All Ears is the third album of Hobart based guitarist, Jamie Pregnell, released in May 2024 where he leads the same line up as his second album, Sleepy Town. Pregnell is joined by Melbourne-based musicians, saxophonist Julien Wilson, double–bassist Sam Anning and Perth-based drummer Ben Vanderwal. All tracks are composed by Jamie Pregnell.

This ensemble is well recorded and mastered and, apart from the electric guitar, is an acoustic ensemble with no drum machines or electronic sampling. Pegnell has explained that he used his standard archtop in this recording but the acoustic elements of the archtop aren’t as obvious as they might be live. Pregnell has spent a long period of time under the mentorship of James Muller and while their guitar tone share some similarities, Pregnell maintains his own playing style that is tastefully laid back and contemplative. Pregnell’s tonally detailed guitar timbre is more similar to John Schofield than Pat Martino and his solo lines have a natural direction that resolve tastefully while not too predictable. Julien Wilson’s sax playing has a significant presence on this album and his experience as a leading instrumentalist in this field is obvious. Wilson has a clean and modern sound, not too much vibrato or note bending and his virtuosity on the instrument is on display but not over-done. The skills of Sam Anning and Ben Vanderwal both as instrumentalists and as highly experienced ensemble members is also tastefully on display. Everyone gets their chance to shine and shine they do.    

The opening track, Travller, has a positive feel helped along by a driving but light drum rhythm that is ever present but never overbearing. Saxophone is a strong feature and Pregnell makes good use of both monophonic and polyphonic textures between the saxophone and guitar. Pregnell’s mixture of comping and melodic lines on electric guitar is warm, there is a nice balance of motif and virtuosity and the ensemble is relaxed but tight. All Ears is a continuation of the same relaxed feel with the tempo dialled back slightly. The Channel is a contrast in style combining a twangy country feel of pedal steel guitar played by Lucky Oceans with prominent jazz lines on the double bass. While still present, the saxophone takes a backseat on this number. While I said there was no drum machines or electronica, some mixing magic has been used to great effect in Lifetime. Nine Lives is a stand-out favourite for me with a light addictive drum beat throughout and it is understandable that that Nine Lives gets a play at all of Pregnell’s gigs. The Heaviness and the Light may be the weakest link of this album and a bit on edge but overall this album is a great piece of work by Pregnell and his group of Australian jazz masters. This isn’t an album that pushes the boundaries of the genre but it is also not standard repertoire you’ve heard before. Jamie Pregnell has again brought together a team who work seamlessly together and Pregnell’s compositions strike a nice balance of interest, complexity and harmonic congruity. This is no one-track pony (excuse the pun) and this album is likely to remain in my active play list for quite some time. 

Writer: Gregory Burke (based on Inspector Rebus novels by Sir Ian Rankin)

Starring: Richard Rankin and Lucie Shorthouse

I didn’t think I would find myself writing a review for a tv series. We’re in the thick of a subscription based content era with seemingly never ending seasons of bingable tv shows. These shows seem to be where the money is and production efforts seem to be focused heavily on this genre rather than on movies which is where I much prefer to spend my time. Early examples of the subscription based tv series such as Game of Thrones and House of Cards may have been some of the first of this wave of tv shows with extreme budgets, all star casts and a viewship that content creators dream of, but I mention these two shows as they are classic examples of what I dislike about a lot of the series/tv show genre. Game of Thrones and House of Cards started off very good, the first few seasons were gripping in every way, I was easily hooked and they seemed to strike the perfect balance of drama, sex and violence. However, as the seasons progressed I became particularly agrieved by what appeared to be a blatant disregard for my time. I felt tricked into watching many episodes that offered little to the overall story and which seemed to be created purely to capitalise off my viewing time. In the case of Game of Thrones my view is that, in terms of violence, it progressively crossed the line and kept going to the point of becoming another style of show alltogether. My grievances were strong enough to call it quits from both Game of Thrones and House of Cards about three quaters of the way through the show. There is no doubt that a tv series allows for story and character development in ways that movies cannot and there are many tv shows that I like and continue to watch. However, I like the efficiency of a movie. You have 90 minutes of my time and that’s it!

