A bit fishy.

The nice peeps at NowPublic have asked to use my picture for an article on incorrect Fish labelling in Supermarkets (random, but relevant I guess). Thanks for the exposure guys.

Hunstanton, Moniave and Men on Wires

It's always a good way to take stock and relax whilst away from home. Last weekend we were invited to stay at A Summer Place in Hunstanton, Norfolk by Bale and James. A perfect spot for a weekend out of the smoke, situated right on the sand dunes. Lots of good food (butterflied lamb shoulder BBQ), great company, daft drunken endurance games and long walks down the beach and through picturesque villages. Very relaxing indeedy do - a beautiful part of the world. Set us both up for the now norm of full throttle work week. Got back in the swing of taking a steady stream of piccies - loving my Pentax W30's amazing Macro capabilities. Such a great little camera for the price and some sweeet, quirky features. Big credits to DragonDrop for endorsing it's predecessor the W20 a year or so ago. Keeping the momentum going on the video stuff too - need to learn not to rush the 'post-production' and to trash ideas that don't work on instinct. I sometimes don't listen to my gut critic when I should. Anyway, took a load of footage that will come to light in some form soon(ish).

Went to see a fantastic film with Mark on Wednesday - Man on Wire. Documentary about Phillipe Petit's build up to and ultimate tightrope walk between the Twin Towers in 1974. An inspiration to any human being, Petit is a rare breed amongst driven human beings, whose passion shone though every part of his life (and still does - he survived...with a big smile on his face too). A huge amount of vintage Super 8 footage charts up his early life as a Parisian street performer, his relationships, challenges, plans and achievements made on a wire between very high buildings (Notre Damn and Sydney Harbour Bridge to name a few). Even the cop that arrested him after his successful 40 walks between the towers (in one sitting), said he would never meet such a person or see such things ever again. The sort of bloke I would love to be sat next to at a wedding breakfast...if I could get a word in H-ways. To be honest, he has led such an amazing life I could quite happily just sit and listen. Aceness. 8.5/10.

Just got back from a great, if wet, long weekend in Moniave, Scotland - home of my lovely in-laws Clare, Alastair and Jenny. The usual lovely weekend of walks, epic paper reading, farm smells, good food and fine wine (Alastair keeps a sensational cellar) ensued. Lovely to see them all again and we were thoroughly spoilt. It all went far too quickly as per usual and now we are back in Londinium fending off Sunday (Monday) blues with a fine fish curry.

A short, but sweet blog this week - not in the mood to post much more, but not for the wrong reasons. :)

Monkeys, Monsoons and Dark Knights

Where is this year going? Quite shocked that it's August already and this begs the question 'where is the summer weather'? It's been a bit of the moist side so far and truly monsoon like in some regions (such as my parents in law - not good when you're a farmer who needs to put hay out). I've been a bit slack with blogging recently, though not through a lack of things to write. Had the pleasure of PaintMonkey's company at VapourTrail Towers last weekend. C was away so we had two days free to get on the old urban safari - lots of relaxing, chewing the fat, photography, exploring London and of course micro-blogging (not so much me though). Met up with that young Mark lad on the Saturday as well which was cool. PM was in photo heaven and took some amazing shots. Some of mine weren't too shabby either. A thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing weekend - I think PM had a great time and look forward to seeing him and other friends down here again soon. I miss them all very much. It's not as scary and bonkers down here as some people think, and it's always fun to be an ambassador for our capital.

Had a pretty draining week of work - energy levels are quite low at the moment, though I am putting it down to this muggy weather as much as the amount of stuff I am doing. The Tube is just unbearable at the moment - I always have a full bottle of water and sit as close to the carriage window as possible - it's still a sweat-fest though. A fair amount of freelance stuff has come to light recently: I've sold an illustration to an American charity for their branding, a few photos here and there, a new range of gatefold flyers for a returning client/friend, but most excitingly a major broadcaster has shown interest in my recent videos for sequences in documentaries - all encouraging stuff. Decided to treat myself to a little something as a result (I don't do so often enough): Novus were the watch making arm of the American electronics company National Semiconductor in the 70s, and made some true design classics when digital timekeeping was in it's infancy. The company is now defunct, but I have wanted to own one of their watches for years. A very rare piece in great condition came up for auction on eBay and I was lucky enough to win it. It was made in the year I was born - check it out! I should add that this is not the site I bought it from or the price I paid (it cost less thankfully)! There are a few rarer models out there that I would love, but I might have to wait for a lottery win for them!

After work on Friday C and I met up with Mike and Lou for a spot of dinner, then  over to the IMAX to see The Dark Knight. Great film and fantastic to see it on the largest screen in the UK, but not sure it quite lived up to the hype. Ledger is amazing - no doubt about it, but is he really on screen long enough? Me no think so. Batman's 'in costume' voice is a bit over exaggerated too. But, I pick at straws - the pace, action, sets and just about everything else is superb. I would like to see it on at a regular cinema or on DVD as I spent most of the time darting my head from side to side trying to take it all in on such a massive screen. 

A fairly low key weekend - stayed over at Heather and Kent's in Mickleham last night for a BBQ (well, a grill - the weather saw to that), then headed back to London this morning to meet Maria and brave the west-end. Had to find a new suit in the sales (lots of weddings coming up, so needs be). Totally knackered now, satisfyingly full on stir fried salmon with noodles and loving the Olympics - can't get enough. 

New tunes that I can recommend highly: British Sea Power - Do you like Rock Music? Fantastic stuff, especially the song Great Skua. Might have to borrow it for one of my little films. Also, Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs.

Need to sleep - need to recharge the batteries, as they will be working on maximum come Monday. Lots on my mind and lots to take stock off - always a good thing to review the content of the grey matter once in a while. A fun week ahead though work aside and a weekend away at the coast is to come.

