Happy New Year 2013!

"In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want." - Irish Toast.

We Are Featured In The November Issue of Pacific Northwest Diver e-Magazine.

Pacific Northwest Diver e-Magazine has a feature on Kathryn and I in their November 2012 issue. It is available for download at http://pnwups.com/. Pacific Northwest Diver is published by the Pacific Northwest Underwater Photographic Society (PNWUPS), an organization formed to encourage interest and participation in underwater photography.

Show Time! - Mission Library, November 14th!

 

Kathryn and I are presenting a digital slide show, “Tropical Splendor in A Cold Sea”, at the Mission Library in Mission, BC on Wednesday, Nov 14th, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Discover one of sport diving's best kept secrets - British Columbia's ocean realm!

Mission Library
33247 - 2 Avenue
Mission, B.C.
V2V 1J9

Ghostly Depths: Around The Pacific Northwest Magazine.

The current issue of Around The Pacific Northwest Magazine has published our shipwreck story and images about the tragic sinking of Princess Sophia on October 24, 1918. This incident still ranks as being the worst maritime disaster in Alaska’s history.

Savoring An Exquisite Cup Of TeaGala Tea!

Can't think of anything better to do on a rainy west coast Sunday afternoon!

www.teagala.com

Apparently, Dolphins Maintain Awareness For 15 Days.

Some very interesting news. Recent research suggests that dolphins can maintain vigilant behavior through echolocation for 15 days without interruption or cognitive impairment. It is believed that dolphins may continuously echo-locate and accurately report the presence of targets for at least 15 days without interruption.

For more information, go to: www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047478

British Columbia Association Of Travel Writers Fall Gala 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathryn and I attended the BC Association of Travel Writers Fall Gala yesterday afternoon. During this event, there was a brainteaser contest wherein we were all separated into random teams in order to quiz this illustrious roomful of travel writers on their collective knowledge about some rather obscure geographical and historical facts. As evidenced by this picture you can see, "The Aardvarks" triumphed!

FRONT ROW! - Bob Dylan at Vancouver's Rogers Arena.

Bob Dylan's performance last night at Rogers Arena far exceeded my expectations. Kathryn really enjoyed the show too. Surprisingly, despite releasing his 35th studio album, Tempest, in September to critical acclaim and seemingly endless positive reviews, Mr Zimmerman did not play one new song. 

Mark Knopfler also played a killer set from his solo catalog to an approving audience.

Thanks baby for scoring FRONT ROW seats. What a fun night!

"Nature Might Stand Up And Say To All This World, THIS WAS A MAN."

"The other blokes spent their money on girls and cars and beer. I spent my money on cameras and lenses.” - Ron Taylor

We learned the sad news this morning that the great diving legend, Ron Taylor, has passed away. Sad news, indeed. Ron was my boyhood hero and his work an inspiration. A class act when I one day had the occasion to meet him and briefly chat about our local six gill sharks. Our deepest sympathy to his lovely wife, Valerie, and all those who knew and loved "the Shark Man."

Douglas David Seifert, World Editor, DIVE Magazine has posted an eloquent eulogy for Ron Taylor at the WETPIXEL website. Here is a link to this fine piece:

Ron Taylor Eulogy.

The Luckiest Guy On Earth? I'll Own It!

I read the news today on Facebook, oh boy! Turns out I won a draw sponsored by Cool Dives,  an interactive website operated by Paul Kennell that promotes British Columbia dive vacation planning. If you’re seeking quality information and useful tips for planning a scuba diving vacation in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada, check out Cool Dives website at:

www.best-scuba-diving-vacations-in-british-columbia.comhttp://www.best-scuba-diving-vacations-in-british-columbia.com/

Those With Small Minds Never Seem To Get It. ;)

Hello, My Name Is Jett!

According to Baby Names.com, the name, Jett, was most popular in the year 2011 and is currently ranked # 331 in U.S. births. Well, I guess you could say I enjoyed a relatively exclusive run with the name for 5 decades. Think I’ll go see what that little Lady Suffragette, the Major, is doing before I climb on the back and go for a ride in the sky.

