Caine's Arcade

One of the sweetest and most heartwarming videos I've ever seen. My friend Ed showed me this a while back and I forgot about it. Just stumbled across it again today. To be honest I had something else planned for today's blog but my wifi failed me. However this is a fantastic alternative. I love finding short films like this on vimeo through friends and filmmakers.

Anyway check it out it'll bring a smile to your face if you watch the whole thing. It's a beautifully shot film with a lovely story.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Lots of Love!

You can also watch on vimeo here: http://vimeo.com/40000072

30 Days In...

I made 5 new years resolutions this year. I wrote them down in my reminders app on my phone so whenever I open it I see them. I have a fitness resolution, some creative ones and another personal couple. All of which I'm still doing, or planning to do. So far so good.

The top resolution simply says "Blog". I have kept this blog up for 30 days now, nearly the whole first month of January. I am proud, and a little surprised! Honestly, I was scared to share this with anyone. I thought that I would share it on day one, then forget to post or get frustrated with the idea and look silly in front of everyone who I had shared it with. Partly I think this is why it has become almost 2nd nature already to get thinking about my blog from the minute I wake up!

I am also very grateful to everyone who has had a read so far. Almost over 2,500 views already in 30 days, way more than I imagined. Thank you for that.

Part of my idea for this blog was to make it a creative collective, where people could send me little ideas or responses and deepen my thought on topics I have posted, or create completely new chains of thought. So far this hasn't happened, however I haven't really pushed the idea yet!

So here's my first attempt...


We are nearing the end of the first month of 2013. A year which I feel very positive about. So, this will be the last time I mention "New Years Resolutions" as such. Well, maybe not quite, because I want to know yours! I want to hear from you about if you had any resolutions. What were they? How have you done? Are they really personal, long-term, already completed or completely failed? If I get enough responses, I'll do a little follow up post discussing and sharing other people's progress etc!

If you feel like sharing please do! Email 3652013blog@gmail.com and sharesies! Attach any photos or links or anything you want! Hopefully hear from some of you soon.

You can also contact with anything else you wanna share! So hit me up! Let's talk!

Love.

Song For A Friend

Just sharing this because of my absolute love for it. It has been on repeat recently, though I have skipped the middle bit a few times. Jason Mraz is a massive inspiration for me in his creative ways, passion for life and the earth, health, fitness and spirituality. He writes powerful and thought provoking blogs at jasonmraz.com and obviously writes songs I love. I was lucky enough to watch Jason at the O2 in December for my birthday and I was stunned. The best, tightest and most professional yet entertaining live show I've ever had the pleasure of seeing.

Well you're magic he said
But don't let it all go to your head
Cuz I bet if you all had it all figured out
Then you'd never get out of bed
No doubt
Of all the thing's that I've read what he wrote me
Is now sounding like the man I was hoping
To be
I Keep on keeping it real
Cause it keeps getting easier, he'll see
He's the reason that I'm laughing
Even if there's no one else
He said, you've got to love yourself

You say, you shouldn't mumble when you speak
But keep your tongue up in your cheek
And if you stumble onto something better remember that it's humble that you seek
You got all the skill you need,
Individuality
You got something
You call it gumption
You call it anything you want
Because when you play the fool now
You're only fooling everyone else
You're learning to love yourself

Yes you are

There's no price to pay
When you give and what you take,
That's why it's easy to thank you
You...

Let's say take a break from the day
And get back to the old garage
Because life's too short anyway
But at least it's better then average
As long as you got me
And I got you
You know we'll got a lot to go around
I'll be your friend
Your other brother
Another love to come and comfort you
And I'll keep reminding
If it's the only thing I ever do
I will always love
I will always love you
Yes you
I will always, always, always, always love
I will always, always love
I will always, always love, love

Climb up over the top.
Survey the state of the soul.
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying.
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it. Take control and inevitably wind up
Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside of you.

Make It Happen

Today is the first day of 6 weeks back in my home town, Salisbury. At the end of these 6 weeks I'll be moving back to London in a new place! Pretty excited.

I don't intend on wasting these 6 weeks. If you have read this blog before you may have read this post in which I discuss my brother's self motivation techniques. Well, I've finally got round to joining in. Today I made this:

So I chose my phrase. I chose "make it happen" because it implies 'it' WILL happen. There's no 'try' there's no 'maybe'. It's a definite phrase. The only variable in there is that I have to MAKE it happen myself. I got a little creative with the sign, mainly because I found a pack of 4 different colour sharpies and a fresh sketchbook and I really wanted to use both.

