I have been following Gordon Murray’s T.25 / iStream project for a few years now. Today, there is a first look at the car and an article on the project in the Telegraph.

I won’t repeat what can be read on those sites, but I will discuss my views and the reactions to the project. This excites me. This inspires me. Smart people, smart thinking, being applied to real issues. While everyone still chases the grand gestures of the supercars he once built, the designer has long since been looking to the future; working to address the problems bearing down that we choose to ignore.

Many of the commentors give half-baked comparisons to existing vehicles, are shallow, or apathetic. Yes, an Audi A2 may have tubular steel construction but it is still too big. The VW diesel engine may be great, but diesels are expensive to produce and heavy. The Indian and Japanese solutions are operating in different infrastructures answering slightly different issues to the European or American markets. You can also bet that the designers are well aware of scenarios like rain and multistory car-parks. This car will work in the real world.

Style? This car is no more ugly than anything currently on our roads. It does look different, but that is because it is different. Let it be new. I think it is nicely futuristic; lifted from a sci-fi film set; and if you are honest with yourself, more like what, 20 years ago, you imagined we would be driving now. Besides, the style referred to concerns the experience “inside” the car – control, visibility, usable space and real comfort. Gadgets, carpet, leather and all that makes us go “ooh” can still be put in here. It may be applied in a clever way to save material and weight but the effect will be the same to the occupant. As in many areas of life, we need to re-decide what is actually important to us: what we use all the time, what we experience on the inside, or what everyone else sees on the outside?

Usability – why do the one, two or three cars in your family (we had four at one stage, so don’t feel I am pointing fingers) have to cover all eventualities? If 90% of the time there are one or two people in the car, and the distances are moderate, why do you need a vehicle to fit the whole family? Could those 10% situations be catered for with another solution? Two tiny cars, rental, car pool, public transport? Yes, these solutions would need to be more ubiquitous, or of a higher standard / better value, but that’s not that difficult to achieve. The reduced travel time, cost of running, cost of purchase and overall stress if people used these vehicles for that 90% of their journeys would improve their life more than the mild assurance of having the other 10% covered, or the fleeting reward of status – most people who admire your big car will never know you; the people you meet every day, you interact with, if you must impress them they will notice your shoes, your watch and your manner more often.

Safety - is always a state of mind. Our obsession with passive protection is reflective of how we have strayed from personal responsibility. I feel equally safe whether I am walking, cycling, on a bus, on a motorcycle, in a small 20yr old car or in a big new car. I am as likely to suffer an injury from inattention in any of those situations. That extends to using the seatbelt provided on the bus, or ensuring my vehicle is in working order. Getting beyond the root of the problem, this car will be surprisingly safe. The experience of the design team in motorsport and composite construction will ensure a protective environment. The control and handling should also be of a high standard, reducing the likelihood of accident to begin with. Added, this car is primarily for urban and village environments where speeds are low. Once the percentage of smaller / lighter vehicles on the roads goes up, the chance of being hit by a tank further decreases.

Again, 700 words written about the car, when the real focus and innovation is the manufacturing process! iStream could make bigger cars also. It could make them in your county. It would make them more efficiently, use less dwindling resources, involve less transportation, and be cheaper as a result. This process and this vehicle represent a positive potential for our manufacturing industry, our economy and our standard of living. You can fit three in one parking bay, but it is a really big deal.

I took part in a few orienteering events to practice navigation and do some off-road running. The WEE (Wednesday Evening Events) organised by Lagan Valley Orienteers are open to all for £4. You get to borrow an electronic dibber, get a map for a short or long course, and some friendly pointers if you are new to the sport. After a disasterous first event, I got quite hooked and did a lot better the next few times. I expect I may do some more next year.

Apart from that, I have been doing my 4 mile weekly trail run with my pack and Inov8’s. Compared to the Jinga plimsoles I normally run around in, even the Inov8’s feel heavy, so I have been getting used to them. I have also been wearing my pack during my recent body-weight workouts.

