Active mind... Just saying.: Recent Episodes
justsaying1
Hi... So much time... Got to keep the brain active... What do I do... Go for long walks...cycle... Muse about global concerns... ... I play music... Ukelele... guitar... keyboard...drums... trumpet... but more importantly I make Violins!!!
Looking at the world of today I wanted to draw upon Sci Fi to understand how the future may play out if some stories have a grain of truth...
This story is in response to the flood of information both factual and fictional which permeates our conscious minds
So eager to control my intake of food...trying to have a positive out=look on future eating!!!!!!!
Wow
What a difference eating vegetables has had on my overall health in a few short weeks!!!!!
The secret is how you eat not what you eat!!!!
Having cracked the physical side of fitness I am eager to tackle my diet... no more biscuits... chocolate... ice cream... cakes... crisps... etc on a daily basis!!!!!!!
It is a wonder I found time to eat a meal!!!!!
So here we go with a new project that I hope will become part of my life!!!!
Becoming more aware of audience preferences... Done my research and will stop rambling multi topic podcasts!!!
Active mind not passive!!!!!! So important for me to be engaged rather than watching... Cycling...playing live music...creating art... improving instruments...etc
just when you think things are going well...like new pedals for your bike... a day comes along that defeats you and all your plans...
Big thank you to the cycle shop in Netherfield... restores my faith in community values.
Just one of those days where entertainment is urgently required...
You can only watch so many films etc...
My solution is to escape with a few hours of GAMING!!!!!!
There is nothing better than being involved in an event that you control...
Gaming is now the number one activity for many many millions of all ages.
Storms that blow you over... Rain that causes floods...
Cycling is out of the question
OR IS IT!!!!!
This year has started well. With the support of the family I can say that there is a plethora of new beginnings. No violin making... no plants to grow veg... not yet anyway...
Sorting my life style out is the order of the day.
Not pleasant outside... taking time to find passions that inspire me of a less physical nature...
Rowing and cycling on machines is the order of the day!!!
Bad weather and lots to do in the house makes for a very unhealthy time with little movement!!!!!
So... Cycling machine at the ready and Nordic walking are the mainstays of my winter regime!!!
An hour playing drums and various other instruments will keep me warm.
Sparing on the heating!!!!
At last I have an outlet for video... You Tube...
I see no way for me to video for Podbean!!!!
This sound scape was created using household object at home...
It resembles the hustle and bustle... the hurly burley of the London Underground...
Enjoy.
I am experimenting with household objects to make a sound scape...
There will be some who use their imagination to create a picture in their head as to the meaning of the sounds...
IF THIS IS YOU STOP READING!!!
For those who need help to create........
Imagine a rocky outcrop... sleeping dinasaurs... In the near distance dinasaurs hunting each other... and in the far distance an active volcano...
A steel works with sounds of the furnace...steel being hauled across concrete floors... Trains carrying steel away...
You may have your own ideas now that my ideas have caught your imagination...
Trying to have a good audio quality for live shows... clipping at the moment...not good
Something I have produced in the past is Sound Scape material. This has been from nature...
Having been to Leeds Festival 2023... I have been motivated to create Sound Scapes from objects and processes that are man made...
So sounds can be uplifting and calming but they can do the opposite... I try to find sounds that are calming in such a busy noise filled world.
Back on the bikes now that better weather is arriving... Up early for stress free cycling.
Determined to monitor my output this year... Pot city will ensue as I have to combat the very variable weather!!!!
Having replaced my gear shifters on my Halfords Racing Bike I set off for Manchester at two thirty in the afternoon...
Therapy for knee is a daily bike ride... Storm halts the therapy as I dash form cover...
I return windswept and soaked!!!!!
So... Fell downstairs and smashed my knee...
Have to exercise my knee... Fitness bike in a gym... or go outdoors on a push bike!!!!!
At last both gadgets working... hoping to do video but may have to change outlet... but I think the audio stands the test...
DO NOT USE HEADPHONES FOR THIS UNLESS TURNED RIGHT DOWN... TRAFFIC NOISE IS VERY LOUD!!!!!!!!!
Really trying to introduce video to my Podbean Channel but not sure it can be done!!!!!!
Spent a few hours hunting through my stuff... found camera mike which fit my phone... Very exciting indeed
So on the bike!!!!! but sorting out good sound...
Video will come later as confidence grows
And now we live with Covid... So what is new... all change... a new focus of activities... social interaction is paramount...
My new cello bow can now give the violin cello a chance to sing out as it should... Dark rosin is thicker...
Down to the allotments today to see what is the new activity... digging beds is what people are doing...putting up canes for beans etc...
Walking is a good time to let your mind wander... Planning a story or rather more accurately watching the film develop in your head...
Using your own experiences or letting your imagination run riot!!!
Good for the mind and the soul!!!
So distressing to see Storm Arwen claiming the health of greenhouses across Scotland and the north west of England!!!!
A new season begins... out with the old... make soup base...
In with the seeds... lessons learnt... ready for better times...
Many hectic days preparing for the gas man... All done now so hope to resume activities...
Using Audacity I have stretched the drum sound... All the time experimenting with sound!!!
So many things in audacity to do making for unusual sounds...
Really enjoying yet another area of investigation...
Trying a drum.. Hang drum??? stretched the sound on Audacity...
New to this so many more to come...
Walking in Nottingham... found myself in the drum shop... Metal Drum has soothing sound...great for meditation and relaxing...
I went for a walk today... some people are not able to!!!!!
So I thought about an activity that anyone can do... Imagining... just sitting and imagining... story telling...
Everyone has a book in them...
The Ukelele that I played instead of my Father's... Cheap but a good sound...Had to do a little work on it first!!!!!!!