So with that rant over, here I am reviewing the new Rebus TV series with Richard Rankin as DI John Rebus and Lucie Shorthouse as DC Siobhan Clarke. Richard Rankin’s previous work includes the hugely popular Outlander series and Lucie Shorthouse was band manager, Momtaz, in Lady Parts and We Are Lady Parts, both of which I am not familiar but were well-received. Rebus is the long-term character of Scottish author Ian Rankin and this tv series is an adaptation written by Scottish playwright/producer Gregory Burke. The opening scene pushes police brutalilty beyond what you might expect and challenges your ability to like DI Rebus. Rebus clearly struggles with procedure and rules or is it the ‘rules’ that Rebus knows better than anyone? Rebus is a solidly built, rough around the edges, divorced Scottish cop bordering on alcoholic who has little respect for due process even with Professional Standards looking over his shoulder. However, Richard Rankin brings something new to this re-hashed well-worn cliche. He is young, energetic and is sometimes affable and charming. Richard Rankin draws on an extensive repertoire of apt facial expressions and manorisms that suggest depth of character and honesty. Rebus is ex-army but the macho is dialled down a bit. Lucie Shorthouse is also the cliche fast-track detective constable, fresh out of university and English, so she couldn’t possibly understand what makes Edinburgh tick. Lucie Shorthouse is equally great in this support role but her character is much less present than Rebus. There is definitely room for further development of the DC Siobhan Clarke character in future seasons.

Rebus, who is too well-acquainted with long-term drug lord, Ger Cafferty, tries to get to the bottom of what appears to be a turf war but is actually a messy series of incidents complicated by Rebus’ ex-army brother who is struggling with civilian life and trying to dig his family out of poverty. Rebus who feels he is finally coming to terms with the breakdown of his marriage, is eventually drawn into the mess and he feels that his world is unravelling.

It has been a while since the last tv adaptation of Rebus which ended in 2007 and Ian Rankin expressed some disatisfaction with the struggle of adapting his books to the tv format of the previous Rebus series. However, author Ian Rankin has said in interview that, after asking Gregory Burke to take on this project, he is very happy with this version. Rebus ages progressively in the Rebus books but this production is set in the present day and Rebus is younger than where the previous series left off which is refreshing. As with the character Rebus, both author Ian Rankin and the producer/writer of this series, Gregory Burke, originate from Fife and I should disclose that my parents also originate from Fife so I have a more than typical interest in this show. A Fifer with a tough past who frequently butts heads with Edinburgh’s dark underworld is a strong thread throughout this series and aesthetically the ever-present Edinburgh Castle, Fourth bridges and Royal Mile offer a beautiful juxtaposition. Edinburgh is clearly one of Europe’s most iconic and beautiful cities.

This Viaplay production is consistent with the traditional British crime and Nordic noir genres. I would place Rebus more to the rough end of the British crime spectrum with shows like Murphy’s Law, Taggart and of course previous versions of Rebus. I watched all 6 episodes on the Australian free-to-air streaming service SBS On Demand and I am glad to report that it was gripping from start to finish. I didn’t think for a moment that my time was being unessisarily milked for purely commercial purposes. All cast have done a terrific job and character development is strong. I got a sense of who these people are, what is important to them and what it might be like living in present day Edinburgh. Unlike Game of Thrones or House of Cards Rebus will not require a huge investment of your time and is well worth it. I am looking forward to the next season….

4/5 stars

Writer / Director: Celine Song

Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro

Opening with a late night scene in a trendy New York bar a woman is sitting between two men and is locked into an intimate conversation with one of the men. The other man is clearly not engaged in the conversation and at times the woman has her back to him. You cannot hear their conversation but another couple, maybe siting at a distance, speculate about the relationships between the trio at the bar. This scene is the first of many where Korean-Canadian writer/director Celine Song expertly uses perspective to play with the viewer’s attitude to each of the main characters. For me this is the gold in this movie. The opening dialogue speculates that the couple looking lovingly at one another may be brother and sister or lovers. You will likely know that they are childhood sweethearts who have reconnected after many years but this opening scene gives you a false sense that you might know how this story ends.

We are then taken back Seoul where 12-year old Nora (Moon Seung-ah) and Hae Sung (Leem Seung-min) are classmates who compete for grades, are very close and go on a date organised by their parents shortly before Nora emigrates to Canada. The young Nora and Hae Sung do not express their feelings to each other well and their parting seems abrupt and with an absence of drama. That they may never see each other again does not appear to cross Nora’s mind but Hae Sung is clearly saddened by the move.

12 years later when both Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are university students and Hae Sung has completed his national service, Hae Sung seeks out Nora by writing a social media comment on a post of her father’s new film. Nora then makes contact with Hae Sung and they embark on an intense long distance friendship that is then ended by Nora when she, studying in New York at the time, believes the relationship may not progress any further. Nora then meets fellow writer, Arthur (John Magaro), on a writing study placement in Montauk, they marry and settle in New York. Another 12 years passes, Nora and Arthur are still living together in New York and after many years without contact, Hae Sung contacts Nora to let her know he has plans to visit New York for a holiday. Hae Sung’s impending visit worries Arthur who then starts to question the strength of he and Nora’s marriage.

