Go and Stop! Downtime.
Starting as I mean to go on with more seals! This time they're brandishing a globe, as if they're plotting world domination. I, for one, welcome our new fluffy overlords.
Sod's law, I got 4 days off work in a row and landed an atrocious cold just in time for it. Whether it's an old-fashioned bit of nonsense or there's legitimate science to it, not entirely sure, but I subscribe to the theory of "Starve a fever, feed a cold" so to that end, I've been taking it easy and enjoying shortbread with strong coffee and a not-very-wee dram of Scotch for good measure. Whether or not it's legitimately helping remains to be seen, but it is thoroughly enjoyable, and this cold does seem to be shifting pretty sharpish.
The blog has been getting dusty lately because I've been busy doing more concept art and writing the script for Wade in the Flood. The whole first half is worked out, the skeleton for the second half is there with a bit of meat on it, but either way, the next step is to start drawing the soddin' comic because it's not gonna make itself! Also working on the write-up of The Sinking City which has been waiting in the wings since before I even got back on with doing stuff online (seriously, we're well into another console generation, looking to the next one and that game's had a remaster out in the time it's taken me to get that done.)
For now, I've decided to gather together some recent(ish) encounters from draft posts that never wound up being finished.
3rd-7th of April
It's been some time since there was last a beer tasting on this blog, mainly because I've been sticking with go-to's like Guinness Original or Hobgoblin Gold, although for a change over the last weekend, I made short work of some Asahi stubbies - dangerous little things! Still, a dark beer is always going to pique my interest, so let's get it in the tankard and 'ave a gander.
-I had this with lunch, some cheese on toast with a bit of marmite, to use up the last of some questionable homemade bread (not my best work, to be completely honest), and to my mind, dark beers are always a proper treat with comfort food.
First taste was a bit underwhelming, a slight sweetness but not much else. After getting on with the cheese on toast, it came out with more of a sour flavour, then offered up a pleasing mix of sweet and sour together, almost floral up front, then toasty on the back. For a dark beer, it's surprisingly refreshing.
In other news, I have a new favourite thing on the internet, this hooligan seal. Seriously. The absolute vibe on this lad 'ere - truly an inspiration. When he leans forward and goes ahRAAAAH just gets me every time, like he's charging and firing his laser attacks, in the manner of Panzer Dragoon - what a treasure. At a glance, you might think he's fucking livid, but the banana stance and the rocking motion means he's happy, which just makes it even funnier.
I also picked up a copy of Ted Hughes' version of Alcestis and appear to have walked in on someone's relationship issues. It's hard to work out specifically what it says because of the handwriting, but I think it says "A token, with congratulations on ditching the albatross, and love, from Ian." If that's the case, then I can't be sure if this is a passive-aggressive slight from a spurned lover and Ian is the albatross in this situation, saying that by kicking him into touch, they've ditched love as well, or if it's from a friend who is saying congratulations on getting rid of some dead weight and sending his love along with the book.
In the former situation, I'm having a hard time working out quite how Alcestis specifically works as a slam, given that it's about Alcestis giving up her life so that Admetos can go on living beyond his time of death appointed by the Fates, but who knows. In terms of things I've found in second-hand books over the years, this is one of the less strange things, really.
25th-29th of April
Meanwhile, TK Maxx are charging a fucking tenner for donuts in a frame.
Also the location of Rock Cottage on this map looks a bit sus. Surely that's coincidental, though. I can't imagine anyone would willingly orchestrate such an unseemly street layout as this. Shall we take a closer look?
Finally, this. I have no words... well, other than the fact that strawberry and vanilla is the least "Far out, man!" ice cream combo known to mankind but eh, I was brought up on Granelli's locally made stuff so yes, I have unrealistically high expectations of ice cream. (I could totally still go for a Zap though, those things are bangin'.)
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