comics – Page 8 – EXCUSES AND HALF TRUTHS

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 18

I thought May was going to be a rough month, but I didn’t realise it was going to rinse TLC and I out quite this hard. Tough demands on my head space in The Day Job, various issues with the house which seemed to pop up just after we’d paid off The Big Debt, that whole thing with The Critters In The Walls (honestly, that situation turned into a cross between a detective tale and a haunted house story).

But we have survived our plethora of First World Problems and now can look forward to a sunny Bank Holiday weekend and an actual proper break. This time next week we will be waking up after our first night in a converted chapel in Suffolk, ready for some sea air and relaxation. Only forward, Readership. Always look towards the sun. With shades on, of course, looks cooler.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 17

I was handed an ugly shift on The Day Job this week. 2pm-10pm, which does nothing for your social life or, it turns out, a positive frame of mind in general. It turns out, as I’ve got older, I’ve become much more a creature of habit. Change is not in my nature any more. I’m an early riser, which means any work undertaken after about 9pm is met with an internal mental complaint of ‘shouldn’t you be in bed by now?’ I’ve seen little of TLC, struggled to do anything creatively and generally spent the week in a state of high discombobulation. Back to a normal rhythm from Monday. Clearly, I need a settled routine to be a productive member of society.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 16

I’ve engaged in a tiny writing challenge for the month. 200 words every day in May. Doesn’t seem like much, I know. The intersticials and intros in each chapter of The Swipe average far more than that. But it’s not really about the wordcount—although by the time we go on our hols at the end of the month I will have accrued over 6000 of the blighters, which is half a novella. The point is twofold. Build a writing habit and have fun with it. Both of which are completely doable when you’re working with such a short daily commitment. I may even share the end product with you.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 15

We headed up to Reading Town Hall this Thursday to celebrate the launch of Claire Dyer’s new brace of books—a twisty family drama called What We Thought We Knew and a new volume of poetry, The Adjustments. It was great to see her again in all her room-owning glory, and we had the pleasure to catch with a few more Reading Writers alumni and pals. It was one of those nights which gives me hope about my literary aspirations. It’s a lonely existence, so times when you can meet up and share hints, tips and war stories is really important. Check out Claire’s books—she’s incredibly talented as an author and poet.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 14

Off on adventures this weekend, to celebrate birthdays in Essex. Off on adventures next weekend to meet up with TLC’s side of our extended family. Meanwhile, the garden is waking up, stretching and groaning and putting out feelers. I love this time of year, when the world seems to brighten a little. If you’re happy to let that mood in, it can do you all sorts of good.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 13

TLC and I have had a tumultuous few weeks, as moments we’ve been planning over decades quietly happen, slip past and vanish into the rear view mirror, to be replaced by more pressing concerns. Neither of us are great with stress management and, although what we’ve put ourselves through is the very definition of first-world problems, the sleepless nights and tightness in the gut have been all too real. I think we crossed a rubicon yesterday, and hopefully the second quarter of the year should leave us less strung out. One thing we’ve learnt—don’t assume passing a milestone will have a reward attached. The milestone is the reward, and if it feels a little less special than it should—be grateful for what you’ve managed to achieve.

Boy, that’s all cryptic. More to come on the events of 2024 so far, if only because I need to unpack it.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 12

In a perfect definition of the universe giving with one hand and taking from the other, the last payment on The Big Loan went out at the same time as an escalation of domestic horrors, culminating in a four-figure bill to address the sort of plumbing issues you get when you live in a near-hundred-year old house. Cosmic checks and balances in place clearly, because gods know it wouldn’t do to become smug about the improved financial situation.

In other news, we watched some Australian Rules Football, ate at a two-Michelin starred pub and bought some adult Lego and a car. No, not a Lego car. Yes, it’s been a birthday week.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 11

A busy week as TLC and I manoeuvre into position for The Big Change. I won’t bore you with the details—yet. For now, enjoy a short sharp shock of Shwipe—er, Swipe. Extreme comics geekery, cookbooks for the people and Klingon Scrabble. Let’s get it on!

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 10

Strange days. Personally, TLC and I are on the verge of a big positive shift in our financial affairs. Something we’ve been working towards for a very long time. Professionally, the next few months look to be enormously challenging with the potential for good things down the line. If things go as hoped. You know what they say about best laid plans. Hey, I’m staying positive. How ever the situation resolves, the next couple of weeks promise to be interesting—hopefully not in the old Chinese curse kind of way. Spring is definitely the season of change for us, anyway.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.

The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 9

It’s the hope that gets you. I’ve long been a fan of The Hairy Bikers—affable, charming, sometimes surreally witty TV chefs. Their shows are the sort of thing that putter along in the background when you’re sorting dinner, only to draw you in, sit you down and get you making a note of a recipe when you should be paying attention to the kitchen. They’ve both had their health scares, so when Dave Myers returned to telly with a new show after a bout with cancer, it felt like a happy ending.

Sadly, no. The news of Dave’s death on Wednesday night came as a shock to many of his fans (myself included) and casts this final series in a different light. A last hurrah rather than a new beginning. He has ridden into the west now, to use the Tolkeinian phrase. I wish Dave a happy journey, and respectfully dedicate this chapter of The Swipe to him. May we all have the life he found for himself, doing the thing he loved with his best mate. He was a focus of so much love, joy and good food.

Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.