My team mate John and I met for a 10 mile run in the Mournes on Sunday to get some mountain under our feet. I went in fasting to test my strategy for the event, and all went well: I plan not to eat on either morning so that I am already fat-burning once I begin. This way I will not crash and will find my ideal pace more quickly. I will snack regularly to top-up some protein for the muscles and to replace any carbs expended during strenuous sections. I will eat 2 meals in the afternoon/evening, which my body can work on overnight.

We took about 3hrs 15mins, getting in some ‘marched’ climbs, bog, contouring and various degrees of trail. Kit is decided, finally got confirmation I am off work, and I am nearly getting a little excited. Easy now: Experience over anticipation. Next report – after event.

I was haggled down to the very limit of what I would sell for, and I was to deliver it. Okay, I set my limits and made my choices, and didn’t begrudge one last chance to ride the bike.

Unfortunately, I found out when counting the money that the forgetful new owner had been willing to pay £100 more and had not removed it from the envelope. I triple counted, but had to hand it back! Funnily, at my weekend job the same thing happened on a sale. I take it that the universe is feeling inclined to send me money right now, so perhaps business will pick up…

I hope the bike gets used. I have a feeling the new owner is more concerned with the look. I can tell him that I didn’t once notice the corrosion on the engine as I purred up the winding hill in golden sunset. Nor did the countless people who turned to gaze, with wishful thoughts or simple excitement in their eyes, as we intersected their existence for a few brief moments.

The plan is to keep an eye out for a cheap replacement, keeping most of the money for things like… rent; but I may yet end up going without. Onwards, to another page.

It was all planned so well. The checkpoints were marked on my map – blue for day 1, red for day 2. My roll mat was cut down to just 16.5″ x 28″ – enough for my torso to fit on, and I acquired a bargain from work in the form of a super-light pack (I know – I only wanted the one pack, but this was very cheap, packs well and only weighs 210g).

I had a hearty food supply of chocolate, malt loaf, ham, cheese, frankfurters, beef pie, and protein bars. Not the lightest, but it would give me lots of flavour and plenty of my kind of nutrition:

• 3800 calories – I’d burn more than this in the first day alone, but my body fat reserves will fill in the rest until after the event. Good breakfast on the Saturday will help too.
• 206g protein – a little high: this is about the most I could absorb in 2 days.
• 267g carbohydrates – enough to refill reserves for 1 day at least (can gorge after event)
• 238g fat – technically I don’t need any of this: it’s slow release anyway and there’s enough stored in the body, but it tastes good and we don’t want to upset things too much.

I will probably reduce the protein slightly and up the carbs to about 400g max in the form of snacks for intense sections, like uphill. I would also need a stove to comply with the rules: Carrying the whole tent on this occasion, as I had no team mate, I decided it was a fair omission. All in, my pack weighed just 5.7kg – ready for speed!

I arrived in Tollymore; found the start point and began. Up through the forest, round, over the wall, squelch through the bog, over a shoulder, over a river, up a pass, bounce down to the Brandy Pad… and that’s about it. I veered off to a supposed path leading to the trail by Ben Crom reservoir. It didn’t appear to exist and the hard contouring through thick heather aggravated my left hip badly. One small stretch from the climbing wall weeks ago (that I had forgotten about) now returned to reduce me to a hobble.

I tried running the trail to the dam head of the reservoir to work it out, but it persisted. I hobbled over towards Blue Lough and scrambled a bit on the slabs above it for something to do. I contemplated making the camp and trying again on Sunday, but knew it would take more than a night to fix.

I headed up the valley and scrambled the Devil’s Coachroad (scrambling is my new favourite thing). Joining the trail at the top I ran down to Donard Wood: Somehow, running downhill was less painful than walking flat and uphill sections. I met a group from the NI-Wild forum having an overnight camp at the wood, enjoying a relaxing evening beside the fire before an early return home on Sunday.

