When you really enjoy something that you're not even very good at...

Lost Words

I have been practising, and practising, and guess what? Yes, done even more practising, trying desperately over it has to be three years now to learn to play the guitar.

  I love picking up my various guitars and either trying to make my way through a complete song, following YouTube videos at times or getting hold of tab sheets, and trying to figure out which chords to play, or which strings to play, like in a finger picking style.

When I hear a song I like, and it could be like recently and watching "The Last of Us", then hearing Joel play "Future days", well, I try and pick up my guitar and get the hang of the song. Recently, I have been attempting Crowded House's "Better Be Home Soon."

I also attempt to write stuff, admittedly it's not always great, but I find it helps me relax, and it is interesting trying to create something. Just lately, I wrote some words and couldn't help but think of how to create a melody. When my guitar tutor, a lovely fella called Tom, came for our lesson, which is only once per week for an hour, and he tried to explain the concept, well, it just went over my head.

Tom has, from the start, attempted to teach me music theory; it may as well be rocket science or nuclear physics, as most of the time it just goes straight over my head, or it will take me months, then just out of the blue strike me with an "Ahhh!" moment.

I can tell I am going through a mental phase, sort of, reaching out to try and find things that make me happy. It always happens when I lose a sense of purpose and end up being stuck in the house. I have now been off work since the 31st of August, no bike rides in that time, and apart from my regular, around the block on a morning with wor Nev, I haven't been out too much, though did enjoy a look out to see my Aunt and Uncle, and then on the way home ern and I took Neville over the field at the back of Langley View and let him run around in the huge field. It was the first time he had been allowed to run free, mind you, he had his leader attached, just in case. Not that either Ern or I could catch him if he made off. I mean 'm a professional cripple, and Ern is almost 85.

So in my downtime, I wrote this, which describes how I can't think of the melody or tune to go with another set of lyrics.

Lost Words

I've been trying to write a melody that fits a sad song
It's been taking me days and days; I've been on for so long.

My hands are so sore, and my fingers are numb. I've been on for hours and hours just strumming this old dark guitar.

 I'm just like an old forty-five that is stuck in its groove. Just spinning to the same old sound, and I'm getting nowhere

I put my guitar down and I think for a while, then I go and pick it up again, maybe I'll give it one more try.

All of these words, written on a page, are lost with nowhere to go. I'll be haunted to the end of time.

Oh, and as boredom has set in, I have now been looking at another guitar. It's weird, as I must try and convince myself that if I just get a more expensive guitar, I will miraculously play better. Maybe I need to do a Robert Johnson and meet the Devil at the crossroads and sell my soul. Hey, if you haven't seen the movie with RalpMacchio called "Crossroads,"  from way back in 1986, also featuring Steve Vai, well, it's well worth a watch.

Gibson L-00 Vintage Sunburst

                                                                                                                                           Anyhoo, a new guitar on my radar is a Gibson L-00 Special Satin Vintage Sunburst. Here, check out a few pics. It looks gorgeous

Looks awesome

  

It's a smaller-bodied guitar, which I prefer as I am trying to play sitting on the couch with my prosthetic leg; the larger guitars tend to slip off, and I can't get comfortable. Most people, if they are right-handed, place a guitar on their right thigh. I have to sit with it over to the left, which again makes a big guitar difficult to handle.

No doubt I will post something if I decide to invest. Lol, I am of course attempting to avoid temptation...Now, where are those crossroads again?

A book idea - Fiction is a lot harder to write than non-fiction

Just a few ideas at the moment

I'm thinking I would like to write a fictional book. The thing is, to do so, I have discovered you need more of a creative side. You see, writing non-fiction, although not entirely easy, at least that shit has happened to you, so you have an idea of your memories and recollections. Then it's just a cassette of how you would like to present your book. Dark, humorous, serious, embarrassing, inspirational, suspenseful, historical, brutal, violent, and I could go on and on. I suppose everything that gets put in is based on a real-life experience, and all you have to do is kind of narrate your story.

