The PC Gremlins are about, and one of them is sitting inside my PC tower unit, poking a stick into my disk drive at random inconvenient times. The less-imaginative would say that my disk drive is experiencing an intermittent mechanical problem that could lead to permanent failure. So, I've backed everything up, ordered a replacement disk, and am limiting the time I spend on the PC ( the gremlin doesn't poke until the thing's warmed up ).
Instead of rebuilding my disk drive, what I'd rather be doing, is relating our December Whale Shark siting to The Whale Shark Project, along with photo. Something to do when I can hear my hard disk whirring instead of clicking.
Writing of sharks, I remember with horror about two years ago, when our staff canteen decided to put it on the lunch menu. They haven't made that mistake again since, but still every Friday, they insist on making another dent in the Cod population. It isn't easy knowing which fish are caught using sustainable methods, but fishonline can help with the decision making process.
( I really shouldn't be writing about Gremlins. It only encourages Elves. )
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Yogi Bare
My completed entry form for the CIPA Open in Nice, at the end of May, is now en route. Just under 10 weeks to prepare. If I can mix my training as well as I mixed my drinks on Saturday night, I should be on to a winner. I don’t normally get paralytic going out with my friends for a Chinese meal. I somehow misunderstood that Caiprinas, Stella Artois and white wine are not condusive to sobriety when combined. Or being bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next day.
The key to this year’s training plan is to drop the occasional yoga session, and replace time spent there with specific stretches and exercises from Pelizzari’s Freediving Manual. For the final six weeks, an intensive high CO2 / low O2 tolerance conditioning ( for which I’ll need to find an hour each day ).
This will be a challenge, especially as I made some purchases at LIDS that will require some of my attention in the weeks to come. I have ordered a PT027 housing. This is designed for the Olympus C7070, but I am assured that the C5060WZ ( my camera ) fits just as well, and that problems in predecessor housing PT020 have been eliminated. This hasn’t arrived yet, but I did walk out of LIDS with an Epoque ES150 digital strobe and the filter I was after. Once I find out how to connect everything together, I’ll need to work out how to use it. Splashdown divers have a good ‘dummies guide’. More clues at digital diver.
The bad news is that I don’t think I’ll be clued or kitted up enough before the next excursion to The Turks and Caicos Islands, at the beginning of May. Still, at least I can enjoy the simplicity of my Sea & Sea MX10 for perhaps the last time?
The key to this year’s training plan is to drop the occasional yoga session, and replace time spent there with specific stretches and exercises from Pelizzari’s Freediving Manual. For the final six weeks, an intensive high CO2 / low O2 tolerance conditioning ( for which I’ll need to find an hour each day ).
This will be a challenge, especially as I made some purchases at LIDS that will require some of my attention in the weeks to come. I have ordered a PT027 housing. This is designed for the Olympus C7070, but I am assured that the C5060WZ ( my camera ) fits just as well, and that problems in predecessor housing PT020 have been eliminated. This hasn’t arrived yet, but I did walk out of LIDS with an Epoque ES150 digital strobe and the filter I was after. Once I find out how to connect everything together, I’ll need to work out how to use it. Splashdown divers have a good ‘dummies guide’. More clues at digital diver.
The bad news is that I don’t think I’ll be clued or kitted up enough before the next excursion to The Turks and Caicos Islands, at the beginning of May. Still, at least I can enjoy the simplicity of my Sea & Sea MX10 for perhaps the last time?
Thursday, March 03, 2005
LIDS For Cameras?
High time for an update. The near-Arctic conditions we have been experiencing these past couple of weeks, have chilled my enthusiasm for weblogging, and yet newsworthy events have occurred. To start with, the BFA committee has expanded its ranks to include a new groups officer, membership officer, and press officer. As newly-appointed press officer, I have completed my first task of producing an FAQ style flyer for the BFA. This is due to go on distribution at the London International Dive show this weekend.
On the subject of LIDS ( which we are planning to descend on this Saturday ), how could the organisers manage to schedule two sensational freediving lectures at the same time? At 13:45 in Platinum Suite 1, we have Mike Rutzen lecturing on his freediving experiences with Great White Sharks. At the same time in PS2, the world's deepest freediver Loic Leferme talks about his recent no-limits record acquisition. Freedivinghas taught me several techniques for controlling mind and body, but being in two places at the same time isn't one of them.
Dan Burton will also be talking in PS1 at 11:15 about Underwater Digital Photography. I'm not sure if I will have purchased my underwater housing and colour filter by then, but my aim is to carry both of these out of the exhibition by the end of the day. If all goes to plan it will be on to the Baltic at Southwark for a vodka or two, a bite to eat at The Anchor and Hope, and then a 3D screening of James Cameron's 'Aliens of the Deep' at the BFI IMAX.
Of course, apart from the lectures and purchases at LIDS, there's always a lot of socialising going on. Last weekend I spent all day Sunday teaching in the Royal Navy Submarine Escape Training Tower at HMS Dolphin ( a 30 metre high / deep hot water tub ). The organisers and instructors in 'the tank' that day are all planning on turning up, so we will be having an early reunion. Perhaps we can persuade one or two to retreat to the Baltic post show?
On the subject of LIDS ( which we are planning to descend on this Saturday ), how could the organisers manage to schedule two sensational freediving lectures at the same time? At 13:45 in Platinum Suite 1, we have Mike Rutzen lecturing on his freediving experiences with Great White Sharks. At the same time in PS2, the world's deepest freediver Loic Leferme talks about his recent no-limits record acquisition. Freedivinghas taught me several techniques for controlling mind and body, but being in two places at the same time isn't one of them.
Dan Burton will also be talking in PS1 at 11:15 about Underwater Digital Photography. I'm not sure if I will have purchased my underwater housing and colour filter by then, but my aim is to carry both of these out of the exhibition by the end of the day. If all goes to plan it will be on to the Baltic at Southwark for a vodka or two, a bite to eat at The Anchor and Hope, and then a 3D screening of James Cameron's 'Aliens of the Deep' at the BFI IMAX.
Of course, apart from the lectures and purchases at LIDS, there's always a lot of socialising going on. Last weekend I spent all day Sunday teaching in the Royal Navy Submarine Escape Training Tower at HMS Dolphin ( a 30 metre high / deep hot water tub ). The organisers and instructors in 'the tank' that day are all planning on turning up, so we will be having an early reunion. Perhaps we can persuade one or two to retreat to the Baltic post show?
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