At least I got to practice a bit of descent, and can still cycle for the day job, but I am sorely disappointed not to have experienced the full gauntlet – I didn’t even get out of breath. Really thinking how to rehabilitate the leg and prevent a recurrence… start practising contouring, maybe.

Possible team mate lined up, if he doesn’t think I’m a lame donkey. Watch this space.

This is a fantastic piece on a female artist who has inspired so many but, for my generation at least, remains relatively unknown.

The first few minutes begin with a list of events in Patti’s life: The typical ’story of’ stuff is gotten out of the way to leave the remaining hour and a half for the artistic insight that follows. ‘Artistic insight’ in this instance refers both to the content and the way in which it is presented.

The “woman who looks like a crow” also shares the selective kleptomania of magpies: treasured reminders haphazardly at hand; recalling people, and places, and inspiration, and ideals that have shaped her life and work. Likewise, the documentary itself draws curios of family gatherings, live performance, poetry to music, poetry to acting, artistry and anecdotes. This seemingly random swirl of imagery is realised in a cohesive output, much as Smith draws on her various talents and experience. A fitting testament.

Obviously I realise the problems of attaching such a phrase to an offering: the connotation is that you actually want a cookie, and prospective up-takers will feel obliged or shy away.

It’s more an attitude for the up-takers of such offers to be aware of – something learned second hand. The offerer can never use it. Basically, if we offer something for free, we are genuinely happy to do so; but, if you feel compelled to ‘tip’ there are non-monetary means that can be used to great effect. Be it biscuits or beans, homecooked or ‘basics’; a poem; a plant; it’s all a delightful surprise. Just bear in mind that creativity or consumables are best choices, as those who give things away have often discovered that they don’t want so much ’stuff’ in their lives!

Heck, stuff my idea and just pay-it-forward. Now you’ve read this, go give a cookie to a random person in the street

I used the excellent Budget Brain tool from the moneysavingexpert website to tally my expenses.

Income figures are just to get the approximate total of £7,500 which I acquired through a mixture of employed income, self-employed income (mainly in the form of a tax rebate), working tax credit and selling lots of accumulated crap from when I earned more money.

Expenses: ~£7600. I share a house which keeps rent and utilities low. I live in the city and cycle or walk everywhere so spend little on buses or taxi’s. I go to a gig and the cinema about once a month, tai chi class once a week, and can also go climbing or swimming cheaply thanks to Belfast City Council’s Boost card for anyone receiving benefits. Eating out averages once a week – this may be a Boojum once a week, or often nothing; balancing out those £20 meals. I buy a little alcohol and the odd cigar.

On top of the activities above, there is plenty to be enjoyed for free or very little. I have friends meet for a cycle and some craic every Wednesday, free tickets can often be found for the Ulster Orchestra, not to mention public events and showcases (marathon, tall ships, Red Bull F1, pro cycle race), casual networking meetups like Open Coffee, art exhibits, museums, parks, markets, conferences, demonstrations… hey, whatever floats your particular boat – the more variety you get involved with your life may start saving you money.
Barter your skills: I’ve had some great free weekends away helping a band with their live sound, and got guestlist to a local gig last night in exchange for looking after the merchandise stand while the band were on stage.
Barter your assets: I’ve a friend who has a huge living room – they put on events in it meaning the good times come to them!

Could I do things cheaper? Yes. If I was less addicted to owning books I could use the library more and save £100 a year. I saved £800 a year when I sold my car: I could save another £300 before petrol if I sell my motorbike. I could give up alcohol and the cinema altogether, but feel moderation aids consistency and keeps me in a balanced life.

What have I left out? The fact I own stuff already: I now always try to sell something before buying something new, and am generally trying to downsize, whereas the report is factoring in some assets in its costing. Holidays: not really taken at the minute. Something cheap if the money can be freed up, like a small festival weekend or a week hiking in Scotland (~£100 each). Debt: I was paying nearly an extra £100 a month on interest and finance until I cleared it.

