Turner Seascape - Water - Fraser Island (Sun 28 Apr 2002)

Turner Seascape - Water - Fraser Island (Sun 28 Apr 2002)

Everybody Needs Love - Drive-By Truckers - David Letterman Show - 21 Jun 2011 (youtube)

Everybody Needs Love - Drive-By Truckers - David Letterman Show - 21 Jun 2011 (youtube)
Back to Kirrawee this week and I have a Television, PVR, Heater and a nice lounge to lay on now. Getting back late each night because of all the training and finding myself falling asleep in front of the Heater and TV. Woke up near the end of The Late Show with David Letterman to this song. Dave liked it that much (as I did - it woke me up nicely) and asked the Guys to play it again after telling a great story - He drove to Kansas City with Song on repeat.

Everybody Needs Love Lyrics

The moonbeams we can dream on
And the working day is done
And there's stars we can wish upon
At the setting of the sun

The sunsets we can cry over
Put our troubles on the hunt
But more than all these miracles above
Good people, we got love

Everybody needs love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love
Just like they need the sun and moon, and stars up above

And nobody ever found happiness
Living their lives all alone
I used to go around saying I didn't need nobody
To be happy and alone

And one sad day I found myself in trouble
Way down without a friend
Along came the love of a real good woman
Said she'll love me 'til the end

Everybody needs love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love
Just like they need the sun and moon, and stars up above, mmm

Everybody needs love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love
Just like they need the sun and moon, and stars up above

Everybody needs love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love, love
Everybody needs love, love, love
Just like they need the sun and moon, and stars up above
They need love

Everybody, everybody, everybody needs love
Everybody needs love, love, love, love, love, love, love
Love, love, love, love, love

Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love

As Jeff Fenech once said I love youse all.

Most memorable post-match comments - The Age (09 Oct 2005) ..

Jeff Fenech: [..] Multiple world champion Jeff Fenech was tough, talented and wildly popular. So much so that before his 1987 title fight against Thailand’s Samart Payakarun, Hawke rang to wish him good luck. Perhaps he also offered some tips in the art of memorable speech making, because it was after beating Payakarun into a bloody pulp that Fenech first issued his trademark "I love youse all", following up with the equally catchy: "With 12,000 of the most beautifullest people in the world cheering me on, it’s hard to feel pain." [..]

Panama - Eddie Van Halen / Paul Shaffer and The World's Most Dangerous Band - David Letterman - 1984 (youtube)

Panama - Eddie Van Halen / Paul Shaffer and The World's Most Dangerous Band - David Letterman - 1984 (youtube)
Random Recollection - Back in my Eiffel days, I suggested the name Panama, for an Eiffel-like derivative scripting language, based on the fact that Gustave Eiffel had been involved (controversially) in the creation of the Panama Canal. The suggestion was well received, however a little bit searching found that the name had already taken by Oracle (more here). The language would be ultimately named Amber.

Not Enough and Jump (encore) - Van Halen - David Letterman - 1995 (youtube)

Not Enough (more) and Jump (encore) - Van Halen - David Letterman Show 1995 (youtube)
Always try to find a Letterman live performance whenever I put a music video here. Was hoping to find Jump (heard it on the radio yesterday for the time in many years) but ended up with this beautiful song, Not Enough. And believe it or not, there is small encore for the last 50 seconds where they play Jump.

Not Enough Lyrics

To love somebody naturally
To love somebody faithfully
To love somebody equally
Is not enough, it's not enough
It's not enough

To love somebody secretly (And never touch)
To love somebody honestly (And always trust)
To love somebody tenderly
The tender touch is not enough
It's not enough

Love hurts you sometimes
It's not so easy to find, no
Searchin' everywhere, you turn and swear (Ahh-ahh-ahh)
It's always been there

To love somebody foolishly
(Can happen once)
To love somebody hopelessly
(It hurts so much)
To love somebody equally
Is not enough, it's not enough
It's not enough

Love takes a little time
It's not so easy to find, no, no
Searchin' everywhere, you turn and swear
It's always been there

(Guitar Solo)
Standin' there....

Oh!

