• Yes I know I’m late for Halloween, but I was asked how to draw a witch. Presumably it will be on YouTube for ever, so think of me being early for next year!

  • roast-chickenI feel I had to share this picture with you.
    It’s actually my brother’s recipe, at least that’s where we got it from. The poor chicken is stuck on a beer can and cooked standing up. The can has some holes pierced around the top and a bout 2/3rds of the beer left in the can.

    The chicken is covered in Paprika. It gets a lovely crisp skin and the beer makes a wonderful gravy, all of which is less in fat than the usual way of cooking.

    The poor thing does look a bit alarmed when you bring it out of the oven, though.

  • rivercake.jpg On Friday, I was asked to cut the ribbon at the River Children’s Centre in Lydney, just down the road. I’m not quite sure how writing and drawing in a shed all day long qualifies me to do the job, but it was great fun. I started with a bit of painting and storytelling for the children, who were mostly 3,4 and 5. Then we went outside to cut the ribbon, flanked by loads of balloons.

    Afterwards we retired to the kitchen for nibbles, where I cheekily asked when the ageing primary school might get rebuilt. I was treated to a in depth view of the national and local politics involved in the making of such a decision. Demographics alter all the time, which means that obvious solutions one year may not be so obvious the next.

    Much more simple to understand was the fabulous cake made in the shape of the River Centre. Good luck to you all and thanks for having me!