a 'British mistake'

A classic Bauhaus, modernist designer, Le Corbusier was visually aware of Modern Graphic elements of everything...

‘Satisfied Mind’ -

I hail this song big. It is one of my favourite tunes performed by Jeff Buckley. Good friends will know just how highly I rate, the late Jeff Buckley. The song did not appear on his mesmeric album ‘Grace’, but is the final tune, provided as final song on posthumous album ‘Sketches...’. 

This song was written by Joe "Red" Hayes and Jack Rhodes and was first a No. 1 country hit for Porter Wagoner in 1955 and later recorded by numerous country, folk and pop performers including Ella Fitzgerald, Glen Campbell, Ian & Sylvia, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD7e-eQuhJM (Jeff Buckley live)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrZiRpeuBB8 (Joan Byers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbuVGHlDzKc (Chris Cornell)

These past three weeks have seen Le Tour De France shown live on ITV4. I applaud the presentation of such a sporting event live on ‘terrestrial TV’. I am very aware that it may not  make ‘prime TV’. Relying on advertisements, ITV must carefully select which adverts best suit an audience of cyclists. I find it so depressing, the amount of adverts for ‘Life insurance’ and ‘Accident Compensation’...

This whole concept is found deeply contentious by myself! 

• Are all cyclists prone to accidents?
• ‘Compensation’ is paid by someone whose fault it is, but NO-ONE INTENDS AN ACCIDENT.
• Money cannot solve everything.
• No-one is to blame for an accident.
• 'He needs his money to pay funeral costs' are the words of one advert! Whatttttt?!!

A ‘British mistake’!

The above sentence describes a big problem, for us, this year. This weekend is the culmination of a magnificent for British fans, edition of the Tour De France. The yellow jersey and 2-of-the-top-4 positions, held into the final weekend of LeTour! Probably the biggest day of the year, for cycling-fans, is the last day of the Tour de France. Mark Cavendish won the gold-medal at the World Championships, a few years ago, but most other major British success has been at ‘Le Tour’.

The RideLondon cycle event is a major success, increasing support of the sport in Britain. The stupid mistake, this year, was to arrange it on the same day as riders hit the Champs-Elysees, completing the Tour de France! If I was a professional racer, I know where I’d rather be! Only a fan? Probably same answer (even if TV has to let me watch)!

I listen to my iPod, but only recently have I recognised that my love of my music is weakening. ‘My music’ explains ‘my collection’. It is fairly up to date, but I realise that I have failed. I download music, and simply add it to a ‘2018 playlist’. Then, I am lazy, and just press play. ‘Shuffle mode’ maybe. We cannot let Apple or Spotify, (or whatever) ruin our lives! We all must be consciously aware of what we are listening to! We no longer are allowed the tactile love of a record sleeve/cover. We no longer have to leave house, to get it. We no longer have the love of perusing through our own, or a friends, record collection. Friends cannot spend time assessing each other’s music collections. However, it is no wonder we are all falling into the same pitfall. We are hearing an album, but do we actually get to listen, or are we just experiencing sounds of a playlist? Beware, it is human nature to always take the easiest option, but we risk the destruction of something we all love!

Realistic Recovery = Remove Playlists.

Maintain MP3 player or iPod, just force ourselves to select what we listen to (listen to the music how it was designed to be listened to)!

Shuffle destroys.

I am currently reading a piece by George Orwell, written mid 1940’s. Yes, midway through the Second World War, of last century. It could be argued that war has always existed. Everyone hates it and denounces such conflict. It could be argued that humanity has progressed mentally, but still wastes resources conflicting itself. We are all too clever for this, surely? Many elderly politicians, who lived predominantly in 20th century still exist in their bubble, enforcing their old views of national divisions, on the people who now live in a new millennium. Humanity is slowly recognising there is a larger, more threatening problem that we all face. You can help.

