Been a while

Just realised that I've not posted here in a while!

Since the last post was about starting a photography course, then this one is too.  I've finished the basic course and started the intermediate, and in between, had a wee break in Marrakesh.  So, that's us pretty much up to date.

Last week, at the course, the instructor asked where I'd gone on holiday.  The exchange went something like this....

"So where did you get to on your travels?"

"Marrakesh.  It's getting to be my favourite city"

"You'll have had some great photo ops there.  Hope you took your camera."

".............."

"You DID take your camera?"

"Well, I only had hand luggage, so not exactly.  I did take a wee compact camera, and I did get some cool photos though."

"Hmmmm.  I'll let you off I suppose."

One of the lions in George Square, from the first photography course

Photography course

So I’ve started on a basic photography course at the local collage.  It’s running for 8 weeks on a Tuesday night.  I think I need to do this as without it, I’ll probably never take the camera off the automatic setting, and that would (a) be a shame, and (b) a waste of money, as I could have opted for a cheaper point and shoot rather than the bridge camera I went for.

I used to use (and still own) a 35mm SLR, and my wife was wanting to get me a digital one for my birthday a couple of years ago.  On the advice of a friend who’s a photographer, I went for the bridge.  His reasoning was that it’s a fair bit cheaper, and while I can’t change the lenses, it has the features of an SLR, so I can find out if I want to use them or stick to auto.  If I use them, then I can upgrade to an SLR, and worst case is that the bridge is a really good camera to take on holiday and keep handy for snaps, when I’m not planning to take pics, and having to carry about a larger SLR. 
If I DON’T use the manual features, then it means money hasn’t been wasted on something that won’t be used, so it’s a win-win.

Since the auto feature is banned in the class, and we’ll be using manual all the time, I’ve already started looking as SLR’s in the camera shops and drooling a little, so I think I know how this is all going to pan out.

Stress puppy

Really on edge today.  Everyone seems to be talking AT me, not TO me.  Add to that, the fact that everyone seems to be moaning complaining and generally being negative all the time, and I'm getting so close to screaming.

I met my mum for lunch, and even she was just being negative.  It's like if people don't complain then they have nothing to say.  Conversation is dead.  Reality tv has killed off any intellect people had.  Everyone is walking about surrounded by pressure to buy this, buy that, watch this, watch that.
Newspapers are full of borderline fascist stories, designed to blame the poor/disabled/migrants (delete as applicable to your red top today), for the country's (at best) woes, if not the world's.

There's an information overload, and if you're looking in the wrong place then you're being suckered by the government smoke and mirrors, designed to make you think that it's people on benefits that are costing the country, and not the politicians abusing and scamming their expenses at the cost of the taxpayers.

People really don't care.  As long as they have their faces buried in their smartphones 27/7 they're immune to that's going on.

Work, consume, die.  Be a happy consumer.  It doesn't matter that you hate your job, and that it's having an effect on your relationships, you're health, and you're life in general.  As long as you work yourself to the grave, we'll continue to dangle the latest "must have" electronic shiny, in front of you.  Do some overtime and you might be able to afford it. (But by that point another "must have" will be out, and you'll have to keep working to get that one).

Maybe I'm being cynical.  Maybe I'm just having a really bad day.  But consider this for one minute.  What if I'm right.  What if the matrix is real.  What if this is it.  This is all there is.

No, it's not all.  Get outdoors.  Get away from the city.  Find a river, a beach, a lake.  Somewhere you can be alone.  Do NOT take your smartphone or tablet.  Leave it in the car.  Now, take your shoes off.  Bury your toes in the sand/pebbles.  Feel the grass under your feet.  Breathe in the tranquility.  Lie back and bask in it, and realise, THIS IS LIVING.

Bike stuff

Got the old (well six years old) hybrid serviced today in work, by Dr Bike.
Clean bill of health, apart from a stretched chain, which although currently ok-ish, should really be replaced in the near future.

