Ryan HK

Hopefully you read Blue Circle's last newsletter in February and saw the article on Ryan HK and his cool photography. Ryan is a local cinematographer and photographer who I met through our mutual affiliation with “Two Wheel Sunday”, where we were both helping get started last year. Ryan loves motorcycles and photography and he graciously shared  abunch of his photos in our publication.

Ryan’s first ventures with motorcycles came from his own customizations of a KZ1000, since it was an easy and affordable way to play in that arena. Eventually this led him to make friends with Mad Jap Kustoms, who does some pretty amazing customs of his own, and the two ride together and have collaborated on several projects involving motorcycles in the past couple of years.

Ryan has shot a lot of photos of motorcycles, but also does a variety of work, including architectural and commercial stills and cinematography for groups like the Calgary Archery Centre, ShowClass Magazine and the Hyatt Regency.

Check out more of Ryan’s fantastic work at his website and Facebook
 http://ryanhk.com/
 https://www.facebook.com/ryanhkphotography

One of my favourite shots, in teh Calgary Airport Tunnel

The Mad Jap on one of his customs

"Shovel Love"

I like this shot taken in the brickyard

A man and his ride

An old skool look

2015 Brier

We were able to get to the finals of the 2015 Brier on Sunday, where team Northern Ontario were playing Team Canada for gold. The N.O. team were our Olympic gold medallist team from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, and John Morris from Team Canada, was an Olympic gold medallist from the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, so you know there was true talent out there on the ice.

Though the game started off a bit slow, with both teams playing a bit of a 'knockout' game and blanking the first 4 ends. However, the imapsse was broken in teh 5th and things got a lot more interesting. So much so that the game ended up in an extra end, tied 5-5.

Team Canada, made up of two curlers from Calgary and two from Edmonton, had the hammer and needed to make the final shot under pressure from team N.O. sitting two. A true pressure shot and one which the skip, Simmonds, made with precision to get the win.

Hip-hop dancing at the Brier seemed unusual but at least provided energy! 

Skip Jacobs marks the line

Bringing it home

"My turn"

Johnny Mo' switched from skip to third when things weren't working well fro the team.

Great for t.v. coverage but not when you're in the stands! Grrrr!

 

Team conference to strategize

 

More strategy!

Brier selfie!!

Our client but cheering for Team N.O....what the..? haha

The final rock...

.....and the joy of the  celebration

New Start

What better way to get a new start and return to writing my blog after a long hiatus than a quick little write up about Blue Circle's very own Anna Irwin and her new bambino. Welcome to the world Ronan! Mum and baby are doing great and we all enjoyed a visit yesterday. Ronan didn't seem to mind being passed around and cuddled by everyone at Blue Circle, as we all had to have a turn!! Haha. I can hardly wait until I get to be grandfather!!!

Master Builder

It's been a long absence from writing the blog and for good reason. One of my posts coming up will feature the cause of my distraction but the reason for the hiatus is that Gerry and I have been diligently working away on our new building, preparing our new office space for the move coming up in January. It's a fantastic building located just off Blackfoot Trail near 38, with glass all around and a great view looking toward down town and the Rocky Mountains.

Though we are not master builders of any kind, we're both pretty handy guys and with some design influences from Blue Circle team members Kyla and Sarah, we've managed to construct what we think is going to be a really awesome work environment.

Of course, as proud as we are of what we've accomplished so far, Mother Nature has reminded me of just where I rank in the grand scheme of things when it comes to things like this. Take a look at these photos that were sent to me of some real master builders, who have managed to construct themselves a great little family home, complete with windbreak doorway, and using no hands. And let's not forget the effort to mix and transport the construction material, one tiny bit at a time. It certainly humbles me, that for sure! 

Remembrance

Our family always attends the Remembrance Day Ceremony held at Burnsland Cemetery on Spiller Road. Not only is there a personal connection, but one has no doubt about the sacrifices made when standing among the "crosses row on row". This is the home of the Military Field Of Honour and there are headstones of many soldiers, most of whom died during the Second World War.
Today was a bitterly cold one yet the honour guard stood, in their parade dress, unflinching in the freezing temperatures. It's a tradition for the troops to disperse during the ceremony and pay tribute to their fallen comrades, always a moving moment.
As well, on Thursday past there was a ceremony in this historical site that saw students and military personnel place a poppy on each of the headstones in what was called "No Stone Left Alone". A way for young people to have a tangible connection to those that served or serve on our behalf.
Perhaps we'll see you there at one of ceremonies these next year.

November 11th Is Not A Holiday!

By definition, a holiday is a day of festivity and recreation. I never look at Remembrance day as such. Rather, it is a day of reflection and recollection, lest we forget the sacrifices made on our behalf such that we could, indeed, have the privilege of freedom that allows us to actually take a holiday on other occasions. Though I have the day off and am extremely grateful, my mood is sombre and a few tears will be shed during the ceremony I will attend later this morning.
Thank you to all of the military personnel, for putting yourself in harm's way for all of us here today. And to their families, who suffered, or are suffering, the stresses and strife of their loved ones being involved in such a dangerous duty. I, for one, will never forget your sacrifices.

The Flanders War Memorial for Canada, near Ypres, Belgium

Nova Scotia

Beautiful evening  on the South Shore  of Nova Scotia.