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Ramble = — Walk for pleasure — Talk or write at length

Journeys

Contents A ramble with Daniel Edmund Success The Legend of Llyn-y-Fan Fach A walk along the Brecon Beacons horseshoe Vince Low Norm Architects Richard Gaston Iceburg 72 Hours Utilitarian living Thomas Hobbs Mike Brodie

50 Steps Step by Step by Step Objects A ramble with Josh Gleave

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“Inside the city there is a Lake which has a compass of some 30 miles: and all

Daniel Edmund goes on a ramble

Last year I started my own company called Milk for Tea which is a company that brings people together to speak about issues that affect the male community. We put on various events in creative spaces that help open the discussion on things that men in some ways are struggling with. As a part of our growth and development last year the team and I went to London for LCM (men’s fashion week). While I was there I was hoping to meet Nick Hart of Spencer Hart while I was there as I’m a great admirer of his brand.

I set off for LCM last June with an itinerary that included London for LCM and Florence right after for Pitti Uomo which is an Italian menswear trade show. I had no real idea what I was in for but to me that’s all a part of an adventure. A bit of risk, a bit of the unknown and hopefully a whole lot of fun.

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around it are erected beautiful palaces and mansions, of the riches and most

LCM came and went and though I had an amazing time I hadn’t met Nick Hart and wondered when I would ever get the chance to run into him if not in London during one of the biggest menswear events of the year. Regardless, with slightly jaded eyes from the copious amounts of booze that Fashion Week supplied I boarded my classy, high caliber Easy Jet flight to Pisa to then take the coach to Florence (its much cheaper that way!). When I arrived in Pisa the first thing that struck me was the dense, almost overbearing heat. How was I suppose to wear a suit in this weather? “All the old school Italians do so I have to” I thought to myself. After collecting my luggage at the gates of eternity that is baggage claim I headed to the coach stand to buy my ticket.

The Lady at the ticket stand sold me a return ticket to Florence from Pisa and instructed me to wait in the very long que that seemed to be building outside of an already full coach. My maths aren’t amazing but I knew that the coach I was waiting for was already 110% full and there were a plethora of people waiting to board. On top of all of that I was at the back of that very long que, so far back that no one else was behind me.

This would have probably been a bit more bearable if I didn’t have an engagement in Florence that started in 2 and a half hours.

The other people in the que for the coach and I had finally caught on that the coach stand had (highly) over sold tickets to this particular coach. While I waited in the blazing Italian (more like African) heat I noticed two of the people I was with speaking to a few of the gentlemen in front of us. I happened to look down at the suit carrier that one of the gents was holding which read “Spencer Hart”, I looked up to the man in front of me who had now turned around and to my utter surprise Nick Hart was there standing right in front of me!

My heart skipped a beat or two and I immediately put my game face on and prepared myself to meet him. I quickly checked to make sure I had my business cards in my pocket and once I was sure I did I moved myself forward to speak. Did I know Journeys what I was going to say? Not fully. Did I have time to worry about that? No, not at all.

exquisite structures that you can imagine, belonging to the nobles of the city. There

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As soon as I found a gap in Nick’s conversation with his colleague I went up to him and introduced myself as Daniel Edmund from Milk for Tea. I was shocked again when I found out that Nick had heard of Milk for Tea already. We spoke about depression, anxiety and the pressures men face in modern day along with fashion, travel and tailoring. At the end of the conversation I asked for his email to get in touch about interviewing him for the site, he agreed. We finished our conversation and left as both of our parties had decided it was probably best to take a taxi to Florence.

I learned a lot from this experience. Firstly, I learned that showing up and being prepared is more than half the battle.

Sometimes we want things in life but we’re not willing to position ourselves to get them. Second, be ready for an adventure. And lastly, life is a journey, enjoy it.

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are also on its shores many abbeys and churches of the Idolaters. In the middle of

Success A Journey

Your journey to success is a pathway that only you and you alone can take, it is paved with gold as well as a little black and blue. The truly valuable lessons are in the learning and in the acquisition of all the necessary requisite tools, to not only make manifest your desires, but to also assist in the development of your well of resources. These will be resources that you will always have, and will be tools that you can use to help others achieve, what you too have been able to achieve.

Taking inspired and motivated action to get out of your current groove is the first step in living and enjoying the life you’ve always dreamed of, the life you are capable of. So if you want to change your life, start with ‘changing your mind.’ Positively!

There is no better time to initiate positive action than right now.

Plan and prepare, develop confidence in your research and preparedness. Don’t allow yourself to become petrified and immobilized by indecision. Realize that the time has come and you must act. If you hesitate, doubts will set in, continue

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the Lake are two Islands, on each of which stands a rich, beautiful and spacious

to skulk and then turn into fear. You may falter a little. Yes, you may experience rejection. And yes, you may fail and fail you should, temporarily. That’s life. Life’s winners accept that in attempting to achieve their desires, they may have to modify accordingly and even begin again and perhaps again.

The difference between successful people and those that just don’t get it is not whether you make mistakes or even provisionally fail, but how you respond to your failures, and that you pick yourself up after each fall and continue on.

Indeed, a positive mental attitude is the consequence of a life devoted to self-improvement and to passionate service. With a personal pledge to doing and being your best today, you mustn’t be overly concerned for the morrow. You can be self-assured that excellent things will happen and be equally confident that if difficulty arrives, you will have the mind, the might, the tools and the proficiency to muddle through, take control and then triumph over. You are resilient. You keep on keeping on. You don’t allow the concept of doubt to annihilate your dreams.

Unless you outline/configure your own life, circumstances and events will outline/configure your life for you. You must work, sacrifice, invest, persist and persevere to get the outcome you desire. Choose well. You can’t plan your journey until you know where your destination lies.

You are the sculptor, the master craftsman of your own image and self-concept. Have others already achieved what you want to achieve? Is there somebody in any walk of life that you really revere and have a high regard for? Analyze them and do what they did, it is called replication. Start anywhere, at anytime, and endure till the end. Believe in yourself and your innate abilities. Have the self-confidence to challenge your current state of affairs. This is your life to live; it’s little by little, day by day and step by step.

Judiciously write down your goals. A mere three percent of people have written goals and only one percent reviews those written goals daily. Be in that elite one percent. Visualize the attainment of your goals often. Goals are dreams with dates attached. You will only become as great and as happy as the goals you choose - again I say “Choose Well”... it is imperative!

