At the tender age of 17 my mother listened diligently as her new manager recited the staff rules to her. She was not to smoke, drink alcohol or ‘be discovered in bed (or elsewhere)’ with another member of staff. The briefing was endless, with countless such instructions. This was 1981, and my mother had just... Continue Reading →
Awesome Walls
'Ahh, the sharks are going to eat me,' I yelled as I legged it up a treadmill climbing wall. The aim of the game is to stay off the floor, to do this you must continuously climb up the wall as it moves downwards. My brother was on the side setting the speed for me.... Continue Reading →
An adrenaline educing way to spend your annual leave…
Sandwiched between a giant mat on my back and a heavy rucksack on my front, I carefully maneuvered along a narrow footpath. Holding the guide book beyond my rucksack I scrutinised the pictorial map. It looked fairly simple. Yet, for some reason we couldn't make head or tail of it. Surrounded by trees there were... Continue Reading →
Outdoor rock climbing
'Come on you can do it,' a kind lady on the ground yelled up. A 60 m climbing rope was tied to my harness, which was clipped round my waist. The rope trailed behind me and was attached to my brother who stood firmly on the ground below. My aim was to climb up the... Continue Reading →
‘Fear is only as deep as the mind allows’
'I can't do it, I can't do it, I can't do it, I'm going to fall,' I trembled as my hands gripped onto the rough rock surface with all my might. I was panic-stricken. All I could think about was my fatigued arms failing me and tumbling off the boulder. Fear consumed me, I began... Continue Reading →
Exploring Chichester Harbour
Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I turned to my right. Something didn't seem right. The stationary pole that jutted out of the estuary into the sky seemed to be following us. How could that be? Concluding that it must have been the angle we were looking at it, we battled on pushing the paddles... Continue Reading →
Four Scenic Circular Walks in the South Downs
East Meon This 8 mile circular walk as recommended by The National Trust is not to be missed. You'll begin outside the parish church dating back to around 1075. From here you ascend hills and will be greeted with wonderful views before descending and finding yourself strolling through shaded woodlands. You'll walk through golden cornfields... Continue Reading →
Top 3 activities in Folkstone
1. Cycling along the sea front 'Come on speedy!' My brother enjoyed yelling at me as I tried to keep up with him. Ferocious winds greeted us as we used all our strength to peddle forwards. Slowing my legs down to take a break, my bike swept to the left. I regained my balance, hung... Continue Reading →
‘How do we build from the current corona crisis towards a more sustainable future?’
Thank you Sustainability First for inviting me to address this thought provoking question. Here is my attempt at a response. Readers what are your thoughts? Recent data published by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has shown that carbon dioxide concentrations are the highest they have been since measurements began in 1958. During the... Continue Reading →
A Socially Distanced Bank Holiday
Usually during May bank holiday I team up with Days of Adventure to embark upon a crazy expedition. Our previous pursuits have included: cycling 189 km along Hadrians wall, hiking miles on end along the Cotsworlds Way, cycling round the Isle of White and hiking The Ridgeway National Trail. This bank holiday has been somewhat... Continue Reading →