It is hot. Turning a fan on, to cool down causes me great mental confusion. Yes, we cool down, but I feel mightily offended by everyone’s lack of realisation. Realisation that it is a loop. A fan requires an electric power supply. We are using electric energy from finite  resources, fossil fuels. By continued consumption of fossil fuels, we are heating our climate up. We are losing so much, and will continue to spiral out of control.

PB 

San Pellegrino

The same drink was had for a second time. So delicious, I bought one in celebration!

Yesterday, I was allowed to congratulate myself. I had cycled on my gym-bike (pedals), achieving my goal! I had set a PB having tested myself every weekday during a ‘Grand-Tour’. I had tested myself successfully, during the Giro d’Italia (May), and now achieved the same distance ( plus a 30m improvement) in July. I ride 100% for 20minutes. Interestingly, I have achieved my goal on the last Thursday of each event! Starting from fresh, it seems take me 2 weeks, 5 days of training, to peak.

mmmmmm. My Bialetti Moka

;)

Hollywood Climb

It is that time of year!

One of the most famous climbs for cyclists, was included in this year’s route. 

Le Tour tackled the famous Alpe D’Huez, yesterday, although I wrote much of this post, earlier in the week.

My last year as an active cyclist, was the same year that I made a ‘pilgrimage’ to watch the Tour de France, ascending the classic climb in 2006.

I reached Bourg D’Oisans (town at the foot of the mountain), anticipating the following thirteen thousand, eight hundred metres of climbing, with great eagerness.

Alpe d’Huez 13km.

Below, race leaders Damiano Cunego (Lampre), and Franck Schleck (CSC), approach summit of Alpe D'Huez, 2006.

Around just the first few hairpin/switchback bends, of 21 in total...

...My lifelong dream was standing, immediately ahead of me. I was still only at the foot, but enjoyed it so much. I wanted to accelerate, but I didn’t want to rush this experience away. Honestly, I don’t remember feeling pain, I was forever able to look around and realise where I was! This is cycling! I realised that it was my destiny. A lifelong lover of the French Alps, a lightweight, skinny, 21 year-old cyclist who was obsessed with professional cycling, I knew that I was made for this! As expected, a vast range of fans filled the bottom, but those cycling up, all recognised the pain that they were about to endure! The number of fans on the lower slopes was mind-blowing! The Dutch own this place, and they definitely know how to throw a party! At no point did I doubt myself, I just knew that I must continue. I didn’t bother counting down the corners, it is a place with such a special history, I didn’t want to ruin the experience by dismissing sections with such enthusiasm! ‘Masochistic’, maybe, but I knew that I was a ‘grimpeur’ (climber). Ok, I was never the fastest sprinter, or a strong ‘rouleur’ (powerful rider on the flat), but I was used to watching most other riders fall behind me, on a climb. The Alpe D’Huez was my climb, not too long, but steep enough! :)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idEsfGJ0kj4

https://www.cyclinglocations.com/alpe-dhuez-climb-alps/

I was going to include a video for the new Muse track, simply because I love the band. Muse are one of the greatest live performers that I have seen. However, I decided against the new track ‘Something Human’. The video is readily available on YouTube, if wanted.

Another track which entitles a forthcoming album is also one of a regular artist that has been promoted on this blog.

Marissa Nadler

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Lu0zQzlb--k

‘For my crimes’ album released 28 September 2018

This week’s post is short, concentrated on L’Alpe d’Huez, as I am still a lover of cycling, and I can cite my past experience here, as a ‘lifetime peak’!

I may never experience anything like that again, so I hold my memories close, with pride.

I have drawn many analogies regarding psychologies of cyclists and my ‘Traumatic ABI recovery’, this is where many are set, but, stored in my mind! Any issue that I face now, may be seen as ‘the next hairpin’. The brilliant nature of these mountain climbs are the hair-pins. A cyclist can easily break the mountain down, into manageable chunks. This is a key psychological ability, that I have to rely on, tackling all problems.

Above poster depicts the essence of the cobbled stage finish into Roubaix.

Below, the poster representing BMC's Team Time Trial win, stage 3.