Although The Original Quote Has Been Changed Somewhat, The Song Remains The Same.

 

~Buddha(563-483 B.C.), Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism.

John Lennon Had It Figured Out At An Early Age.

"Look More Closely - At Everything!"

Brooks Wetsuits Ltd., a well known local Drysuit and Water Paddle Sportwear manufacturer, just released one of their periodic newsletters to their customer base wherein they make reference to a story of mine that appeared in Diver Magazine Vol. 37 NO. 5.  The message is one worth sharing. Angela Lee wrote:

“Now Is Really All We Have”

As I admired a photo by Jett Britnell (www.jettbritnell.com) in the latest issue of Diver Magazine (www.divermag.com), something in the accompanying text caught my attention.

In his description of the photo and the process Jett went through to get it, he says ”the lesson we all learn eventually is to look more closely – at everything!” and this resonated with me, as my friend Ruth recently wrote a very compelling blog about the same idea.  http://lifecoachingwithruth.blogspot.ca/

We are all so busy with work, home life, kids, aging parents, extra-curricular activites, and the list goes on and on, that it is easy to get caught up in details pertaining to the future, all the while letting the present moment escape notice! 

On Tuesday, a customer dropped into our factory unexpectedly with a problem that he hoped we would be able to help him resolve.  We were busy.  We had orders that needed to get out the door, and this interruption had not been planned for.  However, we put on our friendly faces and started to work through things with this fellow.  One subject led to another, and another, and 45 minutes later, we were close to resolving his issue, had learned a lot more about him, and he had learned a lot more about us, our business, and new ways we could work together in the future.  It turned out to be a very pleasurable and interesting part of our day.  Despite the interruption we were easily able to meet our other commitments as well.  So, I was very glad that we had taken the time to really stop and listen to this customer and look more closely at the issue at hand. 

Eckhart Tolle, in his book “The Power of Now” said - “the present moment is all you ever have.  Make the Now the primary focus of your life.  Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.  Always work with it, not against it.  Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy.  This will miraculously transform your whole life.”

With all our day to day distractions, this is a challenge for most of us, but one worth pursuing!

Carpe Diem!

Angela Lee

Brooks Wetsuits Ltd.

1067 Churchill Cr

North Vancouver, BC Canada

V7P 1P9

angela@brookspaddlegear.com

www.brookspaddlegear.com

www.brooksdivegear.com

1-888-986-3441 Toll Free

604-986-3441 Local

604-986-3443 Fax

"Winning!" - Wine Is Poetry In A Bottle.

 

Kathryn won 50 bottles of wine and one bottle of cognac at a golf tournament today. Ooooh yeah, we're good for the next 100 days or so ;)

Childhood Living.

Smith Falls, Ontario: This WWII North American Harvard airplane (433 Squadron) memorial stands beside the Rideau Canal locks in the middle of Victoria Park. It is a tribute to all the armed services people who learned to fly in them during the war. Prior to being re-located here, the plane was a derelict that stood in a lot right next door to my Aunt & Uncle's home. We would play for hours on end in it when we were kids. Inspired more fun and imagination than any XBOX game if you ask me.

Everything Looks Better In Black & White.

 

Celebrating five years of bliss together on the anniversary of the night we first met, the lovely Mrs. Kathryn Britnell enjoying a Vesper Martini tonight at Vancouver's Le Crocodile Restaurant. Thank you!, for choosing me to be your husband. ;) Songs never sounded better and wine never tasted sweeter since I met you. You add so much color to my life, dahhhling! XOXOXO

“Come in,” She Said, “I’ll Give You Shelter From The Storm.”

July 21, 2012: Five years ago today, when blackness was a virtue and the road ahead seemed full of mud, who struts into my life but the woman who has turned out to be both my best friend, and my one true love. I truly don’t think I could speak so endlessly positive about anyone else on this planet as much as I can about, my wife, Kathryn. The writer in me knows there are not enough words in any language that could fully describe her essence. Her love, warmth, compassion and charity towards others have no border, nor boundaries. She is the mother my son, Danen, deserved to have in his life and she cares about him as a mother does for a baby that she bares. I could not be luckier. I could not be happier. Tonight, I will toast and celebrate our good fortune with this remarkable woman and indulge in some fine dining at a fancy shmancy French restaurant in Vancouver that has become one of our guilty pleasures. These are, the best of times!

