Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in mr_cvb's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, November 26th, 2009
2:29 pm	Kendo Tuesday Night Training I have been having a fair bit of pysio work for my shoulder and it does seem to be working. I now have a good amount of movement and strength back in the arm. So I decided that I could see how I would fair at the Tuesday training, as this is normally not a too intense session. We worked on getting the men cut working with the proper foot work (fumikomi). You start with the right foot raised and then project forward into the cut. This is harder work than it looks. We then did variations on this drill, all working the men cut and follow though with strong zanshin. We then did Kakari geiko. We did not stop… After a solid hour and bit of this I was having difficulty breathing and was totally exhausted. It was good to drill and drill like this. You get a good opportunity to concentrate on getting your technique working (getting it right will take longer I fear). I am so unfit. So things to work on- Speed – I an too slow. This should start getting better as I am figuring out were my hands need to be during the cut. Relax – I tend to be tight across the shoulders…must relax…… Range – I am starting things too close and not using my arm/sword range as well as I could.. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
6:15 pm	Bugger This should be a post about training on Sunday. Unfortunately I managed to take a tumble off my bike (single speed) coming down one of the blue runs at Mt Stromlo. I missed Sunday training as I was feeling too beaten up. So managed to get to Tuesday before deciding a trip to the physio was in order. No real damage but it is a good idea for me to stay off the arm for a bit, so no kendo or SCA for a week or so. Sigh.... (Comment on this)
Friday, November 13th, 2009
11:38 am	Kendo - Thursday training I was a bit nervous about tuning up tonight as the previous weeks session almost killed me. Fortunately we spent the first hour doing kata, so this was a good opportunity to work on stuff at a slow pace. Covered the first four forms and I am sure that I might be able to remember them.... Then it was on with the bogu and into kitikaeshi in various forms. I find kitikaeshi hard work as I can never seem to get my feet to work after the taiatari. We than did a lot of work getting the initial men cut working and ho to go into and receive taiatari. Things I need to work on- Controlling my up/backswing - I tend to go back too far. I think this is because I am lazy in the right hand (not reaching up enough). Staying centered and not leaning. Being confident that I can make the range when striking men - I tent to lean because I am not sure I will get there... Blow power - I need to relax and not hit though (hard). Footwork, foot work, footwork...... C. (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
11:21 am	A training blog of sorts…. I have been very slack about posting to LiveJounal. This is possibly due to the scourge that is FaceBook but it is most likely to be just sheer laziness on my part. I am going to attempt to keep a bit of a running commentary on fighting stuff, mainly as it services a good reminder and reinforcement to my training and it is more interesting than telling people what boring stuff I did at work/ate/complained about/whatever... SCA Was in Adelaide last weekend to do some training with the people there. Neil the Sort of Viking also came down and we were joined by Everard from Melbourne, add to this Felix and Eva and some other locals and you get a great bunch of rather keen and good combatants. We spent most of the first day working on movement and sharing some training drills. The free fighting was crisp and reasonably fast given the high summer like temperatures. WOW - these people are good and an absolute joy to fight with. I will have to pay attention to stay infront of them (but a part of me would LOVE getting overtaken). I will need to continue to change/work on my movement. While I am not ‘tanking’ as much I still need to be a lot more mobile and be able to keep my centre lower than I am used to. A really good idea came from Felix – every time you make a new stick, change the length as this make you have to adapt to this and mixes up your fighting. I will have to listen to this as I do have a habit of being lazy. Another major thing is my shift to period footwear. This enables you to have a much better stance and movement as it is easier to keep your weight on the balls of your feet and is lighter in general. Yes, they were a bit slippery on the very dry grass but this was not a big issue as it forced me to stay very centred. Kendo I have stated back doing kendo after an eight year hiatus. Ok it is more of a restart after that long, although some things do come back rather quickly… I enrolled in the ANU Kendo Club's beginners program with about 30 others. Over the weeks this has dropped and there are now only about four or so of us left. The weekend of the Vets wedding I had my initial grading. I managed the first one well and was quite pleased to be called back to do the second grading as well! So after the excitement of achieving this I rolled