Walking

After several weeks of stupidly long hours I have been feeling a little stir crazy. Too much stress, strong coffee and lack of physical activity has left me physically and mentally bent out of shape. I had so much surplus nervous energy that I was getting muscle shakes as my adrenaline looked for a more productive activity than keeping me hyper alert and vigilant. That's not a good thing. My bad knee has also offered a convenient excuse not to do anything physical. I decided tonight to get outside and give my brain an hour off. I had no particular route in mind, just a really basic need to get my body mobile. It felt great just to move and after five minutes of twinges my knee decided to stop bitching and join in the fun. Sixty minutes later, after a brisk trot around China Town, the fringes of Covent Garden and back to Russell Square I feel better. Walking, I have missed you.

China town

Starlings

Starling Flock from Andrew Foster on Vimeo.

Mastiff

The train slips through the backs of a housing estate on the outskirts of Nottingham. The terraced houses all have tiny yards with identical single storey extensions. They flash by and I stop paying attention, slipping into a relaxed train reverie. A gap appears between the houses, a bare patch of concrete, divided from the track by black iron railings . The head of a huge snow white mastiff is inches away, growling and barking at the passing train. It's impossibly close to the window and I can see the drool on its jaws. I nearly jump out of my seat, much to the amusement of the people opposite me. Ten minutes later I'm still jumpy with adrenaline, a perfect high definition snapshot in my head of the monster's sharp white teeth. 

Nottingham and Naconf

I'm sitting in a coffee shop waiting for the New Adventures conference to start and am buzzing with excitement. I'm looking forward to listening to passionate people talk about the things that really matter to them.  The enthusiasm of the people attending the conference is infectious and I'm hoping to have my perspective changed today.