It’s not going to be a cakewalk. You will have to emerge from your comfort zone to discover your inherent, but most likely latent potentials, and be open to receive the inevitable opportunities lying in wait for you. You have to overcome your fears and take the necessary calculated risks to overtake them. You must

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edifice, furnished in such style as to seem fit for the palace of an Emperor. And

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when any one of the citizens desired to hold a marriage feast, or to give any other

remain laser-focused and persevere despite the obstacles you will encounter along the way.

Success doesn’t come quick; it doesn’t come easy and should be painful enough to elicit deep introspection. It requires heart and soul; it requires passion and an unfailing burning desire.

It will most assuredly also take considerable time before you can actually harvest the fruits of your labor, but you will reap what you sow trust me!

But how do you actually survive this phase? This is the period when you’re working extremely hard to achieve your goals. This is also the best illustration of your mettle, when you must endure whatever adversity comes your way. The time has come for you to work harder, dig deeper, and sacrifice more to attain your ambitious desires. Remember the Law of Attraction: You attract into your life that which represents your true aspirations; you will only get what you give. This is law!

So what must you do? Discover the beauty of your current conditions, because wherever you go, there you are. Become a witness to the positive side of life, don’t just observe, develop a testimony. Become passionate. Love your family, your boss, your coworkers, your friends, and even strangers. Again, It won’t be easy; nevertheless nothing - and I whole-heartedly mean nothing - is at all impossible with iron-clad will power.

Balance is the key. Dream a big dream, taking positive action to move you onward and upward toward your goals. Remember; take it one step at a time. However while you’re slowly creeping along the long and winding journey to success, be patient and remain as enthusiastic as possible. Enjoy the journey; after all, it is your life. Eventually, you will attain what you have so patiently longed for. Steadfastly remain humble.

The rewards for humility are vast and far-reaching.

Okay, so here we are, are you ready to begin the journey? If so, then initiate it with the bravery, the audacity and the desire to improve your life. Stay alive, be persistent, enthusiastic and hold to the iron rod of positive thought, of astute positive thinking, and resolve to help others on their upward climb, on their journey to success, as well.

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entertainment, it used to be done at one of these palaces. And everything would be

The Legend of Llyn-y-Fan Fach The 14th century Red Book of Hergest, one of the most ancient manuscript volumes in existence, contains a tale set which begins beside Llyn-y-Fan Fach, the lake below the peak of Black Mountain in the west of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The same tale is recorded in Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh folktales that date back to medieval times.

According to the story, a Carmarthenshire farmer once saw a beautiful woman sitting on a rock in Lyn-y-Fan Fach. After three attempts to woo her, she agreed to marry him if he promised to treat her well. If he were to strike her three times without cause, she said, she would return to the lake.

The farmer made his promise and took her down to the village of Myddfai to live with him as his wife.

The time came for the christening of their first child. The farmer was overjoyed, but the lady cried because, through her magical instincts, she knew the baby would be harmed by the sun. Misunderstanding, the farmer tapped her lightly to bring her round.

Later, she cried at a wedding because she knew the bridegroom would soon die. Again, the farmer tapped her lightly to bring her to her senses.

Finally, she laughed at the bridegroom’s funeral because she knew his suffering was over and she was happy for him. And the farmer tapped her again.

Immediately, the lady sped back to the lake. The farmer, powerless to stop her, was left heartbroken, destined to bring up their three sons alone.

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found there ready to order, such as silver plate, trenchers, and dishes [napkins and

As the sons grew up, it became clear that they had inherited their mother’s magical knowledge and powers. They could have used these to become great warriors, but chose instead to become the first in a long line of great healers.

Using natural products gathered from the surrounding area, the Physicians of Myddfai created cures and remedies for headaches, sunburn, swellings, coughs and sneezes. Some of these ancient remedies are recorded in the Red Book of Hergest. The book itself currently belongs to Jesus College, Oxford, and is kept in the Bodleian Library.

Some believe that the myth of Llyn-y-Fan Fach gave rise to another famous tale – the Arthurian legend of the Lady of the Lake and Excalibur.

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table-cloths], and whatever else was needful. The King made this provision for the

A Walk Along the Brecon Beacons Horseshoe I had wanted to come to the Brecon Beacons to climb Pen y Fan, but the longer route in the Pathfinder Guide they call the Brecon Beacons Horseshoe, which takes in Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du, certainly appealed to me, so I decided to do that rather than trying to follow the route of The Fan Dance this time. I will be back to do that very soon. We had decided that I would set off early to do this walk, returning in time to take a shorter walk with Debbie before she was due to have her spa treatment at the Nant Ddu Lodge, so I had packed everything ready the night before, and made do with drinking my fizzy vitamin C and taking my supplements before setting off from the Lodge at just before 0700 – I would eat some breakfast along the way.

The day was clear as I drove the 20 minutes to the Cwm Gwdi Training Camp car park, and the sun was pushing to come through as I parked in the upper car park, which, as you will read at the end of this blog, is something I might change if I was to do this walk again. The best way to get to the car park from the A470 is to head to postcode LD3 8LE and then keep driving forward until you see signs for Cwm Gwdi on your right. I was setting off in my baselayer and Vapour-Rise Lite Alpine jacket from Rab. I swear by them in any weather, and if it was to suddenly rain I had my Mountain Equipment Fitzroy jacket which defies all weather. I was also wearing my Paramo boxer shorts, my North Face Paramount Peak Ramblin’

gratification of his people, and the place was open to every one who desired to give

convertible trousers, my Scarpa ZG10 GTX boots, my red Mountain Equipment beenie and my Outdoor Designs layeron gloves. I had my map, compass, first aid kit, spare bootlaces, headtorch and Gortex bivi bag, just in case, and had packed my rucksack with all sorts of energy bars and a bottle of water with a couple of Zero High5 citrus tablets. Yes, I was taking this seriously, and my rucksack weighed about 12 pounds. I set off at about 0720.

I crossed a stile at the end of the upper car park and turned left and came back on myself as I headed down to cross the Nant Gwdi. I do wonder if I had crossed the correct stile but I ended up where I needed to be, and it would not be the last time on this outward stretch when I wondered if I had quite taken the correct route. I followed a path up through trees, keeping the brook on my right, and when I emerged into open ground I went to the left to contour around the base of Allt Ddu, and I cannot help feeling that I actually contoured around at too low a level because when I came to the turn in the base and turned right to follow a clear path into Cwn Sere it did seem that I had to climb up to reach that clear path in the first place.