along to the Thursday night training. OMG was I in deep water here… This was my first time in Men and Kote and it was sink or swim time. It was very hard work. Coming as someone who has spent years in heavy Western armour I was shocked at how unfit I am when having to keep up with a non stop kendo session in only a few kilos of bogu and having the equivalent of an open face helm… I am sure my technique was craptacular and I got totally pwnd in the free fighting. But somehow I loved every moment (mostly). I wish we could have organised training sessions like this in the SCA. But even a small training session at the Kendo Club has ten people in kit… So I will have to keep working on getting my foot work right as well as my tenuchi as I tend to hit too hard and lean too forward. Sigh, again, foot work is everything. C.     (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
8:46 pm	Hi all... I good weekend. Lots of running around with Madonna - windmills, art and lunch! We also managed to catch up wit CH - was good and we are going to try to get down to Wagga to see if we can make a mess of the town. Wen and I took the slow cooker out for a spin tonight - a wonderful veal and paprika goulash. Yum yum! So tomorrow is PT with Dean the nasty man...should be heaps of fun... C. (Comment on this)
Sunday, July 19th, 2009
11:29 pm	yet another of my very very rare posts Thought.... why do I always seem to be able to post from the qantas club but never anyware else? This may be the ONLY time I am in the same time zone as Keg...yes you son...am onto you.... Anyway the week of the Ray and Conie show is over. I am tied in that sort of way that provides you with the sort of fuzzy brain and stuff that only very very very tied can give you. Well that was a crap sentance decribing my level of tied. We did lots of fighting goodness. Stuff was good and we had an GREAT bunch of people to work with. It is thease sort of trips that makes the SCA and the KSCA thing so worthwhile. It was also very good to catch up with Kane(my old master). Working with Ray was a total joy - but now the bastrad is probably asleep with his girl while I sit here at some stupid late time at the airport...(remind me to try to hate him for this at some stage) Wel;l anyegwoabg i am thingk ing I should strop and ...............\ Oh fuck.. Now I cannot type stuff good I should stop yes good plan plan yes good C. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, June 26th, 2009
10:50 pm	copied from the wonderful Bicycle Fixation Blog The bicycle is antithetical to sprawl, to isolationism, to waste. The bicycle is complementary to community, economy, sustainability, and self-reliance. In this age of mindless consumerism, of atomized populations living in boxes, working in boxes, and traveling in boxes, almost always alone, with only the electronic voices of their new feudal lords to guide them through life, the bicycle becomes an instrument of gentle revolution. Multiply the strength of your body with each turn of the crank, and multiply the strength of your heart with each fellow rider you meet, on the street and in these pages. Find yourself here. Current Music: some odd movie (Comment on this)
9:59 pm	hmm,,,Friday nights.... End of financial year madness, let us let go, spin out, let go.... Muddle bar - moscow mules, martinis and stuff Curry at Shallamar - giggles and and extra bottle of merlot and way too many papdums on the bikes - Nick steals mine - I am running boys at the bar -the girl flirting laughing I am catching up, Nick rides circles nice police men... mall bikes spinning round...bandstand in the dark..youth in hoodies...we are laughing though the dark... no more drinks for me sleep bacons but not yet! C. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, June 5th, 2009
10:02 pm	Art...sort of I seem to have ended up starting to collect some poster art. The first one is an image dome by a mountain bike friend who runs a very cool clothing and design enterprise. This is something he did as a bit of experiment and I ask him if he could get some prints made up. So I now have a zepplin print - limited edition (1 of 28) and signed. It is very red! Several months ago I posted about ordering a 'keep clam and cary on' print. It is a hand screen printed enlargement of the original. We could smell the ink as soon as I unpacked it. Well here it is framed and on the wall. you may be noticing a bit of a colour theme... So the walls of our apartment are starting to look less bare. We have a very big Breakfast at Tiffanies poster (not very red at all) getting framed at the moment. this one will go at the end of the kitchen (I hope it fits) if not it can live near the main door. So it looks like I will have to keep the poster theme. I should look at some vintage ones but that could get a bit expensive...sigh. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
