The Time Bubble

Hello everyone, What a year it’s been. Where to start? Well, I won’t dwell on the virus, lockdowns or any of that, because millions of column inches and tweets have been devoted to that elsewhere. You didn’t come here for that – you want to hear when the next Time Bubble book is coming out! I’m pleased to say that the answer is soon. I have faced a number of challenges this year which have delayed progress. Firstly, I had to home school the children for three months earlier in the year. Secondly, and I won’t go into great detail on this as I am not one to whinge about health issues, I am waiting for eye surgery which I hope to have in the first few months of next year. As things stand, I can still write and work, but I have to go slower than before. This is also the reason you have not seen much in the way of posts from me because I have dedicated all my time to getting the book completed to the standard you both expect and deserve. I am very happy with the end result, provisionally ti...

Recap: Jason has been invited to the BBC to pitch his programme ideas. He's just arrived and been shown into the meeting room where Geoff is waiting... Jason: Good evening! Geoff: Good evening? It's 11am! Jason: Ah, sorry about that - I thought I'd come in character, you see. I was playing the role of one of my favourite characters, Lord Bicester. He always greets people by saying that, morning, noon and night. Geoff: Hilarious, I'm sure. Perhaps it'll grow on me. Would you care for some coffee and biscuits? Jason: Have you got any sausages? Pork Pies, anything like that? It's nearly lunchtime after all. Can you organise a buffet? Geoff: I beg your pardon? Jason: I was told you could have anything you wanted in the BBC? Sorry, I was in character again. That was Bloaticus. He eats a lot. I am actually a bit hungry though. Had a few beers last night, need to soak it up a bit. You know how it is. Geoff: I don't actually. I tend to keep my drinki...

To make a change from the recent discussions, I thought it was high time I did something more light-hearted on here, so I'm introducing a new fictitious segment to the blog which I'm calling "The Monday Sketch". This will give me a chance to play with some ideas that have been knocking around in my mind, as well as a chance to re-introduce some of my old characters you may remember from the past. Picture the scene: Two busy BBC executives are sat in their office, trying to make plans for the new Autumn season on BBC1. We'll call them Phil and Geoff. Phil is a young, excitable man, fresh from an assignment on BBC3 and looking to liven up BBC1. Geoff, his manager, is old school, a grizzled veteran who likes to stick with tried and trusted ideas. Geoff: So, Saturday nights on BBC1. We've got Doctor Who , Strictly and Casualty . That still means we've got a half hour slot to fill before the News and Match Of The Day . What else can we put on? Phil: W...

I have been struck down for the 3rd time in the last 4 years with the Norovirus. If you have never experienced this then I hope you never will. It's something that hits you without warning, sudden agonising stomach pain followed by explosive diarrhoea and vomiting. When that's all over you get a raging thirst and down gallons of water. Eventually after that it's gone as suddenly as it arrived - except it leaves you weak and exhausted which takes a few days to recover from. When it's happening you literally feel like you are going to die. I had to get Claire to stay off work today as there was no way I could have left the house, even my room. I have not seen either of my children today, and have no intention of doing so, I'm fairly sure I am not contagious anymore but I'm not risking it. The first time this happened to me I was just setting up for Sunday night karaoke, this was back in 2008. I literally got the equipment set up, handed over to Helen and wen...