Dear George,
I wish that you hadn't been so right about everything.
Love from,
Marine Mammal
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE ORWELL - Doodle No.00025
in DOODLES
THINK AGAIN - Doodle No.00024
in DOODLES
King Edward II’s army returned for another scrap with Robert the Brice on the 24th June 1314. Most medieval battles only lasted a couple of hours, so this was a big one.
The Scots notched a decisive victory and Robert The Bruce became the de facto king of Scotland.
The battle of Bannockburn is referenced in Flower Of Scotland, written in the mid 1960’s by Scottish folk band, The Corries. The song is regularly used as the Scottish national anthem.
O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
To think again.
I went to a Scotland rugby game with my dad during the 2015 World Cup. We played up our anglicised caledonian ancestry with navy tops. England had lost to Wales the night before and all the Scottish fans were vocally very happy.
We were quietly devastated.
Scotland comfortably beat USA but drew more pleasure from England’s defeat than they did their own victory. Flower of Scotland echoed around the stadium for most of the game.
Scottish crowds often add a few extra lines to their anthem. Most notably, ‘WANKERS!’, which is shouted after the words, ‘Proud Edward’s Army’. An intimidating reference to the English that’s difficult to hear when you’re watching a game on television, but disconcertingly clear when you’re sitting in the stands.
I felt amused. I felt stirred. I felt terrified.
Most of all, I felt humbled by the quality of Roy Willamson’s songwriting.
PROUD EDWARD'S ARMY - Doodle No.00023
in DOODLES
Back in 1313, the Scots were revolting. Robert the Bruce was leading the First War of Scottish Independence and Edward II was absolutely sick of it. He marched north to sort ‘em out.
On 23rd June 1314 an English cavalry bumped into the Scottish king. He faced Henry de Bohun, an English nobleman, in single combat. After smashing Henry’s head open with an axe, Rob’s army charged at the English forces who retreated across the Bannock Burn; a small stream in central Scotland. The battle of Bannockburn followed.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
WINDRUSH DAY - Doodle No.00022
in DOODLES
Dear Windrush Generation,
Thank you for helping to rebuild the UK’s economy after the second world war.
Much appreciated,
Marine Mammal
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY - Doodle No.00021
in DOODLES
It’s Fathers Day in the UK, so I’ve spelled out today’s message with objects that remind me of my dad. I’ll walk you through it:
H - I never got into football as a kid. I preferred rugby. I didn’t play for long, but started following the premiership a few years when we bought Saracens season tickets.
A - When I was a teenager, we joined a Yacht club together. We weren’t very good at it, but it was fun to potter about in a lake every weekend.
P - My pop’s a talented cartoonist. I’ve inherited his interest in drawing.
P - He’s retired now, but my dad always had tie-wearing jobs. His hard work has my life easier and I’m grateful.
Y - Y chromosome. I definitely inherited that from him.
F - He’s got a good DIY mindset, my old man, and a garage full of tools.
A - We used to go camping every year when I was a kid, and my dad would always bring a ball of string with him. It often came in useful actually.
T - When I was studying graphic design at GCSE, my dad made me a t-square and drawing board, which was really nice of him. Being a teenager, I swung the t-square around like an axe more often than I drew with it.
H - Me and my older sister played with lego a lot as children. Most of the blocks in our collection were the same one my dad played with when he was young.
E - He’s a big ol’ boy scout who carries a penknife.
R S - I was struggling to think of things by this point so rolled two letters into one object. My dad used to make a lot of jewellery. Never an ‘R’ necklace specifically, but I needed the letter.
DAY - I’d given up on letter-looking objects completely by this point, so just lobbed the word ‘day’ onto the spine of a book. There was a bookcase in almost every room of the house when I was growing up. Books are important. My dad taught me that.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
JUNE SOLSTICE - Doodle No.00020
in DOODLES
Summer solstice means that one of the Earth's poles has reached its maximum tilt toward the Sun. For the Northern Hemisphere, this happens in June. In England, groups have celebrated the event at Stonehenge for thousands of years.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
JUNETEENTH - Doodle No.00019
in DOODLES
On this day in 1865, enslaved African Americans were informed of their liberation.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
CRATER CREATION - Doodle No.00018
in DOODLES
My spelling ain’t crate!! I spelled crater wrong twice in this doodle.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
GUILLOTINE - Doodle No.00017
in DOODLES
The last bloke to have their head publicly whopped off in France was Eugen Weidmann. The crowds reaction prompted the president ban public executions immediately. Someone filmed the event from their apartment and a 17 year old Christopher Lee was in the crowd.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TUPAC - Doodle No.00016
in DOODLES
Appy Birfday M8!!! Dunno what you’re up to these days but hope you’re having a nice time wherever you are.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY - Doodle No.00015
in DOODLES
Dear Reader,
Please don’t abuse the elderly.
Yours Sincerely,
Marine Mammal
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY - Doodle No.00014
in DOODLES
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTO AND JEAN-CLAUD - Doodle No.00013
in DOODLES
Famous for wrapping big stuff in plastic, this husband and wife made art together for over 50 years. A partnership that ended with Jean-Claud’s death in 2009. Both were born on the same day; the 13th June 1935. Christo died earlier this year.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
WORLD AGAINST CHILD LABOUR DAY - Doodle No.00012
in DOODLES
I’ve given my infant workforce a half-day to celebrate.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
CORPUS CHRISTI - Doodle No.00011
in DOODLES
Christians love a feast. Today’s feast is Corpus Christi, which means they’ll be munching on the body of Christ.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
WORLD ART NOUVEAU DAY - Doodle No.00010
in DOODLES
BIRTHDAY TRIO - Doodle No.00009
in DOODLES
Happy Birthday to Johnny Depp, Natalie Portman, and Michael J. Fox!
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
WORLD OCEANS DAY - Doodle No.00008
in DOODLES
Today is World Oceans Day. I’ve heard that the octopus are throwing underwater garden parties to celebrate.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
TRINITY SUNDAY - Doodle No.00007
in DOODLES
On Trinity Sunday, christians celebrate the three Persons of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.
RUSSIAN LANGUAGE DAY - Doodle No.00006
in DOODLES
Dobraye ootro! It’s Russian Language Day today, so here’s a portrait of their boy Leo Tolstoy.
A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.