June 2025 | James Durose-Rayner's website

JUNE 2025

The A's

ALL IMAGES OPEN IN TECHNICOLOUR

Hit the button for a new month - July 2025

30 June 2025

Kaliméra.

I was up at 8:00 am (GMT +2).

The door is open and the sun is out.

We are now exactly half way through the year.

On Saturday evening, I was talking to Luke Platt's young daughter, Isobel, about Halloween - that is how fast this year is going.

As we live in what is a gated property - we get very few kids call on 31 October - with Luke and Charlotte's kids being the exception. They came to scare us and went away with a right bucket full of sweets. I even cut the light-up Skeleton-in-a-shroud off the door to give them.

"I promise this year that I'll have two scary skeletons for you," I told her.

Isobel and her brother Declan are two of the nicest kids you could meet.

We landed at 4:10 pm - 25 minutes early, and it was very hot. Today will be no different.

We called in at the Lionheart bar yesterday evening and then went a couple of doors down and ate the Bulgarian open kitchen. Cabbage salad, whitebait, shrimps in garlic, and chicken liver... all on different plates! And big plates - as they really do feed you.

The kids had done a good job of cleaning the house before they left, and as Julie was putting away some of their clothes, I noticed that the wardrobe in the bedroom they stay is slowly filling up.

Jamie loves it here. He even found himself a gym to go to.

His mum told him: "It'll not be long - only two months and you'll be there again."

It is called wishing your life away!

Our life is manic because of exactly that.

Chasing 10 publishing deadlines throughout the year. Bang, bang, bang. You blink and a month is gone. It is that fast. I fully completed the July 2025 issue on Saturday. I'm just waiting for a Norwegian supplier to give me the heads-up (or not) for their advert.

That magazine will be uploaded to the printers on 7 July.

Right! Now, to The A's.

I'm going through re-writing and editing the earlier episodes in Series 2 - hence why you've been seeing a lot of Jenny Mellor animations of late.

Opposite is a 20 second animation of the other Jenny as in Jenny Deal.

29 June 2025

Well, it's 8:00 am and we are in the priority lounge at Luton Airport and I've just had my sausage and egg roll and a Macchiato.

I have to admit it was a precarious drive down as we didn't get in the house until late and we were up at 3:00 am.

One drink at the Red Lion turned into quite a few - as being a Saturday night there was quite a few people out, some of who came over and sat with us.

And I have a headache.

Good night though.

Sunday morning in the airport is still quite busy.

We should be boarding shortly.

This time I've got a console and indicator stalk for the FTO in my bag.

I had a new one fitted the other year, and it wasn't fitted right, and to indicate left you had to force it. Possibly because it wasn't a proper FTO part... and after some wear and tear, it's gone floppy. Therefore, I have that in my bag. £39 off eBay!

Animation. Opposite are two shorts of Anita and Jenny in the kitchen, which I've put up before.

The story is, is that Mason is often out of the UK and when Series 2 starts - he sees Jenny, maybe once a fortnight. However, everything changes once Granny Maureen plays her Ace card.

And if there is one person who knows how to pull Mason's strings it is Maureen.

Manipulative?

Not in that sense, as she's a really nice character, but if she wants something, she tends to get it.

28 June 2025

Good morning.

I was up and at 'em at 7:00 am and through the woods with the dog.

I tried it last night with two dogs, and lost one.

The story was that we went out for a teatime drink at the Red Lion only to be joined by Cuban Pete and Broken Arm Sue - which meant by the time we'd stumbled down home I's had around eight or nine pints of Neck Oil.

I bought us all a crap curry from the Tandoori - minus Pete's Roganjosh...

It's not the first time they've bollocksed up the order.

A few weeks ago I had a Chicken Saag Vindaloo without the chicken...

Anyway, Pete and Sue had their dog with them - Bobby, who I said I'd walk through the woods with ours... Mmm... As soon as I took it off the lead it walked with us for about 20 yards, and then fucked off through the trees.

For me, it's hard to comprehend a dog not wanting to walk with you as we've had four dogs - two of which we sort of inherited. One: A Rottweiler that my daughter couldn't look after, and two - an Alsatian that we homed after my mum died.

All four were great dogs - even my mum's - who when we got it, wasn't the most sociable of animals.

You treat them right and they soon fall into the regime, non more so than the one we have now.

Pete and Sue's dog - as nice and sociable as it is, doesn't walk without a lead - ever.

I know that now.

That aside - it was a good night.

Johnny Welsh's son - Stewart, came into the Lion with my brother-in-law's brother - Sam Slack... and Luke Platt (a character in The A's) came in with this big lad.

"Don't you recognise me?" the big lad asked.

"Not off hand," I replied.

"I was a mate of your Jamie's - I used to come round to your house - you used to call me Ezzer..."

It rang a bell.

"James Etherington," he said.

Again. You treat people well and you generally get it back.

Like his mate Luke, James has turned out a very nice lad.

It was very nice speaking to them.

Opposite is a short clip of Jenny. Here I get her to eat the sandwich.

It's an early start tomorrow as we are flying to Cyprus on the 9:55 am flight out of Luton.

I need to fill up the car and give it a wash as it's not been driven since we came back..

27 June 2025

Good morning.

I had a late one this morning and didn't get up until 7:20 am as I'd been working until 12:15 am.

It's always best to go out early as Julie hit all the traffic on the dog walking circuit.

My day job should be fully completed today - but it'll not be uploaded to the printers until 7 July, as we are still waiting on some orders coming in... hopefully.

And we fly out to Cyprus on Sunday morning.

I can't wait. The last two weeks have been very busy.

Animation. Opposite is another one of Jenny Mellor - this time suited up for her Taekwondo class at Hammersmith Community and Wellbeing Centre.

"Pack it in, love - you're wearing me out," Gaynor often tells her daughter.

Like her father - Jenny is 100 miles-an-hour.

To use up some of that energy, Christie Gotleib takes Jenny swimming, whilst Granny Ana takes her to martial arts - neither of which she particularly likes.

"Don't you like it?" Anita asked.

"No - I hate it," she replied, regarding the Taekwondo. "My feet are black bright."

Jenny has an answer for everything.

