25/05/2014 - Off to Kilimanjaro

Bags packed - I am off. Will have plenty of time to think up new blogs but no ability to post them. See you in 2 weeks.

23/05/14 Gogglebox & the great British electorate

Our politicians are often accused of being out of touch. At the same time politicians regularly claim "they get it".

Gogglebox has recently been accused of not being entirely spontaneous. Despite that it should be part of compulsory viewing at politician school. Out of touch or "I get it". Gogglebox will make them think.

Democracy is a wonderful thing. Thankfully we are not entirely run by the smug liberal intelligentsia and left leaning BBC.

22/05/14 - European elections and the political soap

I have just saved a half written blog about the EU. Too wide ranging and too time consuming.

For now I will just admit I am really fascinated by this election - its outcome and its impact on national politics. Will the Liberals be wiped out. How will the Tories respond to UKIP successes. How will Labour fair against UKIP. To what extent is the UKIP vote an irrelevant protest vote. How will the politicians involved react here. What will emerge from other voting countries in the same terms?

Stating the obvious - clearly the EU project has a massive impact on our lives. This might be a watershed moment in what has been an unstoppable momentum towards an increasingly federalised Europe and therefore deeply significant for our futures.

At a superficial level I would commend the political comings and goings as the best soap on TV. A rolling tale of ambition, scheming, comedy (gaffs) and drama. Will Clegg survive. Will UKIP help the Tories. Will Labour be smug or choking on their general election prospects as a result?

We shall have to wait until Sunday's results programme. Who needs Simon Cowell !

21/05/2014 - Packing for Kilimanjaro

Off on a trek to climb Kilimanjaro on Sunday - plus a short safari. I have rarely been away and not taken more gear than needed but have gradually tried to improve over the years. This is a challenging one - no showers or toilets for 8 days - African heat at the base - through 4 seasons, tropical rain, strong winds and snow - up to minus 20 on the roof of Africa at 19710 feet (if I get there). The strategy is wet wipes and clothing layers but how often clean layers? Not often will have to be the outcome. Camping is a great reminder of how big a difference having the right gear can make to comfort and safety but also serves to confirm we generally have far too much stuff in our cluttered lives.

20/5/2014 Isle of Wight Festival

My ticket has just arrived for the Isle of Wight Festival (12th - 15th June). I have a lot to thank the IOW Festival organisers for. Like everyone else music had played a part in my life but the revival of the IOW Festival raised it to another and enduring level. Every year my youngest son loads my IPOD with tracks from the line up in anticipation of the big event (familiarity with the music seems to raise it to a higher level). Rudimental and Calvin Harris have been rocking the car for months - the legendary Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Kings of Leon as headliners. Some people have been negative about the IOW Festival - citing disruption and cost. The cost one is hard to understand. OK a ticket is £200 - a lot of money - but the value is incredible - 3 days worth of top bands on our door step - the same money would just about cover a trip to the O2 to see one band. Music is a very personal thing of course. For me I like to move on. So many people seem to get stuck in a time warp - 80's and 90's! Jools Holland gets the balance right with Late Live. Absorbing yourself in a band at a live festival is certainly a great thing to do. My favourites ever - The Strokes - Cold Play and Richard Ashcroft - the amazing Faithless and great Amy Winehouse - to name just a few - and so many more to come.

19/5/2014 - Approaching the big 60

When I was 18 I did a memorable six week (winter) Outward Bound course at Ullswater in the Lake District. The course structure was to teach and train you for the final week solo expedition where everything learned was put into practice and tested.

 

As the big 60 approaches I have decided to keep a diary blog. I have now done the life course (all 4 seasons) and am launching into the final expedition (lets hope it is a long and enjoyable one - touchwood!). I do so on the basis that I might have something useful to say or worthwhile to conclude - and also to share my experiences with my wonderful family - who mean everything.