Ok, so a couple of Paul Chen swords came up on Ebay recently and I figured I'd have a go at bidding for them, get myself a good deal. I am looking for an oxtail Dao sabre for my practice of the sabre form and noticed that a straight sword had come up to (thought that might be handy for the sword form down the line).
Sadly both went without me and the one I really wanted - the Dao went for more than its worth new??? Auctions are a bit mental like that though I guess. Still looking around for best prices now then.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Sunday, January 02, 2005
currently reading...
Currently I am reading Steal My Art: Memoirs of a 100 Year Old... which discusses T.T. Liang from the point of view of one of his students. I'm about half way through now and finding it to be an amazing read. Here's a man who achieved many of the ideals of a T'ai Chi exponent - including living to 102 years of age in good health.
It is an incredible insight into some of the big names in T'ai chi chuan. The book does well to get rid of the idea that a T'ai Chi master is necessarily like the wizened enlightened monks we often see on TV in the films, but rather real men who lived in what has been a most eventful and terrible century. The book is worth a read to anyone interested in the experiences of a man who lived through all the 1900s but mostly to those interested in some of the T'ai Chi history of the last century...
It is an incredible insight into some of the big names in T'ai chi chuan. The book does well to get rid of the idea that a T'ai Chi master is necessarily like the wizened enlightened monks we often see on TV in the films, but rather real men who lived in what has been a most eventful and terrible century. The book is worth a read to anyone interested in the experiences of a man who lived through all the 1900s but mostly to those interested in some of the T'ai Chi history of the last century...
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Another year
Wow.
Just had a look back through this blog that I shamefully have been neglecting (oops, poorly constructed sentence there). Just had a look at my post from one year ago -
view here.
So a year ago I found I was playing too many games too much to the detriment of my work, my studies/practice and my life in general. Have I improved?
Well I freely admit that I have been playing Halo 2 - a fine game for the Xbox. Also been playing a little on my PC. I do feel I have been doing this a little more than necessary but I have also been practicing t'ai chi and eating so I think my life-balance is better than it was back then.
It's amusing reading back through my blog - if i didn't know better I'd say about 5 people authored it. I'm glad to report that I am in better health now than I apparently was a year ago & I still have my interest in games, toys and t'ai chi.
I am looking forward to 2005. I have now done something I have wanted to do since I was 14 and that is to learn, practice and start to understand a t'ai chi long form. I have a number of great friends and have found experienced people willing to spend time teaching me, I am indeed in a fortunate position. I have now worked through the hand form of the Wu-dang style and I am half way through the sabre form. I look forward to completing this and trying my hand with the sword and pole forms in the coming year.
Work wise 2004 was a bit of an odd one. There have been many great upheavals and many changes in my own role to which I have risen to poorly, inadequately and exceptionally perhaps in equal measure. I am now settling into a role for a project that is the product of mine and my friends thinking for the last six to nine months, and indeed it was that thinking that sparked the creation of my 'techie' blog. I look forward to this though accept that I must change if I am to meet this new challenge and make it a success.
All round I think 2004 has gone well. The things I haven't done which were the subject of much thought a year ago are largely people related. I run the risk of easily becoming a hermit with my interest in largely solo hobbies. I thank my other half for keeping me in the world of folk and helping me realize that there are people round here worth spending my time with - something I forget all too easily from time to time.
All in all good, here's to 2005...
Just had a look back through this blog that I shamefully have been neglecting (oops, poorly constructed sentence there). Just had a look at my post from one year ago -
view here.
So a year ago I found I was playing too many games too much to the detriment of my work, my studies/practice and my life in general. Have I improved?
Well I freely admit that I have been playing Halo 2 - a fine game for the Xbox. Also been playing a little on my PC. I do feel I have been doing this a little more than necessary but I have also been practicing t'ai chi and eating so I think my life-balance is better than it was back then.
It's amusing reading back through my blog - if i didn't know better I'd say about 5 people authored it. I'm glad to report that I am in better health now than I apparently was a year ago & I still have my interest in games, toys and t'ai chi.
I am looking forward to 2005. I have now done something I have wanted to do since I was 14 and that is to learn, practice and start to understand a t'ai chi long form. I have a number of great friends and have found experienced people willing to spend time teaching me, I am indeed in a fortunate position. I have now worked through the hand form of the Wu-dang style and I am half way through the sabre form. I look forward to completing this and trying my hand with the sword and pole forms in the coming year.
Work wise 2004 was a bit of an odd one. There have been many great upheavals and many changes in my own role to which I have risen to poorly, inadequately and exceptionally perhaps in equal measure. I am now settling into a role for a project that is the product of mine and my friends thinking for the last six to nine months, and indeed it was that thinking that sparked the creation of my 'techie' blog. I look forward to this though accept that I must change if I am to meet this new challenge and make it a success.
All round I think 2004 has gone well. The things I haven't done which were the subject of much thought a year ago are largely people related. I run the risk of easily becoming a hermit with my interest in largely solo hobbies. I thank my other half for keeping me in the world of folk and helping me realize that there are people round here worth spending my time with - something I forget all too easily from time to time.
All in all good, here's to 2005...
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