"I can take you to ballet if you want," Gaynor told her.

"I aren't doing ballet," she replied.

"Please speak properly - it is 'isn't' not aren't'," said her mum.

Losing the Yorkshire accent she'd picked up was quite humorous, but not quite as picking up some of the things her father (Mason) says...

Now, that is funny.

26 June 2025

A very belated hello.

It is 3:15 pm.

I got up at 6:50 am stuck some washing in, made the coffee, and the dog's breakfast whilst Julie took it out through the woods.

It's been a busy morning so far. Lots of juggling trying to create space in the magazine, and have just fitted a new lock on the back door as the one that's now in the bin was on its way out and I have been waiting for the moment it packs in and I get locked out!

Anyway, it's on.

I'm knocking off in 10 minutes to do some cardio as I've done absolutely no real exercise over the past two days.

Last night was exactly the same as the night before in that none of us could be bothered to cook so we went out and picked up a crap takeaway.

Another £90 down the drain.

I've chucked up an another Series 2 animation of Jenny Mellor opposite.

I've not done any new ones for a few days as the pro software was really playing up and what I was getting back was nothing short of garbage.

It's a software glitch as it's relatively new technology.

As I've often said, Jenny is not your normal seven-year-old - far from it.

"You're clever like your dad and beautiful like your mam," Granny Maureen often tells her.

"My mam's clever though as well," she'd reply.

When Jenny switched schools -initially, she didn't like it - however, that was temporary.

The attention she eventually got was out of this world... both from the teachers and the children.

Living in London was a completely different world from what she knew.

25 June 2025

Good morning.

Although it's 10:15 am, now - I was up and out through the woods with the dog at 6:50 am and caught some rain at the halfway mark.

The Met Office say that it's going to be 24°c and cloudy today.

The kids got back safe, yesterday - the news from Lianne was that our Jamie wanted to extend their stay.

I can fully understand that, as it is something that we have done numerous times.

Julie nipped on the WizzAir website and paid for their flights for 10-17 September and within 10 minutes I received a call from Jamie to say "Thank you".

As kids we had literally nothing, therefore it's nice to do it.

When you work hard, you need something to look forward to. Always!

I'm currently working on my day job and filling in the holes, but I am now running out of space in the magazine - and that's after eight days

We are still waiting for advertisements coming in and a feature that I've written signing off by a contractor - the same one who invited me over to Bahrain last year.

Yesterday, I did no cardio as I ran out of time.

We ended up having a couple of hours at the Red Lion and picked up a crap curry from the Tandoori on our way back.

Opposite is a short Series 2 animation that I did the other month - Angie and Maureen Mellor.

I will do some new ones, but at present, work is taking up most of my time.

Angie and Maureen are very similar - Gaynor not so, as she is often outspoken and neurotic.

In Series 2, Jenny reveals something that she heard Gaynor's best friend, Clara Margieson tell her dad.

Maureen was shocked. Angie was shocked.

"You cannot ever say that to your mam," Granny Maureen told her.

"Why - 'cos it's a secret?" replied Jenny.

"No, because it's just not very nice is why."

24 June 2025

Good morning.

I was out of bed and through the woods with the dog at 6:00 am. And it rained.

It needed it - that much is for sure. Just not when I'm walking the dog.

Julie got home at 6:50 am.

Her week stopping at the kids' house is now over. Their flight landed in Luton at 9:04 am. They are on their way back home, and should by now be on the dreaded M1.

I didn't knock off work until midnight, so I texted our Jamie.

"I hope you are both up?" I said.

"We are," came the reply.

The flight times are very early - and as it is when we are over in Cyprus - the taxi picks you up at 2:30 am (GMT +2).

They are long days.

We go Sunday morning - hence why I have been working 12-15 hour days.

From page 17 through to page 84 the magazine is now full (84 pages). All done in just 7 days.

Today, we are having the day off - however, I am here working and Julie's just nipped back down to their house so make of that what you will.

I did 90 minutes cardio yesterday morning - and I'm looking at doing that again today.

In the news, the 12-day War is supposedly over, with Iran's theoretic Islamic government still in place.

So... as it stands, the storyline with Series 2 of The A's sort of stays how it is... unless there is a military coup and a change of regime.

Opposite, I have just stuck three animations up of the Gaynor character from Series 1.

Apart from Gaynor on the treadmill - her appearance hasn't yet been animated for Series 2.

Anyway...

23 June 2025

I initially woke up at 5:30 am and thought, "Bollocks, I'm not getting up at this time!" and dropped back off to sleep until 7:00 am when Julie phoned me.

"I'm outside," she said.

I've got to admit. Last night, I had a good sleep.

I'd been working up until 11:00 pm and I'm well over half way through the July 2025 magazine.

The kids are back home tomorrow lunchtime, therefore, it's the last night on my own.

Anyway, a belated Good morning.

Another work day beckons, but I reckon I'll get my cardio out of the way this morning.

I did 60 minutes last night and it was heavy going. I really need to do 90 today.

Anyway, Julie came in this morning and was all pucker with herself.

She's down at exactly 57.15 kg = nine stone.

That's cutting out drinking for 74 days and starters at the Indian! And this week we have both been dry.

Tomorrow, we are both having a day off as the offices are having some electrical work done and the internet will be on and off all day.

As I said, earlier in the year - we've had offices at Doncaster Airport 15 years - however, the last time I went in was July 2011.

I can't stand working from them!

Music. Around 10:20 pm last night Radio Caroline played a track by Turin Brakes off their new album, Spacehopper - called Lullaby, which was quite good.

I'll have to get a couple of their albums and give them a listen.

And this morning whilst moving from A to B, I caught part of Luke Combs' Fast Car.

I'll have to have another listen to that.

It sounded alright, but until I listen to it properly - you never know!

Animation. I've just chucked up four videos of three generations of the Mellor's... well, the females...

Do you reckon they look alike?

22 June 2025

I woke up at 5:30 am and tossed and turned until around 6:50 am when Julie phoned me.

I'm now out of bed with a coffee, and Julie is through the woods with the dog.

The news coming in on my X feed is that the U.S have gone in and wiped out Iran's nuclear facilities.