The National Trust board in the car park had stated that this was the hard way to the top of Pen y Fan, and I just seemed to be making it a little bit harder still. Anyway, now that I had found the path I was able to follow it very easily while enjoying the views up the valley to Cribyn and Pen y Fan. The sky was light and clear enough and now the wind began to blow up something of a gale, and the ground I was covering felt very exposed. When I said I could follow the path “very easily”, I meant it was easy to see, and not that it was easy to walk. It was hard, uneven terrain, tough walking and full of all sorts of ground features, and it is very easy to understand why the British Army would use the Brecon Beacons as a training area – if you want to produce the best then this would certainly be the place to test them, to get them to prove themselves, especially because I sensed I was still actually on one of the easier parts of the walk, so who knew what was to come. Well, I did, because I had looked at the contours on the map. The path drops to meet the Nant Sere above some waterfalls, and for my potential third mistake of the walk so far, I think I carried on too far before dropping down to cross the stream above the falls. I could see where I was heading, and in the clear light it was far too easy to see the bulk of Cribyn looming over me, and I was trying to take as direct a route as possible to reach the track which would take me to the summit of that first peak. Having said that it was far too easy to see Cribyn, I had not missed the point that the peak of Pen y Fan was covered in mist from time to time as I progressed.

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an entertainment. Sometimes there would be at these palaces an hundred different

So I crossed the stream and began to make my way up the steep hillside beyond, and while ‘steep’ seems like an understatement to me, it did not seem to affect a horse I had seen earlier on the other side of the Nant Sere and which was now grazing above me. A crow wandered over, clearly waiting for me to die on this hill, never having made it to the mountain.

I stopped to eat a couple of cereal bars for breakfast, and I had been fortunate enough to attend a work meeting at a De Vere hotel during the week, so had been able to pick up a few of their Verve Deli Rocket Bars. I ate one of those and the chocolate almond fudge Clif Bar I had received as part of my goody bag from The Wolf Run. I also drank some of my Zero High5 water and pushed on up the hill. It was steady going before I eventually reached a track which was contouring around the side of Cribyn, and I followed it back to where the base of Cribyn met the top of this hill, to find the path which runs along Bryn Teg, and turning right on to that I could see the route which would take me to the summit of Cribyn.

My thoughts of how steep the hillside had been disappeared, because it was as nothing compared to what was now ahead of me. I pushed on and the track seemed to just keep on getting steeper as it got closer to the top, so I was glad at how my legs dealt with it.

It was tough but I was determined to be tougher, so I kept going, one foot in front of the other, plugging away, and I could hear some chatter coming from the summit. Eventually I came over the top and was now at 795 metres. It had taken me about 2 and a half hours to get to this stage, I had not encountered anyone else until now, and as I came to the summit one of the women in the small group of three already there exclaimed “Where did you come from?”, so I showed them on my map as she shared some Haribo with me. They had come up from The Storey Arms and were going to continue in the opposite direction from me. The man in the group very kindly took my photo as I stood at the cairn at the summit, told me it was about half an hour from here to the summit of Pen y Fan, and then just ten minutes from there to Corn Du, and very soon we departed in our respective directions, but not before I had taken in all of the views around me, including the Black Mountains and Fan y Big, and not just the stunning view of Pen y Fan. And as it turned out, it was fortunate I did take in the views from this peak.

I turned right from the direction I had come from to reach the summit, and headed along a clear, broad, bricked path, heading steeply down into a col, being careful not to go too fast and fall in my enthusiasm.

I met another group of 4 walkers as I headed down, and we Ramblin’

Brecon Beacons Horseshoe 4 - 5 hours 9 miles (14.4 km)

parties; some holding a banquet, others celebrating a wedding; and yet all would find

exchanged greetings as I rushed past them – I felt refreshed and eager to make up time after passing over Cribyn. I had to be back at Nant Ddu Lodge by a certain time, and if I could make it through Pen y Fan to Corn Du in the 40 minutes suggested to me then I could keep on with my planned route and be confident of finishing it in time. If not, I would have to plot a shorter route back to the car. I had an excellent view of to my left of the Neuadd Reservoirs as I descended, crossed some water at the bottom and then began the climb up the other side. This was another steep climb, gradually bending at times, with the path firm underfoot and stepped, and always giving excellent views of my target, Pen y Fan. I passed another group of 4 walkers and again we exchanged pleasantries, with the last in the group saying I was a quarter of the way there, to which I responded I had better have gone further than that!

I kept moving on at a steady pace, keeping it going, not pushing too fast, my legs feeling fine and before long I was very near to the summit, climbing through rocks now but not with any difficulty, and met another 2 walkers at the top. They were putting on an extra outer layer because in the short time it had taken me to get here from Cribyn the weather had come in and it was getting colder as the mist spread across the land. I stayed to chat awhile with them before climbing the last few steps to a track which led to the cairn that marks the summit. The mist had fallen and I could not see the cairn from the very edge of the summit as I came over the top, only seeing it appear as I made my way up the track. A group of young walkers reached the summit around the same time as me and one of them very kindly took my photo at the cairn, but I did not hang around to take in the views because there were none to be seen through the mist. I had indeed been fortunate to see what I did from Cribyn, but despite having no views to show for it, I was now at 886 metres and at the highest point in Britain south of Snowdonia. I set off to the left from the direction I had arrived and this was where I encountered the most traffic of the day, as I walked down the trail towards a fork which would take me to Corn Du. I could see the track ahead of me and little else as I dropped down before ascending again, passing a couple who told me I was about 20 metres from the summit of Corn Du. This down and up had very much been slight in comparison to that between Cribyn and Pen y Fan. The flat summit of Corn Du felt dark by now because of the mist, and I only stopped very briefly at the sprawling cairn before pushing on from being at 873 metres. I was feeling very good after having crossed the three summits, and having ticked off some new mountains in April.

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good accommodation in the different apartments and pavilions, and that in so well

It had been very tough getting to the peak of Cribyn, tough again making the ascent to Pen y Fan, and then easy to cut across to Corn Du and I did not feel exhausted or incapable of completing this walk, and I did not feel that my rucksack was heavy. In fact, I was now confident that I would complete the walk in a shorter time than that set out in the guidebook. So, I should ask myself am I ready to take on The Fan Dance? Not even close! So the training must continue, and the best way to keep that training going and to monitor it will be to come back to climb Pen y Fan many more times, so it is not all bad.

I had made good enough time to stick to my originally planned route, so carried on in the same direction I had taken to reach the summit of Corn Du and could see the path I needed to take from there, which began with a steep descent before continuing along the escarpment above the small lake of Llyn Cwm Llwch, although at times the lake was shrouded in the mist and hardly visible. I passed a few groups of walkers coming the other way and this is clearly a popular route to the top, possibly because it brings together a few routes and is not as steep as the other ascents I had taken so far this morning. The mist was slowly starting to clear as I got lower and as I approached it I could easily see the obelisk memorial to Tommy Jones, the five year old boy whose body was found here in 1900 after he became lost in the dark.