There are so many layers to Past Lives it’s one of those films that I have continued to think about and unpack since watching it. In one scene, Nora’s parents are smoking together in room of their apartment and playing a Leonard Cohen while they pack for their move. This scene suggests a sense of nostalgia toward their future home and possibly even reliving part of their youth. It appeared to be a thoughtful juxtaposition of the relaxed and liberal North America against a more structured and rigid South Korea. There is a realness to this movie and the setting, whether it be in Seoul or New York, has a sense of realness with plenty of the mundane and uninteresting on display. This is in no way a travelogue for either New York or Seoul. Well known landmarks are included but without fanfare and in some cases they add to a deliberate awkwardness. Hae Sung appears out of place in New York and he is clearly not there to see the sights. Past Lives is described as a romantic drama but it isn’t romantic in a traditional sense. Director Celine Song does a great job of portreying the complexity of relationships, how relationships can evolve as a result of convenience and how relationships can withstand challenges. Nora and Hae Sung are not prone to passionate whims and their careers take priority.

This is a beautifully well-crafted semi-autobiographical debut feature from Celine Song who uses camera angle, facial expression and dialogue to expertly manipulate perspective. This is an engaging journey through the challenges of relationships, the passing of time and belonging to place. Noting that Greta Lee was born and raised in Los Angeles to Korean parents and Teo Yoo was born in West Germany and is now residing in Seoul, both actors have expressed how thrilled they were to be involved in this project. The immigrant experience is something close to both of them and writer/director Celine Song has subtilely incorporated the complexities of the cross cultural experience in this film. This movie is far more than the sum of its parts and will stay with you for a long while.

4/5 stars

Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson

Starring: Marisa Abela, Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan & Lesley Manville

I enjoyed Amy Winehouse’s music when it was on the radio and I’m sure you would recall her being a regular in the tabloids for her substance abuse and violence. I walked into this screening with some interest, not much prior knowledge and an open mind.

This biopic, the first after many failed attempts since Winehouse’s death from alcohol poisoning in 2011, follows Winehouse from the beginning of her highly successful music career through to the end of her volatile relationship with husband, Blake. The film starts with Winehouse (Marisa Abela) as an adventurous and independent young Jewish woman with sharp wit and beaming confidence who plays regular pub gigs and is offered her first recording deal. Winehouse is no pushover, making immediate contract demands supported by her pseudo manager father and declaring “I ain’t no Spice Girl”. Winehouse has a close relationship with her London cab driving father (Eddie Marsan) who has a keen interest in jazz and his daughter’s music career. Winehouse is very close with her paternal grandmother, Cynthia (Lesley Manville) who she refers to as her ‘style icon’ and we later learn that Winehouse’s family, especially her nan Cynthia, has close ties to the London jazz scene. Winehouse has a taste for alcohol from the start but also a strong aversion to illicit drugs which she is quick to point out to cocaine using Blake (Jack O’Connell) when they first meet at a London pub. Winehouse enjoys strong musical success but also attracts the constant interest of the paparazzi for her off-stage lifestyle choices and behaviour.

Much is made of Winehouse’s connection with jazz throughout the feature including an impromptu visit to Ronny Scott’s where she jams with a band who is rehearsing. While the soundtrack is great the jazz content is not particularly prominent. The score was composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and produced by Giles Martin. Director Taylor-Johnson glowingly points out to Ben Travis of Empire* that Marisa Abela sang all the vocal parts with Winehouse’s original band members with exceptional results. Abela does a sterling job of both acting and vocals. Set in London, the close up camera work focuses more on the characters than the London setting. It is intimately filmed.

A fair bit of the story is missing but director, Sam Taylor-Johnson, has said that she intended for the film to portray Winehouse’s perspective rather than the perspective of others*. With this in mind, Winehouse is a troubled soul who falls in love, try’s unsuccesfully to start a family and is helpless in the face of substance abuse and behavioural issues. When the toxic relationship that she values so dearly ends she has little will to go on and then the story ends. The focus is clearly Winehouse’s internal struggles and her relationships, with her music career portrayed as effortless with no musical struggles or setbacks. Whilst I understand what Taylor-Johnson was trying to achieve, I felt myself wanting more detail. This movie may appeal to dedicated Winehouse fans or those who have first hand experience of the London scene in the noughties. I didn’t warm to Winehouse or Blake, but Jack O’Connell does a great job with the drug using larrikin that wins the heart of Winehouse. Blake’s inpromptu rendition of the Shangri-Las’ Leader of the Pack was well done and it was a solid performance from all cast. Winehouse appears helpless or not yet ready to deal with her demons and it was a bit like watching a train crash in slow motion without being fully invested in the victims. Maybe they went with authenticity over dramatic licence. Back To Black had all the right ingredients for success but it didn’t quite manage it. Worth a watch but not quite movie of the year.

