Hello. I say it every year around my birthday (which was yesterday) and actually do follow up the idea - I should do more. This year as you may well know I have taken up skateboarding again after 30 years, today was a good day for that. I took my son to an indoor ramp where for the first time I dropped in on the half pipe. If that means nothing to you it's because either A) you're young and don't skateboard or B)you're old and have no idea what I'm on about. For the benefit of both parties it means that I went off the top of a platform into a curve running away from said platform in a gravitationally challenged aspect. At least that was the plan. The first 15 attempts ended in a wipeout akin to dropping a pig carcass from 2 stories. Eventually though and with plenty of encouragement from the kids there, I did it. As the young might say, I was 'stoked'.
The downside is apparent though, I think I've either broken or seriously sprained a toe, have bruises on my knees (pads? only on elbows) and ache, but never mind, I enjoyed it enormously!
Aside from the above, the other thing I've just got back to is photography. Having graduated from Erith Comprehensive in 1980something with a solid CSE grade in the subject, other than using pro photographers work commercially, I've not done much of my own. Sure there were holiday snaps, but nothing I was really proud of. The past few years I've had a colleague who has been enthusiastic about images and she's really helped. The wanting to 'out do each other' means we both paid more attention, even to the point of several trips out for the sole purpose of taking photos.
We've worked together to produce good quality commercial photos for our mutual employer and the rewards personally have been great (we got diddly squat from the company) and pushed us to achieve better each time. Now were in a photo project group with another colleague and a few other friends and the results are all good. Each of us want to produce better images to impress each other I think and that is a good thing. Without the competition you're never driven quite as hard.
Now, if I can combine photos and skateboarding without getting arrested or broken, I will!
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Mid life crisis. Get your own.
Ha! I'm 42 soon, a matter of days, 14 of them, two weeks. This means that I am in middle age and not knowing when the period began, or indeed at what age it ends, I'll be drawing it out for as long as possible.
It appears that there are a number of unwritten rules about what is acceptable behaviour for someone in middle age. Due to the confusing and random nature of said rules, I can only assume that they were written by either A) a woman or B) a Frenchman.
There are lots of other people on this earth that are currently middle aged and they all view the process of aging differently. Some see it as the beginning of a gradual decline and start doing things that are associated with much older people, pressing flowers, doing puzzles, macramé, you know the sort of thing. In confession, I'll admit to having dabbled in the dark art of activities commonly grouped as 'crafts' and may well do so again, but (look away or cover your ears if you are easily offended),
I DON'T INTEND TO CURL UP BY THE FIRE AND DIE WITH A COPY OF 'COMPLEX PUZZLES MONTHLY' JUST YET.
So, if I want to avoid the above, what else can I do? Let me think.......oh yes, I cycle. That's fun, slamming around a woodland trail on a mountain bike getting muddy and sweaty, running the risk of coming off and landing in brambles. Maybe the last bit isn't so appealing but it adds to the adrenaline rush so it stays in.
The other thing I've just picked up again after a near 30 year hiatus is, wait for it, skateboarding. No really. I'm old enough to remember the craze appearing for the first time in the late '70s. The skateboard I had then cost £6 from Hoskins Newsagent in Long Lane, Bexleyheath. That red plastic device was wonderful, it had semi-transparent yellow wheels and a kick-flip at the back. We rode it along the pavement mostly, or on a rare visit to Greenwich park we got to go down the hill that had red rubber matting on it for that very purpose! Friction burns were guaranteed.
Back then our exposure to things like that was limited to seeing something in a toy shop or seeing it on Blue Peter or Swap Shop on a Saturday morning. Concrete bowls and purpose built ramps just didn't exist here back then, at least if they did, we had no idea about them.
Come back to 2011 and not far from home is a brilliant custom made skate park in my local town. My 6 year old son and I have been there with his board. Sadly, the weight limit on his board is about 5 stone lighter than me. This got me thinking - maybe I could get my own then I wouldn't risk breaking his. So I did. It's got skulls on it and everything!
With age has come responsibility and both son and I have proper helmets and the obligatory knee/elbow padding. No shame in protecting the sticky out bony bits.
Feeling very self conscious and wondering if I was just being a complete cock, we went to the park again. The thought of those trousers round arse pants on show kids laughing at the silly old duffer nagged a bit I must confess. Imagine my surprise when we got there and saw someone else my age, skating, skating bloody well, carving up the bowl and actually looking cool whilst doing it. Hell, even the kids were watching him!
Some of the teenagers stopped being spotty and awkward long enough to offer me advice other than 'sod off pedo' and 'where's ya walkin' stick'. Yes, they actually welcomed another skater and tried to help me learn an essential trick, the 'ollie'. I shan't explain it because unless you too have an affinity with the outpourings of Avril Lavigne, it ain't gonna mean much.