I stayed a while in silent contemplation. I kept following the path which ran along the edge, and as the mist cleared I enjoyed better views of the lake from its left-hand side, then as the path curled round to the right I had a spendid view of the natural amphitheatre formed by Corn Du and Pen y Fan that encloses the lake, and in the other direction the valley of Cwm Llwch leading away from the lake.

I followed the path all the way down to the level of the lake, which I am not sure is the route in the guidebook, but it still brought me to the valley and I carried on to the left of the stream running through it. I was moving downhill at pace now, across easier ground than I had encountered in Cwm Sere, and I very soon reached a National Trust sign for Cwm Llwch by a stile which I crossed to bring me onto even more gentle terrain, now starting to be wooded, and just in front of a cottage I turned left over another stile. The field over to my far left was filled with sheep and many lambs, including a black one, and I stayed over to the right by a wall which brought me to another track, this one tree-lined and enclosed by low walls, with the stream nearby. As it started to very lightly rain, I climbed another stile and then a footbridge crossed the stream and took me into a parking area, which I exited through a metal gate. Very soon I reached a crossroads and turned right to bring me onto the road I had driven in on earlier in the morning. I kept straight ahead on it until I reached the entrance to Cwm Gwdi Training Camp on my right, and then walked up the steep driveway to my car in the upper car park.

ordered a manner that one party was never in the way of another.� Marco Polo

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Yes, next time I would think about parking lower down.

The guidebook suggests that this 8.5 mile walk should take 6 hours and it had taken me 5 hours and 20 minutes, so I was pleased with that, and especially as I had taken a couple of stops on the way. I was also pleased that my backpack had not felt heavy at any time during the walk. I quickly changed from my walking boots into my shoes and drove back to Nant Ddu Lodge, stopping off at The Storey Arms to take a photograph.

I had really enjoyed this walk, it had been tough and very satisfying, but I had never wanted or expected it to be easy, and very soon I would be back to take on Pen y Fan again, and then I would be starting off from The Storey Arms.

Words: James Allen www.jamesablog.starjump.org

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Vince Lo — Studio Faculty

Words: Vinco Lo Photography: Vinco Lo www.studiofaculty.com

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What do you do when you need to find new inspiration?...you visit Tokyo of course.

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“This trip was meant to refresh our creative drive after running the studio for three years.”

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The first morning after we arrived in Tokyo, Alvin and I made our way to the first destination at the top of our list: Daikanyama T-site. Branded by Hara Design Institute, this bookstore would be the place where we would linger for much of the day. This trip was meant to refresh our creative drive after running the studio for three years, so we went in eager to find new publications and literature from all creative fields.

Unexceptionally, the book that stood out to me most was a Contemporary Architect Series with Volume eleven featuring none other than Go Hasegawa.

Use of space is a term we often throw around in design—its and important aspect of our work. For Go Hasegawa’s work however, its vital and much more literal. Since reading his thoughts, understanding his process, and seeing the results, I have been fascinated by architecture—“very inspired” is a better way to put it perhaps.

Go’s work really takes into account how his clients live—their personality, lifestyle—their “sense” as he would describe it.

He really believes in knowing the people who will evidentially live in his designs and yet occasionally, his clients will surpass him by using the house in a way he never imagined as well.

Equally as important is Go’s perspective on indoor and outdoor space. By creating spaces in the home that crosses both sectors, this creates for new and exciting experiences of the home and for living. His approach in mixing the indoor and outdoor subsequently inspired me to also approach my work from different perspectives.

By completing project after project and instilling his intentions within each one, Go believes a new reality with new possibilities are discovered. I tend to think the same will simply follow suit.

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Norm Architects

Words: Linda Korndal Photography: Norm Architects www.normcph.com

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Architects have the mission of creating functional design that is built to be used by us, what happens when this mission is a persons home?

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Norm Architects Studio

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—

What does Architecture mean to you?

To us architecture naturally means everything…

We believe that out life can be shaped by the things that surrounds us. We take pride in constantly trying to understand why some spaces evokes certain emotions - why some spaces makes a feel a sense of calm and serenity, while others might evoke the exact opposite. We call the perceived or experienced qualities and work continuously with this and with the belief that an attentive care to the subject could improve our quality of life..

—

What does functional design mean to you?

To us functionality is the core of design - it is what separates us from the arts. but we believe that the best functionality is that which is intuitively expressed and communicated.

Refined objects with a distinct and thoughtful sense of purpose.

—

What are the challenges of designing for a space to be lived in?

Architecture always affects and shapes the lives put into it.

Therefore we as architects should have a profound respect and modest approach to all kind of architecture. When we design private homes, we always try to mediate between the nearby surroundings and the life that will be carried out on the inside. In a way, helping the family to exist, express and habitate the given the context.

—

Do you find people will use your designs in a different way to the way they were intended?

Not often. But of course it happens and provides us with learning and inspirations for the next project to come.

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Copenhagen Town House

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Richard Gaston

Words: Richard Gaston Photography: Richard Gaston www.richardgaston.com

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Rural or urban? or both? Richard Gaston explains his needs when photographing.

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I really need both aspects to my life, urban and rural.

Without either would be difficult. The past 6 months I have removed myself from the rural opportunities and taken to an urban life. I have concluded that regardless of my urban opportunities, I still crave the exploration aesthetic to my life. Therefore, the location of my residence must be surrounded by nature so it can be easily accessed. Nature can provide more than meets the eye, it provides the opportunity to learn and experience.

Throughout all my travel endeavours I have been able to develop my photography skill by trial and error. Alongside photography, I have experienced a lot of emotions, from stress to overwhelming joy. Mountaineering has played a vital role in this. I have taken on, physically and mentally, enduring days where I have pushed myself to physical exhaustion, however my mentality ordered me to continue. I feel this builds a lot of character in an individual, particularly when taking risks that can have potentially devastating effects. Overall, I have came to a conclusion where I would rather risk too much, than risk too little.

When I shoot nature, I tend to shoot landscape. I feel that this is more relatable to the human eye when observing a horizon.

Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid user of the portrait form, but mostly for portraits on people or more conceptual work.

If I am in an urban surrounding, I tend to shoot architecture / man made structures. Both can be just as exciting as another to photograph I find. Architectural photography for me is more creative as you have to work a lot more with composition. I tend to stay away from the ‘hustle and bustle’ in cities. For me it’s not so exciting to photograph, it’s something I veer way from.