3/5 stars

*Empire article by Ben Travis 11/01/2024

It seems strange to be discussing the pursuit of hobbies at the moment. There appears to be chaos for those that call the UK home, a volatile government, record high inflation and rising energy and food costs. Things aren’t much better back home in Australia but I am sheltered from the worst of the current crisis and extremely privileged to be on an extended break from work, travelling around the UK and Europe for a few months. Shortly before leaving my home in Adelaide, Australia, I finished my first guitar build, a Hermann Hauser Sr. replica classical guitar. Without any understanding of how serious an endeavour this was, it turned out to be an 18 month project costing somewhere between $5000 and $6000 (Australian dollars) including parts and course fees. It may sound like a lot but the cost was spread over 18 months and the result, despite some minor flaws, is seriously impressive. Well beyond what I thought I could achieve so early on in my amateur luthier journey. I will briefly discuss my journey regarding guitar making and setup courses, what I have found helpful and not so helpful and why such courses are even a ‘thing’. What I aim to get out of a guitar making course may be very different from you. Or maybe the same.

During my current travels I thought it would be a good idea to undertake a guitar setup course in the UK as there are quite a few options and I’m not aware of any setup only courses being formally available in Australia. I had already been skilfully instructed on how to fret and setup my classical guitar during the build course in Australia but I thought an electric guitar setup course would build on my setup skills and add a string to my bow. In addition to continuing with my day job as a Social Worker I want to learn as much as I can the art of making, repairing and setting up guitars used by classical and jazz musicians.

I selected the course I thought I would find most helpful which I have now just completed. My original plan was to write about how amazing this course was but it turned out to be not so amazing. This poor experience has highlighted how amazing the luthier school is where I made my classical guitar. Whilst this is not a review of guitar making or setup courses I feel the need to mention Wood and Strings in Adelaide because artisan musical instrument maker and violin maker, Michael Snowden, who runs this school actually deserves the praise.

Instrument making is not a totally new concept to me. Prior to my work as a Social Worker I was teaching clarinet and saxophone in various schools around Adelaide after completing a Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance. I love playing the clarinet and I still play when I can but I was equally if not more interested in how the clarinet was made. I had grand plans that didn’t materialise of becoming a small-scale clarinet maker who also repaired instruments for clarinettists on the more serious end of the player spectrum. I won the lottery in this regard and managed to persuade retired expert woodwind maker, Tony Ward, formally of Boosey and Hawkes, to give me some clarinet making lessons. The magnitude of this task got the better of me so I took a break to save up some more cash. Unfortunately life gained momentum in directions I never imagined and I never got back to making clarinets. About ten years later I decided to learn classical guitar and it didn’t take very long before I went down the guitar making rabbit hole.

Not long after buying a student classical guitar to learn on, I signed up to a Wood and Strings course which operates out of a well-equipped workshop close to my home in Adelaide. Michael Snowden of Wood and Strings runs string instrument building courses three times each week and students purchase six, three-hour classes at a time. Some students stay for a short time until they finish their project and others just continue on indefinitely, starting a new instrument upon completion of each project. One very advanced student has multiple guitars on the go in various stages of completion. When I first called Michael to inquire about his classes I said that I would like to eventually make a classical guitar and I asked him to recommend a starting project. Prior to the class Michael had emailed me the detailed drawings of a Hermann Hauser Sr. replica. When I started the build with a plank of Brazillian mahogony for the neck, cutting the scarfe joint and building up the spanish heel, I was the only student making a classical guitar. This was no problem at all and I was later joined by another student who took on the same project with different woods that he had selected. I was a slow student, sometimes spending a lot of time on unnecessary endeavours such as making a bridge from scratch despite these being readily available at a fraction of the cost. Whilst acoustic and electric guitars are probably the most popular project at Wood and Strings, you can make whatever your heart desires. One student sometimes works on advanced cabinet making projects and a past student made an aeolian harp (I hadn’t heard of it neither). If you decide you want to make something a little different I’m sure Michael will love the challenge and make it happen.

I hadn’t originally planned to write about the Wood and Strings course as I will continue to be a Wood and Strings student when I get back to Adelaide and I generally write about other things. However, shortly before attending the guitar setup course I have just completed in the south of England I thought the experience would make for an interesting article. Attending this guitar setup course had some logistical challenges as I needed to hire a car and stay in accommodation nearby. The accommodation in a lovely 18th century English pub in the countryside was nothing short of incredible. I received service at my accommodation that I would have thought is reserved for the rich and famous and this was very affordable accommodation. Alas, to reveal the location of this pub would give away the sorry tale of the guitar setup course I don’t wish to identify. I am not inclined to publish negative reviews. The mediochre experience has, however, urged me to write about my hugely positive experience at Wood and Strings and why people like me choose to do such a thing in their leisure time.

