tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80541310053840302522024-03-20T20:36:25.793-07:00Heavy DenimBlogging about fashion and lifestyleAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-73065441434365636442015-07-20T09:16:00.000-07:002015-07-20T09:16:19.966-07:00Taking a Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, after only a few months of running Heavy Denim, I've decided to take a break.<br />
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What in God's name will I read now?! I hear all three of you cry - well, you'll be pleased to know I'll still be writing solidly on fashion and lifestyle, over on <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/">Buckets and Spades</a>, as well as continuing my food writing on <a href="http://www.foodepedia.co.uk/">Foodepedia</a> and<br />
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The truth is, for a blog to be half-decent, you need to commit to it. With my current writing, work, new projects, and general laziness, it's going to be hard to keep the content flowing.<br />
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Thanks to everyone who has had a read; thanks too to all those brands that supported us along the way. We'll be back soon - hopefully - but regardless, see you over on <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/">Buckets and Spades</a>!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-40368667344684079302015-07-14T06:12:00.001-07:002015-07-14T08:57:37.403-07:00LG + Sabel Saddlery | A closer look at leather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-41z22ztiYyRQvKWBfOT3HyZPXpUzJELZfQ37PZczy2gVNyJZeftEWq18BGTva5aFZS9sok5SCZvrWXLRyANMDeDNwFUoMS1vJQDXtnQLtZo0P9lEuHDh_RKBJXdSqfN84v8C8H21lU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-14+at+13.59.54.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-41z22ztiYyRQvKWBfOT3HyZPXpUzJELZfQ37PZczy2gVNyJZeftEWq18BGTva5aFZS9sok5SCZvrWXLRyANMDeDNwFUoMS1vJQDXtnQLtZo0P9lEuHDh_RKBJXdSqfN84v8C8H21lU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-14+at+13.59.54.png"></a></div>
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This is going to be a quick one, as I want anyone reading to watch the video.<br>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I'm getting a slight odd obsession with craft videos recently.</b></span> I've probably watched every single one on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24211691">BBC Magazine</a> - the font of all craft videos.<br>
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There's just something I find very quite calming about watching people talk about their craft. I've no idea why, but <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>clearly their popularity means I'm not the only one</b></span>.<br>
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Anyway, I'll stop rambling and let you watch. This one is an O2 + LG cross-over, discussing leatherwork with <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24211691">Mia Sabel of Sabel Saddlery</a>.<br>
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Check it out!<br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-63123064123250311682015-07-13T09:15:00.002-07:002015-07-13T09:15:39.522-07:00Admiral | Iconic Heritage Sportswear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfb8v8CzI7_CGK5CUfQNcq_dOhV3K_xPhALj6QBsUVH-Trm4ySor9jVhJiy7ldTB6tChWZJVUH4ja5wZxAudPnvtjJ0frhXUcvDQ5OP6AdDU4wcee40YWO0ZcqxXyTMdS9HffVm6Z8OI/s1600/EmmaGibney_ADMIRAL_03_0243_V2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfb8v8CzI7_CGK5CUfQNcq_dOhV3K_xPhALj6QBsUVH-Trm4ySor9jVhJiy7ldTB6tChWZJVUH4ja5wZxAudPnvtjJ0frhXUcvDQ5OP6AdDU4wcee40YWO0ZcqxXyTMdS9HffVm6Z8OI/s1600/EmmaGibney_ADMIRAL_03_0243_V2.jpg" /></a></div>
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I've never been a suit and tie sort of guy. Even at school, I wore black jeans instead of the regulation trousers. What can I say? <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Just a middle class rebel without a cause, I guess.</span></b><br />
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Now don't get me wrong, I like a suit. I own three, it turns out; but when the weather's hot, we can't all be a <a href="https://twitter.com/topgrain">Top Grain</a> and keep our shirt and tie buttoned up to eleven. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6UD6sxJ_WnN-vVG4SiMjxl3P-XVpJL0VlwMzBMhWwm4xd_D3ZsmQ72jUxinNxY7uXXgXGElP6Ht2lGELfA7Cgqc9hyphenhyphen3dft2zrsT75FTiHaRl5NXgiHHr7mtLk4N9wOtfkG2JcFDA0wY/s1600/EmmaGibney_ADMIRAL_113_0800_V3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6UD6sxJ_WnN-vVG4SiMjxl3P-XVpJL0VlwMzBMhWwm4xd_D3ZsmQ72jUxinNxY7uXXgXGElP6Ht2lGELfA7Cgqc9hyphenhyphen3dft2zrsT75FTiHaRl5NXgiHHr7mtLk4N9wOtfkG2JcFDA0wY/s1600/EmmaGibney_ADMIRAL_113_0800_V3.jpg" /></a></div>
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Where am I going with this? <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Oh yeah, the rise of sportswear. In short, it's cool again - honest!</b></span> And don't take my word for it, check out this new collection from <a href="http://www.admiralsportswear.com/">Admiral</a>: the iconic sportswear brand of the 1970s and 1980s, rejuvenated a few years ago to bring their classic look back to the street (or playing field).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatOhg1KMBTmCj4vu6LUY5QraTm23QfFQct_HFMf3WC5VpFHMusNXlKGoQZDkW0pbTkjNIZuZOXIaEc9IwZDjlZ1D9qmGmANKwRhYfAFRHwYo4Url5XvilhyOkV74ZATTS7LwM88ZjgR8/s1600/EmmaGibney_ADMIRAL_07_0418_V2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatOhg1KMBTmCj4vu6LUY5QraTm23QfFQct_HFMf3WC5VpFHMusNXlKGoQZDkW0pbTkjNIZuZOXIaEc9IwZDjlZ1D9qmGmANKwRhYfAFRHwYo4Url5XvilhyOkV74ZATTS7LwM88ZjgR8/s1600/EmmaGibney_ADMIRAL_07_0418_V2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I'm a fan and not least because I'm a sucker for a polo shirt.</b></span> </span>The t-shirts and jackets too have that perfect cross-over between sports and casual wear. Throw it on for the park and it doesn't matter if you just wind-up drinking in the pub instead...just your ditch the shinpads at the door.<br />
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You'll find <a href="http://www.admiralsportswear.com/">Admiral</a> at over 90 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide from 14th July.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-5939197769226769732015-07-06T15:58:00.000-07:002015-07-06T15:58:04.759-07:00ISYB + Liberty London | Collaboration <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZwrznCsLs5h51FlXwo2r9y4mJMUAJi834vqV7meRK6wu5AWkSlnrlAGAHiK9Lpg5GO54PImT0U_1_yoYFkIwa03AplekMJv_DsdWXB3SbTi4klqkDzTzSiRdzt2WHW0Ao9Tr2gTWgwI/s1600/DSC_0111+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZwrznCsLs5h51FlXwo2r9y4mJMUAJi834vqV7meRK6wu5AWkSlnrlAGAHiK9Lpg5GO54PImT0U_1_yoYFkIwa03AplekMJv_DsdWXB3SbTi4klqkDzTzSiRdzt2WHW0Ao9Tr2gTWgwI/s1600/DSC_0111+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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Although I've only visited once - <a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/12/22/article-2252269-169F52ED000005DC-452_634x539.jpg">to see some carved wooden gargoyles</a> - even I can recognise a print from <a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/">Liberty London</a> when I see one. They're bold, colourful, and often quirky.<br />
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Fortunately, for those who like them, they seem to be on display in a fair few places now - not just their (justifiably) busy store in Soho. Last year we spotted some <a href="https://www.christys-hats.com/men/shop-by-style/caps/british-ball-cap-with-blue-liberty-peak">Christys' caps flying the Liberty prints</a> and, this year, it's <a href="http://isunkyourbattleship.co.uk/collections/life-love-and-liberty">I Sunk Your Battleship who've added a Liberty print or five</a> to their collection.<br />
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<a href="http://isunkyourbattleship.co.uk/collections/life-love-and-liberty">These bright tees, with the Liberty print pocket</a>, are just what you need for the summer - when your standard uniform of black and grey is becoming a little too out-of-place.<br />
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They're a good price and made in Britain too. What's not to love?!<br />
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Check out <a href="http://isunkyourbattleship.co.uk/collections/life-love-and-liberty">the full range here</a>.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-63030366261875052982015-06-23T05:59:00.004-07:002015-06-23T05:59:39.809-07:00Photography in gaming | GTA 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto/">Grand Theft Auto</a> (the game, not the crime) <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>has come along was since its first incarnation</b></span> where a tiny couple of ginger-haired pixels ran around jacking car-shaped oblongs.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>At the time, <a href="http://www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto/">GTA</a> looked stunning though</b></span>, especially as all I had to compare it to was the dot matrix <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Game_Boy">Game Boy</a> screen I stared myopically at, twiddling the contrast dial until all six dots of <a href="http://mario.nintendo.com/">Mario</a> were half-visible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxmp3V0wkJmyvmxrn6oFJoZRTEHBeKbgLd5ao8wiXgSrM-Ivkw4FAQJkmvrUwH9lxtXKvYPVsY2hly4kYUnNFcgmtTnM_65bZL9oleElhPn7zyt5nC3NQeoPBYvEkR5hGmrr6POEiP_4/s1600/gta+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxmp3V0wkJmyvmxrn6oFJoZRTEHBeKbgLd5ao8wiXgSrM-Ivkw4FAQJkmvrUwH9lxtXKvYPVsY2hly4kYUnNFcgmtTnM_65bZL9oleElhPn7zyt5nC3NQeoPBYvEkR5hGmrr6POEiP_4/s1600/gta+14.jpg" /></a></div>
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Nowadays, all computer games look ridiculously film-like, to the point where <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>the Hollywood actor's union must be thinking of registering a protest</b></span>, before they all become little more than voice-over artists.<br />
