The next stage of the Guy’s Hospital project begins. Yesterday I collected the cut and shaped pieces of stainless steel from Kent WaterJet Cutters to start work on painting the petals and attaching them to the 100 small steel frames that will create the illusion of the cherry tree in blossom.

The waterjet process is fascinating. Computer controlled, an ultra high pressure jet of water cuts through the sheet of steel creating whatever shapes have been designed and fed into the computer. The precision is amazing and many thanks to Chris and his team.

I have now heard that Alan Titchmarsh (an old colleague from BBC Radio days in the 1980s) has agreed to unveil the work and Rowan Williams has kindly said that he will bless and dedicate it at a formal ceremony being arranged for the Saturday before Easter. So no pressure to get it finished!

Although I am having to pace myself. Just before new year I had 5 days in hospital following a heart attack and then two days at St Thomas’ hospital in London for 3 stents to be put in the blood vessels feeding the heart. All went well.

In 2 and a half weeks it is off to Cardiff to install two works at Llandaff Cathedral and then back to Unst before coming south again for the task of putting up the Guy’s work. I am hoping for good weather in Unst, at least for March 20^th as a 98% solar eclipse is due.

Over my career one of the hats I have worn is as a cartoonist. I have drawn, and still draw, for many newspapers and magazines - as well being involved in animation.

Somehow though, It doesn’t feel quite so much fun being a cartoonist as the moment. The tragic deaths of the French cartoonists and journalists and two police officers, is a brutal reminder of the realities of life.

My career has combined being a cartoonist, writer and artist with being a broadcast journalist and as a journalist I specialised in religious affairs. Many years ago I felt that issues of faith, and fundamentalism would increasingly shape world affairs, which was one of the reasons I chose my specialisation.

In the autumn after the London bombing of 2005 I spent the month of Ramadan with members of The Brixton Mosque in South London filming a television documentary. It followed a strict Salafi form of Islam. Men and women were segregated and many of the women wore burkas. In the time I made many friends with the brothers and sisters. I never felt threatened and came to admire the dedication of the believers and their shared belief that random terror and violence had no part to play in their way of life.

So in reflecting on the news from Paris I would urge the non-Muslim population not to see this as a battle in a religious war. It is a sad lesson from history that from time to time people emerge who, for one reason or another, practice, relish and glory in violence. Somehow they become consumed in hate and lose all normal, human perspective. They might justify what they do in political or religious terms – fundamentalism gives them an excuse, but it their own warped selves who are to blame.

Reflecting further the question arises, how should cartoonists and journalists respond? It appears with defiance. The cartoons that angered the killers are now being shown around the world and no longer restricted to the limited readership of a French satirical magazine. Cartoonists have taken up the challenge to respond with the most lethal of weapons – wit.

Cartoonists are entertainers. We draw funny pictures. We gently mock pretensions in society. But from time to time we have to stand up and be counted and witness to truth. Life is always difficult for cartoonists under dictators and tyrants. Cartoonists can opt to cooperate or protest. Under Hitler there were cartoonists who fell out of favour to their heavy personal cost, but there were also others who shamefully towed the party line and drew vicious stereotypes of Jews to order.

There will be need from time to time for cartoonists to ridicule the religious fundamentalists – of all faiths. I trust in the light of the massacre cartoonists will not hold back from being truthful and bold. However I would urge that not all muslims should be assumed to be terrorists. Many of my muslim friends are genuinely hurt and saddened when their beliefs are gratuitously insulted. There is no need to make anti-Islamic jokes just for cheap laughs or to appear brave and defiant. But when the need arises, don’t hold back.