I'm Dave Walker*

Dave Walker writes the imressive Cartoon Church blog and is also currently cartoonist in residence at the Lambeth Conference.

Over the last while, he has been scrupulously (and scrupulously fairly) accounting the goings on at the SPCK / SSG bookshops, since SPCK decided to divest itself of its historic bookshop chain. This has included researched news stories, reports from the ground, and even responses from the more recent operators of the bookshop chain. For some background on the story, have a look here.

Yesterday, Dave posted a blog entry containing the following text:

"This morning I was sent a ‘cease and desist’ demand from Mark Brewer relating
to the posts I have made about the former SPCK bookshops. The demand says
‘Confidential - not to be redistributed or posted’, so I am not posting the
text.

The demand says that if I do not remove all SSG-related material by
noon today, July 22, 2008, an injunction will be sought against me and legal
action taken for damages for libel.

I have therefore removed all of the SPCK/SSG posts on this blog, as, although I believe I have not done anything wrong I do not have the money to face a legal battle. The removal of these posts is in no way an admission of guilt.

To say I am not happy about the decision I have been forced to take here is an understatement. I feel as if I have let many people down who have relied on this site over the last year or more.

I am not allowing comments on this post, though I can be contacted as usual. I
cannot of course stop you writing about this elsewhere."

Today, even that meagre entry has been removed.



Dave used to have a nice little cartoon on his front page saying "Save the S.P.C.K": I think it may be time for a "Save the cartoon church".




*for some of you, a reference to Monty Python. for others, Spartacus.

Dolphins make me cry*

A new story about the Mekong River Dolphins that we went to see in Kratie. They're still endangered and there are still efforts being made to save them.

* A song by Martyn Joseph. It's not bad.

Alright, I take it back

Recruitment consultant just phoned: the NHS are looking for someone to do all the things I'm Really Quite Good At.

fingers crossed......

What to do?

So many jobs being advertised out there, so little belief that any of them will be worth doing*, or even enjoyable.

There is no point even looking for jobs yet, as I couldn't start a new one until after Greenbelt, which is nearly two months away. Plus, my short term contract could well extend beyond the official end date, if I manage to make myself indispensable/work slowly. This is not a thrilling prospect, but actually I could do worse.

I could have a job working for a charity, if I could move to London, but that requires Husband to do the same, and also means leaving Manchester, which a number of people have been kind enough to request me not to do. Besides, it's working for a charity which sends people abroad to do short term missions, and that's environmentally bad. I think. But anti-poverty good. Damn these ethical conundrums.

The trouble is, going to an interview only leaves me with the impression that the new job will probably be uninteresting and require working with people I don't like. The only way to find out is to try it, and I don't want to end up stuck in a job I wish I hadn't taken.

I'm jaded, I'm cynical, and I'm not even 30 yet. Pants.



* ie will somehow indefinably make the world a better place, eg working for the NHS, or a charity, or a company that makes environmentally friendly products. Or organises puppies for sick kiddies. Or something.