As I said the other day, this changes one of the main storylines in Series 2 of The A's.

What happens now - in reality not the screenplay?

Do the sleeper cells in the UK become active and do we get to feel the full force of the Trojan Horse that successive governments have helped create; or will there be a regime change over in Iran, with the former Shah's son taking over and him reverting the country back to Persia.

Their people certainly want it.

Islamist leaders, however - and that includes pro-Islamist's such as the UK's Prime Minister, would rather have their country burned to the ground than cede power - and be quite happy to rule over the ashes.

So long as they can still rule.

Because that is what they are all about. Dominance and power.

How we have got to this stage is purely by appeasement.

Appeasement doesn't work - ever.

Not in life and certainly not in government.

All it does is reveal your weaknesses.

We supposedly learn from our mistakes - but do we?

They tell us that they hate us and want to destroy us, but the leftists - the indoctrinated woke, just see them as being misunderstood.

There is nothing to misunderstand. They are telling you who they are and what they want.

God knows how this will end.

Depressing shit aside...

Yesterday, was a busy day up in the town, with music being played everywhere.

It was too hot and muggy to do any cardio, therefore I didn't. I just worked.

We went around to the Curry Leaf at 6:00 pm and had a meal.

As for today - another day working.

I'll also put some thought into how I'm going to have to alter the storyline!

Opposite is an animation of Mason's wife, Anita Pallenburg in Series 2.

21 June 2025

Mia polý kathysteriméni kaliméra.

That means A very belated good morning in Greek - however, if I wish to pontificate - kathysteriméni, when said on its own - means "delayed".

Sorry for that.

In The A's, little Jenny Mellor befriends a 15-year old in Year 10 by the name of Dorothy "Dottie" West.

Dottie is the cool girl with the punky-look, short skirts and the blue hair.

Dottie struggles with a few subjects - one of which is French, so Jenny - with her through-the-roof I.Q, decides to help her out - even though she has never done French - ever.

It is here that you see both the extremely clever and highly manipulative side of Mason and Gaynor's daughter.

Anyway - enough of that!

I had a lay-in this morning and was awoke by Julie ringing my phone at 6:55 am.

"I'm outside," she said.

I didn't get to bed until 11:30 pm as I was piecing together an article on Thames Water's £300 million Teddington Direct Abstraction Scheme for the July issue of the magazine.

She came in and walked the dog - thank God.

Since Jamie has been in Cyprus I've been walking her three times a day plus both Jamie's hounds each evening - as being bulldog's, they are a bit awkward to handle.

Chance - the elder one, you can't take off the lead as he chases everything in sight and it's hard to get him back on it.

Doofus - the younger one, quite happily walks without the lead - however, as his name suggests, he can be an idiot, and according to our Jamie attacks any dogs he sees.

I know he acts like Billy Big Bollocks and growls and barks a bit when he sees a dog but I've not seen him attack one.

Anyway, the upshot is, Julie's not strong enough to walk them both on her own!

It is Music Day in the town today. A very busy day.

The Met Office states that it's going to be 29°c, but it has just put some rain down - and even now, it's a bit cloudy.

I did no cardio yesterday, as I was working.

I think after I've chalked this up I'll do 60 minutes.

Opposite (If you are on a laptop or PC) - there is a different kind of animation.

In both series, the TV and Radio tend to be on quite a bit - the radio, more so.

This is the fictitious Capital City FM which creates a backdrop of cool music and news - hence why I am currently listening to loads of music!

With the TV - and so as not to breach BBC copyright by using their original footage, I will have to animate what goes on it.

How this works will be through 3D, with me putting the animation on to a flat screen TV, which is very do-able.

What will be interesting in one instance is me writing up short Steptoe scenes!

20 June 2025

Good morning.

I was up at 6:00 am and out through the woods with the dog.

Not bad considering that I was working until midnight.

The Met Office state that it is going to be 30°c today come 3:00 pm.

I saw my barber - Dean Bramhald the ex-boxer, just opening up as I passed with the dog.

"It's going to be in the mid-thirties this weekend," he told me.

Total pub weather.

Unfortunately, not for me.

As I've said, sunshine makes everything feel better - even though we seem to be on the cusp of a civil war, which I'm certain will happen if the U.S hit Iran.

The UK now has God knows how many Jihad sleeper cells and this government, with its "open door" policy is intent on digging its own grave.

In The A's, all this is predicted - with the not-yet-17-year-old Mason Green's life thrust into hell.

I hope that I am proved wrong.

Anyway - the depressive stuff aside.

There's two Mason-related animations opposite.

A colourised one with music of Anita Pallenburg; and one of Gaynor Mellor downing a Guinness over in Ireland.

One of the things that I have had to do is to make sure that there is a consistency with the characters in both series.

And one of these, is the hereditary traits passed on from mother to daughter. And here Gaynor gets frothed.

19 June 2025

Another belated Good morning... just.

It's a minute before midday.

I was up at 5:40 am, but spent the first half an hour looking for my phone. I could hear Julie ringing me from our Jamie's, so I knew it was downstairs, but couldn't find it anywhere - as she rang off before I got there.

It was eventually located, sort of propped up chameleon-like at the side of the chair in the study.

It must have fallen out of my pocket.

I did quite a bit of work this morning and have just done 90 minutes cardio.

I thought I'd do it this morning as yesterday evening the 60 minutes I did was absolute purgatory.

Anyway, it's done.

The Met Office reckons it'll hit 27°c this afternoon.

Long may it continue.

I may go wash both cars later. Or I may not.

Music. The signal on Radio Caroline has been a bit hit and miss, possibly due to the weather, so I knocked it off and stuck some albums on.

I played one by Belly titled King (1995) - the stand out track for me being the cleverly constructed Red.

It is sort of in three parts: Melancholy, chant, and a brilliant backloaded crescendo à la Lynyrd Skynard's Freebird.

A very good song!

The album was produced by the legendary Glyn Johns.

He was the sound engineer on hits such as You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night by the Kinks; My Generation by the Who; (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones; Itchycoo Park by the Small Faces; Get Back by The Beatles; Ooh La La by The Faces; and Love and Affection by Joan Armatrading.

He was even the engineer on Led Zeppelin's first album.