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My copy of <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockstargames.com%2FV%2F&ei=iieJVbnXDYPQswGn3YDwBA&usg=AFQjCNEGZYlXOjIX_B0a3BC41lJadxY5KA&sig2=o4Rzioaq00yXP6IfDxc_uA&bvm=bv.96339352,d.bGg">GTA 5</a> is on the <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.playstation.com%2Fen-gb%2Fexplore%2Fps3%2F&ei=lyeJVc47yK2zAfbMmvgL&usg=AFQjCNFjl6SLwpT95GEBdpKiZATafz0NTw&sig2=MdVbD8jx9u9PEUXbcR1wog&bvm=bv.96339352,d.bGg">PS3</a>, so doesn't look quite as polished as it could; however, <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/2015/01/photography-in-gta5-by-curtis-mcnally.html">Mat's coverage of Curtis McNally's photography</a> from the game inspired me to take some shots of my own. Well, what else is there to do on a dreary Friday evening when everyone else is busy / has lives?<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>That's the odd beauty of this game.</b></span> Put down the rifle, get out of the car, have a walk, and stuff just happens around you.<br />
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Firing up the <a href="http://hipstamatic.com/classic/">Hipstamatic</a>, I snapped away at a Porsche driver stopping to buy road-side fruit (I stole the car), joggers on the beach, a guy chilling on a wall (who then tried to shoot me), orange-glow sunsets, and trendy kids queuing for a club.<br />
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It's all happening in <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CC4QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgta.wikia.com%2FLos_Santos&ei=ZieJVZ6GBISnsgHs8bygBg&usg=AFQjCNElIliVDr3QVSio4_w5D0vn0Epu4w&sig2=GVj5l1-xUVBwUtHCYchP8g">Los Santos</a>! And with the camera app registered to Playstation Store and <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">nothing to do on a Friday night, you can capture just a tiny amount of it.</span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-26355622035570064272015-06-22T23:45:00.000-07:002015-06-22T23:45:03.656-07:00Oi Polloi + Reebok | Magical Mystery Trainers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8QzzY1JkWuhW2JPmnZoCNvQpFJ0rVF5AwmvkPvDqBqe4GekL8WrUrqdwViG_QWDVFKcu9AmOQ18EUD4JEkrJTQtfcfOLW_JLNtHJOzgknwwyypu_7KE3hW1SKtASZ6TTbAoyLiWdbFo/s1600/reebok+mystery+trainer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8QzzY1JkWuhW2JPmnZoCNvQpFJ0rVF5AwmvkPvDqBqe4GekL8WrUrqdwViG_QWDVFKcu9AmOQ18EUD4JEkrJTQtfcfOLW_JLNtHJOzgknwwyypu_7KE3hW1SKtASZ6TTbAoyLiWdbFo/s1600/reebok+mystery+trainer.png" /></a></div>
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It's an interesting way to launch a trainer, <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>not to give away a single detail</b></span> - but that's exactly what the guys at <a href="http://www.oipolloi.com/">Oi Polloi</a> are doing.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>For their latest collaboration there's no pictures</b></span>, no details, <a href="http://www.oipolloi.com/collections/reebok/products/reebok-magical-mystery-trainers#product">just a silhouette of a shoe and a list of sizes</a>. The shoe in question looks like a Stan Smith, but this time <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>they're collaborating with Reebok</b></span>, rather that <a href="http://heavydenim.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/oi-polloi-adidas-introducing-ardwick.html">adidas</a> (although granted, Reebok are owned by adidas - so no harm there, surely).<br />
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<a href="http://www.oipolloi.com/collections/reebok/products/reebok-magical-mystery-trainers#product">Oi Polloi</a> are planning a fairly <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>exclusive launch party</b></span> to reveal these trainers to the world. For your chance to win an invite, <a href="http://www.oipolloi.com/collections/reebok/products/reebok-magical-mystery-trainers#product">drop your email address on their site here</a>.<br />
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Good luck!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-89733175711211618992015-06-22T09:58:00.000-07:002015-06-22T09:58:34.600-07:00Tom Cridland | The 30 Year Sweatshirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktYqpMLWCZBQUHtW7unArrGgA4nvg3UulJqHZkRHJZUdvx7f-pnKKBPUzQCnZKStaJonm36-b6ryIQzDKFcj3rySvmkPNjqn-8Ot_45G-Qxmrr41lhzUmrffBAVS5nMJEyA4gOZfA3Vo/s1600/tom+cridland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktYqpMLWCZBQUHtW7unArrGgA4nvg3UulJqHZkRHJZUdvx7f-pnKKBPUzQCnZKStaJonm36-b6ryIQzDKFcj3rySvmkPNjqn-8Ot_45G-Qxmrr41lhzUmrffBAVS5nMJEyA4gOZfA3Vo/s1600/tom+cridland.jpg" /></a></div>
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We've been without a washing machine for a couple of weeks. That means trips to the laundrette and digging out ageing clothes from the back of the cupboard.<br />
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Yesterday's item, for a trip to the climbing wall: <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>a t-shirt from a Ricky Hatton vs Kostya Tszyu fight in Manchester</b></span>...way back in 2005.<br />
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That's a 10-year old t-shirt! Is it the oldest item of clothing I own? Probably, is the answer - although, I have a few pairs of suspect looking socks that might rival that t-shirt for the crown.<br />
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<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tomcridland/the-30-year-sweatshirt">Tom Cridland</a> - a Cambridge based clothing company and, by total coincidence, the name of a guy I lived with way back when that t-shirt was brand new - are planning to <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>challenge my ten year old t-shirt with a 30 year old jumper.</b></span><br />
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30 years! Think of that!<br />
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Thankfully, I'm still young enough that if I did own an item that was 30-years old, it would most likely be a bib or baby grow. However, in another 30...who knows. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I could be ridding my hover board down the street, with stone wash denim, giant white Nikes, and that same jumper.</b></span><br />
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That's if they get funding. So <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tomcridland/the-30-year-sweatshirt">drop them a pound on their Kickstarter</a> and help make it happen.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-44437614564518820872015-06-20T07:07:00.002-07:002015-06-20T07:08:35.441-07:00Doritos Roulette Firewalk Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECt8qtakzQhJrZvq5Xw3AwRveytphJdjl4YTxBldWgmAVFLQDF625z0kSC1_-y6dHBuzyLH40MDF3B2DBJHW6GFJ_78H12XGU_u-y0NaMFOR9Rzxkk1ZG625QtKqHXRr7YyBDqcOoW6Y/s1600/doritos+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECt8qtakzQhJrZvq5Xw3AwRveytphJdjl4YTxBldWgmAVFLQDF625z0kSC1_-y6dHBuzyLH40MDF3B2DBJHW6GFJ_78H12XGU_u-y0NaMFOR9Rzxkk1ZG625QtKqHXRr7YyBDqcOoW6Y/s1600/doritos+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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I like spicy food, I really do. The only problem is, I'm not sure it likes me. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I sweat like an absolute pig when I eat it.</b></span> In an Indian, in a Chinese, anywhere that serves hot food, I need at least four napkins to keep my face dry during dinner.<br />
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Gross, I know.<br />
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It throws all kinds of spanners in the works. Not least for a potential holiday to Jamaica. They love chilli! But there <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I'll be, ordering up a curry goat and slapping a ton of Yeo Valley in it</b></span>, desperately trying to dilute the scotch bonnets - and, no doubt, failing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nCEGfTNDx2v0xP5DfE7GOAuZiYLZEz5EM_etYBoBrsKYhVQ5JePHzTNxnD8GiVjpstVXtUyB4thJgR2sU_YMC-szdlv_Cc6TeBZMrJlYnUUYpmbIr_GRxR1y9100Ty-GQTnUoyvuJ_I/s1600/doritos+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nCEGfTNDx2v0xP5DfE7GOAuZiYLZEz5EM_etYBoBrsKYhVQ5JePHzTNxnD8GiVjpstVXtUyB4thJgR2sU_YMC-szdlv_Cc6TeBZMrJlYnUUYpmbIr_GRxR1y9100Ty-GQTnUoyvuJ_I/s1600/doritos+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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If it came to a choice then, between eating a crisp 10 times hotter than a jalapeño or walking bare-foot over hot coals, I know which one I'd gladly try.<br />
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<a href="https://www.doritos.co.uk/products/detail/doritos-roulette-tortilla-chips">Doritos</a> <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">don't seem to offer people that choice in their latest commercial</span></b>. It was either walk the coals or don't. If someone did, they'd win a VIP trip for them and their friends.<br />
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Nice. Who wouldn't do that for their friends? Probably me, actually. Why do my friends get the VIP treatment at the expense of my delicate feet? Personally, I think anyone who wants to get the good stuff, should have to run the coals - or eat one of those ridiculously hot crisps.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>A rock and a hot place. Now that's roulette!</b></span><br />
