It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

The wisdom of Seneca.

(WHAT has the world come to when I search for an image of a perfectly good Roman Stoic philosopher of the First Century BC and I get THIS?)  I haven't even seen The Hunger Games...


Anyway...


The thought about things being difficult (or not) came to my mind this morning when my friend Serena asked if I'd like a ride on her pony, Ripple, another Connemara, aged 26, and with immaculate behaviour (apart from when he sees the ghost in the Leylandii hedge.)

Ripple Gillard-Hickman

I was wearing wellies and jeans (oooh, how painful the seams are!) but he went perfectly. I only had to THINK, let's turn left here, or let's jump over this wall and he did...no fuss. Then Peter (a non-rider) got on and Ripple cantered sweetly up the hill and things went very well until the saddle swivelled round under his belly with Peter's considerable weight when they were turning a corner. It wasn't a REAL fall...


What a contrast to riding either Poppy or Alfie!


The thing is...

It made me realise just how challenging my two horses are. And that I must be a pretty good rider with all the training they've given me. And that while it was a wonderful experience to float around on an obedient pony with no vices, I think I might eventually get bored. And that I wouldn't swap Alfie and Poppy, and all the highs and lows, and all the excitements and thrills, and all the tears and laughter...and cuddles...

...FOR THE WORLD!

“If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind.”

...said Kurt Vonnegut. As a writer, his work blends 'satire, gallows humour and science fiction.'

Satire, fine. Gallows humour...my favourite sort. Or one of them.

 Science fiction? Not my favourite genre when science fiction means Star Trek but Blade Runner...yes please, give me more.

The fact of the matter is, that a blend of satire, gallows humour and sci-fi WORKS.

Here is my latest commission:

A story for an animation series and accompanying book, in the style of Family Guy, that is for 6-8 year old children with the aim of encouraging social responsibility and good citizenship.

I had actually seen some excerpts of Family Guy - but I checked, just in case. I also sought the advice of other people.

Here is a sample of their opinions:

"think intellectually crude humor."

"Teenage guys watch it. It makes a lot of non sequitur and reference jokes, as well as using shock humour, occasionally attempting and failing to be satirical. South Park aims slightly higher."

"There are moments in Family Guy that are so politically and socially incorrect, I wonder how it gets on TV."

And this last one rather sums up the enormity of the task:

"That's like trying to write an animated Disney film in the style of a porno movie."

...or not, as the case might be.

I don't DO half-assed jobs. I always said I liked a challenge.