"I'm eighty you know!"

Climbing Sca Fell with Steve Hartley....

30 years before, I climbed this mountain when visiting the Lake District for the first time with friends from Newcastle University.  It was December 1980, 2 months into my course, and the weather was snow, ice and practically a "whiteout".  I had none of the proper gear, and wore army issue boots and clothes, borrowed from the Officer Training Corps, which I had joined (but was soon to leave).  I had borrowed an ice axe as well, at the insistence of a climber at Uni who taught me how to use it.  This was fortunate, as I needed it.  I slipped and fell down an ice and snow covered steep slope, after 200 ft bringing myself to a halt with the ice axe.   It saved my life.  I climbed back up to the path, shaken but alive.  We never made it to the top, as the whiteout was too severe.

30 years on the weather was excellent - I remember the exact spot I nearly died (you tend not to forget such things!).  On the way down we meet an 80 year old man, who kept telling us, and the world, with evident pride, "I'm eighty you know!".

30 years from now I will be eighty.  I hope I can still fell walk then.

Helvellyn the Movie

Testing how to post a film to my Blog. This was filmed by me and Steve using our cameras, and I then stitched it together on the APple Mac using imovie.

Good fun.

Kept me amused for ages.

Sad, huh?

A Wild and Wet Sunday - echoes of Fulbright

I am sitting in the study, looking out at the wild wet weather blowing in across the Belfast Loch, with a fire burning in the stove, snug and drinking a hot whiskey. There are worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Particularly after spending 5 hours yesterday morning catching up on emails and other work that could not be undertaken during the week due to pressure of time, meetings and other activity. Yesterday was a morning that I needed reminding that this is an interesting job, but with significant challenges.

One event I didn't mention in my last blog was one 2 weeks ago. I was invited to a reception at Belfast City Hall for its opening by Hilary Clinton. She was in Belfast for, well not sure what for (nor was anyone else entirely sure), but I waited along with 200 other guests for her arrival. She was delayed - one lady, the former speaker of the Assembly Eileen Bell fell, over and broke her arm, creating a stir, but other than that the boredom was intense. However, everyone waited. Even the Queen didn't keep me waiting that long when I met her 2 years ago at Hillsborough Castle! Hilary arrived finally, and then gave a a good, inspiring speech, sending positive, hopeful messages from President Obama, before mingling. The scrum was manic. I hesitated on the edge of the press of people - did I really want to meet her that much? A gap opened between two 7 ft bodyguards and she turned, held out her hand and I thanked her for the Fulbright opportunity; she asked my area of work, and then moved on. I left satisfied that at least the 3 hours of waiting wasn't a total waste.

A 'normal' working week?

Ok; Having tried blogging during the Fulbright I have decided to continue to blog but this time about my everyday stuff - what I do and observations on various things I come across. Not sure what it will be like, but we shall see....

I have a very interesting, varied and challenging job. This week alone for example -

Thursday finalising a DVD on the DCAL accommodation move;

Followed by the opening of the Ulster Museum after an £18 million refurbishment - see interview with Minister Nelson McCausland;

And then that evening a talk on "why are we here" by a professor Mark Hendry from Glasgow organised by the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society and Armagh Observatory, part of the Internal Year of Astronomy.

Then on Friday attending a play by Mark O'Rowe called Terminus, a poetic, Faustian demonic tale of modern Dublin, straying into fantasy, sex, violence and tragedy, told by three actors on a minimalist stage - see the Times review.

On Saturday in Belfast Sir Steve Redgrave gave a talk called "be inspired" followed by a Q&A - he told of how he got into rowing, how he overcame Diabeties, and what kept him motivated.

All of these were necessary as part of my work. My job involves oversight, support or organisation of these activities and events to differing degrees - difficult to beat it really. Must remind myself of this when next I am stressed out by it....

Tall Ships - Belfast

The Tall Ships came to Belfast in August 2009, and as our Minister couldn't go I was asked to represent him on HMS Mersey, a Navy mine sweeper and fisheries protection vessel, to view the Tall Ships as they left Belfast Harbour.  We were out on Belfast Lough, between Bangor and Carrickfergus; HMS Mersey and the ROI navy vessel Einne created a gate, through which the Tall Ships sailed.  Quite a sight.

Emma's Graduation 23 July 2009

Anji and I got back from Kauai in three very long flights, and had to pay extra in Newark due to a problem with our booking - but we were repaid later by Expedia, who were very good.  Emma's Graduation ceremony in London was a a very proud moment for us both, knowing how hard she had worked for it (over 5 years).  The day was lovely, ending up at 'fifteen', Jamie Oliver's restaurant.

Kauai (2) - Tunnels Beach

Tunnels beach was only a short walk from the house, and paradise.  The backdrop for the movie 'South Pacific' it lived up to expectations! With a reef some distance out, so safe swimming and plenty of rocks for fish to dart in and out of, and for people with snorkel to do as well.  Also close to the former hippy commune now laid back village of Hanalei, that features in the song sung by the California trio Peter, Paul and Mary: "Puff the Magic Dragon", where it appears spelled variously as Honah Lee, Hanah Lee, but in truth we now know is Hanalei!

"Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea 
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Hanalei, 
Little Jackie paper loved that rascal puff, 
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff. oh.

Kauai - Hanakapai Falls

On the way back from the Fulbright Anji and I went to Kauai, a beautiful island, the last but one most westerly of the Hawaiian islands, and the one that Captain James Cook first landed on when he 'discovered' them.  During our week there we went on a ministerk to the Hanakapai falls; it was a tough walk along the Na Pali coast, but well worth it.  We later kayaked along the coast, on a 17 mile trip that was stunning, but we have no photos!