Alan's Live space

Last weekend I had the opportunity to head up to Nottingham to paddle at Holme Pierrepont Slalom Course (HPP).

It's been a couple of years since I last paddled at HPP; that's what happens when you have a couple of (great) children!  It was like visiting a long lost friend, basically the same with some minor changes.  Paul, cK and I all enjoyed our time on the course and are looking forward to heading there again.

I recently learned that HPP is to get some major changes, for the low down head over to the Nottingham HPP whitewater course users group  http://hppconcern.wordpress.com/

I do hope that part of the changes will see a refurbishment of the building slalom control, this building holds the toilets and showers for course users and it's not got better with age.

Looking at the latest information Holme Pierrepont plans finally revealed, I'm not sure that I'm happy with what is being proposed.  From a playboaters perspective there are only a couple of spots on the current course worth travelling for.  One of these is the fun play hole The Muncher.  Looking at these plans this play feature will be gone for ever and I'm not convinced that the Omniflot (plastic bollards) system is going to provide a great replacement.

If the BCU push on with their plans, the course is going to be changed forever come December, I may have to plan a trip end of November to say goodbye :-(

This film is total rubbish, don't go.

Jen and I got a rare chance to go to the cinema, due to the time we got to the cinema we only had a couple of options.  Jen is a fan of the first two Mummy films, so we went for the third iteration.

A big mistake, The Mummy suffers from a boring script that seems to pull on the latest Indy film, with a strong play on a parent-child relationship.  As with the Indy film, this relationship is very one dimensional, mainly used for some poor jokes and pulls away from the central theme of the film series.

Jet Li is uninspired in the Mummy's role and looses a fight to Brendan Fraser that undermines the fighting strength and style of Jet Li and his character.

In short, don't bother watching this, even if you can see it for free.

In follow up to What happened to Freestyle by James Farquharson, I've just been watching the promo video for Steve Fisher's new film, Black Book.

Steve Fisher is an amazing boater that has invented some of the more impressive freestyles moves and watching this small promo video, I've spotted a couple more to try when Hurley and Shepperton come back on this winter.

Watch the promo video over at: http://www.slproductions.tv/blackbook_trailer/blackbook_highres.mov

Happy boating.

James has written an interesting and as usual with James a pointed poke at the world of Freestyle Kayaking.  One thing James fails to mention was his own involvement in the sport and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

Part 1 - http://jamesfarquharson.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/what-happened-to-freestyle-part-1/

Part 2 - http://jamesfarquharson.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/what-happened-to-freestyle-part-ii-dadageddon/

I love kayaking and freestyle in particular however, I do find myself agreeing with his commentary with a few personality exceptions.  I do miss the excitement of needing to buy new equipment every 6 months, especially kayaks in order to learn the latest moves.  A really great, fun time that I would love to see again.

Sam has done a great review of SPSS Reporter 5.5 on his blog, if you're interested in this stuff, head over to http://www.surveyxtreme.com/?p=47 to check it out.