The most important point I want to make about Michael as a teacher at Wood and Strings is that he has such a diverse and advanced range of instrument making and woodworking skills. Michael is more than happy to demonstrate techniques for using the woodworking tools and provide feedback about the quality of your work. Michael has enthusiasm for teaching and he doesn’t hold back from telling and showing all that he knows. I never got a sense that any trade secrets were being kept under wraps. As the course is setup for everyone to work on their own projects there are some inevitable inefficiencies but on the whole you will definitely learn valuable skills and end up with an amazing instrument. You will also have enjoyed the process. If like me, you want to know about and have a go at making every little piece of the guitar from scratch you can. The time it takes you to finish your project is entirely up to you as the student. However, If you prefer to purchase some ready made parts and mostly just assemble your instrument you can do this too.

So what went so wrong with the 2-day guitar setup course I have just completed? It wasn’t terrible but it was nothing to write home about. As I don’t live in the south of England I needed to hire a car (there is no public transport to the venue) and stay at accommodation nearby which ended up being very pleasant but a significant added cost. There are videos on YouTube and books available that explain the process of setting up a guitar in detail so I had hoped that attending a face-to-face course would add value to this easily available information. Put simply, I didn’t receive the attention from the instructor I was expecting from such a course. The instructor spent the bare minimum of time with me in between his other unrelated work activities and he also lacked enthusiasm for teaching. I really felt like I was a burden to the company so their attitude to me as a paying customer was the most disappointing. Again, it wasn’t terrible, I learned some things and my guitar is now nicely setup. Hopefully I can replicate the process on other guitars when I get home with a bit of practice.

Guitar making and even guitar setup courses are definitely not a way to save money. Although it is with this intention in mind that some first tackle the crazy task of making a guitar from scratch. I like to listen to interviews with other guitar makers and on a number of occasions a maker has recalled that they first attempted to make a guitar because they simply couldn’t afford a decent instrument. I think they will all now tell you that it would have made more sense to simply do whatever was needed to purchase a good instrument to begin with and leave the making to the experts. As I mentioned above, my classical guitar cost a bit over $5000 (not including any cost I could put on my time) and the guitar setup course I have just completed including the necessary car hire and accommodation was approximately $1900. This is substantially more than a professional setup by your local expert luthier and I could have bought a new Japanese or Mexican Fender for that money. Although annoyingly the new Fender would still need a professional setup.

While learning how to make or setup your own guitar isn’t going to reap you any financial rewards, becoming a professional luthier is much the same. It seems that whilst there are now more boutique guitar builders than ever before, the real money is likely to be in running a guitar making school. This makes financial sense as the instructor will get the best return for their time. Another negative to being a boutique guitar manufacturer is the unfortunate reality that craftsmanship is no longer valued as much as it should be. It is true that mass-produced guitars from countries such as China and Indonesia have vastly improved over the last 20 years but having now made my own guitar, I find it very difficult to be happy with the quality of guitar I can buy from the local music store. After you have agonised over levelling and dressing the frets on any guitar A close look at the frets on the guitars at your local shop will just fill you with disappointment. I would much rather make my own Telecaster or Les Paul replica at a course like Wood and Strings than buy a ready made Fender or Gibson off the shelf.

So why would I prefer to pay more to make my own guitar in my own time? Personally, I like the idea of learning the skills to create the tools I use in my everyday life. When I look at most objects in my everyday life I, at least for a moment, think to myself “I wonder how this is made and I wonder if I could do it?” For the most part, a guitar is still a relatively simple instrument to make and I can incorporate some of my asthetic preferences into the design. A guitar is still very much a tool and a piece of musical and visual artistic expression.

For those who have the urge to create in their spare time there are places to learn whatever activity takes your fancy. Whether it be knitting, creative writing, painting, drawing, cabinet making, 3d printing, photography or guitar building there are likely to be courses and clubs in your area that have you covered. Organisations such as the Workers Education Association (WEA), Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and private providers such as Wood and Strings are great places to experience new things, meet new people, learn new skills and lose a bit of money in the process. Although I must point out that guitar making is one of the more expensive courses available.

So different people like doing different things in their spare time. Some like to create and build, some prefer to gain knowledge, some like sport and fitness activities and some like to do all of the above. Some people are searching for that activity that puts them in the zone or some are looking for a new vocation. I have dabbled in woodwind instrument making, jewellery making, car restoration and now guitar making. So when I signed up to make my first classical guitar or to learn how to set up my electric guitar was I buying a one-off DIY experience to pass the time or was I hoping to build on my guitar playing experience and set up a side-hustle? I’m still not totally sure. Will I be able to flip some well setup guitars in the future? That would be nice but who knows. Has it all been worth it? Yes!