I've also given myself a time limit, something to aim for. 40 days. Which is just under 6 weeks. 40 days to achieve my goal, or at least make huge steps in the right direction! I placed the note on my mirror. It's in the corner of my room, by the door. Basically impossible for it to be out of sight wherever I am in my room, and on my way in and out.

I hope this helps, I really think it will. And if all goes well I assume I will be doing a post on or around the 7th March explaining how it went! I guess you'll know either way ;).








In other news I've been listening to Take That all day.

BYE!

Gherkin

Busy day today moving house. But nice and positive day! Hope you are all having a good end to your weekend and looking forward to the week ahead.

Just a quick one today, here's a photo I snapped up on my way to Liverpool Street Station in east London. I really liked how the old buildings looked so unreal, even fake, in front of the Gherkin. Looked like a painting when I was there hopefully the picture captures it.

More DBD History

The last night for me in the mansion. My last night in London for 6 weeks. Here are a bunch of photos I scraped together from my old iPhone from the last 18 months. Really hard to find decent pics of the festivals etc. because well, I was usually on the other side of the camera...

First ever practice!

Summer was fun
 

Picking up the van!

Notting Hill Carnival 2011

Carnvial 2!

The night barnaby split my lip dancing.

First ever gig. Gloucester Guildhall 24/9/11.

Paris with Red One Nov '11

Chill

Paris studio December 15 2012

Recording a music video with Ant Brant and Carrie Fletcher

Dean moves in to his tiny room...

McFly tour again!

Download wristbands!

Wakestock festival 2012 CREW

The House Of Dreams?

As I draw ever nearer to my last 24 hours in chez Dive Bella Dive, I find myself reminiscing about some of the epic (and not so epic) things that have happened during my short 19 months here. Focusing mainly on the epic!

In the first week that I stayed here back in June 2011, I had just finished an arena tour and summer festival shows with City Stereo supporting McFly. The very first night we went to a club in Mayfair. To be honest none of us slotted in particularly well but we got to know each other over a few drinks and a kebab! Somehow, I really don't remember how, the second night was insane. We went to "Miss Asian Model 2011" in an underground club I have never even seen since. No idea where. We then went to the Kerrang! awards after party. Saw some friends there, met a ton of ridiculously awesome people. Played singstar with Barnaby & Oli Sykes for example. Mental.

Barnaby in Mayfair

Me, Max of youmeatsix and Barnaby at the Kerrang Awards

Life wasn't always as crazy as those first two nights though. After that first week together I went back home to continue touring with City Stereo. I then moved in for real in July. Since then we have done so many things that I have loved and I'm gonna throw a bunch of memories here...

The first time I took the guys to Salisbury. (via bournemouth beach!)
This was the first weekend we got the van!

Christmas Time Dean!

Recording Studio - Paris

Camden Barfly w/Dolly Rockers

Mine and Dan's top floor hotel room in Paris

In the studio with Red One, Paris

Sheffield, McFly tour 2012

Spend The Night video shoot!

Leeds O2 - McFly tour 2012

To be honest there's so many many more good times in this house. These are all in one folder on my computer so it made it easy for me!

Here's to the next chapter of our lives living separately. See what the next 18 months brings us! I'm excited.

Holy Cheat Day

Today is the first day of 2013 where this blog nearly passed me by! I nearly completely forgot about it. That's bad, right?

I have spent about 6 hours doing this:

Not really the ideal "get your creative juices flowing" activity. Though I did see some improvement in my game... briefly.

In fact, I haven't really had much of a day in the way of achievements. I have struggled to get myself in gear today and in fact, been quite the little grumpus this evening. I didn't make it to the gym for the first day in a long time either.

I guess today is my "cheat day". I haven't really done anything of note but I've had a good day anyway. And I think that's okay every now and then right? A cheat day. I like that idea. As long as I don't cheat every day then I'm still winning. I reckon.

One Of Those Days

"Too much to do and too little time" = today.

