#017 A lot of Household Problems

New t-shirts / Free mug offer

Good morning Diagram Club,

Welcome to the Monday 18th November edition of this newsletter, which is in fact the late-running Saturday 16th November edition, delayed due to staff failures. Apologies for the late running of this service and any inconvenience this may cause. Please remove all bags from the seats and move right down inside the carriages to make room for… misc diagrams.

[Metaphor continues, unfortunately] The on-board catering will be offering a tolerable selection of hot and cold snacks, including: Household Problems (extra helpings), t-shirt news, a non-cycling diagram, cafe news (minimal), and for first class customers, some extra highly-secret stuff about the things I’ve been doing this week. Upgrades to the first class carriage are available using this button.

Non-cycling cartoon of the week

This isn’t a cycling cartoon per se, but it is from my book ‘From A to B’. Which, I will mention now for those who haven’t heard, is shortly to be out of print, so if you’d like one I’d advise panic-buying immediately.

Paragraph about this drawing. I grew up in the shadow* of a motorway junction, and I’ve been visiting my childhood home recently as you’ll have seen from occasional Wales photos [*OK, you could walk there]. I’m constantly surprised by how much busier the traffic seems now - I suppose it’s happened gradually over the years. Of course this means that walking and cycling become ever more unpleasant activities, but traffic congestion isn’t good for anybody. I don’t have complete answers, but this newsletter will keep campaigning, through the medium of cycling diagrams, for safe alternatives to driving so people have a choice.

Letters, writing in, that kind of thing

Rachel very kindly asked me a question about last week’s newsletter:

“I very much enjoyed the photo of the unreasonably large pastry, and I had to wonder whether some sort of photographic doctoring had gone on. Surely it wasn’t THAT big?!”

Ok, yes, I confess. The image was enhanced using Photoshop / exaggeration / my iPad / AI / deceit. Yes, I know. I think we’ve all learned a lesson here: you can’t always believe what you see these days, even here.

Thanks Rachel, and to other people who have contacted me in the last couple of weeks. I am way behind with everything once again, but I do intend to reply to everyone.

As always I’d love to hear questions, complaints, or any sort of Household Problems. And I mean (and this could be dangerous) any.

Household Problem bonanza

This week I have not just one Household Problem for you, but several.

The first one may or may not be based on any real-life situation.

No 2 is an old drawing, but redone.

No 3 is so simple that any idiot could have done it. It just so happens that this idiot did it.

Again, based heavily on a phrase that is heard around our house multiple times per day. Always from me.

This newsletter is the place to get new Household Problems first, so do subscribe if you’re a visitor.

You can also find more Household Problems on HouseholdProblems.com, @HouseholdProblems on Instagram, and topically (spoiler alert), on the Household Problems page of my shop.

On that subject, there is news (bolded for emphasis):

T-shirts

Household Problems are now available on t-shirts.

There are six designs that you’ve either seen or haven’t, as follows:

• Glasses

• Printer

• Selling stuff

• Wifi

• Me vs technology

• Lost phone

There are men’s and women’s designs, though (obviously) wear what you want.

Given there are six designs and lots of different garment styles and colours, particularly women’s tops, it is very possible that the combination you’d like isn’t there. If not let me know, and though I can’t promise to grant all requests I’ll see what’s doable.

Here are some additional pictures. I do have to say that there is, to me at least, something just-a-bit pleasing about a very cool model wearing a ‘Have you seen my glasses’ t-shirt.

In additional shop news, and if you’re thinking about gifts, perhaps: There is a special offer (which yes, justifies bold type) from now until this Wednesday (20th), whereby you can get a free ‘Bicycles’ mug (the shed design) if you spend £35. There’s also free UK postage over £50. Use the code BIKEMUG and the mug should appear in your basket without you having to even put it there.

Here’s an explanatory graphic showing the mug in question:

Admin announcements / Matters arising, Apologies, corrections and clarifications

Cafe news. Every day I cycle back up the hill, and quite often people walking their dogs or children are amazed at the feat, despite the fact it isn’t very steep or long. Last week a lady commented on the inadequacy of my bicycle. Yesterday though it was like Alpe d’Huez, with approx 6 people lining the route, running alongside cheering with flags (etc)***. It’s fun when this happens. [***Huge exaggeration]

Sorry, no annotated photograph this week.

Bluesky. I’ve been enjoying posting on Bluesky over the last few weeks, and this is now the social platform I find myself looking at first, and where I will probably post the most stuff. I’m not closing my Twitter account, for various reasons, but yes, you’ll hear far more from me on Bluesky. You’ll find me here: davewalker.bsky.social. If you read this newsletter and sign up (both recommended courses of action) please do say hello.

Tescos. I see you’ve started using a song from last week’s email in your Christmas adverts. And no credit to the Studio Playlist either. Well, don’t think I don’t notice that kind of thing**. [**Bit more threatening than intended.]

Archive. Did you know you can read all the past newsletters here? Ah.. you did. #awkward

Thank you to the people who’ve made me smile and / or cheered me on this week.

Studio Playlist update

This week’s music, if I remember to put it in. Find the whole list here, on Spotify.

Faithless, Nathan Ball, Caleb Femi - I need someone
Spiritualized - Don’t just do something
Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves - I remember everything

Disclaimers. Your taste will differ. Only listen to this as part of a balanced musical diet.

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Colour of the week (filler)

Dark grey Teemill t-shirt colour

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Well, that’s about it for this week. Thanks for reading - hoping to be back in your inbox very soon with issue #018. Content for Paid users continues below.

Dave
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Sharing plea

If you’re enjoying Diagram Club and know anyone else who might enjoy this particular style of, well… nonsense, then I’d really appreciate it if you shared it with them. I will now offer two orange but different buttons which should cater for all sharing needs. Just don’t click them both simultaneously as that will literally break everything.