Adam, Jo and Geoff - Bank Street / Pyrmont (Sat 29 Jun 2013)

Adam and Jo - Bank Street / Pyrmont (Sat 29 Jun 2013)
Adam, Jo and Geoff - Bank Street / Pyrmont (Sat 29 Jun 2013)

Let Her Go - Passenger (YouTube)

Let Her Go / Passenger - YouTube (*)
Let Her Go (*) Lyrics - Passenger (*):

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast

You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch, surely dies

But you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much and you dive too deep

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go
Oh oh oh no
And you let her go
Oh oh oh no
Well you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

Track 9, cool down, for RPM 60 (*).

The Dinner Outing - The Mulgrave Road Crowd - Ealing / London (Thu 15 Aug 2013)

The Dinner Outing - The Mulgrave Road Crowd - YouTube (*) - Ealing / London (Thu 15 Aug 2013)
We popped into see Eileen in Ealing (Joanne's 86 year old "Aunt") on the way from Heathrow to Russell Square on our arrival from Lisbon.

We decided to stay for dinner and took her down to Pitshanger Lane (*) from her home in Mugrave Road. Eileen suggested that she would be OK in the wheelchair rather than calling a Taxi (up until 3 years ago she would ride her bike down).

I told her, "Brace yourself Sheila" as I knew Jo could not help herself but make it a quick trip. So much fun. It's a long way to Pitshanger Lane and a few songs were sung.

Fantastic to see Eileen again and decided to see her again on Sat night with Cod, Chips and Mushy Peas brought in. Love you Eileen. xxx
Inspired by The IT Crowd (*) and The IT Crowd (*), The Work Outing (*).

Tu Jardin Con Enanitos - Melendi (YouTube)

Melendi Tu Jardin Con Enanitos - YouTube (*) - Barcelona (Wed 07 Aug 2013)
, Melendi Tu Jardin Con Enanitos - live version - YouTube (*) - Barcelona (Wed 07 Aug 2013)
Heard this song today as Joanne was paying for some nice clothes she found in a Shop just off the main road. I asked the shop assistant what the name of the song was and she wrote it down, along with singers name:

Tu Jardin Con Enanitos (*) by Melendi (*)

It sounds very similar to another I've heard recently (will try to find it, though I am finding it difficult) and I thought this song was a Spanish version of it (or the other way around).

Searched for an English translation of the lyrics and found the lyrics to be pretty bold, direct, confident, with no holding back on the passion, that's for sure. The first line says it all :-) and there are other good ones as well. While some of the lyrics seem quite direct compared to what is the norm in Australia, others are quite thoughtful. But I guess that is passion.

Another random moment worth remembering.

Lyrics: Your Garden With Gnomes (English translation from the original in Spanish)

Today I ask my dreams, that they remove your clothes
That all my attempts to bite your mouth
Turn into kisses
And even though I understand that you
You always have the last word in this love

And today I ask your guardian angel, that he share
That he give me courage and bravery in battle to win it 1
And it's just that I don't want to pass by your life like fashions
Don't be scared Miss, no one has talked to you of a wedding
I only want to be the four legs of your bed
Your war every night, your ceasefire every morning
I want to be you medicine, your silences and your cries
Your thief, your policeman, your garden with gnomes
I want to be the brush that sweeps away sadness
I want to be your uncertainty and above all your certainty

And today I asked the moon, that it extend this night for me
And that this feeling light up with intensity
And that hearts dance
And even though I understand that you
Will always be that dream that perhaps I'll never be able to reach

And today I ask your guardian angel, that he share
That he give me courage and bravery in battle to win it
And it's just that I don't want to pass through your life like fashions
Don't be scared miss, no one has talked to you of a wedding
I only want to be the four legs of your bed
Your war every night, your ceasefire every morning
I want to be you medicine, your silences and your cries
Your thief, your policeman, your garden with gnomes
I want to be the brush that sweeps away sadness
I want to be your uncertainty and above all your certainty

And it's just that I want to be the one who never forgets your birthday
I want you to be my rose and my thorn even though you hurt me
I want to be your carnival, your beginnings and your ends
I want to be the sea where you can drown all your sorrows
I want you to be my tango by Gardel, 2 my octaves 3
My half honeymoon, my blues, my eighth wonder
The dance of my ballroom, the zip and buttons
I want you to wear your skirt and my trousers as well

Your astronaut, the first man who walks across your moon
Nailing in a flag of madness
To paint your life with colour, with passion
With flavour, with emotion and tenderness
Know that there's no cure for me any more
Without your love

Introducing Joanne Petterson: Your 2013 Auroras Flag Bearer / YouTube - Gyor / Hungary (Sun 21 Jul 2013)

Introducing Joanne Petterson: Your 2013 Auroras Flag Bearer - YouTube (*) Gyor / Hungary (Sun 21 Jul 2013)
A tribute to Joanne and those that have shared her journey over the last 13 years in paddling and in life.

