So spring is fast approaching. I’m not altogether sure when spring is supposed to start officially but I can say with some certainty that the days are getting brighter and the temperature is finally getting a little higher. It’s still not warm enough to walk barefoot across the freezing, stone floor in our kitchen but at least it is finally getting there. Until that glorious day arrives, I will keep my trusty slippers with me while I’m in the house.

Doesn't this remind you of holidays? It does to me.

Since spring is coming, Jenny and I have been discussing what we shall be doing for our holidays. We have decided that this year we will be vacationing in England on short breaks, rather than going away for a week or two here and there. Last year we went to North Wales several times and it was fantastic but we really want to make more use of the boat, so we’re sticking closer to home.

With that in mind, we have invited my parents to the Lake District for a couple of days in May. They will be coming to see the new boat on the water for the first time; or if not the first time then definitely one of the initial forays onto the lakes. I think Jenny is keen on giving the boat a quick test run before we go out in May, just in case it still needs some repairs.

The boat is one of the Bosun style of sailing dinghies. In fact, it is number three; one of the sixteen different prototype models created to win the Royal Navy contract back in 1963.

I would make reference to the fact that the boat is as old as Doctor Who but that would be both irrelevant and also incredibly nerdy, so I won’t.

Aww, damn!

Anyway, the reason the boat has been in need of repair is because it is almost fifty years and nothing lasts forever. Still, we intend to keep it in very good condition (I could almost say “ship shape” but it’s not really a ship so I won’t!) and with good management, I think it will give us many years of enjoyment.

By the way, did I mention I get incredibly travel sick? I’ve actually had medication in the past to deal with getting travel sick while sat at my desk, such is my plight. Maybe I should mention this to Jennifer before we head off?

So lately I’ve been mostly away from the Internet, enjoying the sights and splendours of north Wales. It has been great to get away for a while and recharge my batteries because the number of projects I’ve been working on of late has taken its toll on my energy reserves.

Inside the walls of Caernarfon castle

Jenny and I took a lot of photos while we were away, all of which are now available on Flickr if you’re so inclined. Conwy castle and Caernarfon castle are amazing sights that I would recommend to anyone.

We took a few videos on my Blackberry while exploring Conwy castle; with Jenny and I giving a running commentary on what we thought of the place, and what we thought the rooms we explored were actually used for. It would probably have helped if we were actually looking at the guide book we bought on the way in and had with us while filming but then that would have been too professional. We were just larking about really and if I’d wanted to be professional I’d have used a real video camera instead of my mobile phone. Still, once the videos are edited up, I’ll put the results on YouTube for you all to enjoy.

Now that I’m back, I’m expecting to be able to get a load of work done over the coming weeks. The web serial project will move onto the scriptwriting stage soon, so expect more news on that as it comes in. For those of you who are interested at this point, the series is based around the exploits of a small ground of Live Action Role Players and will be a comedy along the theme of affectionate parody. Because I’m unable to get in contact with a couple of the co-holders of the copyright on Dudes with swords, I can’t use those characters or that storyline as a basis for the series (which is a massive shame since the script I wrote with Paul O’Malley is brilliant even if I do say so myself) but this new group and new story will be built from the ground up with the purpose of working as a web serial, so maybe all this is for the best anyway.

Now I’d best get on with building up a buffer on the webcomics again. I had one for while we were away on holiday but that’s burned through now and I need to get to work. Webcomics are like hungry, hungry babies: you can feed them strips all day long but they’ll always hunger for more. Hmm. I think there’s a story in that…