A big smile on my face for two reasons today. 1. Snow has arrived in Scotland and this is the view from my study (Not the windmill!) 2. Harper Collins have just informed me the the book is being published in Holland and Spain in January. A deals very close with an American publisher and in the UK the book … READ MORE »
I arrived at the old Kirk; the team’s HQ and was greeted by Dave and taken into the Tardis. The church has been divided into different sections and really is quite spectacular, everything from bunk beds, showers, TV and a coffee machine I would like at home; it is an excellent base and ideally situated on the road to the … READ MORE »
On Friday morning I had the privilege of visiting Wendy Hughs, at her home near Elgin, with Heavy. Wendy is the spritely widow of Eric, who sadly died earlier this year, and close friend of Heavy’s, who served with her husband as Team Leader of RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) where Eric was the Officer in Charge (OiC) … READ MORE »
Spent quality time yesterday with Willie McRitchie, the Gallic speaking, local boy from Harris now Team Leader RAF MRT Kinloss, and who accompanied Heavy on the great Single Service Everest Expedition of 2001 and has summited McKinley. Discussed lots about the phenomenal challenges facing Military MR and the difficult decisions to make about its future; maybe lesson can be … READ MORE »
Tonight I am presenting in Aviemore to the Cairngorm MRT. They have just invested in 40 x Garmin GPSMAP 62sc satnavs. The ‘c’ stands for camera which takes georeferenced photographs, time and date stamped, an invaluable tool for locus recording. A busy, dynamic and progressive team. I have no doubts whatsoever satnav will become the navigational tool of preference … READ MORE »
11:00 11 11 11 Each of the large Stones of Remembrance, erected in every Commonwealth War Cemetery, carries this inscription, devised by Rudyard Kipling and these words are indelibly inscribed in my heart. Today my late Father, my Grand Father and my Uncles are very much in my thoughts. They all fought for the liberty and … READ MORE »
Having been stood down, along with an entire team of dog handlers, engineers trained in shoring-up collapsed buildings to recover casualties, the most high-tech detection equipment in the world etc., from Turkey for no other reason than global politics, I am currently feeling more philosophical than normal, so please allow me to share something with you. When I was a young … READ MORE »
My frustration has given way to relief that the Turkish government have today asked for external help. I have no doubt whatsoever that they have highly trained and competent teams, able to deal with the aftermath of earthquakes, notwithstanding this, and as my late Father used to tell me ‘No man is an island and sometimes we all benefit … READ MORE »
Late Sunday I received a call from a colleague from the United States asking if I could go on stand-by for the disaster in eastern Turkey. Travelled down to London last night, for a flight today out of Heathrow today to Istanbul. Today travelling back to Scotland as the team has been stood down because the Turkish Government are refusing … READ MORE »
Fellow Mountain Rescue Team member, friend and star of many of the photographs in the UNM, Jenny Changleng, has set up a terrific first aid training company. Jenny, a qualified teacher, who also holds lots of other outdoor awards from Single Pitch Climbing to Mountain Bike instructor recognised the need for a hands-on, First Aid course that can be … READ MORE »