And if it don't come easily
One thing you must believe
You can always have trust in me
'Cause my heart will always be yours honestly

Yeah! Love hurts you sometimes
Not so easy to find, no-oh
Searchin' everywhere, you turn and swear (Ahh-ahh-ahh)
It's always been there, standin' there
Love hurts you sometimes
It's not yours, it's not mine, no-oh
Love is only to share
You turn and swear (Ahh-ahh-ahh) it's everywhere
Standin' there (Ahh-ahh)
'Cause it's always been there

The sweet taste of change ..

I recently had the opportunity to tell the following story between sets at a recent Australian Dragon Boat training session. It comes from the Novel By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho. Here it is ..

The padre took a deep breath. He hesitated for a moment and then said:

"A scientist who studied monkeys on an island in Indonesia was able to teach a certain one to wash bananas in the river before eating them. Cleansed of sand and dirt, the food was more flavourful. The scientist - who did this only because he was studying the learning capacity of monkeys - did not imagine what would eventually happen. So he was surprised to see that the other monkeys on the island began to imitate the first one."

"And then, one day when a certain number of monkeys had learned to wash their bananas, the monkeys on all of the islands in the archipeligo began to do the same thing. What was surprising though was the other monkeys learned to do so without having had any contact with island where the experiment had been conducted."

He stopped. "Do you understand?"

"No" I answered.

"There are several similar scientific studies. The most common explanationn is that when a certain number of people evolve, the entire human race begins to evolve. We don't know how many are needed - but we know that's how it works."

Premier Open 500m Final - IDBF Dragon Boat World Champs - Sydney 2007 (Sun 23 Sep 2007)
A bit of a ramble to follow ..

Whenever I go to a Dragon Boat Regatta, I always look at the other teams when they are racing and I am always amazed at all the different techniques that are on display. Not one team is the same. I have seen so many variations on how to paddle, I know there is no one right way. The main thing is that a team and all its paddlers are consistent with their technique and blend together as a team. There are always slight variations between the paddlers, but overall everyone is pretty much doing the same thing.

How is this done? Firstly, a coach or coaching team will decide on a technique to be used. Most coaches are often learning and looking for new ways to make the team go faster. So from season to season you will see changes in technique that can go from subtle to extreme.

Once a new technique is decided upon it is a matter of the Coach and the Team getting down to business and putting it into practice through purposeful training. This will all take time as new physical and mental pathways are developed by the paddlers. Some paddlers will adapt to the changes quicker than others. Often video footage will help a paddler see what they are doing compared to what they think they are doing. At times the changes are made quickly and other times the changes seem to take forever to come through. One way or another, the changes are made and the team is paddling with tne new technique. What you see at Regatta's is proof of this fact.

Paddling is often about a feeling, be it the connection with the water or about what you feel and believe when you paddle. I have always believed that if you can think, visualise and feel it, then you are well on the way to making the changes needed to adapt to a new paddling technique (or for that matter, anything you set your heart to).

So for those working through change, make of it what you can from the above story. I think there are a few nice metaphors there to work with.

The keywords being: Learning, Training, Mimicry and Believing.

Senior Mixed 500m Final - IDBF Dragon Boat World Champs - 200m to go - "The Break" - "It was insane, but it worked" - It's not about the Paddle – Prague/Racice - Day 4 (Sat 29 Aug 2009)

Jenny - St George Private Hospital (11:48am Tue 23 Jun 2009)

Jenny - Two years ago, just now!! - St George Private Hospital (11:48am Tue 23 Jun 2009)
Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road

Time grabs you by the wrist
directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
and don't ask why
It's not a question
But a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time
of your life

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf
in good health and good time

Time of your Life by Green Day


The last photo I took of Jenny before her heart failed, about an hour later, while she was having her lunch. I have written briefly about it here:

• Angels on the Moon - Thriving Ivory (youtube)
  

There seemed to be so much hope as I took this photo.

For me, it was the hope that we could take her home (she had negotiated it to be Wed, so Jo and I could go to our Aus Dragon Boat training session that Tue night) and care for her until she quietly left us, like Jenny and Jo had done with Margaret, their mother, 10 years earlier.

It was not meant to be and it is amazing how quickly things can change and how you need to accept, adapt and let go to the circumstances which we are confronted with as we move through life.

It is in these moments that I came to fully understand the following words from Paulo Coehlo's novel, The Fifth Mountain (which I would read 6 months later):

Fear reaches only to the point where the unavoidable begins; from there on, it loses its meaning. And all we have left is the hope that we are making the right decision.

A story for another day.

