It was all in the shoulders. The final swim class, and this week Andy was my instructor again. Warmed up with breaststroke. It was not perfect after all. I need to get my elbows higher in the water if I want to go faster (which is not necessarily what I want to do). This does work, although it puts pressure on the shoulders, which I can really feel this morning.
Onto backstroke. A little better than last week. I am just getting used to the rhythm. Keeping kicking while concentrating on the arms in rotation and lifting my tummy up, whilst trying not to collide with other swimmers is all a lot to remember. I need to reach right back with my hands which should enter the water behind my head. But to do this I have to remember to rotate my hips. And then bend the elbow to pull. Again, this is all effecting my shoulders, but more practice may see them become stronger. Apparently, it is a stroke which can be relaxing. It just does not feel that way at the moment.
My crawl is OK. Andy just said that I need to concentrate on keeping my fingers together. Once again I could feel the tension in my shoulders, but it certainly makes a difference to my speed. But the faster I go, the more I get out of breath. Well, that is the end of my swimming lessons. I have learnt an awful lot, and need to put it all into practice. My instructors have been great, thanks to them all.
Friday, 27 November 2009
Flash Forward
Just I was about to give up on what is a fairly patchy series, along comes a brilliant episode called "Believe". Doctor Bryce is searching for the Japanese woman he sees in his flash forward. Keiko is a young, brilliant bio robotics engineer. The only senior female in the company, she has to serve tea at a board meeting. Her passion for the guitar surfaces when she watches an old video of Bob Dylan singing "Shelter From The Storm". The final sequence reprises the song at LA Airport. That does it for me.
Monday, 23 November 2009
A Day in London
It all started with an invitation to lunch from Nigel, a distant cousin with whom I correspond about our family history. He suggested Finch's Wine Bar on Bishopsgate as we are very distant relatives of the Finch family. My great grandfather Vincent's brother, Sidney Morton Pearson Roberts, had married a Kate Finch. The basement restaurant is now called City House, and this is where I met Nigel for a very pleasant lunch and chat.
I had the whole afternoon free before a play at the National Theatre in the evening. I wanted to revisit the Royal Exchange and Nigel pointed me in the right direction. Walking down Bishopsgate, I looked inside the open gates of the historic St Helen's Place, and there was the Gherkin towering above the old square.
Further down Bishopsgate, I took a photo of The Gibson Hall, now a conference venue, and this time it is Tower 42 in the background. I soon found The Royal Exchange. When Alison and I visited that Saturday in the summer, it was closed. I climbed some stairs in the corner to take this illicit photo before being told the mezzanine was closed.
I took the Underground to Charring Cross and it was a short walk to Trafalgar Square. Passing St Martin-in-the-Fields, and as I had plenty of time, I decided to look inside. To my delight, there was a rehearsal taking place for that evening's concert. The piano accompanied by a 12 piece chamber orchestra were excellent. It was a nice surprise to be able to sit and listen to Mozart played by such accomplished young musicians.
My main reason for being in Trafalgar Square was to visit the National Portrait Gallery for "Beatles to Bowie", an exhibition exploring the leading pop music personalities of the 1960's. "Featuring key pop cultural figures the exhibition begins in 1960 with hit groups such as The Shadows and The John Barry Seven". It was the photograph of the latter that really captured for me, the essence of the early TV programmes such as The Six Five Special. As well as a huge collection of photographs, the displays of memorabilia (programmes, record sleeves, sheet music etc) were fascinating. 
Walking down Northumberland Avenue, I saw the Golden Jubilee Bridge lit up at the end. This was a perfect vantage point for taking photos of the lights of London. I was lucky that it was so mild for the late November, and I could take my time walking over the bridge.
All along the South Bank there had been erected a German Christmas Market, which was at it's best in the dark with all the stalls brightly lit. It was such a colourful scene, and if I had been hungry, a vast number of stalls had different things to eat.
I had the whole afternoon free before a play at the National Theatre in the evening. I wanted to revisit the Royal Exchange and Nigel pointed me in the right direction. Walking down Bishopsgate, I looked inside the open gates of the historic St Helen's Place, and there was the Gherkin towering above the old square.
Further down Bishopsgate, I took a photo of The Gibson Hall, now a conference venue, and this time it is Tower 42 in the background. I soon found The Royal Exchange. When Alison and I visited that Saturday in the summer, it was closed. I climbed some stairs in the corner to take this illicit photo before being told the mezzanine was closed.