So, that's both bikes serviced and good to go.  For the chain replacement, I think I'll give my business to Bike +, a wee independent bike shop on the south side of Glasgow, where we picked up my wife's "sit-up-and-beg", which she absolutely loves, basket and all.  Despite being slow as hell, she isn't getting the back/wrist pain she was getting on her mountain bike, so it's all good, and as the saying goes, a 10 mile ride in 1 hour or a 10 mile ride in 2 hours, is still a 10 mile ride.

Bike related reading

In a change from running related reading, I give you  BIKE RELATED READING.

I've not started this yet, but almost ready to.

Cycling t-shirt

Just couldn't resist this t-shirt.  What's not to love.

Travels with the camera

Flowers on the banks of Loch Venachar

Busy weekend

We've just had a bank holiday weekend, and I managed to pack a fair bit into it.  Out on the bike on Saturday afternoon to watch the Glasgow Uni boat race on the Clyde, before mini golf with the karate club on Saturday night. 

The Largs food festival on Sunday was really good, although I missed out on the free tastings of wine, whisky and beer, as I was in the drivers seat :-(

Yesterday, we headed to Braehead for a wee bit, before going out to Pollok park on the bikes, and then finished up with a wee spot of gardening while the weather was still good.  Good to play with the new lawnmower too, and it's a lot easier to use than the old Flymo, which to be honest gave me a sore back whenever I used it (old age).

Running again

Over the weekend, I managed to get out for my first run this year.
I’ve been really lazy, and got the “can’t be arsed” stage, as it seemed like a huge wall was up between me and running, but on Saturday night, I left out the running gear, and on Sunday morning I got up and went out.  I have to admit I almost didn’t as it was raining, but I thought “Sod it.” and went anyway.

At 7.00am, I pretty much had Pollok estate to myself, and only saw another 3 or 4 people running.  I’m really lucky to have this park literally on my doorstep, and sometimes I take it for granted.

The rain was soon forgotten (I have always had a problem setting out in the rain.  I don’t mind it starting once I’m out, but seeing it rain before I set off makes it hard for me to get out the door) and I was quickly just enjoying the run and the “me” time.

As I haven’t run in about six months, I took it easy, and just did a wee loop that comes in at just under 5.5k.  A nice wee easy pace too.

Thighs were a bit achey the next day, but in a good way.  I also felt really good for the rest of the day.  That’s one of the things I love about running.  I always feel better about myself and life in general when I’m running.  My wife thinks I’m a lot happier a person and more positive when I run, so it does have benefits for mental well-being as well as physical health benefits.

Anyway, here’s a wee pic from a few years ago when I was a member of Bellahouston Road Runners (when I get back up to speed, I plan to re-join).  I’m the one in the purple vest.

 

 

As true today as it was in 1939

"If you who own the things people must have could understand this, you might preserve yourself.  If you could seperate causes from results, if you could know that Pain, Marx, Jefferson, Lenin, were results, not causes, you might survive.  But that you cannont know.  For the quality of owning forces you forever into "I, " and cuts you off forever from the "we."

John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath

meh

The weather has again taken a turn for the worse.  After having a couple of glorious weeks of sunshine (admittedly it was still cool) it's back to rain, hail and even snow.

meh

On the plus side, I'm psyched up for getting back out running again.  Got some new kit to inspire me, and I'm good to go.  But being a bit of a wimp, I'll wait for the weather to clear up at least a little.  

And here it is......

Heading out for the first run

Rest time

Almost there

So I checked out two bikes, the Genesis Croix de Fer, and the Cannondale CAADX Sora, and went with the Cannondale.
The Cannondale comes in a 61 while the Genesis maxes out at 58, and to be honest, while the Genesis was a really nice bike to ride, the Cannondale, while also being a nice ride, is just (for me at 6' 4") that much more comfy, and hey, if a bike isn't comfy, I'm not going to enjoy riding it.

I've done all the paperwork for the Cycle2Work scheme, and got the voucher, so, this Thursday, a mere 2 days from now, I'm picking up my new bike.

*happy dance*

Bike update

I've got a test ride on a Cannondale CAADX Sora disc, on Friday.  Then when the Cycle 2 Work kicks in (should be next week), I apply to the scheme, get the voucher, and pick up the bike.
Woo hoo!

