Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

Today a photo that is just over a year old from a time I was in Thailand. Just another story; sitting on the edge of the pool with a group of mates watching the sunset (note: poetic licence actual photo is from a different evening and from the beach rather than the pool... and I wanted to frame the boat under the Sun but it didn't quite happen!) not a care in the world!



These posts mark a bit of a change from the norm - I find nature inspiring, I always have and I've been lucky enough to get to some nice places in the past and work with some very inspiring people. I want to put together a bit of writing on the subject!

Memories...

...are they made of this?



The photo is one of mine that I come back and look at quite a bit - not quite sure what it captured, or why I took it, but it was just there and I liked it.

The mini-win

So what is in a mini-win? Put simply its a celebration for something you wouldn't normally celebrate. A pat on the back for something that would go un-noticed to anyone but yourself. It can be incredibly trivial, in fact it can be argued the more trivial it is the more of a true mini-win it is, especially if its something we should just be able to do.

But why is it important? Simply its there to give us a way of picking ourselves up and offering congratulation for a job well done. I suppose its a self-drive thing, its important that through any process you need to remember yourself. Its something I'm very guilty of not doing - taking care of yourself is very important; if you forget about you then you can get into a great deal of trouble. Therefore don't; find a way of congratulating yourself occasionally, embrace the mini-win.

Steps

Its all about the little steps. The little mini-wins that encourage us along the way - its something I've talked about a great deal in the lab that I used to work in. Particularly how things around us can make us feel stupid and that can have a massive impact. These things can be what we're being asked to do at work, pressures at home or the state of a relationship. Any of them we can deal with individually but the combination of all of them can cause problems.

But recovering from them requires a set of steps to get things back in check - dealing with everything at once is a bit difficult. My own set of steps are progressing - my fitness is back in check, I've passed my PhD (well near enough) and it looks like I'm back on the job front as it looks like everything is sorted out.

Does it feel right, I don't know but it is forwards not back. Can't quite seem to quell the nerves though. I suppose that's normal though, just a case of wait and see!

Filler

What is does filler mean? Filling in time between things, filling in the picture. So the first one - I have to say that its been a bit of a surprise mainly to myself but its astonishing what fitness can do. More to the point how you can get there; I've always avoided putting pictures of myself on here as my view of this blog is one that is personal but not in some kind of way that is absolute...

But fitness is an odd one - maybe 3 or 4 years ago I was about 90kg, for those that count a bmi of 29.2. I started working out to try and get into shape; 6 months ago I was 80kg (26.0). I'm currently about 74kg (24.0) and that will be about that. But blimey its been hard work, since I lost (well left) my job I've been in the gym 6 days a week for about 2 hours. Its one of those points that probably looks like I've overtrained slightly - its probably true but it feels good to have got the weight off (and its amazing the amount its quietened my snoring, not totally but its getting better! Has to be said that personal recorders are wonderful devices).

There's always the worry that what was essentially filler time becomes permanent, but one thing for sure is that I don't want to lose what I've worked hard to get back. Just need to keep the balance!

31 Songs that Changed My Life

The inspiration for this post comes from an article in the Guardian from 2003 that I came across today, originally written by Nick Hornby. It gave me some food for thought - here they are in no particular order...

1. Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (In Rainbows) Album Review at Allmusic
There is very little that I can say about Radiohead that hasn't already been written. I had the great pleasure of seeing them at Old Trafford just over a year ago. This was one of the tunes of the set and its a song I've listened to on loop for a long time, just listening to the intricate guitar pattern.

2. The Killers - Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Remix)
A song with memories; the song got a lot of airtime when I was deciding whether or not to do a PhD. Driving back from London one night it came on the radio and I realised that it was the right path!

