mind the moths

Hmmm ok, thought I might make a post.
Schooo I am now in London - well at this moment, I am actually just outside it in a place called Marlow. Its beautiful here. Lots of gorgeous trees an green. Lots of birdsong and sunshine, and some ridiculous television! Best of all though, Ma beautiful wife, the lovely, vivacious and ever so sexy soho_pixie is really making progress with her portfolio. We came up here so she could lay everything out and I think it has helped immensely! Her interview is on wednesday so everyone please say a prayer/cross your fingers/think happy thoughts - or whatever it is that you do - for her. A very big day indeed! The climax of about four years hard work and I think just maybe the feeling that her life is back on the right set of rails! She is looking really good at the moment, positively glowing. Her work is looking fantastic and I'm not going to say any more on it but I just really hope it all works out.

Me, I'm back in the gym and building back into my weights program after an injury to my lower back that took me out for a while. I got hold of a brilliant book called "starting strength" by Mark Ripptoe. It goes into great detail on the correct structure and technique for each of the lifts and they make a lot more sense now. As far as programs goe, I was following the Joe DeFrancoe's WSB program, which is good and quite flexible, combining the max weight training with explosive work and endurance work, but I am curious and tempted to experiment with the stronglifts 5x5 program for a few months, just to get a feel for the different lifts. either way I will be coming back at much lower weights for the moment and filming each workout for a few months, just to make sure I have the technique right before I load it up again.
Kung Fu training is starting to take off again. My training buddy is back from his travels and wants to maximise our sessions in the next few month before his visa runs out and he goes back to the motherland. I have been playing with the footwork in my own time, learning some lessons from the heavy squat, and found some interesting things in the tui-ma, mainly in that if you stamp the heel down when you land, it really activates the glutes nice and seems to project you, or your punches forward quite nicely. A nice trick, mainly counters the fact that I have a tnedancy to put my weight over my toes which appparently triggers the quads a lot more that the glutes and hamstrings. Of course I don't know whether it could be trouble for my ankle if I try it on rough ground though.
Another good trick, one I got of my training buddy from his gymnastics days, is to film myself doing the forms and footwork drills (solo and with partner). Its amazing what your body does that you dont realise. You think you are pulling of a brilliant 3 or four step chase with good solid punches. When you play it back you realise that you were in fact having an epileptic fit while riding a pretend horse and performing Jackie Collinsesqe "I'm a lady" slaps. Its quite harrowing, but very useful, and should help train my homeostatic (I think thats the word) awareness as well as sort out my technique. The funny thing is that I seem to work the techniques a lot better on a bag or with a partner. Gonna miss my buddy when he goes back. I really have to get off my backside and visit the other guys in Southampton, Manchester and St Albans. They are all lovely guys and both very talented and very generous fellas. Maybe I'll catch up with them for the Hatton fight. If not, soho-pixie and the lovely manga_kitten are off to have some advenures in Budapest (sounds like a children's book doesn't it?) so I will definintely arrange a visit for then. I will probably need to find a good London club once Rij goes though.
In other exciting news, I just found out David is being flown to Hong Kong to help with the Ip Man sequel. Apparently he is going to help select the guy they choose to play Wong Shun Leung and probably also help with translation and technical advice. I heard a little rumor that Donnie Yen will be basing at least some of his training program on Dave's dvd's too.
Its so great to hear! The guy is so genereous and really works his ass off for not much financial reward. He really loves it and loves passing it on. When I trained with him, there was about 10 to 15 people in most classes and the fee's were so low as to barely cover costs.
Its amazing as over here he seems to be touring 2 or 3 times a year all over Europe and even in the Us someimes and has got a hell of a lot of respect. I think this is due to his demeanour as much as his knowledge. He gives everyone a whole lot of respect, and doesn't hold anything back. He doesn't put himself above anyone either and takes time to answer and consider even the stupidest questions. I could go on but I'll spare everyone from my man-crush. Suffice to say if you want to learn that stuff and you get a chance to train with him,take it!
I'm looking into getting back into the ole boxing as well and maybe jiu-jitsu, or judo, or bjj too. But I'll save that for another time.
Take care everyone!

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I am very floppy righ now so this will be brief before I lose interest and start watching Battlestar Galactica downloads.

ITs been an ace week! Is surpriesd me with dinner and a really lovely hotel for my birthday last weekeend. So I surprised her wih an early valentienes day hotel this weeken. Yup its time for us to get a room!

