Comic archivist Alan Clark has a two-book set out now devoted to interwar British comics, delivering another invaluable resource and fascinating read

Comic archivist Alan Clark has been busy again, with not one but two new books recently released, Comic Papers Between the Wars now available as a two-item set. Both books are, as ever, an absolute delight and essential resource, not only offering a potted history of various publishers of the period, but fascinating profiles of comic creators of the day, such as Fred Cordwell, Albert Lock, Reg…

On Saturday, 7th March we moved back into our house and then it hit me, the Gap Year is really over!

It’s taken me a day or two to write this blog, because it’s the final acceptance that the Gap Year is finished. The Year started for me on the 25th March 2014, when I got into a truck to go and collect the boat from Albert Lock on the Shannon and head for Dover in England.  I have been on the journey for just seventeen days short of a full year.

We treated ourselves to lunch looking out at the sea

I am both happy and sad at the same time. Happy to be back among old friends and family- that we achieved our goals, nobody can ever take it away from us that we motored our own boat up the Seine in Paris or the Spree River in Berlin- for the wonderful experiences we have had, new friends we made and the wonderful places we have seen in France and Germany.

Sad that the experience is over and that a magical ‘year off’ in my life has finished. However, having said that, for Nuala and I, it’s the start of the next chapter of our lives and we are both looking forward to applying all we have learned during our Gap Year and taking on new opportunities.

The view from our bedroom window- great weather our first day home

If any of you out there are thinking about taking on a new challenge or living your dream, I can only encourage you to take the plunge and do it.

Life is too short for regrets. However, make sure you plan it out carefully before you jump. We did and it paid off time and time again and we had a fun filled safe year.

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The boat arrives in Dover England at the start of the Gap Year

Our Tenants Cait, Paddy and Frankie left us a thanks you card and presents

Unloading the car at the house