My self-published book Lost2bFound, you can find it at Amazon

I got a lovely review of Lost2bFound, for example from someone on Librarything, which reads,

"When I started this book, I was struck right away by the wandering narration. I immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was going to be a struggle to get through. What I found instead was that it was a pleasant as sitting down for a chat with someone you haven't met before and sharing your stories. Rather than being frustrating or confusing, it was quite enjoyable. This is probably going to be one of the very rare books that I read again."    

I would agree as a first time, and I am not sure I can really call myself an "author" because I found it difficult trying to get what I wanted to say down in an organised fashion. I  mean, I am the same in every day-to-day life, all over the place, jumping from tangent to tangent, never mind trying to make sense of how to format a book.

The previous review, I guess, is a testament to that; however, the reader, instead of giving up on my book, carried on and appeared to enjoy it. I do have to say it is written very much as if I were sharing a story with someone just across the way or on one of my chance meetings whilst I am out on my bike.

And so to my latest attempt and thoughts. Well, I am not going to give too much away, just in case it is a fail, and I don't get round to finishing it, or get writer's block, as you see, I don't have the full story in my head yet. I tend to think as I write, and sometimes things will come to me, so I jot them down for use later on. Bedtime,  find my mind never, ever turns off, so things can sometimes just pop into my head, and I end up having to get up, turn my bedroom light on and start trying to recall "What was that thought again?"

So the premise of my story, I suppose, will have been done many times over in different ways. Basically, it is about a guy who takes ill (Yes, I have my main character's name), and he ends up being somewhat tricked into selling his soul to the devil. 

I'm thinking somewhere in my story, but haven't yet decided, there may be either an English Bull Terrier or a Border Terrier, a bit like Wor Nev. I have names picked for each of the dogs.

The theme of the book is a mix of dark forbidding, supernatural evil, humour, resilience, suspense and redemption.

I have had to do a lot more research, even at the beginning of writing, to try and tie things in so that they come across as realistic, thinking that if I get it wrong, some eagle-eyed reader will pounce on the fact.

An area I am struggling with is not wanting my main character to become like some superhuman or a serial killer in doing the devil's work. So I am trying to think of a way he can regain his soul, or at least go out fighting.

Oh, and within the story is an old dark guitar, a pocket watch and like I say, a dog of which breed I will decide, depending on which way I go. And that is about all I have at the moment. Well, apart from I did have another plot twist, but I ma not convinced I like it. Apologies for all the mystery. The twist I am talking about may make the story humorous, you see, and take it off in a completely different direction, even though I think if I were creative enough, it would work, and as far as I am aware, it hasn't been really done before.

Title? "Mmmmm," still thinking on that one.

A little song I wrote called Nettles and Thorns.

 

Nettles and Thorns

I've been strumming away on my guitar, and wrote this short song based on my experiences of riding my bike locally around Stanley and getting nettled and stuck with thorns... Well when I am riding.

Just awaiting to go for antibody treatment to try and help with this auto immune thing, and Ulcerative Colitis.

Anyhoo the song is called "Nettles and Thorns". I kind of composed it with like a Southern lick. I'm still not really getting anywhere on my guitar, but hey at least I haven't quit.

Hope "ya'all like it"...see what I did there put me Southern US accent on Lol

 Nettles and thorns by Glenn Johnstone

 

Nettles and Thorns, nettles and thorns

 

Feel the sting as the poisons injected in

 

Silica tipped hairs injecting their chemicals 

Nettles and thorn, nettles and thorns

Whiny bush your no friend, you have assaulted me 

Feeling my skin pierced and scratched now Im bleeding

Nettles and thorns, nettles and thorns

Now I'm itching burning bleeding all upon all upon this nightmare trail.

Kind of goes to a beat which is hard to describe

Do, doo, do , do - Do, do,do, do then a bit of Do, doo, doo, do, do 

You had to be there ha, ha LOL 

For geeks and talented music creators - I fit the geek category...

Being off work and on the sick I have had plenty of time to peruse the internet and Facebook. Well when scrolling through the usual ads that hold not one bit of interest to me, I actually came across this video, and upon watching it thought "Wow, that is pretty neat".

