As the road rises the smile broadens. A beautiful morning in Strathspey last weekend and oh what a coincidence. My road bike just happened to find it’s way onto the bike rack alongside the family menagerie of bikes. Fancied a bit climbing, so headed towards #67 in the official 100 climbs. Cairngorm. Continue reading “Rolling with 15”
I recently got my “summer” bike back from a custom paint job. Big cheers to Magnafibre Alloa for a great job and Michael from Alloa Cycle repairs for the rebuild(more to follow on another post). It’s not been on the road since October but It hasn’t taken me long to fall back in love with it’s airy, slammed curves. Don’t get me wrong I’ve totally grown to enjoy the comfort and rather more relaxed riding position of my recently acquired Titanium winter freedom machine, but the fun factor? Well it’s just no where near as nimble, responsive or quick on the flats and descents as my Specialized Tarmac. Thus with the belting weather I’ve been getting out as often as I can. Of which, I’ve been particularly liking the morning summer commutes. When I can get my arse out of bed early enough, i’ll head east (instead of north) to take an extended commute on as big an anti clockwise curve to work, as time allows. Riding into the rising sun with sweeping views of the Firth of Forth, whilst central Scotland rouses from it’s Golden slumber’s has a certain buzz to it. Particularly on colder mornings where the fields, gardens and Golf courses sparkle like glistening gold waves as the sun liberates the early morning dew and occasional frost. STUNNING, see the photo slide show below. On days like these I Just want to keep pedalling, Keep pushing that anti clockwise curve left like a freaky cycling Zoolander. Needs must though. Bills need paying and wine needs a tasting, so eventually a turn to the right and dismount is required.
We also recently rode the Aviemore 100 but that story will come in separate blog.
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I’ve been making up playlist’s for my page on Spotify, some new tunes of my own to follow. But hears a sneak listen to my June list
War of Art – Steven Pressfield. This is a yearly re-read for me
Story goes like this. Towards the end of 2016 the missus and I planned a ‘romantic’ weekend break to the south of Spain. Two parts romance, one part decompress after one of the most intense work and family periods we had navigated.
On this journey of romance, partying, inevitable soul mining and long deep conversations over Pintxo’s and Vino came an epiphanal moment . The understanding that there is an aspect of being that’s helped keep me sane through the intense preceding months; an escape vehicle seldom seen but one in which I could dive like Bonds Lotus Esprit in Octopussy ( Rarely do i surface to a vessel full of sea sirens though). That vehicle for me, is creativity & playing. It keeps me squared up, when all the outside and inner forces are trying tae form a hexagon . Yet until recently (<2years) I had been depriving myself, stopping myself, relying on the contribution of others for these artistic surges to come to life and thus the only thing that i was prolific in creating was frustration. Then the few times I did shake my own thing, I guarded it fiercely from the public eye, for reason’s I didn’t know why.
Anyway, whilst in the South of Spain (sans kids), we visited friends and Property Impresarios Leane & Graeme Carling at their new Villa in Fuengirola. That weekend they were putting the finishing touches to their own creative project. Their first book ‘Property Superstars’. A book charting their rise from office jobs in Central Scotland to becoming the largest Independent property dealers in Scotland. Chapeau. Over one of the many bottles of wines that weekend, the chat was of inspiring books and I asked Graeme. ” Read any good ones lately?” His answer was almost a reflex, like an Andy Murray cross court return of serve it was so lightning quick.
” Yes….it’s called War of Art.. Steven Pressfield, ammmmazing book, must read” He asserted.
The book he referred to is written by Steven Pressfield who’s fiction includes The Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire, The Afghan Campaign and The Lions Gate, but it is his non fiction work. The war of Art, Turning Pro and Do the Work that have transcended into cult classics. .
War of Art It’s about turning the tables on yourself. It is succinct. Yes a self helpy book, although minus the woo woo bullshit philosophy of cast it to the universe and the universe will deliver. This is more on the Stoic path. No waiting for Muses and inspiration. Just start, do the work and you’ll find your flow, inspiration and at times Muse on the way. As Graeme intimated a must read for anyone with creative urges, especially those that need a good boot up the arse to just get their shit done and out there, like I was.
>click Here to find out more
We spoke more of the central theme which can be captured in two lines from the book: “Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” in other words the side projects, songs, books, pieces of art or even start up’s we want to do, but never get the finger out to do.
Instantly I was curious about this “resistance”. Could resistance be the guarding, the denying, the delay in starting, the reliance on others, the annoyance at others reliance on me, that I was all to frequently deferring to as an excuse against, getting shit done?……it was like a bomb going off in my head. A collision course was now set with my earlier creative epiphany. Out came the phone and ordered it was and through the letter box it lay when we arrived home. I devoured it in a couple of sitting’s. With each page the self inflicted creative weight was lifting from my shoulders just like the morning dew off the grass of my summer commutes. If it wasn’t for a combination of both book and epiphany, you wouldn’t be reading this blog right know. I would still be citing many excuses against creating that cycling blog idea, turning that melody into a tune, that Snowboarding movie. I remember before we left that weekend saying to Leane. ” yi know I’ve always wanted to write a book” My Tour of the highland series is essentially that. A riders eye view at playing the endurance athlete for a three days.
Further reading are Steven Pressfields other cult classics on the creative topic. These should be read in order listed below.
There you go three book recommendations for the price of one
Drinking
This little beauty was corked last wine Wednesday in the Murray house. I first tried this on our launch night at the Acoustic Cafe. Danny of the Kennedy brought this along and splashes me a glass and when it came back in stock in his Naked Wine membership, the offer was made to grab a few and there was no way I was declining.
Watching
We recently watched and recommend >>THE BIG SICK. A comedy loosely based on the real life relationship between comedian Kumail Nanjiani and writer Emily V. Gordon and the cultural differences they faced in an interacial relationship. Sounds shit, but is really gid.
Totally appealed to my sense of humour. Check it out.
Get Reading, drinking, Listening and Rolling…..Short life advice: Probably best do that in reverse order.
Daz
Braes City Rouleurs 