This picture, my friend, is the last ever picture that anyone will see me doing Tae Kwon Do. Indeed the contest that was held today did not go as planned at all.
First, I fought against the coach of a friendly school, which always makes me uncomfortable since this is a full-contact sport where you score points by kicking people. Second of all, I might be in good enough shape for the gym, but for the ring, no. The excitement, adrenaline and all quickly spent the limited energy I had in my legs and I gave a pretty poor show.
Third of all, the ending. Second round, I’m loosing 6-2. Not that it’s surprising. I’m so tired that I’ve stopped kicking and because my opponent doesn’t kick that hard, I’m quite happy to stay put and get kicked, only moving for the headshots. When I saw the score at one point, I literally said to myself: “ah..fuck it.. This is actually quite nice, I think I’ll just relax ad try not to get to battered.” But then, we were getting warnings because we were not fighting much (guess my opponent was tired too!) so we had to do something. My opponent decided for a spinning hook kick to my head. I bounced back and went in as he was falling and threw a roundhouse kick. I got him on the head.
End of competition, I’m declared the “winner".
Seeing a father of 2 get carried out on a stretcher with an oxygen mask is not cool. Knowing you did it is even less cool.
Then, the fighter’s dad came in giving me shit because he said that I was having a laugh about his son when I walked out. Actually, what happened was I came out of the ring and stared at a spectator and my lovely wife. The spectator in order to ease the tension said something with a smile so I had a nervous laugh and told my wife: “don’t show this tape to your dad, he’ll think I’m mad!” and had another nervous laugh.
I was so furious that this man might think that I could be disrespectful and take such a serious K.O lightly that I went to see him and he got all agitated and rude to me. To his left, I could see the fighter’s daughter. Cute little 2-3 year old. Looking terrified. She looked like she was probably thinking: “Oh no! The evil man that beat up my dad is now going to attack my grand-dad!” So I just walked away and looked at the last few fights thinking to myself, yup..These are the last fights I’ll ever see.
And it broke my heart.
When I stepped into the car this morning, I thought to myself “This is your last competition, mate” Didn’t’ t tell Nickie or anything.. I was just pleased with the idea. My plan was to not keep stretching all day like a lot of the new lot do. Just relax, encourage the kiddies and hopefully have a nice “relaxed” fight, hopefully win but in either case, walk out with a few applauds and people smiling at me.
Then I’d be back at the club on Tuesday, people smiling saying “good fight” or something and then I could concentrate on simply keeping fit and coaching the younger ones.
But nothing worked as planned and I’m not going back.
And that’s that.
Please, don’t question me anymore on the subject, as I would really not that about it after this blog entry.
Thank you for understanding.
I have enough of a stupid trophy to remind me of that day.
(P.S: just got a phone call. The man is “alright". The doctors told him he could not drive so his wife has brought him back home where he can rest.)
Sunday, 30 January 2005
Wednesday, 26 January 2005
Join the Revolution!
My next camera!
One thing you might notice of my blog, for now is: the abscence of pictures.
The reason is quite simple. After I went on that rant about how tiresome I found doing my website, I went onto photosig and looked around a bit.. Then went on my website.. then went into iPhoto and noticed something that sucked quite badly: I didn’;t take a picture I truly liked ever since I got rid of my film camera.
Now some people might think I’m crazy as 90% of people seem to embrace the revolution of digital photography. But me, I hate it.
First of all, any techno geek with no knowledge of light can take a crap picture and turn it into something a head turning pic. That’s not photography, that’s computer assisted imagery.
I hate it because pixels don’t have the “organic” personality that make all the difference between a velvial and a provia, iso 80 or 1000.. yet people seem to have forgotten already. They have forgotten the pleasure of just going out on a walk with your equipment, body, filter and all simply to look for something to shoot and try to render not only what you saw, but also what you felt.
BUT! There is hope for all of you’s, like me, who can’t actually deal too well with endless streams of script: I’M GETTING A NEW CAMERA!!
