may sunshine >> david inshaw

it has been a strange day heavy rain followed by bright sunshine. but we did manage to get the back yard clear of old bits of carpet and furniture from the alterations to our house over easter, yes it has taken that long to get the stuff removed. any way the rain came down and we ended up driving to the re-cycling centre (the tip) through rural cornwall in torrential rain. after getting home the sun came out again and I drove again through the same country side in the most fantastic light. I was dropping my eldest son off at a friends house as they are off to london in the morning to have a look round some galleries and design shows in the brick lane area. driving back home through the cornish early evening sunlight I remembered years ago visiting brighton museum and art gallery in the late 70's where I saw the work of david inshaw (a founder of the ruralists). over all the years since I can't say that I have thought about that show much, except for today it brought it all back simply by the light, the way the sun was casting shadow and the feeling it gave me all positive I have to say.

images, copyright david inshaw

back to bouldering

many years ago I was lucky enough to be able to learn the basics of rock climbing. as a pupil at school we were able to take advantage of the schools climbing wall. in the 1970's it was rare in all honesty it probably still is. around that time I also spent some time climbing the limestone cliffs on the north somerset coast. brean down was a special climbing challenge. remember that it was a long time ago. any way in the last few years I have been drawn back to climbing in a slightly different way after a few french trips I planned to go bouldering more. but after big problems with my shoulder over the last couple of years and other excuses (I mean injuries). I am not saying that surfing is easier as I have been able to still surf, just I don't have to hold my now weighty frame on one hand and shoulder while in the water. I have decided that in the next few months I want to try to get back some fitness and go bouldering again. after a little look I found this film though not technically bouldering as it is over 10 metres high and a rope is being used. it looks hard as well as good fun.

millau again

yes I know I have gone on about the millau bridge before but I was having a look through some photos on a memory stick that had been forgotten at the bottom of my bag for a while. I only remembered it last night I remember taking the picture it as I liked the way the acrylic aerodynamic slats/barriers out side the aluminium (or steel) crash barriers made it possible to see the landscape as well as providing a feeling of security and even a certain amount of safety.

about time

as usual when I get the time the surf is nowhere to be seen. this week I as it is half term I am away from my day job. so I fancy some extra water time. rather than the crammed time amongst all the other stuff. earlier in the year on a pre-planned surf trip, (against all odds) the north east coast decided to go flat for the week I was there (usually the average wave height for february is 7ft). hopefully this week will see a better surfing outcome for me that is, I would love a couple of hours or longer in the water with some quality surf.

photo (courtesy) moby.

still got gliders on my mind >>

normally when I would talk about gliders it would be from a surfing point of view but since yesterdays post and the comment from dan (www.danfear.co.uk). I have been searching for the north pacific products inc. logo. I remember it as being blue with white text though it could have been red. seems the company was bought out in the late 70's and doesn't seem to exist though I haven't found out much more. though the actual glider I mentioned yesterday is not pictured amongst the ones pictured it was similar. (though I think the fuselage was made from a yellow [or blue] foam) funny how something so simple has got me on a search.

have a good bank holiday weekend, back on tuesday.

not sure why? been thinking gliders?

I am not really sure why, perhaps it is because the last 3 days have been very busy. even with a little tension as well as emotion for me. but today as I sat down and relaxed I remembered a day in the early summer some 30 years ago when I was at the beach on a very sunny day, not more than a mile from where I now live. playing as a teenager with a model glider from a company based in bend, oregon, USA. I can't remember the name of the manufacturer (I would be more than happy if someone could add a comment if they know of a model plane maker from there). any way I managed to get the smallish glider in to a rising thermal, just with a lucky throw. the glider then circled above the beach with a probably more than a hundred people watching. it stayed airborne for more than 20 minutes before it disappeared out to sea never to be seen again. I remember in my glorious naivety thinking that I must have broken a world record. I even asked strangers to give me written statements to witness that they had seen it happen! I then sent all the information to the company fully expecting them to get back to me with some kind of reward or prize, well they never did. yes I really was that naive. any way it is funny how things disappear from ones thoughts only to return at the strangest times.