In nature, I have always been a fan of shooting, ‘small man, big nature.’ There’s is something about it that is so peaceful and I know a lot of people would wish to be there. Therefore, making it a lot more inspiring.

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“Overall, I have come to a conclusion where I would rather risk too much, than risk too little.�

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Fl창neur

A quote by Charles Baudelaire

The crowd is his element, as the air is that of birds and water of shes. His passion and his profession are to become one flesh with the crowd. For the perfect fâneur, for the passionate spectator, it is an immense joy to set up house in the heart of the multitude, amid the ebb and ow of movement, in the midst of the fugitive and the in nite. To be away from home and yet to feel oneself everywhere at home; to see the world, to be at the centre of the world, and yet to remain hidden from the world—impartial natures which the tongue can but clumsily de ne.

The spectator is a prince who everywhere rejoices in his incognito. The lover of life makes the whole world his family, just like the lover of the fair sex who builds up his

family from all the beautiful women that he has ever found, or that are or are not—to be found; or the lover of pictures who lives in a magical society of dreams painted on canvas. Thus the lover of universal life enters into the crowd as though it were an immense reservoir of electrical energy. Or we might liken him to a mirror as vast as the crowd itself; or to a kaleidoscope gifted with consciousness, responding to each one of its movements and reproducing the multiplicity of life and the flickering grace of all the elements of life.

— Charles Baudelaire, “The Painter of Modern Life”, (New York: Da Capo Press, 1964). Orig. published in Le Figaro, in 1863.

Iceberg Greenland

www.greenland.com www.theweathernetwork.com Photography: Finn Beales www.madebyfinn.com

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Greenlanders once used icebergs to distinguish the seasons and even to identify towns, a testament to their steadfast presence and to the intertwined character of Greenlandic culture with our country’s powerful nature.

Media stress that the ice in Greenland is melting, and while this is absolutely true, as long as the Greenland Ice Sheet exists, icebergs of all sizes and shapes will fill these Arctic waters.

Many of the picturesque icebergs along Greenland’s west coast calve from two North Greenland glaciers, and as luck would have it, they share the same name! The largest collection of icebergs in Greenland exists at the Ilulissat Icefjord, thanks to one of the fastest glaciers in the world called Sermeq Kujalleq.

True to its “iceberg capital of the world” nickname, Ilulissat is home to thousands of icebergs that can be seen year round by hiking, sailing, or flightseeing.

A bit further north, another Sermeq Kujalleq glacier gives travelers in Uummannaq quite an impressive iceberg display. Here, one really can tell the seasons based on the changing icebergs.

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An eastern horizon with a thin white glow is the spring view while summer sees a harbor packed with towering icebergs finding their way to sea. And as the winter sea ice forms, any straggling iceberg gets frozen in place until next year, creating a great icy maze perfect for dog sledding and ice fishing.

In East Greenland, the Sermilik Fjord stands just around the mountain from Tasiilaq, and it is particularly loaded with icebergs during the spring thaw. With so much ice to navigate, getting to the nearby village of Tiniteqilaaq by boat can be more of a thrilling icebreakers trip than smooth sailing! But not to worry – the alternative is a breathtaking helicopter charter that puts the entire fjord full of icebergs into view.

Nuuk and Paamiut, too have their own fjords with iceberg filled waters. In short, keep one golden rule in mind – wherever a glacier meets water, one will find icebergs!

South Greenland is a special place for iceberg watching for not one, but two, phenomena! Blue ice is rampant in South Greenland, and it appears so vibrant against a backdrop of lush green hills. Also, large sheets of pack ice are truly unique to South Greenland towns like Nanortalik and Qaqortoq. Unlike a freshwater iceberg that calves from a glacier, this is frozen ocean water that has traveled all the way from the east coast.

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Iceberg charts from the North American Ice Service show how the icebergs were seen to migrate south through the middle of January.

The icebergs migrate back to the northwest after the storms pass, but push back towards the Avalon Peninsula into February, increasing sightings in that area.

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72 Hours

Photography: Finn Beales www.madebyfinn.com

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How much can you capture in the space of 72 hours? Finn Beales makes it one of his missions to find out, luckily he shares his adventures with us.

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Based in the black mountains – Wales, Finn Beales is an award-winning photographer. Primarily known for his landscape and travel photography he has also worked for an impressive array of clients such as Red Bull, Adidas, Barbour and O2. Despite having a father and grandfather that were keen amateur photographers, Finn didn’t get into photography from an early age, only picking up a camera when the early digital models started to appear in shops. Unlike many professional photographers he’s not averse to using his iphone and is equally as famous for his Instagram account.

Naturally drawn to uninhabited locations and by the physical world around him, the majority of his work features volcanic, polar, or barren desert locations. Despite only spending 72 hours in several of the locations his work manages to encapsulate the mood and atmosphere of the space. He describes the style of his work as ‘cinematic and contemplative’, and is fascinated in the lifespan of the universe in comparison to a human life.

This is an overarching narrative in his work, and his photos are reflective of his view that our human lives are just a blink of an eye in comparison to the vast lifespan of the cosmos.

His photographs play with differing scales and perspectives showcasing this point of view and making the viewer feel incredibly small.

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72 hours in Newfoundland and Labrador

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72 hours in Iceland

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72 hours in Scotland

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Utilitarian living

Words: Goodhood Store Photography: Goodhood Store www.goodhoodstore.com

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Why can’t beautiful, funcitonal design be taken outside the house and brought into the outside world?

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Utilitarian living is an attractive proposition in times of hyper information and fast paced lifestyles. We have selected lifestyle items that exhibit a paired back aesthetic, where we contemplate simplicity, material and function over the uneccessary fussiness. Whether you genuinely want to hit the great outdoors or you want to make the best of our confined living spaces in inner cities, the items found in this selection offer stripped back beauty coupled with ingenious design. Folding chairs and tables are able to be stored in small spaces to be easily constructed when needs be. Whether it be a social situation or just pitching up a ‘make do’ spot in your local park, garden or yard, you simply can’t get more satisfaction from utilising well made products how they are meant to be enjoyed.

Snow Peak and Klean Kanteen specialise in producing superior quality goods that are more at home outside than in. Their stainless steel cups, mugs and canisters are able to keep things at the desired temperature for hours at a time. Snow Peak’s range of outdoor furniture is some of the best on the market too, with their easy fold tables and chair perfect for a sunny weekend in the garden. If it’s light you need, then look no further than Feuerhand. The German company has been producing storm lanterns for well over a hundred years and their stainless steel powder coated finish keeps them safe from the elements.