9:36 pm	Have bag, will travel Well it is the aniversry of the massacre in Tiananmen Square. This was a moment were we humans were at out lowest. We hoped that something good would come out of the cry to be heard and to be able to stand up with out the permission of the state. We as a species have achieved so much. We have created works of art, music and architecture that take the breath away. We have written words that are bold, brilliant and sad. We love, hate and dream. There are times we must remember what we are and what we have done. We are a curious ape that dreams of the stars. This is only an commercial for nice luggage, but ignore the sell and listen to what is said. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
9:24 pm	8:46p sillyness 1. Do you like bleu cheese? Absolutly - my favorate type of cheese. 2. Have you ever been drunk? sometimes more than others 3. Do you own a gun? no, lots of sticks,  4. What do you like to do on weekends? ride my bike, drink wine with the wonderful people I know 5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? just dull 6. What do you think of hot dogs? blah 7. Favorite Christmas movie? something by Tim Burton 8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee 9. Can you do push ups? I am pathetic 10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? a watch 11. Favorite hobby? bikes and armour, but not at once. 12. Favorite novel? No idea 13. What's your favorite shoe? A nice pair of black oxfords 14. What is your middle name? hay you 15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I like my posters tomorrow is friday wow 16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. Coffee water wine 17. Current worry? Will my HDA be extended?     18. Current hate right now? lack of time 20. How did you bring in the New Year? It was rather dull 21. Where would you like to go? London Tokyo 22. Name three people who will complete this: no idea 23. Do you own slippers? no - ray would mock me 24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? black 25. Do you like sleeping on Satin sheets? no 26. Can you whistle? no 27. Favorite colors? depends on the context 28. Would you be a pirate? no way 29. What songs do you sing in the shower? stuff 30. Favorite Girl's Names? Miranda 31. Favorite boy's names? Algennon 32. What's in your pocket right now? nothing thats why I have a man bag 33. Last thing that made you laugh? The Chaser 34. Favorite summer activities? staying out of the heat 35. Worst injury you've ever had? I was run over by a bus 36. Do you love where you live? ABSOLUTLY 37. Who is your loudest friend? Keith 39. How many dogs do you have? None 40. Does someone have a crush on you? Probably 41. What is something you are really looking forward to? No idea 42. What is one thing you do several times a week? work, sleep 43. What song do you want sung at your Funeral? Soemthing from the Allen Parsons Project     (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
8:50 pm	How British Are You? You Are 65% British Congrats, mate. You're are probably British. (If not, definitely Australian. Or Kiwi. Or Canadian.) You enjoy most aspects of mainstream British culture, without being stereotypical about it. You also have a typical British temperament. You wouldn't dream of being impolite. How British Are You? (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
8:07 pm	Well it was a big weekend - Ray and Sharon had invited the gang down to Corowa near Rutherglen to stay the weekend and do the winery thing. So Friday night we bundled into he car with Rob and Alice and headed south. Our arrival was only slightly delayed due to a though lack of useful road signs once one enters Victoria...   Saturday dawned and we set out to the delights of the Rutherglen. We managed only a few vineyards, most of them rather good.   The first high-light was a side trip to Beechworth. Beechworth is on the edge of the Victorian high country. Many places of excellent food, antiques and other assorted things to look at and avoid spending money. An added attraction is that Beechworth has a most excellent mountain bike park. We now have some vague plans to head back to Beechworth with bikes and make a weekend of it.   The second highlight was the last winery of the day. Most of the assembled company had headed back to the hotel, being tied by the heady exertions of lifting wine glasses all day. We decided that there was still light and we had not done everything. So we found a delightful place called Cambels. We ended up sharing a few glasses of port while the sun set offer the vineyard.     Sunday started with a lot of stuffing about so we waisted time waiting for other people to get organised. Due to this there was only time for one more winery and then a bit of lunch and the long drive home.   Sunday night of cause was Eurovision - several people turned up and we had bemused evening watch that high water mark of European culture that is Eurovision.   So there was the weekend.   Current Music: something something (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
10:27 pm	I have a bell!  Well I picked up my new bike today. What can I say...I am totally in love with the new ride. It has fenders, a rack and a BELL...WOOT! C. (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, May 11th, 2009
