The Thoughts and Ramblings of Kitty Wake

I’m currently writing what I hope to be a graphic novel. Well that was the intention anyway. I had the ideas and images designed in my head already so started to put the story down on paper. What I’d intended to be 6 to 8 pages of basic notes has kind of gotten away from me a little. So far I’m on about 30 pages of A4 and that’s just the story set-up! I know it’ll need some editing and finesse-ing but I’m seeing this project taking a lot more time than I thought. It may end up as a book.

It’s been a long time since I’ve done any creative writing, probably not since the piece for Garden Funnies which was only a short children’s comic about rabbit detectives searching for lost carrots. I enjoy making up stories and working through them in my brain-hole when I’m bored or painting the fence or some other monotonous task and this is one of those stories.  I’m not sure that it will turn out to be anything special, or whether anyone other than me will even like it!

It’s a little frightening when you show someone something you’ve written, it’s not quite like drawing a picture because you can see how it looks and can tell if it’s shit or not. But with writing it’s more subjective. I can read what I’ve written and straight away I get the tone and pace but someone else might read it and think it’s sarcastic, slow or, worst of all, dull. Criticism, no matter how well intentioned, can cause me stop in my tracks and continue no further because I feel stupid. What possessed me to think I was any good at writing a narrative, and why did I think anyone would even WANT to read my pile of shit? I cry! I find with writing it’s incredibly personal, you’re opening up a part of yourself that people may never have seen before, or even knew existed (and honestly probably don’t really care that much about). So it can come as a blow if someone doesn’t like your stuff. I guess this is why I’ve started a blog, ease myself in gently and get used to people picking my writing apart. 

So when it gets under way I may post bits and pieces and see what people think.  And if my writing fails at least I have a great illustrator to carry my weak story!

It’s been difficult to ignore what’s been happening in our cities this week and it’s been even harder to pretend to understand why it’s happening. At first I was sympathetic, the initial riot was born out of anger at the killing of a man by the police seemingly without cause. This then quickly metamorphosed into anger and frustration at the “powers that be” for the state of the country’s finances and the escalating recession. I can understand that and I will defend anyone’s right to speak out at injustice and inequality. But what I can’t condone, and will never support is wanton violence brought on by abject greed.

The images that have been flashing across our TV screens and adorning the front pages of newspapers are truly disgusting. These people are rioting for the express reasons to steal, destroy property and attack anyone who isn’t part of the mob. They’re destroying lives by ransacking shops, burning down businesses and the dwellings above. These aren’t just the faceless big corporations of Debenhams and Miss Selfridge they’re attacking, but independent retailers who’ve spent their lives working hard to provide for themselves and their family. They’re violating the communities they themselves live in which shows just how truly wicked they are.

Some have tried to rationalise their behaviour in that they’re acting out because “the system” has let them down. They’ve got nowhere to go and nothing to do. But a lot of teenagers feel like that now and in recent history, but they either got a hobby or got a job. It’s another excuse to pass blame and not to accept that the responsibility lies with them. If I didn’t pass an exam, I didn’t blame the teachers that taught me, nor the school I went to, I blamed myself for not trying hard enough or revising long enough. And if I can’t afford something, I don’t go and steal it, I save up for it. If these looters were truly looting because they were poor, they’d be stealing food and essential items, but they’re not. The images we’re seeing are of kids carrying as many DVD players, flat screen telly’s and designer apparel as they can carry. It’s greed and avarice driving these people, not social activism or a political stance. It’s madness and mayhem akin to the film The Warriors!

I’ve always been a supporter of the police and now more than ever. This is a situation most decent people never thought would happen so no one planned for it. So of course the police are a little unprepared, making it up as they go along in some cases. They’re being accused of not being tough enough but when they do act more aggressively they get accused of being too heavy handed! They just can’t win. I believe they’re handling a unique situation to the best of their abilities and I don’t blame them for not chasing more of the yobs down because they’re then putting themselves into harms way.  Police and members of the public have been openly attacked on the streets by gangs and some of the mob are carrying weapons, so why should they? A lot of the public don’t appreciate what they’re doing and just shout abuse and complaints at them. How would you feel if you were at your place of work being shouted at and complained at by the people you’re trying to work for? You’d walk. But these brave men and women don’t, they put themselves in harms way every day for us. What would this situation be like now if the police weren’t there, doing all they can? Think on that.

No this isn’t a post swooning over 90’s pop sensation Boyz 2 Men, it’s my treatise on my favourite thing, swearing.

I love to swear. It always makes a joke funnier, an anecdote naughtier and a song way cool. It has the power to diffuse a tense situation, convey true feeling and make confrontation more exciting. It’s also fun!

I try not to swear too much at work as I know it’s just not the appropriate thing to do, unless of course dealing with the fallout of someone’s total and utter idiocy, then I think it’s acceptable and can lighten the mood quite nicely. It always makes people laugh when I do so I know I’m doing it right.

I do like to swear the rest of the time, but get me drunk and I’ll turn the air blue in mere seconds given the right subject to extol upon. I swear like a docker with Tourettes. I don’t really have any swears that are taboo either, each one is equal in my expletive armoury. I think we’ve successfully reclaimed the dreaded “C” word (although my Mam thinks the “C” word is Cack!), I’m hearing it more and more on TV and in films but it still gives that naughty pleasure when hearing it. I still get a good reaction when I use it too though, mostly from big burly blokes who seem to be a little taken aback that a “woman” said it. Take that establishment, I don’t follow your old fashioned stereotypes!

I do have to confess though, I still don’t really swear in front of my parents. I might drop a few PG13 swears if they’re a little bit tiddly but otherwise they’re off limits. I can play the shining paragon of virtue when I need to you know.

So I’m a potty mouth and proud of it!