Waiting for the banana skin

The 18th of May already ... seems only yesterday it was the 17th. We're almost halfway through 2008 but it's already shaping up to be a terrific year for me and my friends. The cynical pessimist in me is just waiting for something to go horribly wrong ...

That's so British isn't it?

Anyway, as I say, it's been a good year for me so far. I have a book coming out and I'm picking up a lot of interest in my writing and artwork. But it seems to have been just as good for most of my friends too and I'd like to take a five minute breather to celebrate that fact:

• Joel Meadows has just had his book Studio Space published by Image.
• Sarwat Chadda has sold his first book The Devil's Kiss to Puffin - it comes out next year and looks like it'll be a big seller.
• Huw Williams won a major award for his startling Kill the gun anti-gun crime advert. See it here.
• Dan Schaffer continues to produce superb graphic novels like Dogwitch and Indigo Vertigo and wrote the screenplay for Doghouse (in pre-production).
• James Murphy got a biiiiig promotion and wage hike.
• The irascible Me (whose name is deliberately obscure) has begun a whole new life in a fantastic new home.
• Dave Gavin's Dinocafe exhibition in Ireland is looking top-notch and ready for punters.
• John Coppinger published his first novel, Tertiary.
• And my brother Simon stepped from photography as a hobby to photography as a career.

Well done everyone. Let's hope the next six months are just as spanky. And to all of you others who haven't quite got what you want yet - keep on keeping on.

Perserverance, people. Perserverance.

But before I go, it's worth reminding ourselves that not everyone is having a good time. Dig deeply into those pockets, people, and give what you can to help those in Myanmar and China.