I have known about Parkrun for many years but have only had the Parkrun bug for the past year or so. I have friends who regularly attended Parkrun but the 40 minute drive for me to join them seemed a bit far when Saturday morning came around. Unsurprisingly I never made it there. There were probably Parkrun events much closer to home but I didn’t bother to look and maybe my fondness for beer and late nights also had something to do with it.

Parkrun is a totally free 5km walk or run event held every Saturday morning at 8am in Australia (a bit later in other countries) and run by volunteers. All you need to do is register once before your first Parkrun to get your barcode that you will use at any Parkrun worldwide. Parkrun was started by Paul Sinton-Hewitt at Bushy Park in London (UK) and is now so popular in the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa that, if you live in those countries, you will most likely find a Parkrun event near you. Parkrun is also held in major centres in a lot of other countries including the USA, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Austria, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Poland which makes it a great travel activity when you are visiting another city. Some adventurous folk even travel to other citys and other countries simply to add another Parkrun location to their list.

The internet is awash with countless stories of how Parkrun has transformed peoples lives helping them to overcome illness, addiction and low self-esteem simply by becoming more active, committing to the weekly activity and being spurred on by the inspiring demonstration of determination and grit of other Parkrun participants. I don’t know of another place where you will find such a diverse selection of the community exercising together. There will be keen runners at the front with their bright running kit and uber expensive Nike Alphafly running shoes vying for the fastest time, but overwhelmingly Parkrun participants are everyday folk simply challenging themselves to be healthier and more active. One of the most inspiring aspects of Parkrun for me is seeing older people, sometimes in their 70s, 80s and 90s staying active, pushing themselves and proving that age is no barrier to exercise. I have seen Parkrun participants using walking sticks (not the kind you buy from a hiking store) and my local Parkrun has a regular vision impaired participant who speeds around the course with the help of a volunteer guide. 

You may be thinking, “what has this got to do with the pub?”. Well, for a long while my life revolved around work and social drinking. A wind-down beer or five with work colleagues on a Friday night often dragged into Saturday morning and the rest of the weekend was spent recovering from my “wind-down”. I wasn’t the most popular person in my younger years, probably a bit of a nerd and not at all sporty but I began to feel connected with my friends and alcohol gave me the confidence to be interesting and social. If I’m honest I also just love the taste of beer and what started off as a weekend thing then also became a mid-week thing. This is not an unusual story in Australia and I expect it is also common in many other parts of this amazing planet. Whether its wine, beer or something even stronger, Aussies love to drink. When I hit 40 the beer, pizza, curry and lack of sleep started to catch up with me. I was overweight, tired and starting to get aches and pains that I wasn’t expecting at least until my mid 60s. I’m no medical expert but it was pretty clear to me that my lifestyle was not working well for me and things needed to change. So I changed. Whilst it was not my intention to kick the alcohol completely it turns out that I now only drink alcohol once every couple of months and this makes me a pretty boring drinking buddy. Over time friends move on and life changes. I thought that all the cool kids were at the pub and I thought I had found my social place in the world. I loved going from place to place on a Friday night meeting up with friends, eating and drinking too much and having too good a time, but after cleaning up my act the fast lane just wasn’t for me anymore.

Now that I have re-discovered Saturday mornings this is where Parkrun comes in. While I’m sure there are some Parkrun participants with sore heads from a few too many the night before, I would wager that most Parkrun participants have not been on the turps the night before and maybe they even got a good nights sleep.

During an overseas trip I decided to give Parkrun a go in Scotland and I am very glad that I did. I had run many times before up to half-marathon distance so I knew 5km would not be an issue for me. It was great to be out running in the Scottish winter but what I found truly inspiring was being with hundreds of everyday people at all levels of fitness early on a Saturday morning walking, jogging and running. I finished 106th out of 148 participants in my first Parkrun and from the moment I finished I felt refreshed and was looking forward to improving on my time at the next one. Fortunate to be travelling at the time I instantly became Parkrun tourist attending Parkruns in Glasgow, London, The Hague, Berlin, Vienna and Boston before returnign home to Adelaide where my Parkrun journey continues. Parkrun is a timed event but it is definitely not a competion. Just turning up and being as active as your body permits is definitely the aim of the game. Parkrun has become my new weekly ritual and keeping my Friday nights low-key definitely helps.

Director: Shinzo Katayama

Starring: Aoi Itô, Jirô Satô & Hiroya Shimizu

Genre: crime, drama, thriller

The melancholic and broke single father, Satoshi (Jirô Satô), tells his young daughter (Aoi Itô) that he plans to track down a serial killer (Hiroya Shimizu) in order to receive the advertised reward. Whilst Kaede (Aoi Itô) is initially dismissive of her father’s plan, Satoshi then disappears and Kaede, fearing the worst, goes looking for her father assisted by her well-meaning teacher and a male classmate.

