Beyond The Launchpad

This fella was a surprise visitor a few Sunday Mornings ago... Sorry space kiddos and kiddettes, I've been without homenet access for three or so weeks now but the new system is now up and running so hopefully a few additions in this in the next few weeks. Heck, some feedback would (and is always) welcome.

Today marks the third anniversary of my trip to the USA... A heck of a lot has happened in those three years. As I type these words another sunset falls on SafeHaven; we've had a miserable day here with a few showers and now at the end there's a break in the sky and transparent blue lies above, pink sunshine to the west as insects dance into the air, a cool evening where for one moment I caught my breath drifting away... the faint sound of seagulls in the background, above even the noise from the crossroad below. It's still out there and it'll be no surprise to anyone that I miss it greatly. It was more than a Mission to go around the USA by Greyhound Bus alone, it was more than some kind of crazy wish furfillment as well. It's out there waiting and I saw so much and so little while I was out there and if there were any ambition left for me it's to go back again and take a different road but go by Greyhound again. See the Northern States, maybe a lot more of th...

As I said right at the start of the Blog in March, there will be some shameless plugs on Beyond the Launchpad. Today, the absolutely brilliant Digital coverage of Formula One on the BBC. I'm not sure if it's being transmitted in HD yet but the 'Red Button' option of today's race was fantastic! On my 1080p Samsung I had Picture in Picture when I switched to the onboard Car Race coverage, showing the actual footage chosen for 'normal' televison, whilst I rushed around Monaco on several of the cars, a choice of commentaries (I stayed with the TV commentary) and indication of the race at the bottom of the screen. An absolute dream. Monaco is a race of dreams but so too is Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix, where I went to see my only F1 race in 2006 and that was a real good couple of days... This really is akin to being there though: R. Kubica in Cruise Control: Picture Courtesy of BBC coverage, copyright 2010 Formula One Administration Limited. The image i...

Something of a pictureless post today, following a very interesting visit to Bluewater yesterday. No crowds, it was a weekday. Wouldn't want to be there on a weekend or Bank holiday... Saw Iron Man 2. Once again a very smart piece of work... Even if something happened in the film that really hit me hard. Whilst I'm on the matter here and in case anyone's listening out there: I like Rock 'n' Roll, I happen to like a lot of music (if anyone knows if or when Bear McCreary is playing the UK with his band LET ME KNOW ) AC/DC have done some okay tracks BUT! Can I see the REAL Iron Man 2 Soundtrack please? Also, a neat Robin Hood trailer but Russell Crowe is not Errol Flinn, it was like watching Gladiator in the Forest of Endor... Finally on this matter, a public apology and affirmation - Yes, I will see this at an IMAX...sorry I went on my day off. I also saw my first iPad out there. The hope is that I will be able to run Beyond The Launchpad from one of these ...

This is the wrap up session for the first new mission from Beyond The Launchpad. There were a lot of photographs taken on my voyage across the atolls of the Maldives - and the first of two images here is from my penultimate evening there. A magnificent skyline at the end of the day. This was something I attempted to see every day I was there. It was never the same, despite being in the same place. Yet nothing changed - how can you improve on brilliant? I came home on 10/04/2010. Days have passed. And it came to pass that a Volcano should erupt in Iceland. The skies became deserted and the evening was promising a 'lavender Skyline'. I returned home as quickly as possible to make good the opportunity to photograph a skyline here in the UK. My second picture shows the fall of night here at SafeHaven . It's been over a year now that I have been based here and the magnificent view is a good reason I think for it. So, what have I gained from this journey? A reacquired taste for ...

On the penultimate evening here I went Gecko hunting. Gecko are Lizards, whom in some SE Asian Cultures are believed to bring Good Luck, Fortune and fertility. I have sought out these creatures as I find them fascinating to watch, incomprehensible at times but a sure means to control pests, as can be seen as this little fella is eying up Dinner in front of him... The Gecko here are tiny, perhaps around 3 inches in length but move fast and have a high vocal call... This call is usually prevalent towards dusk and into the early evening, when these usually nocturnal creatures emerge -alertly- into the artificial light and feed on the insects drawn to the light. Gecko in the Maldives are usually to be found on the sides of buildings, seemingly defying gravity. As mentioned this is the first time I've really noticed these cute little critters and on previous visits I saw them virtually everywhere, on occasion within peoples homes. Now, they seem content to being outside... Thi...

First of two today. Last night I went out into a further Electrical Storm taking place around my Island Retreat. A screen capture of the night lights is below: There is a two minute HD video of the event and some other image captures...