As I said - legendary.

Animation. A bit of Anita opposite.

Anita tends to get overshadowed by Gaynor and Angie Mellor - however, and as you can see - she is just as pretty.

18 June 2025

A belated Good morning to you.

I was up and out through the woods with the dog at 5:40 am - however, I got sidetracked with work stuff from my day job, so this is the first bit of time that I've had.

I'm very busy - which is always good.

The house was quiet yesterday - as it was just me and the dog - although, I didn't get to do any cardio as I was working until 11:30 pm.

I got a phone call from our Jamie - firstly thanking me for the spear gun that was waiting for him when he got over to the house in Cyprus, which was followed by a text a couple of hours later.

He was over having a meal with Lianne at the Red Ruby in Ayia Napa.

There he is - with the Head Waiter and the Lebanese connection that is Nickolas.

A great restaurant that once served great food.

Unfortunately, only one part of that sentence remains true, as the two southeast Asian chef's that helped give it its reputation have since left, and it has dropped off quite a bit.

And I'm sick of getting fucking undercooked prawns - which has now happened the last three or four times.

At the minute I'm just waiting for an online shop arriving and then I'll go and do some cardio.

Regarding The A's - current events over in Iran are having me scratch my head a bit and it looks like a bit of a re-write of Series 2 will have to happen.

Not everything, but one of the main storylines.

Complicated?

Not really. Fiction never is.

17 June 2025

I had an interrupted sleep and got up at 5:50 am.

Well, I didn't really - I was up a 2:45 am - Julie giving our Jamie a morning call.

It's 8:05 am now, so he should be in the departure lounge of Luton Airport constantly looking up at the screen to see which gate they'll be flying from.

Gate 28 is my bet!.

On getting up, I signed off the files and Julie got ready to nip down to our Jamie and Lianne's to give the dogs their breakfast.

It'll be a quiet week.

On the news front Iran are still getting bombed by Israel for its role in the 7 October massacre... funding Hamas.

I have know idea how this will pan out.

Another bombshell was the government's U-turn on the Pakistani Child Exploitation Report.

Politicians and police need to be among those brought to justice and charged - non more so than the Prime Minister himself, who helped cover-up both this and Southport.

I'd say that the government will collapse, but Kier Starmer will burn the country to the ground before ceding power.

It is just who he is.

I am watching how things develop as the latter part of the story sort of predicted much of this in 2030, leading to the forming of a coalition government where a character by the name of Penny Lane becomes the Home Secretary, who I have just put up opposite.

Penny is quite the flawed character and a total career politician... but how does she get into the story?

Music. I did 90 minutes cardio yesterday and chucked on some CD's that I'd cut for the car maybe two years ago when I first started drafting ideas up for The A's.

Morning Sun by The Underground Youth (2012) has similarities to Babyshambles' Pipedown and reverbs in a very Velvet Underground-like manner.

As I said, I remember cutting that after watching the video on YouTube, me thinking that the monochrome edit looked brilliant.

(Above) A 24 second animation of Penny Lane - the Home Secretary of the 2030 coalition government.

I created this with two frames, a transition and a part-reverse loop.

Penny - a self-serving politician, is one flawed character.

There's a scene where Penny meets Jenny Mellor in 8 Marquis Gardens - the home of Maureen and John (Mellor).

"Penny Lane - That's a song?" Jenny said, whilst having her head in a book.

"Yes, that's who I was named after," replied Penny.

"I was named after dad's dead girlfriend."

16 June 2025

I was up at 6:50 am but more or less straight into my day job uploading the magazine (as a pdf file) to the printers.

Hopefully, I can get it signed off today.

The Met Office says it's going to be another warm day - hitting 26°c.

The only thing with sunny days is that the make you want to go out. Well they certainly do me. And yesterday was no exception, us having Sunday lunch at The Red Lion.

This week will be a dry one, as Jamie and Lianne go to Cyprus tomorrow morning and Julie is staying at theirs for the week.

I'll throw myself into work and do some cardio.

What happened in the world the other day, may have well altered the storyline of The A's - especially the end.

Not Series 1 - but Series 2, which is seven years into the future, meaning that it takes place from September 2030.

Hit the button.

From a political angle, I can't believe how much I have already got right.

In Series 1, and as you'll hopefully see, Gaynor and her entourage, are very politically astute and through her connections with people who frequent The Hammersmith Vaults, she was encouraged to get more involved - two of whom were an ex-MP by the name of Anthony Percy and his wife - Sarah.

Rather strangely, I've not uploaded an animation of Mr Percy's character yet.

There is a huge story here, and one that I cannot tell as it is one of the many arcs to the storyline.

Throughout Series 1 Mason's gran - Ana Reung, along with Christie Gotleib, help guide Gaynor to where she wants to be and are always there to offer their advice.

15 June 2025

A lay in.

I got up at 7:00 am.

It's Father's Day.

I opened a card from the dog and Julie's taken her through the woods.

It looks like it's going to be a nice day again. According to the Met Office it'll peak at 22°c.

I can do that.

Radio Caroline has just played the Steve Miller Band's Rock 'N Me (1976), the Beach Boys' God Only Knows (1966) and I have a coffee in front of me.

Our Jamie is calling round to have his breakfast around 9:00 am. I think Julie is on about driving down to the care home to see her mum.

I think the A635 is still on a weekend closure for resurfacing works, so it means a drive through Doncaster city centre, High Melton and Barnburgh.

I'll send over the pdf to the printers this afternoon and do some cardio.

I managed 70 minutes yesterday and with it being sunny we went out to the The Red Lion for our tea and took the dog with us.

It was quite interesting as whilst there a quite aggressive Scouse guy came in effing and blinding about his alleged mistreatment over the road at the Queen's Head.

He bought a Guinness put it down on a table and went outside. Within 10 minutes the police were in the car park looking for him.

They arrested him on a charge of Domestic Violence.

He must have clouted his partner over in the pub as the police told me the incident had been caught on CCTV and the pub has cameras everywhere.

14 June 2025

Good morning.

I was up and out through the woods with the dog at 5:00 am.

A lovely morning, with the Met Office stating that it will hit 24°c today with a 50% chance of precipitation around 11:00 am.

