This is the personal blog of Paul Petch a self professed outdoor addict, reformed graphic designer, picture taker & IT geek living in Christchurch NZ. While you are here why not subscribe to my tweets, Flickr, RSS
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I’ve been a total tourist since I’ve been back home and loving the old buildings and history. I lived in Canterbury for many years while studying at the University of Kent- and also Whitstable and Aylesham which are a stones throw from the City. We just don’t have such buildings and the history of England [...]
Yesterday was my 36th birthday. I can’t help but think of random events and “moments” in time as the calender hits July 10th each year. So here are just a few….I was a smoker for 15yrs and it has been 6 years since I quit, It is close to ten years since I moved from [...]
In recent months I’ve been busy working with a Kiwi ultra running Legend Malcolm Law to launch a re-designed website for the 2010 7in7 challenge. We had a fair bit to do with content transfer, website setup and of course “bug testing”. There was no point re-designing the wheel so we used the same template [...]
It’s massive. It’s busy. It’s very bright and buzzy. It’s Melbourne! Staying with family in a Suburb close to the CBD was a great way to be able to catch a tram into the city heart at will and with such amazing weather of 20ish and sun for 10 days- it was like a Kiwi [...]
Truth be known the past 8 weeks have been a very frustrating time for me with- family illness -broken ribs- Peroneal tendonitis in the right foot- and a right royal mess at work with contracts etc etc. I don’t cope with stress very well at all and having so many niggling and annoying life things” [...]
I headed off this afternoon on the scooter to have a bit of an explore of the beaches towards Taylors Mistake/ Godley Head. I’ve ridden many times into this secluded beach/ town from the Porthills, but In the 2.5yrs years that I’ve been here, I’ve never had a look around on foot. Dodging traffic on [...]
The retro Toycamera Analogcolor application (now say that 20 times I dare you!) is one heck of a sweet little toy for both mac and PC. With a click of a button it takes us all back to when cameras were analog and not so pixel perfect! With some cool presets and manual control too, [...]
What a sweet little collection of images this Aussie website has! I’ve never really been keen on surfing or the ocean since being scared shitless by the movie Jaws…but people can change right? Body surfing is free, simple and by the looks of it…..a heap of fun! If we ever get above 35degs this summer, [...]
I’ve just stumbled this guys work and its bloody breath taking. I’m all for black and white, saturated colours as well as a bit of photoshop tinkering- but these images take it to the next level don’t they? Check out his popular his Flickr collection here. Wow… just wow.
I set a challenge to run a 60KM Ultra Trail within 6 months and against all the odds- from lack of experience, injuries and getting very sick in the week leading upto the event……I pulled it off in 9.35! Wow what a day! Amy & I have just got back from Te Anau Fiordland after [...]
Amy’s boss shouted air fare and accommodation for us back in October (better late than never to blog huh) to visit Wellington as a thank you for some recent projects that she had just competed. Nice eh. Flying into Wellington we could not believe how sketchy the landing was, but once on our feet it [...]
A bit of mountain biking, friends and the outdoors captured so nicely by Anne Keller. I absolutely love this girls work and the website is pretty well designed too. Very nice work that inspires me to get back into my outdoor photography for 2010.
After a nice weekend on the mountain bike where I rode a solo to Godley Head, this weeks training has felt much better than the last with a little more juice in the batteries. Tuesday’s “lunchtime” run was a good one and I hit the road to Hagley Park and after several laps I was [...]
As you can see from recent posts, I’ve been overseas in the UK. A trip that I would have preferred to have been for happier reasons than family illness- but while there I made the most of it . I caught up and re-connected with so many people. Ten years apart from family is too long and it was just magic to spend time with them again. I won’t go into to much details, but having new memories of good times with my family (in particular my Brother and Sisters) and shaking the hands and hugging people who are caring for my Mother was worth the journey alone. You are all amazing people. (more…)
After a few nights in central Cardiff my brother and I headed an hour or so to Afan Lodge for a nights stay to check out the Afan Valley. Our original plan was for me to stay all week- but the weather was against us- as well as budget (one night at Afan Lodge was $160!!) Meeting up with a group of guys from London over breakfast I tagged along for the Wall Trail. Being just 24km it seems a perfect ride to check out the trails on offer. We considered bike hire for Alex- but at $80 for the day + $400 deposit and such heavy rain- Alex was happy to sit in the bar after breakfast surfing, drinking coffee and eating while I was out for a few hours. (more…)
What day is it? Oh yeah it’s Friday. Jet lag broke after 4 days or is it nights? And I’ve been here for a week already! It has been 10 years since I last visited Old Blighty and I wish it was for better circumstances with family illness being my main focus. While I’m here though I’m going to make the very most of it and spend time with Family, Friends and visit at least one place new! Currently I’m with my Brother in Cardiff- Wales- which is our first visit. Later today I’m off to check out what South Wales has on offer and squeeze in a mountain bike ride near Afan Forest Park(more…)
The Woods Belong To Us? examines two conflicting lifestyles: mountain biking and environmentalism, and the outcome when they collide. The conflict has been going on for over twenty years, but there seems to be no end in sight. Will there be a time when they can all peacefully co-exist? More at their website.
