dgthekneelo

1967

2011-10-05T21:56:00.007Z

I really like this photo.

I found it last night when I was at my aunt's house. my aunt died in the summer and as her next of kin I am the sole executer of her will so I have organised the sale of her house amongst many other things as you do in these circumstances.

I was there last night with the boss of a specialist house clearance company (the new owners move in on monday). he was explaining to me how as much of the contents are recycled and that he would give me some money for the victorian writing desk (I would have liked to have taken home but I know it would only have gone in my garage and probably never have been used) as well as other bits and pieces. none of which is relevant as I am carrying out my late aunts wishes to the letter. all the money from the sale of the house is going to the charities and organisations she believed in. she never married and had no children.

I noticed the photo on the floor in her front room as thing were being moved it must have fallen out of an album and never been put back.

I recognised it straight away as the girl in the centre is my older sister and the little boy on the right is me (aged 6). I think it was taken in summer 1967 at lancing beach, west sussex. I remember the day it was taken and the fact that I had bought the plastic ring I am holding with money I had saved. it was blue and had boats on it.

it is a happy photo.

should I come back?

2011-07-03T10:31:00.006Z

it has been almost a year since I posted anything. so perhaps it is time to start adding more. if nothing else I at least have a record for myself of things happening over the years. I always thought I would come back when I had something to share, well that hasn't really happened in the way I had thought. I have been busy and not all the projects I have worked on in the last year have been successful ones.
so perhaps now is the time to evaluate, look forward with a positive attitude and make best use of this digital format I seem to take for granted.

been a long time, but had to post this

2010-08-24T17:54:00.005Z

I know it is a long time since I posted something here but felt I had to do post this. it is holiday time for me at the moment & I am lucky enough to live in an area of the UK that is popular for people to come on holiday and I was amongst them today. the weather wasn't special or even that warm but it didn't rain and most people were having a good time.

I had to post this photo of a sign in the entrance of a very popular pub/restaurant/night club in my home town. it doesn't need much explanation and I am sure it didn't harm their trade.

beach memories

2010-04-12T12:27:00.013Z

I spent yesterday afternoon on the beach with my sister her partner, her son (11) and my youngest son (11). it is strange isn't it when you are in a place that is very familiar and yet new. the beach in question was a place we visited a lot when we were children in the 1970's. I now live about 7 minutes walk away. we have had family in the area for many, many years.

For all sorts of reasons the place made a huge impact on me when I was a child (around age 11).

I made it my home (permanently about 15 years ago) after time in sussex (brighton), hampshire, france, london. my sister still lives in the area we went to school, sussex. I have the feeling that she will also move down sometime in the future.

it was a lovely day the sun was warm sitting on the beach brought back many memories of days past. our children were happy to play on the beach together mixing the new (to them) with the familiar (to us).

both photos were taken 11/04/2010

again I post

2010-04-03T10:03:00.009Z

things have been a bit busy in the world I spent my time so once again I hope to get back to post properly.

I am involved in a few exciting projects (via denzil & RIO), eliot / eliot, tom, jane and others that I could never have imagined happening a few years ago, yet the student I work with consider it pretty normal.

just goes to show just how far the current 14-19 year old is firmly in the world of digital media.

Will get back soon with more.

good to see

2010-02-15T18:02:00.004Z

I have probably mentioned that my eldest son luca is at glasgow school of art, studying sculpture & environmental art.

so in a completely biased plug I am pointing you in the direction of his work.

check his blog it's worth a look.

long time no post

2010-02-14T12:00:00.004Z

yes it has been a while since I posted anything.

I have to say it has been a mixture of choice and circumstance. I have been a bit busy with stuff including the implementation and ongoing planning of a 'new' creative & media course which even now after being involved in it for over 18 months continues to surprise me both for the sheer amount work I am having to do and the many good things that are coming from it.

I really did consider closing this blog down as I am so finely stretched with the many different digital projects I now work on.

so just left things over the christmas and new year period to see if I missed posting and missed the interaction in what now is a rather dated way of doing things.

I didn't really miss it at all until the end of last week when I was at the height of tiredness preparing for an examination of sorts (an inspection of the creative and media course). I realised that I used this facility to record some of the things that were interesting me and some that weren't so it the only thing this little blog does is provide me with an online notebook that others can see and comment on then it is enough.

Indulgent as that sounds. communication drives the work that I enjoy and continuing be involved is as many platforms old and new can only help in my understanding of it.

the christmas tree

2009-12-19T22:14:00.003Z

I realise that it is not long until the christmas day, but I think we have got the majority of the decorations up earlier than usual at home.

not that I am complaining you understand.

tamworth

2009-12-05T23:06:00.007Z

I have been meaning to post something about last weekend I went to tamworth snowdome, not a place that I had ever considered going before but thanks to moby had a really good weekend. all I can safely say I is that I had such a good time with carol & good friends, only two days away felt like a real holiday.

just a couple of pictures,the snow tubing (top) was so much fun.

so pleased for gabi

2009-11-16T19:44:00.010Z

I had to post up a picture of local (to me, south east cornwall) surfer gabi rowe. I have to declare an interest I work with her mum, and have given coaching advice, whether taken or not is another thing, as gabi has had a huge impact on her surfing aided by her coach kelly o'tool, and training as part of the GB squad.