the pictures have no relation to the story. I just liked them!!

too tired tonight >>

it has been a long day, interesting meeting in west cornwall & stuff so have a lot to process tonight before another long day tomorrow back in south east cornwall.

france again soon >>

I have been busier (as far as travelling) today well only my comparison to a usual working day. meeting in bodmin then back home before another meeting this evening. the second meeting was about taking another set of students to france and the ardeche again, I don't mean that in a bad way as I do enjoy the trip which seems to come round faster each year. simply that I find it amazing that it is the 6th year running I have made the trip with students. tomorrow and more meetings, well a day in west cornwall that could be very insightful if potentially uncomfortable.
picture courtesy carto.net

beach time

pleased that orange did deliver my replacement blackberry as promised on saturday, we ventured to the beach on sunday. lucky as we are to live in cornwall, so close to so many amazing beaches we often take for granted. the normal camera I take to the beach is off with friend and collegue on the inca trial in peru. so I used the phone to take a few pictures yesterday it's not bad for a phone. I know the picture here is a bit obvious but I like the place the sand and the sea meet. even managed a surf, can't complain.

surprised that I am surprised >>

I mentioned before this week that I have been having trouble with my phone (a blackberry) in fact it stopped working completely today. and after restoring the operation system as well as trying to diagnose the problems myself with it without any luck. I gave up and called orange knowing that the phone was over 6 months old so I didn't expect much if anything, but after the nice customer service adviser spoke to her supervisor a new blackberry will be delivered by courier in the morning!  I am surprised that I am surprised but I am. I do spend a lot on phone bills and use orange broadband for home, but I didn't expect a good outcome. my crack-berry habit will now continue whether that is a good thing is another story. just thought I would be positive about a mobile phone company for a change. I hope I am not disappointed tomorrow.

pc v mac, interesting?

never mind the usual pc is not as good as mac, and all that stuff. I had a very interesting conversation with a parent of a student I teach today. her husband is a designer and his computer of choice is a mac, so their home computers are macs. nothing strange there. however both the mother and daughter are dyslexic and haven't really got on with computers that well until now. one of the courses I teach is all pc based, using for the most part microsoft based stuff as well as a bit of (adobe macromedia studio) dreamweaver fireworks flash, etc. nothing that complex. since the daughter started working on a pc with my classes she has found the whole operation system (XP) and software more intuitive (her words) and the family have bought a pc laptop for both mother and daughter to use at home. I have to say that I was very surprised to be told this today as I am constantly working between the two systems and genuinely find mac based software & operating system(OS X) much more logical.

I know more software is written for the pc, so there would be likely for there to be something amongst all the available stuff around that could make it easier for pc users. but when I suggested this I was told it's not any particular software just the way the operation system works, interesting?

its so annoying >>

I realise as against current world events the fact that my blackberry has decided to stop working properly tonight is hardly even close to being a major deal. but it is so annoying. I do admit that I rely on it a little too much. as I have already missed a couple of calls and have spent more time than normal checking for emails on my mac this evening. I know I sound like a sad geek, but I normally free up time by using the blackberry through the working week. and make time for stuff at the weekend. 

breath >> pointless & elegant

the new book 'breath' by tim winton, caught my attention not just because it is about surfing. but for this quote taken from the book. "How strange it was to see men do something beautiful, something pointless and elegant, as though nobody saw or cared." I love the idea that surfing is pointless because looked at simply, it is. as far a elegant many surfers I have watched and surfed with over the years, are that for sure. I am also taken but the idea that for most surfers what they do goes largely unseen.