Instruo Specialist Synthesisers Pocket Scion

When I am fit and well, as most of you who visit my blog or know me will know, I love the great outdoors. That sense of just being out in all weathers, feeling the heat of the sun, or the fresh wind. The rain as it cleanses your skin, well, until I ride through a geet big muddy puddle, and yes, I have even been known to Fat bike in the snow.  

I love the sound of autumn leaves, as I ride through them, with their crisp, dry sound, and I particularly enjoy the crunch of the frozen ice as it forms over puddles. I love being away from the roads and off on some trail with no one else around, listening to the flow of a stream, and just standing at the side of my bike or when out for a walk listening to the sound of the trees, the birds, bees or any other inhabitants of the woods. It's lovely to just get away in your headspace and not have to think too much about anything else but the now.

Rear of the Pocket Scion

Anyhoo, I was telling you about this video, wasn't I, before I started getting all doe-eyed.

The video in question featured this bit of tech, which is called a Pocket Scion. It is by a company named Instruo Specialist Synthesisers. The Pocket Scion is what is known as a portable biofeedback device. 

Basically, in layman's terms, you can attach the provided electrodes of the small device to a plant, use the small pad on the front of the device like your skin and with your fingers, then the Scion picks up this data, and with an external speaker, you can get to hear the most beautiful sounds being created. The samples I  have heard from various videos I have watched are like amazing natural orchestras. It kind of made me think immediately of being out in a secluded area, and it was as if all the plants were singing and speaking, and I have to say...Yes am a bit of a geek; however, the sounds produced brought me great joy and instantly relaxed me.

Pocket Scion looking at right side

I am now thinking of investing in one of the Portable Scions, which are £129.00. I would love to take it out on a biking adventure, shoot a video of me cycling and then use the Scion to create a fitting musical accompaniment.    

Pocket Scion lookng fron the left side

Upon contacting Instruo Specialist Synthesisers, I believe it should be possible to use my Android phone, a Google Pixel 9 Pro, download an app like n-Track, then connect the Portable Scion via a power and data cable, then record the data to bring home and place on my computer to compose some music.

With thanks to Instruo for permission to use images from their site.

Gaurdian Designs - Just sitting in the house going broom broom

 It must be about 6 weeks ago that I decided to treat my wee Abarth 124 Spider to a new, and I suppose some would call expensive and not needed, steering wheel. You see, I got my eye on a company called Guardian Designs, who are based in Poland and loved the look of the steering wheels they offered.

Guardian Designs Steering Wheel Abarth 124 Spider

 The wheels can be customised, and all you have to do is select the style of steering wheel that you would like, then go through the process of making it your own. There are lots of options from different materials like nappa leather, perforated nappa leather, alcantera, etc. Then there is thickness, grips, colours, and the list goes on.

I chose a Corsa D design, which has a flat bottom, and specced the wheel up with a chunkier size, opting for the GT at 120mm, alongside thumb rests. I also went for Sports Ferrari red stitching with a red Ferrari Noon marker, and the wheel is done in black Nappa leather in a seamless Pagani style.

Oh, and I also requested that the steering wheel spokes be painted a silk black, which came at an extra cost, but in my opinion was well worth it.

  

Beautiful stitching and finish

I know the design will not be to everyone's taste. I wanted something that looked pretty minimalist, so that is why I didn't go full on bling, with various materials and colours.

The black fins of the spokes makes a huge difference

Checking the steering wheel out, the finish is amazing. The one piece of leather wrapping the wheel is perfect, and the stitching looks fantastic. The wheel does feel a lot fatter than my original, so it is going to take some getting used to. Hard to tell at the moment how it will feel on the car, as I am waiting to get someone to fit it. So at the moment I have just sat on the sofa and pretended to drive my car, holding the wheel, obviously making the necessary "Broom Broom" noises of my Abarth.

Just a little more info. As mentioned, the steering wheel took about 6 weeks to arrive. I didn't have to send in my own wheel. The time frame is so that all the custom work can be carried out. Communication with Tomaz over at Guardian Designs was excellent; he answered all my queries, and I paid by PayPal with no problems for the extra work and the painting of the spokes.  I was kept updated on the expected delivery of the package coming via FedEx, and when it arrived, it was very well boxed up, with protective foam and a cover over the wheel.  Basically, all that is required is the old wheel to be removed and the new one plugged in and positioned and tightened into place. I have been advised as the splines are so fine on the steering wheel that I will need my car aligned.    

