Blog – Skwiggles

Norman’s Walk – First Few Pages

Chapter 1- The Neighbours Norman thinks licking my face while I bend down to tie my laces will speed things up, and he’s right. I grab his lead, wipe the saliva out of my eyeball and we’re off out the

Best Guitarists Update – 1 Nov 2024

Since we’ve been doing this a few months now, I thought I’d crunch some numbers and give you an update on the figures and see if you agree. Here’s the rankings so far, click on the names for more info

Top Ten Second Best Bruce Springsteen Songs

I thought this week we could share some of our favourite second-best Bruce Springsteen songs and see which ones are the most popular and make the Top Ten. The voting is closed now, thanks for taking part. The results are

A Walk with Chris Bonington

I was walking with Norman and I saw a gentleman walking ahead of me and I thought to myself: ‘It’s Chris Bonington.’ Look: This wasn’t a random thought, like the time I went swimming with a bald guy and insisted

Norman’s Walk – August 24

Firstly, I have to make a big apology to our other dog, Lizzi, she’s sad because she’s just not as much fun as Norman. Which is why we left her at home. August’s walk was too important for small dogs

Top Ten Second Best Rolling Stones Songs

This week we shared some of our favourite second-best Rolling Stones songs to see which ones are the most popular and make the Top Ten. The voting is closed now, thanks for taking part. The results are below. If they’re

A Day in the Hospital

I had to take me mam to A&E last week. 111 told her to go in, even though she didn’t want to, and she got some jollop to sort her out. Because she’s back to full strength now, I feel

Norman’s Walk – July 24

We had to rush out early this morning, because Norman was invited to the unveiling of a new plaque just by the river on the new path into town. As the plaque was being unveiled, we heard some booing in

Growing Old – Top Tips from the Ads

Firstly I have a confession. When I’m really really (x10) bored, I occasionally, sometimes, accidentally watch daytime TV. Please read on, I know it’s a terrible start. I haven’t given up on life, it’s usually when I’m doing VAT returns

Top Ten Second Best Rush Songs

The voting is closed now, thanks for taking part. The results are below. These are the songs that were banned because they are the classics and that would be too easy. The Spirit of Radio Working Man Tom Sawyer YYZ

Norman’s Walk – June 24

As we set off on our walk, a new neighbour, who’d moved in down the road, had painted a sign on his wall and Norman was raging about his rights being restricted in such an oppressive way. The guy who moved

Top Ten Second Best Queen Songs

Since I’ve been having a Queen week, and listening to Queen songs while sketching, I thought we could rate some of your favourite second-best Queen songs. If they’re in the list below they’re banned because they are the classics and

Norman’s Walk – May 2024

We’ve had a few adventures this month. Firstly, as we set off on our walk, just round the corner, this opened up in front of us. I haven’t seen one before, but is this a sinkhole? Norman can always tell

Best Guitarist Update – 31 May 24

Since we’ve done ten guitarists, I thought I’d crunch some numbers and give you an update on the figures and see if you agree. Here’s the rankings so far, click on the names for more info or if you want

I’m not too sure about Doctor Who…

Being a long-time Doctor Who fan, this is going to hurt me, but what the ‘eck has happened to it? I’ve watched two episodes of the new series and I’m confused. Ncuti seems good, but he’s now a tough in

Family Walk

Family Walk The highlight of my week is a nice walk with the family. I don’t know why it is, because, although it’s better now, I remember the teenage years, and the shadow it cast. That was some time travel

Norman in Town

Norman in Town There were a couple of serious incidents this week in town involving Norman. That sketch is not 100% accurate, we don’t live in Tokyo and Norman isn’t Godzilla. The first incident was when I was passing the

Norman’s Walk – April 2024

Here’s what me and Norman have been up to in April. Have a great weekend. Take care and all the best, Ian (If you want to leave a comment below, that would be great)

