Me: You go
Neice: Your turn
Me: You haven't even had a turn
Neice: Go on.
Me: Ooooh you....
Niece: Go.
Me: You're such a....er...a...
Niece: Boghouse rat?
Me: Yes, a boghouse rat.
Niece: And? Now go and get those crisps.
The inspiration for this drawing was a weekend spent, watching back to back episodes of the Mighty Boosh, with my niece. It was a typical weekend for a couple of boghouse rats. Holed up in a dark bedroom. The curtains drawn. Not leaving except to use the toilet or to stock up on supplies. Taking it in turns to lie on the bed or the sleeping-bag-plus-mattress-combo that we'd set up on the floor. And supposedly, taking it in turns to stock up on snacks. Well, one of us taking more turns than the other. Happy days.I love my niece. We have lot in common. Including our boghouse ratishness.
Happy Birthday, love.
To find out if you, too, are a boghouse rat, just answer the questionnaire below (it would have been longer but I just couldn't be bothered to finish it).
CLICK on drawings to view.
These are WONDERFUL! I really love the bed. I'm going to have a closer look at the mess. I love drawings of mess.
ReplyDeleteI think I have been a boghouse rat - I am not currently a boghouse rat but with little effort I could be one again-
ReplyDeleteEverything is easier to find because things are right where you left them - which is usually right where you are - that's the good part of being a boghouse rat
I have a teenager that is 100% boghouse rat - and he doesn't even have an alarm clock! (I see the questionaire only went up to 6pm...) Great sketches Andrea - Tracy Emin's bed was boring compared to this!
ReplyDeleteMaltesers AND the Mighty Boosh! I think this has to be my favourite blog post of all! If the answers are yes in your quiz then I'm afraid I may too be a B.R.x
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about it, the drawing, the mess and mostly the atmosphere and emotion both the text and the image stir up together.
ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
ReplyDeleteOh God, that's what has happened to me in my dotage? With no job calling to me, I loll in bed, dress at noon or later, and have more cups with tea stains than I can count. I don't tolerate much dust, but my sweater, sweatpants and socks (All worn day after day)are covered in cat hair. I am becoming a boghouse rat!
ReplyDeleteEnough. Your drawings are brilliant. As usual.
nope, that's not me! :) I'm a bit of a neat freak. I love the term though... what is a boghouse anyway???
ReplyDeleteThis is where you belong, making stories out of the the things you do, you have a lucky niece. I'm STILL waiting for that wonderful book that is in there waiting to creep out.
ReplyDeleteHey, i'm from Russia.I only wanted to tell, that your drawings are really wonderfull!!!! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteOh wow. I love it. I look forward to seeing it available as a print.
ReplyDeleteStill chuckling!! I am a neat boghouse rat--at least what I have deduced might be a boghouse rat--hehe! I am still in my nightgown and it is 6:45pm in Fargo--ROFL!! You are absolutely delightful!! :)
ReplyDeletecI am the worst boghouse rat I know! I fight against it all the time! I do love the humour and imagination in your work Andrea - and your brilliant use of the common or garden biro. BTW thanks for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteI can never just look at your work once. It has that comebackandhaveanotherlookability about it (is that a word?) So I came back and still love it, worry that I may never touch a brush again after seeing it, and smile at the little bowl and spoon that keeps making appearances. I failed the boghouse rat test by the way, tempted to copy your pic into Photoshop and airbrush under your bed OMG I have OCD!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had an aunt like you ... so talented AND so much fun to be with!
ReplyDeletethat bed is a mess, but looks very cozy to take a nap. your attention to details really shows how much you love to draw!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha...somehow I doubt you are quite the boghouse rat you pretend to be! Sounds like the peeeerrrrfect way to spend a weekend.
ReplyDeleteLove it!!!!
Even your lettering fascinates me.
ReplyDeleteCheers, folks.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I have grown out of being a boghouse rat. Or so I like to think, although when I look around at this chair - the cups, pencils, pens, Jafa Cake wrapper - it makes me wonder. It's just nice to sink into it for a weekend every now and again.
And, of course, Sherry, if I have the day off I never dress until noon.
Micah, a boghouse is an out door toilet. I think Boghouse Rat originates from Liverpool - it's a Scouse expression. Although it was used in a childrens tv programme some time ago, too.
Rita, I like your style!
I like to believe there's a bit of a boghouse rat in all of us. And, I like the idea that maybe I've spread the boghouse name across the pond, across the world even. Boghouse rats of the world unite and take over. What a fabulous mess we'd be in then.
Thank you ALL, guys.
Every time I visit your blog, I am in awe of the amazing gift you have been given. Your artwork is just incredible!
ReplyDeleteHeeheehee !! A mug that says "I love PT ?" I'm guessing even you can't remember how that got into the house....:)
ReplyDeleteFiona
Boosh! Excellent choice. I TOTALLY have a pile of unopened letters (I leave the boring ones like statements for ages), and I have 2 glasses next to my bed, although I haven't got up at 2pm since I was a student. Honest.
ReplyDeleteI was staying at my other half's house this week without him and I watched the clutter accumulate. I'd been using his car as well, and he returned from his first trip afterwards saying "I assume you no longer need this KFC straw?"
[Mutley wheezy laugh]
Love your drawing, it's wonderful! And the questionnaire was fun too : ) made me feel a bit old, though, because I used to be a boghouse rat, and that was a lot of years ago...
ReplyDeleteUh, how were you able to draw my son's teenage room to such perfection, Andrea? I think there's even a waft of that unique teenage boy smell that ensured the door was ALWAYS kept closed...
ReplyDeleteA wonderfully entertaining post!
Great post, Andrea. Love the bed.
ReplyDeleteOMG after all these years I guess I qualify to being a Boghouse Rat....LOL...
ReplyDeleteI just happened by your Blog from Marva,,,I was looking at her Moleskines and want to do that too.. Love your sketches,,, Beautiful,,,,
xoox
((((hugs))))
Maggie
Thanks everyone. I am very comforted to find that there are many more boghouse rats out there. Of both sexes and all ages.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I have a simialr collection of straws in my car, too. One day you may need them....
Thank you ALL, guys. Glad you liked it.
I LOVE your messy bed! It's so, uh, charming. The notepad drawing is a true work of skill and endurance. Great stuff, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteI am the quintessential boghouse(or boghoose seeing as I'm Scottish)rat,as is my lovely,scruffy wife.
ReplyDeleteLove your stuff,it has inspired me to take up drawing again after far too long a time.
Cheers petal,
Black