Samson's legacy lives on

My brother recently told me that one of his friends gave in to his son's demands for a kitten so they went to the local RSPCA shelter to choose one. However, when the young boy saw a 3 year old tabby cat, he just had to have him. The cat now has a new home and is named "Sailor Sam". I'm sure Samson would have got a kick out of having a new generation of cats growing up named after his picture book character. Annecdotes like this are what makes writing and illustrating children's books so worthwhile.

Why do you never notice your own mistakes?

I was devastated today to have two small typos pointed out to me in my new book. This is after it has been proof-read by 4 colleagues/friends and almost two dozen copies sold in the past few days at work with nobody noticing. Once you actually know that a mistake is there, you see nothing else. I will be submitting a revision to the printer this evening but it has really put a big downer on my day and on my pleasure at see my book finally in print.

At last - welcome to the world!

On a day when it is certainly weather for ducks, Mrs Mallard has finally left the nest accompanied by a record-breaking 16 ducklings.

Beautiful but deadly

I started the morning with a walk round Platt Fields, trying to dodge the showers. The young birds seem to be hatching late this year, and there is still no sign of Mrs Mallard! One Canada goose was out with her new family who look like they probably only hatched yesterday. Alas, their arrival has prompted the swan's annual killing spree. During just my short walk, he killed one gosling and injured another. It was rescued by one of the fishermen and taken home by a local woman. But once abandoned by their parents, the poor things don't stand a chance. The geese seem to be the worst parents and tend to flee, leaving their babies to face their fate.

The weather is encouraging me to stay indoors today and paint. I am attempting my first portrait of Freddie and his amazing polydactyl paws!