Yes, I’ve been lazy. Or busy. I’ll go with busy, cos it’s partly true.

Been on holiday to Paris (awesome time: Amelie pics here, street art pics here, holiday pics here, here, here, here and here. Yes i’m snap happy!). Weather was brilliant (apart from one day where it rained, hailstoned and then decided to thunder and lightning!!). Visited a few new places but spent half the time wandering round familiar places just taking in the atmosphere. Also spent a fair bit of time around Pere Lachaise taking LOTS of photos as research for one of my comics. Maybe one day I’ll actually finish writing it and draw the damn thing!

Went to see Iron Man. Bloody brilliant film! I can’t praise it enough. I was never a massive Iron Man fan (Spider-Man and Batman being my favourite comic characters), but this film was possibly the best comic adaptation I have seen. The casting was perfect, the special effects were spot on, the tone, pace and direction all brilliant. An all round brilliant film. Can’t wait for the next one! And it’s great to see Marvel setting up a line of continuity within their films, with Robert Downey Jr making a cameo in the new Hulk film. Oh, and the after credits scene in Iron Man? One of the best scenes in a film ever if you are a comic fan

Saw Amy MacDonald in Leeds (Photos here) last weekend, and she was amazing! Live she is just as good, if not better than she is on record. I love music and like to go to as many gigs as I can afford, but this was only the second time live music has ever made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. She’s wonderful. Marry me Amy! She also influenced me to get back into music and so I’ve advertised for a female singer/guitarist to write some songs with and see what we can come up with, will make a change from playing metal and hardcore.

One thing that has been taking up a lot of my time is my bike. Having moved close to the river in York I’ve discovered more and more bike paths leading out of the city and into the countryside. Not only is it fun but it has helped me lose weight (finally!), and I try to do 10 miles every night plus have been biking back to my parents house to visit (which is nearly 20 miles either way). Cycling gives a great sense of freedom.

I still love walking though, and spent last Sunday walking round the East Coast, going from Bridlington to Sewerby and Danes Dyke and then back, then driving out to Flamborough Head and having the cove to myself, listening to the sea, I didn’t want to leave. I then ventured on to Humnanby Gap as the sun was setting to see the old WW2 bunkers on the beach. It was a relaxing and peaceful day and sitting on the beach at Flamborough Head was an amazing moment, but the whole day also made me realise how lonely I am sometimes and that I really do need to get out and meet people and find a nice young lady who enjoys trips into the countryside and knows there is more to life than just drinking and going to crappy clubs (although sometimes that can be fun too!). Anyway, less of my whining, there’s some pics here, here, here, here and here.

Maybe soon I’ll post up some actual comic work, when I get the time between working and procrastinating.

Oh, and my cat had her 19th birthday! That’s 92 in cat years. Not only has she outlived her daughter (who would have been 18 earlier this month), but she’s lived for 3 or 4 winters longer than I thought she would, I fear this will be her last summer, although she may surprise me again!