3. Fela Kuti - Zombie (Zombie) Album Review at Allmusic
Ok I play sax and therefore there's a bit of a bias... But the energy present in a Fela Kuti record is something that I amazed can be captured. The playing is astonishing and the drumming of Tony Allen simply phenomenal. Whilst Fela is criticised for some of his views and his songs do carry some undertones - Zombie contains criticism of the army - but the musicianship is something I can listen to for hours.

4. Streetlight Manifesto - Point/Counterpoint and Keasbey Nights (Everything Goes Numb and Keasbey Nights) Album Review at Allmusic and Album Review at Allmusic
I've seen Streetlight live twice now and have never failed to have a great evening. To keep the energy in the brass for a complete set is simply awesome - but the 9 minutes of the mix of Point/Counterpoint and Keasbey Nights just has such vibrancy that each time I hear it I can't help but just look on in wonder!

5. Stevie Wonder - Superstition (Talking Book) Album Review at Allmusic
A populist choice, but a track that I've played live on a couple of occasions that I've enjoyed. Happy days, smooth tune.

6. Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space) Album Review at Allmusic
An album that is as varied as its title sounds. Just a beautiful track that amazes me. Almost a lullaby with a very simple lyric that just seems to sum things up every time I listen to it.

7. Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Tamacun (Rodrigo Y Gabriela) Album Review at Allmusic
Just an incredible sound, makes me wish I could play guitar a good deal better than I can. The range of sounds is amazing.

8. Paul Simon - Born in Puerto Rico (Songs from the Capeman) Album Review at Allmusic
A simple story from a beautiful album, a song I could sit and listen to for quite a while; and indeed have done as Paul Simon was a common choice for evenings sitting round with friends!

9. Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five (Time Out) Album Review at Allmusic
Written by Paul Desmond who left royalties to the Red Cross after his death. Simple and beautiful, made me want to play alto sax. If I could have a sound a tenth of that of Paul Desmond I'd be happy. Its a track I now irritate people with as I practiced it so much I just play through it...

10. Oasis - Live Forever (Definitely Maybe) Album Review at Allmusic
Ah the fallacy of youth. To be English and around as Oasis came to the fore, maybe I was a little young though, it was a song that doesn't fail to transport that invincibility to the present day.

11. Coldplay - Viva la Vida (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends) Album Review at Allmusic
The first of two tunes I've covered with bands. This was never a tune I especially liked, and it seems to follow me around wherever I go - a few weeks after we played it it appeared on rotation in the pub jukebox 3 times an hour.

12. Ben Folds Five - Army (The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner) Album Review at Allmusic
Like #11 a song that I've covered more than once, whenever I hear I just go straight back to the fun times of playing and rehearsing in a small group - a good time!

13. Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla (Takk...) Album Review at Allmusic
The obvious/populist choice... but still a great song. I listened to it a great deal during some job based upheaval. An easy song to chill to as concentration isn't required on the lyrics due to my lack of Icelandic...

14. The Specials - Guns of Navarone
I saw Neville Staple of the Specials live with his touring band a few months ago. Just a good fun evening set off by an explosive live version, such a good gig!

15. Jason Rebello - Summertime (Make it Real) Album Review at Allmusic
The first CD album I ever owned - the track features Maxi Jazz of Faithless. Just the feeling reminds me everything is going to be good!

16. Quincy Jones/Matt Monroe - Days Like These (Italian Job Soundtrack) Album Review at Allmusic
Title track of a movie that I adore, a song thats good to drive to and feel the wind in your hair!

17. Youngblood Brass Band - Brooklyn (Center:Level:Roar) Album Review at Allmusic
I first heard this on the PA at a gig between a couple of sets whilst milling around with a bunch of mates. Within a few seconds we were dancing like fools, about 5 minutes later everyone wondered exactly what we'd heard. The term brass band is a bit misleading if you take it in the sense of "Brassed Off" for that they are not! The live version raises the bar another notch.

18. Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel the Illinoise! (Part 1: The World's Columbian Exposition - Part 2: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream) (Illinois) Album Review at Allmusic
Wins the title for longest song here. But I can't say much about this other than if you've never heard Sufjan Stevens then do. I was pointed there by a friend and the upbeat nature has really picked me up.