What would I do with more? Pay tax: I’ve done this before, but at present am unable to contribute to the infrastructure of the country. Save. Go to a few bigger concerts. Be able to take more time off work to travel and adventure. Keep my motorbike. Buy rounds of shots for my friends!

Starting your own business does not leave much time or money to spare, but there is flexibility within the constraints and I still cram as much enjoyment out of each week as possible. “Never bored – always happy” is the motto to aim for. Perhaps direction and future pay-off are significant psychological factors in accepting temporary constraints?

What do I think of the report? It is rather spot on in my opinion for continuous comfortable living. The required minimum wage figures for these incomes are shocking: can the government economists use these figures as a starting point and work backwards?

Whatever had gone before, the strong design and web presence of this initiative brought interested parties out in their masses, filling the Black Box to eager capacity. Although no topic is set, the dominant theme was “obsessions“, covering classification and following of same. Cupcakes, death, tee shirts, photography, animation, and eclectic collectibles all got a mention. Most flew solo, but one 2-man team relayed each other every slide for a lively talk. Some struggled to fit their words in, some struggled to find enough words: 20 seconds suddenly becoming a very long time in front of a large audience.

PKN is a great platform to experience and practice giving a presentation, and with such variety on show, I made some observations about what works and what doesn’t.

• Practice, practice, practice: this is about as controlled an environment as you can get for public address. Use it to your advantage and prepare well. 20 seconds is 20 seconds.
• Don’t panic. The audience take their cue from the speaker – we join you in your desperation for the next slide, and we are prepared to reflect on a pause if you do.
• Don’t try to fit too much in. The most successful presentations had more focus. You may have too much material for the time, but as long as the content is on-topic we will at worst be wanting to talk to you more afterwards.
• Show your passion. Don’t talk in an off-hand manner about something that is supposedly important to you: we will disregard it also and wonder for 6 minutes why we are being told about it.

The audience want the talk to be good so present positively and gloss over negative aspects if they occur. I am prepared to put my “money where my mouth is”, so to speak, by trying a future PKN presentation myself.

I think there are very interesting possibilities for performance within this format, so would like to see some creative uses of the time on stage. How about some poetry or dialogue?

PKNBelfast is set to return in September.

I currently have 3 backpacks that all get used, but are not best suited to my changing needs. I need more, but don’t want more: I want less – less is more!

I have a 25L BCB daypack that is pretty darn good. 3 zipped pockets, lid pocket, dual draw closure, nice back ventilation, waist strap, tough material, only 750g. BUT, it doesn’t make best use of airline carry on allowance, is probably a tad small for the mountain marathon, and looks a bit ‘military’ for everyday use or traveling in certain areas. The secure double draw closure is also a bit irritating as it slows access.

Karrimor Sabre 45 with side pouches giving 70L. My first pack. It is bomb-proof – so tough, it’s something you can pass on to your kids. The large pouches are very handy for keeping gear accessible. The low height is also a plus in woods for ducking under branches, and the removable back pad can be hand moulded to suit you, used as a seat or an emergency splint. BUT, it weighs 3kg! It is a bit narrower at the top, making loading awkward and the width is very tricky to maneuver through doorways and public transport…. military colour, and it weighs 3KG!!!

Granite Gear Meridian 50+10L. Weighs 1.6kg, has useful elastic side pouches, and the floating lid enables you to sandwich a drybag with 6kg of food nicely when you run out of space on the inside. Comfortable and versatile for multi-day activities in colder months. There is a bit of excess webbing and it is too big for everyday and carry-on. This bag has it’s place although I think there’s still room to improve here someday.

