Josh Pyke - “The Doldrums”

I couldn’t tell you why
I’m never feeling satisfied
But every time the sun don’t shine
It makes me wanna run and hide
From the songs in my head

And here comes the rain again
She’s coming for to break the drought
But she’s such a cloudy friend
And she’s bringing forth a shadow of doubt

Ain’t it funny how, when you think,
That you’ve got it all figured out
That these things sometimes seem
Organised well in advance of me
Are the callings of my heart

So we hit the doldrums now
Sails hanging loose on the line
And we couldn’t sink or swim
Just praying for a merciful tide
With this song around my neck

Lull of the afternoon
And we’ve grown numb to the feel
So set navigation true
And I roped myself to the wheel
On this dried out sea, when you go
Well you go, you go, you go.

Jenny Owen Youngs - “Why You Fall”

Oh god it took a while to come right back to me
I’d give up anything if you’d just let me be
No use in shaking me just leave me in my bed
Cause mornings are the worst bit
Mornings drag me on ahead

I know I should have seen that hand behind your back
But I was busy launching my own full-scale heart attack
Yeah you sure taught me something when you took me down
Make the best of moments
Then make for higher ground

Don’t want to hear about the wind and how it blows
As far as I see love is just a hole.

Just like a tidal wave you crumble and divide
With no regard for all the shreds you’ve left behind
So now what can I do but tremble in your wake
Sorting things you’ve broken
From things you’ve yet to break

Don’t want to hear about some fate we can’t control
As far as I see love is just a hole
That’s why you fall

Working it out: 20/05/2013

Karate. Renraku omote, kata practise. Sensei David pulled myself and another 1st kyu karateka, Charlie, aside to tell us that we won’t be grading in June. No surprise, given that we only graded to 1st kyu in October last year. It has helped to re-focus my attention on the December grading, though, which is really not very far away.

In terms of where I want to be by the December grading, I have lots of room for improvement right now! WIth some travel and busy times at work on the horizon, I have to keep on top of my training. I’ve spent a lot of this year enjoying my social time and alone time, exploring my city as much as possible while I still can. But it’s time to bunker down now - from a training perspective, I often hit a lull with decreased loads and distracted training post-grading. No mid-year grading this year, so no excuse!

pettankoprincess:

ashleymater:

Tippi Benjamine Okanti Degré, daughter of French wildlife photographers Alain Degré and Sylvie Robert, was born in Namibia. During her childhood she befriended many wild animals, including a 28-year old elephant called Abu and a leopard nicknamed J&B. She was embraced by the Bushmen and the Himba tribespeople of the Kalahari, who taught her how to survive on roots and berries, as well as how to speak their language.

Learn more

Riding an ostrich like a fucking Chocobo.

(via andrewfutral)

Source: ashleymater

Lucy Rose - “Gamble”

I will take all the blame this time,
‘cause it was my fault
And you were kind.

Now I’m searching for a reason
To believe that I’m something,
‘cause I don’t gamble like I used to,
But I still do things that I shouldn’t do,
That I shouldn’t do,
And it’s on my mind,
And it’s on my mind.

I will just leave,
Cause no more pain,
‘cause I brought this on
And you were kind.

Pearl and the Beard - “Swimming”

You know they say, they always say,
That things will get better,
If you believe in love,
Believe in hope,
Believe in the way that you feel.

But my trouble is,
My troubles aren’t real.

They’re real enough, that inasmuch,
As yes, they are happening,
But their burden bears upon the soul,
Their weightlessness boring a hole,
That’s deep enough to dive.

So let the rain come down,
And fill the swimming hole,
Until the sun come out,
Then we can go swimming.

Songs for a messy head

You know that magical moment when you pull together a playlist that is an exact musical representation of the crazy inner workings of your mind?

This happened a couple of days ago. Some of my messy head stuff has become less messy in the days since (due in no small part to this playlist), but it’s full of songs that I thought I knew inside out. The magic was not in their familiarity, though. The magic happened as I found new meanings unfolding in the same old songs…

So if you like music, or you’re feeling a little down and out lately, or maybe both…perhaps you’ll like my selections :)

Working it out: 10/05/2013

Karate. Assisted with a juniors class, then trained with seniors. Basics, renraku ura and omote, Pinan Sandan and Yondan.

Assisted Sensei Dawson with the new junior class that has started this year. Great to work with a bunch of attentive and responsive kids, very coachable and a lot of fun :) Excited to see how these kids continue to progress over the next six weeks as we head into the June grading.

After the juniors class, I headed out to my usual Friday seniors class and trained. As I’ve mentioned at length in the last fortnight, my training focus and commitment has been wavering. Over the last week, my mood has lifted, and my training intent is improving with it, but I am giving myself just one very simple goal for each session: to push myself. I need that stimulus right now to bring focus and concentration back into my karate practice. If I am to push myself to (and beyond) my limits, I have to be resilient when fatigue tells me to rest, when my hang ups and misconceptions tell me to stop. It’s carrying me through well, at the moment.

I have always pursued intensity, so it’s comforting (but not too comfortable) to work from a familiar headspace.

Working it out: 08/05/2013

Gym (light session).

Spin bike - 5 min warm up, easy spin
Spin bike - 9 x 1 min climb / 1 min easy spin

Kneeling hip flexor stretch
Lat pulldown, wide grip 1 x 4 @ 45 kg
Lat pulldown, narrow grip 1 x 4 @ 40 kg
Seated row 1 x 7 @ 35 kg
Seated row 1 x 7 @ 30 kg