yesterday she surfed in the last event on the ukprosurf tour at the animal sponsored event at fistral, newquay. gabi is a master of the understatement and was very humble in her acceptance of winning the womens event yesterday. she showed that there is more ability waiting to come, the youngest of the finalists gabi made the most of the left breaking as the tide pushed in, only making four waves in the 25 minute final, but it was enough to win the event, and secure second place in the women's section for the season.

south coast | surfing saturday

2009-11-14T17:44:00.009Z

it might have been a horrid windy, rainy, cold friday - saturday night.

but the morning brought some good surf to the beach on my doorstep, the rain stopped and the sun even came out for a while. I live directly above this beach sometimes I get to realise just how lucky I am to live in the place I do.

sunday

2009-11-08T20:02:00.006Z

I have been really busy with all sorts of stuff so haven't been here very much, but rather than complain as I feel like doing. I thought a nice picture of the sun over the sea taken this morning as I was hunting down a copy of the observer (my local newsagent had not received their usual delivery) would be better than a load of moaning.

things have been a bit of a struggle this week and I am really hoping that stuff gets clearer (and more fun) in the week/weeks to come.

red

2009-11-01T15:54:00.002Z

I also have a photo blog

respect

2009-10-26T10:37:00.006Z

popped in to plymouth yesterday, my youngest was very keen to spend the small amount of pocket money I had given him. so we ended up in game and in waterstones those kind of places. I was able to enjoy a small time at the plymouth respect festival so a good day.

sorry about the picture quality forgot my camera, so photos were taken on my phone.

kenilworth - plan 9 - covet

2009-10-23T20:41:00.006Z

a couple of pictures from the last couple of days.

kenilworth and a meeting on thursday and then the chance to meet up with friend of many years david blamey for the covet private view at plan 9 in bristol.

looking out to sea

2009-10-19T17:19:00.006Z

I had to go in to the town this evening (late afternoon really). as I was near the sea I thought I would take some pictures of the ocean as it was dull but there was plenty of swell (wind generated) I seem to spend a lot of time looking out to sea if I have the chance. however the drops of water on the window of my car became more interesting as I looked out to sea.

sunday must be a trip to?

2009-10-17T20:24:00.006Z

it is a saturday evening, I am at home planning on an early night as we are off to ikea and john lewis in the morning. living where I do this will mean a long drive (almost three hours if the traffic isn't too bad). still a small price to pay to live in the area of the country I am lucky to live in.

but all that said I am used to lots of long journeys, as later in the week I will be driving even further (for work this time) pretty much to the middle if the country.

on the way home

2009-10-14T19:25:00.009Z

it is that time of year again. long shadows, sun low in the sky all day. corny sunsets so here are two photos from today. on the way back from a meeting at the eden project.

(I played with the camera settings, no photoshop)

check another sunset on my tumblr visual blog

carol gets a new car

2009-10-10T19:29:00.007Z

a strange, but very nice day. as (mrs g) carol got her 'brand new' fiat grande punto (diesel). it was strange to see the mileometer reading 7 miles when we collected it from fiat main dealer this morning. especially as my trusty land rover has over than 125,000 miles on the clock. it was a good day (even warm) in the autumn sunshine of cornwall.

new glasses

2009-09-28T08:48:00.007Z

I always take ages choosing glasses, luckily (well for my wife, it drives her crazy) I don't do it very often. they have to be just right as I am fussy. I actually like glasses, I have never tried contact lenses but don't like the idea.

yesterday I got a new pair (raybans), I had already decided on the frames from looking through hundreds online, so cutting the search in real time down a lot. I also went to somewhere where they make them for in an hour, bit expensive but still. I now have to get used to wearing them as they are varifocals so I will have to see (pardon the pun) how I get on with them.

new things

2009-09-22T19:23:00.007Z

I was at the other creative and media delivery centre within the learning partnership I work in giving a talk on using a sony HDV camera. I always look round in new places and I happened to see the iMacs in view behind the students balanced on the window ledges.

it's part of a new building called 'the chill'. there is something about the building that makes me relax the open space and the view from all areas seems to encourage listening. I will find out soon as I will hopefully be able to spend more time there over the coming months.

washing line again

2009-09-20T23:00:00.004Z

it must be the time of year. I was taking photos of my son and his new room when the sight of the washing in the sunshine caught my eye had to re-visit and improve the image from before so here is another. to see pictures of the new room visit davidgeorge.tumblr

orange

2009-09-17T19:45:00.007Z

the picture above taken today is one that I was using to show ways of using adobe CS4 with some creative and media students.

it is only tonight while I was looking at the images that I was using that I realised just how much I have been influenced by the orange advertising campaign, probably some 8 years ago now perhaps more.

the thing is I am getting fed up with them (orange, not the students) at the moment as they have, while charging me more money, cut my broadband connection speed at home as I have supposedly exceeded their 'unlimited' download limit. I use a 20 megabit connection at work all day which is provided by BT which is more than fine.

orange provide my broadband at home. I do work during the evening as well when and the 6 megabit I was getting was ok (even though I am paying for 8 megabit). tonight and for the last month or more I am getting 0.415 it is a bit silly. really hard to work on anything web based.

surfing weekend

2009-09-01T23:34:00.005Z

3 days of surfing, not much more to be said! me and moby walking up from the surf!

london weekend

2009-08-25T09:59:00.006Z

we drove to london on saturday morning for a wedding reception in the evening back to cornwall on sunday. had a good time.

nr. truro

2009-08-17T09:48:00.003Z

I am not a regular visitor to national trust gardens/buildings for a few reasons (too silly to go into here). anyway I did get to visit trelissick gardens just outside truro on saturday. perhaps more impressed with the house that is still lived in by its current owners (the garden was given to the national trust in 1955), I really liked the fact that the manor house was bulit in the shelter of the river valley but has amazing view across the fal river.

surf stuff

2009-08-10T11:34:00.004Z

last friday was a good sunny day (at home in cornwall). carol (mrs g) along with sue, & claire finally were abe to get things sorted out and arrange a full 2 plus hours of surf training/lesson. so good to see people enjoying something that is so important to me. even though I wasn't feeling too well that day (dodgy fish & chips a couple of days previous) I had a great day watching from the beach. impressed with their efforts in a dropping swell with still a bit of strength left.

summer2?

