Dylan at the BBC

Dylan at the BBC
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

On a trip to New York City I ventured into some of the record shops on Bleeker street, in the heart of Greenwich village. I was fortunate enough to find this bootleg Dylan, professionally packaged. I've recently discovered the whole new 'reality' of the professionally packaged bootleg, and Dylan has his fair share, competing with, if not surpassing his official releases. It's really good, as we tend to always define people in a certain way, based on received images, filtered through accepted reference points that we have about them. So it's good to put a spanner in the works, so to speak, and consider somebody in terms of a different canon.

As for sound and aesthetic enjoyment, it's ++ good. (double plus good)

Red Lantern

Red Lantern.JPG
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was taken in Kyoto, on a street called Hanami Koji - which comes alive from 4 to 7 and then on into the evening. It a famous Geisha district in the Gion area of kyoto.

I'm a big fan of these red lanterns which usually indicate some sort of bar - but I thought this was a little unusual, especially with the black 'cap'. Something I have not seen so often.

"The cheers to this idea" sessions. volume 1

The cheers to sessions. volume 1
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

There are times when living in Japan can be frustrating, however, there are also plenty of really good things about the place too.The cheers to this idea sessions will mean something good that I've noticed or just think or feel about anything or anybody.

So, let's kick this one off by saying that I love the service in Japan right down from the way the 7 11 attendants gather the plastic bag handles together for you to grasp when leaving the shop to the anal efficiency of the train systems in this country.

Let's contrast this with a trip I had to NYC. (If you're American - hard cheese) I was on the west 23rd street badly in need of a toothbrush, (don't ask) and wandered into a chemist (pharmacy) to buy one. I joined the queue of about 20 people and noticed that there were 2 cashiers, one of whom was doing absolutely JACK SHIT except talk to somebody about her love life on her mobile phone. The entire line must have been eyeballing her as if to say 'Would you please get off your fat arse and serve somebody'

Anyway, she finally did, taking her time to walk to the nearest cash register (breaking a sweat doing so) and proceeded to nonchalently serve while continuing her phone conversation.

Wow. I wish I'd had my camera with me.

Anyway, being abroad (ie not in Japan) makes me realise so many good things about this place.

La Habana

La Habana
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Tobacco is a dirty weed; I LIKE IT
It satisfies no normal need; I LIKE IT
It makes you thin,it makes you lean,
it takes the hair right off your bean;
It's the worst darn stuff I've ever seen;
I LIKE IT.


(G Hemminger)



"......a woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke."


(Kipling)

Proud Dad.

Proud Dad.JPG
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Here's a former work chum of mine (miss you Bryan!) who has every reason to be proud, especially right now!

Congratulations to Bryan and Aiko on their most recent addition to the household!

OH SH*T !!

OH SH*T !!
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Never mind, Dad, loved the card. Thanks!!!!

4 mules from Moscow

4 mules from Moscow
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Drinking moscow mules in Kichijoji, Tokyo. From the back, my Dad, Adam, Sam (not shaken or stirred) and myself.

Served in the proper copper cups with a certain type of ginger ale.

The bar of course, is D Ray.

Tangled up in White

White
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was taken at a dance act in Korea.

"And I was standing on the side of the road, rain pouring on my shoes...

Inquisitive Cow

inquisitive_cow
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

" I have studied now Philosophy
And Jurisprudence,Medicine,
And even,alas, Theology,
From end to end with labour keen,
And here, poor fool, with all my lore,
I stand no wiser than before."

(Goethe)

Sam Morton -Not shaken OR stirred

Sam b:w
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

"If all be true that I do think,
There are five good reasons that we should drink,
Good wine,
a friend,
Or being dry,
Or lest we should be by and by......
Or any other reason why."

(Henry Aldrich.)

We aim to please

Aim to please
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

To pee, or not to pee,
Ah, that IS the question.
Whether Tis nobler in the toilet,
To suffer the slings and arrows of
Outrageous sitting,
Or, to stand upright against the sea of action,
And by aiming well, end them.


We aim to please,
Will you aim too, please?

The time is yours,
The paper is free.
Enjoy yourself,
There is no fee.

The Doors

The Doors
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

These are some of the doors of Sanjusangendo (Hall with 33 spaces between it's columns) in Kyoto, which contains 1001 images of Kannon and 28 impressive Guardian deities who derive out of Hinduism, to protect Kannon. Most impressive to see.

