Nuttsplace.me

Mar 15

Three Peaks Challenge – No Really I’m doing it!

Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Ok so I’m actually going to do this. I’m very much looking forward to it and have decided to do it with The Meningitis Trust.

So 11th May this Year I’ll actually do it, should be lots of fun, just have a few things to sort before then including;

Get abit fitter and been on the beer a little to much recently, cant beat a good pint of Doombar!
Get out in the hills and get the legs burning and used to the up hill walking again! – Got Mountain Activity the week before the event should help some what.
Oh and yes £500 sponsorship cash please sponsor me at the following link.

http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/nutt

Ill keep you up to date as time moves on!

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Feb 24

Decline in Map Skills, a Worrying thing?

Having just read the article from the Telegraph [full link at the bottom], that I saw linked on FB, I decided to share it here and add my views on it. Most of the comments in the article discuss that the sale of OS maps are in decline and that map skill are also in decline.

I sum what disagree as I personally feel that map skills are not declining but that more people are getting into going outdoors as they become more complacent that they can get around but following direction with the use of technology at their disposal. A majority of these people probably don’t know how to properly operate their GPS device [which was most likely a perfect partner's Xmas present].

Maybe what organisations such as Ordnance Survey could do is to have not only ‘Master classes’ on map read and compass work, but also get GPS device makers involved in helping to ‘Master class’ the use of these GPS units. After all most of the GPS units run on OS licensed maps. Some of these units are very sophisticated and can calculate very accurately. Which is great and can download new maps from the net in less time it takes to get a map from a shop or delivered if purchased online.

I do agree that there is no 100% replacement for education in map and compass skills. This is why I still teach map and compass work at Scouts, its a vital tool in the outdoors. The basics can be taught in the same time it takes to learn to use a new GPS unit. Map and compass skills over years of practise can become very second nature, its more fun and works without batteries!

I personally still live by the GPS i was taught with, Grass Pointing System which is a blade of grass pointing at my map where I am because I will know where I am, if I don’t I shouldn’t be there and thus not out in the hills. The only ‘GPS unit’ I own is a SPOT which is not a navigation unit but a emergency GPS locator unit.
Original Article.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/9090729/Warning-over-decline-in-map-skills-as-ramblers-rely-on-sat-navs.html

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Feb 13

For all the Valentine Card’s I’m due

Found this great article on mashable, If you have a geek in your life that you want to make smile this Singles Awareness Day try one of the suggestions from

http://mashable.com/2012/02/08/valentines-day-cards-geek/#449611-You-Are-My-Double-Rainbow

I think my personal favourite however is

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Feb 7

One does not simple walk in to Mordor

So After a successful Cotswold Marathon it was time to up my game but Google wasn’t so keen on the idea, what a shame.

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Feb 5

Cotswold 2012 Finished!

So 2012 cotswold marathon one of the most interesting with some awesome snow blizzards, sleet, rain of and sub zero icy temps. That said we did manage to go the distance and complete the 36 miles to see the route check out the link below.

http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view?trip_id=293176

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Feb 3

Cotswold Marathon 2012

So the countdown begins around 24hr before we roll and im looking forward to it just need a good nights sleep tonight.

Got the spot up and running ready and tested today go to where is … for tracking

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Aug 12

This was jamboree, thanks :)

So were now after a long drive back in Bristol. This is not the end it’s now the beginning of the start of unpacking and remembering all the fun I had on jamboree. Then also planning Japan in 4 years time… How will we get there? Suggestions welcome!

Will post photos online soon!

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Aug 12

Aye aye captain

So we got to bed at 3am after playing pool with the Spanish we were with before we all went to bed. We were then up at 7am and it was tuff to get up but a good shower and then we were on the road for Dunkirk. We got to the port and customs had a look in the trailer for animals, there so good they didn’t find the dinosaurs or 34 knifes and 4 axes

So on the ship and full English breakfast which was very nice. We then went to the reception and meet the Master of the ship (captain). He then took us up to the bridge and showed is around all the control system and navigation systems. Then I got to steer the ship to 290′ which was really cool. We then had some photos before coming back down.

The crew stay on the ship for 2 week rotations and there is 77 crew onboard. A single trip will use 14 tonnes of fuel if running all 4 engines but currently running 2 engines and saving 7 tonnes of fuel. The car deck can be completely flooded with sea water if there is a fire. They can get up to 30 knots as well but normally sail around 18-20

Were just about to dock in Dover so now time to get to Bristol.

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Aug 11

Going the distance

So we spend dinner while watching going the distance which was quite funny three guys watching a chick flick. So we were up at around 8 as the ecuador lot were up having breakfast in the next room, quite and noisy and messy lot. So after beer for breakfast for me and Benk we headed for Brugge. We started by trying a scout place with little success and then after some navigation a campsite outside of Brugge which was full and so tried a hostel we found on google, one phone call later and were at Charlies rocket hostel in centre of Brugge and it’s not to bad, were in a room with 3 Spanish guys. We hit decathlon before coming back and having a nice dinner just out from the centre. I had mussels followed by creme brûlée with a couple of beers. We are now back at he hostel where we are enjoying a couple of beers and some live music.

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Aug 10

Beer beer, beach

So landed on our feet in getting to stay at this scout centre. There happens to also be here a contingent of Brazilian scouts here who were also at the jamboree. We decided to visit the beach and had lunch and I had a Hawaii toasti which along with the beer was very nice this was followed up by apple tart  we then went to the beach and attempted to sort out PJ’s power kite but it was so windy that we didn’t get it up flying. We then got dinner from LIDL which result in dinner and beer. Most the evening had been spend playing guitar