2009-08-06T14:28:00.001Z

thought I best post again as the weather has improved almost proper sunshine today.

summer1?

2009-08-04T15:04:00.004Z

thought I should post this. it is the view from my front room this afternoon. almost the third full day of cornwall august summer fog, (& rain)

summer?

2009-08-03T13:40:00.004Z

I remember writing something similiar last august, as the weather becomes even more wet and cold in cornwall. we/I have such a short memory so I thought I would post a couple ofpicture taken just last week in between the rain showers we seem to have every day each august. certainly over the last three years down here.

(pictures taken on my phone)

more stuff from france

2009-07-28T11:33:00.007Z

just had to get some pictures up from france last week, and the week before. seems so long ago and the cornish weather is making me forget just how hot it was. just a few pictures. from narbone plage, the ardeche river, and travel. wouldn't mind being there now!

haven't found the time

2009-07-26T19:12:00.004Z

it is a lame excuse I know, but the week or so that I have been back from france has seemed like a hugely busy time. even though it should have been one of the easier weeks of my working life as it is a sort of wind-down week. not the case I had to make sure that a huge amount of money was spent on good kit. in the form of some serious macbook pro's and a couple of sony hd camera's.
anyway back to reality I have to get some stuff done but at least I should have sometime to do this.

to france again

2009-07-10T19:56:00.002Z

well it is that time of year again I am off to france tomorrow. every year I do this trip, I think it is the 6th or 7th year in a row now, I always feel slightly unprepared. even though I know what the trip entails, perhaps a few nerves are a good think.

any way all being well I will be back form a bit of sailing, climbing, canoeing, water sports and stuff. but in a leadership role so it is not all fun!

blur, hyde park, july 2009

2009-07-06T20:02:00.005Z

bit busy at the moment but had to find time to say that I was very pleased to be in hyde park on friday night for the blur gig. it was everything that it could have been and more.

sunny travels

2009-06-28T19:40:00.004Z

I have been out and about over the last couple of weeks/weekends. covering 1500+ miles on very different journeys for very different reasons, all in the south west of the uk.

only managed to take a few pictures, see below.

Luca - show @ liskeard

2009-06-16T21:32:00.004Z

I make no excuses for actively promoting my eldest son luca here.

he is off to glasgow school of art (sculpture & envirnmental art) in the new academic year.

these are some pictures I sneaked out, from his private view tonight on my phone so with apologies for the poor quality.

you can see some pictures of the previously referenced red tree. I like the 'wire head' (middle picture). really pleased he is moving in this way and consider all this as the start of something bigger and better, rather than the end of hs time in cornwall.

a bath weekend

2009-06-07T20:33:00.006Z

just back from a weekend in bath, well friday to sunday. we camped and met up with family as it was about 3 hours drive away from all of us so a central location within the uk.

spend most of the time dodging the rain, and I spent lots of time sitting/lying down reading, at the campsite.

bath is such a inspiring place it didn't matter that the weather wasn't great.

saturday evening view

sunday - sunshine - surfing

2009-05-31T15:10:00.005Z

I was able to get every one up and out really early this morning. the sun was been shinning (as still is). a short drive to the north coast parked up on the beach. in the water early and out the back into half decent waves before it was even nearly crowded. at a beach that is famous for over crowding.

we where already on the back on the beach and drinking coffee before the lifeguards started work and heading home against the massive flow of traffic beachwards before midday. love this chance photo taken today while my youngest was playing with a tennis ball, throwing it in the air.

the surfing tribe

2009-05-26T13:41:00.008Z

I was at croyde (devon) over the weekend for the saltrock open surf competition, part of the UK pro surf tour. where I was coaching international surfer gabi rowe. gabi was competiting in the girls U16 event. even though she was initially annoyed with her surfing in the semi-final it was enough to get her through. the final was a different situation after getting two steady waves she cut loose on her third wave with a committed powerful lip bash making her the clear winner in her category and me very proud to be associated with her.

click here for a very short video from the saltrock open

I also bumped into longtime surfer/surf historian roger mansfield whose son leon won the boys U16 event at the saltrock open. Roger has after some years of research published a new book 'the surfing tribe' documenting the rise of surfing in Britain from the 1930s to the modern day. I have had a look through seems an excellent book well worth reading, with some great pictures both historical and insightful. click here for more

william castleman | time lapse

2009-05-22T19:42:00.004Z

guerilla's

2009-05-13T18:23:00.006Z

guerilla marketing is nothing new, viral marketing is nothing new either. so these pictures will not need to be explained. so I wont but will say that these pictures are part of a large project in the south west that hopefully will mean something soon.