"If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is: Infinite."

--William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell


"Come on baby light my fire" - I believe the band the Doors took their name from this poem of Blake's.

Be a wise monkey with coffee in Japan.

Be a wise monkey with coffee in Japan.
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

A picture of the 3 wise monkeys taken in Niko. But are you a wise monkey when it comes to size in Japan?

There are many differences between Japan and England. Once I went to buy canned coffee from a vending machine, and noticed they had two sizes of the same coffee , with a choice of 200 or 350 ml sized cans, both for the same price? This struck me as very odd -- who wouldn't choose the larger can? I went for the bigger size, while I noticed the Japanese people around me all chose the smaller can. Turns out they knew something I didn't,though. The amount of coffee in both cans was the same; the larger can contained more water, and didn't taste as good as the smaller can. Often, Maybe Westerners are more conditioned to perceive value based on size or quantity rather than taste,something I would never have noticed without coming to Japan.

The Golden Temple.

Golden Temple.JPG
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is the famous Golden Temple in Kyoto, immortalised in Mishima's novel. (Mishima performed Seppuku in Shinjuku during the early 70's)

It is small and quite beautiful. Nice reflections in the water.

If not for you II

Strange brew
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

If not for you,
Winter would have no spring,
I couldn't hear a robin sing,
I'd be sad and blue
If not for you.

Hot babes

Hot babes
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

A reader has written in asking which is hotter, green or red?

I'm not sure.

Answers on a postcard again please. Thank you.

A space Odyssey

A space Odyssey
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Numerous artists and musicians have lived in the Chelsea Hotel at some point. There are several plaques located at the entrance to the hotel detailing some of the more famous patrons.

This one is for Arthur C Clarke (Arthur C Clarke attended my 6th form college in England, which has the Arthur C Clarke library, after him.)

Faithful friend.

Faithful friend.JPG
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is my old faithful SLR, an Olympus OM 10 here fitted with a 35-150 mm Zoom lens. Yum.

However, when Dad visited me recently in Japan I borrowed his digital camera, also an Olympus and have converted. He kindly gave me the digital Olympus.

But you know the grass is always greener. I did some window shopping today and decided that I'm pretty fussy when it comes to cameras (and probably everything else as well). So here goes,

My perfect digital camera:

1. Makes me feel like David Bailey when I hold it.
2. Or Cartier Bresson.
3. Or both.
4. Is small enough to slip into your pocket for a party.
5. However, is big and professional enough to look like you regularly "get out and do some serious photography"
6. Is the perfect size (as yet undefined) and looks good. Makes me look 'artistic' when I hold/am near it.
7. Looks like an SLR.
8. Has that "I've been used on the top of the Himalayan mountains, was dropped but made it back" look.
9. Is black.
10.Is retro black.

The challenge is on!

Cafe Wha?

Cafe Wha?
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is Cafe wha? in Greenwich Village, New York City.

This is where a young man named Bob Dylan started playing on weekends.

Flat Iron Tower

Flat Iron Tower
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is the legendary Flat Iron Tower in New York City at the corner of broadway and 5th avenue. Due to the fact that broadway is the only avenue in New York that isn't straight, when it cuts through the avenues it leaves triangular space. Hence the shape of this building. Apparently, this building is only 3 feet wide at the front!

Quite amazing to see.

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Whilst on a trip to New York City I ventured to find the legendary "White Horse Tavern". This pub is infamous for being the place where Dylan Thomas imbibed his 18 whiskey shots before returning to the Chelsea Hotel - room 205 (Bob Dylan eventually lived opposite in 211) and passing into a coma. He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he passed on.

If you are not particularly interested in writers then I would give this bar a miss. Apart from the obvious it didn't have that much to recommend itself.

Dirty Martini.

Dirty Martini.JPG
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

A so called "Dirty Martini" , due apparently to the fact that the olive is not washed before being added to the drink.

For relaxing times, make it dirty Martini times.

Dad and Buddha

Dad and Buddha.JPG
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Dad with the Kamakura Buddha, an Amida Buddha or Buddha of infinite light. Looks rather heavy to me.

" More things are wrought by prayer,
Than this world dreams of"

Tennyson.

Misshon kengo

Misshon kengo .JPG
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

If you visit a temple, especially in Japan, you'll encounter two characters. NARAEN KANGO and MISSHON KENGO. Their purpose is to guard Buddha.

