I can’t think of a nicer way to spread cheer and to end the year than mentioning an old chum from my childhood.
Stuart Vallantine (can tell you himself) that he hasn’t always had an easy ride in life. A few years younger than me, this wonderful lad first presented himself to the world as a bit of an unusual wee dude. Stuart lived around the corner from me and I spent many an hour in church, trying to keep a lid on the enthusiastic little boy’s outbursts during really dull sermons. He used to hook onto something said by the minister and then start reciting adverts from the telly that used the same word or terminology. Great fun to be around – as he really annoyed old ladies who took the Old Testament just a tad bit too seriously and who failed to appreciate the nuances of British Telecom commercials.
Anyway. The merry / melancholic season just isn’t the same unless I received a hand-drawn card by Stu (no pressure there, our kid.) So I wanted to nudge you towards his story and his website. 
Stuart hardly needs more followers; he is probably the most successful, proudly autistic-blogger in the UK. But if you *do* want to find out a bit more about Stuart, his life, his artwork, his politics, Stalybridge Celtic, 70’s and 80’s pop, his writing and poetry, plus the public transport history of the Mancunian area – then please, put your feet up and check out his blog.
Oh. And the ‘font’ bit? Stuart is an expert on fonts. He really is a national treasure.
So where’s his ruddy OBE then? I’m sure Stuart would have an interesting political answer for that one.
Have a great 2017 and go see https://mancunian1001.wordpress.com/