promoting Luca

2009-05-11T21:01:00.005Z

I realise it isn't very cool for me to be promoting my own son here on my blog, but still he has just got him self a place at glasgow school of art to study 'sculpture and environmental art' so I don't mind. here is some of his work.

all I will say is that the tree had fallen to the beach, and it is somewhere in cornwall. I think process is key to the project rather than the finished product, though as with some of his other pieces they will become more interesting with time.

feed the fish

2009-05-06T18:55:00.001Z

I know its not new but I like the way this works, just hover your mouse over the virtual pond to get the fish to follow.

cornwall film on vimeo

2009-05-02T23:57:00.003Z

cornwall film

vimeo

2009-04-26T18:11:00.000Z

bench sleeping

2009-04-25T15:00:00.003Z

I know almost nothing about this song/film except that it originates from brighton. even though I used to live and work in brighton as far as I am aware I don't know any one involved. but I do know that for some reason I really like it & that's enough.

facebook oh dear

2009-04-23T17:52:00.007Z

I am sure if you have ever read any of the blog posts or even published web/magazine articles I have written through the the past years. at some time I will have complained about facebook or the many other social networking web sites there are, even twitter! that I have to say, I use quite a lot, has a real love - hate relationship with my time and thoughts.

any-way in a weak moment a week or so ago I did one of those annoying what kind of * are you? this one happened to be 'writer'. so I filled out the questions answering as honestly as possible, and it turned out that I was 'shakespeare'. yes I know they mean nothing, are a waste of time. realistically all I may have in common with the great bard is the fact I often make spelling mistakes writing in haste.

I was surprised to see that the surfing article I had written the month before for Go2 magazine had a strange connection to shakespeare (corny I know). the title was was added by the editorial team viv and rachel not me!

just in case you might have thought otherwise | I have no influence on the design / type-setting of the magazine. I write 1000 words a month for Go2, which usually goes in with out re-writes or edits. I am am happy with that.

at home on the harbour side

2009-04-20T09:33:00.006Z

on friday I went crab fishing with my 10 year old. the harbour is only a walk away from where we live. as a small child I went crab fishing when I stayed with my aunt who used to live on the other side of the harbour. it was the first time he had ever sat by the harbour side in the sunshine for a few hours, with a crab line in hand. yet we have lived there for almost as long as he has been alive. he is now ckken to do it again with his friends from school.

I think when you live somewhere that is a popular holiday & day trip destination it is all too easy to ignore the things that many visitors do. but last week we didn't and had a great day crab fishing or as we put all the crabs we caught safely back in to the water, feeding the crabs.

I liked this sign

2009-04-09T11:21:00.003Z

I was in yorkshire at the weekend and this sign caught my eye.

I realise what is means but I do like the idea of a permissive footpath, and I fancied a swim.

just a little bit of time

2009-04-02T21:31:00.006Z

I started the day with a drive to mid cornwall, well almost and a meeting that to be fair stretched my functional skills learning (not level) to say the least.

but it was sunny, as I hope to work embedding function into everything I do or teach almoast as a reason for being. my morning meeting didn't inspire but sometimes things have to be learnt and have to be done.

below the leftovers from yet another meeting.

then on to the city, and a different prospect altogether.

I love working, and thinking about working as well as gearing my work to enable other peoples ideas to become real. perhaps I will consider a change?

so pleased for gabi, ecuador world junior surf comp.

2009-03-30T18:57:00.006Z

If you have read this blog for a while you will know that I am involved with surf and surfing. today I spent one of the most stressful 20 mins for a while watching the scores coming through from the world junior surfing championships. gabi rowe a surfer local to me (SE Cornwall) and the daughter of friends of mine is competing in the girls under 18 in the surf in ecuador. sitting amongst her friends and her mum we waited for her first round heat to finish. great news for gabi was that she made in through the first round for team GB.

time for fashion

2009-03-26T19:42:00.004Z

goodness me, I have be away from blog land for much longer than I ever have, seems my days are filled with meeting and planning then some driving followed by the same.

though this time last week was the full dress rehearsal of the fashion experience. something that had been in the planning for some 6 or more months. for 26 minutes the following night the show for real time pretty much stopped for a moment. a great result a great show and I am really happy to have been part of it. things could have been improved but given the spend we had and the venue has to be said it was up there. so to bigger and better or perhaps the same size and better.

earlier in the week I was lucky enough to send some time at twofour productions. what a great place, especially for he SW (UK). if for nothing else the way the staff seem to be, happy, industrious friendly and seemly open great to see a creative industry company producing work that they are proud of an want to talk about. rather than hie it away in case you steal their ideas as some sector professional have been in years passed. have to say they certainly appeared to me to be a great company to work for, (and no I am not trying to get a job their the meeting was for a different reason).

busy

2009-03-11T20:33:00.005Z

I know we all think we are busy I am no different. just got back home in cornwall from a meeting in bristol, it has been a long day. have to say what little I saw of bristol today was quite inspiring as was a small section of the meeting today which was a surprise.

I realise now that for so many reasons I should perhaps have gone by train but I never really considered it as I am so used to driving everywhere these days.

wish I had this!