The idea of a "gate" in Buddhism means something which "lets virtue pass".

Go smell the Roses.

The roadside Gods

The roadside Gods
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

"Variety's the very spice of life,
That gives it all it's flavour."

Cowper.　

Enough is enough!

Emma
Originally uploaded by mikethepipe.

So I got home this evening and found this photo waiting on FlickR for me from my Dad aka "Mike the pipe" (Love the name Dad).

This beauty's name, apparently, is Emma and she is connected with the sports car team that Dad photographs for.

Ever felt like you're in the wrong country doing the wrong things with your weekends?

Answers on a postcard please.

Sketch

Sketch
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

My friend Rob M produced this from a photo he took.

A interesting effect.

Shinobu

Machi
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is my friend Shinobu who joined us at the Park Hyatt recently.

Here she's listening intently to my friend Rob.

Takeda Sensei

Takeda Sensei Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is my calligraphy teacher, Ms Takeda who is "Shihan" (Master) in the art. She's correcting one of mine here. (Again!!)

DOJO

DOJO
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is the Shodo (calligraphy) Dojo (training ground) where I study in Tokyo.

"To straighten what is crooked or bent, you must first do a harder thing - straighten yourself"

One of mine

One of mine
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

No full understanding of Japanese aesthetics can be reached by those who do not appreciate the written characters. They are symbols of ideas, but they are not pictures of things; and therefore a man who takes up his brush to trace them is not distracted by any desire to represent or even to suggest a concrete reality, but rather aims at making shapes whose beauty is their very own and does not sepend upon their significance. He moves, as it were in a world of pure form and he is concerned only with abstract design. For him, to write beautifully is to solve fundamental problems of art. The line must be unerringly placed, it must be in relation to it's fellows, and though it may pass from strength to softness it may never falter, but must be alive throughout it length. The ink must merge with the soft paper, neither lying inert upon it's surface nor spreading aimlessly beneath. The brush, suitably charged, and directed, not as is the pen by a niggling motion of the fingers but by a bold impulse of the whole body transmitted from the shoulder to the wrist, will produce a subtle range of tones between the faintest grey and the deepest black. To a discerning eye such modulations under the sure touch of a master, can give as profound satisfaction as the most harmonious blend of colours.

My current read

jung 2
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

" I had always been impressed by the fact that there are a surprising number of individuals who never use their minds if they can avoid it, and an equal number who do use their minds, but in an amazingly stupid way. I was also surprised to find many intelligent and wide awake people who lived (as far as one could make out) as if they had never learned to use their sense organs. They did not see the things before their eyes, hear the words sounding in their ears, or notice the things they touched and tasted. Some lived without being aware of the state of their own bodies.

There are others who seemed to live in a most curious condition of consciousness, as if the state they had arrived at today were final, with no possibility of change, or as if the world and the psyche were static and would remain so forever.

........it soon became clear to me that the poeple who used their minds were those who thought, that is who applied the intellectual faculty in trying to adapt themselves to people and circumstances, And the equally intelligent people who did not think were those who sought and found their way by feeling. " (p48)

A good read.

Time is an ocean but it isn't the shore

Marc:Sam Park Hyatt
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Sam and I in the Park Hyatt on Sept 12th 2004.
Cheers to us!

Lost in translation?

Park Hyatt
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was taken at the Park Hyatt on Sept 12th 2004. We went there for a birthday lunch for myself and Sam.
Thanks to all who came (Machi/Rob/Hannah and Sally) for making it a great day.

"with intensity"

Amelia

Amelia
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Joni Mitchell would have been proud.

Manami and Amelia

Manami:Amelia
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Here are the lovely Manami and Amelia, the wife and daughter (respectively) of Mr Rob E.

3 great reasons to be alive at this time!!

Tao Te Ching

Rob E
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Here's one of my best buddies MR Rob Ellis, who kindly tolerates my guitar (He's excellent).

Right words seem wrong. Straight lines seem crooked.

He's the Tao Te Ching for me, always requires further/deeper reflection.

Something Korean

FH020021
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was taken at an interpretive dance act in Seoul, Korea.

Roland Barthes eat your heart out.

If not for you

P1010286
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

If not for you,
babe I wouldn't even know,
Which way the wind blows,
I'd be sad and blue,
If not for you.

Sam

Sam
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Sam just about made it to my apartment this morning, what with age creeping up and all Welcome to 32!!!

