At Long Last, a Post!! My Thing 2008 Report...

And so, it's all over. Our very first table at The Web & Minicomix Thing, selling our very first proper issue of Crazypants! What can I say? It was great fun, in spite of all the hard work and deprivation we had to suffer (or should that be depravation?).

After a mad rush to finish the issue, and a couple of sleep-deficient nights, Raj knocked on my front door at 6:30 am. Despite setting my alarm, I was so frazzled that I was still asleep in my bed. Luckily I had prepared my vittals the night before, and soon we were driving out of the wonderful town of sunny Swindon. (Well, it was by turns rainy/sleety/crappy!)

Down the M4 we went, engaging in all manner of witty banter. Arguments ensued about music, cheese and The Royal Family! Singing and joking to allay the sheer terror of our imminent debut, we eventually wound up in Chiswick. Dragging our precious cargo of comic greatness behind us, we yomped to my favouritely named tube station - Turnham Green.
It was brass monkeys, but the camaraderie of our joint anxiety staved off the cold. After getting funny looks from the other passengers on the Tube (we were talking and joking after all, which seems to be a big no-no! Eyes front, stony face seems to be the default setting of your average Tube passenger.), we had to change at Tower Hill. I joked to Raj, “Shall we go to the Tower of London instead?”. The nerves were starting! So, on to Mile End and we resurfaced into the wet and cold for the final walk to the Thing! Half way down the Mile End Road, I made to turn tail and run but thought better of it. After all, we had come this far. There was no turning back now!

Due to my oversleeping/tardiness, we arrived with barely 15 minutes to spare for setting up our table. Luckily we had perspex dispensing apparatus which made it easier. So easy in fact that Raj sat on his butt eating Easter eggs while I arranged the table!!! I would however have my revenge later by chastising Raj for his slovenly presentation skills!

So there we were. Ready to go and attempt to sell the products of our toil. We had a fairly well sited table, and the guys on the table next to us were also taking a table for the first time, which was reassuring (Hi, Capes & Drapes!)

Anyway, we hunkered down and waited, and waited, and waited, and after about an hour and a half, punters began to materialise. We started to worry, as people were looking but not buying. As the morning wore on, things began to busy up a bit. We got many interesting comments and questions, and the free Over-Reacto comics started to fly off the table. The free chocolate eggs went down well too-it was Easter after all!-Eventually we sold a copy of our first issue! Buoyed up by this, we set about actively selling the thing! The badges started to attract interest, which pleased me, as Raj was slightly dubious about them at the outset. But gracious man that he is, he admitted that they were a good idea after all. They seemed to sell well to the ladies for some reason?!
The comic sold in the end, and some people even asked for them to be signed, which was vaguely embarrassing, as we're sooo modest!

We both had a bit of a chance to have a mooch about, and my bestest purchases were a couple of Roger Langridge collections, which he kindly signed and did a little sketch in!
Thanks Roger!!! (I think Raj got those too!).


All in all, it was a good experience that taught us a lot. Next time we will be more aware of our strengths and our weaknesses and will tailor our table accordingly.

We met old friends, made new friends and got that sweet, sweet taste of the feeling that makes people produce small-press comics for the pure simple joy of being creative.

PeeT!

www.crazypantsmag.co.uk

Hah! Bumhug!!!

I can't stand Christmas, it sucks! Well obviously I like all the eating and drinking far too much, but spending so long preparing for just one day seems ludicrous. As for having to send stuff to people you never see and probably don't even like that much out of a misguided sense of duty, don't get me started! I think I am getting more cantankerous as I get older, and am heartily looking forward to passing my curmudgeon exams in a couple of years. And a Very Christmas and a Crappy New Year to one and all!

...Or not, as it happens.

I am variously busy/lazy.....

Remember, remember...

...member member what a womble womble womble you are! Oooh it's November already, and I really ought to post stuff. I have been working and I'll try to put some new piccies up this weekend.

Alan Coren

Sad to hear that Alan Coren has died. Loved him on The News Quiz-A very witty and clever man and a great personality. : (

As I was searching about for stuff...

I found these very old (1993) Frank Zappa Illustrations I did-just because I'm a fan. I hope you like them.....

Ooh-wah! Is it really that long?

I haven't posted anything for ages, as was pointed out to me by a friend at the weekend. Rest assured I shall mend my lazy ways and post some luvverly pics soon. Maybe even later today!!!

How to (not) behave in the workshop...

Just finished drawing this for my D.T. Teacher wife-for a worksheet.

I Think......

.....I may have been a bit cross when I doodled this?
p.s.I may get a haircut this Friday.

New!!! Brassmeat The Pirate!

I was going to use this in the forthcoming release of "Crazypants!" comic, but we decided that we wanted an all-age audience, so it was too filthy. All the better though, as I can now put in on here! Enjoy it, a present to you on my birthday, which is indeed today! Happy birthday to me, I smell of...............

Goody goody yum yum!!!

Went to see "The Goodies Still Rule OK!" stage show in Oxford last night, and I am still grinning like an idiot! It was Graeme and Tim with Bill on video. I can't actually remember much of the show, as after, I got to see them at the stage door and get autographs etc. and also this photo. They signed the cover of my New Goodies LP, which I have had since I was about 5 or 6. I feel like a silly teenage girl, but The Goodies are my heroes, so I make absolutely no apologies for that whatsoever. : )

Um...I'm still here!

This is very, very old as you can see. I really like it though, and you will soon be able to see all-new Norman Handlove cartoons and comic-strips in Crazypants! Which are a new comic published by Fear The Worst Comics. Also a new website will soon appear at www.feartheworst.com. It's twice as good as great!

I'm not at all sorry...

A good friend maintains that I am too apologetic on this blog, so here is something that took me six months to complete-a marvel of exquisite draughtsmanship (and NOT a doodle!) I think you'll agree that it is a defining masterpiece of the modern age, and I don't regret a single moment of the artistic struggle and physical hardship it entailed. I share my vision with you, humble mortals..etc..etc... (Is that better??)

Doodle-oodle doo!

At least it's new-I did it just now.....especially for you, dear reader!

Another Doodle-Sorry...

Just a doodle I did on the newspaper. Been busy. He is cute tho',don't you think?

Do not trust the Evil One!

I dunno, just a doodle...

This is also me...

I did promise /threaten to post this, so there. This is me now as we speak.
What went wrong?!

This is really me!

Anyone who has met me will make wee with laughter, but this is actually me. I can't remember how old I was, approx . between 10 and 12 I think. Don't I look lovely. (So glad I grew that beard!) Perhaps next I'll post a picture of me now, and you can see where it all went wrong!!!!!

Oh My Word!!!

It's over a month since I made a post here! I'm so crap! Sorry, I've been a bit busy. (Yeah, yeah, aren't we all? Excuses, excuses!!)
Anyway, these are a couple of pics I did as a colouring activity for my son's dinosaur themed 6th birthday party. I promise to try harder. Don't hit me....please!