9:00 pm	a rather big meme   10:09p GENERAL SCA - Been an officer? (Local, Regional, Kingdom, Society?) -lets see...seneshal, marshal and stuff - Do you have an SCA name? – yes.... - Do you have an SCA persona? – not realy - I used to try to do that sort of thing - Changed persona because of different garb? nope - Been adopted by a person, household or clan? – yes - adopted by the best bunch of people in the next kingdom over. - Had a name and/or device accepted by the SCA College of Arms? – yes - seams such a long time ago now - Had a name and/or device rejected by the SCA College of Arms? – yes - that is why I added to dots - Been taken or taken an apprentice, protege or squire? – yes was a protoge  then a squire, I now have four squires and an appreterquire - Have rank higher than an Award of Arms? - yes.........it has strawberries EVENTS - Been an Event Steward/Autocrat? - Yes  - Kingdom level or local level? -  the last one was Crown - Cooked an Event? - nope - Taught a class at an event? - way too many times - Run an activity at an event? - I suppose so... FIGHTING/MARTIAL ARTS - Ever fought at an event? - I think so - Ever fought at Pennsic or another War? - Yep - lots of Rowany festivals (OK only a sort of war) and a few in the US - Done a different martial art at an event? - some metal weapons, archery and fencing - Ever run a martial activity at an event? - I suppose so - Fought at an event tourney? - I suppose so - Ever fought in a Crown Tourney? - They tell me yes - Won a tourney or contest at an event? - a few - Made your own armor? - I have made some - Made your own weapons? - yep - Been a squire? – yes - Have rank as an archer? – archers have ranks? - Have rank as a fencer? - Provost in Guild of Fencing sillyness - Created a seige weapon? – No ARTS & SCIENCES - Have you ever entered an A&S contest? - Yes - Have you ever won an A&S contest? - Yes - Ever run an A&S contest? - Yes - Ever judge/critique items in an A&S contest? - Yes - Ever Wordsmithed a scroll? - mostly - Illuminated a scroll? – no - I am crap at art - Done the Calligraphy for a scroll? – see above - Made your own paper? - ha ha ha ha - Made a book? - nope - Make someone's order medallion? - yes - Write someone in for an award? - yep - Have you ever sewn your own garb? - a bit - Sewn Garb for others? -yes - lots - Ever been sewing on the way to an event? -to often - Ever finished an outfit before an event? - several times - Researched and completed an outfit from said research? - yes - Ever taught a class on sewing? - yes - Finished a hat? – several - Do you know how to spin? I can spin crap - Ever woven your own fabric? - nope - Do you know how to knit? - ha ha ha ha - Do you know how to crochet? - ha ha ha ha - Have you ever dyed your own yarn or fabric? - yes, but it was a mess - Embroidered a garment? - we were all invited to do some on the kings tunic - Beaded a garment? - yes - Ever entertained at a feast? Yes and they will never let me do it again - Ever ran a bardic circle? - that would be a bad idea - Ever performed in a bardic circle? - no - Had songs requested from you at such? - people are smarter than that - Ever competed in a formal bardic? - No - Know any period songs? - does the Goblin Song count? - Been banned from a bardic circle for a song/performance, or have a piece you perform banned/controlled? – see above COURT IN THE SCA - Ran a court as Royalty (King/Queen or Baron/Baroness)? - Yes - Ran a court as Herald? - Yes - Heralded at Court? - Yes - Been an Attendant, Guard or Champion at court? - all of the above - Been called to court to receive an award, if so which one/s?- yes - a lot - Been called to court to present something, if so what? - I tend to be there every now and again - Been called to court for punishment? or other redress of grievances? - probably - Been part of a court 'shtick?' - many times - Done something while watching court, e.g. embroider, if so what? - all the time - Had a royal comment on what you're doing? - normaly calling for the guards - Have awards from more than one Kingdom? – Does the West count? PENNSIC - Have you ever gone to Pennsic? - Yes - Ever done Zero Night? - what is a zero night - How many Pennsics have you gone too? - just the one - Ever Taught a class at Pennsic? - no - Taken a class at Pennsic? - yep - Gone to Opening ceremonies? -yep - Been a waterbearer? - no - Worked a shift at Chirurgeons Point at Pennsic? – No  - Worked a shift as security at Pennsic? - Yes it was silly - Volunteered in any other capacity? – a bit busy doing stuff - Ever merchanted at Pennsic (we'll take shopping as a given)? - No - Gone to the swimming hole Classic or family? - No - 'Trolled the Bog for parties?' - no - Hosted a party at Pennsic? - no  - Been part of a 'Pennsic building project'? - no TRAVEL IN THE SCA - Ever traveled more than 8 hours each way for a one day event? - yes - Gone to a different Kingdom for an event? - Yes - Lived in a different Kingdom? –No - Have trailer hitch and trailer, mainly because of the SCA? - Yes,  - What ridiculous lengths you've gone to get to an event? –Drive nine hours for a three hour event THE MUNDANE OF THE SCA - Run out of closet space because of garb/gear? – yes - Ever crammed more than 4 people into a hotel room? – no - we just do not do that many hotel events - Met your future spouse at an SCA event? - Yes - Met most past significant others in an SCA setting? - yes - Have better research books than your library? - probably - Is your tent bigger than your first apartment? - probably bigger than my current apartment Current Music: South Park (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, May 1st, 2009
