Welcome to the Lake District from Matimus on Vimeo.
Welsh Will hadn’t paddled in the Lake District before, so Andy Lees and I thought it was only right that we show him down some of it’s classic rivers… shame about the lack of water!
February 7, 2017
December 19, 2016
Operation: Menorca - Part 1, The Mysterious Banging Noise
This was not the trip I was expecting…
This was not the trip I was expecting…
First of all, there was absolutely no drama in strapping 5 P&H Sea Kayaks (four Scorpio MKIIs and a Delphin) to the roof of my car, they just seemed to magically fit; this may be a misconception due to the fact that Tim kindly did the actual loading of the kayaks for us though!
Once the gear (including a box packed with shorts, t-shirts and sunglasses from…
December 14, 2016
Sharing is Caring from Matimus on Vimeo.
2016 was the year of sharing my hobby with friends and family; here’s a short video of two different days, one in Cardiff with Becky and Dave, and the other at the Tryweryn with Rachel and Nathan.
December 7, 2015
#sTEESy from Matimus on Vimeo.
An unfortunate day on a very high Upper Tees, resulting in the loss of my boat and Josh’s paddles, but you gotta swim!
December 6, 2015
Whitewater Centre Fun from Mathew Wilkinson on Vimeo.
Over the summer, Alfie and I have found ourselves semi-accidentally touring the whitewater centres of the UK - they’re much more fun than the whiners would have you believe…
#9RLove from Mathew Wilkinson on Vimeo.
A couple of my favourite moves in my new favourite boat, filmed on the Wharfe and Tryweryn rivers. #FastIsFun #NotJustForPros
Mat’s Useless Lessons #1: River Knives from Mathew Wilkinson on Vimeo.
Witness the complete antithesis of acceptable river knife discipline in this glimpse into the twisted mind of me.
Palm Folding Knife from Mathew Wilkinson on Vimeo.
A tongue in cheek look at the Palm Folding Knife; hijinks aside, it’s a great bit of kit!
September 22, 2015
Dear Funeral for a Friend,
Thank you.
I first came across your music during secondary school when my best friend Nick gave me a mix tape which included your song, ‘Juneau’; it immediately became one of my favourite songs and still is to this day.
As I slowly discovered the rest of the 'Casually Dressed and Deep In Conversation’ album by repeatedly watching the videos for 'Escape Artists Never Die’ and 'She Drove Me to Daytime TV’ as well as inexplicably driving way better on Burnout 3 every time 'Rookie of the Year’ came on the soundtrack, I became more and more hooked.
2005 rolled around and your second album 'Hours’ came with it, not much has matched the excitement I felt about that album; I still remember walking into HMV in Blackburn with my mum and begging her to buy the deluxe version for me, then watching the DVD as soon as I got home and getting goosebumps the first time I listened to 'History’ - it still gets me.
Later that year Nick continued his efforts to make me cool and dragged me along to my first ever gig, Taste of Chaos 2005 in Manchester - the first ever time I saw you play live. I bought almost every item of merchandise going that day, including a Funeral for a Friend hoody that I wore so much it might as well have replaced my skin; I’d still be wearing it now if my mother hadn’t forced me to throw it away when it had long since ceased being fit to wear in public. The enduring memory I have from that first gig is the point where you played 'History’ and asked everyone to raise their fingers like the English archers of Agincourt; I’ve done the same during every performance of that song I’ve seen since.
Every interview I read or watched surprised me by how much like regular, approachable people you appeared to be - and you didn’t disappoint when I met you at a signing before a rescheduled Hours Tour gig in Manchester in 2006. A new friend called Hannah had offered me the ticket and a few years later gave me the copy of Hours she’d had signed that day, it’s no wonder we’re still the best of friends now.
Throughout the years I’ve been to more of your gigs and met you more times than I can count (most of them with Becky, who’s a closer friend because of you), collected and cherished every single CD or Vinyl you’ve ever released (including one I spent an hour searching for in a Canadian music store during a sea kayaking trip and had to swap my left over pounds for extra dollars to afford), been tattooed with your lyrics (as part of something drawn by my friend Emma), travelled long distances to see you at special gigs like the CDADIC show in Cardiff and the secret gig at the Lifeboat Inn in St. Ives (where Gareth began my habit of doing a startled rabit impression in photos), owned several iPods with your lyrics engraved on them and their memories stuffed with your songs, and spent thousands of hours singing along to your music.
You’ve gotten me through some rough times, made the good ones better and your albums have and always will be there to carry that on. I’m sad, but not angry; I respect you for doing what you feel is right and I wish you all the best - thank you for everything you’ve given me over the years.
Yours Sincerely,
Mathew
January 2, 2015
Why?
‘Why?’ is a question that we ask frequently in the early stages of life, but often it’s shrugged off by parents or inadequately answered. This sets a precedent for us to simply accept the vague answers we’re given or not bother asking at all.
As we approach adulthood, a time where asking 'why?’ of our teachers, our peers and our leaders could have life changing results, the desire to question circumstances has all but faded away.
I think we should break this trend; go on, ask me why.