2009-03-04T13:34:00.006Z

I have been around and about and sorry I have been more quiet that of late.

as usual trying to do more than sensible so I have reined in again this week mainly because I seem to have a bit of 'man flu' currently and am at home today. (thanks for the link beachUUbum)

that said I am still am managing to get involved with stuff and organise things without the

usual distractions from here. but have had to give up any thought of going to today's lecture/evening at university. a disappointment but still better in the long run. will be back fit and well tomorrow hopefully no doubt for a long day/evening, so I am looking for some of the below.

for more info

tilt shift photos

2009-02-21T16:24:00.006Z

I was just having a look through fellow (IMP) MA students stuff and found some tilt shift stuff on one blog from simon thorpe. I thought I would have a go it is good fun for a short time then the novelty seems to where a litle as the subject photo as to be so right to start any way thought I would put a couple of my photos here. it really does make real objects look like models. (not really sure why this is good but it is fun)

do lectures brilliant

2009-02-20T20:12:00.002Z

I just couldn't resist posting this. I like it for so many reasons; too many to list here.

The link on the right takes you to the web site for the dolectures, this film is just well worth watching.

I plan to be there this year.

<--- posted on dg-iLearn as well --->

london

2009-02-11T21:28:00.003Z

I have to say I don't get to london as much as I used to part through choice part through opportunity, but the last few times I have been u there I have really enjoyed it. almost gone are those days of slogging away in the middle of the big machine that I seemed to be part of years ago.

instead a walk through acton to chiswick last sunday made me feel happy. I saw the leftover snow as well as plenty of sunshine and these decorations blowing in the light breeze and had to put them here. london is not that bad after all.

had to join the masses and post

2009-02-03T19:09:00.004Z

I know this is not really the place but I had to join in and post something snow related. I am not even going to begin to describe the day I have and am still having! but it started with the picture above this was before the snow really came.

TR2

2009-01-27T20:20:00.004Z

another week with a lack of posts my apologies.

I had the opportunity today to be part of a meeting / workshop at TR2. a great building unique in its function. I just liked the idea of the green room.

getting involved

2009-01-20T12:03:00.003Z

getting involved is so good to get things started. so that is what I hope to be doing in so many things inside and out of work, there is (for the most part) only a very fine line.
I tend to be circumspect when adding stuff about work for many reasons, but I have decided to use this blog again to 'kick start' myself back in to some digital involvement across some to those fine work/live lines.
the detailed blog can be found at dg-iLearn
more soon.

this morning

2009-01-17T08:56:00.010Z

limited by many things largely positive (academic) rather than active, I am due to the first module of a masters on monday, as well my day job and all the other stuff, must be mad!

today (if only for a moment in thought) I am going back to something I have missed, that is the sea. living so close often I find my self taking it for granted, going weeks without appreciating it. conscious that I am set to write anther surfing column for Go2 by the end of the weekend and that there is a good swell forecast to come through this weekend I really need to keep checking the web cams and get to the beach at some point in the next days.

love - hate thing

2009-01-14T10:31:00.009Z

I apologise to those who have been in touch asking where the posts have gone, it's very nice to be missed.
I am currently going through a love - hate thing with all things interent. it seems for every good thing I find, a negative appears.

so I am trying to ration my time online (outside of my 'day job', where I use the internet loads) until I am more comfortable with most online stuff, (I seem to work on an 80% positive tolerance on everything).
I did however find sometime this morning while waiting for the very heavy frost to clear on my car windscreen take some photos of the ice shapes that I really like which I hope to post here later today.

Below as promised photo taken from inside my car this morning

it's always about something

2009-01-07T15:47:00.005Z

over the last few months I have been trying out new ways of getting students to communicate, while all the time I am becoming very tired even annoyed by the social network side of the internet. today I introduced them to a site I set up called sum-thing, they seem to have fun creating profiles and messaging as well as fulfilling many of the learning objectives I had planned, not all bad it is perhaps just me.

I have found myself getting really fed up with 'social networks' last night, while checking facebook (why I keep doing it I just don't know, I closed down the myspace account I had months ago). why am I concerned about things that some people I know some I don't really know are doing on days when I wasn't even near?

better still I have started to draw/design on pieces of paper again!

I realise that sounds odd but I had almost stopped drawing. but it felt so nice to write things down, could just be a passing phase but something is changing for the better.

new year

2009-01-03T11:51:00.004Z

had to put these two pictures up even though it is saturday. the first was drawn late last night by my youngest son while we were looking at the lego website deciding whether to buy star wars lego, as well as looking at the batman stuff on line or wait to go to the shops.
the other is taken from a web cam of the beach break in west cornwall this morning, I was supposed to be going to a surf competition today near home but haven't gone as the swell direction is easterly, so weakish and cold but further down the coast it is looking good!

happy christmas

2008-12-24T00:13:00.002Z

not long back from west cornwall, even spent far more time than I had hoped in a large supermarket in penzance.
I will be away from this blog now probably till the new year so all the best to all. see you next year.

at some point >> no surprises

2008-12-19T10:24:00.004Z

no surprise really but at some point during the christmas break I hope to be able to get in the water.

yes the waters cold and it is winter. but winter often bring the best conditions so I will be looking for something like the picture above, taken a couple of winters ago.

after all as the saying goes 'there is nothing a good surf can't cure'. (if only it were true).

gel

2008-12-18T14:36:00.005Z

just a short post, I was really impressed today by being given two swatch books to choose colours for lighting gels at a fashion show I am involved in putting on in early spring.
I am used to fabrics and paper and things you can hold but I haven't had a lot to do with lighting. but as the concept behind sections of the show are based around some of my thinking I have been given the task of organising the colour themes, which is great. I just spent some time on the rosco web site and am now spending time trying to work our colours.
I think the only really go way is to storyboard the show and have a model of the stage, all fun though.

busy time

2008-12-16T22:17:00.001Z

can't lie, I am really tired and probably won't get to post for a while, but will be sure to get a pre-christmas blog in the next few days.

motivation questions

2008-12-12T19:02:00.004Z

I am not sure what is going on with me at the moment.