For those who don't know, that is a rather pontificating way of saying that there's an even chance that it could sling it down.

I've got to proof an 84 page magazine today, which is without doubt the most mind-numbingly boring part of my job.

As soon as that's done, I'll have a few days to focus on the screenplay for The A's.

I think Julie is on about going to Meadowhall (located off the M1 near Sheffield) with the kids today as they are flying out to Cyprus on Tuesday - therefore, it's a bit of last minute shopping for clothes.

Julie will be stopping at theirs to look after the dogs whilst they are away.

They have three, but Lianne's mum has been tasked with looking after the Border Collie, so its just two.

Yesterday, I managed 90 minutes cardio - which was pointless, as straight after that I had a bath and we went up to The Red Lion. And on coming home we called in at The Tandoori on High Street and picked up a takeaway.

A total waste of a night out.

You think with it being a lovely sunny evening that there would be everyone out, but that is not the case anymore.

The smoking ban killed the pubs and the price of a beer and a large glass of wine can't help.

It may be swings and roundabouts with the price of food in supermarkets over in Cyprus, but it's far cheaper to go out.

Animation. I did a couple of frames with the Pat Marshall character but it doesn't animate very well as it is 2D and the resolution of character asset isn't the best.

In 3D it is, and I am sure that he will look awesome.

Pat has a nice demeanour and is a nice steady character, but one who is bullied by his stepfather. As is his elder brother Sean, which is something that gets said by his son in Series 2.

Music. I listened to Lana Del Rey's Born To Die (2012) with the stand out tracks for me being Blue Jeans and Radio.

I could do with another listen to it really!

Unlike the Bruce Springsteen's and Robert De Niro's of this world, she's an artist who truly actually loves her country.

13 June 2025

Mia polý kalí méra gia esás.

I'm back in Cyprus-mode.

Julie booked our flights out there yesterday evening.

Sunday 29 June.

Therefore, a very good morning to you.

I got up at 6:50 am to an empty house - Julie was on dog walking duty and came back in with her jacket in her hands.

"I should have gone out in a summer dress," she said.

It is quite warm. According to the Met Office it is going to hit 26°c today.

Nice one!

I need to get a haircut and do some cardio today.

Yesterday, I only did 60 minutes as my heart wasn't in it. It is much better doing it on a morning. but at times I see it as just wasting time as the two hours plus it can take - I could be doing other stuff.

Last night I did a bit on the editing of the screenplay, but again, I was just writing for the sake and nothing good was happening.

Sometimes it's like that, but you have to keep on with it, as something always turns up, as different ideas form from the text you have already written.

That's from experience.

I re listened to four albums on the B2 last night.

Babyshambles Down in Albion (2005); Belly's Dove (2018) - both of which I have heard a few times of late; Duran Duran's Decade (1989); and The Pixies Bossanova (1990).

I don't give The Pixies much airplay, which is strange as they were a really good band.

Animation. Opposite is Jenny Mellor messing with the TV remote.

What should be noted is that Gaynor - her mum, is quite strict with her when it comes to what she eats and does and has mega restrictions on her when it comes to TV and the internet - and rightly so.

Everybody else goes against Gaynor's wishes and spoils the hell out of her - not at least her Uncle Pat, who watches Netflix and will call in at McDonald's on the way home and pick up a couple of burgers if he and Angie are sitting her - which, as Series 2 progresses, is often the case.

12 June 2025

Good morning.

And again, what a lovely morning it is.

The Met Office say it will hit 23°c today - but it'll be muggy.

I was up and out through the woods with the dog at 6:00 am.

There were rabbits everywhere. The most I've seen this year.

Radio Caroline played Fastball's The Way, whilst I was having my three or four coffee's.

They are a Texas-based alternative rock band who I can't say I'd heard of before.

Aside of that track, they haven't had any chart success in the UK with that song reaching No. 21 back in 1998.

I have to admit the verses on the lead up to the chorus possess similarities to Tom Jones's Delilah.

I didn't get chance to create any animation yesterday as I was busy with my day job.

I managed 90 minutes cardio and jet washed the patio and washed both mine and Julie's cars (on the rear drive).

The Beast could do with a wash as well, as it is filthy, as being on the front drive it is parked more or less under a silver birch tree, and if it's not covered in sap or seeds, it's bird shit - as the pigeons around the property are a nightmare.

We ate out at The Industry last night. Surf 'n' Turf - fillet steak, prawns, mushrooms and chips.

I have to admit - the food there is awesome.

The animation opposite is of Jenny sat on her bed at Mason and Anita's house doing her homework, with Teddy Edward looking on.

Jenny is unlike most girls her age. Aside of her PlayStation (PS10) she doesn't play with toys as such - as she is more interested in learning. (Her) teddy bear is the exception.

There a couple of nice scenes in Series 2 with Jenny and Teddy Edward - one of them being quite funny.

11 June 2025

I was up and out through the woods with the dog at 5:50 am, and what a lovely morning it is.

According to the Met Office it is going to hit 25°c this afternoon.

Awesome.

Sunny days make everyone feel better.

Yesterday, I got bogged down in work stuff - my day job, so I didn't do anything outside of that, and it being warm and sunny when Julie got in from work, we took the dog out and called at the Red Lion for a couple of drinks and ended up eating there.

Outside of Fish and Chips and fillet steak everything else is a bit meh. I had the former.

What was interesting was that there was a load of people come in - all American, with six of them being Wesleyan Methodist pastors.

The Wesley church is more or less across the road from us, with John Wesley's birth place being the other side of the Red Lion.

I've lived in the town 27 years and have only been inside the church once - and have never been to the house where he was born, so the interest from over in The States is a bit lost on me.

I did mention the grave of Charles Wesley in St Andrews Church - and added that he had penned the Christmas Carol - Hark, The Herald Angels Sing.

I pass that between once and three times a day.

10 June 2025

Good morning.

I was up 5:50 am.

Julie is out through the woods with the dog.

Radio Caroline is on playing Thea Gilmore's Beautiful Day (This Is How You Find the Way).

A good song.

As is Your Strange Love by the New York-based garage band Chesterfield Kings, which they have just played.

