symondrake » Friends

Old Folk rock!

Symon — Fri, 28 May 2010 10:03:23 +0000

The other day my wife and I were the guest speakers at our church’s ‘Senior Saints’ group.

We sang vintage chorus’s with great gusto (helped along by a piano accordion) had yarns and laughs and listened to amazing stories (like hiding-from-Nazis-in-wartime-Holland).

We were sad to leave, but eventually had to (laden with gifts and cake).

Very good times indeed.

As a kid I never spent much time with Old Folk — and to be honest, I was a bit scared of them. Call me a slow learner but nowadays I’ve realised a priceless truth:

Old Folk are just like us ‘young folk’… only older.

Yep… I must declare that Old Folk Rock! (Especially the happy ones that love the Lord and laugh at my jokes.)

The Mair Park Bigfoot pays off

Symon — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Many moons ago while surfing Amazon’s Listmanias I came across an author by the name of Jeremy Robinson. To cut a long story short, he was running a viral video contest to promote his new book, Pulse. I bribed my good buddy Lesmondj into spending a Saturday afternoon in the bush and what eventuated was two versions of the now infamous Bigfoot attack video (over 10,000 hits now on Metacafe and YouTube).

We won by a landslide, the closest (and only) opponent trailing by 9000ish hits (but who’s counting) and I was delighted to recieve the promised books last week.

A massive THANKYOU to Jeremy Robinson for the very generous prize (and for forking out mega moolah for the postage). Please check out his site here.

And for all those dying to know how the movie magic was created, here is some Bigfoot Attack Footage trivia…

1. No, the Bigfoot wasn’t real. There was more than one concerned person thinking the footage was authentic. Lesmondj and I must have the mean acting skills (and girls dig guys who have skills…).

2. The entire attack scene was done on the first take… with an imagined Bigfoot, yes imagined, not real.

3. Jon Dylan used his computer hacking skills to overlay the Bigfoot sound effects (purchased from Itunes for $1.79).

4. Apparently, the Bigfoot growls sound identical to a real Bigfoot, as one reader commented (as she deals with them on a daily basis – seriously).

5. The Mair Park Ghost legend is mostly true.

6. On the short version, Yes, the blood was real… from my nose. Don’t ask.

7. The rotting bone at the cave’s entrance (tedious version) was stolen from my dog.

8. Lesmondj spent the majority of the attack scene voluntarily lying in a puddle of water. The mark of a true friend.

9. There was no script.

View the short (and exhilirating) version below:

Footage of Bigfoot Attack? – Click here for more blooper videos

View the long (but informative) version below:

…like I change my underwear

Symon — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:33:00 +0000

Welcome to my new and improved blog. You like? I tend to grow tired of my blog layout at least once a year, and on a whim today I changed it.

My wife says I change my mind like I change my underwear. I disagree… I change my undies everyday (sometimes twice). She wonders why I keep changing a perfectly good-looking blog. I guess I get bored easily… seeing the same layout everyday (sometimes twice). Besides, I enjoy the process of upgrading, learning new stuff, change etc.

Problem is, you can’t please everyone, and I have already received conflicting comments. For example… “Great layout!” and “Blue looks cheap, I liked your old one better”. Hmmmmm.

So, I put it out to you, my blog friends, to decide. Please post a comment and let me know if you like it or not, and why.

I may be tempted to change my mind… like I change my underwear.

Authentic footage of Bigfoot attack?

Symon — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:43:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago Lesmond and I entered a viral video contest promoting PULSE by Jeremy Robinson.

Although entertaining, the movie was far too long and I hate to say it… boring. Good news folks. I have re-edited it to a lean 1.15 minutes, and thanks to a blood-nose (don’t ask), it now has an alternate ending (like special edition DVDs

So PLEASE view the clip below and tell your friends about it as the more views it has, the better chance I have of winning. Thanks heaps!

Footage of Bigfoot Attack?

Defeat (but goodtimes) on the battlefield

Symon — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:53:00 +0000

My best welt, shot by Isaac pointblank in the ribs… yes that is bruising.

Two church teams, 20 guys, one paintball field, 2 hours of carnage, Goodtimes! Sadly my team (CRF Central) were defeated by Shaun’ team (Bream Bay CRF).

A couple of comments. Shaun, you got lucky this time buddy. Isaac, you are a marked man my friend. Rhys, I think the DIY paintball field is a phenomenal idea… I’m in!

Thanks for such a great time guys. I can’t wait unitl the next game. Until then, let the following vid fuel your keenness!

Symon and the Real Girl

Symon — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:00:00 +0000

It’s our wedding anniversary today. I was scrummaging through my shed this morning (as you do on your wedding anniversary) and found my Best Man’s wedding speech. Wayne, you did a legendary job with this, and it still makes me crack up thirteen years later!

