I've just discovered a fantastic H.P.Lovecraft website at http://hppodcraft.com/ two guys Chris Lackey and Chad Fifer are doing a weekly podcast called the "H.P.Lovecraft Literary Podcast"... they're currently up to episode 70... but all the episodes are on the site for you to download. They are working their way through the works of HPL - they do a synopsis of each story... they have actors reading out excerpts from the stories, then they chat about the stories in a really fun, but informative way... it's really great!!! - My new obsession is listening to these podcasts on my mp3 player at every opportunity...

 Went for a visit to the Sheffield Fire and Police Museum on Sunday... been meaning to go for ages - and it was a suitably grotty day outside - so off we all went. It certainly is an odd place - run by fire and police vehicle / memorabillia enthusiasts... quite run down - but there's some interesting stuff. It's quite a spooky old building... made slightly more sinister by all the manequins wearing gas masks and moth eaten old uniforms that are lurking around every corner...my daughter was a bit freaked out! Apparently they do supernatural sleepover nights... I don't think we'll be doing that any day soon!!

 The old building has Europe's tallest fireman's pole - dropping 3 floors - they don't let you go on it though...probably for the best!...

The high light for the kids was a ride in an old fire engine around the local streets. I would have liked to have had more of a nosey around the old police cells...but I had to whisk the kids out sharpish before they saw the old black and white murder scene photos that were on the shelves in one of the cells - gruesome indeed!!

http://www.firepolicemuseum.org.uk/

mini comic review...

QUEEN MUM ADVENTURES #1 & #2
 Two little A6 size comics by David O'Connell.... picked these up at the Leeds "Thought Bubble" Comic convention 2010...probably my favorite purchase of the day...and they came with a topical William & Katie engagement portrait - how exciting! Issue #1 is entitled "Mine's a gin and tonic".. the Queen mum's giant corgi homunculus destroys the local betting shop...and then she ends up inviting a load of gimps back to the palace for a G & T.... The adventures of the Queen mum continue in issue #2 - "The Green Lady Mystery"...a haunting tale of royal jealousy and giant robots!! I love the simple but excellent drawing style,I like the minimal use of colour which works really well - and ultimately they made me laugh out loud!Very funny indeed! After checking out Davids web site http://tozocomic.com I found out that the main thing he's up to is writing and illustrating a more serious comic called TOZO which seems to be an adventure comic in a vaguely TINTINesque vein... looks good (I shall investigate further!)... but I want more Queen mum adventures!!