Category: Home Life
And that’s it…
For now at least.
I’ve just closed the book on my final moleskine back-story. I am up to date and everything from here on in (unless labelled otherwise) will be up to date and on the money. Turns out the timing was quite nice too…
The entries themselves run across two books and one year; spanning July 2009 to July 2010. In that time I’ve changed jobs (twice), travelled the world (once), moved house (in secret) and, overall, done a lot of growing up.
Here we are at the end of October and tomorrow, Video Blog Post Month starts again. Once again – I’m going to give it a fair crack and once again, my creative juices will be tested…
Last year I scored 28/30.
Let’s see how it goes this time ’round.
Life at 30
Moleskine entry: July 15th, 2010
It’s not too bad. Today’s date is July 15th 2010. In 20mins I’ll be in Canada which… is interesting. I was upgraded today. Seat 3G. That was nice.
Saying that, I am tired. But to be fair, that’s down to lack of sleep over and above anything else.
Son, Daughter – one day I hope you’ll read this. Read about ‘Dad’s Travels’. I bought my first map last week. Stickers a plenty all over it, yours too one day.
Where was I?
Yes, that’s it; Son, Daughter – take one piece of advice from your old man; Be Happy. There aren’t many things in life that are really, truly worth worrying about. Life & Death, certainly. But that’s it. Your life can be as happy as you want it to be. Good things happen to good people. It’s true! Now don’t mock the cliché, please. I mean it. My endless optimism has seen me all right so far. I hope and hope that, if anything, you get that from me.
Yours,
James
— who one day, will be your Dad, X
Paddington 2225
Moleskine entry: March 30th, 2010
Two stops from home.
Six months in. Am I allowed to click again? I don’t know. I think I have though – clicked, that is.
A combination of a rather intimate chat with my peers and maybe also a mixture of the achievements of late. A PR Week nod and my recent Marketing Academy nomination… It kind of makes you think.
Reassures maybe?
I think so.
Step up James. Step up.
10 days
Moleskine entry: 27th September, 2009
Has it really been that long?
I haven’t been home in over two weeks. I miss my bed. Not for now.
The long summer of travel is drawing to an end (after a bonus Oxfam-related trip to the U.S.) and, this coming Thursday, I formally start at 1000heads. I’m told there’ll be plenty of travel involved but I imagine it won’t be anywhere near as intense as this.
It feels like I’ve been getting my hands dirty again.
You can only sit in an office and strategise for so long, sometimes you need to get there and just do it for yourself. Go out and learn a few things, rediscover why you love what you do so much and ultimately reset your point of view on the world.
This past summer I’ve been through the deserts of Africa, the mountains of Wyoming and glaciers of the French/Italian Alps. From baboons in Botswana to Zebra in Zimbabwe… I’ve been the luckiest man in the world.
The scenery, breathtaking. The wildlife, stunning. The people? It’s a cliché but it really has been all about the people. As I close my moleskine for another day, that’s not a bad thought to take end on at all.
The Sun is setting over London as we make our final approach. I need to draw this to an end. The deep red sky brings a warm smile to my face and I sigh.
Home. Home at last.
This doesn’t work
First, watch this –
That’s right, it’s an advert FOR CHIPS.
Such a great ad, wasted on completely the wrong brand/product.
John Lewis?
Maybe.
McCain?
Definitely not.
That is all.
My friend Will
This is William Rowe.
At the time of writing Will is somewhere near Kendal en route from John O’Groats all the way down to Lands End. If you’re not from the UK then you need to know that the route looks a little something like this –
According to Google Maps, this is just shy of 840miles. Say it with me: EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY MILES! Why is he doing this? For charity, of course (actually, knowing Will, he’s probably doing it for the sheer challenge of the thing too I’d imagine – he’s like that).
Believe it or not, it’s not his first time. Madness.
CLIC Sargent, the charity in question, supports and cares for young children with cancer. Will, along with around eight other equally mentally unbalanced cyclists, is hitting the road RIGHT NOW to help try and raise £20,000. You can read the full story (as well as keep up with their progress) on their dedicated Twycle website.
I’ve just sponsored them and you can too. If you’re not in the mood for giving, then perhaps you might want to follow their progress via the medium of Twitter – they are at the rather auspiciously named @twyclebritain.
Go on, go check them out and – if you want – why not sponsor them too?
Best of luck Will. To you and your fellow riders.
We’re cheering you on from afar! 🙂
Things that make me smile #1
Probably the first in a series. Maybe.
It’s silly really but the view from my rear window always makes me smile –
Still unclear?
Let me turn the contrast up –
See that?
At night, when the light is on in the study, you can play shadow puppets on the house opposite. If you put your hands flat against your head, you look a little bit like Batman.
Brilliant.
That’s all.
Things are in my head
Things are in my head; unformed thoughts with no shape or thread.
They shimmer and shake, become solid and break…
Brain fire burning, intense and blue.
Leading me somewhere, some place true.
Destined for things that have yet passed,
life taking shape, filling out at last.
We’re nowhere near done, but far from the start.
My ardent thoughts give me strength of heart.
— Moleskine Entry 26/05/10
Time for a break
It’s time for a much needed holiday.
We haven’t had a proper break since L.A. last April. So yes, almost exactly a year.
Busy times.
Alright I’ve travelled a fair bit since then but, as much as you might disagree with me, holidays they were not (weekend breaks don’t count).
I’ve got a few posts saved in draft backstage here at my happy place which, all going well, I’ll roll out when I’m back.
But for now no Mac, no phone, no Twitter and no blogs.
See you in a week…
whatleydude.com 