Yes, you read right. The Board of Directors (Nickie) has allowed a part of the budget to go in photography again!
IU was having a bit of a moan the other fday on the Photosig forum about how I hated digital really, a bit like I’m doing now but worse, and right there appeared my wife, like an angel, surrounded by a halo of light saying: Why don’t you buy a film camera? We can afford it with all the cuts you’ve made!
How great is that?!
I had sold my trusty F60 in order to save money because I was taking loads of pictures when I first met Nickie. I changed it by a digital and the savings were immediate! Our first trip: Quebec in Winter! The result? The stupid digital camera couldn’t deal with it. Imagine if I had my F60 and would have taken tons of beautiful pics I’d have to print.. But the time of darkness has come to an end!
Finished the time where I have to spend pointless hours trying to fix pictures on Photoshop, only to have to colors verified by someone. Finished the times when I would want to take a shot and think: this looks like shit. My polarising filter would make it so much better..and imagine in 28mm.
And NO! Photoshop’s Gaussian blur is NOT the same thing as a Diffuser Filter!
But thankfully, my wonderful wife knows that and is understanding, so “soon, you’ll hear me even happier than ever and shooting more pics like this:
One thing you might notice of my blog, for now is: the abscence of pictures.
The reason is quite simple. After I went on that rant about how tiresome I found doing my website, I went onto photosig and looked around a bit.. Then went on my website.. then went into iPhoto and noticed something that sucked quite badly: I didn’;t take a picture I truly liked ever since I got rid of my film camera.
Now some people might think I’m crazy as 90% of people seem to embrace the revolution of digital photography. But me, I hate it.
First of all, any techno geek with no knowledge of light can take a crap picture and turn it into something a head turning pic. That’s not photography, that’s computer assisted imagery.
I hate it because pixels don’t have the “organic” personality that make all the difference between a velvial and a provia, iso 80 or 1000.. yet people seem to have forgotten already. They have forgotten the pleasure of just going out on a walk with your equipment, body, filter and all simply to look for something to shoot and try to render not only what you saw, but also what you felt.
BUT! There is hope for all of you’s, like me, who can’t actually deal too well with endless streams of script: I’M GETTING A NEW CAMERA!!
Yes, you read right. The Board of Directors (Nickie) has allowed a part of the budget to go in photography again!
IU was having a bit of a moan the other fday on the Photosig forum about how I hated digital really, a bit like I’m doing now but worse, and right there appeared my wife, like an angel, surrounded by a halo of light saying: Why don’t you buy a film camera? We can afford it with all the cuts you’ve made!
How great is that?!
I had sold my trusty F60 in order to save money because I was taking loads of pictures when I first met Nickie. I changed it by a digital and the savings were immediate! Our first trip: Quebec in Winter! The result? The stupid digital camera couldn’t deal with it. Imagine if I had my F60 and would have taken tons of beautiful pics I’d have to print.. But the time of darkness has come to an end!
Finished the time where I have to spend pointless hours trying to fix pictures on Photoshop, only to have to colors verified by someone. Finished the times when I would want to take a shot and think: this looks like shit. My polarising filter would make it so much better..and imagine in 28mm.
And NO! Photoshop’s Gaussian blur is NOT the same thing as a Diffuser Filter!
But thankfully, my wonderful wife knows that and is understanding, so “soon, you’ll hear me even happier than ever and shooting more pics like this:
Sunday, 23 January 2005
So what's new?
Quite a bit, actually.
These days, I’m working on my Numeracy module in University. Quite honestly, it’s the kind of module that I dreaded and kept me away from Uni, but I’m in now and the last grade I got (2.1) can only encourage me to continue. Anyways, our future literally depends on me succeeding at this. Also, I’ve always wanted a degree anyways so might as well get a good one!
