Archive for January, 2010

Blog standard.

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Welcome to the twentyclicks blog.

twentyclicks was created years ago when I devised the name for an outdoor clothing collection my sister was designing.  I quickly adopted it for myself as the name of my expedition photography service, but it has become more of a general personal brand.  I still offer expedition photography, as well as any other expedition services.  I’m happy to partake in local documentary and commercial photography, and am looking into expedition leadership and some product development.  It’s a journey.

This blog will now form the backbone of my website – a transitional process that will, guaranteed, not happen at any great rate!  There will be contact details, and images for sale, etc.  For now, some of my photographs can be viewed on Flickr.

The blog itself will feature all manner of things that cross my awareness or spew forth from my mind.  Expect reviews of books, films, equipment; narratives about travels and events; musings on photography, all of the above, and anything in-between.

I haven’t quite decided if I’ll actively promote it yet, or allow an organic, zen proliferation.  At any rate, I hope you find something useful here, or at least enjoy reading.

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Set the controls to the heart of the sun.

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Intentions can easily fall by the wayside; but not so easily if they are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound): you may observe these elements below, but have probably all been preached the acronym enough to avoid further explanation.  I call them intentions, rather than ‘resolutions’, as they match my needs and desires at the time – both of which may well change throughout the year ahead.  The guilt of a broken resolve is negated; the mis-placed intention realigned, is only a good thing.

Last year I tracked my intentions, much as Benjamin Franklin tracked his virtues.  Most, by trickery of averaging were attained.  Some sufficed to have the desired effect, and many seeded activity that developed and changed direction.  Although I stopped tracking around October (and should perhaps have re-examined at that time), my year benefited from the exercise; even though I never once went swimming, let alone once per month…

This year, an even greater mix of short and long term goals; regular and one-off achievements; mundane habitude and grand scheming:

  • Write at least 1x /week (is that a new blog sir?)
  • Jot all quotes in the 1 book, and store all writings in the 1 file!
  • Memorise 1 quote /month.
  • Memorise 1 poem/passage /3 months.
  • Go to the Cinema 1x /month.
  • Read 3 Books /2 months (an increase from last year’s success)
  • Attend 1 gig/classical music/art/literary event /month.
  • Fast 1 day /week.
  • Continue with my new, intense 1-day /week gym training.
  • Remember to use my nectar points/cashback links when shopping online.
  • Go horse riding for a day.
  • Complete part 2 of my Wilderness Medical Training (before my window expires in July)!
  • Go on a 3-day bicycle tour.
  • Visit at least 2 of the mountain ranges in Ireland (south of the border).
  • Before the end of the year, begin to learn some Sword in Tai Chi.
  • Partake in the Mourne Mountain Marathon in Class B or Elite!
  • Learn French at least 1 hour /week (bonus: get Rosetta Stone)
  • Get 1 of my photographs on a canvas, up on a wall in my house.
  • Sell 3 of my photographs.
  • Take 2 steps towards preparations for future ambitions (Mongol Rally, Expedition to Afghan Hindu Kush)
  • Bonus – get away to Skye to play on the Cuillin.
  • Bonus – get away to the Alps for some winter mountaineering and tuition in same.

It looks like a lot, but is all rather SMART.  A rich year of effort and reward awaits!  If anyone can help with any of my intentions, I am open to offers.  What do you intend to do with yourself in 2010?

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2009 was actually quite fine.

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

I like the week in-between Christmas and New Year.  I curl up, read books, listen to Dream Theater’s “Falling Into Infinity” album, and make good my intentions for the year to come.  Now, I don’t have a particular affinity for our New Year celebrations as I’m not convinced the New Year has begun (I shall post about that more when it happens), but everyone else resets, and it feels like a chance to get a head start on proceedings.

The first step in making new plans is to reflect on the old ones.  This proved quite surprising as, until I thought about it, I was convinced last year was terrible.  There may be a natural tendency in me to burn the fields before sowing the new crop: developing an angst to drive me to better things.  Alas, I’ve seen through it and must develop new strategies this year!

To return to point, I sat down to write lists of the good and bad points from 2009.  While I quickly dried up at only 6 negative aspects, it was not too difficult to rattle out the 35 positive events that blessed my year… nearly six times as many!

Further revelation came about after some rewording and an examination of the 2 lists:

Bad list – of the 6 atrocities, 4 were the result of external factors and 2 because I allowed them to happen.

Good list – only 2 positive events were directly due to outside influence: the majority were the result of participation and application.  Action words abound in the good list – check it out:

Survived, converted, travelled, completed, climbed, escaped, raced, toured, partied, connected, discovered, designed, constructed, tended, worked, created, developed, started, romanced, gifted, donated, sold, facilitated, assisted, participated, enjoyed, overcame, competed, claimed, committed, saved, helped, revelled, learnt, read, reduced, attended.

So what did I learn from this exercise?  2009 was actually quite fine, shit happens, and if I want 2010 to be full of positive things – I had better do something about it.

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