New cover for London Calls! 

(Dark cloud reversed - actually white with black writing)

London Calls! Latest cover

London Calls - detail

THERE’S ANOTHER ME THAT’S NAUGHTY

There's another me that's naughty...

When my second son was very young, each time he did something he knew he wasn't supposed to do (like take chocolate from the fridge or draw on the walls - to be honest, I can't remember many of the naughty things he did but he was a joyfully ebullient boy!) he would say: "The Shadow R did it…" or sometimes: "The Bad R did it". 

It was way too funny for us to ever be cross and it got him out of a lot of trouble...This imaginary other self that did all the naughty stuff was really a very clever tactic indeed…We could all do with one of those.

The picture on the right was a character from one of his early comics - I say that as if he still draws them - sadly he doesn't. This guy looks like a pyro - not sure what the M is for - R can't remember either - nor what his superpower is, although presumably it's something to do with fire: Matchman? Maybe it's just a boy incarnation of Messy Monster!

Anyway, I was thinking about "The Shadow R" a while back and came up with this...

There’s another me that’s naughty

There’s another me that’s naughty

And it’s very plain to see

That the other naughty person

Absolutely isn’t me.

When I tidy up my bedroom

I make sure it’s spic and span

But the other me that’s naughty

Doesn’t buy into my plan!

So with everything I put away

The naughty me will shout

That he hasn’t finished playing,

And leave all the best toys out…

When my clothes are in a jumble

Don’t you see, it’s just the same?

It’s not me that left them messy

It’s the naughty me to blame!

Oh that special bar of chocolate

That went missing from the drawer,

It’s the naughty me who took it

(Like the many times before…)

And if someone trampled mud in,

Well there’s no use in asking: “Who?”

It’s the naughty me that just forgot

The thing he had to do.

So remember when you think it’s me

I’m really not the one

It’s the naughty me that’s far too fond

Of having all the fun!

© GD December 2013

A little bit of romance on this wet Tuesday…

Sun and Moon by Dame Barbara Hepworth

Sun and Moon: A Love Song II

The Sun, he rises high above

As Moon, she sleeps and dreams of love,

And as she lifts to light the night

The setting Sun retreats from sight..

“Sun, come warm me with your glow!”

“I can’t” cries sun, “it’s time to go…

And I must blaze and heat and burn

While you must spin and glide and turn!”

They briefly catch each other’s eyes

One needs to set, the other rise…

And so this dance of love goes on

Through days and nights, they sing their song -

“My Moon, please Moon, come out to play?”

“I can’t,” cries Moon, “it’s still the day!

And I must spin and glide and turn,

While you must blaze and heat and burn!”

Two planets ever passing by

Like lonely ships across the sky…

They never touch each other’s lips

And only meet when they eclipse.

© GD 2009

Feel the need to do a list of "#APossumsTail spotted!"

What fine company we are in - so many beautiful books - and what wonderful book/shops!

Tales on Moon Lane Bookshop window, Herne Hill

Waterstone's window, Picadilly

Daunt Books, Chelsea

Saatchi Gallery shop, Chelsea

Ooh! #MessyMonster too!!

Serpentine Gallery shop, Kensington

London Transport Museum, Covent Garden

Tate Modern Shop, Bankside

GOSH comics window, Soho

National Theatre bookshop window, Southbank

I ran the Bungay Half Marathon on Sunday to raise much-needed funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, in memory of our friends' wonderful son, Silas.

It was his birthday yesterday. 

He would have been 12 years old.

x x x x x

Take a look at the JustGiving page

And here's The Seed Song (click to listen) from the latest Okido…beautifully illustrated by Alex Barrow and made into an adorable song by the very talented Marie Merlet 

Here's the latest OKIDO! 

Just in time for SPRING!