I seem to be motivated but perhaps in the wrong way and have agreed to do far more than I would/should normally, I have agreed today to be part of a new working party looking innovation and creativity in the way the curriculum is delivered.

yesterday at a meeting in a university (strangely enough after meeting a face from my distant past) I have also agreed a to be the third part of a county wide apple mac training and delivery working group.

what is wrong with me as if I haven't got enough to do.

there seems to be inextricable links in the loosely termed 'creative industries' as the face from the past mentioned in his presentation yesterday. 'it's always the time when a we are getting good press and media coverage is also the time when the cash flow seems to dry up'.

I seem to be offered the most interesting things when I have no time to do them, and get so involved that my home life goes in to free-fall. I never learn and it keeps happening.

today I was leading a 'creative' day, (which was in the end very successful) but started with a huge amount of dis-organisation I had not put in the time to make sure others had got things done.

early start

2008-12-09T16:04:00.005Z

I was determined to post again today, I have a meeting about a fashion show in a short while and am going to the clothes show in birmingham tomorrow. sounds good doesn't it? (except for the 6 am start and the midnight return).
anyway I have been thinking about clothes a bit recently, it used to be pretty much all I thought about a few years ago, how things change!
I am still as interested as ever but for others rather than myself. so this winter 'I will be mostly wearing' shades of grey and black.

I haven't stopped honest

2008-12-08T16:07:00.007Z

you will notice that I havent been getting to post in the last few days. many reasons why too, boring, personal, etc. to explain here. but never the less did manage to go to an early christmas do. and was able to re-unite my liking of a certain western way of wearing a bow-tie. I am not a fan of the pre-made clip on things while they have have their place, I like to tie my own.

as worn in the picture above by judge garth (played by lee j. cobb), in 'the virginian'.

my mouth

2008-12-03T23:50:00.001Z

sometimes I so wish I could keep my mouth shut, today was one of those.

mixed messages > + cold surf

2008-12-02T21:45:00.005Z

I am not very bloggable at the moment, seem to be be motivated enough making sure to complete the stuff I am working with. yet another meeting tomorrow a way away from home, along with other projects running as well.
I am so pleased that I was able to get to the beach and in the water for a surf in beautifully clear cold water last saturday in (far west) south cornwall.
it is as if I am learning stuff from the bottom again. so my energies are elsewhere today, cloud cuckoo-land has been mentioned!

time

2008-12-01T21:36:00.002Z

I have long talked here about the way time seems to move, I seem to have a lack of it at the moment especially with the people I would like to spend it with, but that's the thing.
I have been chasing things today and not quite getting there.

it is all about priorities

2008-11-27T12:16:00.002Z

some days things happen that have to take priority, today is one of those.

that's a bit of a threat!

2008-11-26T14:12:00.004Z

I have noticed this sign before, but remembered to get a picture today. it is nothing to do with its design or typeface, rather its tone. I just thought as a 4X4 owner that it was just me feeling victimised, seems this local private car park thinking is to threaten all cars whatever the carbon foot-print or engine size or fuel type.

sorry I haven't been here much > so just a glimpse

2008-11-25T18:35:00.004Z

I normally manage to find time to get something posted most weekdays, but have to say that this has been quite difficult over the last few days, perhaps longer. but I think this is a good thing as it is because I have been busy in a good way.

I have often mentioned the eden project, and I was there again today more creative and media stuff. the work I am part of is being heavily documented elsewhere, no doubt I will refer to it in some way again but that is not for here. I always seem to have a glimpse of time while traveling to and from places. this image was taken today around 3 in the afternoon, just after leaving eden and captures the way things are currently.

one of those weeks

2008-11-21T21:00:00.004Z

well it has been one of those weeks, didn't even manage to get to post yesterday.

got my land rover back, it's fixed well I hope it's fixed. I got it back yesterday and have been driving around in it today, it appears to be fine. but it just seems strange that it's working again after making such a horrid bang and then shook and ground to a halt last week.

I have taken on far too much this week, so have spent far too much time trying to get it done. at least I managed to get another article written for go2 magazine, also got some new design work sort of finished to be presented on monday which will be interesting, and of course there is my real job.

however I am slowly getting back to normal and hope that next week I will be back properly.

18 years ago? happy birthday luca

2008-11-19T21:07:00.005Z

well today I find myself thinking back as it is my eldest sons 18th birthday. I hadn't really thought about it much until today too busy with my head in the clouds planning and attending meeting after meeting talking about the changes and educational futures of other peoples children (in my day job). I clearly remember the time around his birth, margaret thatcher was about to be driven out of downing street, she only had a day or so left. something at the time I was pleased about and still am. I also remember that petrol was expensive, as was housing and the country was looking at a new recession. so nothing new there then.

well I am very happy that my first born little boy is now able to vote, and hopefully will be responsibility for his own actions and his own future. I have just dropped him at the station to go in to the city with his friends for night-out. hope he has a good night.

cars and stuff (moan)

2008-11-17T19:05:00.006Z

I doubt it's just me, but each time my car goes wrong, which is thankfully not that often. I become extra well for want of a better word 'stressed', almost as if suddenly I have lost a bit of freedom. I do live in an area where public transport especially after dark is pretty much non existent so rely on my car too much.