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Klean Kanteen 473ml Cup 4-Pack in Brush Stainless.

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Snow Peak Titanium Double Wall Cup - 450ml

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Feuerhand 276 Storm Lantern

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Snow Peak Pack & Carry Fireplace

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Snow Peak Bamboo Chair

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Snow Peak “My” Table Bamboo Top

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Thomas Hobbs

Words: Thomas Hobbs Photography: Thomas Hobbs www.thomasrhobbs.co.uk

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With the winter sun starting to set, it brings with it a new sense of beauty to the inside of the home. Light displays dancing around the furniture creating shapes and shadows that last only minutes.

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As I found myself sat within the confines of my bedroom I began to gaze from the window. Lush green filled fields adorned with Friesians lay adjacent to the main house.

It had been a harsh winter. Commuting in sub zero, breathing the freshest air that I had ever been given, I was tired, I must have drifted off during the afternoon and I awoke to a welcoming orange Hue, strangely familiar but all the while new. “Hello old friend” I thought, it had appeared that spring was not too far away now. I could feel it.

As I came too, I was sat still in the iconic Poäng armchair of a Swedish manufacturer, loved by many. I began to scour the room and it was then when I began to find little surprises.

Little pockets of light that appeared upon the walls, the furniture and other objects. I sat there still, fascinated. It had been so long since the closure of my Design education that I felt an absence within me creatively. The winter had taken its toll and left me for dead.

I arose and felt inspired and excited. I began with my iPhone, later with my dearly beloved Ricoh GR1 and later still with my prized Leica CL. As I found myself capturing these pockets of light, It began to strike me, These images created by the light were so volatile and delicate, that with every passing minute the opportunity to document them was getting more and more slim, for I only realistically had a 10 minute window of time to play with and this was on a sunny day! something that had become somewhat of a rarity.

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“Little pockets of light that appeared upon the walls, the furniture and other objects.�

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The sun had now set and riding the wave of inspiration into the night I began to tidy up the images that I had captured using just simple adjustments in the VSCO app. For the simplistic nature of the imagery, and the beauty within them, it was important not to bastardise the image, as this would not be a true reflection of the occasion. I further published the initial trio of photographs on Instagram, naming them together as a light series with each holding a number.

As the days came and went, I rose early to investigate the morning sun, the same in the afternoon, and later on with the early evening. By doing this, I was simply able to go on an expedition, photographing everything I found along the way, and this was all without leaving the house. For the images proved popular on social media, transforming my feed with an eclectic mix of images from all around the house, from the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen alike. I had finally found a creative calling again. I continue to seek still, little pockets of light, but I allow myself to look in everyday life situations and urban areas.

The world is full of over complicated, over thought design, media and messages. It is important to get lost within your own self, and own time. Allowing yourself to detach from modern day life and drift into an exciting journey with something so simple yet fundamental as light, is a journey worth exploring.

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Mike Brodie

Words: Sean O’Hagan Photography: Mike Brodie www.mikebrodie.net

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America’s homeless.

Train hopping across America, photographing the people and their lives.

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“I have mixed feelings about the photographs being in an art book and on the walls of art galleries”

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“Going off on an adventure across the country like Huck Finn is a very American thing to do,” says Mike Brodie, who did just that on a whim in 2003, aged 18. Unlike many of the young drifters he rode trains with back then, Brodie took his camera along and the photographs he took have finally been distilled into a book, A Period of Juvenile Prosperity, just published by the American fine art photography imprint, Twin Palms.

“I have mixed feelings about the photographs being in an art book and on the walls of art galleries,” says Brodie, “and so do some of the kids I photographed when they come to the openings.

You have a lot of worlds colliding right there. But most of them are cool with it, though, and happy that the photographs are being shown.”

Brodie was living in Pensacola, Florida in 2003, still at high school and working part-time “bagging groceries in a grocery store” when, in true Huck Finn fashion, he decided to light out for the territory, albeit tentatively. The first train he rode illegally took him across Florida to Jacksonville. That three-day journey sparked a much bigger adventure lasting, on and off, until 2008, when he decided just as suddenly that he should “grow up and maybe try to settle down”. Over that period he reckons he travelled around 50,000 miles by train, hiding in empty freight wagons as America sped by.

Along the way he encountered a few “veterans”, but most of the

kids he photographed rode trains for a few years as a kind of teenage rite of passage, more Jack Kerouac than Huck Finn.

“A lot of the kids I knew have since gone back to their old lives. It was something they did for whatever reason before they settled down. Some were running away, some were out for adventure. It’s like being homeless by choice, I guess, but, living like that you learn a lot of American values like selfreliance, independence.”

Brodie’s photographs made him, as he puts it, “internet famous” when he uploaded them under the moniker the Polaroid Kidd in 2004. Self-taught, he was given his first camera, a Polaroid SX-70, by a friend, but the images in the book were all shot on a Nikon F3 35mm camera. He was influenced, he says, by some Steve McCurry portraits he saw in a copy of National Geographic and by the photographs of Mary Ellen Mark, but is “not really that big on photography”. Nevertheless, the American art critic Vince Aletti wrote of his style: “Even if you’re not intrigued by Brodie’s ragtag bohemian cohort – a band of outsiders with an unerring sense of post-punk style – the intimate size and warm, slightly faded colour of his prints are seductive. His portraits… have a tender incisiveness that is rare at any age.”

Brodie’s photographs of Corey, Blake, Rocket, Soup, Savannah, Lost, Trinity and the rest are also unashamedly romantic: all soft colour tones, wide open spaces and dirty, defiant, vagabond faces caught in the magical light of dusk or dawn. Does he think, in retrospect, that he may have overromanticised the tough itinerant life of his subjects? “Well, I reckon photography always does that to a degree,” he replies matter-of-factly. “But that life is romantic a lot of the time, at least in the spring and summer. So long as you like the outdoors life and you don’t mind getting dirty and not having a change of clothes for months, it’s pretty great.”

There is something refreshingly unselfconscious about Brodie, not least in his seeming lack of artistic ambition. He has since given up photography and is now “trying to get a good solid career as a car mechanic”, having graduated from the Nashville Auto Diesel College. “I’ve had a kind of spotty job career,” he says chuckling. “So far, I just can’t seem to stay put, but I’m trying. I’m still drawn to that old, free lifestyle. I still miss the trains, but I’m not a kid any more. I have to move on, settle down.”

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50 Steps

Photography: Asket www.asket.com

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ASKET show us the 50 steps to creating one of their Oxford shirts

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1. Yarn Warehouse 2. Big yarn cones spun to small yarn cones 3. Spinning the warp (multiple small cones of yarn spun to a big roll) 4. Starching the warp 5. Preparing the weft (aligning threads) 6. Weaving - the loom 7. First quality control 8. Finishing 9. Anti pilling (fabric passed over gas flame) 10. Dye (marinating the bales of white fabric) 11. Wash / Removal of starch 12. Anti-shrinkage

On April 5th Asket is releasing the latest addition to their permanent collection of wardrobe essentials: The Oxford Shirt. Despite being cut from heavy Oxford cloth, this solid garment might very well be the most transparent shirt on the market. While most brands reluctantly disclose their garments’ country of origin and basic fabric composition, Asket openly shares and encourages people to learn more about every step, factory, component and cost involved - from the spinning of cotton threads in Braga, Portugal to their studio shoot in Stockholm, Sweden.

We don’t like to keep secrets. Because if you’re not cutting corners, then you’ve got nothing to hide. For us, it just doesn’t make sense to shave a few cents off production or try and squeeze an extra penny from our customers through hidden markups. We’d rather our customers know exactly how much effort goes into making each garment and make sure our partners get full recognition for their devotion and skill. If we ever stumble along the way? We promise to be open about that too..

We’re not fashion insiders and to be honest we’d like to keep it that way. Our outside perspective allows us to see all the fashion fat that’s been added to wardrobe essentials over the years and cut it away. In creating ASKET, we’ve challenged every design and industry rule in order to bring you wardrobe essentials free of compromises, but full of love.

With roots in both formal attire and sportswear, the Oxford cloth button down shirt is the very def inition of a wardrobe staple.

Building on its legacy, we’ve entrusted the production of our Oxford shirt to one of Portugal’s most prestigious shirt factories, family run since 1954. Cut from heavy Oxford cloth that’s as comfortable as it is resilient and fitted with mother of pearl buttons, this meticulously handcrafted shirt is the result of 60 years of experience.

Yarn: 100% Egyptian Cotton Body Fabric: 175g/sqm Oxford Weave Dye: Yarn Dye Buttons: Mother of Pearl Fusing : Lightweight Cotton Price: €70

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13. Adjusting patterns 14. Printing patterns 15. Cutting shell fabric 16. Cuting spare components: collar, cuffs, sleeve-plackets and yoke.

17. Cutting fusing 18. Marking/aligning fusing 19. Heating fusing 20. Pressing fusing 21. Fixing collar points 22. Sewing collar 23. Trimming collar 24. Aligning collar - Marking out collar for alignment 25. Attaching collar and neckline/ neckstand 26. Sewing cuffs Journeys

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27. Trimming cuffs 28. Attaching main label to yoke 29. Preparing back - folding and sewing the box pleat 30. Attaching yoke to back 31. Preparing and piping the sleeves 32. Preparing button holes 33. Sewing button holes on all parts, collar, cuffs and placket 34. Attaching buttons on all parts, collar and cuffs placket 35. Attaching care label 36. Attaching front and back 37. Closing the shirt, sideaseam, sleeves and front & back 38. Sewing the hems 39. Attaching the collar to shirt Journeys

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40. Attaching pocket 41. Attaching placket 42. Attaching cuffs 43. Trimming 44. Washing 45. Pressing 46. Folding 47. Buttoning 48. Measurement control 49. Packing 50. Lastly placed on a truck, they travel the final 3399 km to Asket’s warehouse in central Stockholm.

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Step by Step by Step over 1

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100 days 2 Jan 2016

10,520

4 Jan 2016

7,645

5 Jan 2016

3,169

6 Jan 2016

4,518

7 Jan 2016

16,470

8 Jan 2016

22,017

9 Jan 2016

4,697

10 Jan 2016

8,081

11 Jan 2016

7,062

12 Jan 2016

15,497

13 Jan 2016

16

14 Jan 2016

6,902

15 Jan 2016

7,360

16 Jan 2016

4,185

18 Jan 2016

4,250

19 Jan 2016

14,181

20 Jan 2016

9,419

21 Jan 2016

13,492

26 Jan 2016

11,545

28 Jan 2016

6,373

29 Jan 2016

12,081

30 Jan 2016

13,879

31 Jan 2016

13,286

1 Feb 2016

10,536

2 Feb 2016

17,997

3 Feb 2016

22,152

4 Feb 2016

13,266

5 Feb 2016

7,617

6 Feb 2016

11,984

7 Feb 2016

18,156

8 Feb 2016

8,655

9 Feb 2016

7,637

10 Feb 2016

10,410

11 Feb 2016

13,447

12 Feb 2016

11,271

13 Feb 2016

16,938

14 Feb 2016

12,939

15 Feb 2016

7,271

16 Feb 2016

8,654

17 Feb 2016

11,691

18 Feb 2016

11,671

19 Feb 2016

14,522

20 Feb 2016

13,061

21 Feb 2016

13,129

22 Feb 2016

15,351

23 Feb 2016

12,094

24 Feb 2016

25,915

25 Feb 2016

14,402

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26 Feb 2016

18,629

27 Feb 2016

17,871

28 Feb 2016

7,232

29 Feb 2016

19,887

1 Mar 2016

20,644

2 Mar 2016

19,557

3 Mar 2016

18,935

4 Mar 2016

8,653

5 Mar 2016

9,821

6 Mar 2016

12,447

7 Mar 2016

8,155

8 Mar 2016

12,209

9 Mar 2016

10,640

10 Mar 2016

6,378

11 Mar 2016

11,623

12 Mar 2016

12,620

13 Mar 2016

7,512

14 Mar 2016

11,377

15 Mar 2016

9,032

16 Mar 2016

13,793

17 Mar 2016

5,158

18 Mar 2016

8,595

19 Mar 2016

12,256

20 Mar 2016

9,416

21 Mar 2016

14,266

22 Mar 2016

17,869

23 Mar 2016

13,779

24 Mar 2016

24,039

25 Mar 2016

17,364

26 Mar 2016

16,087

27 Mar 2016

4,098

28 Mar 2016

24,474

29 Mar 2016

9,296

30 Mar 2016

13,677

31 Mar 2016

8,932

1 Apr 2016

5,543

2 Apr 2016

31,779

3 Apr 2016

7,625

4 Apr 2016

14,434

5 Apr 2016

16,559

6 Apr 2016

14,130

7 Apr 2016

13,556

8 Apr 2016

8,227

9 Apr 2016

13,565

10 Apr 2016

3,049

11 Apr 2016

7,330

12 Apr 2016

11,234

13 Apr 2016

1,599,

14 Apr 2016

16,059

15 Apr 2016

14,749

16 Apr 2016

8,985

17 Apr 2016

13,846

Objects

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Journeys don’t just have to be about getting from A to B. When talking about journeys, you can talk about the things you take with you, your phone, a travel guide, a notebook, a camera or maybe even something more personal. Each thing you take has a reason and a purpose.

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Tom Young Music is a huge part of my life so these headphones go everywhere with me.

Sometimes to shut out the mad world we live in and sometimes to enhance it.

I mean, whats a journey without a good soundtrack?

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Megan Furber Travelling for me, has always been something surrounded by anxiety, and long journeys have never been something I have found much enjoyment in. At the age of 21 you would think I would be past the age of having cuddlies but despite this, Rusty and Clive, two soft dogs have managed to ease anxiety at some of worst times. Rusty (the oldest and probably most loved) of the two I have had since I was born and he was an instant favourite from the word go, he is falling apart and filthy dirty, but still somehow this brings a certain calm. Clive is a more recent addition, but instantly fell in love with him, as he is the same make as rusty and is an exact replica of what he used to look like.

This year I am flying to Boston USA on my own, and honestly could not imagine taking the trip without these two, my mum has always described them as part of the family, and she hand writes me birthday cards from them each year, so you can imagine it’s like taking my family with me wherever I go.

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Sidonie Warren I found it hard to select one item that’s important to me on journeys and travels. My notebook, brass fountain pen and laptop are essential for scribbling down thoughts and getting some work done.

My perfume from Maison Louis Marie is aromatic and soothing and reminds me of the outdoors which is so refreshing when I’m on a plane, train or bus for a long time. I’ll always have a crystal with me. I find amethysts reassuring and calming and as a result I feel relaxed and together!

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Josh Gleave goes on a ramble

To think about journeying is actually quite an interesting subject. On the face of it, the journey I am about to describe doesn’t appear to have covered a great many miles, or taken in an abundance of scenery. Two factors which stereotypically associate with a journey. I did however get to share it with the one person that I am privileged to be able to call my wife, the best start to any potential trip come adventure!

It began a good few years ago now, when we decided to leave our rambling, charmingly dilapidated farmhouse and move to the city.

It was the kind of house where it was really easy to be really loud, with nobody bar about one hundred sheep for neighbours. Anyway that day came, and seemingly everything was going well, that moment where you think to yourself that you have packed all of your possessions and are ready to move house… then you realise that the sofa is stranded!

No space in the van, definitely no time to go and unload the van at the next place and come back for it. There was nothing left for it, we called a local junk shop honcho who duly agreed to come and remove it for us. Of course there was a half-hearted attempt to play hardball and earn some cash, which was obviously unsuccessful.

There was a sense of relief that I didn’t have to think about it anymore, which was soon reversed when we finally unpacked the van at the other end – and I began to think about it; from my seat on the floor.

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Weeks became months, and our evenings were spent Internet windowshopping for something aesthetically pleasing that also promised comfort. An easy enough task, if you haven’t just performed the bank account emptying process of moving house. We must have spent hundreds of rain sodden Sundays traipsing through stores feeling slightly underwhelmed. I actually work in the upholstery fabric industry, which possibly adds an ironic twist to the tale, and thought that I may be able to use this to my advantage. As it turns out, my company offers a far greater trade discount than many do in return, typical! Completely fed up, we spent £50 on a second hand sofa bed.

It was ugly as sin but we tempered this by feeling good about supporting a charity shop. This purchase represented a strange point in our life together. The flat we had recently moved into turned out to be pretty dreadful. In the five minutes you get with a letting agent we had fallen for the period stone exterior and sash window, but completely neglected the fact that it was a basement, damp, and featured two of the most raucous extractor fans you had ever heard. The bedroom was also no use for sleeping as it had a prehistoric gas combi-boiler rattling away in the corner constantly. This meant now that we could utilise our new sofa bed as a bed and not a sofa.

Those weeks that had become months had become a year and we moved on again. With a new sense of determination to rectify the sofa situation we tried a different tack. There is an antique shop a few miles up from our new place, and we had seen a chesterfield advertised on their website. The shop couldn’t have looked more closed had it been trying to, but we did manage to get in and have a seat on it. Amazingly it felt comfortable and as if there were no problems with the springs or padding. Perhaps in a state of shock that this could potentially be the solution we sought for so long, I decided to take us to our new local for the first time. It was coffee, not beer-o’clock so we took in the view and fell in love with the place, talking non-stop about the chesterfield. Unbelievably, there Journeys was upon the bar, a flyer entitling the holder to a sizeable discount from the antique shop we had just visited. Unbelievable!

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The only person more surprised than us about the flyer was the owner of the shop, who had thought (hoped) they had long since become out of print. He didn’t argue though and we handed over the cash, all that was left was to arrange for delivery. Working for the shop was a friendly man who spoke little English, his boss more or less said, “if you give him a tenner, he will do almost anything.” I gave him a ten sheet and he drove the sofa down the hill and proceeded to help me into the house with it. Despite my prior measuring tape masquerades, the sofa did not fit up the staircase, not from any angle. I then said to my wife the extraordinary sentence, “show him the roof”.

There is a door out from our living room, which leads to a flat roof above a shop. It is a lovely 1920s metal door, dare I say slightly Bauhausish and I knew that the sofa would fit through it, as it shared its dimensions with the front door. Getting the sofa up onto the roof was quite a process and must have looked hilarious to onlookers.

I gave my obliging helper another ten pounds, as I felt ridiculous asking him to help me get a sofa onto a roof… He was at the bottom of the ladder pushing, I was on the roof pulling with rope – we did it with a few heaves and curse words that I didn’t understand!

So several years of searching in vain came to an end in a matter of hours, we had a great piece of furniture with an already storied history.

We placed it in situ and sat together laughing about what had just happened, fondly recalling all of the crap expeditions that had led us to this point; planning the next journey and a better use of bank holiday Mondays. What a happy ending, comfort at last!

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Thanks to all those who have contributed to this first issue: Daniel Edmund James Allen Vince Lo & Studio Faculty Katrine Goldstein, Linda Korndal and Norm Architects Richard Gaston Finn Beales Goodhood Store Thomas Hobbs Mike Brodie Jakob Dworsky & ASKET Tom Young Megan Furber Sidonie Warren Josh Gleave