Robert Johnson's posts

With the impending demise of free Audioboom accounts I explain why I won't be taking up the new offer, thank audioboom for years of service, and let my listeners know where else they can find me out there on the world wide web. I also take the opportunity to raise my concerns about the potential loss of important historical records if audio accounts are deleted without first being archived in some way, and about the challenges of retrieving one's content, with thousands of posts to save. I repeat here though, as I stated in the recording, that I sign off with no bitterness towards Audioboom who have supported free accounts for a long time now despite a changing business model, allowing many of us considerable freedom in what and how much we recorded. I wish them well with their future direction. I can also be found at: http://anchor.fm/bearingaway http://twitter.com/BearingAway http://www.bearingaway.co.uk

My fourth Toastmasters Speech, on the subject of authenticity #Toastmasters #PhoenixSpeakers #London

A plethora of thoughts, ideas and utterances fills a physically empty Turbine Hall. More information here: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/bruce-nauman-1691/long-read/raw-material #TateModern #TurbineHall #RawMaterial

I ring the Bell of Peace in Hiroshima, Japan. Visit http://www.bearingaway.co.uk for more on my trip.

Mark Rogers and I are off to Japan and in this, hopefully the first of many audio and video recordings from the trip, I look forward to the journey. You can follow the trip at http://www.bearingaway.co.uk and http://twitter.com/BearingAway Big thanks to Paul Hopkins and Claire Randell for the theme music.

In my third Toastmasters speech I address a subject which is quite close to home, mainly working a guide dog. I must confess that, despite good feedback, this wasn't my best speech ever. The introduction was far too long and I could have done with planning the ending a little better. Fellow guy dog owners may also notice a little bit of poetic license being employed! Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy it. #Toastmasters #PhoenixSpeakers #London #Speech #Speech3 #GuideDog #Training #Working #Dummies #GuideDoggingForDummies

I joined Phoenix Speakers, a London Toastmasters club, back in October 2016, and this was my first speech, delivered shortly after. I talk here about what led me to join, including losing my confidence speaking in public and battling to regain it. The feedback on this speech was remarkably good, with the main recommendations concerning my tendency to stand quite still and clasp my hands, rather than appear more natural. I think there was also a suggestion that I should have slowed down a little #toastmasters #speech1 #icebreaker #2016 #PhoenixSpeakers

Fifteen Minutes was my second speech at the Phoenix Speakers Toastmasters club in London, made on the 8 March 2017. It interweaves the idea of 15 minutes of fame with the story of my own moment in the limelight 10 years ago, when the story of my gene therapy operation was reported on around the world. Unfortunately I was distracted a couple of times during the speech, once by my own side comment and once by noting the time lights changing but not knowing what colour they were on. I also trimmed the ending a little as I thought I had less time left than I did. Nevertheless the feedback was positive about the structure and content, even if it could have been a little slower and perhaps I could have worked on my stage presence a little.

After holding out for almost a year in order to keep messaging functionality and avoid the risk of losing existing recordings, I have finally succumbed to pressure and updated to the newest version. This is something of a test recording to see if I can upload from the iPhone voice memo app. Let's see if it works…

#BBCNews #Website #Multimedia #AudioDescription

#busker #busking #waterloo #StreetsOfLondon #SoundOfSilence #guitar

Like other commuters I got a bit of a surprise when arriving at Waterloo a week or so ago, and made this recording from the mezzanine level, looking down on the main concourse. #Military #Band #SpandauBallet #Gold #80s #November #2016 #Waterloo #Station #Concourse

#Busker #Busking #Music #GeorgeMichael #Bagpipes #Saxophone #Waterloo #LondonUnderground #JubileeLine

#Eurostar #Paris #GuideDog #Geo #CheckIn #PetPassport #Identification #ID #France #Paris #Weekend #September #2016