I am without my car today, it went bang on friday. I didn't hit anything I think a prop-shaft bracket broke so made my land rover un-drivable. lucky enough I was able to walk to work today but forgotten just how wet you can get walking home in a cornish sea-side town when its windy and rainy, and you are not out for a proper walk. I would have enjoyed the walk on a summer evening or even if I had worn the correct clothing. tomorrow though I have to travel further so in need a car, luckily/hopefully I can use carols but no doubt I will be stressing at the price of repair as well.

like computers cars are one of the few things that cost a heap of money, and keep costing money until we eventually give up, give them away, them sell them or end up scrapping them there surely should be a better way.

must be eden again

2008-11-13T20:55:00.005Z

yes I was at eden again today, for a meeting. it was dull and rainy as you can see the weather not the meeting. but each time I go I always see something special, leaving the core I noticed the structure of the roof, and how the shapes make the water drain into a large concrete water collection bucket. Sounds simple it is, and it looks good and works too.

what's that you say? a night out!

2008-11-13T00:06:00.002Z

& very good it was too.

it is all about priorities

2008-11-11T19:34:00.004Z

for the first time in a while I really simply didn't have time to update / add to this blog yesterday. I am one of those people who seems unable to say no, so I have been chasing my tail going between being too stressed to think, too tired to sleep accepting more work as I go, but to be honest a am feeling OK about it. (just not enough hours in the day).
still it means that more important stuff (well the stuff that pays the bills) has to come first, so for a few days yet I might not be an quick on the posting front.

I like this

2008-11-07T21:31:00.006Z

I know this is not new, but I was searching out some stuff for work and was pleased to watch it again, so that's why its here. well worth 4 minutes.

fiat 500, just like an ad?

2008-11-06T18:02:00.007Z

this picture was taken on my blackberry phone while walking in beaune, france last week.

it was almost as it was staged for me, but it wasn't the car's driver had just popped into the shop nearby.

I have always liked the fiat 500 (mentioned in this blog before) and though I prefer the look of the original the new version is very pretty. I have played with the image a little bit, as you can see, but still a chance picture.

not much to add really, it's good news.

2008-11-05T10:37:00.011Z

picture courtesy of vogue magazine

it has to go down as an historic day. I listened to the bbc through the night even got a text from carol as the news spread across the world that mr obama was to be the next president of the USA. I have to say I am very pleased, though my thoughts from here are very european. I really hope that senator obama is able to carry through the promise he clearly shows.
I am the same age as him; from afar I simply marvel at the achievement of a man who has over come much prejudice and wish him every success. in the hope that america will be able to influence the world for the better in the coming years. is it possibly the start of something very special?

some good bbc coverage as well as justin webb's blog.

snow, skateboards, france

2008-11-04T21:18:00.006Z

I had to post this chance picture taken on my phone as the snow just started to fall heavily (in fact we didn't go out that day as the road conditions higher up, where we had planned to go were a bit tricky). but true to form (middle son) gabriel was more than happy to skate the empty road just out side the house, (I don't think a car went past all day).

I like this photo for so many reasons not least the gabriel's reflection / shadow on the road.

back from france

2008-11-03T23:13:00.005Z

well after almost 2000 miles of driving in the last week, through paris twice the second time at probably the busiest time of year (outside august). seeing proper snow as well as warm sunshine. I am back in cornwall obviously tired but pleased with a week of seeing different things. as usual over the coming weeks I will be sure to bore you with more pictures of things I find attractive, starting today. these pictures were taken in beaune (nr. dijon) a beautiful place famous for its 15th century hospital.

france again >> back in a week or so

2008-10-23T20:30:00.005Z

well I only have one more meeting (an important one) tomorrow, then by the evening all being well I/we will be on the way to france again. driving to dover and the ferry, then driving through northern france to spend a week in the burgundy area.

I have to say I feel really tired and more than ready for a little break. so plan to be away from this blog for a few days at least. I have to get some work done so I am taking stuff with me. and I might just feel the need to update, if not I should be back here on monday the 3rd of november '08.

meant to mention 'krowji' last week

2008-10-22T22:05:00.005Z

the other day I was out and about, eventually ending up at a meeting at krowji in west cornwall. great concept and a place with a really creative feel check the site krowji for a better explanation than I can give.

I was intrigued by was the way it made me feel. because it's based in an ex-school building very similar to the school I went to in the 70's. it made me feel at home, motivated, a bit nervous as well as happy all within a short time. the high ceilings the cast iron radiators combined with the over heavy doors with high door handles and big metal hinges. the difference is that is is now inhabited by creative practitioners of across many areas of the arts and media. as well as serving a really good coffee.

getting stuck by doing more

2008-10-21T20:06:00.007Z

as all those who have ever worked with design or creative planning must some times find that the more you do, the more you need to do. I have spent far too much time re-doing things on screen. I should have done as I always teach / nag. 'plan it on paper first don't let the computer software dictate the way your work looks'.

well today (and yesterday) I was my worst student. embarrassing as it is to admit but still. I will be completely re-working, and re-doing it all. with pencil and paper for a day or two.

on well back to real drawing hopefully it will help me create something better.

