Dan Germain

the plain truth is that everyone knows that photos of sunsets are never as good as they actually seem when you're looking at them with your eyes, but we keep taking them anyway

f*ck you penguin

F*ck You Penguin is my favourite blog of the year so far. They're on twitter too, so you need never miss them being very, very rude to cute animals.

A further note: Paul Colman has advised me to stress how funny the above blog is. He doesn't think I have said enough to really force that fact home. So, please, have a read, it's very funny.

squid with elbows

You already saw the squid with elbows, right?

country hazards, part 8

I caught this b*stard in my garden, eating my vegetables.

Him and all his mates.

They decimated a fair patch of the greens.

But they couldn't mess with what lies beneath.

on the way to work

I was driving down the road at about 5.45am the other morning (I like to get to work early, and leave early) and I had to stop the car. This tree was shooting beams at me.

And this field was looking pretty good too.

It was all a bit mystical to be honest.

Then I got on the M40. Intensely unmystical.

three questions

First question – why are there so many books about how we should all lead more sustainable lives? Shouldn't rule one be "write/buy fewer books because they're made out of paper"?

And I know lots of these books are printed on recycled paper or stock from FSC sources, but still, isn't there a smarter way of telling people that you're green? If so, what is it?

Second question – do you know a good place to get cheap Polaroid film? I hear they've stopped making it and want to stock up. And I've tried eBay (they have some but the supply is a little sporadic/transatlantic). Anywhere else I should be looking?

Third question – should I put the tomato plants outside yet? This mini cold snap has go me confused.

stealing from the greats

Life's been good recently. New life is very inspiring (Violet is now five weeks old). It makes you go outside, smell the roses and not sit there reading 180 RSS feeds about packaging design.

And being outside is a good thing for a creative. Just look at the colours in that there bluebell wood. That rich spring green and those deep blue bells. Or this spooky old tree, waiting to appear on a record sleeve.

It's good to nick ideas from nature. She's been working on this stuff for ages.

country hazards, part 3

They are gathering. Some have two spots, some have sixteen. They are in my bedroom and they will take no prisoners.

country hazards, part 2

At this time of year, it's the mist that'll get you. Or is that fog? I've never known the difference. Anyway, be careful when out for an early morning walk. You might never find your way back home.

country hazards, part 1

Mice live in the country, and so if you move to the country you should expect a visit from the odd mouse. This one was found in our kitchen one morning, in the humane trap that I set for him the night before. For anyone looking to trap a mouse, I can inform you that our bait of choice was not cheese, but actually a small piece of Galaxy chocolate.

Under strict orders from my co-pilot, I released the mouse about a mile from our house, where the road meets The Ridgeway. The mouse has set up camp there and is plotting his comeback with the help of other beasts of the field, who will probably break down my door pretty soon and wreak furious revenge. It's not going to be pretty.