with this blog. And I’m sorry that I started off my blog with an apology – that’s the worst. I’m finding everything a bit of a struggle lately, like I’m drowning in life. Which is a stupid thing to complain about… I guess I just need to sort myself out, find somewhere to live and stop taking my work home with me.

ANYWAYS. The real reason I’m updating the blog is because I went to Manchester MCM last last weekend. It was the first MCM held in Manchester, although you wouldn’t know it from how busy it was. But yes, start at the start, mustn’t get ahead of myself.

So…I took the day off work and took the train up to Manchester by myself…which probably doesn’t sound like a big deal but I normally go with a pal. I didn’t enjoy getting the train by myself and the carriage smelt. Maybe it was the smell of loneliness? Bleurgh.

So there was a train journey and BOOM! I was in Manchester – pretty much the second I’ve ever been for non-work purposes. Exciting! I trudged over to my hotel but I got a little lost which was upsetting. I’m normally quite good with a map so I assume my sense of direction was on holiday. But I found my hotel in the end and was dazzled by the fact that the shower had TWO (2) shower heads! What the cabbage!

The lovely Joe List then whisked me away on an exciting Manchester adventure – for which I am very grateful. The science museum was closing so we had a quick run around that…but the real highlight was a place called Home Sweet Home that served freshly baked cookies with a nice glass of milk! Hello my dream food, get in my mouth! Then I went back to the hotel, did some drawing and slept. Well done me.

Then it was Saturday! Time for MCM Expo. I’ve been to a load of Expos in London so this was the first MCM in Manchester. I wasn’t sure how busy it would be to be honest… But I made my way there with the normal comics and tote bags and things… and there was already a hefty queue! And so many cosplayers! We all know how much I love a good cosplayer so here are some of my favourite costumes:

This guy was Totoro! I asked him to come back (so I could ask him where I could get that costume…) but alas! He didn’t come back so I’ll never know! Still – excellent costume and I suggested he come to the next convention as Snorlax! Who doesn’t love Snorlax?

Now these three Pokemon trainers did a great job! Well, two of them. Poor middle dude! Unless he’s a Pokemon trainer I don’t recognise? It’s possible. Oh! And this Misty was the second Misty I was on that day, although this was the only lady Misty. I believe there’s a photo floating around of the two of them so feel free to email it to me.

Did you ever play Pikmin? I didn’t…but I recognise this costume and it’s a corker! We had an awkward moment where it turns out that talking through a helmet is pretty tricky. But still – ace costume! Well done!

This is a great costume that my pissy phone doesn’t do justice to. So, he’s a smartly dressed dude (who was very nice) but he had these amazing…goat legs! Furry goat legs! That were real and that he was walking around on! Ah! So cool! I want goat legs!

Right. So the event was super busy and I was really pleased for Gary who helped organise the Comic Village. He was really nice, checking up on stall holders throughout the day. On the downside, I’m normally well-prepared for events, bringing sandwiches and food along with me. But I didn’t bring anything this time since I didn’t have a fridge. So obviously, the place to buy food from was a bit lame and I spent the day feeling a bit out of sorts. I’ve learnt my lesson though – ALWAYS bring food and drink.

As always, it was nice to see comics pals – Joe, Lynn and Lizz were all exhibiting too. And afterwards I got to see Jonathan, Felt Mistress and John. YAY! Plus, I met so many new people – and some effing talented ones to boot. I hope that at least some of them enjoy reading the comic and I hope that even more of them want to be pals.

Also, if you’re a new reader and you found your way here through a flyer from MCM Expo Manchester then hello!

Right, bed time. And I need to find somewhere to live. And start eating properly. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling so bleurgh lately?

Oh – and if I haven’t already posted it, this was the soundtrack to that weekend for me:

Manchester MCM Expo

Hello Hello!

Firstly - thanks to everyone for the nice comments in the last post. I defo chose the right week to go down to three updates - I've been pretty busy! On the down side, I have found it pretty weird not uploading a different drawing every day. I miss having daily feedback. I just need to get all my new comics done quickly...

The other hot news is that I'm at Manchester MCM Expo on Saturday! If you're around that area then come along and visit me. I'll have tote bags and comics and badges... and this will possibly be the last lot of People I Know: Year One for sale since there's only a few comics left. I might reprint it. I might not! WHO KNOWS!?

Anyways. Yeah. Thanks for being nice!

ARE YOU WELL?

Stay out of trouble
TWx

A Blog Post about Things and Memorabilia

It's been a while since I posted here. Sorry! My original plan was to do at least one blog post a week about what I've been up to...but that sort of went wrong. Sorry! I hope you aren't too sad.

So...last weekend, me and some pals had tables at the MCM Memorabilia event at the Birmingham NEC. I had never been to the Memorabilia event but it has lots of famous people from old television shows and former sports stars and people signing autographs, along with lots of stalls selling collectable items. It also had a Comic village which is where we were sitting.

But before that, I had an awful time trying to get to the train station to get to Birmingham. Since I've moved house, I'm a bit unsure of how much time I need to leave to get to places - but I left about an hour to do a 40 minute journey... except that no buses turned up for the first part of my journey. I ended up running down the (very long) road with my giant suitcase, sweating and swearing. I made it to the train station with about five minutes to spare. Luckily, Philippa was waiting by the train so it all worked out fine...but still - not the best way to start the day.