For now, my focus is on the smaller packs. I need something to fulfill everyday use, a mountain marathon, alpine day trips, and 1-bag world travel (Summed up nicely in this blog post by Dark Nomad). My criteria are:

• Lightweight: sub 1kg
• Size – close to the airline carry-on allowances so I can travel without checking any bags (gives me 30-35L) and big enough for stripped down camping, a la mountain marathon (25-30L).
• Durable for active outdoor use and rough travel.
• Non-descript colours: can I wear it with a suit; can I rub a bit of dust on it and not look like a ‘tourist’, but at the same time not be mistaken as (para)military?
• Twin zips: ease of access, large opening for packing clothes, can be padlocked to deter pickpockets.
• Large main compartment for clothes, sleeping bag, etc.
• Some internal organisation for small items.
• NOT an air-flow curved back: I hate them and they don’t pack well.
• Outside options: elastic pockets or a bit of bungee compression can be very useful, especially for the mountain marathon, but you don’t want everything on the outside for traveling.
• Not too pricey – certainly under £100!

Not a lot to ask, which is why I unearthed 7 contenders…

(The Inov8 packs were too specialised to be shortlisted):

Berghaus Munro 35L maxes on useable space & durability, but is tipping the scales, is only available in green, and would require extra pouches for the MM.

Berghaus 24/7 30L is very tempting. It is cheap, very light, and I know this range has very well thought out organisation on the inside. Unfortunately, it is too deep for budget airline carry-on and doesn’t look the most stable for intense activity.

Lowe Alpine Rush 25L looks well featured, but is maybe pushing the too-specialised zone. It also has a narrow top opening, does not make the most of carry-on allowance and the material looks a little delicate.

Karrimor Zodiac 30L is light, cheap, discreet and full of features, but like the 24/7 may be too cheap to go the distance and does not look as stable as some of the others. I know Karrimor have some excellent packs, but their range is too big – I worry this just ticks boxes on paper.

Top 3:

OMM Classic 32L (actually 750g) is technical but somehow wears it’s features discreetly and feels quite tough. There is bright blue on it, but it isn’t too noticeable. A definite contender, although on the expensive side, and the lid access may not be the best all-round solution.

Haglofs Tight-Large 30L looks amazing: discreet, minimalist (but useful functions). Large opening, durable material, and stability all win it points, but it is the most expensive and is that minimalism costing it some all-round flexibility?

Berghaus Remote 30L is slightly the heavier of the three, but packs quite a punch. Features galore, slightly more obvious than the slick Haglofs, but remains the cheapest of the top contenders. I like also the brown colour scheme.

Such a wonderful dilemma – the complexity of roles, the hypothetical situations, the past experiences weighing in. What do you think? Have I missed any good options? I shall update the comments when I have made my mind up.

Great short post over at Seth’s Blog.

The story linked within it is also an excellent read.

It may be worth considering foods that will enable you to live for the rest of your life ie. cover all the nutrient groups!

Here is my list:

1. Pig
2. Eggs
3. Chicken (well, need them for the eggs anyway)
4. Cabbages
5. Spring Onions /Scallions!
6. Mushrooms
7. Blackberries
8. Banana (or maybe rhubarb)
9. Chocolate
10.Almonds (hazelnuts close but less versatile)

Butter, double cream and cheddar cheese are all sadly absent. Can you milk a pig?

Having grown up in the country, our family has always been dependent on the car. As my siblings and I became old enough to get jobs and go on to further studies we also required cars… if anything so that there would always be at least one working vehicle in the family. My first car, Calvin, was a 20 year old mini. I drove it until the doors fell off and I got a job as a rep. It wasn’t made for high mileage so I upgraded to a 20 year old VW Scirocco. Stevie Nicks had 160,000 miles when we parted ways last May.

I had been in the city for 2 years, used the car very little and had lost my job in the middle of the recession. I needed money and it made sense… after all, the motorbike was still in the garage if I had to go farther afield. It was sad on both occasions to see my faithful steeds go. They enabled me to work, to meet new friends, gave lifts to hitch-hikers, rushed my mum to hospital, brought people together when there was no other way, and gave me sharp insights into the fine lines of time, space and ability that we are open to cross but foolish in doing so: I learned self-control.