The song, Holy Grail by Hunters and Collectors is a personal favourite of Joanne's and I think it goes back to her first campaign - Poznan 2003. She would also choose it as her song contribution to the Tampa 2011 Senior A warmup / motivational CD compilation.

I hope you like it Joanne.

It was fun trying to sequence the photos with the lyrics - I hope I have not been too literal. All done on the road with final touches were made on the 80 min train trip from Budapest to Gyor (lucky i got that seat by myself) using an iMovie on an iPad mini - incredible really

These photos have taken right across Joanne's experiences in paddling and across the World. I was unable to title the photos, some places include Shanghai, Qingpu, Busan, Wujin, Macau, Hong Kong, Scotland, Sydney, Canberra, Kyoto, Berlin, Prague, Kawana, Cairns plus lots more.

I will change the cover photo of the YouTube video to that of the first photo in Kyoto when I get back to Sydney. This is the one YouTube automatically selected on upload.

It has been an honour to share these moments and memories with you and I know Jenny and your Parents would be so proud of you.

Go Joanne and Go the Auroras.

Running - Evermore (Wed 03 Jun 2009)

Running - Evermore / YouTube (*) (Wed 03 Jun 2009)
I have this song from iTunes and listen to it a lot and finally found the above on YouTube.

I had heard it on the radio when it was released and liked it as an RPM song also.

I watched this with Jenny the night of the big game. I had a little injury and missed the Aus training for Prague that night. Joanne was not there as she was at the training session in the rain and cold. I sat on the lounge while Jenny stretched out and I massaged her feet and toes - something she loved.

At that moment in time we did not know that Jenny had a 4cm brain tumour - that news would come one week later. Another week later she would have the brain tumour removed (*). A week after that her heart would fail (*) to be revived for a painful week in ICU where Jenny would leave us (*), suffering a massive pulmonary embolism.

Maybe the lyrics would become a precursor to the journey that is bereavement, grief and knowing that there is a future. This blog shows this all:

I don't know
I really don't know
If this castle in the sand
Is strong enough to stand

Cause I know
How it feels
All the pain
Is so real
Cause you sink
And you drown
Till your feet hit the ground
Running, running, running, running

I always remember this when I hear this song. It is now nice to have the video from the Games pre game entertainment to remember those moments of innocence before the events that would change our lives forever.

Once upon a time ..

Once upon a time - YouTube (*) (Sat 30 Aug 2009)
Hard to watch in so many ways, but I am glad that this moment in time in our lives was captured. It was just short of 10 weeks since Jenny died. Everything was so raw back then and it makes you realise how far we have come since those moments in Racice.

Lanterns - Birds of Tokyo (youtube)

Lanterns (*) by Birds of Tokyo (*) [Youtube (*)]
Some Lyrics from Lanterns (*):

[..] Without question, without doubt
In the light (*) that we have found
It is finally clear
Our day has come
And we'll stand for who we are
We are ready, we are young
We have nothing to fear [..]

via Lanterns (*) by Birds of Tokyo (*).

Viva La Vida - ColdPlay - Letterman Live (Tue 20 Sep 2011)

Viva La Vida - Coldplay - Live on Letterman [Youtube (*)]
Heard this song on the car radio the day after Lance Armstrong's confession to the world via Oprah.

When I heard the lyrics I could not help but think of Lance. So many analogies.

Like Lance, the song is part of me and my life experiences. It is too hard to write about here now and I will save it for another day.

Here are the lyrics. Enjoy ...

Viva La Vida Lyrics

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

via (*) by (*).

Mark Cohen - Street Photography (YouTube)

Mark Cohen - Street Photography [Youtube (*)]
A bit of a preamble to this but it is worth the wait in order to see his working method on the street and the ensuing interview of which there are many great quotes On Photography (*). I have scribbled a few down here:

[..] They are snapshots and they are made in a very simple way. But the thing they see when they continue to look at the pictures, they start to see the closeness is one of the things they see. Some one is making pictures that are really close on the street and its that kind of taking the camera so close to the subject and making pictures and not in a studio way. in a flow of life on the street or field kind of way. And they see that closeness and that is the thing that gives the pictures there uniqueness and their agressive sort of character.

When you make an exhibit of this work, you walk around in a room filled with it and you see all these strange pictures. You know there is a certain excitement to it, There is a certain quality in that room about an artists mind, and an artists work that comes from the pictures and touches the viewer in some way. That's why it works. I don't know why exactly it works. A lot of physcological reasons, sexual reasons. A lot of things are going on in those pictures.

