Finished friction folder

A while ago I wrote about a commission I made with Joel Delorme for a hand-made folding knife to help with my spoon carving.
The wonderful finished knife arrived months ago, but I haven't had a opportunity to use it, and tucking it out of Noah's way I forgot to share the final images I took of it!

Very kindly, Joel took some work-in-progress images to share, showing the knife parts in their raw states and un-assembled:

The metal parts, cut from the steel blank.

Two walnut handle options. Sadly the beautiful knotted piece was rotten, but the more subtle wave is still lovely.

All parts, ready to assemble.

And here are some images I took of the finished knife:

The knife is delightful - feels really solid and is very sharp. 

I highly recommend Joel if you fancy treating yourself to a piece of high quality craftsmanship.

Best of all, I have got my hands on a good length of rosewood so hopefully will be giving my knife a proper test making a pair of long handled sundae spoons very soon.

Barefoot update

Just a link to some recent research on barefoot running which Steve Edwards has compiled:
The Truth About Barefoot Running

An interesting and balanaced view, stressing that Western feet aren't ready for barefoot work after years in shoes, so we need to train gently. Good common sense.

Young Me, Old Me

...grabbing a quiet moment at work, i watched a TED video clip that was sent around a while ago.

it is a guy presenting his work, find emotional contact on the internet. there is some lovely stuff.

after the video i thought i would look at his site.

there is loads of stuff on it.

but a photo project (mentioned in the video) sticks out, and is why i am writing this.

the project is Young Me, Now Me

simple idea. get an old photo, and take a new one copying the original.

i've only spent a minute or two on the site (i am at work...) but there are some lovely images.

here are some favs for now:

baby, now mum

brother and sister

the photo project:

http://www.zefrank.com/youngmenowme/

the website:

http://www.zefrank.com/

the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gSSNHO1dDs

i hope you like it.

When three inches is quite long enough

UK law dictates that a cutting blade should be no longer than three inches on a knife you might carry with you (as opposed to kitchen knives etc).

The knife I got for making my bow is about five inches, which was fine at the time as I had a illegitimate purpose for it, but I wouldn't want to try my luck carrying it for my spoon carving in London.

So, after some research, I have commissioned a three inch folding knife from Joel Delorme.
He makes a number of styles, but happily chats with you about what you want / need, and will make a custom design for you.

We have been in touch since New Year, discussing my needs (primarily focused on spoon carving), and today I got an email saying he was making a start!
Very exciting. I have to be patient now for the next 3-4 weeks, but then I will post some photos of the finsihed knife.

Watch this space, and in the meantime, here are images of the design drawing:

and the plywood pattern (a working mock-up):

Noah on film

This weekend we all went to Chelsea so Nadine could teach her class at TriYoga, and then afterwards we could have lunch with Chris and G.

Noah and I took a long walk around Battersea Park during the teaching in the lovely crisp cold.

I took a few film clips:

How Far, How fast?

I tried a few tools to plot my cycle route into work. Bike Hub seemed the best, but the results seemed off-puttingly complicated, so I plumped for cycling the route I would drive.

However, I did find out from the tools that the route was about 7miles, and would take about 45 minutes cycling at 12mph, which is a reasonable commuting speed.

My ride in has settle down to about 32 minutes, which felt rather too fast if the suggested route data was right. So I have looked out a tool to measure my route, and have a much clearer idea of the facts now.

This is my route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com
It is 5.5 miles, which means I am averaging 10.3 miles an hour (calculated with this tool).

So - I am perhaps not so fit as it might have seemed, but the ride will feel less intimidating when I am really tired in the mornings (evening are always easier - I'm heading home!).

I do feel sorry for anyone following the recommended routes however - much longer...

Walk to work

I have been trying to keep my eyes open for interesting bits and pieces to photograph on my walk to work.

There has been some beauty,

some poignancy,

some oddness,


Recently I have started cycling in again, and now I am in Borough and my route takes me past some of London's wonderful sights:



I hope to keep adding to this image set:

Rush of blood the head

...and money from my wallet.

When I bought my camera bag, the man in Calumet asked about my needs, what equipment I had etc. I told him I only needed a small bag, and that it would stop me buying any more kit. He said "Good luck with that".

Damn him.
I have just invested (!) in another three lenses:
a micro replacement for my 14-42mm kit lens;
a 45-175mm tele-zoom (also very mini);
a delicious 8mm fish-eye (a real indulgence).

So, why?
Weeeell...

I don't use my kit lens. The quality of my other (mostly prime) lenses is so much better, that whilst the zoom range is really useful, I don't like the quality, hence the new 14-42mm. Also, this lens is tiny, made for video (which I'm starting to try more and more), and looks really cute on the G2's body.

I love using my big zoom (100-300mm), but it really needs big spaces and time to use. Great for birds and the moon. But, to be honest, there are many occasions where it is just to much, and the kit lens (aside from it's other issues), doesn't have the reach.
45-175mm Sir? That will do nicely, thank you.
This is also a video lens (power zoom, very quiet), and also delightfully compact.

See. Very rational.

What? The fish eye? Oh yes.
Rather exotic, and embarrassingly expensive.
I had a fish eye extension for my LX3, which I loved. When I saw there was one for the G2 I thought "that's for me". Until I saw the price. Too much for a bit of fun.
Then I saw a video made with it. Wow. I started saving.

So, now I need a bigger bag.
Photos to follow.

UPDATE (1.2.12)
Video taken with 45-175mm:

Noah's First Birthday

Okay. So this is a very late post. I have forgiven myself. Please do the same.

We decided that Noah wouldn't really appreciate presents on his first birthday so (except for a Stephen Einhorn pendant which he can have when he's older), we didn't get him a present this year, but I took the day off work and we had a wonderful family day together.

Nadine and I had some champagne (of course), the weather was delightful, we opened family gifts in bed, Noah made beautiful music on his xylophone, we ate drop-scones for breakfast, crepes for lunch, then went for a walk in the amazing Camley Street Natural Park, which is nestled in behind King's Cross Station.

Delightful day. Lovely space to walk in, which Noah had just started to hesitatingly do (that was a birthday present).

We finished the day with a wee cake complete with candle.
Perfect.

Here are some piccies: