Sunday 30 November 2008

Room to Read

Room to Read - Books and International Development going hand in hand.



I’m currently reading a book by a chap called John Wood. Room to Read. I was nearly talked out of it by the lady in the bookshop and steered towards something else that would have had a similar thread. I’m so glad I wasn’t.

This is a fascinating read. Full of interesting stories about how one man give up a top end job at Microsoft to set up the charity, Room to Read. The charity was originally set up when John went trekking in Nepal and went to a school, only to find that their library was locked away from the children and only contained a few books. Books that were irrelevant to young Nepalese children to learn from. Room to Read literally does that. Initially it sent books to Nepal and now it builds school, provides scholarships for girls and works in many developing countries around the world.

John mixes in a lot of his wisdom from Microsoft with the tales from getting the charity set up. There is a lot of feel good stories and John mentions that he puts a lot of working hours and effort into the Charity, but he does make it seem like can be easy to raise fund from your network of friends. Thinking through it some more, John is a very well connected person, he knows a lot of people with plenty of spare cash. In his position at Microsoft and no doubt through his education, he would have met a lot of these people that helped him initially to get the funding in for the charity. I thought that I would never have friends who could organise a fund raiser and bring on over £10,000. Perhaps I do them an injustice.

Go and read the book. It is a story of one mans passion that enthuses many others, one that has a huge amount of drive and tenacity and has a very clear head of his goals and a huge amount of business sense. An enlightening read, drawing together a couple of my keen interests, business, the outdoors and helping people.


John may well have been in a well connected position, he may well have made a fair amount of money working at Microsoft, but he put this all to a very important and very selfless use, helping to educate young people from developing counties.

BBC Documentary

BBC Documentary.



Nangpa La Shootings


Who saw the documentary on BBC2 on the 10th November? This horrific story highlighted the horrific lengths that Chinese Border Guards go to stop Tibetans leaving Chinese Tibet, that happened in September 2006.

The Tibetans were aged from 14-22 and at least 7 of them were shot whilst coming down from the mountains after buying safe passage out of the country. I was very sad watching the documentary and saddened by what had happened. Perhaps they shouldn’t have been trying to flee their country, but if they felt that their human rights were being abused, if they were being denied the basic right of an education surely they doing the right thing?

The whole incident was captured by a Romanian cameraman on expedition in the Himalayas and by many other mountaineers looking at climbing Cho Oyu from Nangpa La. Very traumatic for them, but none of them told the outside word immediately it happened. Only when one of them talked to a friend back in the USA did the story start to come out. I hope that none of the mountaineers overlooked the incident, purely concentrating on their goal of climbing a mountain. As Alan Hinkes always said, no mountain is worth a life. And I’ll add whether that is a life of a mountaineer or the life of some young people seeking to better themselves no mountain is worth a life.

No one could have intervened at the incident, the Chinese Government were called to account over the incident and said it was up to them how they protect their borders. I don’t think so. I felt traumatised and very sad that such a thing could happen in such a beautiful place as the Himalayan Mountains.



http://www.walkandtravel.com/

Night hike on the South Downs

Walking on the South Downs

Remember Remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot… It was our intention to head out onto the South Downs on this very evening to look at the fireworks from Lewes and across Brighton.

The start point was Ditchling Beacon car park, with a walk eastwards towards Lewes and their famous bonfire procession. The fireworks are always spectacular and world renown and we were hoping so have a grand view as they lit up the night sky in a myriad of colours, sparks and bangs loud enough to split your ear drums.

We set off and strode across to find a vantage point, we were on a mission to get as far as we could as time was not on our side. We needed to be back at the minibus by 10pm. Slowly the clouds started to wind their ways across the Weald bringing with them the spots of rain that you don’t really want when you have left your waterproof trousers back home.

There is something wonderful about a night hike. I’m not sure what it is. Perhaps the peacefulness of the night, perhaps the companionship of the darkness. We walked with our group of Explorer Scouts along the South Downs Way, most of it unrecognisable from cycling the South Downs Way or from the walks in the daytime. Perhaps that is what makes a night hike wonderful. It is more of an adventure, everything seems different you can’t see the sign posts, but you can see all little pin pricks of house lights and street lights strewn across the landscape, making it look like a different world.

