Pecha Kucha

Well I survived my initiation into the delights of Pecha Kucha talks at the Night of Aventure last Wednesday.  Spurred on by the terror of lagging behind the 20 second slide rollover, I burbled my way through the allotted 6 minutes 40seconds.  Above is the line-up of most impressive, inspiring and funny women taking part (they put me to shame) and experiences ranged from a record breaking Trans Antarctic cyclist to a walk round Wales with a donkey, both the latter speakers hailing from Wales.  Ages ranged from 65 (me) to 8 years old!

Night of Adventure

I have been giving quite a few talks over the winter, mainly to small local groups, but also last week to Wilderness Lectures in Bristol.  Tomorrow night Wednesday 26th March I am one of a line-up of ten women giving short 'Pecha Kucha' slide talks as part of the annual 'Night of Adventure'  held at the Institute of Education, Russell Square.  Rather late notice but for anyone who is interested, booking available via the link above.

 A return to my old stamping ground as I took my Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the Institute, as well as an MA and research at the School of Oriental and African Studies next door!
For those of you who do not know what a Pecha Kucha talk is (I didn't!) it is a six minute 40 second presentation consisting of twenty slides, and only twenty seconds allowed for each slide. It really focuses the mind to prepare a talk!

Introducing the ponies!

I have now bought two ponies and booked a flight arriving in St John's Newfoundland on April 17th, so am committed to the ride!  Facebook gets a lot of bad press but it has been instrumental in building up contacts in Canada and sourcing the ponies I have bought. They are both Newfoundland pony crosses so should  be well suited to the rigours of travel in Newfoundland.

Albert is a six year old bay Newfoundland x Morgan/Clydesdale gelding around 14hh.  He is broken to ride and drive and is quiet and good with traffic.  Here he is pulling a wagonette .......

 ... and a sleigh ....

 ....though of course he will be used in a different capacity on the ride!   He has been with the Brown family near Clarenville since birth.  The vet commented on how well-behaved he was during vetting, so I am looking forward to having him as part of the team.

 Mace is an 11 year old chestnut gelding, about 14.2hh and thought to be a Newfoundland pony x quarter horse.  The details of his past are a little more unsure, though he was apparently used on a holiday ranch for a while before his previous owner acquired him.

.Don't forget that the trip can also be followed via my Long Horse Ride facebook group at   https://www.facebook.com/groups/100069313746/     Everyone welcome to join!

Charging along......

...which is what  I hope to be doing in more way than one on my North America ride.   I am intending to travel without vehicle support as far as possible, so charging my electrical equipment when I am back country is an obvious concern.  I have been very grateful to receive support from family business Outdoor Chargers www.outdoorchargers.co.uk who offered a very generous deal on a couple of solar powered chargers.
This includes a compact and sturdy Powermonkey Extreme which is arguably the most impressive portable solar charger on the market.  Capable of charging a variety of devices from cameras to ipads, the battery unit can also be charged up from a conventional power source.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEXwG47laYk

.......In addition I have acquired a Bushnell Solarwrap Mini   which is a very lightweight small solar charger which I intend to use to keep my mobile topped up as I ride along.  It can be hung across a saddle bag, and the flexible solar panel wraps away around the battery unit when not in use.

 

 

 

Outdoor Chargers supply a variety of chargers (including the two shown above) at very competitive prices.

VOTE LAURA FOR THE BRIT AWARDS!

Following her success at the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) awards, where she won the Best Female Artist (over Jessie J and Rita Ora) and Best R&B/Soul artist awards, it is now time to vote for Laura in the all important BRIT AWARDS, where she up for Best Breakthrough Act and Best Female Artist.   
You can VOTE FOR HER for her now by clicking BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACT
http://www.brits.co.uk/voting

Laura on Jools Holland Live (Iona on harp)....

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

When I reached the westernmost point of mainland Ireland at Slea Head on the Dingle Peninsula last year, the only place to go further west was to the tiny Blasket Islands just off the coast, and then North America.  And that is where I plan to continue the Long Horse Ride later this year, starting from Cape Spear near St John's in Newfoundland.

I am hoping to ride without vehicle support for much of the time, either carrying my kit in saddlebags or on a packhorse, so sourcing lightweight gear will be of the utmost importance.  A constant concern when wild camping is keeping clean.  I was thus intrigued to find on the internet an innovative brand of washcloths and dishcloths marketed by Lunatec. 

Not only lightweight but self-cleaning, quick dry and odour-free, they seem perfect for the job, and I am very grateful that Lunatec have generously offered to provide cloths for my trip.

http://www.thegearcaster.com/the_gearcaster/2011/07/innovative-camping-towels-from-lunatec.html

MOBO Awards 2013 - VOTE NOW!

...and for those of you who do not know what MOBO stands for, it is Music of Black Origin.
Laura Mvula  is up for five awards.  Laura and the band (with my youngest daughter Iona on harp/vocals) will be playing at the Awards Ceremony at 9pm on BBC3 this Saturday 20th October , and 11.15 pm on BBC1 on Sunday 21st.

There is still just time to vote for Laura at   http://www.mobo.com/voting2013

For a reminder of her fabulous songs, here are the band on last month's North American tour performing on the David Letterman Show ...

and in Chicago...

Unfortunately the videos from the Today show in New York, and the Jimmy Kinmel Show no longer seem to be available.

For those of you who are in North America, watch out for their November tour which may be coming to a venue near you!  - link to schedule as follows   http://www.lauramvula.com/events

STOP PRESS - LAURA MVULA WINNER OF MOBO BEST FEMALE ARTIST AND BEST R & B / SOUL AWARD!!

Laura beat Jessie J and Rita Ora in the MOBO Best Female Performance 2013 group.   I will put a link to the MOBO ceremony later in the week.