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p.s. <a href="https://www.doritos.co.uk/products/detail/doritos-roulette-tortilla-chips">Doritos Roulette crisps</a> are available now - and yes, they do contain a crisp 10 times hotter than a jalapeño.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-48863697488055352412015-06-16T03:01:00.000-07:002015-06-16T03:01:59.335-07:00Visting England | Isle of Portland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBZZuFXvvOXwe61L88rwt7Pay5jMxbV3JJ_tHpuxSwvoRCPSnjfHJ42C6Yjd68tl-GkAGejT9QeQ7Wp4G7CjoiYhRYmQ44_SPpewqHhYk8T8R8lruxMLbTzZcFHHAfIAryac7ztos9hI/s1600/IMG_3610b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBZZuFXvvOXwe61L88rwt7Pay5jMxbV3JJ_tHpuxSwvoRCPSnjfHJ42C6Yjd68tl-GkAGejT9QeQ7Wp4G7CjoiYhRYmQ44_SPpewqHhYk8T8R8lruxMLbTzZcFHHAfIAryac7ztos9hI/s1600/IMG_3610b.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Chesil Beach is a thin spit of land, constructed almost entirely of shingle</b></span>, connecting the Isle of Portland with Weymouth on the Dorset coast. It's a windswept barren couple of miles, made for walkers, not bathers; fishermen and kite-surfers, not bucket and spade wielders.<br />
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On either side, the mainland and the island tower up from the sea, sheltering their inhabitants from the elements. Here, on the beach, people hunker down into their coats, peeking out from behind binoculars and kite strings, <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>staring out across the marshland to study the birds</b></span>.<br />
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On a clear day, the glaring sun beats down, drying the ground and crisping the grass, while its warmth is swept away by the relentless wind. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The only shade in sight provided by a single brick wall protruding from the shingle.</b></span> Running to shoulder height, before dropping away to nothing, each brick of the wall is twisted, the mortar broken and crumbling. Tall grass hides in its shaded side, climbing the wall and helping to eat the mortar that supports it.<br />
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This was as far as we explored; this wall and an ice-cream. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>We should have explored Portland</b></span> - the castle, the lighthouse the numerous pubs - but it's a long drive from the Cornish coast to the Jurassic, navigating hills, towns, villages, and a high moorland that disappeared into a cloud when it met the sea. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>It's a long drive too back home</b></span>, across the New Forest and out through the centre of London.<br />
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Portland can now join <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>the list of English places I want to visit again</b></span> and most definitely should. Whether that long list will ever grow any shorter remains to be seen.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-73089078797350654042015-06-14T11:51:00.001-07:002015-06-14T11:51:25.744-07:00Glastonbury Revisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Last year, I went to Glastonbury. This year, I'm going again.<br />
<br />
Last year, we arrived in the setting sunshine of the Wednesday evening. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>It had been a smooth and fast drive down from home and as we passed Stonehenge, it was bathed in a warm orange glow. </b></span>We weren't worried about the sunlight not holding out. We had two tents a stack of beers, and all of our bags balanced on a trolley. We were easily going to make it!<br />
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The problem was, we had two tents, a stack of beers, and all of our bags on a trolley. The trolley cost £15. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The trolley was made from a metal softer than cheese. </b></span>The trolley trundled five yards from the car, hit a squashed coke can, fell over, and crumbled into dust.<br />
<br />
Damn.<br />
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The next two and a half hours (yeah, you read that right) were spent walking the three miles back and forth, carrying all of our equipment (and beer) by hand. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>It was as fun as it sounds!</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaa5AqwXj_wLFv65fuWiO7aDK_QQ3CNqOhyphenhyphenmrn0xq8oN-P7OONQg6lhlgde9W_UAGQ1JPB7rPKVwgwhKxFs8Ktx1D77B7pkdyPUdVJli34He4jY3mlrTIHr811rQokDnd4Hav69cLvVQ/s1600/tee+pee+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaa5AqwXj_wLFv65fuWiO7aDK_QQ3CNqOhyphenhyphenmrn0xq8oN-P7OONQg6lhlgde9W_UAGQ1JPB7rPKVwgwhKxFs8Ktx1D77B7pkdyPUdVJli34He4jY3mlrTIHr811rQokDnd4Hav69cLvVQ/s1600/tee+pee+village.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Then, the next day, it rained. </b></span>It didn't stop raining until we left either. Such heavy rain and such loud thunder that at one point they shut everything down to avoid potential catastrophe.<br />
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So anyway...this year, I'm going again!<br />
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Surely though that shows just how great Glastonbury is? A disaster when we arrived and soaked all weekend, yet I still want to go again.<br />
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Okay, <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">this time I'm praying for sunshine</span></b>, but rain or shine the experience of 180,000 people (that's larger than a lot of UK towns) crammed into a small valley in the middle of rural Somerset is too good to miss.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Honestly, it's one of the best experiences going.</b></span> Forget the queues for the toilets. Forget the toilets, in fact. Forget the long walks, lack of sleep, acres of mud, seas of sweaty people, spilt drinks, overflowing bins, shoving, pushing, tripping, crying, shouting. Forget ALL of that. Next year, get tickets, go and everything aside, you'll have a fantastic time.<br />
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Just please God, <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">don't let the wheel fall of the trolley again</span></b>!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-28148578011067363022015-06-11T07:16:00.002-07:002015-06-11T07:16:14.298-07:00Mapping The Simpsons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5sJ8-ZKEHQq_THRePyyXF8Vb0PQHFkzYjhqe7uJqyC9tH3YfnMnHPNgXYITzqf_I9qLGlWAiwDj5JRS-9rVHu-XVi_x2ulTCSUKFbHGck2NCvHVngwJ2BQ2ciKGRVWgRBsuotpb-h94/s1600/a-full-map-of-springfield-the-simpsons-2282738-2443-1594.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5sJ8-ZKEHQq_THRePyyXF8Vb0PQHFkzYjhqe7uJqyC9tH3YfnMnHPNgXYITzqf_I9qLGlWAiwDj5JRS-9rVHu-XVi_x2ulTCSUKFbHGck2NCvHVngwJ2BQ2ciKGRVWgRBsuotpb-h94/s1600/a-full-map-of-springfield-the-simpsons-2282738-2443-1594.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I couldn't believe this so much that <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I had to post about it</b></span>!<br />
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Whether that sentence makes any sense or not, I'm surprised anyone is reading it. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>You should be staring in awe at this <a href="http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2200000/a-full-map-of-springfield-the-simpsons-2282738-2443-1594.jpg">zoomable map of Springfield</a></b></span> - the home town of The Simpsons.<br />
<br />
Truly amazing stuff. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Someone has a lot of time on their hands</b></span> - and has used it in the best way possible.<br />
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For the fully zoomable map, <a href="http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2200000/a-full-map-of-springfield-the-simpsons-2282738-2443-1594.jpg">click here</a>!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-50300232669699737132015-06-11T00:59:00.000-07:002015-06-11T00:59:18.349-07:00Introducing The Bearhug Co Ltd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislHvwnnVh6uGV-ByKmIr8PgWBFCQc2RiT51aKs3WmI6FJV4N-imsMFsjCqOw_BBWX3mDeQY2HAbsrV80a7EbEdD07m9ZanoaOmp4JDrhiekn5KIoL2YutivxCA3_b5-l6Z03JSEurxic/s1600/bearhug+jumper.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislHvwnnVh6uGV-ByKmIr8PgWBFCQc2RiT51aKs3WmI6FJV4N-imsMFsjCqOw_BBWX3mDeQY2HAbsrV80a7EbEdD07m9ZanoaOmp4JDrhiekn5KIoL2YutivxCA3_b5-l6Z03JSEurxic/s1600/bearhug+jumper.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6KJHGs-VP3nyyLLaA8RE8qTc0h9BDtmWo1i9fbHlYWIgsJTR_0A5IvZvFvH9PXKmXzvski5PVNvyRryHSWm3sBECuaTSGVFs9udjsZFwmLvbDZ3_aTqMtcm78N9UadO0pSL-TbjYFwY/s1600/bearhug+tee.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6KJHGs-VP3nyyLLaA8RE8qTc0h9BDtmWo1i9fbHlYWIgsJTR_0A5IvZvFvH9PXKmXzvski5PVNvyRryHSWm3sBECuaTSGVFs9udjsZFwmLvbDZ3_aTqMtcm78N9UadO0pSL-TbjYFwY/s1600/bearhug+tee.gif" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure how much <a href="http://www.thebearhug.com/">The Bearhug Co</a> need introducing really. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>They have a fairly strong following on <a href="https://twitter.com/lukedixon">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/thebearhugco/">Instagram</a></b></span>; but what the heck - their email to me led with a grey jumper, so I'm all over it!<br />
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Yes, it's true: <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I do love a grey sweatshirt</b></span>. What can I say, I'm obviously a bit boring. We all have our uniforms though, as <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nik-speller/mat-and-nik-podcast-4-talking-oliver-sweeney-soho-and-top-dog-hotdogs">Mat and I discussed on the podcast the other day</a>. Mine (currently) is black jeans, a pair of Nikes and a grey jumper.<br />
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I need to liven that up though and a nice bear portrait would work a treat. Plus, these pieces do really <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/thejiglett/media/2l95qap-1.jpg.html">remind me of Flight of the Conchords</a> - one of my favourite shows of the past ten years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Pqd4QyxkYqU6uAKRIcLhvoU6IB9llJn4z74W_vRtwH1fHiLWnkvLfH2SAfHrhkDwLs67Lb0upEayM7g7KD607s1E3Ll6Thd9C0C8Ke0O2VSkoCtV0tpoWJAnyGcr0xHPTBxVIFU4UbA/s1600/bearhug+comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Pqd4QyxkYqU6uAKRIcLhvoU6IB9llJn4z74W_vRtwH1fHiLWnkvLfH2SAfHrhkDwLs67Lb0upEayM7g7KD607s1E3Ll6Thd9C0C8Ke0O2VSkoCtV0tpoWJAnyGcr0xHPTBxVIFU4UbA/s1600/bearhug+comp.jpg" /></a></div>