It is not some kind of exact analytical science going on here, its right on the edge of meaninglessness, but its in there and that is what makes it so fascinating.

It feels awkward for me to try to talk about my work, frequently. Once in a while I do it. I do a slide show and I describe how I take the pictures. Describe how I think they fit into things socially and formally, in the context of photography in America. Different kind of things.

You usually don't think about that kind of stuff. You dont think about that. You think about when you are taking pictures the most important thing is to get new pictures.

The pictures you already took, you already took those pictures. My main drive is to do something new. To make some new kind of picture. [..]

A copy of Grim Street (*) is on the way.

Eliot Porter - PBS Documentary (YouTube)

Eliot Porter - PBS Documentary [Youtube (*)]
via ELIOT PORTER BOOKS (12 Sep 2012) (*).

A photography hero at me and a big influence, particularly when I started out about 11 years ago with the purchase of a small digital camera that I acquired by departing to the Cook Islands for a small holiday there. I have a couple of his books with another on the way. I know his story well.

On Photography, Relationships and Identity - Joel Meyerowitz (YouTube)

What you put in the frame determines the photograph - Joel Meyerowitz [YouTube (*)]
If you have been taking photographs for a while, this will really make sense and inspire you to think about what you have been doing and how you might want to view the way you take photographs in the future. Here is part of what he had to say:

[..] when I think about my photographs, I understand that my interest all along has not been in identifying a singular thing, but in photographing the relationship between things.

The unspoken relationship, the tacit relationship, the impending relationship.

All of these variables are there if you chose to see in this, in this way.

But if you chose to only make objects out of singular things you wind shooting the arrow into the bullseye all the time and you get copies of objects in space.

I did not want copies of objects.

I wanted the ephemeral connections between unrelated things to vibrate.

And if my pictures work at all, at their best they are suggesting these tenuous relationships.

And that fragility is what so human about them.

And I think it's what's also in the romantic tradition, because it is a form of humanism that says we are all part of this together.

I am not just a selector of objects.

And there's plenty of photographers here who are great photographers but who only work in the object reality frame of reference.

They collect things and I don't think of myself as a collector.

It's my sense of where I am different from other people and that's not a measure or judgement.

It's just a sense of your own identity.

For me the play is always in the potential - it's like magnetism.

Thanks Joel and congratulations on a fantastic career in your chosen profession.

Introduction - Kung Fu TV Series (YouTube)

Introduction - Kung Fu TV Series [Youtube (*)]
A Random Recollection (*) ..

The last post On Focus (*) seemed to remind me of the Kung Fu TV series (*) from the early 70's. I remember the snatch the pebble from my hand (*) scenes where Master Khan tests the young Caine:

Quickly as you can, snatch the pebble from my hand.

[Young Caine tries to do so and fails]

When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.

Must have too much time on my hands today.

Daido Moriyama: In Pictures - William Klein + Daido Moriyama - Tate Modern: Exhibition (YouTube)

Daido Moriyama: In Pictures - William Klein + Daido Moriyama - Tate Modern: Exhibition (*) [Youtube (*)]

Hall Of Fame - The Script feat. Will.I.Am (YouTube)

Hall Of Fame (*) - The Script (*) feat. Will.I.Am (*) - [Youtube (*)]
Hall Of Fame (feat. Will.I.Am)

Yeah, You could be the greatest
You can be the best
You can be the king kong banging on your chest

You could beat the world
You could beat the war
You could talk to God, go banging on his door

You can throw your hands up
You can beat the clock
You can move a mountain
You can break rocks
You can be a master
Don't wait for luck
Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself

Standing in the hall of fame
And the world's gonna know your name
Cause you burn with the brightest flame
And the world's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

You could go the distance
You could run the mile
You could walk straight through hell with a smile

You could be the hero
You could get the gold
Breaking all the records that thought never could be broke

Do it for your people
Do it for your pride
How you ever gonna know if you never even try?

Do it for your country
Do it for your name
Cause there's gonna be a day

When you're standing in the hall of fame
And the world's gonna know your name
Cause you burn with the brightest flame
And the world's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

Be a champion, Be a champion, Be a champion, Be a champion

On the walls of the hall of fame

Be students
Be teachers
Be politicians
Be preachers

Be believers
Be leaders
Be astronauts
Be champions
Be truth seekers

Be students
Be teachers
Be politicians
Be preachers

Be believers
Be leaders
Be astronauts
Be champions

Standing in the hall of fame
And the world's gonna know your name
Cause you burn with the brightest flame
And the world's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

(You can be a champion)
You could be the greatest
You can be the best
(You can be a champion)
You can be the king kong banging on your chest

(You can be a champion)
You could beat the world
You could beat the war
(You can be a champion)
You could talk to God, go banging on his door

(You can be a champion)
You can throw your hands up
You can beat the clock
(You can be a champion)
You can move a mountain
You can break rocks

(You can be a champion)
You can be a master
Don't wait for luck
(You can be a champion)
Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself

Standing in the hall of fame

Thanks Lisa - another great song (*). Remember it all starts with Belief (*) and all "the other stuff" (*) just looks after itself.