Set in a present day depressed neighbourhood in metropolitan Osaka the cinematography and soundtrack is well-crafted and intentional. The realness of the setting; a tidy but dated apartment with functional but old furniture and bedsheets, the absence of Tokyo glitz and the roughness of the low skilled worksite where Satoshi worked, give a sense that the kind and likable Satoshi and his headstrong daughter are battlers barely surviving the drudgery of everyday life. However, as the origins of Satoshi and Kaede’s home life are revealed, the story takes a series of unexpected turns and it quickly develops into a gripping thriller that touches ever so briefly on the complexities of assisted dying, suicide and murder. Just when you think real life problems are being thoughtfully explored it moves to something more dark. Katayama pushes the boundaries but only just too far. Just when you feel that you can manage the darkness, Katayama pushes a little bit more, though not enough for you to call it quits. I’m not well-aquainted with Japanese cinema but I found this a worthwhile challenge. Whilst not initially evident, the viewer warnings of heavy violence and adult themes are warranted. The performances of Aoi Itô, Jirô Satô & Hiroya Shimizu are faultless. Not too heavy in gore, this could be a tough watch for the uninitiated but I am glad that I did.

3.5/5 stars

I had managed a reconnaissance ride the day before so I was feeling more relaxed than if I was racing blind. However, my main concern was that not having ridden in an event in a few years that my rusty bike handling skills may not keep me upright throughout the race. There was a large parking section allocated for the race event and getting to the start line was pain free. Whilst all new to me, Anstey Hill is very popular for walkers and the general public and understandably so as its extremely green and lush in winter and very hilly. There seemed to be quite a good turn out of race participants and as is always the case with mountain bike events, everyone is relaxed and friendly. I think if you’re going to turn up to any sporting event as a total newby, have a go at a mountain bike event and you won’t feel too out of place. There will be others there in the same boat. There were participants older than me who were both faster and slower. Possibly thanks to the hugely successful Tour Down Under, road cycling is extremely popular in Adelaide but I’ve often considered mountain biking to be the poor cousin in terms of popularity. Hopefully this is changing and this event was a good sign.

As I take off from the start line without enough of a warm up I’m reminded of the adrenaline fueled high heart rate which can really impact on ones ability to ride hard for the full duration of the race. My average heart rate for the race was 172bpm peaking at 190bpm. There is a reason the pros are spinning on a trainer before the race kicks off. A younger first timer told me at the start line that he had squeezed in a full lap a shortly before race start which made sense as he sped off ahead of me subsequently passing the finish line first in Mens D grade. As I alluded to in my previous post, I haven’t had a positive experience with the XCO race format in the past but a few minutes into this race and I was pleasantly surprised that the rest of my grade weren’t hounding me impatiently close behind through the single track. I think I was placed somewhere in the middle of D grade from the start and for the most part I held my position. It wasn’t long before I was being lapped by A Grade riders but it wasn’t too stressful and everyone was courteous. I took the first lap fairly steady and didn’t try to push too hard and I was relieved that, as the race organisers said, there was nothing too gnarly. My trusty 26″ hardtail even coped ok with the rocky section.

Each lap was about 5 and a half km and took me somewhere between 20-25 minutes per lap. Whilst I think I was riding fairly hard at my level of fitness I wasn’t pushing to the limit. I do want to see how far I can go with my fitness and racing performance but I don’t want to lose my mind and crash out or suffer a heart attack. The experience was overwhelmingly positive, all the competitors on the track were courteous, it was a well-organised event and I definitely now have something to work towards. My goal for the three scheduled XCO races is to finish 3rd or better in D Grade so I’ll be back for round 2.

Mountain bike racing has finally resumed with the Adelaide Mountain Bike Club scheduling the XCO series due to kick off at Anstey Hill in the north east of Adelaide on June 28. Many years ago I attended a couple of races at Prospect Hill, a couple at Fox Creek (Cudlee Creek), one race at Craigburn Farm near Blackwood, one race at Mount Torrens and a few races at my least favourite location, Eagle Mountain near Crafers. I’ve never ridden at Anstey Hill so it will be all new and exciting for me. The XCO series is not my favourite event, being a little too intense and sharing the track with pros, semi pros and very serious enthusiasts can be quite nerve wracking. I have found that the enduro 4 and 6 hour events attract a much more mellow and relaxed crowd. If my ageing 26er is up to it its going to be great to put my new healthy lifestyle to the test with a new competitive edge. As I’ve said previously, I’m not a competitive person but my new goal is to see what this 40 something body is actually capable of. What better way to do it that organised bike racing. I’ve checked out some previous race results for Anstey Hill and it looks like the D Grade Mens (3 laps) will be around 1 hour of racing. Judging from my last XCO event all those years ago where I don’t recall finishing and regularly pulling over for serious bikers, I think D grade will suit me well. My aim is to ride as hard as I can for an hour and not finish last.

