tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54410692024-03-07T08:37:29.165+00:00Adventures close to homeClimbing, Peak Oil, Ely Transition Initiative and anything else that grabs my attention.martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-28186782502859562872011-12-27T09:03:00.001+00:002011-12-27T09:03:24.692+00:00ipadio: Martin's phlog - 1st phonecastmartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-69667008118625696332009-08-01T16:15:00.000+01:002009-08-01T16:16:24.169+01:00Well then, do it!I really want to write more. The problem lies in what to write. No, no, that is wrong, the problem lies in:not writingself-censorshipnot knowing what to writea lack of confidence in my ability to writePhew, wrote it!martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-57665351375121735382009-07-28T10:17:00.003+01:002009-07-28T10:33:35.231+01:00Allotment diary - annoying the antsStarting to take more regular visits to the allotment recently. A huge amount of work needs doing but I'm more than happy just plodding along doing a bit at a time.The 'bit' in question is mainly weeding. This also means disturbing ant nests, not much I can do about this really other than apologise for the inconvenience.Funny how certain songs fixate in the mind while weeding. A few days ago martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-86520866479766857862009-07-27T14:01:00.004+01:002009-07-27T14:04:03.211+01:00Working in Feel SpaceI'm spending much of today trying my best to pay attention to what is going on in 'feel space'. Shinzen Young describes 'feel' as 'Any body sensation that seems to be emotional in nature'.So what I'm attempting to do is notice how I'm feeling. Actually, to use Shinzen's method properly, I'm noting 'feel' when I feel something.Why am I doing this?I hate it how I sometimes react badly ('martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-70473682160903315182009-07-25T18:13:00.001+01:002009-07-25T18:13:13.510+01:00A fine Phlogmartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-44856103085036272452009-07-25T17:40:00.001+01:002009-07-25T17:40:51.882+01:00Metta / Loving Kindness meditationThe is the Metta / Loving Kindness meditation I've adapted from the version in Stephen Levine's 'A Gradual Awakening'.1. Breathe in warmth, Breathe out patience2 . Reflect on a person who somehow caused you pain, say ‘I forgive you’Reflect on a person who somehow you have given pain, say silently ‘…I ask your forgiveness’3. Now allow yourself to be forgiven. Say ‘I forgive you’. ‘I forgive martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-12885649795515003302009-07-24T22:07:00.005+01:002009-07-24T22:13:23.155+01:00We need some Metta around hereI've realised that I really need to introduce some Mettā (usually translated in the West as "loving-kindness") into my practice.Why metta?I want to work on my edges, they need softening, I need softening. I'm feeling rigid, brittle, quick to snap, to break. Metta will (hopefully) encourage some gentleness. Metta implies a deep opening, an allowing, acceptance, gratitude and forgiveness.My martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-13220569101906357912009-05-10T21:26:00.006+01:002009-05-10T21:38:25.146+01:00My meditation sequence with Shinzen YoungAs much as can, I sit in the mornings. If possible, I'll also sit in the evening. So, this is the sequence:Focus on rest - 10 minutesFocus in (feel, image, talk: FIT) - 10 minutesFocus out (sight, sound, touch) SST) - 10 minutesFocus on rest - 5 minutesPDFs describing all these are on Shinzen's siteI'll report back here.martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-86050518302834281942009-03-29T07:38:00.004+01:002009-03-29T07:50:45.351+01:00Meditating with Shinzen YoungI recently came across the meditation and mindfulness teachings of Shinzen Young. I'm impressed with his 'Easy Rest' method which I tried out this morning for the first time.With 'Easy Rest', one directs one's attention between sensing/relaxing the body and watching for 'blank' states in the mind's eye.I sat for 15 minutes and quickly entered a deep state of relaxation in my body, my mind was martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-46743124125860092202009-03-21T21:18:00.004+00:002009-03-21T21:26:09.913+00:00Cashback live in Little DownhamLast Saturday night we took a cab from Ely over to Little Downham to see local heroes, Cashback, play a wild gig at the Anchor pub.Cashback play Johnny Cash songs and the man in black would have loved the band. They played with passion and soul, the joint rocked!Large amounts of Greene King were drunk, people danced on tables, rock 'n' roll in the Fens, you really can't do better.We stumbled outmartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-87304277014942493322009-03-13T06:34:00.010+00:002009-03-20T06:58:03.938+00:00East Anglian Transition Gathering in Downham MarketLast Saturday 7th March, 50 people from 12 East Anglian Transition cities, towns and villages met to talk, plan, network and celebrate.The towns represented were:EcclesBungayCambridgeDereham DissDownham Market and villagesElyIpswichKing's LynnNorwichMundesleyWoodbridgeView a map of East Anglian Transition TownsFor the morning session we used Open Space technology and quickly set up an agenda withmartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-4866686086737972442009-03-01T19:13:00.004+00:002009-03-05T20:56:30.032+00:00Rebecca Hollweg and Andy Hamill at CB2Jo and I went to see the ever wonderful Rebecca Hollweg and Andy Hamill at the CB2 basement in Cambridge.The intimate venue was perfect for Rebecca's voice, she played a good selection of new and old numbers including my particular favourites 'June Babies' and 'Dancing in the Kitchen'Go check them out if you get the chance!martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-85223359627265995882009-02-11T06:57:00.007+00:002009-02-11T07:15:25.038+00:00Things I like: Public Libraries (no. 1 in a series)My use of Public libraries has passed through three distinct phases: childhood, adolescence and middle age.ChildhoodAs a child, Saturdays usually involved a trip to Swiss Cottage library in Camden