Why so serious?

Ay up, it's our day!

Today is Yorkshire Day. Today Yorkshireman and women celebrate the fact that we come from the best county in the UK and everything that is brilliant about it. There's nowt better lad!

Wake'n'Bacon

Genius!

http://www.mathlete.com/portfolio/wakeNbacon.php

Into the heat

For the first part of last week I was in recovery - just can't do 4 days in a row anymore (see Latitude). Actually, let me re-phrase that...I can party 4 days in a row, but my body takes another 4 days to get over it. So anyway, had Monday and Tuesday booked off and relaxed plus felt a bit guilty when my wife (who is younger, so technically doesn't need as much recovery time) went to work. I was greeted by the usual 120 emails on Wednesday and spent the rest of the week ploughing through them, so didn't actually get to any of my projects until Friday...when it was time for another weekend - Yay!

There was a bit of a family crisis (more a need for us to pull together to help an injured party), so we cruised up the A1 home to Harrogate after work. Mum and Dad were on really good form. We spent much of Saturday sat in their garden reading the papers, drinking lemonade and avoiding sunburn (I failed), popped in to see my Nan then a great night out with lots of old friends outside Blues Bar - just like old times. Brilliant. Sunday drove over to that there Knaresborough to see PM and the adorable Moo - drinks down by the river and nice walk in the sunshine. Also picked up the fantastic paintings he has done for us - so chuffed with them I can't tell you! Just need a flat big enough to do them justice now! Had a quick lunch with Jonn and Rhiannon (who are going on an epic travelling odyssey - lucky so and so's), then did record time back down to London with daylight to spare.

It's seriously hot down here now - so much so that the Northern Line is getting a little saunaesque and horrible. I really should be cycling to work or something, but the thought of getting knocked off and squashed by a bendy-bus is putting me off. Even the over-land option is a sweat-fest, so I just grin and bare it. Drinking lites of water a day though and feeling the detox. Managed to loose nearly 3/4 of a stone somewhere in the past 6 weeks too - not sure how, given I've eaten some right lardy feasts.

A cool weekend to come once this mentalist week of work is finished. C is away on another Hen (that's not the cool part I should add), but PM is coming down for a relaxing weekend in The Smoke...if such a thing exists. Really looking forward to spending some quality time with him and praying the weather stays good - expect much micro-blogging and Flickring to follow.

Both PM and MN mentioned feeling on the cusp of something in recent blogs - must be something in this heat because I've felt the same recently...just got to work out to what the cusp belongs...or what to do about it.

...and longitude.

Slap wrists VapourTrail - it's been a few weeks since my last post! 

Lots has happened, though I bet I will forget to mention quite a lot - some weaves and turns, ducks and dives, frights and reliefs, surprises and predictability etc. My Dad and Jaygo had birthdays so very 'appy days to them. Seen lots of friends - Heather, Chris M, Amelia, Giles. C and I got out in the sunshine for long walks int'nature and had lots of chill time, carpet picnics etc. Saw a few films - Hancock was pretty easy viewing and good fun. Started a great new book - The Pump House Gang by Tom Wolfe - fantastic and can't wait to read more of his stuff (thanks Sam). Was reading Piers Morgan's memoirs - got bored, not my scene at all. Some great new music - Another top album from Rod y Gab - Le Foc. Also Songs in A&E from the amazing Spritualized - superb and lovely listening.

My Flickr collection of stuff has been swelling nicely as well. Enjoying making the mini-movie clips and have got lots of ideas for new ones. Need to work on the image quality whilst keeping the file sizes down though - probably can't have one with the other, but I will investigate. Have sold a few more images and had requests for others to adorn walls of family and friends. There's even been a touch of freelance work come to light from a friend/past client which is a welcome thingy wotsit.

Main thing worthy of bloggage was Latitude last weekend - Been looking forward to it for ages. Situated just outside Southwold - A beautiful part of the world for a beautiful festie. We went with old friends Chris and Marianne from that there Yorkshire. This was a great event - highly eclectic in it's design, offerings and the demographic it is aimed at. There were loads of families with kids (of all ages) which gave the place a great vibe, plus people from all backgrounds and interests. There was the music stages, theatre, comedy, poetry, cabaret, performance art, installations, happenings - there was nothing left out. Even the food was organic, wildly varied and top-notch - result. A great size too - only 25,000 people and quite a small site. The whole weekend just flew which is always a sign of a good time and the weather was generally good. Can't recommend this festival highly enough, especially if you have kids but also want to option to party until sunrise. 

Could waffle on for ages, but here are the greatest hits of the festival from my point of view: The Burlesque Caberet Tent (that was bizarrely full of toddlers as well as adults most of the time); Ross Noble's impromptu 3,000 people strong conga train through the grounds who then proceeded ask every Vegan stall for sausage rolls for the rest of the festival; Bill Bailey's set; The Go-Team; Sea Sick Steve; Sigur Ros (that part I remember anyway); Elbow; Franz Ferdinand; Blondie (she was fan-bloody-tastic); Deathray Trebuchey (these guys were simply amazing - trippy brass based post modern ska madness); The pink sheep grazing by the lake; the floating orb flutist and light show; the Caribbean curried goat and dumplings; the lack of idiots and beer monsters; The Sunshine Stage high in the woods; Stewart Lee's comedy set; The mushroom risotto; having a blow up mattress to sleep on for the first time; 

Back to the daily grind now, but in lovely summer heat - makes even the crapest day seem bearable. I had a wee epiphany whilst at Latitude and this plus other events of the past few weeks have reaffirmed to me how precious our lives and consciousness are, and most importantly how these should be treasured and not treated flippantly. Life is not a rehearsal.

I promise not to leave it so long next time.