surfing as design inspiration >> surfing photos

2008-10-20T19:40:00.007Z

in my guise as a surf writer, surf website owner and stuff. I get all sorts emailed to me every day. when ever I get a mail from dave read (UK Pro Surf Association Ltd) I always have a look, more often than not a really good surf pic is attached. today's mail was no different this picture (above) ruebyn ash at the 'north east open' by lucia griggi / UKPSA

west cornwall > montol > use of space

2008-10-17T18:37:00.006Z

a bit of a change today, I was down in west cornwall for work. it was well worth the drive as the day was usefully thought provoking. I learnt about montol (the cornish word for the midwinter solstice), and whole lot more. check the montol website to find out more.

while watching a presentation I thought without looking I would simply photograph two view points slightly off the main interest area with the surprising result of making me consider the use of a space. probably doesn't make much sense at the moment but will do in the coming weeks.

nice veg!

2008-10-16T19:28:00.005Z

when I got home today I was surprised to see a box of fruit and vegetables on the work-top in the kitchen. what is so strange about that. well not much actually. but this one is not from the supermarket, still not strange, they are organic, still not strange.

the strange thing is that we have never done the veg shop this way before. the riverford organic vegetable company delivered our veg box today, its the one when you don't really know what is going to arrive so the haricot beans were substituted with sweet potatoes.

the real strange bit was the total lack of packaging just a cardboard box with stuff in it. I can't thin why we never did it before. i remember my mother getting fruit & veg like this when I was a small child in the 1960's, so nothing new just new to me today.

unwrapped organic real fruit and veg, now that is a cool brand.

all about hair?

2008-10-15T22:12:00.004Z

strange that after watching the british design genius on BBC2 programme. I mentioned to a few people today how much I liked the fact that paul smith's hair had pretty much stayed the same over the years. have to say I have watched the programme a few times and found it a great piece of work.

which then led me to an email conversation I had with a friend over the weekend. he is firmly rooted in the art world (successful too) yet we haven't actual see each other for a while. one of his questions, totally unrelated to the subject of the email conversation was, did I still have a full head of hair? well crazy as it sounds it was important so I emailed the picture above, (my hair as of last saturday). I received a picture back which doesn't need posting simply to say that it was entitled 'egg heads'.

in a world that has so many other things to think about, why do we care? I can't answer that but paul smith (sorry sir paul smith) is still cool.

hello mr smith

2008-10-14T15:30:00.010Z

I am looking forward to sitting down to watch BBC2 tonight. in the good old days when I thought I could hack it as a menswear designer, (a dream that didn't really last as long as it should have, but still). I met paul smith, even did some work for his brand involving print designs for mens shirts. it was a long time ago (mid 80's). he impressed me with his calmness before anything was said, he sat down at his desk took out some mini speakers connected them up to a cassette walkman pressed play, closed his eyes and listened to about 5-6 minutes of very calm classical music. in awe I simply sat quietly until he open his eyes looked up at me and said 'ok lets see what you have got'.

BBC2 at 9pm at British Style Genius

a bit corny I know

2008-10-13T22:50:00.005Z

well we all have to be corny sometimes, don't we?
I just couldn't resist this picture yesterday as I was walking back to the car after an afternoon in plymouth. it's the reflection of a travelodge in a glass fronted building belonging to a firm of solicitors.

design time (at last)

2008-10-10T19:51:00.006Z

paisleys (above) taken from an web ad for dwanda

when I get a moment (very rare in the last few weeks) I try to use it productively, by looking at design stuff, in fact at heaps of it. more often than not I get a moment look at something realise I like it it goes in to the memory and very often simply stays there.

so tonight led by designspotter, I found myself looking and perhaps learning from the some design ideas/drawings from stuart bannocks at aswellas.

I smply like the way things looked and the way things were drawn. might be worth a look aswellas. some good stuff, from. goldsmiths again

just not enough time today

2008-10-09T22:01:00.002Z

only just got in. much to do. so will get something posted tomorrow.

dgthekneelo

1967

should I come back?

been a long time, but had to post this

beach memories

again I post

good to see

long time no post

the christmas tree

tamworth

so pleased for gabi

south coast | surfing saturday

sunday

red

respect

kenilworth - plan 9 - covet

looking out to sea

sunday must be a trip to?

on the way home

carol gets a new car

new glasses

new things

washing line again

orange

surfing weekend

london weekend

nr. truro

surf stuff

summer2?

summer1?

summer?

more stuff from france

haven't found the time

to france again

blur, hyde park, july 2009

sunny travels

Luca - show @ liskeard

a bath weekend

sunday - sunshine - surfing

the surfing tribe

william castleman | time lapse

guerilla's

promoting Luca

feed the fish

cornwall film on vimeo

vimeo

bench sleeping

facebook oh dear

at home on the harbour side

I liked this sign

just a little bit of time

so pleased for gabi, ecuador world junior surf comp.

time for fashion

busy

wish I had this!

tilt shift photos

do lectures *brilliant*

london

had to join the masses and post

TR2

getting involved

this morning

love - hate thing

it's always about something

new year

happy christmas

at some point >> no surprises

gel

busy time

motivation questions

early start

I haven't stopped honest

my mouth

mixed messages > + cold surf

time

it is all about priorities

that's a bit of a threat!

sorry I haven't been here much > so just a glimpse

one of those weeks

18 years ago? happy birthday luca

do lectures brilliant