sunshine & light pollution >>

I have been so aware of the light today, it has been really sunny here as I imagine it has been across most of the UK. I got caught up in the moment thinking about the way natural light (light from the sun) makes things change so much through the day. in the room / space I work in. I am lucky enough to have natural light coming through 6 small domed sections in the roof. apart from making the work space very warm, and making the use of a digital projector more or less unusable on a very sunny day like today. it provides a really good very light area to work. 

at night, or on a dull day it is a different story as the room with the lights on will obviously create light pollution. which is another story that gave me a reason to show these images courtesy of the CPRE. apart from making a great image it shows the amazing concentration of light in certain areas of the country.

today

I haven't been home long tonight, it has been another long for the most part less than productive day. at least I was able to see students of mine who I have been teaching for the last five years take another very big step in to their future. a thing that can never be under estimated. I am very tired and looking forward to a couple of days when work is not handed to be with the expectation that it will be completed in minutes as has been the case over the last few days. administering an education based web site is largely thankless task but at least today I saw a few soon to be ex-students move forward, and that perhaps that should be thanks enough.

its all about go2 today >>

sorry but I had to mention go2 again today. 

just longer than a year ago I received an email from rachel from the then yet to be published magazine (to be based in south east cornwall) asking me to think about writing a piece about surfing (my other passion) to be included a new lifestyle & listings magazine. I did write something and subsiquently managed to write an article for every issue over the year. in that time the magazine has become a very well read and informative addition to the published media in the area as well as online. am not pretending that it is because of my articles by any means as there is so much more interesting stuff in it. viv, rachel, matt and the production team are consistantly responsible for producing a quality free magazine. I just hope that the magazine continues to grow and becomes even more well read, and hope that I can continue to write for them. 

happy birthday go2. 

saltwater buddah >>

I am short on time as well as disappointed yet again with more than on thing really not going the way I had hoped today.
I briefly checked my facebook page today, (I tend to look at least once a day) must have missed a request from a fellow surfer/surf writer a couple of days ago. so today I followed it up to find an interesting article in the sanfranmag by (facebook) friend and author of new book saltwater buddha; a surfer's quest to find zen on the sea, jaimal yogis. it's well worth checking.

the new edition of go2 magazine (the magazine I write about surfing for) is available in the south west of the uk. if you can't get a copy its online now.

some times I don't get things done >>

some of the time a few of us don't get the stuff they really like done. perhaps I am talking about myself. as I expect many of those of you that read this will have projects waiting in the back of you mind for the day when time the paid work is done that you will actually get finished.

for some reason I (still) have so many ideas, but I never complete them, leaving them half finished. one project I had set myself to finish over a year ago was a complete re-design of the surf98 web site. it never got done as so many other projects (the ones that pay the bills) were more important, most of them now are finished.

it has been so long that the first and last time this design rough will be online is today as I am already starting on yet another update/re-design hopefully the new one will see the light of day. even though I still think it could work I have thought about it and re-worked it so much I can't see for looking. so as with so much else will never find its way forward.

time to realise the good things >>

its a long weekend ahead for me (a bit of a break with the may bank holiday on monday). realising that I have been so up myself in the last few weeks. I am going to make a real effort to relax and concentrate on the important things, in other words the things I can do something about. rather than the stuff others control. its a chance to enjoy the area I have chosen to live in and the people I live with. 

after work today I went to the dentist today for a routine check up. he found nothing wrong so I don't have to go back for a year, that's a good start.

be back next tuesday. hope you enjoy the long weekend.

its not all bad >>

for ages I have said half joking, 'ebay is the route of all evil'. though I have to say that I have used the dreaded ebay to buy bits of mac's lately. and so far the purchases I have made have all worked out well. I am sure that some of you out there will say well its because you are buying mac bits from mac people, I am sure you will all know a mac dealer that is not always good. anyway a new notebook battery arrived via ebay this morning and having tested it and used it I am rather pleased with my £17.50 purchase. I had better not look any more as I might buy something that doesn't exist never arrives and looks nothing like the picture.