I took the Underground to Charring Cross and it was a short walk to Trafalgar Square. Passing St Martin-in-the-Fields, and as I had plenty of time, I decided to look inside. To my delight, there was a rehearsal taking place for that evening's concert. The piano accompanied by a 12 piece chamber orchestra were excellent. It was a nice surprise to be able to sit and listen to Mozart played by such accomplished young musicians.
My main reason for being in Trafalgar Square was to visit the National Portrait Gallery for "Beatles to Bowie", an exhibition exploring the leading pop music personalities of the 1960's. "Featuring key pop cultural figures the exhibition begins in 1960 with hit groups such as The Shadows and The John Barry Seven". It was the photograph of the latter that really captured for me, the essence of the early TV programmes such as The Six Five Special. As well as a huge collection of photographs, the displays of memorabilia (programmes, record sleeves, sheet music etc) were fascinating. It was dark by the time I left, time for a coffee and cake at Costa Coffee in Waterstones, before heading for the South Bank.
Walking down Northumberland Avenue, I saw the Golden Jubilee Bridge lit up at the end. This was a perfect vantage point for taking photos of the lights of London. I was lucky that it was so mild for the late November, and I could take my time walking over the bridge.
All along the South Bank there had been erected a German Christmas Market, which was at it's best in the dark with all the stalls brightly lit. It was such a colourful scene, and if I had been hungry, a vast number of stalls had different things to eat.Then it was time for the theatre. At the small Cottesloe Theatre, where I had never been before, there was a production of Ferdinand Bruckner's 1926 play "Pains of Youth" in a new version by Martin Crimp. Wonderfully directed by Katie Mitchell. the young cast did a fine job.
I made my way back across Waterloo Bridge. I had never previously noticed how beautifully lit was Somerset House on it's frontage with the river. The end to a great day.
I made my way back across Waterloo Bridge. I had never previously noticed how beautifully lit was Somerset House on it's frontage with the river. The end to a great day.
Swim class number 7
This week it was mainly backstroke with Andy, yet another coach from the swimming club. These one to one sessions are much more like hard work as quite intensive. As usual we started with just the kick, trying to point my toes and kicking with an upward motion (I include these tips for future reference) like kicking a football? Tiring, but at least I was making some progress.
Then onto arms using a constant rotation, for the first time I think I was doing OK. Managed half a length which, for me, was a massive improvement. Apparently you use different muscles for backstroke, which accounts for the stiffness the following day.
Rested with some breaststroke which, I am told, is pretty much perfect. It was tumble turns for the second half of the lesson, but I just do not have the flexibility. Andy said something about our age, but he was only 46. I don't think he believed it when I said I was 64.o I did breaststroke turns instead, keeping my head down at the push off. It also gave me the opportunity to try some more backstroke.
Then onto arms using a constant rotation, for the first time I think I was doing OK. Managed half a length which, for me, was a massive improvement. Apparently you use different muscles for backstroke, which accounts for the stiffness the following day.
Rested with some breaststroke which, I am told, is pretty much perfect. It was tumble turns for the second half of the lesson, but I just do not have the flexibility. Andy said something about our age, but he was only 46. I don't think he believed it when I said I was 64.o I did breaststroke turns instead, keeping my head down at the push off. It also gave me the opportunity to try some more backstroke.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Ordinary Thunderstorms, deaf sentence and Too Close to Home
I very rarely read murder thrillers, but here are two with the latest by David Lodge in the middle. I heard William Boyd being interviewed on 5 live about his book Ordinary Thunderstorms, and it seemed quite interesting, apparently there are few modern murder stories set in Central London. It is a rattling good yarn , the action tears along with twists along the way. However, the whole essence of the plot means our hero has never watched a crime thriller on TV, or he definitely would not have done what he did at the beginning. The characters are interesting, and the locations vivid and familiar, the river never being far away. Not the best writing, but enjoyable nonetheless.
But if you want good writing, David Lodge is your man. This is the eighth novel of his that I have read, and deaf sentence is up there with the best. The words are music to the ear. Retired professor of linguistics Desmond Bates is going deaf, and the story revolves around his coping, or not, with his affliction. It is funny, poignant and life affirming. Brilliant.
I picked up Too Close to Home in out local Waterstones when out shopping with my dear wife. The previous book by the author Linwood Barclay, No Time for Goodbye, was a terrific thriller. His latest is a similar mystery, this time when next door neighbours of our narrator are murdered. Unfortunately, he is a pretty unpleasant character ( as are basically all the other characters), so our feelings about his harrowing experiences are somewhat diluted. The writing is pretty poor, and Barclay concentrates on the plot so much, he forgets about his reader. There is plenty of intrigue and you keep reading to see what happens next, but some of the twists are just not credible. A bit of a disappointment.