The Jacks - Just Like Yesterday - Suehirocho / Tokyo (Sat 22 Sep 2012)

The Jacks (*) - Just Like Yesterday (*) - Suehirocho / Tokyo (Sat 22 Sep 2012)
Detail - The Jacks (*) - Just Like Yesterday (*) - Suehirocho / Tokyo (Sat 22 Sep 2012)
Funny how a random snap shot at an intersection can lead down a path of discovery. Introducing The Jacks (*):

Just Like Yesterday (*) - The Jacks (*) [Youtube (*)]

Proud - Heather Small - London 2012 (YouTube)

Proud (*) - Heather Small (*) - London 2012 [Youtube (*)]
Proud Lyrics

I look into the window of my mind
Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I'm on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same (yeah)

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Still so many answers I don't know (there are so many answers)
Realize that to question is how we grow (to question is to grow)
So I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I'm on my way
Can't stop me now
You can do the same (yeah)

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

(yeah) We need a change (Yeah)
Do it today (yeah)
I can feel my spirit rising
(change, yeah) We need a change (yeah)
So do it today (yeah)
'Cause I can see a clear horizon

What have you done today to make you feel proud? (to make you feel proud)
(let me hear ya X3)So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
(yeah)'Cause you could be so many people
Just make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?

Was the Official Theme Song for the successful London 2012 Olympic Bid back in 2005.

Feel the Rain - Compact Disco (YouTube)

Feel the Rain - Compact Disco (*) [YouTube (*)]
Feel the Rain Lyrics

All along our way
My feelings turned to grey,
Faded to the rain.
We're running out of time.
I feel like if you still
Try to make me cry.

And I feel the rain
Flowing down again
Pouring from our eyes
When we say goodbye,
say goodbye.

You were all my light,
But now I feel inside:
I run into the night.
We're running out of time,
I feel like if you still
Try to make me cry.

And I feel the rain
Flowing down again
Pouring from our eyes
When we say goodbye,
say goodbye.

The music from the Official Invitational Programme (*) for the Szeged 2013 - World Dragon Boat Championships - 24-28 Jul 2013.

No doubt another audio fragment on the Climb to Szeged 2013.

Always like accoustic versions of the various songs that go here, so here (*) is one I like.

Yours Truly - I.Vortex - YouTube - Friedrichsfeld (Thu 02 Feb 2012)

Yours Truly - I.Vortex (*) - Youtube (*) - Friedrichsfeld (Thu 02 Feb 2012)
Yours Truly Lyrics

Hello Spring, my dear old friend,
long time not seen, I got bad news.
It's been a bad time, a true light is gone,
one lost the other and has to move on

Hi Summer, you shining one
I have given my best, to prepare the earth for you
One remembers how the other cared for flowers
now they must grow without the caring hand

Yours truly, the winter (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the spring (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the summer (Yours truly)
Every season is a death within

Greetings autumn, master of colors
I have been a good one, with peaceful long nights
One sits in the garden, watching the stars
Missing that voice that shared all the dreams

Yours truly, the winter (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the spring (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the summer (Yours truly)
Every season is a death within

Yours truly, the winter (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the spring (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the summer (Yours truly)
Every season is a death within

Yours truly, the winter (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the spring (Yours truly)
Yours truly, the summer (Yours truly)
Every season is a death within

Good day, grumpy ol' winter
have mercy with the world, don't be that cold,
one's lying down without falling asleep.
Where is the other, seeking for the warmth?

Have not quite got the lyrics exactly right, but close. Will tidy up when I get a chance.

Thanks Uwe. I often listen to the demo version you sent me this time last year. I really like the ending on this one. I thank you and I.Vortex for Remembering Jenny.

Adam van Koeverden - Interview / YouTube (Szeged 2011)

Adam van Koeverden - Interview / Youtube (*) (Szeged 2011)
Great interview with a great athlete who is a role model to many. He gets better as he gets older and as he says, he has few years of competing yet. Look forward to seeing what he does next.

Szeged is where the 2013 IDBF World Dragon Boat Champships will be held in late July 2013. I hope to be there one way or another and the preparation has already started. Follow the Adam van Koeverden below for some more inspiring posts.