The Great White Silence.

Polar Exploration has given us some of the most iconic and inspirational imagery ever imaginable. The crews, the ambition, the outfits and sense of adventure. This isn't the first time I've mentioned it, it certainly won't be the last. Even in the modern day with the highest spec gear and equipment available, with advanced technology and communication it seems an unbelievable slog, striving for survival in the face of adversity and the most unforgiving of nature at it's most fierce. So it almost seems a preposterous thought that the likes of Scott and Shackleton were going off out into the unknown in hand made boots and wrapped in sheepskin all those years ago.
The BFI have restored Herbert Ponting's record of Captain Scott's tragic expedition to the South Pole for this year's London Film Festival which was the film to see, recently released at selected theatres, this, I'd imagine would be an awe-inspiring event in cinema. A hundred years ago the British Antarctic Expedition (1910-1913) led by the courageous Scott set out on its ill-fated race to the South Pole. Joining Scott on board the Terra Nova was official photographer and cinematographer and all round hero of One-ups' Herbert Ponting, the famous imagery captured all those years ago have fuelled our imagination for many years. Ponting filmed almost every aspect of the expedition: the scientific work, life in camp and of course the local wildlife - including the characterful Adélie penguins. This is one of the most humbling stories of history, as the Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen pipped them to the most vital of posts, so near, yet so far. Captain Scotts tragic story left a lasting legacy for all in the ultimate battle between man and nature.
Most importantly, Ponting recorded the preparations for the assault on the Pole, giving us a real sense of the challenges faced by the expedition. In 1924 he re-edited it into this remarkable feature, complete with vivid tinting and toning. The BFI National Archive has restored the film; the alien beauty of the landscape is brought dramatically to life and the world of the expedition revealed in brilliant detail. Restored with exquisite tinting and toning which adds a new depth combined with added intenisty from a score by contemporary composer Simon Fisher Turner.
The Great White Silence, Directed by Herbert G Ponting, is currently showing in selected cinemas.
Watch trailer here. The Secrets of Scott's hut.

Gil Scott Heron.

Pioneer, poet, expressionist, revolutionary, trendsetter. 1949-2011.

Bivouacking.

I make no apologies for all the outdoor stuff I post on here, it's no fad for me, I love the look and feel of it, well, maybe not so much the feel when it comes to pitching up a tent dead high up on a rock face. The art of bivouacking - it looks pretty terrifying, the one time getting out of bed for a slash in the middle of the night aint happening. When thrill seeking is taken to the next level, in fact it's taken so high you have to spend the night there. Serious climbers aren't fazed by severe heights, what's extremely unnerving to you or I is a doddle to them as they take their excitement to the extreme. They've been doing it for years though, as the very recent picture from Canada's Sail Peak shows above, and the original photos from the Yosemite national park in the 60's.

Longline.

I recently got my hands on this Heritage Research split colour Longline parka, in Navy and Apple British dry waxed Millerain. This is a corker, a limited edition, website exclusive in this two tone style, a really nice flattering cut to it too. Lined in contrasting cotton, just the right shape and size for the current unpredictable weather.

Outdoors, great.

Old's cool, some great snaps from the Tärnaby mountains in 1977. Kitted out in the Arctic Fox. Pictures shamelessy borrowed from here.

Mountain Men.

Just spotted these via the Garbstore , the coolest thing I've seen in ages. Highly collectible figures from Japanese label Mountain Research. Featuring historical and political revolutionaries Karl Marx, Chairman Mao, Vladimir Lenin and Henry David Thoreau decked out in classic 70s style hiking gear. Cooler than Serpico's shaggy sheepdog.

Recent Pickups.

Not done one of these for a while, hence a few additions, starting out with the Universal Works Fell jacket. You'll know by now I'm into my foul weather wear, and as we're having April showers in May I'll get some good use out of this two tone Millerain version. I've got pretty much the same coat already and it's a fave. Now I know my pics are sexy, but that red really isn't as fruity as it looks.

Sneeze Magazine via the states, I picked these up from Vegas, I've not been there but it sounds good though, dunnit? it's that massive I have to stand at the top of the stairs and get whoever's down there to turn the pages for me. Like it though, I might stick Danny Trejo on the door to scare people.

Continuing the streety vibes with a Supreme ventile bell hat, love a good titfer me, this one took some finding.

Vera, meshspadrilles - clever eh? nice these, I just need to find a beach now, nearest one's Formby, anyone fancy giving us a lift when the rain stops?

Norse Projects Hector Nature cap, a cap? fuck me, what's happening here? I've not worn a cap for a million years. I think the panelled cap's are more acceptable to hide from the sun/babylon under, I've still got to tweak that peak a bit though.

Puma Dallas via Hanon, I'm not a big trainer wearer these days, but I really like these. They even come with an argyle scarf so I can pretend to be Ronnie Corbett/ASC.
Luggers, I've had some sort of Wallabee on my trotters since as far back as I can remember, working in a shoe shop helped. These are the proper pasty shoes - you either love or hate them.
But I can't think of any other shoe that's as comfy from new as these, ever. Thanks to Bob from Cork Grips who asked if I knew anywhere selling any, which in turn led me buying another pair of shoes I really don't need.

Issue one of Loaded for old times sake for a bin lid off eBay. When it actually was for grown ups, =a cool cover too, with our old chum Gary Oldman.

Kes, on Criterion, the inner geek in me is trying to fill the top shelf with Criterion dvds < click there there if you don't know what it is; when arguably my most favouritest film ever got a release I had to get it, even though I've already got it.


Two classic books no man should be without, it's amazing what you can get on eBay when you're bored and have about six quid burning a hole in your Paypal account, the Good Doc's book is thicker than the combined cast from that Only Way is Essex thing. Will take me a while to get through that one.

EG's Ground jacket from a couple of seasons back, looks better with the snap off hood, snapped off. I actually really like the current seasons floral print one, but it's clearly better suited to Bermuda than Bramhall.

Finally, Albam's 'foreman' blazer in raspberry, not pink, not bad this, a bit like what an old lady would go shopping/shooting in, but I like it, the colour's probably the best bit.

Dunlop Volley, perfect for the coming weather I reckon, the more beaten up the better. I love the shape of these.