As we hiked with Lewes in our sights, the clouds came in. The few fireworks we could see in the distance all but disappeared. We got as far as we could, time was against us and so was the timing of the Lewes fireworks. We has to turn round. The rain came down and we hadn’t seen a single Lewes firework, then bang, flash and a few fireworks lit up the sky behind us. Then as we crested the next hill, they disappeared from site and the rain, clouds and darkness accompanied us back to the minibus.

It was a very enjoyable 6 miles across along the South Downs Way and back. The cloudy, rainy weather made it feel very desolate, like we were the only people around after some terrible accident. But on the same hand it was very peaceful and you could certainly feel that you were out on the hills. Next year we will get nearer to Lewes so we can see the fireworks properly. Nest year will be full of moon, stars and crisp frost underfoot. Next year, remember the 5th November.

Thursday 27 November 2008

India

India

A wonderful land full of wonderful people, smells, colour and vibrancy. It is awful to see the atrocities that have happened in Mumbai over the last 24 hours. It is hard to imagine what the people there are going through. Many of them rely on tourism for their income and indeed survival. From the people at the top who own places such as the Taj Mahal Hotel to the lowly beggars in the street. This will impact across all of them.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has said that only essential travel to Mumbia advisable, but look at the other options for the country after reading through all the information on the FCO website on travel to India.

If you are planning to go, consider your options following the FCO advice, but do try and get there one day. The two months I spent travelling around were two of the most amazing that I spent on my entire round the world trip. You will find something new and interesting at every turn. People will amaze you when you get to chat to them and the busy land and culture will leave you speechless at times. Read an account of the trip to India Rob and I went on.

My thoughts are with the family and friends of all the people affected by the attacks in Mumbai especially those who have so needlessly lost their lives.

It saddens me that some of the greatest tourist areas in the world are being attacked and upsets me that I have been to three of them; The World Trade Centres, The Sari Club in Bali and the Taj Mahal Hotel and Leopolds Restaurant in Mumbai. I've been to these places and met the people that are there and I am sure along with countless thousands know who would have been in these places at the times of attack.

Call it terrorism, freedom fighting, jihad or whatever, but I really hope that the governments of these countries, with support from other governments in the world can find a way of creating peace and unity across the globe.

Saturday 22 November 2008

Repair your old outdoor gear!

Repair - don't replace!

This time of credit crunch / recession is seeing a surge in the sales of Walk and Travel repair products for outdoor gear.

McNett are leading the way in products that you can use to repair your old outdoor gear, rather than replacing it. McNett make Gore Tex Repair Patches, ideal for covering up small holes and tears where the water may be getting in, which you don't want for a UK winter walking season. McNett also make the wonderful Seamgrip. Seamgrip is a rubberised solution that you can squeeze out of the tube to hold together tears, replace worn out seam seal tape and fill small holes in everything from outdoor clothing to tents to rucksacks. Always keep a handy tube of Seamgrip with your outdoor gear... just in case.

The last product the Walk and Travel sell from McNett is Freesole, a flexible, water resistant repair adhesive, ideal for sticking the rand or sole back onto your walking boots, trainers or walking shoes.

So, save money during the credit crunch and repair your outdoor gear with Walk and Travels outdoor gear repair products and keep warm and dry out walking this winter. (Saving a few extra pounds for the pub at the end of the walking trail - lovely!)

Mosquito Repellent

I've just seen an article on the One Show - on BBC1 - that relates to insect repellent, where they stated that DEET insect repellent is the best you can get. Developed in the 50's by the US Army, it really does work, much better than all the other 'natural' types.
 
They also mentioned that mosquitoes are attracted to sweat (nice - unlike people I think!) and it is the female mosquitoes at that. However some people don't get bitten as much as they have a natural repellent in their sweat. There is a clever bod in a university who is trying to separate this natural insect repellent so that it can be used as a commercial insect repellent, that doesn't have the disadvantages of DEET.
 
Interesting eh? So we may soon be rubbing extract of sweat into ourselves instead of DEET.
 
Watch this space....!
 

Tuesday 1 July 2008

Fontainebleau Bouldering

Fontainebleau Bouldering – Take two.