10:50 am	good bye EMA Well a super quick post as we are about to have lunch and jump on the bus to the airport. The Excercise management training was fun but they work us hard. the day starts at 8:30 and we had to do several evenings work od syndicate work. It will be good to get home. One of the highlights was getting down to the Stormhold SCA training session. Thanks to the Baron for organising this and for Stewart for doing all the driving. The Stormhold paractice was mainly newer ranked people. They were very keen and being in among keen fighting types is always good. The one thing they lack is a good technical foundation. There was a mix of styles so it is no wonder that it is a bit all over the place. I would love to get down there for a weekend and run some stuff but what they very much need is a good trainer that can put in the time to be there every week. Another thought would be to run a few train the trainers sessions. hmm will think about this. I will be down for the October event, so I will probably look at running some teaching sessions there. As always I am  up for tuning up and teaching (OK that was a terrible plug). Getting Ray and I down would be a good thing.... OK  - got to go and pack C. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, April 24th, 2009
9:21 am	WOOT..a post! A very quick post about stuff Festival was good but wet at the end. Fighter Aution was great (OK winning the thing does help) and I will hunt down some pics once I get interwebs at home. Housewarming on Sunday night - at least we have the place sorted out finaly. My large 'breakfast at tiffanies' print is going to cost a bomb to frame...sigh I am paying off a new bike. I should be able to use some of my Ruddbucks to pick it up in a week or so. http://www.bicyclestore.com.au/electra-amsterdam-classic-3.html So - no Ray, I am NOT getting a Segway...ever...... On Monday I am off again to Mt Macedon for a week long training thing in Excersie Management - this is the planing and then running of excersises and scenarios to test emergancy and recovery planning. So I must find some time to write a real post..... (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
9:49 pm	Training!  Another fun midweek session was had.   Just the for of us again this week. Sir Phil, N, R and I.   As N was feeling a bit beatten up from a demo he was at on the weekend (and fighting Sir Phill last week is suspect) we decided to do some out of armour work.    So we did a bunch of drills - it would have been very familier to those who have ever attended one of Duke Paul's classes - the basic stuff works, especilay for R who I am trying to get to get her returns happening. N is improving now that I have made him a reasonable sized shield. He used to have this enormous round thing that was getting more in his way then anything else. Unfortunately he thought it was working for him and we were trying to tell him is was fine...for an 80%er.....   Anyway- birthday tomorrow. I have been way too taken up with the new position at work to pay any attention...oh well. Ill may post something from the other side of getting older!   C. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
9:18 pm	Are You Destined For World Domination? You Are Destined to Rule the World You have the makings of a very evil dictator... Which is both kind of cool and kind of scary! Will you rule the world? Maybe. Maybe not. But at least you know that you could. Are You Destined For World Domination? (2 Comments |Comment on this)
9:10 pm	Getting back into the groove   After a great deal of doing not a lot and wishing I would do stuff, Ray managed to organise a small fighter practice with people who are interested in turning up...   OK - here comes the side rant. I have been getting incresingly fustrated in the local training sessions. There are people who expect you to organise/run a lesson, then spend most of the time telling you how they do things and that they know everything.... So I have been not going to things, thus copping flak for now not doing stuff...sigh...you cannot win.   Anyway - last nights training. We had R, N, R and I. We used a local park close to one of the better pups in town. We lost light fairly quickly but we still managed to go for an hour and half. Mostly drills and some free fighting. All good. It was wonderful to have a group of keen people doing stuff again. So - feeling enthused about fighting again. WOOT   So things to do this weekend at the shop-   New sword - the old one is almost dead. I am going to make a longer one this time and see how it goes.   New enarm for R's shield. R's current shield has a cupboard handle....this will be replaced with a leather one.   Trim N's shield. N has these round shields that just keep getting bigger and bigger. It is getting to the point were it is way too big and getting in his way. So I am trimming it to the dimensions recommended by Duke Siridian (should end up being about 24 inches across, who would have thunk it!).   Replace leather edging on my good sheild.   So not much to do then....     (2 Comments |Comment on this)