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Anyway, it's been <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>a refreshing change writing about some clothes</b></span>, rather than <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Fire-Nik-Speller-ebook/dp/B00YO15XC6/">my book</a>. I've enjoyed it. Now to down tools and start preparing for a trip to Cornwall - we're off to <a href="http://www.edensessions.com/">Eden Sessions</a> in partnership with <a href="https://www.asus.com/uk/">ASUS UK</a>. It's going to be fun!<br />
<br />
Check out the full Bearhug Co range <a href="http://www.thebearhug.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-376497206754976522015-06-08T02:27:00.005-07:002015-06-08T02:27:48.001-07:00My book | A Last Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>'It's a trundling river, the Thames. If it's cousins on other continents are forged by giant snakes ploughing through the grass with purpose, then the Thames is a trail laid by a giant snail, lazily searching for food' </i></div>
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<b>- <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Fire-Nik-Speller-ebook/dp/B00YO15XC6/">A Last Fire</a></b></div>
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<br />
For those who don't know, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Fire-Nik-Speller-ebook/dp/B00YO15XC6/">I wrote a book</a>. It was written last year, mainly on journeys too and from work, sat on the tube, frantically typing on my phone. I glued it altogether over a few late nights and then spent almost a year having it edited by friends and family, as well as commissioning a cover - the creation of which I am truly grateful for (as it looks flipping amazing!).<br />
<br />
People who haven't read the book always ask me what it's about, naturally. The <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Fire-Nik-Speller-ebook/dp/B00YO15XC6/">description on Amazon</a> fails to convey what I think the book is about - I think <a href="http://bookendsandbinends.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/bookmarks-last-fire-debut-book-by-nik.html">Barrie Thomson's review is far better</a>.<br />
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On the surface, it's a dystopian / post-apocalyptic tale of soldiers and zombies. I imagine a lot of people are truly turned-off by that.<br />
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In my mind, that's really not what it's about.<br />
<br />
Like the work on which it's based - Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness - this book is about one man's reflections on both the situation in which he finds himself and the world in general. In some ways, the man is a passenger. He does make decisions and does impact the story, yet at times he talks as if he is simply floating along through his own existence, watching as the world (literally) drifts by.<br />
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I say in 'my mind', as that's the true beauty of any book. People can ask what it's about, but really it's for them to make their own decision upon reading it. Some will see no meaning to the story and possibly no point to it at all. Others will see the story in a certain light, from a certain angle.<br />
<br />
I'll never tell anyone what the true 'meaning' of the story is or if one even exists at all. Even as the author, it's not my place to say.<br />
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As the book itself says:<br />
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<i>'No man can old all of the answers, no matter how high his tower...a man who believes himself to hold all the cards and be true above all others is both false and a fool.'</i></div>
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That said, I understand the fundamental hypocrisy in believing as truth that no man holds all the answers - for that, in itself, is claiming that one man understands the truth.<br />
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Hypocrisy is rife in this book. It's one man's narration; one man's view of events and the world. The narrator claims others to be incompetent, useless, coward, and more - yet he himself admits to all of those weaknesses and suffers from many more. The text is in places jarring, contradictory, and the narrator often loses his train of thought, running off to philosophise on other semi-related matters.<br />
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This style of writing, I'd like to think, emulates that of a Heart of Darkness. It's also an attempt to genuinely imitate a true narration. People don't deliver every detail in their stories. They don't present objective facts. They do make mistakes. Most stories told aloud are a ramble through a beginning, a middle, and possibly an end. They're told through a single set of eyes - a filter on the world, clouded with preconceived ideas and judgements.<br />
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Whether the story reflects any truth in my own life, I'll also leave to other people. Some of the comments made by the narrator are ones I've made myself in other situations; others are most definitely not. As with Marlow, the character in a Heart of Darkness, I can empathise and identify with some of the situations (and characters) he deals with. I've never taken a trip along the Congo in the 19th Century and I've never taken a boat ride along The Thames through a zombie-infested wasteland.<br />
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Yet we can all find parts of every story that reflect something of our own lives, especially if we're the one who wrote it. As the book reads towards the end:<br />
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<i>'I imagined each of us saw a projection of the old soldier's tale in our own mind; he himself, the fool, General Bryer, the Captain, and every character in between, each of them felt as part of our own flesh, each a component that made us the men we were.'</i></div>
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That then is my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Fire-Nik-Speller-ebook/dp/B00YO15XC6/">available to download on Amazon Kindle and the Amazon Kindle App for desktop, tablet, and mobile</a>. Thanks for reading this post and I hope you enjoy the book.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-63953847281911821212015-06-06T03:23:00.001-07:002015-06-06T03:23:46.882-07:00London | Visiting Canary Wharf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The driverless DLR is the perfect prelude to Canary Wharf. An automated train delivering passengers to an artificial city district of almost futuristic pretensions. As the train leaves the depths of Bank Station, it heads high above the low-rise flats of Shadwell, before sweeping in a majestic curve towards the sky-kissing offices of Canada Square. Without a driver, the floor-to-ceiling window at the front of the train frames Canary Wharf as a gleaming paradise of steel and glass - not just a destination, but the only destination for miles around.<br />
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All architecture is artificial, yet much of it grows organically. London is a sprawling mess of history: layer-upon-layer of times, ages, and epochs entwine to form an almost natural geographic beauty. Canary Wharf is planned, wholly. Every element of it thought, designed, and positioned to create an artificial oasis in the East of the city and an artificial life for everyone who lives and works there.<br />
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As such, Canary Wharf is alien to anyone who doesn't visit regularly. Arriving is disorientating. The DLR station opens into a windowless shopping centre, devoid of natural light, and as confusing as a box-hedge maze. Shop, after shop, after shop, it's like the end of a roller coaster where keyrings and souvenirs of your journey are sold - with ponchos offered in case it's raining.<br />
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Outside, life isn't much clearer. Signs point to seemingly endless corners of a series of giant squares. Replicated over and over, long channels of deep still blue water reflect the buildings above as identical below. The names are the same reflection and repetition - Middle Dock, North Dock, South Dock, Inner Dock, South Quay, Heron Quay, West India Quay. Distinction in name and geography is totally lost - as is the visitor.<br />
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Canary Wharf does have a beauty though. Its charm, as with its order, emerges from its diametrical opposition to the rest of London. In the rain, London's grime dribbles down brickwork and seeps up from its streets. The stone paving around Bank, for instance, leaks, creaks, and splatters your shoes in a grey grime which stains forever. Canary Wharf, on the other hand, sparkles in the rain. The water washing the endless metres of glass clean and smooth; the undulating pavement offering no cracks for the grime to bubble from.<br />
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And when the sun shines, those same streets and buildings continue to sparkle - glowing brilliantly against a dazzling blue sky.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-54189385545657027122015-06-02T02:11:00.001-07:002015-06-02T02:42:56.167-07:00Competition | Mainline Weekend Break x Lyle & Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I’ve got massive love for golf. It reminds me of being a kid - a much simpler time. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I’d watch Sunday Grandstand religiously, with my Granddad.</b></span> We’d rattle through the sports like we had somewhere to be. Football, gymnastics, snooker, rugby (boring, should have been replaced with pro wrestling if you ask me), F1 and golf. The latter sparked a different feeling, I found it so relaxing to watch; it was a slow pace but high impact. The commentary was on another level too.<br />