Boxed up well

Wheel is protected with a cover

Foam on the wheel rim to prevent it getting damaged

  Once I get the steering wheel in place, I shall post some more pictures and be able to offer my thoughts if I have made the correct choice in getting the thicker rim.

Oh, and I thought I would also mention something else to do with my Abarth. After having her serviced, the mechanic mentioned some of the suspension bushes were wearing and could do with being replaced. I wasn't expecting the shock I got when I started researching just how many of these bushes there were, and just how much the job would cost.

So after having my car down to Mazda Dudes at Darlington (The Abarth is on the same design as a Mazda ND, and these guys know their stuff) and discussing the options, I came home and started looking into replacing all of the bushes, both front and rear. Initially, trying to find a complete kit was a bit of a ballache. Fiat/Abarth, from what I hear, tries to tell you that the bushes in the rear hubs cannot be replaced, and reading on forums, some people have been quoted absolutely astronomical prices to replace the hubs with new ones, something in the region of £2500, then the labour to fit them.

Example of Poly Bushes

Anyhoo, I have discovered a company called Polybush.co.uk, and they appear to have front and rear Poly Bush kits. The price is just a shade of £850 for both kits, and then of course I will have to sort the fitting out, hopefully with Mazda Dudes. As I intend to keep my wee Abarth, I figure it's money well spent. Now, just need to save up a bit more, wonga.

It's nothing but bad news!

Fuck it... It's nothing but bad news, so I decided to write.

Probably doesn't make much sense, and there are no pictures, so I'm guessing not many people will read it anyhoo lol

No Cure

A cure for cancer, scientists and drug manufacturers are working hard, but what of a cure for humanity, as humans are the real cancer of this world?

Humans are the only species that kill just for fun. Using numerous pure evil ways to get things done

The only species to kill every single living thing, and when they are done, they kill their own.

It doesn't matter if you're black, white or some other colour, this species you can trust.

It doesn't matter your political, religious or spiritual views, or what you choose, as you have no defence.

You see, humans can't make their minds up; they have so many skewed and distorted views.

No peaceful resolutions, it's all greed, power and ego as they hate to lose.

You can't please everyone, and so you become public enemy number one.

Thinking you're safe, but you're not prepared for evil opportunist souls to sneak up and take your life

Humans, in many cases, just aren't satisfied with killing one or two.

They design bigger weapons using physics, chemistry, and engineer their bombs.

Imagine a world with no war, hunger, or murder

As a species, we just all need to be laid to rest to allow the earth to flourish and return to its best.

More stuff I've bought over the last few months and not been able to use... As Yet, maybe next year!

As I remain off work, I do have to admit that, in a sense, I am not actually bored. I would say I am more numb. I guess in a way, I am having flashbacks to a previous time where I felt like I was in limbo. Man, I just feel like I am going nowhere and time is tick, tick ticking away.

A few months back, after buying yet another bike, I got it in my head, " Right, let's plan for some bivvying and biking adventures". So there I was buying various bits and bobs of new camping kit and whatnot.

Visiting Alpkit, I got myself a Kraku collapsible stove, which only weighs 45g and is tiny. Whilst I was on, I also bought two 100mg gas canisters.

Alpkit Kraku Stove

Tiny little stove

Got a couple of gas cylinders while I was on.

Next on my shopping list was a new tent, and after much research, and having learned my lessons from the past, I wanted something really light and pretty minimalist, so I opted for a one-man Lanshan 3FUL, plus. Bought some 3FUL carbon tent pegs. I just attempted to seal the tent a few weeks ago, and it ended up not going to plan. I later discovered that the tent doesn't like the sealant I bought, so I had to attempt to peel it all off. My new tent now doesn't look new at all, ahh well, live and learn, still will get some use if I ever get over this damn illness.

