So I’ve been away for a while. Well, actually I’ve been here all the time, I’ve just not broken cover. This is going to be a long one so before you get yourself comfortable, might I suggest you sort yourself out with a cup of tea (and perhaps a biscuit or two)?

So what happened? September did, that’s what. September is my favourite month. I tend to find it a melancholic time. A time of changes and upheavals: people move away, the landscape starts to change, the Summer evening starts morph into a dwindling twilight. It’s still bright but with a colder, harsher light. I love that it is still dry enough to play out but it is not quite so comfortable: the Autumn makes you work for your fun.

The cold snap of Winter has yet to come (though we expect it any day and I have been wearing thermals for the last few weeks, but then, I am a wuss). After a particularly wet and dreary Summer I relished the chance to scramble through the woods, clear out the garden (we had three bonfires in as many weeks: try clicking this link) and generally steel myself against the oncoming Winter.

The most exciting thing to happen to me in months was thanks to Tweakerzine. The inaugural Tweaker Freaker show opened at Slam City Skates on the 16th (and runs until the 16th November) and I was lucky enough to have four of my photographs included in the show. Big shout outs to Gorm and Gonella. There are loads of little write ups all over the skate blogs and everytime I find one, I immediately examine the background to see if any of my pictures have managed to sneak in. You can now see a retrospective of the exhibtion in Tweakerzine (which also includes a handy map showing which photos were taken by whom).

According to the Today Program, Wired have declared that blogging is dead. Is it? No one told me. I didn’t listen to the show (so I may have the wrong end of the stick here: I tried using the listen again feature but there was no way I was going to put up with John Humphries for three hours!). Apparently it was something to do with Twitter (and social networking sites) taking over from traditional blogging or something.

To which my response would be: that’s all well and good but blogs, even mundane personal blogs, have the potential for editorial content and the abiltity to post pictures which I absolutely could not live without. Besides, I could never be concise enough for 140 characters! I actually rather like Twitter, I see it as lying somewhere between blogging and emailing/instant messaging though I can’t honestly see how it would fit into my life (perhaps if I worked in an office or something). Here is a more thought out response from Rory Cellan-Jones.

Hutchinson have commisioned a web video advert thingy which has turned out rather well. To quote the Youtube comments: “The video is awesome, trick-hungry bike messenger against a laid-back diva.”

I have high hopes for the future of belt driven bikes so it’s nice to see that someone is finally making a real effort that both works well and looks good. Talking of alluring bicycles, you have to check out the work of Olli Erkkila: his Winter Fixie and Sidewalk Surfer are my favourites.

I’ve been reading through a lot of oudoors and adventure type blogs recently. I think PTC* was my favourite. I think whoever came up with the name for this device deserves a raise.

I’ve also really been enjoying Smosch. I love the simplicity and tranquillity of the photos and I wish that it was present in my own work (part of me says I should step away from Photoshop for a bit but part of me has been really happy to get back into it and learn all those little tricks that had slipped my mind).

Both Jam Factory and Quis.cc have make major updates to their websites. Gavin is really pushing the limits of what the Tumblr format can do (and I though I was clever because I used a semi transparent .png file as a background to my entries…). Quis’ site is looking a slick as ever, yet each new version is always swisher than the last.

I’ve found come across quite few nice interviews lately. First up is John Trippe of Fecal Face gives us a guided tour of the gallery and provides a little insight into the very beginnings of the website. Jeff Staple speaks to Common Magazine (the Mash SF and Benny Gold interviews are also blingual). My Love For You has a nice chat with Miss Suzy Q and Nigel Peake discusses his work and influences for 4Talent. Speaking of which: my Peakey print from Tiny Showcase has just shown up.

Yo, where the hell is Yak? Someone go and poke him in the eye until he starts a new blog or something.

I have finished reading ‘Here Comes Everybody: The Power Of Organising Without Organisations’ which I heartily recommend, especially if like me, you write/peruse/devour blogs on a regular basis. Last week I polished off The Bog People by P. V. Glob as well as Alan Moore’s masterpiece: Watchmen (I want to read it before the film is released).

Right, that’s a monster post (and I’ve already cut out a sizeable chunk). I hope it goes some way to making up for my absence. I like writing but sometimes the lure of the sunshine is too strong (I have a butterfly mind and am easily distracted). I keep my Notebook updated in fits and starts so you might want to check that out from time to time. Until next time…

Loop.

P.S.

你好 Kinoko