For now, I remember Jenny and the final week of her life, that she spent in Intensive Care Unit of St George Private Hospital, before she left us on Tue 30 Jun 2009.

Postscript

Amazingly, about an hour after posting the above (maybe about the time Jenny's heart failed two years earlier), a post titled Regrets came through from Paulo Coelho. It is based on this post:

• Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware

It touchs on the time I had hoped for at home with Jenny and things we might have been able to talk about.

In the end, she left us very suddenly (and with much trauma - unlike her Mothers passing which was very peaceful and serene, if you can understand that) and we were not able to say goodbye.

I carry some of the regrets Bronnie mentions, but in the end I would like to think we lived a good life that allowed us to make the most of the time we had together.

The Cancer made us better people and we did live life to full - Do what you can, when you can. I would say. For Jenny, it was Don't Wonder 'What If?'. Every time we parted, I would say I love you and often many times in between.

One thing I know for sure, it is that through Jenny's life and passing, I have become a better person - I feel guilty about this in many ways, but at the same time I draw some comfort.

Time of Your Life - an amazing accoustic version - Green Day (youtube)

Emotional Preparation For The Olympic Games by Cal Botterill

Emotional Preparation For The Olympic Games by Cal Botterill

A great article and one worth reading. Here are some random points ..

Being clear minded should be an important objective going into the Games [Championships]. Once again though, it is critical to feel focused and occupied and to avoid falling into the human tendency to start overanalyzing. It has been suggested that "nothing never happens"; in the absence of a constructive focus our minds sometimes start "over-thinking" or "over-perceiving."

• Enjoy the emotional spectrum that is part of life.



• Accept and experience feelings, let them go, and channel the energy into growth and effective responses.



• Respect the power and positive and negative significance of emotions on your system.



• Manage relationships and time so that you do not become emotionally drained at key times in your life, especially when working hard physically and mentally.



• Let go of irrational beliefs and perspectives.



• Reaffirm your mission, values, and perspective.



• Live. Never have to say, "I wish I would have ..."

An athlete should be confident in mental skills going into the Games [Championships]. Responses to stress and boredom should automatically be constructive, and time and relationship skills should be crisp and effective. Creative simulations, quality training sessions, and lead-up competitions can help ensure the rust is off attention and competitive skills during the countdown.

He concludes with the following:

I would say to each of our Olympic athletes: Walk away knowing you gave it your best shot and exulted in the opportunity to test yourself in one of the most prestigious and emotional environments in the world. Accept that you can never totally control your emotions that is part of the challenge of being human. With emotional preparation, practice, and management we can often come closer to our situational potential.

Compete with passion, perspective, and preparation and be all you can be as you pursue your Olympic destiny. I wish you physical prowess, a clear mind, and an unburdened heart. Citius, Altius, Fortius! [The Olympic Motto]

Definitely worth a read. Take from it what you can for your own mental preparation.

PD's Mixed Team Pre-race Team Huddle - 2011 Nationals - Canberra (Fri 01 Apr 2011)
Willy and George - Pre-race Preparation/Rituals - Senior A Mixed 500m Final - Racice /Prague (Sat 29 Aug 2009)

Some Down Time - Chinese New Year - Darling Harbour / Sydney (Sat 06 Feb 2009)
Turning it on - World Club Crews - Penang / Malaysia (Sat 02 Aug 2008)

Street Band - 1990 New York City Marathon - Brooklyn (Sun 04 Nov 1990)

Street Band - 1990 New York City Marathon - Brooklyn (Sun 04 Nov 1990)
When I ran the New York City Marathon in Nov 1990, I borrowed Tim's small point and shoot film camera (no commercial accessible digital cameras back then) for the trip and ran with it during the Marathon.

This is my favourite photo from the run - I heard and saw the band playing on the side walk, so I just pulled over for a moment and snapped this shot.

You can see the Northern World Trade Centre Tower in the distance on the left of the photo - it is from there I took this photo of the Brooklyn Bridge in Oct 1988.

I love the one lone audience member - the guy in the Blue Shirt. Also the car with the boot/'trunk' open.

The Shallows - Water - Albany / Western Australia (Sun 18 Apr 2004)

The Shallows - Water - Albany / Western Australia (Sun 18 Apr 2004)

The Fifth Mountain - Book - Paulo Coelho

From The Fifth Mountain by Paulo Coelho:

Tragedies do happen. We can discover the reason, blame others, imagine how different our lives would be had they not occurred. But none of that is important: they did occur, and so be it. From there onward we must put aside the fear that they awoke in us and begin to rebuild.

