Let’s give it its full title – this month’s Travel Library comes from The Rhine: Following Europe’s Greatest River from Amsterdam to the Alps by Ben Coates and let’s start by being brutally honest. This was a slog. The fact that I bought it in 2022 and never got beyond the first page until now should … More Travel Library: The Rhine by Ben Coates
Iceland has been my mania for a long time. Kayaking has been bubbling up but has been my newest mania for a little while, but particularly right now, as I attempt to enact a plot I actually have no control over whatsoever. Anyway, the moment I discovered that this book existed, via Lee-Anne Fox on … More Travel Library: Iceland by Kayak by Nigel Foster
This book holds a record for the longest time between reading it and getting onto my Travel Library! I bought it in Exeter back in September, on my way back from my weekend on Dartmoor, devoured the first chapter eagerly on the bus… and then it took until December to actually finish it and now … More Travel Library: Epic Continent by Nicholas Jubber
Well, it feels very late to be publishing this considering I started reading it at 7am on official release day on January 11th but there’s been so much Georgia stuff and I had other stuff to slot in but finally, it’s time for Alastair Humphreys’ Local. I read his Ask An Adventurer last year and … More Travel Library: Local by Alastair Humphreys
I was most excited about the enamel workshop, out of all the tours we did in Georgia. A traditional craft, one I’d never even considered having a go at! I watched videos on how cloisonné enamel is made and honestly, I realised it was going to take longer than the three hours allotted. At the … More An enamel workshop and the ancient capital of Georgia
I know, it’s only been two weeks since the last Travel Library but a) I didn’t want to interrupt the flow of Georgia posts that are starting on Thursday and b) I wanted a bit of breathing room between getting home and getting the first post out. Of course, today’s book isn’t technically about travel. … More Travel Library: Kvachi by Mikheil Javakhishvili
I read a lot of non-fiction in 2023, for someone who doesn’t really read non-fiction. The plan for this year is mostly to read more fiction from around the world – or at least from the Nordic region. But I read this in December and it fits the theme too well not to talk about … More Travel Library: Adventure Revolution by Belinda Kirk
My absolute favourite life and outdoors manual is my 1992 Guide Handbook. Not even joking. There’s a lot that’s Guide-specific but it’s got entire chapters on Skills for Living, The Great Outdoors, Camp, All About You, Express Yourself and One World and I still like to sit and read it as a book, even now … More Travel Library: Do Your Best: How To Be A Scout by Bear Grylls
I love Sparkle & Ice. I haven’t missed a single year, not even 2021, when it was cancelled because of some killer mutant virus. I took a mix of Guides & Rangers in 2017, just Rangers in 2019 and 2020, volunteered in 2018 and 2022 and I’m taking my new Rangers this year. However, this … More Sparkle & Ice 2023: the biggest one
With Sparkle & Ice 2023 only about ten days away now, it’s either a bit tight for time with advice or it’s perfect timing because you’re just reaching last-minute panic. I know at least one local leader has read my previous Sparkle posts and maybe I can become the authority on how to survive Girlguiding’s … More Winter camping tips (for Sparkle & Ice)
I Am A Polar Bear 