Also, we got our bamboo floors installed in the lounge. Truly looks amazing! Combined with the brown leather sofa, chrome, wall-mounted cd rack and all, it makes for a really nice, relaxing environment! “Looks Feng Shui!” as Nickie said.
;)
Another thing is that I was reminded yesterday that I was fighting on Sunday. Now let’s consider this: I’m not super fit. My legs and back are really tight these days, I haven’t been in a fight in 4 years now. I’M SURE TO WIN!!
: D
Another exciting thing is that Nickie, her parents and myself are going to Quebec in February! From the Carnaval de Quebec to the Verdun Dragons, going down hills on tubes and visiting ice hotels, it’s going to be a fun filled family holiday for sure!
Anyways. Got to go now! My sister-in-law is coming for a visit.
Talk to you later!
These days, I’m working on my Numeracy module in University. Quite honestly, it’s the kind of module that I dreaded and kept me away from Uni, but I’m in now and the last grade I got (2.1) can only encourage me to continue. Anyways, our future literally depends on me succeeding at this. Also, I’ve always wanted a degree anyways so might as well get a good one!
Also, we got our bamboo floors installed in the lounge. Truly looks amazing! Combined with the brown leather sofa, chrome, wall-mounted cd rack and all, it makes for a really nice, relaxing environment! “Looks Feng Shui!” as Nickie said.
;)
Another thing is that I was reminded yesterday that I was fighting on Sunday. Now let’s consider this: I’m not super fit. My legs and back are really tight these days, I haven’t been in a fight in 4 years now. I’M SURE TO WIN!!
: D
Another exciting thing is that Nickie, her parents and myself are going to Quebec in February! From the Carnaval de Quebec to the Verdun Dragons, going down hills on tubes and visiting ice hotels, it’s going to be a fun filled family holiday for sure!
Anyways. Got to go now! My sister-in-law is coming for a visit.
Talk to you later!
Saturday, 22 January 2005
Life's Good!
Well. I’m back!
Thanks to my old friend Vinnie (see links to the right.) I’ve got my own blog space back online. I’m going to be using this site more than my .Mac site because I have so much happening these days that I couldn’t possibly upload pics and update my website all the time because it is hard work and when a hobby which should be something we do for our enjoyment becomes a headache, it’s not a hobby anymore, it’s a bloody job! And because I already have so many time consuming interests, see links to right again, I figured these quick text updates would be much better.
For those who don’t know that well yet, my name is Ioan and I’m a Quebecer.
To make a long story short, I was born in 1977 (but my family tree goes down to the 15th century) in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and had a fairly confused life until I met a wonderful woman which I thought was so great, I just had to marry and move to Wales where I live today. Not only did I find a wonderful companion, but also since we’ve met, my whole life changed! New country, new career, newly found academic skills, the whole lot! It was like winning the lottery! If you want more details, just email me. But basically, here is where you’ll be able to follow me in my little adventure through life, pushing forward and chasing dreams.
Hope you enjoy!
Thanks to my old friend Vinnie (see links to the right.) I’ve got my own blog space back online. I’m going to be using this site more than my .Mac site because I have so much happening these days that I couldn’t possibly upload pics and update my website all the time because it is hard work and when a hobby which should be something we do for our enjoyment becomes a headache, it’s not a hobby anymore, it’s a bloody job! And because I already have so many time consuming interests, see links to right again, I figured these quick text updates would be much better.
For those who don’t know that well yet, my name is Ioan and I’m a Quebecer.
To make a long story short, I was born in 1977 (but my family tree goes down to the 15th century) in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and had a fairly confused life until I met a wonderful woman which I thought was so great, I just had to marry and move to Wales where I live today. Not only did I find a wonderful companion, but also since we’ve met, my whole life changed! New country, new career, newly found academic skills, the whole lot! It was like winning the lottery! If you want more details, just email me. But basically, here is where you’ll be able to follow me in my little adventure through life, pushing forward and chasing dreams.
Hope you enjoy!
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