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Chasing that white ball in the deep, thick cloud was another story though. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Why did’t they use orange balls?!</b></span>
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Years later and I still haven’t been to any major tournaments, but I’d love to. My Granddad is sadly long gone, but I know it would bring back those found memories.<br />
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The guys at <a href="https://www.mainlinemenswear.co.uk/competitions/lyle-and-scott-golf">Mainline Clothing</a> are running a rather special competition with <a href="https://www.mainlinemenswear.co.uk/competitions/lyle-and-scott-golf">Lyle & Scott</a> at the moment - <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>the first prize is two tickets to the British Open</b></span>, up in Scotland, plus swanky accommodation for the weekend!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" style="margin-left: 0.5em;" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a_OlBuLRa7E" width="500"></iframe><br />
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If you’re not the lucky number one (and believe me, I’m hoping it’s me) then there’s <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">a couple of runner up prizes</span></b> - second prize is £500 to spend on Lyle & Scott drapes, and third is £300 for a little bit less swag.<br />
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Actually, why I am writing this? I want to win, but let’s strike a deal, if you win then I can be your +1 right? Guys…?<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Just to remind you of those prizes:</b></span><br />
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1. Two tickets to the British Open, plus accommodation<br />
2. £500 to spend at Lyle and Scott<br />
3. £300 to spend at Lyle and Scott<br />
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What are you waiting for?! <a href="https://www.mainlinemenswear.co.uk/competitions/lyle-and-scott-golf">Enter now!</a><br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
- <b>Mat</b>. Editor of <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/">Buckets and Spades</a>.<br />
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You can find Mat on <a href="https://twitter.com/mat_buckets">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/mat_buckets">Instagram</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mat_buckets/">Pinterest</a>.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-73725674924494004202015-06-01T15:11:00.004-07:002015-06-01T15:11:56.538-07:00Sabel | Handmade, bespoke watch straps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, a service I haven't used isn't something I'd usually cover. But, I've been feeling pretty guilty as <a href="http://www.sabelsaddlery.co.uk/watch.html">Mia Sabel</a> invited me along to her pop-up at <a href="https://www.fortnumandmason.com/">Fortnum & Mason</a> and I couldn't make it.<br />
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Or rather, I said I could and then my plans changed at the last minute.<br />
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Anyway, although most days I wear a dependable Casio, I do own something a little better and the strap is looking worryingly worn. So visiting <a href="http://www.sabelsaddlery.co.uk/watch.html">Mia</a> would have been perfect! Oh well, you can't do everything life sends your way - unfortunately.<br />
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From what I've seen on <a href="https://instagram.com/sabelsaddlery">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://www.sabelsaddlery.co.uk/watch.html">Mia</a> is pretty good at her craft, to say the least! It's worth giving her a follow on <a href="https://twitter.com/SABELSaddlery">Twitter</a> too, just to see when the next pop-up will be or simply to admire her good work!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-38162908576759702392015-05-22T01:05:00.001-07:002015-05-22T01:06:08.169-07:00Capsule Collection OLOW x Jean Jullien<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UVpxcE8mIFUu0AX9FwqAYPvsTh4Sc-WqtEGQN1HDRAMnn_SVU8AoZ2m4zcaQyy-pGIcmCeogQ9r8uMdQgDWaawpOnjhC9xQlXdMorGA6w0wIh4GhWDgh_uM9jwU6MIwsNduRMGi-mBE/s1600/jeanjullien3_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UVpxcE8mIFUu0AX9FwqAYPvsTh4Sc-WqtEGQN1HDRAMnn_SVU8AoZ2m4zcaQyy-pGIcmCeogQ9r8uMdQgDWaawpOnjhC9xQlXdMorGA6w0wIh4GhWDgh_uM9jwU6MIwsNduRMGi-mBE/s1600/jeanjullien3_4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The creative + arts industry is full of collaborations.</b></span> In fact, we’re surely over the tipping point right now (anyone interesting in trends, saturation and consumerism should read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tipping_Point">Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point</a>)? They have become standard practice, especially in the fashion industry, so what on earth do they mean anymore?<br />
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Stick two brands together to slightly tweak a product - adding a new colour eyelet hole, or literally just a brand name makes things “exclusive” and only made in “limited numbers” these days. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I’m not knocking it, heck I buy into these things like a lot of people.</b></span><br />
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Hype is a tricky subject though, if we write about something on <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/">Buckets and Spades</a>, or share something on socials are we adding to consumer hype, sharing what we think is cool or subconsciously doing the a marketing company’s job for free?<br />
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One collab I was keen on was the recently <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/2015/03/photographic-prints-with-sperry-x-gray-malin-collection-sneakers.html">Sperry x Gray Malin Photography collection</a> - using Malin’s colourful images on Sperry’s classic boat and slip ons. For me it worked, it made sense, they did a cool job of it and it looked pretty sweet. Thoughtful I reckon, and that’s what I want.<br />
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Another collab that caught my eye was the new range by <a href="http://www.olow.fr/shop/en/26-olow-x-jean-jullien">OLOW</a>, in partnership with French illustrator <a href="http://www.jeanjullien.com/">Jean Jullien</a>. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>His playful and somewhat childlike doodle + childlike style lends itself really nicely to a small range of tees, shirts and caps.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxXQGItEsJL5nRItjzdkLDLEEhLbiYWRWTsMyenr0IjCfHJtBkFuuUuodsIJ3ryuXeI2zJUcO1pQ8INY8-9KMswDpot7EDONAAVqw0cntMQCSSr55IK4QPLMxzAQiikpG5fO1RWrTY6Q/s1600/JEANJULLIEN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxXQGItEsJL5nRItjzdkLDLEEhLbiYWRWTsMyenr0IjCfHJtBkFuuUuodsIJ3ryuXeI2zJUcO1pQ8INY8-9KMswDpot7EDONAAVqw0cntMQCSSr55IK4QPLMxzAQiikpG5fO1RWrTY6Q/s1600/JEANJULLIEN.jpg" /></a></div>
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Check out this short video interview with Jean Jullien, which outlines the project, and gives you a better insight into why the collaboration works.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/127428794" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
- <b>Mat</b>. Editor of <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/">Buckets and Spades</a>.<br />
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You can find Mat on <a href="https://twitter.com/mat_buckets">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/mat_buckets">Instagram</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mat_buckets/">Pinterest</a>.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-55943373520980821532015-05-19T12:14:00.002-07:002015-05-19T12:14:26.998-07:00Foraging in Epping, with Caorunn Gin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s good to get outside sometimes, <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>away from a life spent wedged behind a screen</b></span>. In London, that usually means somewhere just as noisy, mind you - a park full of tourists or one by a main road.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/Pages/default.aspx">Epping Forest</a> doesn’t suffer from either of those problems. It’s huge, so you can get as far away from people and roads as you like. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>It has full 4g connectivity too</b></span>, just in case you do want to answer an email or three.<br />
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I was in <a href="http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/Pages/default.aspx">Epping Forest</a> to forage for edible plants. Don’t worry, this wasn’t for my dinner - times aren’t that tough. In fact, we weren’t actually allowed to pick anything at all. I had to make do with a bag of dried fruit pieces for kids. That’s another story.<br />
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Hold on, rewind a bit - I can hear all three of you saying - foraging? Why?<br />
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Well the good people at <a href="http://www.caorunngin.com/">Caorunn Gin</a> - cheers guys! - took me and a few others to the woods to learn more about where their ingredients are from: <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>being as six of their eleven botanicals are foraged from the Scottish Highlands</b></span>. See, to all those PRs out there, I do pay attention!<br />
