The 1968 Newsletter is back, it’s been a while but I have decided now is as good a time as any to publish it again.

1968 is an outlet for my interests, discoveries, and thoughts. The first section of the newsletter is given over to “The Good Of It” If you would like more of the newsletter given over to this or anything else, drop me a line I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested in receiving this newsletter.

Time…It’s the only currency you spend without ever knowing your balance. Use it wisely

Life changes - “The Good Of It”

The “Good Of It “, for those of you who haven’t heard, is my new home on water.

Due to the sudden and devastating changes that have occurred in my life, I needed a new place to call home.

With the current state of the property rental market in South London, I was contemplating van life rather than investing a lot of money in rental accommodation, much of which is poor quality, with inevitable parking issues and neighbours on all sides.

Enter “The Good Of It”

While surfing the property websites during a weekend stay with relatives in Somerset, I came across this 45ft cruiser stern narrowboat, which led down a Pinterest rabbit hole of canal boats and boat life.

Back in London, I arranged a viewing, which was not difficult as it was moored a few miles away on the Thames near Kingston. Apart from being a bit dated, she was in good condition and a far more pleasing option than a dingy one-bedroom flat.

After lots of thought, doubts, and consulting with friends and family, a second viewing was followed by a trip to the Limehouse Basin to look at another boat, and the decision was made. I would purchase this tiny house on water.

I have my family and friends to thank for helping me make the final decision at what was and is the most difficult and trying time of my life.

The actual purchase was surprisingly quick within two weeks, the sale price was agreed upon, money transferred, and keys provided. Suddenly and far quicker than expected, I was the new owner of a narrow boat. I can best explain the sales process as more like purchasing a car than a home.

As the renovation progresses I post updates, pictures and videos of the boat and my new surroundings on the Thames.

But as a starter, this is what I began with :

Image of the week.

Taken at the Southside Hustle, the car meet-up on Wimbledon common on the first Sunday of every month. It’s an eclectic mix of supercars, classics and everyday cars that people love. It is also a huge draw for car and camera nerds from across London.

EDC - Everyday Carry - everything from knives & tools to bags and accessories.

Samurai Fountain Pen

I have never been much of a writer, but recently, I started journaling. In an attempt to improve my poor excuse for handwriting, I decided to purchase a fountain pen and this is the pen I settled on. It’s not expensive, it looks very cool all in black, comes in a set.

Has my writing improved well I would have to say overall yes, which is amazing in itself, would I recommend this pen…yes. It’s great for writing and sketching if that’s your thing, but either way for the price I think it’s a fantastic pen.

The link below will take you to the Amazon page.

I’m listening to

I’m reading

Not so many books but plenty of magazines, blogs and zines

This book is quite apt considering my recent choice of accomodation. Monocle not only publish a quality magazine but they also produce a range of beautiful books on a wide range of subjects.

“The Monocle Book of Gentle Living is a handbook to help you think about how to reconnect, make good things happen, to do something you care about and discover nice places and extraordinary people along the way. Sometimes the fixes are simple and personal: to run, dive into a lake, sleep more or set aside some time with the people who make us happy. Maybe it’s about eating food from producers who are proud of its provenance or building spaces into cities that respect older residents and value younger ones. Our editors have brought all this together in one simple book – so how about taking a few moments away from the crush to flick through the pages? Gently does it, now.”

I’m watching

Canal Boat Life London

A much bigger boat than mine ;)

Health & Fitness

Vitamin D and the aging process

There is some evidence that Vitamin D could slow down the aging process and its mechanisms.

Renowned for its role in bone health, emerging research also highlights vitamin D's physiological effects on human health, including aging.

Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in regulating calcium absorption, while also contributing to immune function and overall well-being. A daily intake of 15 µg is recommended for those aged 1–70 years old by the National Institutes of Health, which can be obtained through sun exposure, certain foods and supplementation.

Read the full article here

Art

There is something quite hypnotic about the process of making this teapot.

For the petrol heads

One Beautiful Porsche