Stoked with my newly rediscovered fad I gushingly told my colleagues, one of whom is quite close to me in the middle aged stakes. Now, I expected a bit of ribbing having thrown myself on them akin to Daniel at a Lions Tea Party, but trying to claim it's part of my mid-life crisis, now come on! Perhaps having been in a rock 'n' roll band counted, that I'll give them, but skateboarding? Why?
Somewhat confused I asked if skiing fitted the model. Throwing oneself down a snow covered mountain with planks on your feet whilst dressed in a giant lurid romper suit, it turns out, is OK and not an indulgence of crisis. The only defence offered as to why this was the case turned out to be 'because it isn't'.
I'm not really bothered though, after all, I'm having fun and doing something that I'm actually capable of and it turns out, am not alone. According to the bloke I met there are plenty of us having another go at this. As with all past times of youth, they often get put on hold to get a career going, buy houses, get married and have kids. So, I ask you, is it really so bad that a few of us get over our fears and pick up where we left off?
Now, I'm off to slip on my DCs, hoodie and get skating.
Anyone seen my Deep Heat?
It appears that there are a number of unwritten rules about what is acceptable behaviour for someone in middle age. Due to the confusing and random nature of said rules, I can only assume that they were written by either A) a woman or B) a Frenchman.
There are lots of other people on this earth that are currently middle aged and they all view the process of aging differently. Some see it as the beginning of a gradual decline and start doing things that are associated with much older people, pressing flowers, doing puzzles, macramé, you know the sort of thing. In confession, I'll admit to having dabbled in the dark art of activities commonly grouped as 'crafts' and may well do so again, but (look away or cover your ears if you are easily offended),
I DON'T INTEND TO CURL UP BY THE FIRE AND DIE WITH A COPY OF 'COMPLEX PUZZLES MONTHLY' JUST YET.
So, if I want to avoid the above, what else can I do? Let me think.......oh yes, I cycle. That's fun, slamming around a woodland trail on a mountain bike getting muddy and sweaty, running the risk of coming off and landing in brambles. Maybe the last bit isn't so appealing but it adds to the adrenaline rush so it stays in.
The other thing I've just picked up again after a near 30 year hiatus is, wait for it, skateboarding. No really. I'm old enough to remember the craze appearing for the first time in the late '70s. The skateboard I had then cost £6 from Hoskins Newsagent in Long Lane, Bexleyheath. That red plastic device was wonderful, it had semi-transparent yellow wheels and a kick-flip at the back. We rode it along the pavement mostly, or on a rare visit to Greenwich park we got to go down the hill that had red rubber matting on it for that very purpose! Friction burns were guaranteed.
Back then our exposure to things like that was limited to seeing something in a toy shop or seeing it on Blue Peter or Swap Shop on a Saturday morning. Concrete bowls and purpose built ramps just didn't exist here back then, at least if they did, we had no idea about them.
Come back to 2011 and not far from home is a brilliant custom made skate park in my local town. My 6 year old son and I have been there with his board. Sadly, the weight limit on his board is about 5 stone lighter than me. This got me thinking - maybe I could get my own then I wouldn't risk breaking his. So I did. It's got skulls on it and everything!
With age has come responsibility and both son and I have proper helmets and the obligatory knee/elbow padding. No shame in protecting the sticky out bony bits.
Feeling very self conscious and wondering if I was just being a complete cock, we went to the park again. The thought of those trousers round arse pants on show kids laughing at the silly old duffer nagged a bit I must confess. Imagine my surprise when we got there and saw someone else my age, skating, skating bloody well, carving up the bowl and actually looking cool whilst doing it. Hell, even the kids were watching him!
Some of the teenagers stopped being spotty and awkward long enough to offer me advice other than 'sod off pedo' and 'where's ya walkin' stick'. Yes, they actually welcomed another skater and tried to help me learn an essential trick, the 'ollie'. I shan't explain it because unless you too have an affinity with the outpourings of Avril Lavigne, it ain't gonna mean much.
Stoked with my newly rediscovered fad I gushingly told my colleagues, one of whom is quite close to me in the middle aged stakes. Now, I expected a bit of ribbing having thrown myself on them akin to Daniel at a Lions Tea Party, but trying to claim it's part of my mid-life crisis, now come on! Perhaps having been in a rock 'n' roll band counted, that I'll give them, but skateboarding? Why?
Somewhat confused I asked if skiing fitted the model. Throwing oneself down a snow covered mountain with planks on your feet whilst dressed in a giant lurid romper suit, it turns out, is OK and not an indulgence of crisis. The only defence offered as to why this was the case turned out to be 'because it isn't'.
I'm not really bothered though, after all, I'm having fun and doing something that I'm actually capable of and it turns out, am not alone. According to the bloke I met there are plenty of us having another go at this. As with all past times of youth, they often get put on hold to get a career going, buy houses, get married and have kids. So, I ask you, is it really so bad that a few of us get over our fears and pick up where we left off?
Now, I'm off to slip on my DCs, hoodie and get skating.
Anyone seen my Deep Heat?
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