Guide dog do you and I find our way independently from our TGV to the taxi rank at Paris Gare de Lyon station. #Weekend #France #Provence #Paris #Arrive #TGV #taxi #gare #lyon #GuideDog #Gio #Independent #Blind #Transfer

#toulon #gare #sncf #TER #France #September #2016 #Weekend #Journey #Announcement #Jingle #Theme #Provence

#Party #Karaoke #French #France #Provence #September #2016 #Hyeres #chateau #angalade

#Party #Singing #HeyJude #Beatles #chateau #angalade #Hyeres #September #2016 #Provence #France #Weekend

#September #Party #2016 #France #Weekend #Chateau #Vineyard #Angalade #hyeres #FancyDress #Provence

#France #Weekend #CoteDAzure #Provence #Lavandou #Mediterranean #Beach #Waves #Sand #GuideDog #Gio #Walk #September #2016

#France #Weekend #Mediterranean #Beach #Provence #Lavandou #Walk #GuideDog #Gio #September #2016

#September #2016 #GuideDog #TGV #Assistance #Marseille #Arrival #Dad

#September #2016 #TGV #Duplex #Reservation #GuideDog #Assistance #Marseille #LilleEurope #1stClass

#LilleEurope #Eurostar #GuideDog #Gio #Assistance #Busca #Accordion #Outside #September #2016

#LilleEurope #Assistance #Eurostar #GuideDog #Change #TGV #Help #Blind

#September #2016 #Travel #Weekend #Eurostar #PremierIn #GuideDog #Gio

We watch the race from immediately adjacent to the start/finish line as the leaders/by, followed 45 seconds later by the Pelaton. #TourOfBritain #Cycle #Race #London #RegentStreet #Pelaton

Paul, Claire and Nathan secured the most brilliant spot to watch the cycle race. All I had to do was turn up! #TourOfBritain #Cycle #Race #London #2016 #RegentStreet

Passing through London Bridge station on the day its new through platforms and lower concourse opened to the public for the first time I had to pause for a quick look. #LondonBridge #ThamesLink #ThamesLink2000 #Concourse #Undercroft #Platforms #New #Reopen #Impressive #Spacious #Arches #August #2016

On our way home we have a fast change at Lille Europe. This is us getting from the TGV to Eurostar check-in. #lille #Europe #Change #Station #gare #TGV #Eurostar #CheckIn #GuideDog #Gio #Travel #August #2016

For every stop announced on the Strasbourg tramway a different little jingle is played. Here are a couple of them. #strasbourg #Announcement #Stop #Jingle #Music #August #2016

Gio and I make our way back towards the city centre with church bells ringing in the background. #strasbourg #August #2016 #walk #GuideDog #gio #adventure

A bit of silliness on the Franco German border. #strasbourg #kehl #rhine #river #bridge #border #schengen #france #germany #GuideDog #Gio #Passerelle #DeuxRives #August #2016

Mark and I marvel at the sheer size of the cathedral before exploring a large metal model of it. #strasbourg #Cathedral #Size #Huge #Perspective #Architecture #Model #August #2016

Mark describes the European Parliament in Strasbourg as we look at it for the first time. #Strasbourg #EuropeanParliament #Architecture #Contemporary #August #2016

Mark and I take a tram from the centre of Strasberg to the European Parliament.

Here's a recording from earlier in the year that I should have uploaded ages ago. I made it after spending a lovely weekend with friends in Knaresborough.

#Soul #Band #Brighton #Beach #Lunchtime #Sunday #July #Summer #2016

I wonder around Tate modern's new annex Switch House with guide dog Gio. #TateModern #SwitchHouse #GuideDog #Explore #Bridge #Steps #Art #Contemporary #TurbineHall

#busking #busker

#Waterloo #Music #Concourse #Training #Hot #GuideDog

Gio enjoying splashing around in a stream with my sisters dog, Angus, in July 2016. #GuideDog #3Run #Swim #Stream #River #Summer #2016 #Play #Gio