I read this book in early 2010 while on 3 months leave from work .

The Fifth Mountain is an instance (a computer term from Object Orient Programming) of Paulo's book, Manual of the Warrior of Light, which I have drawn much inspiration over the last 18 months or so.

Having read the Fifth Mountain after the Manual of the Warrior of Light I could see the Warrior metaphors in the story (surprised this has received little or no comment on the various online reviews/discussions I have read of The Fifth Mountain). And just to confirm my feelings about this, it becomes plainly obvious in the last few pages of the book.

Looking back now over the last two years, and in particular the time since I read the book, I can say it is an amazing book - probably the book I have learnt the most.

Strongly recommended if you have been where I have been, felt what I have felt and seen what I have seen (Do you see what I See?).

The Shallows - Water - Albany / Western Australia (Sun 18 Apr 2004)

Yin and Yang - Water - Fraser Island (w) (Sun 28 Apr 2002)

Yin and Yang- Water - Coral Sea - Kingfisher Bay Resort / Fraser Island (w) (5:47pm Sun 28 Apr 2002)

The warrior of light is now waking from his dream.

The warrior of light is now waking from his dream.

He thinks:

‘I do not know how to deal with this light that is making me grow.’

The light, however, does not disappear.

The warrior thinks:

‘Changes must be made that I do not feel like making.’

The light remains. Then the eyes and heart of the warrior begin to grow accustomed to the light. It is no longer frightens him and he finally accepts his own Legend, even if this means running risks.

The warrior has been asleep for a long time. It is only natural that he should wake up very gradually.

From the Manual of the Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho.

Making a few changes in my life and I am happy about that. Does seem a bit like the above.

Yin and Yang- Water - Coral Sea - Kingfisher Bay Resort / Fraser Island (w) (5:47pm Sun 28 Apr 2002)

I am not gonna give in - Ending Ascent - Livestrong (youtube)

"I am not gonna give in" - Livestrong - Ending Ascent (youtube)
From Ad Forum:

"engine" is a Nike film about LIVESTRONG.

The film finds Lance Armstrong climbing a mountain on a training ride.

Around him, fuelling him, are a peloton of voices.

These voices are the words of people all over the world making efforts in the spirit of LIVESTRONG.

As Lance Armstrong rides, the voices tell of people facing challenges, facing cancer, coming to grips with what's next, getting up and improving their lives, inspiring others and making amazing goals come to life all over the world.

In the end, the "engine" in the film is both Lance Armstrong and the meaning of LIVESTRONG in all these people's lives.

It's what can be accomplished together with the idea of living better and supporting each other all summed up with Nike and its message of human potential:

Just do it.

On Failing - Michael Jordon (youtube)

I've failed over and over and over again in my life - Micheal Jordan (youtube)
Michael Jordan on failing ..

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.

I've lost almost 300 games.

26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.

I've failed over and over and over again in my life.

And that is why I succeed.

Matthew Syed (w) in his book Bounce explains:

This may seem odd, but it is central to the belief system of most top performers. Remember the Nike advert where Michael Jordon says [the above]?

Many were bemused by the message, but to Jordan - a living, breathing testament to the growth mindset - it expressed a deep and urgent truth: in order to become the greatest basketball player of all time, you have to embrace failure.

'Mental toughness and heart are a lot stronger than some of the physical advantages you might have,'

he said.

'I've always believed that.'

Australian Senior Dragon Boat Team - IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships Collage - SIRC / Sydney (Sep 2007)

Australian Senior Dragon Boat Team - IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships Collage - SIRC / Sydney (Sep 2007)

What is Mindfulness?

What is Mindfulness?

• Nonconceptual - Mindfulness is awareness without absorption in our thought process.
  
  We are aware of what we are experiencing during the race, rather than distracted by thoughts.



• Present-centered - Mindfulness is always in the present moment. Thoughts about our experience are one step removed from the present moment.
  
  Thoughts from the past or in the future are unhelpful for performance. We are best served being absorbed in the present moment, present stroke, present feeling.



• Nonjudgemental - Awareness cannot occur freely if we would like our experience to be other than it is.
  
