Beauty manifest in metal.

I was checking the Samba today and saw this van. I just had to share. I know I went on about the 71 Westy and how great it is, and it is.

This is a different kettle of fish altogether. Look at the deluxe trim around the van like a wedding band and the gorgeous rear lights. I also like the number plate. I think I would deal with the devil for a van like this one.

Flying: the next big thing

I cant tell you how much fun this is. Power kiting was introduced to me the summer before last by my ever so Xtreem brother Mick, thanks Mick. I tried it a couple of times in the playing field at the back of our house using Mick's kite.

It took about 10 seconds before I had decided that I couldn't live without one. Mick has a Flexifoil 4.5 m Bullet. I figured that this was a little to much for me so after a little deliberation I plumped for the smaller model, a 3.5 m Flexifoil Bullet it still gets great air and pull. Then I just had to find one. We are poor so going out on a whim and spending £250 on what is essentially a kid's toy was out of the question.

So to Ebay, I got some money for my birthday and I was off. I eventually got a great deal that included 3.5 m Bullet, harness, control bar, lines, gloves and a helmet. I originally offered the guy £125, he said no and I had to wait till the end of the auction, at which point he had to take my bid of £115. His loss he he. The rest of the summer was spent climbing over the garden fence avoiding the archers in the corner. Really they chased us one weekend threatening to shoot at us. I guess they thought this was a way to ensure the field was all their own. No chance, too much fun to be had.

Not me

I think Bart gets a little bewildered by the amount of 'next big things' I have VW vans, snowboarding, long boarding, petrol powered skateboarding and now power kiting. He has to put up with them all without complaint. So here I would like to say thanks to my ever understanding husband. I promise the next big thing is at least six months away.

So you can look forward to some pictures later in the spring - broken limbs permitting.

Looking forward to Easter?

I know I have just got back from holiday in the USA so I should be all re-charged and ready to go. This is not the case. I am having a hard time just pulling myself out of bed in the morning. All I could think about this morning as I was crawling into the shower was 'four day weekend.' I don't even mind what we end up doing. Probably nothing of note. I am just looking forward to staying in bed until I decide to get up rather than the alarm deciding for me.

So thank you God, I don't have any kind of relationship with you, but I appreciate the time off work. I will worship the weekend.

The power of nature

As you may have noticed the UK has been battered today by a combination of high winds and tides. There are a lot of people flooded and in bad shape. I feel bad for all of them.

However, the bad weather conditions helped create an amazing piece of video footage. Imagine coming in to land and just as you get close to the ground a gust of wind picks up the plane and you just hang in mid air like a Fisher Price toy. Next time I fly, I would like that driver please.

Click here to view.

Made me glad that we flew a couple of weeks ago and not today.

Stinks of cheese

I saw this advert on TV today. All I can say is it stinks of cheese to me.

Now this one is much better.

Dream machine

So anyone that knows me knows that I have a dream. Not a grand political dream - just a simple private dream of a man and his dream machine. You may think you know what the dream is all about and most of you do, but I think some pictures will help you understand the thing of beauty that I covet most of all. It is a 1971 VW Westy camper (US spec). In my opinion it was the best model made. All the beauty of the earlier models but with some modern (1971) additions to make driving and living with the beast more comfortable. An upgraded engine with even more horse power along with disk breaks in the front and, best of all, the small light cluster in the back that gives the van the look that stirs something in me that no grown man should admit to. So my perfect van would look something like this. I will talk more about this at a later date with some pictures of the individual parts of the van that I love and why they make me feel the way they do.

I do think that the pictures speak for themselves.

Banksy

OK here goes my first post.

I saw this on YouTube yesterday and fell instantly in love. I have been into Hip Hop and Electro since I was about 10 years old and no other music was allowed into my life with the exception of a little Reggae (more on this later). So I should know a lot more about Banksy. I have of course heard the name from news reports, etc, but never really took much notice.

Shame on me. I have taken the time since yesterday to have a better look at some of the gorilla art that this guy has produced all around the world and I am impressed. Some of the optical illusions are great. I think that his style speaks for itself. The bold stencil work is my favorite but I really like the Monet shopping trolleys. I know I am a little late but I am now at the party and loving it.

Have a look at these three YouTube posts I know three is a bit much but each of these grabbed me in a different way so I thought I would share. I'm sure you will agree. This man has great style and a truly cutting wit that helps the point immensely. I hope you like it as much as I do. I had no idea that I was an art lover.