Posts by David Haywood
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Sorry for slowness of response -- we have a sick baby over here, alas. And it looks like (quite seriously) we're all too sick to have Christmas this year.
Isabel Hitchings and Paul Litterick: very glad that your young 'uns enjoyed the story. Likewise glad that Sofie Bribiesca enjoyed it for herself.
Evan Yates portrait of King Albert Otter is sheer genius.
Hope everyone has a lovely NZ Christmas!
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It's funny how when the otter pups do the single mass thing it's like "Awwwww...". But when the sawfly larvae do it, it's like "Yeck, why did they ever ban DDT?"
Mind you, I know which one's easier to draw. And, come to think of it, Albert Sawfly Larva is a pretty catchy name...
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Moira Goldie wrote:
I really enjoyed your blog David, but perhaps your awful cold meant your view of things was slightly jaundiced!
Well, you may have a point. That, and the awful weather, and the near-complete lack of sunlight...
Jolisa wrote:
How did you resist the temptation to sit young Roger, I mean Bob, in the bows for a perfect photo op?
A big sign prohibiting such things, and lots of security cameras.
But I did meet a lady who'd had tea with the real-life Roger and Bridget. Slightly stunned me, I must admit. Incidentally, I have some photos for BusyBoy, which I'll send ASAP.
81stcolumn wrote:
A trip worth making is to go to the Royal Academy and take a look at the Watercolours by Turner and the catch the train up to Snowdonia.
Now that sounds very much to my taste. If possible, I shall attempt to rise the family from our deathbeds, and take a drive down in that direction.
Jolisa, Joe Wylie, and Craig Ranapia wrote:
[Lots of insightful things about children's literature]...
This makes me sick(er) than ever with nerves about this year's Southerly Christmas Eve story. In my defence, can I say that it's very difficult to provide Benjamin Franzmayr with a glass half-full, and at the same time meet the Gracewood, Ranapia, and Joe 'The Groke' Wylie specifications for a "heart of pragmatic darkness".
Oh, wake me when it's all over.
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Russell Brown wrote:
On the local front, we had eight visits from Piopio in January and the buggers never came back. I'd wager that David Haywood has somehow caused them offence.
I believe I might have implied that the Piopio public toilet's reputation for cleanliness was "exaggerated".
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Joe Wylie wrote:
Interesting how Beatrix Potter's unmodified work retains its appeal, while the numerous attempts at bowdlerisation are quickly forgotten.
Very glad to hear it. We saw some abridged versions of Potter's books that were shockingly dumbed-down.
The word 'soporific' had been censored from the 'Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies'. As a six year old, I remember finding it to be a very useful word, and felt grateful to Potter for exposing me to it. It's still a useful word, come to think of it.
I very much enjoyed 'Peter Rabbit: Tank Killer'. My only criticism is with regard to the usage of 'Schmeisser'. I was once trapped on holiday with a toothless Australian man-slaughterer, who explained to me at great length that 'Schmeisser' was an incorrect descriptor. Unfortunately, however, I've forgotten what the correct term should be.
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David Lucas wrote:
What a wanker! Please don't ever come back. As someone who spent 15 years living in New Zealand (and loving it) before coming home to England, I can safely say it's morons like you who give Kiwi's [sic] a reputation here as a bunch of smug, self-satisfied whingers. Get a life !!
Thanks for your message, David. Sorry if I've inadvertently hurt your feelings.
Perhaps I should have given more space to the many things I do like about this country -- especially the English sense of humour and their ability to take a joke.
I liked the double exclamation mark at the end of your proclamation. Sometimes one exclamation mark just isn't enough!
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"Our tall Northumbrian skies"
Tall compared to Hadrian's Wall, I expect. One imagines the Picts rushing up to it, and then making Scottish-type noises of disappointment. "Och, it must be nearly a metre tall, Callum, there's no way we could climb over a wall that height..."
You are a master at pointing out that the glass is , actually, half empty.
Why, thank you! Here I sit, coughing my lungs out, drafting a cheery children's story at the request of a PA-reading child (possibly crippled, for all I know). Will try to insert some glass-half-full sentiment...
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Oh, we definitely did like the Lake District -- just wish there were fewer people.
P.S. Sleepless Bob-the-Baby wants to send this important message: fbguiyytvh5wyw3jw3-i/iojjyaedfikep;sep;ldrdrdroldrfcgvg
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One advantage of that sky, is it's impossible to get sunburnt
Can confirm we have NO COMPLAINTS of sunburn...
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... console self by reworking current project's opening scene: "FADE IN Our heroine crawls out of a crashed plane, ukulele case in hand..." Yeah, that'll work.
How about: "Our heroine (who closely resembles Julia Roberts) crawls out of a crashed plane, ukulele case in hand..."