  Pain, and distractions are not judged as good, bad, or overwhelming, but just acknowledged without removing your focus from your paddling.



• Intentional - Mindfulness always includes an intention to direct attention somewhere. Returning attention to the present moment gives mindfulness continuity over time.
  
  Your attention will wander, continually bringing it back develops the ability to maintain focus.



• Participant observation - Mindfulness is not detached witnessing. It is experiencing the mind and body more intimately.
  
  Brings you more in touch with the feel of the water and how you are paddling.



• Nonverbal - The experience of mindfulness cannot be captured in words, because awareness is always investigating subtler levels of perception.
  
  Mindfulness involves feeling and experiencing rather than putting things into words or judging what you are feeling.



• Liberating - Every moment of mindful awareness provides freedom from conditioned suffering.
  
  'Conditioned suffering' is a harsh term for unhelpful thought processes that may invoke unnecessary fear, sadness, anger or undermine confidence.

Taken from Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, Germer, Siegel and Fulton, with words in italics added.

Just found this amongst my Sydney 2007 emails. Will find appropriate credit for the paddling tips.

Frozen - Water - Perisher Valley (Wed 27 Jun 2001)

Red - Tree - Tempus Two / Pokolbin (Sat 27 Jul 2002)

Red - Tree - Tempus Two / Pokolbin (Sat 27 Jul 2002)

Kettlebell Twist - Born this Way - Lady Gaga (youtube)

Born this Way - Lady Gaga (youtube)
Each campaign has its moments - those moments that take you by surprise, capture your imagination, make you realise with crystal-like clarity why you are doing what you doing and, best of all, put a smile on your face.

Tonight I just had one of those moments for this Campaign, with all of us in a line doing our one-arm kettlebell exercises to the beat and rhythm of this song - Born this Way. Kettlebells will never be the same.

The Video is in production and on task for a northern summer release and World Premiere in Tampa Bay where the International Dragon Boat Community will come together to view it for the first time. Stay tuned ..

Carmen, Lisa, Karen, Tamara, Jo, Rachel, Frank and Gio (and all the others that have ventured to Concord on a Tuesday Night) you have made the fitness testing workouts so much fun. You encourage and inspire me to be better than I thought I ever could be. You make me realise how lucky I am to be involved in this experience we share on the Road to Tampa.

Thank You.


My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir

There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are
She said, 'cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far
Listen to me when I say

I'm beautiful in my way,
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause baby, you were born this way

I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to survive

I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave

Karen, Carmen and Lisa - Born this Way - Twist - Just warming up - Fitness2u / Concord (Tue 14 Jun 2011)

Pacific Dragons - Five Islands Regatta / Wollongong (Sun 18 Jan 2009)

Pacific Dragons - Five Islands Outrigger OC6 Regatta / Wollongong (Sun 18 Jan 2009)

knowing how powerful it is not to know - Bono / Brooklyn (22 Nov 2004)

Thomas, Grant, Betty, Lynn and Grace - Manahattan bound - I don't know who was more excited - Grace or me (and I was not even going along) - Departure Gate / Sydney International Airport (Sun 19 Dec 2010)
Recently posted a video clip of a U2 Performance of the City of Blinding Light at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Empire - Fulton Ferry State Park.

In the preamble to the performance, Bono becomes quite nostalgic.

In my previous post back on Sat 16 Apr 2011, I included a snippet of his little talk which I have thought about a lot recently.

This is what Bono said in full:

Look at this. That is wild. What a sight. Wow look at that. [Bono pointing to the Brooklyn Bridge]

Sometimes you forget why it was that you wanted to be in a band. So going into this we reminded ourselves of why we wanted to be in a band.

We listened to the albums that excited us when we wanted to be in a band [..] the music and what it felt like to arrive here in the United States. To come over the [Brooklyn] Bridge into Manhattan. Snow was on the ground. It was:

"an amazing magical time in our lives when we did not know how powerful it was not to know".

This is a song about innocence, naivety and it is called "City of Blinding Lights".

The chorus is set in New York City looking at Brooklyn.

I feel that these words are quite profound and the feelings he is trying to describe are universal and generic. They can be applied to not only rock and roll superstars, but mere mortals like myself who progress through life little steps at a time.

I have always recognised the importance of acknowledging your past and to reflect on your past (though it might be painful at times) - it is something I have spent a bit of time on lately. It will help you understand who you have been, who you are now and where you are heading.

