Travel In Depth Fantasy Football league now set up (Fantasy Premier League).
Some personal teams in there but also a Travel In Depth team made up of players from our destination countries. I bet they're top by the end of the season (well, at least above my own team).
Let us know if you want to join......
Friday, 26 August 2011
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Guyanese or Welsh? (I know what I'd pick)
In sporting news, great news for Guyana is terrible news for Wales.
According to FIFA, the Guyana National Football Team are now the 114th best team in the world, compared to the Welsh, who have dropped 5 places to lie in a lowly 117th (the teams separated by North Korea and Haiti).
Guyana have never made it to a World Cup or CONCACAF Gold Cup (The North American and Caribbean Championships), and have a best ever record of finishing 4th in the Caribbean Cup in 1991, competing against football heavy weights such as Antigua and The Netherlands Antilles.
They boast players from teams such as England's Croydon Athletic and Cray Wanderers (.. me neither.. ) and Guyana's own Buxton United!
Compared to players such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey (Spurs and Arsenal respectively), Guyana shouldn't, on paper, compare, but according to the folks who run football, they not only compare, but are better!
Iechyd da!
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
You can't go wrong with rum and coke on the menu
Last Wednesday saw the annual, always-a-pleasure, Wilderness Explorers organised, Guyanese Evening, this year held at the University Women's Club in Mayfair (a lovely venue it was too). And if the Guyanese rum flavoured beverages weren't enough to remind you of why Guyana gets under your skin, there was plenty of Guyana-themed chat to be had, not least in the form of a handful of entertaining and inspiring talks given by the guest speakers - two of which were Donald Greig of Bradt Travel Guides and writer John Gimlette, whose latest excellent publication "Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge" is a must-read for anyone with even the slightest hint of interest in that part of the world and I'd argue even for anyone with an as yet unknown interest in the area.
After the informal formalities and after-talk chit chat came to an end, or rather after the rum came to an end, there was just enough time for the tail-enders to head to the pub for a nightcap before the evening drew to a close. I left the usual suspects with glasses still not empty and headed for home, home for me for the night being an airbed at the Florin Court Hostel, which was much appreciated albeit a little surreal, being there by myself.
Big thanks to Claire and Tony for once again organising such an informative and fun evening, the event and the company was delightful as always. Roll on next year's do!
After the informal formalities and after-talk chit chat came to an end, or rather after the rum came to an end, there was just enough time for the tail-enders to head to the pub for a nightcap before the evening drew to a close. I left the usual suspects with glasses still not empty and headed for home, home for me for the night being an airbed at the Florin Court Hostel, which was much appreciated albeit a little surreal, being there by myself.
Big thanks to Claire and Tony for once again organising such an informative and fun evening, the event and the company was delightful as always. Roll on next year's do!
Thursday, 4 August 2011
On a lighter, and smellier note...
Have you heard the one about smelly, worn socks saving hundreds of thousands of lives every year? Well it looks like it could happen!
Malarial carrying mosquitos appear to be attracted to smelly socks and in Tanzania they've been using smelly socks to lure mosquitos into an insecticide laced trap that then kills said mosquitos.
How simple is that?! And how simply ace would it be if it can be turned into an effective and commonplace method of reducing the occurrences of malarial related deaths?
This is just one of many articles on the web reporting the ongoing research......
Malarial carrying mosquitos appear to be attracted to smelly socks and in Tanzania they've been using smelly socks to lure mosquitos into an insecticide laced trap that then kills said mosquitos.
How simple is that?! And how simply ace would it be if it can be turned into an effective and commonplace method of reducing the occurrences of malarial related deaths?
This is just one of many articles on the web reporting the ongoing research......
 |
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Friday, 17 June 2011
A kakapo and conservation story to inspire us all
Just read this kakapo story about a 13 year old girl in Los Angeles who has never been to New Zealand but already seems to understand what conservation is all about.
Let's be honest, with so few kakapo left and with its natural habitat seriously compromised throughout New Zealand, in the grand scheme of things the survival of the species, or any species really, is neither here nor there. Doesn't matter, it is about principle and conservation is simply the right thing to do.
It all comes down to money and will again. Natalie's donation is but a drop in the ocean but the will is there and even if she'd only received and given $100 the principle would be the same. Imagine if the people with the real money took inspiration from her and got the will as well.
Hmm, my daughter Maddie was 11 last week and I think it is time for a chat about what she should be doing with her birthday money...
Let's be honest, with so few kakapo left and with its natural habitat seriously compromised throughout New Zealand, in the grand scheme of things the survival of the species, or any species really, is neither here nor there. Doesn't matter, it is about principle and conservation is simply the right thing to do.
It all comes down to money and will again. Natalie's donation is but a drop in the ocean but the will is there and even if she'd only received and given $100 the principle would be the same. Imagine if the people with the real money took inspiration from her and got the will as well.