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The guy in charge whose name I forget (but he’s soon to appear on <a href="https://www.netflix.com/gb/">Netflix</a> wrestling crocodiles - I kid you not), marched us around the wood, showing us plants that taste nice, plants that don’t, and plants that will kill you. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Disturbingly, there were quite a few of the latter and all within easy reach of ignorant fools like myself</b></span>. The government should really put up some signs.<br />
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I promised the PR folks that I wouldn’t dwell on the deadly plants too much, but they did seem to attract the most interest. What can I say? Give the people what they want!<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>A proper review of the day will appear on another blog soon</b></span> - a good full foodie write-up - plus some comments on the meal they fed us afterwards. And no, it wasn’t just made from foraged ingredients, only some. I wanted to share a few pictures of the woods though and what with Bank Holiday coming up and all, some of you might be looking for inspiration as to what to do.<br />
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Head to <a href="http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/Pages/default.aspx">Epping Forest</a> then! Just don’t pick any of the plants - they might do you some harm. I ain’t kidding!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-91020296007720753222015-05-15T05:51:00.003-07:002015-05-15T05:51:59.722-07:00Loake Shoemakers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YxchTRoGJ87AU3NAeNFmDECPFUROWsdCWWTkxIEdoUxf9VT0TQFSyBn0fQNHp3huFIqERSpBZtATjmSKTdMtDMg5TTbxMZDhyUiHafbuElRROC8VYEtSCCA5wjFhyphenhyphenCRGOZbP3alxq1w/s1600/loake+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YxchTRoGJ87AU3NAeNFmDECPFUROWsdCWWTkxIEdoUxf9VT0TQFSyBn0fQNHp3huFIqERSpBZtATjmSKTdMtDMg5TTbxMZDhyUiHafbuElRROC8VYEtSCCA5wjFhyphenhyphenCRGOZbP3alxq1w/s1600/loake+3.png" /></a></div>
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I thought about writing this piece <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nik-speller/mat-and-nik-talk-pizza-oi-polloi-periscope-and-squirrels">as Mat and I recorded the latest podcast</a>. Come on kids, you know you want to <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nik-speller/mat-and-nik-talk-pizza-oi-polloi-periscope-and-squirrels">listen</a>!<br />
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A guy walked past us in the craziest brogues I've seen in a long while. These were bright green - luminous green almost, I'm not kidding. Maybe even more bizarrely, they didn't match anything he wore. Red polo shirt, tan chinos. That's it.<br />
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Then again, what would they ever match? Maybe his luminous three piece suit was at the cleaners...<br />
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Anyway, it reminded me of the craze for 'different' brogues. Huge soles, colourful leather, crazy laces, although that Grenson-style stuff.<br />
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I'm fairly boring, so I avoided all that when it was really popular. I'm also not really much of a shoe man. I like them, wish I had more, but spend my days in trainers and occasionally a pair of tan <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clarks-Frelan-Walk-Mens-Brogue/dp/B00J1Z9WW2">Clarks' Frelan Walk</a> I bought cheap at a <a href="http://www.sevendials.co.uk/">Seven Dials pop-up last year</a>.<br />
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I only have two other pairs: a battered pair of <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/478577897877756480/">chocolate Grenson brogues</a> and <a href="http://www.loake.co.uk/byrange/bloomsbury.html">a solid pair of polished leather Loakes</a>.<br />
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Oh, and <a href="http://www.dhlondon.com/nosotros/">a pair sent to me by a friend in Peru</a>, which I've still not worn.<br />
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I love <a href="http://www.loake.co.uk/">Loake shoes</a> though. In a world that's gone mad for bright coloured leather and whisky bottles in the heels (I'm looking at you Oliver Sweeney ;-)), they've stuck with the classics. It's probably a good thing. One day that guy walking around the graveyard in luminous brogues will feel like a right fool!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkI5dBqv9x8k9uycV8WgJkIU3TnUcWcFTz_PZW80uexwrDDZ9lISVQBBbpFTOliHKZcncE0nuzGEQyxRLGuMqN1tKuEqXtH0C-BbRpHjsGyq1-6cvAiERkKWZCuQuYGZeSoKgP97pjVI/s1600/loake+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkI5dBqv9x8k9uycV8WgJkIU3TnUcWcFTz_PZW80uexwrDDZ9lISVQBBbpFTOliHKZcncE0nuzGEQyxRLGuMqN1tKuEqXtH0C-BbRpHjsGyq1-6cvAiERkKWZCuQuYGZeSoKgP97pjVI/s1600/loake+4.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.loake.co.uk/">Loake's</a> price always surprises me too. Okay, they do the £200 plus pairs, but their Design range for well under £200 that - like some miserly old Dad - I can see nothing wrong with. Seriously, £150 for my pair and when we did <a href="https://instagram.com/p/s2rsS2KKic/">a straw poll on Instagram last summer</a>, everyone voted for mine over Mat's Grensons.<br />
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Sorry Mat!<br />
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Check out Mat's blog posts <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/2014/05/loake-shoemakers-northamptonshire-factory-visit-menswear-review-made-in-england.html">on the Loake factory</a> and <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/2015/04/loake-shoe-fitting-service-princes-arcade-london-store-review.html">a proper Loake fitting</a> for more info on the brand.<br />
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<b>Images: </b><a href="https://twitter.com/mat_buckets">Mat</a>, <a href="http://www.loake.co.uk/">Loake</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/NikSpeller">Me</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-72432511055548588282015-05-13T00:38:00.002-07:002015-05-13T00:38:22.631-07:00Sneakers | A longing for PF Flyers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEmyxnR-SIxNo-AevdpAQDAEHsGr1gHsSp3_ik1TjReaFr9DwHhi2dLtme0trJ3K5tfK3nPloGFt4tYXWE8JeuvXhmeqGWHN8c5aYds8iCU3qbJE27VHkTN3clzJJhu0wQMaVr_0qVKM/s1600/pf+flyers+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEmyxnR-SIxNo-AevdpAQDAEHsGr1gHsSp3_ik1TjReaFr9DwHhi2dLtme0trJ3K5tfK3nPloGFt4tYXWE8JeuvXhmeqGWHN8c5aYds8iCU3qbJE27VHkTN3clzJJhu0wQMaVr_0qVKM/s1600/pf+flyers+1.png" /></a></div>
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<b>Longing (adverb)</b></div>
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“<i>a strong desire especially for something unobtainable</i>”.</div>
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We’ve all felt it. As children it can be for almost anything, like those brightly-coloured sweets promising untold pleasures. But your pocket money has run out and your parents won’t treat you. “This is a valuable lesson", they say. You lie face-down on the pavement and pound the floor with your tiny, helpless fists.<br />
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As a teenager, the girl next door creates such longing you think your heart will break in two unless she notices you, returns a smile, or laughs at your immature jokes. Then she moves to Lancashire and leaves you singularly alone.<br />
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For adults, longing is more abstract. We’re cynical creatures, protecting ourselves from unrealistic fantasies by a lifetime of emotional armour.<br />
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Sometimes we yearn for simple things like a lie-in at the weekend, or a week of winter sun. But there is deeper longing too: for the youth which was wasted on us at the time, or hardest of all, for the one that got away.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pfflyers.com/">PF Flyers</a> know longing. Their designs hark back to a simpler time, referencing classic baseball and basketball styles. Their catalogue features archival reissues of the shoes which made the brand so popular in the 1950s and 60s, and this heritage appeals to anyone wanting an alternative to the ubiquitous Converse All Stars.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaxABb2Bnpf6bH8wnzGwzY4X6IDfb8qGUTLL2qI0V2Ai5NHPs7QQzPW7QBRp-VYblJUoKBzkopRg2CLXuvIQF76NcdmNAYvaNmhJxUbA8bOtir2CQ_NyPGLhqjUiJgpq3GCRNt_JbCrs/s1600/pf+flyers+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaxABb2Bnpf6bH8wnzGwzY4X6IDfb8qGUTLL2qI0V2Ai5NHPs7QQzPW7QBRp-VYblJUoKBzkopRg2CLXuvIQF76NcdmNAYvaNmhJxUbA8bOtir2CQ_NyPGLhqjUiJgpq3GCRNt_JbCrs/s1600/pf+flyers+2.png" /></a></div>
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In American baseball nostalgia-fest, The Sandlot (1993), <a href="http://www.pfflyers.com/">PF Flyers</a> are imbued with almost mystical properties; “shoes guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher” – which comes in handy at the film's climax. The Center Hi Sandlot Edition is an all-black colourway available in celebration of that rose-tinted coming-of-age movie. But not only does the brand continue to honour its roots with its vintage styles and authentic detailing, it collaborates with contemporary designers, artists and trend-setters, knowing that nostalgia will be around for a while.<br />
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I've worn <a href="http://www.pfflyers.com/">PFs</a> almost exclusively for 10 years. I love the combination of classic silhouettes and contemporary touches. And they are the most comfortable sneakers I've ever owned.<br />
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Sadly, it's hard to find them in the UK these days. They're owned by New Balance – a brand that's been having its own renaissance in recent years – so <a href="http://www.pfflyers.com/">PFs</a> are not regularly distributed or marketed here. I have imported several pairs from the States, but it's a costly business. I long for a time when I could buy them in little independent stores in Soho, but, like all of us, I long for many things I can't have.<br />