I have a blessed life. I get to do the job I've always wanted, with people I love and a large portion of the time I'm not very busy at all. Sure studio time and touring etc takes it out of you, but for the most part I'm lucky as hell and get to be free as a bird! As you have seen in this blog I'm lucky enough to get to spend some days just wondering the streets taking photos, or spend time surfing the web, reading, writing... No complaints here.

Today is a busy day though, for personal reasons rather than to do with "work". Today my list looked something like this:

1-Wake up at 9 [failed, 10:55]
2-Gym
3-Shower
4-Find iPhone 4
5-Find packaging for iPhone 4
6-Post iPhone 4
7-Help Joe move stuff to sisters house
8-Food Shopping
9-Start packing to move house
10-Pack old clothes for charity shop
11-Write blog
12-Organise ~20 people to get to a party tonight in Camden
13-Get to party on time

Somewhere in there I have already fit in 3 meals and am expecting my friend Russell to arrive any second. I haven't anywhere near prepared for moving. Fortunately I have 3 more days to do so. If you saw my photo yesterday of my cupboards, those are now empty. There's a whole load of stuff on the floor now though...

So as you see writing in this blog slipped right down to number 11 in my plans today. Some days it's one of only 2 or 3 things and the ideas flow all day about what to write. Today nothing came to me other than structuring my day, kicking ass and taking names. So that's what I'm sharing with you today. The incredible story of how I kicked Wednesday's ass, and ALMOST got all that stuff up there done between 11am and 5pm.

Not too bad for a lazy drummer.

So tonight I'm off to a Made In Chelsea party in Camden. That's right. You heard it here first. I am that cool.

Peas.



Edit: The title of this blog suggests so much negativity. There is no negativity here, not one bit. I had a great day. It's nice to feel like you've crammed a lot in and got shit done! I hope the rest of you get some sense of accomplishment in your today, it's a bitchin feeling. Good bye and good night!

Out With The Old

So this Sunday I am moving home to my mother's house for 6 weeks, before moving back up to a new flat in London. Until now I have put off even thinking about packing but to be honest, I had better start soon or I'm gonna be in trouble! There is a fair amount to sort...

Just one corner of the stuff I need to sort...

I have accumulated quite a lot of random objects whilst living with the band... I have a collection of citrus fruits from bars and gigs for example. A collection of citrus fruits that probably aren't worth transporting! Each drawer and section of cupboard space is full of old clothes and other random bits. Luckily, my room is one of the smallest in the house so I haven't had the opportunity to fill up a giant room like Barnaby, Sam and Dan have.

I quite like the thought of moving! Looking forward to the prospect of the new place, living in a new part of London and having a new clean slate of a bedroom to start again. Those are exciting things for me! I'm never afraid of a bit of a change, a new challenge and new daily routine in life! Plus, I get to go home, get my shit together and save a bit of money! Winner?

My half-finished photo wall will never be finished!

So, it's time to be ruthless with what items get to continue their existence in my life. Tomorrow I hope to throw away more than I save, for a really effective move and new start in a new pad! However, I have been known to keep things lying around for quite some time so I need to be strict with myself in what stays and what goes. The room I'm moving in to is slightly smaller than this one as well so the last thing I need is a cluttered room!

Wish me luck...

Snow Daze

About time I jumped on the bandwagon, right? I have been pretty snap happy during the last few days of snow to be honest! I have been all over various parts of London so there's quite a selection. Enjoy!

Kingston, 20/1

Ealing 20/1

People making a snowman! Kingston, 20/1

Crystal Palace vs Bolton Wanderers, 19/1

View from my window, 21/1 early morning

Snow runway 21/1

Sam Bartl drift triking! 18/1
 

Ed and his mannequin friend 18/1

Shooting in the snow, Ed, 18/1

Kennington, 18/1

My back garden, 19/1

Joe's a tall white mocha, I'm a short flat white. 18/1

Joe in Ealing, 18/1

DBD Van, 18/1

Ealing, 18/1

The coldest part of this whole weekend was that football game, SO cold. Hope whoever's had snow has enjoyed it!

How Bad Do You Want It?

I spent yesterday with my brother. We watched Crystal Palace vs Bolton and then went back to his house in Kingston. We had a pretty sweet day but that's not what I want to write about... 

We both have similar goals this year with regards to health and fitness, and motivating yourself to hit the gym every day can be quite tiring. Even though there's nothing quite like the feeling of a really good work out, getting out of bed early or going to the gym on a Friday night can be off putting. 