Hmm, my daughter Maddie was 11 last week and I think it is time for a chat about what she should be doing with her birthday money...
Zealandia correction and tuatara surgery
Richard Fewtrell has emailed me this gentle and modest rebuke in response to my post of 13 June:
"That's very kind of you to talk about me in your blog. I can't take too much credit though; I'm very passionate about this place and our natural environment but the real stars here are our volunteers and conservation staff who spend hours upon hours working in the valley helping us realise our 500 year vision."
And it is some vision. The tuatara, one of New Zealand's unique and very rare reptiles, is part of that vision and extraordinary steps are taken to protect and nurture them as you can see in this story about one of Zealandia's babies.
"That's very kind of you to talk about me in your blog. I can't take too much credit though; I'm very passionate about this place and our natural environment but the real stars here are our volunteers and conservation staff who spend hours upon hours working in the valley helping us realise our 500 year vision."
And it is some vision. The tuatara, one of New Zealand's unique and very rare reptiles, is part of that vision and extraordinary steps are taken to protect and nurture them as you can see in this story about one of Zealandia's babies.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Action in the Catlins
Our good friends Fergus and Mary Sutherland from the Catlins region of New Zealand have been environmental champions for decades now - sorry if that makes you feel old F&M!!
Many of our clients have enjoyed their company and friendship over the last 7 years and have been inspired by their vision for the conservation of wildlife and nature everywhere and in the Catlins in particular.
We are very proud to support them and have helped with a few conservation projects, most recently the Chaslands Tussock Restoration project. The picture of the information panel below explains the project and there is also a little YouTube video.
The panel now needs to be made and erected and a very generous donation of £100 from our clients and former guests of Fergus and Mary, Lew and Chris Robinson from Nantwich in Cheshire, was perfectly timed and will help to get this done. Thank you Lew and Chris!
Many of our clients have enjoyed their company and friendship over the last 7 years and have been inspired by their vision for the conservation of wildlife and nature everywhere and in the Catlins in particular.
We are very proud to support them and have helped with a few conservation projects, most recently the Chaslands Tussock Restoration project. The picture of the information panel below explains the project and there is also a little YouTube video.
The panel now needs to be made and erected and a very generous donation of £100 from our clients and former guests of Fergus and Mary, Lew and Chris Robinson from Nantwich in Cheshire, was perfectly timed and will help to get this done. Thank you Lew and Chris!
Monday, 13 June 2011
Little people and big people
Following on from my last post, Richard Fewtrell at Zealandia has sent me a pair of stories which both illustrate the challenges that face conservation but also celebrate the fact that some are fighting the good fight:
"I think we have a big job on our hands! The day I got back home there was a story on the news about Waituna Lagoon in Southland. It's one of our most precious wetlands remaining but it's under massive threat from dairy farming run off.
More info about the area is here.
It was very depressing.
However there are some glimmers of hope. Just last week in the Dominion Post there was an article about a dairy farming couple in Eketahuna who are being praised for their commitment to sustainable farming.
If only more farmers were like them..."
"I think we have a big job on our hands! The day I got back home there was a story on the news about Waituna Lagoon in Southland. It's one of our most precious wetlands remaining but it's under massive threat from dairy farming run off.
More info about the area is here.
It was very depressing.
However there are some glimmers of hope. Just last week in the Dominion Post there was an article about a dairy farming couple in Eketahuna who are being praised for their commitment to sustainable farming.
If only more farmers were like them..."
Making a difference - Zealandia
Our good friend Richard Fewtrell is an eco warrior and a man that we truly admire. There are too few of him, people who see the bigger picture and devote themselves to making a difference, but at least there are a few.
Richard is part of Zealandia in Wellington, a conservation project which aims to restore a little piece of New Zealand to its pre-human state. It is a big job but Zealandia proves that it can be done and if we all take a little share of the responsibility then we can achieve so much more.
I firmly believe that conservation is more about will than money. There is a hell of a lot of cash out there and if we are able to make more people understand why conservation is so important then maybe we will start to see a shift in spending and lifestyle priorities.
At the moment it is all about the "little people" doing their best but if there are enough of them doing it then eventually the "big people" will need to wake up and listen.
Richard is part of Zealandia in Wellington, a conservation project which aims to restore a little piece of New Zealand to its pre-human state. It is a big job but Zealandia proves that it can be done and if we all take a little share of the responsibility then we can achieve so much more.
I firmly believe that conservation is more about will than money. There is a hell of a lot of cash out there and if we are able to make more people understand why conservation is so important then maybe we will start to see a shift in spending and lifestyle priorities.
At the moment it is all about the "little people" doing their best but if there are enough of them doing it then eventually the "big people" will need to wake up and listen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)