A couple of posters for this 2018 Tour De France, designed by Bruce Doscher.

http://brucedoscher.com/cyclingposters/

Even today, a bottle of Orangina is NEEDED by myself, after a 100% gym bike workout!

I often wonder

I sit and wonder, I often wonder

I sit and wonder about the things she does

I sit and wonder, I often wonder

I've been waiting for this moment to come

And she's the teacher and I'm the pupil but I ain't learning anything at all

Now I' m falling into the black hole and I can barely feel the sun

Yeah I sit and wonder, I fall to pieces

I've been waiting for her to come

A bed of roses, her cheeks like peaches

Yeah I ain't going to wait no more

Give me some light, give the light, yeah give me some light, give me some light

Well writes a passage, we are mistaken, yeah 

Some are going to break into stone, 

The door is open and I am reaching, yeah 

It looks like a prodigal son

Yeah give me some light, give the light, yeah give me some light, give me some light

God give me the light, give me the light, yeah give me some light, give me some light

I've been there doing it to my mind Lord

Something is going on inside my head Lord

Something is going on inside my head Lord

I sit and wonder

My new mentality 

The title of this note is incorrect. No-one can have an entirely ’new-mentality’. As with everything, it depends on how close you zoom in to focus, or how wide you broaden horizons, at focus point. One’s mentality is only ever reached through a culmination of elements that they, or others, have experienced. We can only gain knowledge from ourselves and others, anything else can only ever exist conceptually. 

Therefore my mentality is something I can be proud of, realising how it has kept my mind thinking straight, under extreme anguish. Everyone should be proud of what they do. The world can be a terrible place, but it is such a special and unique place, we are enforced to treat it with the respect it deserves. Unfortunately, not everyone does. But have faith, ‘what goes around, comes around’! Earth is round, billions of people, but it only has one face.

As you may know, I seem to have been reading a lot more philosophical essays than I had done previously. Although I currently seem focussed on reading essays by George Orwell, last year I enjoyed reading some intense books by Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sartre, explaining existentialist theories. Existentialism is a way of thinking that I have my mind set (certainly since accident, maybe long before).  

I am not an existentialist, but I find it to be a heavy influence on my mentality.

I have never been ‘broken’ by my injury. ‘Physically damaged’, yes, but I had long accepted, since my teenage years, that my love of cycling ‘must have a negative side’! I had long accepted this, but I knew that I was a cyclist and extremely grateful for everything it gave me. I still am. Elements still do.

On accepting this possibility, I seemed to always feel comfortable, but sad that nothing is 100% forever. 

It was when awakening from my coma, and I was surrounded by people telling me how seriously injured  I was, I knew that I had felt the ’negative side’ of cycling. Yet I loved it so much, I always will. It made Patrick Goodacre who he is, and who Patrick Goodacre continues to be. A wheel is round.

This blog is an extremely therapeutic tool for me. I write, so that I can accurately express issues on my mind. OK, this could be done through Art or Design, but I would remain unclear regarding how many people i am communicating with. OK, everyone  is just ‘a number’, but I know that a large number is good, leaving me feeling that yet more gratitude is owed to you all!

I would lay in bed, in hospital, troubled, but I would regularly receive praise from everyone, for how ’positive’ I was!  This continued throughout my early rehabilitation. I think, as expected, people are used to me now. I have not changed, yes I desperately want to be seen as ‘positive’, but I am just me. I have a constant ache inside, which I am used to, and has been there for the past 11 years. The ridiculous thing is that I receive physiotherapy and know that with time, I will succeed. My physical ability is improving dramatically, and goals will be achieved. However the internal ache, I feel now and I cannot see an end.

The World Cup

I write this post on Friday. The final will be Sunday. I am English, yet surprisingly I felt 100% in support of our national team (i have a history of supporting others)! We did well, and I am so happy that the squad was selected as ‘a squad’, not necessarily a pick’n’mix of individuals. Southgate was very correct in using a team of players who are young, are growing together, without relying heavily on the performance of individuals. I have never felt so comfortable as this year, in watching an England team stroking the ball to each other. There was a very welcome sense of confidence in every player! 