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- <b>Adam</b>. Designer.<br />
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You can find Adam on <a href="https://twitter.com/_adamdavison">Twitter</a> and at <a href="http://street-and-two-veg.tumblr.com/">Street and Two Veg</a>.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-75104293665536179202015-05-10T06:21:00.000-07:002015-05-10T09:07:39.302-07:00Design | Luke Turner Bottle Openers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewMRluQ807NJ1NLpV-B4Uoe4tjfsfMbxgXENQFlNsJlA96V3NVJBa0_2koQrYxwb0B3G9q2o-pEORMNFECKCQtEkGBJUc0rSj9ttyFdx7QBuWckMisCJRGENNdiuJUpbixV05Vndpd1s/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewMRluQ807NJ1NLpV-B4Uoe4tjfsfMbxgXENQFlNsJlA96V3NVJBa0_2koQrYxwb0B3G9q2o-pEORMNFECKCQtEkGBJUc0rSj9ttyFdx7QBuWckMisCJRGENNdiuJUpbixV05Vndpd1s/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg"></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Beer seems to be at in the top five priorities when <a href="https://twitter.com/mat_buckets">me</a> + Nik meet up. </b></span>The running order goes something like this; coffee, actual work duties + Buckets meeting (coffee before work, yes), checking it with PRs, visiting new stores, and beer.<br>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>While you can’t open a PR with a bottle opener</b></span>, you can open another on the list. A terrible segue way, but we got there!<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28lnKBRaEpDBX_QLVDFm5NS7_FY3bCECXtcTHVTx9g6cqlRYHcEvQu-3wR0x0FljbJvjTYPAULGNMnqZF9cfY34nNkthxD97FnDKJgkpKrQLkDMj0hEob6PN1L3p_2Ptz4g-yapFCfM0/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28lnKBRaEpDBX_QLVDFm5NS7_FY3bCECXtcTHVTx9g6cqlRYHcEvQu-3wR0x0FljbJvjTYPAULGNMnqZF9cfY34nNkthxD97FnDKJgkpKrQLkDMj0hEob6PN1L3p_2Ptz4g-yapFCfM0/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg"></a></div>
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I spotted these rather cool looking customised bottle openers on Instagram, created by a chap called <a href="https://instagram.com/p/1FbbI2wmjz/">Luke Turner</a>. He’s only selling them via <a href="https://instagram.com/p/1FbbI2wmjz/">Instagram</a> right now, which I actually thought was a pretty sweet idea - people turning their social media into a quick turn over-type of side project. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Just flogging them out there, no website, just Paypal. I dunno, I just liked the convenience of it all.</b></span> Especially seeing as you can use the Paypal app on your phone these days.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQVEBLNT71htL9sm9fN1Qf2T-cvXd_bTpPFsrOIYOQ4D5NMo99y_z5QU6mKZ-uQP9dSICfKrSCyckF82a5P47rQDLsdIaQkr8B-Lwkcmlpt-aNIFKE2bLkkmt3-CmkDgIbx4NO63PsoE/s1600/IMG_1094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQVEBLNT71htL9sm9fN1Qf2T-cvXd_bTpPFsrOIYOQ4D5NMo99y_z5QU6mKZ-uQP9dSICfKrSCyckF82a5P47rQDLsdIaQkr8B-Lwkcmlpt-aNIFKE2bLkkmt3-CmkDgIbx4NO63PsoE/s1600/IMG_1094.jpg"></a></div>
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Anyway, these bottle openers have all been collected over a few years, from various places like second hand shops, car boots, vintage sales…and have been <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>spruced and cleaned up</b></span>. They’ve been finished off with a little bit of natty paracord, which can be attached to your wallet, keychain or even wrist if you really must.<br>
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Find them at @<a href="https://instagram.com/p/1FbbI2wmjz/">helloluketurner</a> for £8.50 each.<br>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
- <b>Mat</b>. Editor of <a href="http://www.bucketsandspadesblog.com/">Buckets and Spades</a>.<br>
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You can find Mat on <a href="https://twitter.com/mat_buckets">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/mat_buckets">Instagram</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mat_buckets/">Pinterest</a>.<br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-748029362860506452015-05-08T06:06:00.004-07:002015-05-08T06:09:00.665-07:00Exit for Marble Arch | #NikeMilers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtNULVp_O0z3uNB3Vo3cU1JZ1fz1yLy_gW0zPZEg_WquaqClxHuQe2yu4ipbBiZ5OrpP5VDDLdZBm9MkMTTVYDYfTRgF07-agZ7N2Iriixzxn-d-2C0HabskM03Mj0_ci6sb9GNOjcJk/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtNULVp_O0z3uNB3Vo3cU1JZ1fz1yLy_gW0zPZEg_WquaqClxHuQe2yu4ipbBiZ5OrpP5VDDLdZBm9MkMTTVYDYfTRgF07-agZ7N2Iriixzxn-d-2C0HabskM03Mj0_ci6sb9GNOjcJk/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" /></a></div>
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In the corner of Hyde Park, set back slightly from the road and the soap boxes of Speakers' Corner is a small flight of descending stairs. It's an unassuming scar on an otherwise barely blemished field.<br />
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Tiny and unnoticeable, it's locked to the public. Behind the door, a concrete access tunnel winds a quarter mile beneath the park and the five-lane monster of a roundabout that is Marble Arch.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>It was through this door that <a href="http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F">Nike</a> led us.</b></span></span><br />
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Strange, really. We were in Hyde Park to run a timed-mile. There's plenty of space - they could have picked any inch of grass to run on - so why did we have to go underground first? Presumably to get changed...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgAbyXuej3jFajGyfYh52f6dAm3QY8RJhfS0o-gwRsiXJ_LdK2px27tw0bTRdAG6OAWW7KL4wjZaa-ou4gp_P4RUMbg-WCS0NbudK44pFJXpdSwPe5VpgIkcaHYCYRDgCD2aFMRio3qM/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgAbyXuej3jFajGyfYh52f6dAm3QY8RJhfS0o-gwRsiXJ_LdK2px27tw0bTRdAG6OAWW7KL4wjZaa-ou4gp_P4RUMbg-WCS0NbudK44pFJXpdSwPe5VpgIkcaHYCYRDgCD2aFMRio3qM/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" /></a></div>
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How wrong we were. Along the tunnel lies a car park filled with luxury cars and a electrified fence to keep them safe. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Glowing orange, pink, and purple, the tunnel and the car park were lit a night club. </b></span>Giant speakers, giant screens, Paula Radcliffe, and Steve Cram.<br />
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Yep, this was more like it. A true <a href="http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F">Nike</a> event. They weren't going to organise a simple jog around the park now, were they.<br />
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We were givens some kit, naturally. We were shown a video, of course. We were coached as to how to warm up and prepare psychologically, thanks for that. We stretched. We jogged. We challenged our co-ordination - or mine at least - with dynamic exercises.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>By the starting line, I felt slightly confused, slightly muddled, but almost prepared for what was to come.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHcN7P4e-RvrYs7NSAHVoHs54ZpO5u3b7UnB6e8i1oHVhUiAZm2zb2Hg9B4_qd1ADcAg6An4QDEzR8BS6d1ewmACkLni6RA1gmCt3a6_85BK7avg_6iuXCg61GV2jTFHZ16qYPFcToXk/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHcN7P4e-RvrYs7NSAHVoHs54ZpO5u3b7UnB6e8i1oHVhUiAZm2zb2Hg9B4_qd1ADcAg6An4QDEzR8BS6d1ewmACkLni6RA1gmCt3a6_85BK7avg_6iuXCg61GV2jTFHZ16qYPFcToXk/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG" /></a></div>
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Five beeps. Go on the fifth ... ... ... ... ...<br />
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And we were away. Streaking along (I'd like to think) between the rows of Bentleys, Mercedes, and BMWs, twisting around the pillars of the car park, following the yellow and blue markers with our eyes, and spinning our neon trainers furiously.<br />
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I lost my running partner pretty quickly. I overtook one, I overtook two, I overtook three or four.<br />
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And then I was alone. The car park was empty. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>All I could hear were the far away cries of the finish and my own breath pounding out a mistimed rhythm.</b></span><br />
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One lap. Two laps. The corners were tough. Turning was tight and on each straight I settled into a comfortable pace, before having to flex my knees and adjust my balance again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3m7BZeXLVrYFknhC5nQUCJdSFnxO-skIw5biBHJd4EKpFDQMXQafaN9B0Ql51QkLW9mPkCfzle74iNLwzCs8dVlpV97ODt0vNySuz6GqHX1AslgfhA-i-33TvZEfBl-MUQuS0K1WDbfo/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3m7BZeXLVrYFknhC5nQUCJdSFnxO-skIw5biBHJd4EKpFDQMXQafaN9B0Ql51QkLW9mPkCfzle74iNLwzCs8dVlpV97ODt0vNySuz6GqHX1AslgfhA-i-33TvZEfBl-MUQuS0K1WDbfo/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" /></a></div>
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Finally, lungs burning, it was the final straight. I lifted my arms and feet as high as I could and went for a 'sprint' finish.<br />
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Too soon.<br />
<br />
The final straight had a twist in it's tale - a long slow corner back up the access ramp we'd started down.<br />
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I hadn't factored that in at all. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Slowing down, I was overtaken by my running partner.</b></span> Damn. A slight kick in the teeth, but a time of 5.58 I was very very happy with.<br />
<br />
A bottle of water and a bag of popcorn later, and we were outside once again. Back to the park, back to the tube, ready for the commute home.<br />