Ecologically and economically I made the best of the situation. Using an old car is better than making a new one (besides, in terms of fuel even the sporty Scirocco averaged 37mpg). The cars were cheap, barely depreciated and had cheap, simple parts. I learned to fix them and just as importantly, to diagnose their problems. These are skills I can continue to apply throughout my life – sustaining a multitude of appliances. Both went to new homes to continue their lives of love and service. That is my appreciation for and reflection of my experiences with the automobile.

Now it is time to face the aforementioned and nameless motorcycle. I never forced names upon my cars… the name came when the time was right. They had personalities (greatness revealed by contrasting flaws) that prompted personification. The bike has never given up a name despite our greater adventures: we have powered around racetracks, camped wild together in Spain, squeezed 250 miles from a tank of fuel through the mountains in Morocco, gone 1800 miles between work on Friday and work on Monday just to escape the man. The same machine undertook each challenge, neither overwhelming nor failing the rider. It took me there like the score in a movie but likewise, fading into the background; allowing the true greatness, the story happening around me, to take credit. This capable neutrality of a master strikes me as a very taoist quality. There is no ego to name; and I love it most of all.

At present, the fact of the matter is that there is the most minimal functional requirement for such a machine in my life. Added, there is neither the funding nor time for adventures or amusement. It does not wait, for it does not anticipate, but it sits prepared: the potential squandered by its arbitrary keeper. I may have shared more life with it than the polished Sunday run it was destined for, but it deserves even that: To help a 50 year-old rekindle a little spark of life is still worthy.

All logic states that I will be financially better off and in no way inconvenienced by parting ways with HX03 ***. As I dip my toe further into more minimalist living, and continue to pursue a truer life of acting on my beliefs, the facts compel our swift separation. It is only desire for more adventure that links us presently. Adventure that would be best served by the freedom of fewer assets and the potential of extra cash (if I sold it tomorrow, I could certainly cover the rent and backpack Europe for a few months). My old adventures are alive in images & words, neurons & nostalgia; my next adventures will be born from my efforts to untangle myself some more from the constrictions of consumer living. A tool lives in application, and this tool is not the one I need right now.

It will hold no grudge. Indeed, the lesson of letting go may be the greatest gift from the nameless master: Not that it will opine or fanfare. It will fade away, and as before, I will be left with the true experience. I will be one more step along the path: 80,000 miles in vehicles to go one step!

Perhaps, now that I am on foot, taking steps will be a lot easier.

“AVAAZ” means “voice” in many Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European languages.

Avaaz.org is a small team of global campaigners who identify and develop opportunities for members (currently 4.5 million) to take action.

I have to say, my relationship with Avaaz started as that sinking, inconvenienced feeling I get when a friend forwards me some dithering email about how if 1 million people read it, speeding will no longer kill drunken child actors… or some such chain mail tripe. Yes, someone I held a lot of respect for appeared to be threatening it all by having sent me some campaign mail. I clicked in with trepidation. Oh, wait; the message is right here: It is not under 5,000 emails of people who don’t know about Bcc… and it looks quite succinct.

Sufficiently curious, I read the neat summary of the petition that was being put together, why it was needed and who it would be put to. It was a worth-while cause, and my friend had decided rightly that I would be interested in such a matter (respect firmly intact). I clicked through and added my name on the nice website, joining for the hell of it while I was there.

Since those clicks I get an email once every week or two with a well prepared overview about the latest campaign. If I support it (which I often do) I simply click and add my email address to see the nice target meter go up. Easy. What is more, I occasionally get an update on the successes of various campaigns. Satisfaction.

Voting and democracy are not limited to political elections, and this reasonable enterprise helps people to lend their voice on a global stage. Besides, despite being well meaning, we are all so busy with our own struggles: These advisors take the leg work out of being a campaigner so that we can help a little with some other struggle without undue effort. You may be surprised at how much is going on that you wish to speak up for, and had previously been unawares.

You won’t be getting an email from me, but I am telling you here. If this sounds remotely like it would interest you, check it out.

Photo Profile : Craig Lloyd | Seven by Five