But if you want good writing, David Lodge is your man. This is the eighth novel of his that I have read, and deaf sentence is up there with the best. The words are music to the ear. Retired professor of linguistics Desmond Bates is going deaf, and the story revolves around his coping, or not, with his affliction. It is funny, poignant and life affirming. Brilliant.
I picked up Too Close to Home in out local Waterstones when out shopping with my dear wife. The previous book by the author Linwood Barclay, No Time for Goodbye, was a terrific thriller. His latest is a similar mystery, this time when next door neighbours of our narrator are murdered. Unfortunately, he is a pretty unpleasant character ( as are basically all the other characters), so our feelings about his harrowing experiences are somewhat diluted. The writing is pretty poor, and Barclay concentrates on the plot so much, he forgets about his reader. There is plenty of intrigue and you keep reading to see what happens next, but some of the twists are just not credible. A bit of a disappointment.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
131 Songs - Number 7
Number 7 - Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly
Recorded in 1957, I first heard Buddy Holly on our old transistor radio tuned in to Radio Luxembourg before we left London. One of the early pioneers of the new rock and roll, he performed in 1955 with Elvis and Bill Haley. These influences contributed to him adapting to a more rockabilly style typified by his first hit That'll Be The Day earlier in 1957. Unlike Elvis, Buddy wrote all his own songs which were quite sophisticated for the day. That must be why they still sound fresh to me whenever I hear them. And Oh Boy, did he write so many great songs. There are 15 on my compilation of 36 tracks and I never have to skip one of them. Even The Beatles recorded Words of Love on their album Beatles for Sale. So why Peggy Sue? It must be the paradiddles played on the drums by The Cricket's drummer Jerry Alison, that fade in and out. And the raw guitar solo in the middle. Just magic.
Recorded in 1957, I first heard Buddy Holly on our old transistor radio tuned in to Radio Luxembourg before we left London. One of the early pioneers of the new rock and roll, he performed in 1955 with Elvis and Bill Haley. These influences contributed to him adapting to a more rockabilly style typified by his first hit That'll Be The Day earlier in 1957. Unlike Elvis, Buddy wrote all his own songs which were quite sophisticated for the day. That must be why they still sound fresh to me whenever I hear them. And Oh Boy, did he write so many great songs. There are 15 on my compilation of 36 tracks and I never have to skip one of them. Even The Beatles recorded Words of Love on their album Beatles for Sale. So why Peggy Sue? It must be the paradiddles played on the drums by The Cricket's drummer Jerry Alison, that fade in and out. And the raw guitar solo in the middle. Just magic.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Swim class number 6
Drills, drills, drills. It was Rob this time, another coach from the swimming club. Started with crawl leg kicks holding a float, first on my back, then my front. I get some sort of propulsion when I start, but half a length and I am done for. Cramping starts after only five minutes. Must be getting old. I don't seem to have the flexibility in my feet to make them floppy. It was such a relief to go onto crawl proper. Apparently my head comes too much out of the water, which I think I knew, and was able to make some progress in this direction.
After half an hour, it was swapping instructors again and Theresa from last week took over. Breaststroke this time, just legs again, but I can manage this quite easily. Had to concentrate on the leg snap. On to the full stroke, and I could feel the tension in my legs in stretching with the snap, but it does seem to work. My arm movement needed a slight alteration with cupping my hands at my chest which turns the shoulders for a more streamlined movement. Quite different than what I have done for the last twenty years. I even received a comment that I looked like a real breaststroke swimmer. Backstroke was next, starting with that awful leg kick on my back. Tried some arm pulls and did my first ever half length. Hope that I can try this again next week.
After half an hour, it was swapping instructors again and Theresa from last week took over. Breaststroke this time, just legs again, but I can manage this quite easily. Had to concentrate on the leg snap. On to the full stroke, and I could feel the tension in my legs in stretching with the snap, but it does seem to work. My arm movement needed a slight alteration with cupping my hands at my chest which turns the shoulders for a more streamlined movement. Quite different than what I have done for the last twenty years. I even received a comment that I looked like a real breaststroke swimmer. Backstroke was next, starting with that awful leg kick on my back. Tried some arm pulls and did my first ever half length. Hope that I can try this again next week.
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