Observation is a must... Look high and low... stand and stare... you never know what may be there.
One more Ukelele... This one is from Germany... A very well made instrument. A joy to play.
Up early to play but fingers are finding it a little hard...
Same route but with a difference... Bare trees... Squirrels are easy to spot... very few birds,,,
I have been humbled by the number of listeners I have received over the period of this pandemic.
Cold day...staying in but trying the violin cello to see how it is coming along... much better now that the strings are bedded in...
It is time to get back to my Lockdown activities as the new SA strain looms large in the area...
So many things are not possible at the moment... I am looking for other activities to replace...
After searching for a long time for slippers and coming up with the same old designs that I buy... I stumbled upon some Granny Slippers that fit the bill...
All vehicles today... real life throws a spanner in the works... Trying to stay calm... Taking it one job at a time...
Having to decide what to do... go in person on a journey or post the items... Fuel is in short supply and the cost has risen dramatically...
The train is an appealing option but Covid cases are increasing rapidly...
Walking and talking is fine but when you use poles it becomes a little hard to achieve good quality...
A Nordic Walk... Vicky Welsh style... but not having to think about what I am doing...
The sound quality is poor as I have a fishing vest on muffling the sound as the Zoom H5 disappears down inside the pocket...
Having played a few tunes I wondered what the notes would sound like very very slow and drawn out... This is the result...
Some parts are akin to Tibetan chant... some a little creepy but all are the voice of the Cello played on the violin body...
This walk contains rain sounds... very clear... plus birds for Bird Net users. Many topics covered as I walk today...
August planting is now a thing! All I have planted so far can be planted in August... but the leaves should be small and therefore sweet to eat!!!!!
The leaves I have are Huge and knarly...
Just catching up on the seeds and eating... so much produce now ready to eat...
What to sown now?????
One thing I do is create sound that I can lose myself in... Moving to the mood engendered by those sounds.,..
Have fun...
This one is a little strange...
With all the talk about mental health for athletes I thought I would post my deep sleep piece that gives me an hour of meditation or provides me with a vehicle for sleep...
I know this is not talking but when I do my nature soundscapes it is a very similar thing, I can play bird song and achieve a sense of wellbeing also...
When inside the house it gives me a sense of well being to experiment with sound...
Realised this music is not matching with the titles... hope this goes some way to show my meaning...
This is the result of letting my mind wonder as lonely as a cloud... Reflecting on current issues...
1. The Polar Ice Cap.
2. Global Warming... the Sun larger and more powerful.
3. Rivers swelling.
4. Denial. a)b)c) all the same... carry on regardless... d) concern creeps in!!!
5. Disaster... Pray for deliverance...Desolation.
6. Humanity springs into action... global disasters...
7. Civilization under threat...
8. Man fights back with his intellect!!!
9. Water World... The Big Freeze.
10.Biosphere experiments. The Eden Project... no longer a project.
11.Running out of time.
12.The land... Fight for a place.
13.The race for the Moon...Race for Mars...
14.The march of the sea...
15.No land mass.
16.Explosion...
17.Life among the Stars...
18.A new beginning.
Trying to better my playing... slow down and think about what are the issues... Bow arm!!!!
I am enjoying playing all eight violins... no great player but it is enjoyable to hear slight improvements...
Having a go making a violin look old... process... Linseed oil as a base... Lemon yellow oil paint... Burnt sienna oil paint.... then using a cloth in small circular motion remove the layers to reveal the lemon yellow colour... the lemon peeping through under a very small amount of burnt sienna...
I reference "Strad" the American violin maker who inspired my journey...
Too many hours glued to the t.v. Up and out even though there is every chance of rain...
Active mind and body... Inwardly thinking but outwardly expressed!!! A chance to learn... a chance to create...
Isolated from friends and family but connected to the World!!!
Walked North today and stopped for a soundscape... Kept the audio rolling on my return...
Today I am doing a walk on a well trodden path... But I realise many things... Listeners from all over the globe make my walk a very humble experience!!!!
Sounds that are not common to all people... If you live in a city that never sleeps you may find the rustle of leaves very new...
Trying to be a little more polished with playing... cut my nails to aid with playing... less plucking of strings without meaning to!!!
Plucked up the courage to attend the Latitude Music Festival!!!! A fabulous time... Also visited Southwold on Sunday...
A walk that educates me about when to pick Kale and Chard. When they have leaves pick them as the heat will make them bolt... Eat now to avoid disappointment!!!
Fourth violin I put together needs work... double strings hit... need to lower the feet on the bridge!!!!!!
Once again playing Strad copy... trying to improve but fingers becoming less responsive unless time is taken to have the joints working...
Shuffle... Taking plants out of the potting shed... Taking plants out of the Greenhouse... Making room for a second sowing...
So taken with my veg growing... I had to try the produce from the local veg shop...Zest. I am now a repeat customer...
For those of you who are keen Nordic walking fans... Have your Podcast open on Vicky Welsh (a link is on my page) and walk with Vicky in your head... I found it informative and encouraging to walk with a virtual instructor.
Obviously I have walked with Emma and have had individual instruction, but this is a good next step. The beauty of this idea is that you can have this podcast in your pocket and use it at any time that you like...
Happy Nordic Walking.
A great podcast On Air with Vicky Walsh... Had it playing in my ear as I did the work out.
I tried to listen and commentate at the same time but failed miserably!!!
Just giving time to Strad Hellier Copy... Still no great player but really listening to the tone...
Less restrictions means more activities... Happy to go cycling and walking with purpose... going further for content...
Experimenting with sounds... double stringing is a thing...really. Called Double Stop???
Very excited about tomorrow... first proper outing with new poles 110. Zoom H5 at the ready and water bottle...