New heights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was 'mad' on Space when I was a kid. Had all the Airfix models, loved James Burke and always asked for Space annuals for Christmas. I can even remember making a papier-mâché moon surface on which to plonk my Lunar Module when I was about ten. What exciting times they were, and yet how quickly it all fizzled out again after Apollo 17. So how wonderful it was to watch the Artemis 2 rocket blast off last night, even if it was equally astonishing to think that I haven't watched a 'Moon shot' launch like that for an unbelievable fifty-four years ..

We bought a Laburnum the other day, a tree which, according to the label, will reach its full height in fifteen years. In fifteen years I'll be eighty years old. I just hope the time doesn't fly as quickly as it has since 1972 ..

 

Watch this space ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard to imagine it's now 55 years since Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 mates were heading back to Earth after that famous first landing on the Moon. I remember creeping downstairs as an eight year old to watch them on television, and have had an interest in Space ever since ..

This particular astronaut is my cousin Neil, photographed in about 1977. The shot features in my new Café Royal Books edition, a publication that's bringing back lots of memories for the people who have been buying it ..

Speaking personally, the memory that accompanies this particular photograph is a sad one. Neil was a bit of a troubled lad who, despite his cute little face and his poor parents' keenest efforts, got himself into quite a bit of a mess. He ended up into drugs, going to jail and then, sadly, committing suicide. There's a Neil-shaped space where he could have made so much of himself. Poor lad ..  

 

It's written in the stars ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alright, let's get upbeat again .. 

I have great news! I've written and illustrated a series of children's story books, all about Space and adventures in the Cosmos. I self-published them on Amazon but, to be honest, the individual cost of each of the four books was a lot higher than I'd have liked. So, I've compiled the first three stories into one single book - The Anthology - and you can buy it now for just £15. A veritable bargain, I'm sure you'll agree, and a great Christmas gift idea if you know any kids from age eight and upwards. The stories are fun but educational, and the drawings are really amusing, if I say so myself ..

Plus, the final book 'Don't go near the Black Hole, Sunshine', will be available within the next couple of days. That book costs just a tenner. I know, so reasonable!..

You can order the book in the UK - or France - or the USA .. or just search on Amazon.

I thank you, and Merry Christmas. It's written in the stars ..

 

And we have lift-off ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first man on the Moon .. seems so long ago, doesn't it? Probably because it is! Fifty three years ago today to be precise. But what exciting times they were, especially to a nearly-nine year old like myself. I was absolutely fascinated by 'Space', forever gluing Airfix Lunar Modules to papier mâché 'moon surfaces' whilst watching James Burke and Patrick Moore explaining the intricacies of forthcoming 'TLI' manoeuvres. I did a lot of reading, too. The Observer Book of Astronomy and the Peter Fairley Space Annual were never far from my side ..

Which brings me to a new book about 'Space', one which I've written myself. I say 'one', but it's actually the first in a series of four adventure books I've created for children and which I'm thrilled to launch today ..

"Swapsies" is my story of The Sun and The Moon and The Earth, and of how The Moon helps The Sun to find all its friends in Space. The books are educational yet funny, and I'm very proud to say I did all the illustrations, too. I'll be reading from Swapsies at a book event this Sunday in our local park, and I hope it's soon filling a space on the bookshelves of many a wide-eyed new young space enthusiast ..

( If you'd like a copy, you can click here to order .. )

Three, two, one .. lift off!

Space ..

Really looking forward to Tim Peake's space-walk on Friday, coinciding nicely as it does with BBC2's 'Stargazing Live' programme on TV all this week and, of course, the constant playing of David Bowie's 'Starman' at the moment! What a Spacetastic time it is, and the perfect excuse to show you this archive photograph of my cousin Neil, shot around 1978..

I've got a couple of big jobs in the next few days. Tomorrow I have a full day's PR photography, shooting the first Passing Out parade that Greater Manchester Fire Service has held in seven years, and on Saturday I'm shooting a family portrait group that's so large we've had to 'borrow' the nearby Scout hut to fit everyone in! Talk about needing space! ..

Spaced out ..

May The Fourth be with you, as they say and, indeed they were, as the police nabbed a bad 'un trying to break into a house across the road at two am this morning. After all that excitement - and then lying in bed thinking about today's Wedding - it's safe to say that spaced-out is a pretty good description of how I'm feeling this morning! Sorry about today's photograph, by the way. It's my cousin Neil in about 1977 - Eccles' first astronaut! It's about as close as I can get to a 'space-themed' photo without delving into the archive for my snaps of Houston and Florida. I went to see a Shuttle launch there once and it blew my mind that the vehicle had reached orbit before I'd got back to the motel! Speaking of which, I'd better crack on. I've got that Wedding to shoot. Nunsmere here we come! Copy that, over ..