This was my second attempt at bouldering in Font. Two hours sleep, because, as always I leave my packing until the last thing at night and can never find everything, and then it was time to hit the road.

Why do my friends always insist on a 6am ferry? To go for a climb in the afternoon of course. Unless you get lost in Paris first. It is a 5 hour drive from Dunkerque to Font, but if you take a wrong turn off the main road and then a couple more wrong turns you are in the middle of Paris, seeing the sights, which is all well and good, but I did that on a Paris weekend break earlier in the year.

We finally made it to the municipal campsite in near Font right alongside the Seine, with the massive barges ploughing up and down the river, making any chance of an après climb swim too dangerous. Luckily there was a bar there next to the campsite, so après climb beers it would have to be.

As we arrived at the campsite too late to go for a climb we went for a beer or two. This bar is situated on near the edge of the Seine, with an open sided drinking area and run by a very chatty chap who seems to know exactly what is happening with the weather. Apparently the forecast was for English Sunshine, which roughly translates into rain. Great.

Bright and early the next day dawned on us. Heavy of head from the previous evening we tucked into tea and cake, very English, but in the early hours of the morning, very French. The sun was shining and the rocks were beckoning. The more experienced members of the group worked out where we were going to climb. I’ve no idea where we went, just off to play in the woods, like last time. This is one of the things I love about coming to Font. The rocks are always in the woods or to be more precise the forest. The area is huge and beautiful lush green. You can hear the birds chattering, the wind rustling the leaves as you wind your way along the forest tracks looking for the paint marks, telling you where you start the circuit.



I was advised that the highest climb in Font was 16 meters, which doesn’t sound too bad if you are climbing. It does sound bad if you are bouldering. For those of you that are not in the know, bouldering is like pure climbing, no ropes or harnesses to hinder your way. As the name suggests you climb on boulders which shouldn’t be very high so when you slip, fall or jump off you can just about land in a semi-controlled manner, hopefully without twisting your ankle.

After much apprehension we arrived at the rocks and I was advised that we weren’t at the place with the 16m high climb. Thankfully they said the highest bouldering problem was 8m. With no ropes, even at 8m you still have a great incentive to hold on and finish the climb as your arms are pumping out, fingers sore and feet starting to slip. This happened to me twice. 7.5m up. One problem to get over and I would be at the top safely catching my breath before the often scary descent. Luckily on these two climbs I made it. Plenty of others to fall off that weren’t quite so high.

The day ploughed on with Ed completing the hardest
problem of all, no one else could manage it. A feat of strength and skill, balance and poise? No, he was just the skinniest and managed to squeeze through the hole in the rock, with a helpful heave from the rest of us. I’m glad he made it through as I’ve no idea what we would have done if he was stuck. This challenge was part of the ‘white route’ easy little things that kids can play on while their parents are trying out the climbs. Fontainebleau comes across as very child friendly. There are always families there, parents climbing, children playing, babies sleeping until the grand French lunch when the massive picnics come out, rugs piled high with bread cheese, wine, salad and beers. Delightful. As they day drew to and end we completed the full circuit of 42 climbs, exhausted as it started to spit with rain.

The following morning was overcast, it rained heavy at night and we didn’t think that the rocks would be suitable for climbing. We had come a long way for the climb, so consulting our Jingo Wobbly Guide we headed out to an area where the rocks dry quickly. Slightly slimy and pockets of rain on some of the climbs made them a lot harder and a little scarier. Still looking overcast we beat around 10 climbs into submission before the rains started again, this time never to stop. It rained all afternoon and evening, on into the night. The following morning it didn’t stop and the forecast was rain for the next two days. The executive decision was taken to call the trip off and head back home. We played on our neighbours slack line, slung between two trees on the edge of the river, for a couple of hours, something you can just about do in the rain and promising ourselves one when we get back England. Then we headed home, defeated by the ‘English Sunshine’ we brought with us. Still, there is always next time
.