19. Ojos De Brujo - Ventilaor R-80 (Bari) Album Review at Allmusic
A song I heard on Radio 2 (Bob Harris I think...) that introduced me to electronic crossover, in this case with Flamenco. A tune that carries a great deal of strong memories for a variety of reasons. Though the album as a whole is also great, this was my lead in to it.

20. Da Lata - Cores (Songs from the Tin) Album Review at Allmusic
Like the last a tune with a lot of memories. This one is electronica and samba. Beautiful and inspiring. I heard it a great deal on various chillout albums before I bought Songs from the Tin, which is just a great album to sit and listen to on a quiet Sunny day.

21. Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You Into the Dark (Plans) Album Review at Allmusic
Just a track I find heartbreakingly beautiful. I suppose its a song that summed up my own feelings about love and life. The whole album is fantastic and is one that I've listened to a great deal.

22. Tim Minchin - Not Perfect (Darkside) Album Review at Allmusic
A wonderful concept for a song, just keeping looking inwards. A final beautiful verse that resonated with me in recent times.

23. Bjork - Hyperballad (Post) Album Review at Allmusic
Beautiful song I came across whilst studying for exams. It reminds me of that time, maybe not all good memories but powerful.

24. Michael Buble - Home (Caught in the Act) Album Review at Allmusic
A song I've listened to a great deal. The sentiment of the song is one that I felt a great deal following moving for a job. It carries some wonderful memories...

25. Make it Better Later - The Pirate Song (Music By Numbers)
A band I've seen live a great many times. Always fun!

26. Bob Marley - Redemption Song (Uprising) Album Review at Allmusic
A sentiment I love, the first Bob Marley track I heard and it drove me off on a discovery of a genius whose words have always interested me.

27. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Conditions) Album Review at Allmusic
A track that was played a great deal while I was leaving a job, just beautiful.

28. Buena Vista Social Club - Candela (Buena Vista Social Club) Album Review at Allmusic
A track that made me click with Cuban music and motivated me to visit the country.

29. Moulin Rouge - Come What May (OST) Album Review at Allmusic
Pretty much as #24, a track that has much sentiment and emotion...

30. The Three Tenors - Nessun Dorma
Ok another cliché but Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot represented Italia 90, the World Cup that introduced me to football. Just playing the song now takes me back to being excited to watch England, willing them on to win.

31. Nitin Sawhney - Breathing Light/Developed/Footsteps (Prophesy) Album Review at Allmusic
I'm breaking rules slightly for the last one. I can't say anything more than this is a beautiful trio of tracks from Prophesy that provide a message about life. I know people that I've played these tracks to don't like being prophesied to in this manner, but I find the messages very enlightening! The final part is an African chorus that moves me to tears each time I listen to it, just a beautiful happy sound.

So there is the list. If you've read this far well done; as I was compiling this list it occurred to me that its something that will always update. This is very much a list for now!

Ben Folds and the Week that Was

So another week, another not much. I seem to have got fixated on Ben Folds discography this week, I never realised quite how much I liked Supersunnyspeedgraphic. Its an odd time, a whole heap of trepidation and realisation; its been a quite couple of weeks which haven't been too bad on balance.

However, there is always that interesting revelation around the corner. I suppose a lot of the missing bits over the last few months have clicked into place. No solution but just a clear picture of the problem. On the face of things I've got very little to complain about, and its true. I met up with an old Uni mate I'd not seen in years this week and was good to sit and chat and see how well his company is doing and how good things are at present.

I guess its the motivation for a change of persepective because the realisation was that the old ways weren't working. Its good but the effect of getting to this point kind of made me wonder whether it was worth it given that I'm pretty certain I knew all of this in the first place I just couldn't make it jump high enough.

But yes, much Ben Folds listening; such a good writer!