Hello everyone. I’m writing this to wish anyone reading this a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year. Look, I drew you a picture. On paper, with a pen.

The picture is what I’d like to be doing most days: Out in nature on a bike. Except I am generally doing something else most days because I’m a grown-up with financial reponsabilities. You’ll note that I’ve drawn a mountain bike. I’m kind of done with the road. I bought a cheap-ish MTB in a sale in the summer because I had hit a real rut with my road cycling. I had become bored and out of love with it. Time to make a change. MTB has been a revelation, in that I enjoy the ride more as it happens, rather than the memory of the ride once I’m home. I’m very slow now, going both up and down tracks like a 54 year old freelancer without health insurance. Al;so, I love front suspension and wearing my converse instead of clip-less. LOVE IT.

Why Newsletter?!

I created this newsletter last January, with the aim to promote the project I’ve been working on for the last few years. Unfortunately, we didn’t release it as we had anticipated. But now we are nearing a proper release. It’s a game published by Teach Your Monster Games and the Usborne Foundation. It’s designed to encourage pre-school and primary aged children to try a wider range of foods at meal times. It’s called ‘Adventurous Eating’ and it’s launching in the UK and US app stores in January 2023 (it’s already been soft-launched in other english speaking territories). I co-designed the game (in most of its iterations), created and animated the artwork, co-wrote the script and songs. I’m all over the project like a cheap suit. Once it’s officially launched in the UK I will be writing more about the project and my process in this newsletter. So please subscribe.

Social Meedja

Like most people, I’m increasingly worn down by the effects of social media on my mental health. What was once a fun opportunity to promote ones work and enter into polite dialogue has become a noisy, toxic mess. It’s been like this for years, not just since a different billionaire got control of Twitter. I’ve been on most social media channels: Twitter, Insta, Tumblr, Flickr, Ello, Mastodon, Artstation, that one starting with the letter V but the name escapes me… and none of them solve the problems I have with the medium, they just add to them. So for me at least, I’ll be having less social media. I’ve logged out of Facebook, Insta, Wordpress and Mastodon. I’ve deleted my Artstation account. I will probably delete my Tumblr account, but may use it as a back up website. Twitter will be the last to go, but I will only use it to post news. I don’t intend to post artwork there any more. I want to add to my YouTube channel.

Plans

My plans for the future revolve around making more things. Drawings, stories, comics, games, animation. I trust this newsletter can be a journal of that process. Fingers crossed!

Why The Mallard?!

I like ducks innit.

Final Message

I hope and pray that our world can be a better place in 2023, where there is an end to the war(s) and the shouting, and our leaders learn to treat us as people rather than mindless economic units. I wish you all and your families love, peace and prosperity.

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