In other news, I got my nose pierced (nostril).  Been thinking about this for God knows how long, and finally though "Well, I'm not getting any younger, better just go for it".
It was surprisingly easy to get done, just a wee nip as the needle went in, and then my eye watered a little.
Healing was been fine so far, with no problems (touch wood).

The great clearout of 2015 is still ongoing, with a dvd blitz planned for the weekend, in which I'll get rid of all the movies that in reality I probably won't watch again, or at least not often enough to justify shelf space, when I can get them from LoveFilm if I want in the future.

And that is the current state of play.

It's been a while

Dunno why I've not been posting more regularly, but here's a wee update.

I AM getting a second bike.  I'm 99% certain it's going to be a cross.  The hybrid has had a rack and panniers added and is going to be used for trips to the shops instead of the car, and for going out at a more leisurely pace when I'm out with Karen, as her "sit up and beg" type bike isn't designed for anything more that that sort of speed.

The second bike will be used for a speedier commute, and if I go on any longer rides.  That's the plan at any rate.

meh

Scunnered, fed up, pissed off, and loaded with the cold to boot.
Thank fck it's Friday.

Guitar lesson tomorrow was cancelled. Tried to re-schedule, but a clash of other things meant it's now just cancelled and normal service will be resumed next week.  Just as well really since I've got the lurgi. Hopefully it'll clear up for badminton on Sunday, otherwise I'll get gubbed.

Getting really hacked off....

with self centred people who are only interested in themselves, and their own sense of self worth.
People who think that the place will crumble and grind to a halt without them, that ask you something, yet don't listen to you when you answer.

Fuck them.  Fuck them all.

Thoughts on the clearout

I've posted before about my neverending clearout, and yesterday had a moment of clarity.  I'd recently bought some ebooks for my kindle, and got an email from Amazon saying that they were giving me a voucher for a free ebook as a result of my recent purchases.  There were about six books to choose from, but the only one I'd have had any interest in was Stardust by Neil Gaimen, which I already own.  I took it anyway.
This meant I could now pass on/sell/trade my dead tree edition of the same book.  Which got me thinking "Get rid of all of them except the signed one" - Smoke and Mirrors in case your interested - and replace them with ebooks.
This makes sense, as it clears up space, and lets someone else get pleasure from the physical books.  I've already done this with Terry Pratchet's books.  I've twice now, cleared out all the TP books I had, under the reasoning that, although I love them, I need space, and let's face it, they'll never go out of print, so I can replace them anytime.  This is currently happening, as my reading pattern lately is one serious book, one TP for light relief.  This works really well, and I'm getting to enjoy TP all over again.  I think once I'm done with the Song of Ice and Fire books, I'll start replacing the Gaiman books with ebooks and clear up more space.

I love my ebook reader, and while I do like a physical book, there simply isn't the space on the shelves to keep buying on not clear out.

The Dalai Llama once said that accumulating "things" isn't a problem in itself, it's when you form an attachment that won't allow you to let go, that's when there's a problem.  This is my chance to downsize and still have an extensive library, albeit in electronic form.

Obviously I'll be keeping some books, and there will always be the odd purchase.  But I plan to make about 90% of my reading, on the kindle.

Wild

Just before Christmas I was doing some random browsing in Waterstones, and came across Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  After reading the blurb I thought "Yeah, this sounds pretty good, I'll give it a go", and today at lunchtime, I finished it.

You know how every once in a while you get a book so good that you don't want it to end?  Well for me this is one of those books.  This is one that despite my ongoing/never ending clearout, I'll be keeping.  Other books that I've felt the same about are Born to Run, Into the Wild, & The Kite Runner.  Strange that considering how much I love SF and Fantasy, I can't think off-hand of any books in those genres that I wouldn't consider ditching if it came to it.

Anyway, if you have a love of the outdoors/adventure and want a really good read, this tale of one woman's voyage of self discovery on the Pacific Crest Trail, is one I'd recommend.