with my sister and father. I don't remember much of those trips, except for a sense of the building's spacious, curvy, modernist design .Later on we moved a few miles across Camden to Kentish Town. martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-2612353921618084812009-02-07T15:13:00.002+00:002009-02-07T15:21:26.926+00:00House of the Ju Ju QueenI've been tweeting now for two months or so and it's been a great experience. My only moan is I now have twice the amount of interesting leads to interesting things on the web...and not enough time to look at it all.What to do about this? I'm not quite sure yet, maybe nothing. Perhaps it's all about prioritising what is really important and letting the rest go.What I would like to do is write martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-37141212873725171392009-01-04T09:44:00.003+00:002009-01-04T09:52:57.685+00:00Run Run RunI've started running again (can't stand that word 'jogging'). Each morning, after a cup of tea, I venture out into the frosty Fen morning and run.Running is great for thinking, it facilitates problem solving. When running, my mind can empty out, leaving it free to coalesce around a question (or answer) I may have posed while tying my laces.how should I approach this difficulty?what should take martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-47535279573363262212009-01-03T07:48:00.004+00:002009-01-03T07:55:52.921+00:00Hey Hey Rock 'n' RollMy seven year old, Harry, was given an acoustic guitar on Christmas Day. A few days later we visited his old friend Tom-Joe who is the proud owner of a drum kit.It didn't take long for the boys to start-up one hell of a fine jam session as caught expertly on the clip below.A Jones-Stummer team for a new generation?martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-6219110352998328672008-12-29T18:56:00.004+00:002008-12-29T19:08:14.121+00:00Almost veggie JanuaryOne of my aims for 2009 is to move towards a largely vegetarian diet, the ultimate idea is to have meat only once or twice a month, at the most.So, in January I'll make the first steps towards this aim by eating vegetarian food only for 80% of my meals (that's lunch and supper - I rarely ever have meat for breakfast, unless seriously hungover). 80% veggie means I can have meat in three meals permartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-63966982405749982502008-12-24T12:50:00.003+00:002008-12-24T13:00:57.083+00:00The Japanese have a word for it...Great looking video (via Sound of Sirens) from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on food security. Just imagine if DEFRA did something similar!martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-47743823068429410642008-12-07T12:14:00.003+00:002008-12-07T12:21:46.805+00:00Food growing planning for 2009 - initial thoughtsIssuesWhat kind of soil do we have at the allotment and back garden?What kind of rotation should we plan for?What kind of crops are best for preserving?List of plants to growBrassicasbroccoli (purple sprouting)kalerocketAlliaceaeonionsleeksgarlicSolanaceaspudstomatoesApiaceaecarrotsceleryChenopodiacea spinachAsteraceaelettucesHerbsvariousShamanic exploration toolspsilocybin (ho, ho, ho)martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-9603243752153099692008-12-03T21:48:00.000+00:002008-12-03T21:49:29.546+00:00God bless Rough Trade recordsJeffrey Lewis - A History of Rough Trade Records...and god bless Jeffrey Lewis!martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-85564128530011914582008-12-02T22:10:00.003+00:002008-12-02T22:16:47.000+00:00Skateboarding is NOT a sportSkateboarding is a concrete critique of urbanism. This is decisively, and beautifully, demonstrated in the finest skate video ever made:Burn that Tony Hawks DVD baby, this is Skating!martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-81886112675344356102008-11-19T06:40:00.007+00:002008-11-19T07:03:28.506+00:00Steps towards great self-sufficiency in foodAs an absolute beginner, my approach to local food production (ok, my garden and allotment!) is somewhat here and there...but that's fine.Like most things of any value the basic idea of growing food is simplicity itself but it can get very complicated if you're that way inclined.As far as I can see there are four areas that need consideration:Planning, observing, note-taking, learningSowing, martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-20416920544562519272008-11-17T06:50:00.006+00:002008-11-17T22:23:45.245+00:00Alllotment news for November!Spent a drizzily Sunday morning on the allotment digging, weeding and put down 20 bulbs of garlic.This adds to the 10 bulbs already planted at home which means 30 bulbs of garlic for the Spring, hurrah! One can not have too much garlic I say.I really enjoyed the hour and a half of getting muddy and wet, really, I did, honestly. On my arrival home I spread muck through out the house and had a martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-9039567323732860402008-09-25T20:40:00.004+01:002008-09-25T20:58:27.031+01:00"Triple Digit Oil Prices Will Reverse Globalization"This was the title of a presentation given by Jeff Rubin, an economist from CIBC World Markets at the Association for the Study of Peak Oil (USA) conference taking place right now in the states.According to the Oil Drum, Rubin showed a slide comparing the cost of shipping a 40 foot container from China to the US.A few years ago, the cost would have been $3,000. It now costs $10,000. If oil rises martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441069.post-35167764987123382982008-09-25T12:54:00.003+01:002008-09-25T13:17:05.205+01:00Peak Oil - it ain't an internet cultMatt Simmons, Richard Heinberg and John Hemming MP were on the World at One this lunchtime talking about Peak Oil. They all gave an excellent performance, getting to the point very, very quickly.It was good to hear a British MP talking clearly and bullishly on the issue, the UK government is in denial (with predictions of sometime in 2030 for the peak in production) over peak oil and this is martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16669907168835638487noreply@blogger.com0