Blatant plug time...

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Since I've recently been 'outed', I may as well let you in on the chance of a weekend of sinful pleasure and hedonistic pursuits...or a Cartoon Festival, as we call it. There have been a number of them dotted around the UK in recent years, but for the moment (sadly) there is only one annual event on the calendar...but it's a good 'un!

Basically, the beautiful town of Shrewsbury will be invaded by all manner of cartoonists in a couple of weeks' time, intent on enjoying themselves to the max (most of us don't get out of the house for the other 51 weekends of the year). It's the fifth of these annual events, and very popular among locals and visitors alike. The sun has never failed to shine (kiss of death now), and there are loads of events and exhibitions planned throughout the weekend.

Along with many of my fellow pros, I'll be found in the town square (weather permitting), drawing gigantic cartoons. There will also be cartoon workshops for kids (of all ages, up to 95) and cartoon clinics (where you take along your own cartoon drawings for a couple of professional cartoonists to look at, then they give you their brutal opinion on your chances of making a living out of cartooning - ideal for sadists and masochists alike on both sides) for the public to participate in, and a plethora of caricaturists drawing all-comers...ABSOLUTELY FREEEEEEEE! 

Sadly, and even tragically, the Peepmaster will not be there this year (if that's any incentive). His illustrated talks on 'Cartoonists and Birds' have always been hugely popular attractions in past events, and he will be sorely missed, so I'm told.

Roger, if you're not coming we'll need a note from your mum. Malc also (there is at least one cartoonist flying over from the States with his daughter). If I can make the arduous 20-mile trek from Oswestry, you have no excuses!

It'd also be a great day out for everyone else if you can make it to the beautiful town of Shrewsbury over that weekend (most of the events take place on the Friday & Saturday - Sunday is Hangover Day, in more ways than one). I'd be delighted to meet any of you who can tap me on the shoulder in the Square and properly execute the secret Beau Peep handshake.

I'm sorry about the lack of notice, particularly to Diane. I'm sure you can still book flights for that day though, Diane - I reckon Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham airports would be the ones to aim for. Do be careful though - Shropshire is a haven for hot air balloonists, so make sure you find a competent and quick-witted pilot.

More information here.... Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival

[The Peepmaster]

I was there for the first ever one, Tarquin. You'll remember me displaying my laptop equipment to your good lady. (I even gave her a go on it, if I remember rightly).

I'm down in Broadstairs that weekend however, so I won't be able to be there. Roger's ex-friend from the CCGB runs the show so I doubt if he'll make it either!

I really hope it's a fab time for you though. Take loads of pics and post them here so that Mince can evaluate them.  :

[Roger Kettle]

Sadly, I won't be there either---it would involve taking at least three days off and that's a bit tricky at the moment. However, I highly recommend it for anyone who can get there---I've read some pretty riotous reports and you'll probably get to see Tarks dancing naked in a fountain somewhere.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

That's right - spoil my surprise, why don't you?

[Roger Kettle]

I didn't say WHICH fountain.

[The Peepmaster]

Someone's got to get the kids off the streets of Shrewsbury at closing-time, Roger!

[Malc]

I'll make a promise to be there for the 2009 Shrewsbury festival, and I'll even book my hotel a year in advance to prove it. Can anyone recommend a good hostelry?

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Malc, if you don't mind the company of a whinge (collective noun - unofficially endorsed...by a an official whinge of cartoonists) of cartoonists, the place to be is The Lion hotel in Shrewsbury, the main resting place of the festival's participants for the weekend. Don't rush out and book just yet though - dates have yet to be decided, as indeed has the future of the festival itself, slightly uncertain due to a change to the local council set-up (and therefore, all funded projects) coming very shortly.

This year's event has now come and gone, and despite the absence of the promised sunshine, replaced by low temperatures and the constant threat of rain (it stopped moments before the outdoor activities began on the Friday morning, and only actually resumed literally moments after they ended at 4pm on the following day, so even if the sun wasn't shining on the festival, something was!), everyone seemed to have really enjoyed the occasion.

I expect all the Shrewsbury heat had been deflected to the other side of the planet, in order to blaze down on Malc's ears, which must have been red hot at one stage, as he became the centrepiece of the conversation between a small group of us who know him from forum talk, and his boyhood mate, now cartooning prison officer, Graeme Hunter, who we were meeting in the flesh for the first time. Very, very interesting revelations they were too. Donations in an air mail envelope to the 'Keep yer trap shut' fund will be perfectly acceptable, Malcolm (but may be subject to out-bidding).

But what really made my weekend, and possibly my career, was Graeme's revelation that he used to have to redraw my Daily Record cartoons on a flip-chart for the guests of Her Majesty to enjoy (I missed the technical reason for this, although it may have been something to do with the limits on newspaper availability 'inside'....or else my drawings weren't good enough). How chuffed was I, to discover that I was big in Barlinnie? Kinda makes me feel a little like a cartooning Johnny Cash...

[Roger Kettle]

San Tarquin, you've bin livin' hell to me.

[Roger Kettle]

By the way, Tarks, I really think that anything you learned about Malc in a private conversation should remain private---posting it here shows nobody in a good light.

I'll phone you later.

[Malc]

It's all lies. I don't even know a Graeme Hunter. He mixes with criminals daily, so how can he be trusted?

I've got stuff on him too. That bloke I don't know.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

You leave Graeme Hunter alone - he's my new mate, he is. He travelled all the way down from Barlinnie to Shrewsbury at the weekend, just to buy me a drink. Not like some, who travel across the entire semi circumference of the globe, then sit on the train while it whistles past my house. Oh, no - Graeme wouldn't do that! Graeme's a proper mate. And just because he didn't actually get round to buying me that drink, doesn't change a thing.

And you're just jealous 'cos his criminals like my cartoons better than yours. 

[Vulture]

You leave Graeme Hunter alone - he's my new mate, he is. He travelled all the way down from Barlinnie to Shrewsbury at the weekend, just to buy me a drink. Not like some, who travel across the entire semi circumference of the globe, then sit on the train while it whistles past my house. Oh, no - Graeme wouldn't do that! Graeme's a proper mate. And just because he didn't actually get round to buying me that drink, doesn't change a thing.

And you're just jealous 'cos his criminals like my cartoons better than yours. 

Tarks, you forgot the 'so there'!

[Malc]

Yeah, so there.

And the train driver wouldn't stop outside your house, neither would he even leave his designated route, something I have written many letters of complaint about. I thought things were supposed to be better under New Labour?

[Malc]

Oh, and if it makes you feel any better, I didn't stop by Graeme's house either, and he only lives up the road!