#016 Plastic containers and their lids

A massive pastry / Some book news

Hello Diagram Club,

Welcome to episode / edition #016 of this newsletter. Thanks for being patient while I had a break last week, about which more forthwith. And yes, it’s a Saturday morning, when no one really emails, except FatFace to tell you they sell coats.

Addressing the obvious

[Paragraph in which I lament, in the strongest terms possible, the election of Donald Trump, express regret that I haven’t drawn more about current events, and say that all we can really do is carry on, and whatever the thing is that you do that makes the world slightly better for other people and the planet - keep doing that, and I hope you’re OK.]

Annotated photograph of the week

We were fortunate to be in St Ives, a favourite place, last week. We stay in accommodation that overlooks the harbour, and it is glorious. Activities typically include going on a boat, eating nice food, looking in the galleries, doing an art workshop, and generally milling around the place. I do my ideal thing, which is to go walking along the coast path, find a pub, drink a beer, and write nonsensical things in my notebook.

Yes, I know the buoy / girl joke doesn’t work because that isn’t a buoy.

I wrote ‘And a bit dull’ when morale was low earlier in the week. But OK, yes, it’s not terrible.

[Art workshop / class info: In St Ives, Barnoon Arts. If you’re in Porthleven or the Lizard our absolute favourite sketchwalks are by Mel Chadwick.]

Cycling cartoon of the week

‘What I’m thinking about’, from my book ‘From A to B - A Cartoon Guide to Getting Around by Bike’, published by Bloomsbury.

This drawing does, unusually, exist as a postcard, though I’m not distributing it at the moment - sorry. However, I will carry some around wherever I am during November, so if you see me, feel free to ask for one. See, there are advantages to be had living in Basildon. Stalkers: it’s tricky to advise you really, but you could try wandering aimlessly in the Langdon Hills woods, or the Barbican on a Thursday.

Household problem of the week

We’re finally getting to the real issues of the day: Tupperware (except I’ve called them ‘plastic containers’ (brand names, etc etc)). Thanks to Zuhura, who has, I think it’s fair to say, been my main Tupperware correspondent / advisor.

This is of course from my Household Problems series, which you’ll find on the internet at HouseholdProblems.com and @HouseholdProblems on Instagram, and on my other social media pages a bit haphazardly.

In an attempt to make a living I’m going to be focussing a bit more on Household Problems over the next few weeks. So temporarily there could be more than one cartoon a week (yes, I know), and I may be posting extra snippets, there might be new stuff on social media, and maybe even (who knows) reels (Instagram thing), and other activities in order to (and I don’t use this phrase lightly) ‘hype things up a bit’.

Admin announcements / Matters arising / Apologies, corrections and clarifications

Shop news. I’m working on some new products, and there’s a mug offer coming up next week, so look out for that in next week’s newsletter or my social accounts. In the meantime code FIVEOFF gets you £5 off of any order over £70, and there’s always free UK shipping on any order over £50

An apology (genuine). Unfortunately, very occasionally, a few of you have been charged on my old Diagram Club system, even though 1. I’m no longer using it and have deactivated all accounts there, and in some cases 2. You unsubscribed. This has happened a few times, and has been a cause of great annoyance for the people it has happened to, and huge frustration for me, as I’ve not been able to find answers as to why. It is (understatement) quite dispiriting. What I really want to say is: a) This illustrates why we had to move to Substack; b) If it happens again please know that I will be absolutely mortified and will rectify the situation as soon as I can.

Cafe news. I don’t have a great deal this week, having been away. But there’s been an exhibition of paintings, which meant for several days I was positioned behind a screen, while the lovely art group were doing floral drawings. I’ve given up all thought of infiltrating the knitting group, as the void between their ability level and mine has widened to unfeasible levels, so I was behind the screen for that too. Best for everyone, I think.

Other cafe news. And an additional bonus annotated photo. I was in a church cafe in London, one of my regular places to go and draw, and had some fun with this photo.

I cannot begin to describe how badly eating this pastry went. Crumbs, bits, flakes, shards everywhere. Greasy fingers. People in smart city attire (with hours, and I mean hours, to sit and drink coffee - how?) trying not to stare. I was supplied with a fork, but that was no use at all. Anyway, there we go - end of anecdote.

Letters to the editor. I’d love to hear from you about anything, but most especially, 1. Questions I can answer; 2. This month in particular, Household Problems of any kind. They can involve kitchens, gardens, cleaning, decorating, decluttering, or any other household category you can think of.

Studio Playlist update

Warning: I can’t imagine you’ll like this music. Things playing this week in the kitchen when I’m trying to read the instructions on a microwave meal have you seen my glasses I don’t know maybe they’re in the other room ‘studio’.

Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill. On the train to Cornwall I took my old ipod shuffle which is frozen in time at maybe 2011/12 or so because I can’t be bothered to update it. This is on there.
Eels - Railroad Man. Song about a man who still draws black and white cartoons when the world has moved onto reels.

The Playlist is here on Spotify. Please support artists by buying things - thank you.

Colour of the week (filler)
Sand (see St Ives picture for approx tone).

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Well, that’s about all for this week. Content for Paid users continues below, and this time around I’m sharing some book-related news. Becoming a Paid member makes this newsletter possible, if anyone wanted to consider it.

Anyway, thanks for reading - hope to be back in your inbox very soon with issue #017. Please write in, and see you soon.

Dave
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