Thank you England!

The link below was forwarded to myself, by a friend, just ahead of the Semi-Final. It is an excellent piece, explaining clearly a new mentality for the whole nation of supporters...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44785165

Le Tour de France 2018 5 key stages

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP5nVg0pt7k&t=3s

https://www.football-italia.net/123867/fresh-faced-fiorentina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJYtp3GCNeQ

New Fiorentina strips.

A classic home strip with violet shirt, incorporating black shorts. For the recent years, the team has used violet (or white) shorts. I like the aesthetics of this scheme, however I am alarmed by political connotations that could be drawn from this.

Geographically, the city is split into quarters. Each with very strong historical identities... 

Although violet could be seen as combined collection of primary colours, there are 4 away strips, representing the 4 quarters of Florence. Red, Blue, Green, and White.

A rough, coloured map, depicting the four quarters of Florence. A city which continues to use a rich Violet coloured home shirt.

Must watch...

Brexit fudge

standing on the edge

Lille

Centre-ville 

Lille cathedral

Reflective exterior of Lille Musee des Beaux Artes (incredible)

I type this, the day after I returned from a ‘short-break’, in Lille. North-Eastern France may not seem for some, to hold such ‘Gallic-flair’, as Paris, or the South Provençal regions, but Lille is still yet another beautiful city. 

A lifelong cycling fan, I was ready for the many cobbled streets (Roubaix is only a neighbouring town, yet finale of the infamous old ‘Hell of the North’ race).

Much of the city centre was cobbled yet still pedestrianised so I was still allowed to feel free in my powered wheelchair. The key is to let the wheelchair (or bicycle) take the shocks, but not your body as well! Don't remain fixed in the saddle or collapsed back in the chair!

I am not an expert at either, but was able to recognise what was needed!

My joy reached an insurmountable level, when I discovered a ‘Bialetti Shop’. I was in dreamland!

It had been six years since my previous visit abroad (‘crazy’ perhaps?).

I needed to dip into some French culture, to aid my sanity! After visiting very regularly before my accident, only twice in the past 11 years. Twice in 2006 (including for ‘le Tour’, then a late summer visit). Although many ‘Italian phrases‘ were incorporated into French that I spoke, by accident, I found that a lot of my knowledge still existed ‘subconsciously’.

My problem.... I am unwilling to face one of my biggest problems. Women are not attracted to someone who relies on ‘State payment’. 

I have always maintained that I faced a difficult problem. I forever felt that my physical disability must be tackled initially. The plan was to then search for correct employment once ‘done’.

Since my accident, I have worked ‘voluntarily’, but ‘paid’ a couple of times as well. I am not ready to work in a full-time job. Part-time, voluntary work is not sufficient...

I am lucky. I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I HAVE TO RELY ON LUCK.

I feel my luck could change. It’s gonna be a glorious day. We are standing on the edge...

  

Lucky

Perhaps this note is a ‘tell tell sign’, that I have matured from a child’s age. I no longer view World Cup matches on TV, easily identifying the stadium. The Stade Velodrome of Marseille, used in World Cup ‘98, was where Bergkamp hit that wonder-goal against Argentina. I also remember a penalty by David O’Leary, scoring at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, in Genoa in 1990 (I think)?

However, now, all new stadiums are completely lacking of character, it seems. All have to meet similar standards, with regards to capacity, transport, safety, media facilities, and ACCESSIBILITY! Thumbs down, but thumbs up!

It may surprise some that I have remained quiet regarding my favourite sport.

Le Grand Depart est demain!

Eurosport and ITV are where I will be glued for the next three weeks!

One key stage, of many will be the new, intriguing, very short, explosive stage in the Pyrenees, Stage 17. Riders are to start in a grid position, depending on overall position! Stage finishes in Roubaix, and of course, L'Alpe d'Huez promise dramatic racing.

LeTour