Beer is good for you

After a bit of a rough weekend of socializing last week, I have done a deep dive into the benefits of drinking beer. You know TikTok or Facebook, or wherever else you go for the truth, that is where I

Norman’s Daily To-Do List

Norman has a lot to get through in a day, so much so I found his to do list by the side of his bed this morning. (My explanatory notes are in brackets). This may well be an infringement of

Norman’s Walk – March 2024

Here’s what me and Norman have been up to in March. Have a great weekend. Take care and all the best, Ian (If you want to leave a comment below, that would be great)

I’m going to see Brian

I’m going to see Brian Cox in Edinburgh tonight, so I thought I’d brush up on a bit of quantum physics to show off in case I bump into him in the corridor. ‘Hey Brian, that wave-particle duality is an

An Emergency Trip to Lidl

Me mam keeps me on my toes. As usual, late afternoon on Wednesday, we were in Keswick having coffee and scones (jam first then cream, got to be clotted) when her phone pinged and she announced: Keswick is too posh

Norman’s Walk – February 2024

Here’s what me and Norman have been up to in February.

The Calling

Lent has started and this reminded me of a life-changing moment that happened to 8-year-old me. No, although me mam did make me do that. This was much worse. I was minding my own business in school, staring out of

Norman’s Walk – January 2024

Here’s what me and Norman have been up to in January.

Tik Tok Videos

I made another attempt at TikTok videos this week, but not sure they’re going too well. Click any one below, if you’re really interested in a monotone voice trying to describe the stuff on various bits of paper. Sounds fun.

Babies are just lazy freeloaders

I saw a documentary on bonobos and chimps the other day. They are our closest relatives, and my first thought was: why are human babies so useless? Here’s a picture of a 6-month-old chimp. Dynamic, focused, getting on with life.

Covid Strikes Again

Covid Strikes Again Diane got COVID again this week. That’s her Covid smile, very similar to her I’m-totally-happy smile only you’ll notice the dimple on the right looks a bit sadder. She’s getting better, thankfully. The problem is, we’ve been

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday When you say this song title to people they always reply with: But that is just not true, I’ve given this some serious thought and here’s what would really happen. Christmas Day 1.

Christingle

Christingle When the kids were teeny weeny little toddlers and we were still in our overprotective phase of parenting, we took them to Christingle at the local church, because it seemed like a Christmassy thing to do. Little did we

Things I want to believe – Forests can think

Things I want to believe – Forests can think Trees can communicate with each other, we all know that. FYI that sketch is stupid because they haven’t got a larynx nor a means to blow air across it, have they,

Lifechanging Childhood Discoveries

Just thought I tell you about a few things from my childhood that I know to be absolute fact and incredibly useful, just so they can help you in your life. Before parents cared and stairgates, stairs hurt. The word

Found out where Batman lives

Shouty People

Shouty People Can you believe complete strangers like to shout at me? Let me tell you about it. Shout 1 I was walking down a secluded forest path in the middle of The Lake District, just like this one: Then

8 September 2023 – Tomorrow’s World

Remember this: Well I was watching a couple of episodes from 1966, the year I was born, and the first thing I’ve got to complain about is – where the ‘eck is this? And, also, where are those paper undies,

1 September 2023 – TikTok

This guy is to blame for my apparent laziness this week. Stevie Bartlett, not sure why I’m calling him Stevie, from Dragon’s Den, said, as a business, I need to be on TikTok. So I’ve finally got round to doing two TikToks.

25 August 2023 – Lizzi

Not sure you remember, but we have another dog, Lizzi. Here she is:Diane says I haven’t mentioned her much since we got Norman, and it’s true. The reason is this:Walking isn’t usually her favourite thing to do. That’s a quick

18 August 2023 – Superpowers

I have a confession to make, I think I have superpowers. I’ve suspected for a while, especially with this first one. You see, like Electro, I can control electricity. I’ve demonstrated this to everyone else in our house and they are amazed. Here’s what

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