So for a window into our life almost a decade and a half ago, read on…

Ode to Symon and Kristy

Symon was a quiet lad, or so we have been told
But we knew that things would have to change before he grew too old
At the age of sixteen he picked up a guitar and began to sing and write
Committed to his cause he wrote a barrelful of tunes, sometimes two or three a night
They were songs to change the world, and songs to spread the word
And yet most of the songs that Symon wrote, no one ever heard (except me)

A few years down the track, God answered Symon’s prayer
On Friday night the phone did ring and a voice said “It’s Brian here”
The news that Brian brought gave the greatest of great joys…
An offer for Symon to play the bass for a band called “The Flatboys”
Symon quickly accepted Brian’s offer to play
He rang his mum and told his friends and started the very next day
With lots of gigs booked and Summer Harvest camp
Symon took his biggest step yet and bought a brand new bass amp

Symon’s new Peavey was all his pride and joy
At $2000 he told his mum that it really wasn’t a toy
With low gain, high gain, crossover and DI
The bass amp had Symon’s heart, and to girls he turned a blind eye
For several years Symon and his amp continued in perpetual bliss
And whenever he spent a few days away, it was only his amp that he’d miss

And then one day without warning, a girl came on the scene
She went by the name of Kristy, and Symon was definitely keen
Kristy, Kristy meek and mild… No one knew of her intent
But between you and I and Warren and Brian, the bass amp knew what it meant
As time went by the Kristy thing eventually took its course
Symon and his poor old amp had to file for divorce

So if you’re wondering if these two are a good match
Of Symon at least you can be quite sure, in Kristy he’s found a good catch
Late at night when Kristy tells Symon it’s his turn to turn off the lamp
She knows without doubt she’s the only girl in the world…
Who got him to sell his bass amp

Happy anniversary Princess! I still think you are a ‘good catch’. Love you heaps babe.

Man survives 55m Niagara plunge

Symon — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:33:00 +0000

This brief post is dedicated to all my water-fall jumping friends…

A suicidal man jumped into Niagara Falls yesterday, miraculously surviving the 55m plunge. He resisted rescue attempts before eventually being pulled from the icy water to safety.

He had minor injuries, but no broken bones

See the news video below.

Surfing with jaws

Symon — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:57:00 +0000

It was the summer of 99… oooo yeah (in my best Bryan Adams voice). Me and my good buddy Les were surfing at Elliots’ beach, Far North, New Zealand. It was a brilliant summer’s day, the waves were small but clean, and I was out the back by myself waiting for the next set (Les was grovelling further in due to his board being too short).

While waiting for the next set I saw a huge form cruise slowly past me, about 10′ away and about 4′ from the water’s surface. It took a couple of seconds for my mind to register what it was… a huge shark, longer than my 9′ longboard (10′-12′ would not be an exaggeration). For a brief moment I was in awe of the creature, until I realised that it looked remarkably like a Great White, and that my legs were in very close proximity to it’s jaws.

Anyone else ever had a terror-rush? It’s something you never forget.

I prayed silently while trying to gently catch a wave in using only my fingers to paddle with. Somehow, I managed to ride in (an angel must have pushed my board . I came up beside Les, who was in wastedeep water, and pointed to the water out yonder. We both saw the shark’s silouette in the oncoming wave… it was a truly awesome sight, albiet for only seconds. Wonder had overtaken fear.

Needless to say, we didn’t go surfing again… that is, at least for a couple of hours.

I’ve read recently that it is not the shark you do see that is dangerous. It is the shark that you don’t see that is dangerous, as sharks use the element of surprise and attack their intended morsel unseen from underneath. So, next time you are out surfing or swimming, remember… if you don’t see a shark, be afraid… be very afraid.

Kate gives Nina some Chucks

Symon — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Friendship lasts forever…

Symon — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:32:00 +0000

Les and Symon @ Flame Youthchurch (2050AD)

In keeping with my current Muppets phase… I’m cracking up more and more at Waldorf and Statler these days and actually find myself relating to them (should I be worried?).

Someone in Blogland made a wise-crack recently that Waldorf and Satler reminded them of Lesmond J. and myself. I couldn’t agree more! I think if Jesus doesn’t come back before 2050AD, that Les and I will practically be them! (a human Christian version of course.) Below are some reasons why…

It doesn’t take a huge imagination to realise that Les will look exactly like Waldorf when he’s 75.

When we hang out together, we usually laugh at life, laugh at each other, and laugh at ourselves pretty much 95% of the time.

Waldorf and Statler are old but youthful (nuff said already).

Laughter really is the best medicine. We need to smile more, do something embarrassing every now and then, and when others laugh at us, laugh along with them.

So, here’s to Waldorf and Statler… I want to be just like them one day. And here’s to Lesmond J… an awesome friend and one of the best (his name is really Leslie).