Life in the middle

(Almost) on brand.

It's not always easy being me. People expect a lot, and sometimes I come up short.

Sorry about that, I'm doing my best.

Tankard on.

Life trickles along, onwards, a little sidewards, but always on. So of course the Tankard continues on her journey across the globe.

She's been in Australia with Age and Lauren having what looks like a wild time. I was a little worried at first as there was a fair amount of radio silence. But it turns out they were just out partying and getting to know each other (the Tankard's like that - all play).

You can read all about it here.

Once the party was over it was time for Age to say farewell and do the right thing by blessing someone else with a little Tankard action. So while in New York he met up with the prodigious  Faris Yakob and presented him with the sacred cup. Faris decided to mark the moment by giving the universal sign for 'peace'.

I'm not sure I agree with politicizing the moment, but I do accept we're living in times of great change. I just hope Faris isn't transgressive with her, she's a gentle soul.

Getting old.

Tonight is an Elvis night.

Take it away, big man.

Jamie's blog.

I've been telling Jamie for ages that he should be blogging, but he was really nervous about doing it. I think he worried that people wouldn't take him seriously. You know, because he's a pigeon and everything.

But finally he's listened and taken the plunge and set one up. So you can now read all about what he thinks about stuff, over here. It's quite rude, but that's Jamie, warts and all.

Ben and Jamie in Mumbai.

Ben writes: As you might know I was in India on Saturday. Whilst there I managed to catch up with Jamie.

He was looking good. Slimmer with some nice shiny feathers. He said India agreed with him. He loves the food and the climate.

He nibbled on my Marriot burger and we chatted. We spoke about the recession, Boris Johnson (he's a big fan) and a bit about the future of planning. He kept saying. "what can brands learn from pigeons"? That's a question for a bigger man than I, so the conversation petered out.

I just managed to get this picture as he left via the window, he's a bit camera shy after the Cannes incident. Apparently he was a bit tired and emotional that day. Still, good to catch up.

Thanks, Ben.

Shoes.

When your shoes get tired, a bit shabby, and past the point of no return, it's time to say goodbye. To thank them for their efforts in making the world a little more bearable and comfortable. Sure, they were there for the good days, when the sun was shining and pavement was firm. And they were also there on the not so good days, when clouds gathered and surfaces were more questioning. Regardless, when it's time, it's time.

So farewell.

But while it might be goodbye to them, it is hello to these...

They're a little 'box fresh' at the moment, but I think we're going to get on just fine.

That was the long weekend that was (long).

It wasn't really a weekend, it was almost a week. But it was nice. Nice and relaxing.

I drank a lot of tea. Made from water heated in one of those proper kettles.

And I drank that tea in a chair near the sun, whilst reading a good book, and thinking of nothing else.

Of course sometimes the kettle would take longer to boil than I would have expected. In those instances I simply brought the book inside with me, and waited it out. Time was on my side.

Of course a holiday is more than just reading and drinking tea. It's also sitting on an inflatable bed in a pool and reading, in between cups of tea.

Naturally, I also hung out with the locals. My Spanish is pretty awful, but I think we found some common territory. From what I could understand from this guy he was a graphic designer, or possibly a jewelery designer, I couldn't quite work out which.

 

I'm back now. Wishing I was still up to nothing. Drinking tea. Taking a look at a book or two. Sitting by the pool. Talking graphic/jewelery design in my best Spanish.

Instead it's back to work. And back to having ink on my hand.

I guess things happen that way.