Getting the bike ready

after cleaning up my trusty 26 inch hardtail and checking the chain wear for the first time (quite a few years late), I discovered that the drivetrain was well past it and in need of either a replacement cassette and chain or an upgrade. I have enjoyed my full XTR groupset and I think it was well worth forking out the extra dollars for ease of use. My gears have always just worked as they are supposed to and I don’t recall ever needing to make adjustments. I did, however, fail to keep up with the maintenance and also didn’t prepare for the future by purchasing extra chains and cassettes. Unfortunately parts for 10speed XTR are no longer available so an upgrade is in order if at all possible. With a little encouragement from my friend Stefan who’s more knowledgeable than I and who knows I’m partial to going a little overboard with gear, the 1×11 groupset challenge was set. So I promptly headed to BMCR to see what master bike mechanic, Pete, had to say about the matter. As it turns out 1×11 is no longer available so Pete suggested some 1×12 options which included some fancy Shimano XTR parts – I think I’ll hold off on full XTR at this stage to see if I stick with the trusty 26 inch or are tempted to upgrade the wheel size with a totally new bike. Anyway, whilst I wait for parts to arrive I’ll be grinding away at my worn out groupset for the first and possibly even the second XCO race. I’m now eagerly awaiting a new 12 speed XTR derailleur, XTR 12 speed shifter, DT Swiss Rotor kit, XT 10-51 cassette and Wolf Tooth chainring to extend the life of my old bike for a couple more years.

I’ve discovered training programs in Zwift and I must say I am impressed with how well structured the training can be with ERG mode and there have only been a couple of glitches. I have been running Zwift from my iPhone which has a tendency to freeze/crash and I have also lost a few training rides due to my laziness. They eventually expire if you don’t use them in time. I now realise that I am struggling to stay motivated to train without having any events to prepare for and the monotony is getting a bit much. Anyway, I’m not giving up that easily. Thankfully event restrictions are easing in South Australia so bike racing can’t be that far away. I’m assuming that opening pubs will also mean bike racing can resume also. Oh and I almost forgot to mention how good the trainer is now that the gear changing has been professionally set-up by Pete at BMCR. Awesome job as usual from BMCR.

Digging out the old MTB

In preparation for mountain bike racing which I will need to practice for, I have spent half the day reviving my old 26″ mtb which hasn’t been used since its last Cape to Cape bike race in WA a couple of years ago. I’m not a competitive type but bike races are great motivators for getting out the house and active. Not only am I not competitive but the thought of bike training without a bike race/ride to prepare for is just something I’ve not previously been able to manage. Its for this reason…… and the social aspect of riding with good friends….. that I sign-up for the Tour Down Under Challenge Tour every year. However, year on year it hasn’t managed to motivate me to ride more or to improve my fitness on the bike. Anyway…. this has now changed and I’m eager to improve my speed and endurance. I’m not sure yet what my focus will be…. it could be 6hr endurance mountain bike events, road racing, cyclocross or track cycling. I am yet to find out.

Sleep

We’d all like to to get more sleep right? I’ve always considered myself to be a light sleeper often waking up multiple times during the night and looking at my phone for hours after waking at 4am. After stumbling across the Whoop band and the concept of sleep monitoring I thought that this was another area where I could improve my health. I thought the idea of monitoring sleep and recovery had merit but there was no way I was signing up to another subscription which seems to be the Whoop business model so I spoke to my friend Stefan about sleep monitoring with the Apple Watch which he has been doing for a while now. With my new Series 3 Apple Watch ($369) and an app called AutoSleep which was only about the price of a coffee and not a subscription, I have confirmed what I guess I already knew, booze keeps me awake all night. More specifically, alcohol significantly reduces my deep sleep. Thats assuming the watch is monitoring my sleep accurately. I’m not talking a lot of booze neither. After going WFPB I am now much more sensitive to alcohol and after one or two cans of pale ale (or 1-2 glasses of red) I’m done. Having previously been partial to binge drinking and murdering at least a couple of imperial pints in the first 30min, I am pleasantly surprised that I no longer want to finish off a whole six-pack of Coopers in one sitting. However, instead of suffering a hangover the day after drinking a few gallons of beer I now suffer a hangover immediately after two small cans of beer. I think the moral of the story is that alcohol is bad but I think I knew that already. The other surprise I learned is that I can actually sleep well for over 8 hours and get 2.5hrs of deep sleep. It remains to be seen if this translates to overall increased ability to train harder.

If you have any experience with sleep monitoring I’d be very keen to hear from you. Please comment below or send me an email using the contact form on my site.