Here is the video again ..

City of Blinding Lights / U2 - Empire - Fulton Ferry State Park / Brooklyn Bridge / Brooklyn Bridge / New York (22 Nov 2004 - youtube)
Bono's words make me think of some similar words that have captured my imagination, these words coming from Ken Burns (e) a little bit earlier in that year of 2004 at his 2004 Yale Commencement Speech:

As you pursue your goals in life, that is to say your future, pursue your past. Let it be your guide. Insist on having a past and then you will have a future. [..]

Insist on heroes. And be one. [..]

Travel. Do not get stuck in one place. [..]
Whatever you do, walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Ken Burns - 2004 Commencement Yale Class Day Speech (as pdf)

I drift back a little back into my past - 1990. Jenny and I had been going out for about six months and she encouraged and inspired me to achieve one of my Dream's - to run the New York City Marathon ..

Geoff - New York City Marathon - Nov 1990 - Brooklyn (picasa)
I look into my eyes above and I see an innocence, naivety, wonder and hope that Bono talks about above through his own experiences as musician. It all seemed to be in front of us back then and it was.

Jenny and I (and of course Joanne) had an amazing life together and though Jenny is not a part of our physical lives anymore, I would like to think that Jo and I have continued to live an amazing, wonderful and fulfilling life in Jenny's absence. It is my hope that I still have a touch of the same innocence and naivety, that I can see above, as I move forward in my life.

Street Band - 1990 New York City Marathon - Sun 04 Nov 1990
This post is dedicated to my niece Grace and nephew Thomas. To travel and spend time in Manhattan as you did for Christmas 2010 will be a formative experience for you. Use the experience to help guide you as you progress through your life.

Now that's a Snowball - Grace and Thomas (my niece and nephew) - Central Park / Manhattan (Mon 27 Dec 2010)

Process - Vern Gambetta (Thu 09 Jun 2011)

Small Steps - Fingal Beach / Fingal Bay (Sun 25 Aug 2002)
Another fantastic post from Vern Gambetta (e):

Process by Vern Gambetta (Thu 09 Jun 2011):

Process, get absorbed in it and revel in it because process is the secret!

Focus on the process and the outcome will take care of itself.

To win a championship or a gold medal is a process, it is not a one off event.

You win championships and medals a little bit at a time, bite-by-bite, chunk-by-chunk, a series of small wins and forward moving baby steps.

We see the leaps and bounds in performance because they are so big and very visible but it is the small things the details that make the difference.

It is the small things executed with focus and purpose that make the big leaps in performance possible.

There is no secret; the devil is in the details executed with consistent effort directed toward the ultimate performance goal.

Don’t make it complicated.

Keep it simple and straightforward.

Make it measurable and manageable.

Focus on the process and the outcome will follow.

In my experience, Gav is the one that has pushed this line of thought in our training and racing. Thanks to Gav, I have known and have felt this even before Vern described it so succintly and brillantly in this post. Definitely another Favourite Blog Post.

On Carpark Spaces - Genoa (Sun 14 Aug 2005) / Shanghai (Thu 06 May 2010)

Parking Space - Genoa / Italy (Sun 14 Aug 2005)

Parking Space - Shanghai / China (Thu 06 May 2010)
Always question myself why I take these kind of photos and at times I say to myself:

What are you thinking? What are you seeing? What will others think?

When I look at it now, I can see and appreciate, just like Jeffrey Smart (specifically here):

the geometery, colour and lines

I am always surprised to see photos that are so far apart in time and space to be so similiar in intent and result. Makes me realise that my visual filter is consistent, strong and resilent in time. Afterall, they are just photos of a carpark spaces.

Brooklyn Bridge - World Trade Center / Manhattan (Oct 1988)

Brooklyn Bridge - World Trade Center / Manhattan (Oct 1988)
Travel. Do not get stuck in one place. [..]
Whatever you do, walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Ken Burns (2004 Yale Commencement Speech)


In 1988, at the age of 27, I took my first overseas trip - a seven week holiday to the USA from late September to early November 1988 - I remember flying back into Tamworth on Melbourne Cup day - we were in flight when the Captain announced the result of the race.

Spent most of my time in New York and Boston where I stayed with friends. I also took a weekend trip to Chicago from New York. On my return I spent a few days in Los Angeles and a few days in Sydney at Alexandria.