House huntin continues. We ave a hopeful in Brixton which looks good. We are going to see it on Monday.
Cecily is designing again and working on ambitious plans wih her friend Krystal. I am so proud of her!
Meanwhile I have join a BJJ club that trains at lunchtimes. Its an excellent workout and completely different to any MA i've practised. Heaps of coordiation, leverage, sensitivity, core strength and fitness involved and Im loving it.
Im also training Wing Chun twice a week with Ri-Jie still and loving that too. HE came over on thursdauy for my brhday and our training quickly became drinking wine and chatting to Is as she cooked up a storm. We did an experiment with tea and oil o see if i really does break up fat. We forgot o keep it overnigh though and the results were inconclusive.
Ah well I can smell dinner coming now. I think I migh go invesigate....

Capquest real or fraud?

So I've been getting threatening calls from a mob calling themselves capquest over some alleged debit they are supposed to have bought of NatWest. This stinks of dodginess. Firstly I haven't been in the UK since 2003. My account has been deactivated(which I thinkn did me out of a few hundred quid as when I left my account was in credit). NatWest have assured me that they do not sell debts on and that they would not have closed the account if money was owing. I have just got a letter stating that since I have not contacted them (which is bullshit as I have spoken to several people trying to determine where the fuck this came from) they are passing me on to their solicitors (which apparently has added 50 pounds on to they amount they are trying to steal from me). Yet when I ask them for information they say I have to apply for it in writing WTF!!!!.
Frankly given what the banks said I think they've made this up. How do companies operate like this without going to jail? It seems like they are just trying to bluf me into paying some non-existent debt.
GRRRRRRR!!!!

On the plus side, I think we're going to Inverness for NYE! Yay!!!!

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So London is turning out to be very nice. Had a job interview yesterday. Seems like an ok job. A bit far out of the city, but an interesting job. It would involve figuring out what the important business processes for each country in the comapany and figuring out test scripts for them. A bit of travel to France and other places. Not bad really. Dunno if I'll get it - there's three or four stages before any results. I've got another interview for a different job on Monday for a different job. I can't wait to be earning again!
In other news I caught up with Ri-Jie and we had a little trainign session in the backyard. He' been training with Dave for about ten years and spent some time in Hong Kong as well. Its great! I was worried that over here I wouldn't find anyone to do Wing Chun wih and that I might have to change streams again! IT turns out between Ri-Jie, another chap named Adam and the Southampton Boys, I'm going to have lots of really talented training partners.
We worked on entries off the paksao drill and I got to try a very nice one involving a huensao off the punch, a step to the inside and then a switch step and groinstrike. Its much smoother and faster than it sounds and is lots of fun. Its amazing how much the huen sao throws off the other guys balance.
Anyway. Lots of love oeveryone up in Scotland or down in Oz.
Till, it was ace to see you on the weekend!

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Job hunting.
Feel like I'm operating in a vacuum.
I think I may have to revise my strategy and start actually calling people.
hmmm.

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Whew! just finished the worlds longest job application!
The backs healing nicely and I should be ready to train again in time for the seminar next week. I is happy! a whole weekend of kung fu!!!!! joy!
Spoke to Kevin Bell. He seems really nice. He said he might be able to hook me up with a couch to crash on somewhere for the Saturday night. Is doesn't mind me sneaking off for the weekend either which is sweet of her.
Had a delicious lunch with Is and Tonino. T shouted us. It was wild boar and apple sausages on a bed of mash with this thick oniony gravy. Sooo yummy!
On the way backwe looked at shops and just enjoyed a beatiful day in Chiswick. I went into my first Waterstones this time around. I love the smell of bookshops! I wonder if they pipe musty book smell like Tescoes pipes baking cinnamon smell into the aisles near the baked goods (I used to get so distressed frantically trying to find the cinnamon covered bum that had awoken my craving and having to make do with what was actually on the shelves - still ... baked goods :-D).
Anyway must go rest my back and possibly play Romans!