It's the first time that I have heard anything by them on any radio station.

I emptied the dishwasher from last nights pots and chucked in the oven trays and shelves - as last night we had fish: Cod steaks, Smoked Haddock and Sea Bass.

And you can tell.

According to the Met Office it's going to be a nice day. 20°c and sunny it says - peaking at 6:00 pm.

What is strange about that forecast is that I'm looking out of the window and it's absolutely hounding it down.

I'll nip out at some point and wash the cars and jet wash the patio and paths as its filthy outside with all the rain that has come down, whilst we were away.

My day job is just about done. I'm just waiting for some stuff signing off and advertisements coming in.

I'll do some cardio this morning.

Yesterday, I did 90 minutes on the cross trainer and slung the five sets of dumbbells around.

The spilt / crack in the cross member of the crosser seems to be getting bigger - and I am sure it will snap within the next week.

Some animation opposite, and a wanky attempt at me trying to get Gaynor on all fours and crawl across the floor to the window.

In Series 1, there was always someone who seemed to be lurking about outside 24A Boelyn Mews.

From female stalkers - to the UK Security Services - to the Human Trafficking division of Scotland Yard - and to Catholic priests wanting answers to some questions... and then there was the police... oh yeah - and Gaynor's mum and her best friend...

"It's mam and Felicity Pike," said Gaynor, whilst peering through the window. "I wonder what they want on a Sunday morning?"

An hour later..

"Aargh.... I can't believe you did that!"

"What?" Mason shrugged.

"Aaagh.... just fucking... Aaagh!"

Gaynor was very melodramatic, if nothing else.

"Do you fancy going somewhere for Sunday lunch," Mason asked.

"Oh, God - Aaagh!" shrieked Gaynor.

"Is that a 'yes' or a 'no'?" Mason asked.

The constant distractions drove Gaynor round the twist!

9 June 2025

Hi ho, hi ho - it's off to work we go.

Seven days off and straight back into it.

Good morning.

I was up at 5:10 am and through the woods with the dog.

Radio Caroline is on playing The Faces' Bad N Ruin and I now have a coffee in front of me.

Yesterday, was a steady day.

I had a clear-out of my study, and tidied the drawers in my desk.

I filled up The Beast - that's of course the dog's car, with an old computer and some cables, optical mice that were blind, along with all the rubbish out of the green and purple bins and ran it down to the recycling-stroke-dumpit site opposite the picnic area on the A161 just outside Belton. That was due to us being in Cyprus and us not asking our Jamie to pull them out

As I was locking up the front gates post-dumping - the poseur that is Jason Thorpe a.k.a Thorpey, pulled up opposite whilst driving his black private-plated Aston Martin.

"Hey, James - where've you been - I've not seen you out in ages?"

I gave him the sobriety speech.

"What - you've stopped drinking?"

"No - just eased up a bit, Jase," I told him. "We did 74 days dry."

After the initial shock he said, "When you're out next - give us a call."

I will.

Jason lost his wife in really unexpected circumstances a few years ago, which knocked the hell out of him - especially as he had a really young lad to bring up on his own.

Jason and my cousin - Tracey (Westcott), who I've used as a character in The A's, were chatting over Facebook just before Christmas.

It's a shame it never went any further as Jason is one of life's nice guys.

On the cardio front I managed 120 minutes (two hours - a 90 minutes and 30), and chucked five sets of dumbbells around.

Music. I played Babyshambles' debut (2005) album Down in Albion - the stand out track being Pipedown.

I also had another listen to Belly's 2018 album - Dove.

That's the album which contains the music on Gaynor's Yoga video - Suffer The Fools, which I've thrown up opposite.

The other great track on it is Mine.

8 June 2025

We were up at 5:00 am.

We are obviously still on Cyprus time!

Julie was out through the woods with the dog, when I got downstairs.

Yesterday was a tiring day.

The journey home was uneventful, which was good and we got in the house around midday.

With the Co-op boycotted indefinitely, I called at D Gravel & Sons grocers and got some salad stuff and Julie picked up some milk when she got back in from picking the dog up from our Jamie and Lianne's.

The dog is always pleased to see us.

I managed 90 minutes cardio and hit the sack around 8:50 pm.

Julie is just debating which way to go to see her mum who is course in the care home, as the main Doncaster to Barnsley thoroughfare - the A635 is on a weekend closure for resurfacing.

Therefore, it means either leaving the A1(M) at Warmsworth to go through Consiborough and Mexborough; or biting the bullet and her making her journey through Doncaster city centre and a drive through Sprotborough and High Melton.

It makes the 32 miles from A-to-B a much longer journey

Anyway, let's see what today brings.

7 June 2025

An early good morning.

It is 1:06 am. The taxi picks us up at 2:00 am.

A long day ahead.

Travelling back is a bind.

I'll drink my coffee, have a shower and pack up my laptop.

Julie is just emptying the fridge of perishables - namely the milk and mortadella ham.

It's been a productive week. The beginning of Series 2 is now flowing much better, so much so, I will have to alter / rearrange the Episodes, which is something that always happens.

Right. I'm knocking off.

See you in Larnaca Airport.

---

It's 4:21 am.

We are in the Skala Lounge in the airport.

I've had two double Macchiato's and a bottle of tonic water.

They generally fetch the bacon, eggs and mushroom's etc. out around five o'clock.

There's a table more or less opposite which had five Russian's on it - two men and three women. Two of the women have since moved to a different table as the other three are knocking back the vodka's, clinking glasses and becoming quite loud.

The Yereven flight is 10 minutes before ours, so I'm assuming that's where they are destined for there.

I've just chucked up three animations that I did the other week.

I'll put some fresh ones up tomorrow.

These are long days!

6 June 2025

Mia polý kalí méra gia esás.

A very good morning to you... in Greek.

I was up at 5:40 am (+2 GMT) and the door is open. We are due another hot one.

It was 40°c yesterday.

I have my strong coffee in front of me - Nescafe Cap Columbia. For some strange reason, the UK supermarkets don't seem to stock it anymore, which is a shame as in my humble opinion, it's slightly better than Alta Rica.