On Josh's wall, above his desk, he has a whiteboard. On that whiteboard he has the message "HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?" with reminders such as "Gym" and "Exams" underneath. The self motivation is up on the wall so you see it all the time, the message is always there! It's never something I've thought to do but I think it's genius. Subconsciously the message will always be bouncing around up in his head.

I'm sure many many people have their motivation tools up on the walls but I have never done it. However it's something I'm going to try now for sure. Just have to decide what phrase to use, or whether to just steal Josh's phrase straight up!

It's definitely working for him too, the boy has been training hard and working a lot. So hopefully I can use this tool for myself and not lag behind. Wish me luck wooooooo!



I'll let you know if it works.

Say hi to @joshuaeverest

A New Outlook

Last night I spent the night at my friend Ed Hobson's flat. The flat I will be moving into in March. Ed is a video/film editor, writer, director and I have worked with him many times on many projects small and large. We spoke through the evening about things we have created or plan on creating and we discussed this blog. The point of this blog, for me, is simple in a way - to force myself into daily creativity. To get into the habit of writing, photographing, videoing daily and make it 2nd nature. To be honest, so far so good, I am enjoying it! 

Last night Ed made a point, looking from a slightly different angle that I hadn't thought of. As he is a very creative person himself he knows that some days you just can't force anything out of your brain on to paper or screen, no matter how hard you try! He suggested that on a day where that may happen to me, I don't try and sugar coat it and force words into the blog. Instead I just post how frustrated I am, or bored, or blank and demonstrate the boredom or frustration through image. This is genius because it solves the problem immediately. The writing or depicting of the struggle to be creative, in itself is creative! Take a look at this video for example.

This kind of honesty in posting is surely better than trying to force something out on a topic that is not fully researched or thought about, or simply not got 100% of your heart in it. I'm sure this 5 minute conversation about the blog with Ed will change many of my future posts, as posting daily is sure to throw up the challenge of "What the hell can I possibly write today?" more than once!

So thanks for that, Ed. 

If you guys wanna check out some of Ed's work click the image below. There are many music videos, animations and short films. You'll also spot my face in a few of the music videos. It's his birthday on monday so you should probably check it out. His twitter is @edhobo1.

Happy weekend everyone!

Thanks & Chicken Nugget Challenge Update

A few days ago I wrote about Sam and Lewis' attempt at their version of a McDonald's Chicken Nugget Challenge... Last night I discovered that the video was complete!

I think we can all agree that the camera work on this video is off the chain good, and whoever shot it is a fantastic camera man.

Highlights of the video include Barnaby's pre-game interviews, Lewis' facial expressions, Sam's milkshake antics and... well, watch it to the end!

In other news it's snowing, and I'm gathering quite a collection of photos to put up here over the next few days. To anyone who is still reading this blog, thanks! I will endeavour to make it more and more interesting!! Leave a comment or facebook/tweet me if you have anything to say. Unless it's mean I don't want mean stuff. I'll cry.

Love.

Emirates Stadium Panorama

Had the pleasure of visiting the Emirates yesterday to watch Arsenal v Swansea with my buddy Tom. It was a rather stressful evening as far as football goes, seemed to take forever for the goal in the 86th minute to finally fall Arsenal's way, but when the goal was scored it sure felt good!! A cheeky 1-0 victory.

I did a panoramic photo just before kick off to show just how high we were and how epic the view was. Enjoy!

The Holstee Manifesto #1

I'll be honest I haven't yet done any research on this company. I have no idea what they do other than having written this manifesto. I will do some more research and find out at a later date. But for now here's something to ponder:

There are many fantastic parts of this that I plan to analyze over a few posts. Hence this is called #1! But for now I'm just reading and enjoying it. 

All credits are at the bottom of the image.

Commuters In Silence

Oxford Circus. 6pm. Hundreds of people on each corner waiting for trains and not one person saying a word to the other. A surreal moment!

If you've ever been on a tube platform between 6-7:30am it's disturbing. If you ever find yourself there take your headphones out and listen. Nothing. You will be rammed in with 500 other commuters who can't move except to turn the pages of their morning paper or skip track on their iPod, and no one says a word.

I'm not trying to make any point here, I'm just saying try it out. It's freaky.