Recently found the above photo after this recent post

City of Blinding Lights - U2 - Live - Brooklyn Bridge - 22 Nov 2004 (youtube)

I can remember this evening visit to the Northern Tower of the World Trade Center. It was a still night and I was able to walk out onto and around the exposed and elevated viewing platform at the top of the Tower. It is there that I took this photo of the Brooklyn Bridge (the closer one, the next one along is the Manhattan Bridge), which a few days earlier I had walked across.

I will try to find the photos of the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - they are somewhere at Kirrawee. I pulled out the above photo shortly after the Tower's were lost and just accidently stumbled across them in one of the desk drawers recently.

Geographe Bay - Water - Busselton Jetty / WA (Tue 13 Apr 2004)

Geographe Bay - Water - Busselton Jetty / WA (Tue 13 Apr 2004)
Love the colour (though I have pushed it pretty hard) and the layers on this one. The wind swept water is very subtle on the original photo and is more noticeable in a coming black and white version.

Downeaster Alexa - Billy Joel (youtube)

Downeaster Alexa - Billy Joel with Jean-Luc Ponty on violin (youtube)
Downeaster Alexa Lyrics

Well I'm on the Downeaster "Alexa"
And I'm cruising through Block Island Sound
I have charted a course to the Vineyard
But tonight I am Nantucket bound

We took on diesel back in Montauk yesterday
And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner's Bay
Like all the locals here I've had to sell my home
Too proud to leave I worked my fingers to the bone

So I could own my Downeaster "Alexa"
And I go where the ocean is deep
There are giants out there in the canyons
And a good captain can't fall asleep

I've got bills to pay and children who need clothes
I know there's fish out there but where God only knows
They say these waters aren't what they used to be
But I've got people back on land who count on me

So if you see my Downeaster "Alexa"
And if you work with the rod and the reel
Tell my wife I am trawling Atlantis
And I still have my hands on the wheel

Now I drive my Downeaster "Alexa"
More and more miles from shore every year
Since they tell me I can't sell no stripers
And there's no luck in swordfishing here.

I was a bayman like my father was before
Can't make a living as a bayman anymore
There ain't much future for a man who works the sea
But there ain't no island left for islanders like me

Caught in the Eye of the Storm - Kaizer Austin (Thu 02 Jun 2011)

Kaizer and the Austin Express (Sun 26 Sep 2009)
Captain's log star date Thursday 2nd June, 2011.

Today I started work this morning at 05:00 hrs so I could finish at 13:00 hrs, which would give me the opportunity to go for a paddle and an extra session on N'been lake, as part of my weekly training goals.

I hit the water at 14:00 hrs after a five minute warm up I strapped on the bungy cord around the hull, plugged into my music ear pieces listening to Classic Rock FM 95.3, and off I went at a steady 50 strokes per minute with 80% effort.

My starting point was just outside the Pro Kayaks shop, I headed out under the bridge to the top most pin at the northern tip of the lake, turned the pin and headed back with a slight head wind and the music pumping through my veins, working the legs and nailing the catch inhaling on the return & exhaling deep with every power phase aaahhhh...... beats work anytime, perfect way to spend an afternoon ..... back to my start position in 21'43" first lap. Six minutes of rest and recovery level one paddle, drink.

Removed the bungy cord, set the stop watch ........ off we go at a steady 60 spm.

Under the bridge, straight up the lake, grinding on, turn the pin and........ holey smoke where did those clouds come from ? The sky behind me had turned an ugly black, guess it must be only 14:40hrs, next thing..... the heavens open. For about what would have only been six minutes the rain came down, torrential, like needles stinging my body, it was so intense my vision was blurred . Battling on - the stroke rate starts to creep up and panic sets in ...... but i'm not going anywhere , the rains hitting my craft and the water's boiling with the spray, the wind churns up ...... holding my nerve I drop the rate, put the hammer down, but wait ...... what's that just emerging from the blackness up above and to the left? Why - its a Rainbow.... and within a few seconds, literally, the rains gone . A glint of sun to my right, and I can see Jenny smiling down ...... back to the finish line in 24' flat, 24....?!! But that's slower than the first lap ..... and I can hear her laugh......

Warm down, de rig, load up, laugh to myself, life...... don't you love it!!

Jenny - Byron Bay (Oct 2007)