Lanshan 3FUL one-person Pro tent

Lanshan 3FUL one-person Pro tent

3Ful Carbon tent pegs, proper light these

3Ful Carbon tent pegs, proper light these

Oh, whilst I am on, I just thought of another purchase from Alpkit, I got a Vertex Tarp pole. You see, the Lanshan tent only requires one pole of about as I recall 125 cms to pitch it, so that again saves loads of weight.

Alpkit Vertes tarp pole

Alpkit Vertes carbon tarp pole - Very light

Next on the agenda, a couple of items I had been checking out for some time from a company named Aeroe, this was a Spider rear cradle which attaches to the rear triangle of a bike to carry gear, like in a dry bag, so a tent or sleeping bag, plus mat, etc, oh and a front handlebar Spider cradle.

Aeroe Spider rear cradle

Aeroe Spider rear cradle

Aeroe Spider Handlebar Cradle

Now, if I ever get myself pulled around and manage to get out... I mean, it's going to be next year now, I have got my eye on an Outdoor Research Helium Bivvy Bag. By all accounts, the majority of the reviews I have read say it's a pretty good bag for overnighters. 

Outdoor Research Helium Bivvy Bag

I will put it on the back burner for now as I await getting word when I will start this new treatment, which I am hoping will sort me right out, and then I can get back in shape and enjoy hitting the trails once again.

I'm obviously bored as I'm blogging about housework

I don't know if the majority of blokes are like me, in that I don't mind washing and cleaning my cars and pretty much take great pride in them; however, when it comes to doing housework, well, it's just not my thing.

It's possibly because I don't own my my own house and unconsciously think, "why should I clean up after other folk", or it may be just that I don't give a fuck, there are more important things to worry about. I mean, don't get me wrong, our house isn't exactly a shit tip, I would say it's more what you might call "Lived in".

Of course, if you were to check out each of the rooms my dad inhabits, you would see bits and pieces of all sorts, all arranged with a method of I'd like to say organised chaos, but basically it's just an untidy mess.

Anyhoo, on with my story. Years and years ago now, we replaced all of our carpets with engineered flooring. It was really expensive, however has proved well worth it, especially as we have had dogs, the latest of which is wor Neville. Neville has taken absolutely ages to house train. I don't think it's because he is stupid or even lazy. No, I think he just doesn't like going out and constantly wants to be at someone's side. 

If we leave the front door open all day, yes, even when it's freezing, Nev will toddle outside, have a wee or a dump, maybe dig a few holes or bark at anyone passing our fence. But if the door is closed, he doesn't give any indication he wants to go out, and will quite often, as not just piss on the floor, generally in the kitchen near our back door. That said, he does appear to be getting the idea, and all in all, he is a good little dog with a cracking personality.

And so this housework Malarkey. Getting down on my hands and shall we say knees to scrub the floor is both very tiring and uncomfortable. I have tried a mop and some floor cleaner, but again it's bloody hard work.

 

Aircraft PowerGlide cordless hard floor cleaner. 

 

I then got my eye on an electric floor cleaner, though I wasn't convinced it would work that well. Nevertheless, I read a few reviews and decided to take a punt and purchased one. Choosing an Aircraft PowerGlide cordless hard floor cleaner. 

Aircraft Powerglide Cordless

The cleaner came with a selection of pads, and once charged, I gave it a whirl. I attached the cleaning mops, which simply Velcroed in place, then popped some floor cleaner into the mop's fluid container and topped this up with water. A little push on the button on top of the mop base, and the mop heads fired up and began spinning. A press of the spray button and the mop didn't need much pushing back and forth to start cleaning the floor.

Aircraft Powerglide Cordless

I have to say the mop is pretty light, and it doesn't take a great deal of effort to get the job done. I think in hindsight, if I had put a few tubes on whilst I was carrying out the job, it would have made it an even more pleasurable task. I'm not saying I'm going to be cleaning every day, but I did find letting the mop do its stuff quite relaxing.

Our floor looked a lot cleaner. I asked the Ern to order some floor oil, it's like an oil as well as a protector, as our flooring is real wood and not just a laminate mix. So once it arrives, I will have a go at applying this with the polishing mops of the cleaner.

Dear me, now wasn't that an interesting and informative read?