The train itself had a few problems and we arrived in Birmingham about 30 minutes later than planned... although I met some nice people on the way. Oh - when we got to Birmingham, we went for a nice Japanese meal... and a few too many prawn crackers. We went to a pal's home and I made everyone watch the first episode of the latest series of The Only Way Is Essex. Someone at work described it as a porn film without any of the sex... I'll let you make up your own mind:



Then it was Saturday and we went to the NEC - which is MASSIVE! I was sitting next to the lovely Lizz Lunney... although our stalls were opposite the toilets. Originally, I was a bit sad about this but it turned out to make the best people watching! And we were next to the wrestling ring too which was pretty interesting. OH! And the cast of 'Allo 'Allo were having a reunion! I used to love that show when I was little. It had the best theme tune:



And some of the cast of Being Human were there too but that show doesn't even have a themetune. Lame. 

So Saturday was spent at the NEC and we went to Nando's in the evening. I love Nando's. We were all feeling a little sleepy though - although that didn't stop us watching another episode of The Only Way is Essex and the DVD of Harold and Maude... which was a very interesting movie.



The trailer doesn't really explain anything but I guess I'd recommend the movie. I'm not sure whether it's uplifting or depressing though... After we watched it, it was bedtime and the clocks went forward - which is always confusing,

We headed over to the the NEC on Sunday morning, all feeling a bit grim. Saturday and Sunday were both quite quiet - although this is mainly based on what customers were telling me as they said the even is normally packed. I suspect the time change and the railworks had an impact. Still, I met some nice people and I got to play on a 3DS (I want one) and some nice people even wrote some nice things about me afterwards...

Then we got the train home...which should have been nice and stress-free but our reserved seats had been taken! I wasn't happy. I had to eat a few too many cakes to get over it.

As for the week after that, I've just been really busy with work. Really busy. But I worked hard so I didn't have to do anything over the weekend. Hooray! Oh! And we're half way through the J-Man story! According to Google Analytics, it isn't very popular but I'm glad I did it. It's a nice change to the usual drawings...and I like giving the green blob new magic powers to use. And I hope that at least some of you are enjoying it.

Right. I hope you're well and staying out of trouble. I think my next table is at London MCM... except I'm not on the website which is annoying. But I will be there. And I shold have turned that Interactive Comic into People I Know #13 by then. I made the cover ages ago! I hope you like it!

People I Know: Posters!

Exciting news! Remember that time I asked what sort of merch you wanted to see? Well, posters was a popular choice and one of the easiest for me to manage. They arrived in the post today so I'm uploading the two designs here. I hope you like them! They are A3-sized and on nice 300gsm paper.

I tried to include all the main characters along with whatever was going on in my brain. Also, if you've got an eagle eye, you might be able to spot a bunch of upcoming characters...

I've only got 50 of each design made up and they'll be debuting at SP Expo in March... or on my shop if I ever sort it out. Either way, I hope you like them!

Pirates: A Valid Question

Ahoy! It's Thursday! You get pirates today! They've appeared before but this is the first time they have a valid question that needs answering. What do you think the answer is? I would like to know.

Wednesday was fine. It turned out my friend was playing a gig so I went to visit them but I felt a bit weird and ended up going home in a funny mood. Did I already say that I've scanned in People I Know #12? Well I have and will start work on cleaning it this weekend. I'm hoping to have it all sorted in time for the Small Press Expo in March...

UPDATE: I didn't realise, but this Pirate asked a question a while ago. I can't believe I forgot!

Wizarding Wednesday #13

Hello! It's Wednesday! And there's a NEW WIZARD in town! Who is he? What does he do? Will we ever find out his name? Do any of them even have names? Where am I? What's going on?

I'm sure we can all agree that these are very important questions. I should probably answer some of them at some point. But not today because it's Wednesday and we have better things to do with our time. Like looking at drawings of wizards!

I had a busy Tuesday evening. I was meant to meet up with four people at the same time - two of whom I know, and two who I hadn't met before (but the other people had so it was fine). Due to bizarre circumstances, I eventually met up with one I did know and one I didn't. The other two were AWOL. But still, we went for burgers (uh oh) and they were amazing and our waitress was cool and we sat in a nice booth. Then I got an email from one of the AWOL pals (the one I did know) and went to visit him - but only briefly because it was late. I mean, that was a mega busy Tuesday in my books.

IN OTHER NEWS: I registered my interest to have a table at May's MCM Expo. And I'm also booked into a table at this event in March. Hope you can make it!

Superman? Super Awkward!

Hello! It's Monday...which means that another weekend has been and gone.

*sigh*

I did a bunch of personal stuff and then I tidied stuff up. I hate tidying stuff but I even went as far as hoovering! Wowsers. And as for the personal stuff, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out...

Also, I don't know if I've already mentioned it but I'll be at the Birmingham Zine Festival next weekend. Pop along and say hello if you want. Oh! And I even answered some questions in an interview. Check me out!