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Is and I have shifted over to London! Its a great city. Such a buzz and so many differrent cultures and people squeezed into this big city. They even have self service checkouts in the supermarkets! How bizarre.
We landed up in Scotland first. Tilda was getting married and we were both invited to the hens night in Edinburgh. We ended up at a show called DrvSketchies. A burlesque show where you were gven charcol and paper and got to sketch the performers. We got there quite late unfortunately so we didn't get to see much. We did however get to see the lovely Till on all fours, but elegantly nursing a glass of champagne, between the spread legs and rather shapely bottom of a scantily clad man.
We were lucky enough to be living with the bride and groom up in Invernesse for the week leading up to the wedding. It was really lovely! It meant Is got to keep her sane and it meant we got to know Steve - her hubby to be a little bit before the big day. What a lovely man! We'd only really seen him before at our own wedding the year before and weddings being weddings Neither of us had really had much of a chance to speak to him then. We had had a camp dance off at one point though where my wife claims we snogged. I insist that it was only a very manly peck on the lips. We knew of him though and knew how wonderful he made Till feel so really he had us at hello! Their house is gorgeous. Lots of bits and pieces he'd brought back from his time in Indonesia and a cinema! Literally a cinema! One of their rooms was empty except for a giant screen and a projector. We got to see the new tartan as it arrved, get drunk with the pair of them a few nights and help them get the final things ready. There really wasn't much to do though. Such organised kids! I did get to go to Till's kickboxing session though which was a lot of fun. Her instructor teaches in a room of his flat. We were greted at the door by an enormous and incredibly friendly german shepherd. Who after saying hello to every one went and sat in the next room. The instructor took a little time sussing me out, but seemed to warm to me after that and we got on with the workout. I must admit I was pretty out of shape, but it was a joy just to be training again. Anyway enough of that.
The whole wedding was a bit of a magical mystery tour. We were driven to a hotel in the middle of Scotland the day before called "The Boat of Garten" which could only be reached by road or a steam train. I was reacquainted with Guiness in the bar and gradually all the rellies from each side arrived. We had a lovely dinner and got nicely drunk togeher. By the way, haggis is delicious! Its like mince but with a slightly different texture and with really nice spices mixed in. Apparently a scottish poet wrote a massive poem called ode to the haggis and they have a national day in its honour.
Anyway, the next day we all got up and frantically tried to iron shirts and skirts. The girls all went and fussd over Till, the men all pottered around and asked if anyone had brought shoe polish.
Finally all was ready and we piled into a few busses and were driven through some of the most beautiful countryside I've ever seen.
(Go Itunes - the coolest Indian bollywood/trance song has just come on - which reminds me Till, I've got one of your cd's in my computer still)
We arrived at the shore of this incredible loch. Beauiful green mountains rising in the distance and the shore surrounded by woods and heather. We milled around for a while as Steve appeared from behind an island in a canoe paddled by his bst man and came ashore to direct us to the right place. He looked amazing! dressed in a crimson jacket with the mostly blue with hints of red tarten that he and Till had created and named "Frogalletto" (long story).
So while we stood by the shore with the groom and all his family resplendent in tartan up pulled a combi van decorated in pink bows and out stepped the faerie queen and her attendants. Till looked gorgeous in a white translucent dress that seemed to glow and het bridesmaids were equally as beautiful. She was led down by children clad in pastels wands and fairy wings and when the bride saw her groom resplendent in all his Scottish finery she blurted out "Its beautiful! Just like a shortbread tin!"
The service was one of thelovliest ever. Their personalities came through in every aspect of it. The words were their own and the feeling in everything was so strong! The did a handfastenng ceremony and lit candles together and made their vows to each other and faced their families the whole time. There wasnt a dry eye in the place.



At the end the children jumped in the canoe and the bride and groom climbed into their combi and drove away. The rest of us made our way back to the busses and were driven to a train station. We waited here for a while drinking cocktails watching the bikes from the local biker rally that happened to be on and dancing to the bands playing in the parking lot of the pub across the road until a staem train arrived!
We were ushered on to this gorgeous train by the beautiful couple - who had rejoined us by now - and fed champagne as we chugged along through the bautiful Scottish countryside to end up at our hotel!
After that we all headed in for more cocktails some really moving speeches and dinner where we feasted on lamb and sweet potatoe gnocchi before a band started up and we were invited to dance a kaylee. I'd nver seen this before but it was loads of fun, though dangerous on a full belly. All the dancers had different names and pattererns but mainly seemed to involve twirling your partner around as fast as you hould and bouncing up and down the room. It was a wonderful way to finish such a beautiful day. Is and I had such beautiful rooms we couldnt bear to leave them and stayed an extra day.
Well the trip down after that wasnt so interesting. Two words bank-holiday.
The stay at Is's parents house in Marlowe was nice though. We rested and I got to drive a tracor. But now we are back at her folks house in London and nice as they are, we are dead keen to get some work so we can move out to a nice little share house somewhere. So the job hunting is on! I am looking forward to late September though when David Peterson - my old kung fu instructor is coming out to Southhampton to host a seminar. It will be great to see him again and I'm looking forward to meeting some local kung fu folks!
Anyway enough rambling for now. I'm off to eat food and job hunt. Love to everyone up North and back home!
X O X