Bob Dylan: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, October 12th, 2012.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the poet laureate of rock 'n' roll. The voice of the promise of the 60s counterculture. The guy who forced folk into bed with rock. Who donned makeup in the 70s and disappeared into a haze of substance abuse. Who emerged to find Jesus. Who was written off as a has-been by the end of the '80s, and who suddenly shifted gears releasing some of the strongest music of his career beginning in the late '90s. Ladies and gentlemen — Columbia recording artist Bob Dylan!”  

Earlier today, my darling young wife, scored us front row seats for this Dylan show!!!!!!

Diver Magazine: Our Elegant Shrimp Feature.

DIVER Magazine just ran this quick creature feature piece of ours in their Eau Canada parting shot section in the July 2012 issue.

Published! - Campbell River's Discovery Passage Diving Story.

Harbors - The Kenmore Air Destination Magazine has just published our story, "Campbell River's Discovery Passage", in their summer issue. Here's some quick & dirty screen captures from their online e-zine. I'm sure we'll receive our hard copy soon :)

The Rolling Stones Celebrate 50 Years In Music!

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Circa, 1963. The matching Tweed suits would eventually go.

July 12, 2012: My absolute favourite band, The Rolling Stones, will celebrate 50 years in the music business, marking the anniversary of their very first stage performance.

On July 12, 1962, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones with three others played their first ever performance at The Marquee Club on Oxford Street, London, It was the first time they performed under the band name, The Rolling Stones. Childhood friends Jagger and Richards were just 18 years old at the time and Jones, who drowned in the swimming pool at his home in 1969, was 20-years-old.

On February 16, 2006, “The Greatest Rock n’ Roll Band in the World” played a free concert to the biggest public audience of their career, an estimated 1.5 million people, on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

After five epic decades of music and 29 studio albums that changed the world forever . . . The Rolling Stones  are gearing up to hit the road again in 2013!  And let’s hope, not for the last time. ;)

Bard On The Beach: The Taming Of the Shrew.

Kathryn and I went to “Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival’s” performance of Shakespeare’s romantic romp, "The Taming of the Shrew." This is a play that shines a comic spotlight on the pleasures and perils of the search for the perfect mate. A thoroughly entertaining evening, especially if you you happen to be out on a date, on a lovely Vancouver evening, with your perfect mate!

Kelp-Aholics Anonymous - Northwest Dive News June 2012!

We were away in the Philippines much of June and I only now just learned that Northwest Dive News Magazine published our story, "Kelp-Aholics Anonymous" in their June 2012 issue! An editorial piece about the joys of diving in Kelp Forests, not snorting it. ;) Also, snagged the magazine's cover shot!

Here's a link to the online edition of the story: Kelp-Aholics Anonymous

"The Diving Britnell's!"

Our good friend, Stewart Sy, posted this image on FACEBOOK of Kathryn and I beneath the dive skiff in Cebu, Philippines. His tagline, "The 2nd best Husband and Wife diving team I know... ;-) — Stewart Sy. To which, I replied, "Self portrait??" ;)

"Time? Who has Time!?"

We have a story about Campbell River's Discovery Passage in the summer issue of Kenmore Air's HARBORS Magazine at the printers. AROUND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST magazine will also be publishing one of our diving in Alaska stories in their next issue!

Look Mom, No Hands!

My lovely and talented wife took this picture of me during a safety stop in Anilao, Philippines. I have a home-made float attached to my camera housing that allows it to hang next to me. I'm using this image on my Facebook Timeline.

June 18, 2012: Sir Paul McCartney Turned 70 Today!

 

Happy Birthday and thanks for the music, Paul!

Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.

"Shining Through" - Philippine Airlines.

 

Thank You!!!, Philippine Airlines for the two free upgrades to Business Class for our flight home between Manila and Vancouver today. Kathryn said the smoked duck and lobster salad was divine...as was the wine...the Grand Marnier...cheese plate with Artisan breads...etc!