Ben and Dad

Ben and Dad
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was in Kyoto. We met Ben, a friend of mine, who is from Germany. His Grandfather died in a camp. (you need to know the joke - he tells it)

Dad had a great night. So did Ben. We ended up being perplexed as to how to get into our Ryokan (but we figured it out)

Einer Steiner.

Room 211 of The Chelsea Hotel

Room 211
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

" I can still hear the sound of those methodist bells,
I'd taken the cure and I'd just gotten through,
Staying up for days in the Chelsea Hotel,
Writing 'Sad eyed Lady of the Lowlands' for you...

I stayed in room 832 of the good ship Chelsea. Being an ardent Dylan fan I had to venture down to the second floor to find 211 - the suite which Dyland occupied. Wow!!

I don't think the muses visited me in the Chelsea but it was great staying there.

Thank you Stanley.

Rob

Rob
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

When I read Carl Jung it makes me think about my brother, who is here. Why? That's easy, Jung makes me ponder the outer edge, where my brother always is. He's brilliant - a genius. I love the line by Dylan 'knows too much to argue or to judge' - that's my brother.

Consciousness is expanding. Who knows where it will end?

Dad

Dad
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

He is my North, my South, my East and West.

Dr Nick and I

Dr Nick and Iv1
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is probably one of the most important people I've ever met. Nick and I went to University together.MMM, and there I think we learned how to unlearn (this keyboard is too small and so are these ideas).

I'm glad this is a private site, because I can tell you all here that Dr Nick and I were caught cheating on the 1st year Anglo Saxon exam at Nottingham. Quite embarrasing!! Oh well. we both graduated. OOpps

Dr Nick is now a world famous academic on Timon of Athens.

I am circumlocuting. This guy is amazing. He is a true friend.

Beers to you, Dr Nick.

Shinjuku (West Exit)

I had a good night this evening. It was a usual Friday night for me at work, which often involves training into Shinjuku to meet with the other Area Managers (of which I proudly am one) to work. It was good this evening because I went out after and had a few good drinks with two of my favourite people (they give me a good vibe/are profoundly interesting) STEPHEN MCKEE and DEAN HEMMINGS. What I love about these guys is that they always inspire me/I am always learning.Actually this evening after coming home and just before writing this I decided I need to devote a notebook to them - so that I can write down references and/or ideas they give me - yes - it's always just THAT good. Magic. As Wordworth said "One moment now may give us more/ Than years of toiling reason" Beers to you guys. Au revoir au devoir.

Hannah & Sally

Hannah & Sally
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

As I was walking home this evening, I bumped into Hannah, (on the right) who I work with and who also lives in Kichijoji. What was strange was that we bumped into each other at a certain crossing, where this seems to happen. Maybe we both have a relationship with that particular spot?

Anyway, we pondered that for a few seconds and then headed off to meet Hannah's sister, Sally (on the left).

What follwed was a great night in the peppermint cafe (park version) with great Thai food.

Well ladies - there you are - maybe your first internet appearance.

See you Sunday for brunch!!!!!!!!!

Mum and I

Mum and I
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain,
When you awaken in morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet bird in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Iseya

Iseya
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This is the Bucho (Chief) of Iseya, a local yakitori place in Kichijoji, famed for the food and stern service!

However, we got a smile out of the Bucho for Dad!

Everything is great here from the spit and sawdust atmosphere to the chicken, liver, right down to the huge corn on the corbs on the flames.

A smoky delight.

The master

The master
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

This was an evening in a bar called "Sasenoha" in Kichijoji. From the left, Dad, master-san (the owner), my friend Sam and me.

A great quantity had been imbibed by this point, mostly ice cold Nihonshu. We were also pretty well full on fantastic sashimi, salads and other fish.

A great place!!

To an Hour Glass/Pocket Watch

P1010272
Originally uploaded by shodoboy.

Old fashioned uncouth measurer of the day,
I love to watch thy filtering burthen pass;
Though some there are that live would bid thee stay,
But these view reasons through a different glass
From him, Time's meter, who addresses thee.
The world has joys which they may deem as such;
The world has wealth to season vanity,
And wealth is theirs to make their vainness much:
But small to do with joys and Fortune's fee
Hath he, Time's chronicler, who welcomes thee.
So jog thou on, through hours of doom'd distress,
So haste thou on the glimpse of hopes to come;
As every sand grain counts a trouble less,
As every drained glass leaves me nearer home.


John Clare