We didn't get to the north, yesterday, as we got doing other stuff and the FTO decided not to start outside Litsas supermarket in Vrysoulles - the same place as it decided not to do the same thing last month.

Just clicking, on me turning over the ignition.

I got underneath it just to make sure that the new starter motor had been fitted - and everything looked okay.

I got back in the car and put the key in again and it started.

This was doing my head in.

I drove us to Nikos - the auto electrician who fitted the starter motor, and he stuck the diagnostics on the electrics.

"Your battery is three years old and it is too small to power a car with an engine of this size," he said.

It is a V6 - two-litre engine - and the battery is only 45 amps.

We drive the car possibly 10 weeks out of the 52 and the heat over here from May to October is intense.

These are both contributing factors in battery deterioration - especially the non driving of the car.

I am aware of the latter, as I had the same problem with my 5.0 Jaguar at home, as I only drive that sporadically - and I only bought a new battery for it before Christmas.

The second one in four years.

So, today, and to try a process of elimination, we are having a 60 amp battery and new terminals fitted.

As my dad said to me many years ago, and as I have said prior, having a car is like having another woman.

Fucking expensive!

In other news, our planning application PA/2025/639 was approved by North Lincolnshire Council for the removal of the four trees from our front garden - thank God.

As soon as they are gone we can have a new lawn put down.

Animation. Opposite is Jenny Mellor. Gaynor and Mason's little girl.

Some more background on the Jenny character, without giving too much away...

At school, and due to her hereditary inordinate I.Q., she is moved up three years - and even then she was way in front of the other kids. However... and this is a big however.

From a maturity stance, there is still that age gap, which makes her character quite funny - especially as she takes in everything the bigger girls say to her and continually relays gossip to her Granny Maureen, who more often than not, picks her up and drops her off at school.

Granny Maureen is totally hooked.

As you will hopefully find out, Jenny and Granny Maureen have very similar mannerism's and traits.

5 June 2025

Good morning.

I was up at 5:10 am (+2 GMT).

I have my first coffee of the day in front of me - a Nescafe Alta Rica, and the door is open - however, there's no sun as yet, as it's just getting light.

The sun rises from the south around six o'clock.

As the crow flies we are just over 200 miles from Port Said in Egypt and 100 miles from Beirut in the Lebanon - so they get the sun a bit earlier than we do.

Yesterday, was another hot day. Today will be more of the same.

I did a bit of writing in the morning, before breaking off to go pay the car insurance, and call in to Lidl on April Avenue - the latter of which was just to stock up with water.

Today, we are on about going over the border into Northern (Turkish occupied) Cyprus.

It used to be okay to nip over the border as everything is cheaper over there - especially fake goods such as branded clothes, handbags, purses, watches etc. I even remember buying a white flannel suit for Omar's wedding in Bangladesh back in 2008.

I thought it would look the bollocks.

It most certainly didn't.

I wore it once and it ended up in a black sack destined for the North Lindsey Hospice (Charity) Shop.

There's probably some Somalian immigrant wearing it now and parading up and down Scunthorpe's Frodingham Road, thinking that he's James Bond.

Nowadays, customs tend to seize any fake goods.

Animation. Opposite is Jenny Mellor on a swing.

4 June 2025

It's 4:15 am (+2 GMT).

I couldn't sleep. Overactive mind.

I've been up two hours editing the screenplay.

Series 2 - Episode 2.

Jenny is the star.

One hundred miles an hour, very manipulative, very inquisitive, very melodramatic, and she says it how it is.

And like her father, she also has a ultra-high I.Q.

I've written it and it even has me shaking my head smiling.

As I often say - I do hope I can put it over.

The story is a series of arcs.

I just have to make all these arcs flow.

Yesterday, we did a bit of walking. After dropping the FTO off and walking back to Levanda Hills in Agia Triada - and three hours later walking back up for it.

And by up - I mean up, and the hill that is Protaras Avenue.

A nice hike if it hadn't been so hot. By the end of the week I'm told it's going to hit 40°c.

Anyway, €50 for the new starter motor fitting.

We took it to a different auto electrician this time - and one that Chris at Empire Car Rentals swears by.

I hosed around the side of the house yesterday and washed the car for the second time in as many days. I didn't mind doing it as it gave me a chance to listen to some music on the headphones.

We also ate in last night, as we had some stuff in the freezer that needed eating.

Originally it was fresh Ravioli and Tortellini.

I chucked three tins of tomatoes and some garlic in the blender, slung it in hat is a really big stainless steel pot, added some mascarpone cheese, sliced up some ham and cooked it until the pasta was done.

I have to have some green stuff today.

3 June 2025

It is 6:00 am (+2 GMT) - meaning it is 4:00 am in the UK.

The door is open, and the sun's just coming up over the Mediterranean.

Today - apart from dropping the car off around 9:00 am for the new starter motor fitting, I will be working on the screenplay.

Series 2.

The main story flows - but not how I'd like it to.

Yesterday, was a nice day.

We called in at Kókkinos supermarket on April Avenue in Paralimni.

Kókkinos is one of the original Cypriot supermarkets that was here when we first got a place in Cyprus in 2001.

Bar a bit of modernisation, it hasn't changed that much - however, Lidl planting a few supermarkets in every town has made them up their game a little.

In Greek, Kókkinos means - red.

Julie wanted to get some stuff in for Jamie and Lianne when they get here on the 17th.

Jamie is in training - bodybuilding towards competition next year, and part of that is his diet. We got him some frozen blueberries in on Sunday, and yesterday - Julie threw some almond milk and honey in the trolley.

As for Lianne - and due to a skin allergy, she can only use Sanex shower gel. Therefore, Julie got her three.

Do we spoil them? Er - yes.

Whilst there, Julie fancied a cantaloupe melon, so we picked up one.

A tip, here - if you don't know.

Never buy an overripe one.

Why?

Because it has a distinct taste of acetone - nail varnish remover.

This one didn't, as after it was weighed, the guy stuck a €5.50 sticker on it.

I immediately put it back where it came from.

The guy weighing it was fucking about, trying for it not to roll around on the weigh scales, and was holding it in place by pressing down on it, and the price tag he stuck on it made out that it weighed well over two kilos.

That definitely wasn't the case.

