56. Pennywise Ate My Homework

The Case of the Missing Module

Hello, friend - hope you’ve had a great week!

It’s been freezing where I am in the Jenniverse - meaning it’s been below 20 degrees and my nose is cold.

Dear reader, as you’re considered both cool AND hot stuff, you’re probably pretty good at regulating your own temperature all year round.

I’ve had to unbox all my old jumpers, and try to remember which ones are the scratchy ones and which ones are too small (i.e. went through the dryer and died). I’ll put all of those ones back in the cupboard as a surprise for next year. It’s the circle of life.

I did Google “when is winter” and apparently it’s now, which is good. This means I’m not having some sort of ‘episode’ and turning into Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Mr Freeze’ from the 1997 movie “Batman & Robin”. It was touch and go for a second that I was.

If you’re looking for ways to ensure that my fingers are warm enough to keep sketching, click on the button below to shout me a hot beverage. We can share a coffee with the money you give me. And by ‘share’ I mean I’ll drink it - the coffee, not the money. Ok, I might buy a book. But then I’ll tell you about the book. Ipsowarmo = synergy.

Fishbird Catch of the Week

I publish articles twice a week on the Fishbird Central website - every Wednesday and Saturday! This week’s included:

• Nothing

  • Ok, so hear me out. This Wednesday I didn’t post anything on Fishbird. I’m probably fired. But in my defence I was using my brain for other things and didn’t want to do this thing. It’s haunted me like a one-eyed crow for the last few days, so in return for nobody noticing - here’s an old sketch I did of Poirot when I first started playing with continuous-line drawing. His eyes wig me out, so there’s also that. And now I want to know more about that crow - this is turning into a whole thing.

But wait! We did do Saturday’s post! Callooh! Callay! She chortled in her joy.

• Draw Draw Draw! June Week 2, 2025!

  • In this post we celebrate the fact that we’re still making art each day and have penned a few little haiku's. There are also some companion bookmarks for each of our characters - ooh, aah! Everyone loves to read - even sketchy birds, cats and alien horrors that live in the drain! Looking at you, Pennywise!

Check out the latest post here - Draw Draw Draw! June Week 2, 2025!

A little haiku from Pennywise to you:

Even the nightmares
Under your bed need good books.
Penny dreadfuls, please.

Your Mistakes are Glorious - Make More of Them

I’ve just finished watching Season 4 of ‘Clarksons Farm’ and while the second-hand stress of watching Clarkson try to run a farm and start up a new pub gives me hives - it reminds me how valuable it is to make mistakes.

It’s the missteps in life that make you marvellous. Jeremy is a hoot because he tries and fails, and then tries and fails again - but then wins! Nope, fake news, it’s another failure. But it’s the failure that makes it relatable and it’s the good humour that makes you cheer him on.

Winning is all well and good - but I want to know where the bones are buried. How many revisions of your novel did you have to do before you realised you’d forgotten to add in your main character? How many years did it take you to become an ‘overnight sensation’?

All the half-started messy magical mistakes mean that you’re curious. Who knows when you’ll stumble onto the idea or project that will be the winner. Anyway, here’s a little sketchy Gerald Cooper (one of the Clarkson crew) who doesn’t make a lot of sense, but seems to have a kind heart.

Quick Fire Wrap Up

Currently Reading: ‘The Nice Guys’ by Charles Ardai. This is the Hard Case Crime novelisation of a comedic detective thriller movie starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, a down-on-his-luck private eye Holland March and hired enforcer Jackson Healy work together to solve the case of a missing girl and the seemingly unrelated death of an adult film star.

Currently Watching: ‘Sherlock and Daughter’ Season One on SBS. Sherlock Holmes teams up with a young American girl to solve a global conspiracy, crack her mother's murder and find out for sure if she really is Sherlock's daughter. Stars David Thewlis as Sherlock.

Currently Singing Along To: ‘Angel’ by First Aid Kit. ‘… What has jealousy and hate ever done for you - but remind you of what you think you lack? So, give me love and give me compassion, self-forgiveness and give me some passion. I'll love you even if you don't love me. I'll love you even if you can't love me.’

Wishes for the Week

Keep your nose warm, your ‘kerchiefs clean and your chins up.

Nothing shines brighter in this world than you, my friend. That hair! Those eyes! That ability to function like a human even when its chilly out and any sane person would prefer to be in bed! What an absolute star you are!

A small side quest for you this week. See if you can include the word ‘turnip’ at least once in the majority of your meetings. It’s how angels get their wings and will likely get you some kind of voucher.

Stay cool, punks.

‘Baby, it’s cold outside - so run your air conditioner 24/7. It’ll cost a bomb, but you’ll be able to feel your feet.’ - Tom Jones (probably)

Jen x

P.S. I made you a mixtape! There’s a Fishbird Central Substack playlist on Spotify, with all the songs we feature in our Substack Newsie! Now that’s a turnip!