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I'm slightly hooked, I have to say. I've been focusing on distance for the past year, but the mile might be my new best friend. I'd love to go back again next year and try it out once more. Hopefully I'll improve.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuUINEP7TlxhHiNQ86AXHeTwqwiZb7rszA-O4X31QJxuwS5QDRtbHCZxP32zOV8Bp2t-H8eUQkCYgdTNZtW4YJ2DZ5fvaWEquxZU0NxgU8uzhAsbiaVaTSAqRy2cEebmO1KHWXwES8zU/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuUINEP7TlxhHiNQ86AXHeTwqwiZb7rszA-O4X31QJxuwS5QDRtbHCZxP32zOV8Bp2t-H8eUQkCYgdTNZtW4YJ2DZ5fvaWEquxZU0NxgU8uzhAsbiaVaTSAqRy2cEebmO1KHWXwES8zU/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" /></a></div>
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Keep an eye on <a href="https://twitter.com/NikeUK">Nike UK</a> for more info on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nikemilers&src=typd">#NikeMilers</a>.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-11348554505925827952015-05-05T09:19:00.000-07:002015-05-05T09:20:40.391-07:00Retro gaming | Streets of Rage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlm7IG7Bz45t3B6Ta_UmtNk9OmTazyAOFJLcSFPbM0UGKAquNQw88KnCoDlQwthWmuoPQUn1yo3IoTYS5Y1HhlTRzGhr4a4e_OkiK7ZDpxe2T5o1CeTOLLpsZWXAM-pD81Aw5p5VWC-8/s1600/sor_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlm7IG7Bz45t3B6Ta_UmtNk9OmTazyAOFJLcSFPbM0UGKAquNQw88KnCoDlQwthWmuoPQUn1yo3IoTYS5Y1HhlTRzGhr4a4e_OkiK7ZDpxe2T5o1CeTOLLpsZWXAM-pD81Aw5p5VWC-8/s1600/sor_1.jpg" /></a></div>
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When I was a kid, I played Streets of Rage relentlessly. An arcade game transported straight to the Sega Mega Drive, it was short, tough, and simple. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>You scrolled through each level, killing enemies along the way until you reached the final boss.</b></span><br />
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At the time, I’d not been to America. I’d like to think that the Japanese designers of Streets of Rage hadn’t either.<br />
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This was <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>a game built massive on stereotypes</b></span> - the black guy jumped higher than the white guy, and both punched harder than the girl - and a very well tried-and-tested story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJlNZvAEltQT8dWFVTBkkbij4k5C3qZS8H9EAgPT3IEDRpYGmfzyzHYIKbO5znyOEwYwhadL6NaBUoRNfEEeyckImXb0B-9XBp1UqvwEr1ALwCCTn0Hjmm2RHVYvoLxCT0x-ZdNQqovQ/s1600/sor_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJlNZvAEltQT8dWFVTBkkbij4k5C3qZS8H9EAgPT3IEDRpYGmfzyzHYIKbO5znyOEwYwhadL6NaBUoRNfEEeyckImXb0B-9XBp1UqvwEr1ALwCCTn0Hjmm2RHVYvoLxCT0x-ZdNQqovQ/s1600/sor_2.jpg" /></a></div>
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A ‘crime boss’ had the city (whichever that was) in his grip and the police were powerless to move against him. Three cops had each given up their badge to fight this evil, working their way through his gang from the streets to the top - literally, as the last level takes place in his penthouse.<br />
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<br />
Of course, <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>everyone you fought was ‘bad’ and deserved to die</b></span> - be it being beaten to death, stabbed, hit with a baseball bat, or napalmed by the police, who were no longer on ‘your side’, but were always willing to lend a friend a helping hand.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">It was such a simpler time back in the 90s!</span></b> And this is exactly what I thought America was like. Dark grimy streets, no sunlight, endless waves of no good street punks on every avenue, and a knife hidden beneath every bin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EV-bivwnuBrxcviGPuqklLR2o3PswdOAck232rD7AaUECH2VEHI9Yku2y9ZiNO_vWhjOna_xd0J-1OkSLA7XonZBCUrLmp-JP_IskUNLtSqI8-t4l-DPuZDoNyyC0uLnQB6WA70xaIM/s1600/sor_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EV-bivwnuBrxcviGPuqklLR2o3PswdOAck232rD7AaUECH2VEHI9Yku2y9ZiNO_vWhjOna_xd0J-1OkSLA7XonZBCUrLmp-JP_IskUNLtSqI8-t4l-DPuZDoNyyC0uLnQB6WA70xaIM/s1600/sor_3.jpg" /></a></div>
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The guys in the game had style though. Not the punks - they wore brightly coloured boiler suits, studded with chains - but the cops. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Axel, the lead man, wore white trainers, stonewash denim, and a white t-shirt</b></span>. He was basically a kickass tough version of Marty McFly. The other guy, Adam, wore a yellow vest, skintight black jeans, nondescript shoes, and knee pads - important to keep safe when smashing people’s heads in.<br />
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Blaze wore a red mini-skirt - makes total sense.<br />
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Playing it again on the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/streets-of-rage/id320540355?mt=8">iPad</a> (it’s only 79p!), I realised that as a kid I thought nothing of the discrepancy between this game and reality.<br />
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Three cops who throw in their badges and takes to the streets in order to murder everyone within a crime syndicate? Police armed with napalm launchers who’ll fire indiscriminately at civilians at the request of their former colleagues? <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">And let’s not forget the 8 foot tall, 8 foot wide, fat men who breathe fire and chase you across the screen...</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yCCBPBnl_f2gn-u_sFxhiZUbihLG7Ahjd8VliCvQbILon89vZk2vOzE8_vlBnOZUemjPYy4J2w8ewQkIQiycC_hXo52kBU5OQds2lKwOXSzioONB1q9oIyV_ShD383dTAQNRnDuPOCI/s1600/sor_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yCCBPBnl_f2gn-u_sFxhiZUbihLG7Ahjd8VliCvQbILon89vZk2vOzE8_vlBnOZUemjPYy4J2w8ewQkIQiycC_hXo52kBU5OQds2lKwOXSzioONB1q9oIyV_ShD383dTAQNRnDuPOCI/s1600/sor_5.jpg" /></a></div>
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Maybe this opens me up to the debate on children playing violent computer games. I don’t know, I haven’t suplexed anyone in the street yet or thrown a knife at a woman clad in red leather carrying a whip. It’s still early days! (joke)<br />
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Streets of Rage is available from the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/streets-of-rage/id320540355?mt=8">Apple iStore</a>. Download it now!<br />
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<b>Images: </b><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=streets+of+rage&term_meta%5B%5D=streets%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta%5B%5D=of%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta%5B%5D=rage%7Cautocomplete%7C0">Pinterest</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-18227013899094460062015-05-02T06:08:00.000-07:002015-05-02T06:10:21.064-07:00Original Penguin | Casual Active Collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qA8RmnKzc_gWVzN6z0xN9eBsiYofiLm15oWL_Yc9y5uDlklpblbAaeky3Uwnlcm1tDmWfdCxKsWo36s-r24AQ5x5bd5mOMCj49ivxiJjwBX8D9C2aWDsgnLtsqMTrUUgTWpgaHpgdeo/s1600/Casual+Active+1+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qA8RmnKzc_gWVzN6z0xN9eBsiYofiLm15oWL_Yc9y5uDlklpblbAaeky3Uwnlcm1tDmWfdCxKsWo36s-r24AQ5x5bd5mOMCj49ivxiJjwBX8D9C2aWDsgnLtsqMTrUUgTWpgaHpgdeo/s1600/Casual+Active+1+.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.garconjon.com/">GarçonJon</a> has been at it again - this time delivering some great shots for <a href="http://www.originalpenguin.co.uk/collections-casual-active">Original Penguin's new Casual Active Collection</a>.<br />
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For anyone who doesn't know <a href="http://www.garconjon.com/">GarçonJon</a>, stop reading this and go and take a look at his site.<br />
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For anyone who does, marvel at these pics and then check out the <a href="http://www.originalpenguin.co.uk/collections-casual-active">Casual Active Collection</a> - a neat looking set of tees and polos, that are going to be a great option if you need to stock-up in time for the sun's reappearance.<br />
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<b>Images:</b> <a href="http://www.originalpenguin.co.uk/collections-casual-active">Original Penguin</a> + <a href="http://www.garconjon.com/">GarçonJon</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8054131005384030252.post-2986492482369686312015-04-29T06:13:00.001-07:002015-04-29T06:13:08.023-07:00FlyingJack - Design that's most definitely unique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Taking a leaf out of Mat's book, a quick one for today. There's not really a lot to say about <a href="http://www.flying-jack.com/">FlyingJack</a>, other than it was a quirky looking water bottle <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/231633803/be-flyingjack-stainless-steel-bottle">searching for investment on KickStarter</a> - until 6 days ago.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>I really can't make my mind up about this. </b></span>It's either a cool design I'd like to see sat on the shelf or something I'd regret buying.<br />
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Either way, it doesn't look like I'll need to bother making a decision, as they just withdrew the project from <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/231633803/be-flyingjack-stainless-steel-bottle">KickStarter</a>.<br />
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Whether you like it or not, <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>it's always a shame to see an idea someone wanted help with fail</b></span>. Oh well. Let's hope they find some investment from another source.<br />
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For now, I'll just keep browsing projects on <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/231633803/be-flyingjack-stainless-steel-bottle">KickStarter</a> until I find something I definitely want to invest in.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958873945561753429noreply@blogger.com0