Some thing's never change!

We slummed it for tea and called at the takeaway next to the Magazaki restaurant. Delicious Food it's called.

Delicious in that aside of kebab's - it doesn't serve any Cypriot food i.e. Stifado (A stew that is made with beef or rabbit); Dolmades / Koupepia (Stuffed vine leaves); Keftedes (Meatballs); Afelia (Pork marinated in red wine); and Kleftiko (Slow-cooked lamb or goat and potatoes).

Cypriot food isn't bad - just bland.

I had a cheeseburger with egg and a side order of chips.

That burger was probably the best one I've ever had.

Very tasty. And it didn't fall apart.

Music. We have had DeeJay 95 playing on the radio and a song was played by the Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. which was okay.

I don't know much about them and I didn't catch its title - therefore, I nipped on the internet to have a listen to them. I only did a short trawl and immediately copped a load of ethnic drivel. Rap with a silent C.

Sometimes you just get a band or singer that does one good song - the rest being shit.

The Mekons (Mudcrawlers) are a case in point. Louise Distras (The Girl in the Mirror) - the same.

I've not written off 'D.C - as every band that I've ever listened to have churned out some garbage.

But as I have always said - one person's caviar is another person's fish eggs.

2 June 2025

Mia polý kalí méra gia esás.

That is Greek for a very good morning to you.

Note the kalí méra in the middle which if you put it together means good morning.

Mia polý means - a very; and gia esás means - for you, but when put together in the overall sentence it means - to you.

Can I speak Greek? Absolutely not.

I got a bit intense with it a year or so ago and it did Julie's head in. Just about everybody over here can speak English anyway. And they drive on the right side of the road!

It's 7:00 am (+2 GMT).

The doors is open and the sun is out.

It is glorious.

Hopefully, today is as nice as yesterday.

Yesterday, we had our tea at the bar on Agia Trias beach, which is a five-to-ten minute walk from the house or 60 seconds if you're in a car.

We shared a Feta Salad and I had baby squid whilst Julie had lamb chops.

As for the beach - with it being Sunday it was quite full.

Earlier, we went shopping.

Just as at home, we are always well-stocked for everything. My O.C.D as Julie calls it.

How bad is it?

We have a cupboard which is full of Domestos bleach on the bottom shelf and Fairy Liquid on the top.

10 rows - eight deep = 80 bottles of bleach.

I'm the same with the Washing powder (liquid really), softener, kitchen roll, toilet rolls, tins, the tea, coffee, condiments, aluminum trays, zipper bags, tin foil, shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, dog meat and water (sparking and still) - the latter of which is stacked six foot high in the utility room. The list is endless. And the freezer is always rammed. There must be twenty or thirty rump steaks in there.

The house over here is no different - although with it being much smaller - we don't have the space for me to go full-on.

As a kid, our cupboards and fridge were always bare as my parents gave preference to wasting money on cigarettes and their own personal bullshit.

Hence, why I am how I am.

My family have always come first... and I loathe cigarettes.

No idea what we are on with today - although that new starter motor wants fitting and the car insurance paying - so that will need doing.

Yesterday, I went through the first episode of Series 2 trying to smooth it out.

It's a very upsetting episode in part. I just hope I can put that over.

Animation. Opposite is a music video of Gaynor in thought.

As I've already said - the treadmill that was left in 11 Marquis Gardens helped give Gaynor some sanity as when she arrived back in West London she was overweight and unhappy.

1 June 2025

Kaliméra.

It is 6:10 am (+2 GMT).

The backdoor is open and the sun is out.

I'm at the kitchen table on my laptop, which yesterday morning survived a bang.

Whilst carting the carry-on case and my rucksack down the three flights of stairs from the priority lounge into the Terminal, the handle of the case broke and the rucksack with the laptop and external hard drive in it detached itself, and fell on the floor.

Thankfully, none broke.

That's not always the case, as one time in Larnaca Airport, customs decided to open my laptop and the heavy-handed shit-for-brains dickhead that was the customs officer tried opening it from the back and cracked the screen.

Airports. The most annoying places in the world.

Julie often tells me: "You're like a dog that needs socialising - you have no patience."

What is strange about that comment, is that when she sometimes watches me putting the magazine together - dropping in intricate details, cropping photos, editing down and aligning text etc., she will say the exact opposite.

We got to the house just before 6:00 pm (+2 GMT) which means from getting up to getting here it was 13 hours.

We drove up to Vrysoulles to find Fosis Coffee Shop quite full, with a few characters knocking about.

Marios is probably the biggest. A once-renowned drug dealer and once part-owner of The Travellers lap dancing club in Ayia Napa.

He's quietened down a lot over the years and become a family man.

The Man With One Eye was in too. We call him that as he has... you know - one eye. He lost it in a shotgun accident.

As I was in a chopstick mood, we then nipped into Ayia Napa to eat at The Red Ruby, where at 8:45 pm it was getting a bit mad.

Julie had Indian, and me - a Chinese. Chicken Chow Mein and Salt and Pepper Prawns - the latter of which was again, undercooked.

That is getting to be very annoying as the last few times it has been the same.

The original south-eastern Asian chef's who helped build the business left a while ago, and the place is just running on fumes, so to speak.

I could offer insight, but whilst they are making money, nobody would listen. As soon as that money stops, that's when they do - as in the case of Omar at the Curry Leaf.

"It's the same chef's, James," is what he told me, after he'd heard we had been calling in at the Imperial Mahal in Scunthorpe.

I wasn't so sure about that, as the food had got very bland. I thought it was because of the fact that I'd stopped drinking, that I could tell a difference.

Julie said not. Big Scott had said not. Broken Arm Sue had said not. All regulars - all big spenders.

I told him. "I'll always come in. If you only served chips and sausage, I'd still be coming in."

We'd only gone to the other Indian restaurant because I didn't know if I could have gone in the Curry Leaf and not have a drink.

Since I mentioned it, however - I've not had a bad curry.

Omar is a good mate. 100 miles an hour.

Right. I'll generate some new animation this week, but as of now, I'll be doing what I like best - writing.

NO PART OF THIS WEBSITE MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS.

© JAMES DUROSE-RAYNER 2025