Words To Live By: I Really, Really, Like The Message Henry Rollins Conveys Here.

SportDiving In Australia June/July2012 Issue: We're In It!

SportDiving in Australia magazine published two of our stories in their latest issue. The main story is "Liquid Rush!", which is about diving British Columbia's infamous Nakwakto Rapids. The second story is a sidebar article about British Columbia First Nation's burial sites.

Got The Moves Like Jagger! Well, The Owner Of Ocean Quest Dive Centre Sez So!

We had a "Full House" for our "Shoot Like A Pro - Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Underwater Photography" presentation last Wednesday night! Thanks to all who came out and extra "mucho thanks" to Ocean Quest Dive Centre for hosting the event.

"Happy Mother’s Day" To My Darling Wife, Kathryn.

John Lennon once said, "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” Thanks for being the woman of my dreams and for turning those magical dreams into reality. XOXO

Happy Mothers Day! ~ Here's To My Mom And Loving Mothers Everywhere.

Yup, this is my my mom. Unfortunately, we are unable to get together tomorrow on Mothers Day. But truly, every day is like Mothers Day for us. It's been said, "A man who treats his woman like a Princess, was surely born and raised in the arms of a Queen!" Thanks, mom for being a Queen as well as a mom who has always demonstrated grace and courage in the cold stone face of adversity. And just look at me...I'm married to a Princess and I know how to treat her royally. Love you and we'll see you soon. Happy Mothers Day!

Free Underwater Photography Seminar At Ocean Quest Dive Centre May 23rd!

"Overture, curtain, lights! This is it. The night of nights.” The online registration sheet for our presentation, “Shoot Like A Pro – Tips & Tricks To Improve Your Underwater Photography”, at the iconic Ocean Quest Dive Centre on May 23rd is, huh, well, online at the following link:
 

Registration Link
 

Cost is FREE! I know what you’re thinking? An evening presentation of this magnitude would normally cost hundreds, or dare we say, thousands of dollars and include some Gypsy circus carnies that smell like cabbage and have small hands and also feature a photo op with a winged unicorn. While this presentation is FREE!!!, the tips & tricks you will learn are absolutely priceless. Seating is limited, so sign up soon; otherwise, it may cost you a second mortgage on your home next time. And hey, we’ll be there!

You Must Have A Fantastic Camera!: I've Always Chuckled Inside Whenever Anyone Has Said This To Me.

R.I.P. Neville Coleman (1938 - 2012)

Disheartened to learn that another diving legend has passed away. Regrettably, Neville and I never met in person. However, our paths once crossed when he published one of my British Columbia diving stories in the January 1992 issue of an Australian magazine he was publishing at the time called Underwater Geographic. It was a great thrill for me at the time that someone of his stature on the international diving stage would deem my words and images to be so worthy that they would grace the pages of one of his publications. He seemed to be a “good bloke.” R.I.P. Mr. Neville. And, thank you, for helping me along… way back when.  

I can't imagine that there are many underwater photographers in the universe who are not aware of Neville Coleman's massive body of work. Check out his website and you'll be awestruck by his many accomplishments http://www.underwatereguides.com.au/index.html 

An Underwater Photographer Is Born!

Kathryn took this image of me while we were diving over the eel grass beds and patch reefs in Cozumel last Christmas. This was the first time Kathryn ever used an underwater camera system. While I can wax poetically about how natural and fluid the underwater model appears to be, the truth is my talented young wife snapped this picture while I was not aware she was doing so.

2012 BC Association Of Travel Writer’s Annual Symposium.

Kathryn and I attended the 2012 BC Association of Travel Writer’s annual symposium today at the Listel Hotel in Vancouver. Some excellent presentations by: Owen Clark, Julie Ferguson and Mari Kane on the subject of Social Media. We also came away with two tickets to a "Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival Play" along with a one-night stay at Victoria’s "Delta Ocean Pointe Hotel". I’m thinking... a night dive at Victoria’s Ogden Point Breakwater, or perhaps, a run out to Race Rocks is in the cards.