Sunday 22 June 2008

Petworth

I've been meaning to mention.. I went to Petworth House the other week, when it was their spring fair. Just in case there was a plant or something that I wanted to buy. Alas, no such luck with plants or Spring Fair type crafts, but what a wonderful place to go and have a look around. The house is so intersting, with the rooms left exactly how they would heva been hundreds of years ago and some as they would have been when the house was donated to the National Trust. They even had fitted carpets, albeit made from rushes. Under the rushes they would lay lavender to take away the general bad smell you would have had in medieval times.

The Capability Brown parklands are home to a thousand deer, no doubt to provide the food for house - I wonder if they still tuck into them now? I'm guessing the herd must be managed? Anyway, apart from the house, I wandered into the delightful, if nothing too much there of interest, town of Petworth, through the door that leads you straight into the centre of town and discovered...

The most wonderful little tea house. I think I'm sounding old at this comment even though I am only 36. Tucked away in a little back road at 1 Leppards, High Street is Tiffins of Petworth, run by the very jolly Niki Jones and Jackie Crew. Just wondering around the town thinking a cup of tea would be grand, when out of the corner of my eye, I spotted this place, immediatly I was drown to the cacophony of chairs and tables all painted in cheery pastel colours, it looked great. In I went and I wasn't dissapointed with the service. The tea (served in a quant old bone china tea cup and saucer) and the scone were delicious and soon dissapeared into oblivion.

I personally don't think that there is too much of interst in Petworth apart from the Great House and antique shops, but I would certainly recommend going to Tiffins of Petworth, for a cuppa and next time I'm passing I'd like to think I will drop by again.

Gareth Sear
Walk and Travel

Friday 20 June 2008

New outdoor and travel accessories at Walk and Travel

It's all go go go at Walk and Travel. I've got lots of new products coming in and this month Walk and Travel has gone Green. Yes I know the logo is partly green, but I'm talking green green, eco green.

Freeplay are one of the leading manufacturers of Wind Up Torches, Wind Up Radios and Wind Up chargers. These eco friendly outdoor products are now available at www.walkandtravel.com, we are selling the Freeplay Mini Companion Wind Up Radio with built in torch and mobile charger - this nifty little outdoor gadget even has a solar panel to charge it during the day if you can't be bothered to wind it up! The Freeplay Sherpa Xray Wind Up Torch is a fab see through design with the award winning winding technology on display so you can see how it works. It will never run out of batteries and using a LED to light your way, you will never need to replace the bulb.

Finally, in our line up of self sustaining, eco friendly camping and travel gadgets is the Freeplay Indigo Eco Lantern, just great for those weekends away camping, evenings in the garden with the chimanea or just taking with you on your travels in case of power cuts and you still want to see when you are playing cards. And of course - they are all at web competative prices!

Weekends Away

Life moves on at a hectic pace, there are careers to think about, there is the mortgage to pay, the allotment to keep on top of and the grass to be kept trimmed neatly - oh and the small amount of work it takes to run a business from home on top of it all. Some people ask me how I fit it all in. Sometimes I ask that of myself. But, and I'm not sure how, I squeeze it all in along with weekends away.

I like my breaks, the getting away from it all feeling, exploring a new place, getting out into the mountains or hills. It's all about loving the adventure. Because of the pressures of life, no longer are there long lazy travels around the world, you have to snatch a break when you can and this tends to be a weekend away.

This year I've been lucky enough to have a weekend break in Hull, don't laugh - it has a very interesting William Wilberforce Museum and quite a large bridge. I like bridges something really interesting in the way that they are just hanging on in there. Like towers. They just stand there, not caring, a sentinal in a city or a town offering the weekend break adventure seeker a birds eye view of their surroundings. Paris. Is it the best tower to go up in Europe? I think it's fab - apart from the queues. Let me know what the best tower in Europe is.

Well, what got me ranting about weekends away and towers? Oh yes, I've just got back from Dorset, a fab weekend in Burton Bradstock saying in the gorgeous Berwick Manor, just hanging out with my friends and their families. No stress, no computer, just good company, frisbees, small children, beer, wine and great food.

It is amazing how many weekends away you can squeeze in in just six months. Skiing, North Wales, Peak District, all mountian activity trips to balance out the city or town breaks. You need to have a good balance in life.

How are you balancing your life? Tell me about your weekends away and remember to Love the Adventure - it's what life is all about.