December
January 12th, 2009 by Jake
Happy Christmas to you all - I feel very bad for not having updated my Blog for so long (perhaps an appropriate New Year’s resolution…?).
December has been pretty mad so far: lots of lectures, TV meetings and a little trip to Africa to top it off. Speaking wise, the highlight has to have been speaking at the Dome in Brigton to an audience of nearly 1800 people back at the beginning of the month. It was an evening of celebration (prize giving and music) for Cardinal Newman Catholic School from Hove, and with that number, I easily beat my previous PB for audience size set only last month in Croydon.
Television: I had a few rather positive meetings with certain TV companies, who are potentially interested in doing some stuff next year… fingers crossed, and watch this space!
Africa: Saskia and I went off to Morocco to do a winter ascent of Jebel Toubkal in the High Atlas. At 4,167m, it’s the highest mountain in North Africa and although many people climb it during the summer, during the winter, it provides a worthy challenge. Saskia has never climbed a ‘proper’ mountain before - and has certainly never climbed in crampons, so it was a real baptism of fire (or should I say ice!) for her. However, she did fantastically, and we both got to the summit on a wonderfully clear day last week. If anyone is going to Morocco, I strongly recomend Toubkal - it is a good little challenge in a wonderful country!
On returning, I did a 30 minute radio show for Premier Christian Radio, which will be going out on the Sunday the 4th Jan at 3pm, and then returned home to get into the Xmas spirit. 3 full Roast Turkey dinners in 24 hours left me feeling rather like the Vicar of Dibley, but with a mountain of very generous presents to conquer, I can safely say that I have worked those extra calories off!
A nice quiet last few days of 2008, culminating in what I’m sure will be a rather messy New Year’s Eve celebration in Cornwall and then a busy month of lecturing starts on the 5th Jan.
So Merry Christmas to you all, and a very Happy New Year. Wishing you all a very successful 2009, and best of luck for any physical, mental or metaphorical mountains which I’m sure that next year will throw up for all of us.
December has been pretty mad so far: lots of lectures, TV meetings and a little trip to Africa to top it off. Speaking wise, the highlight has to have been speaking at the Dome in Brigton to an audience of nearly 1800 people back at the beginning of the month. It was an evening of celebration (prize giving and music) for Cardinal Newman Catholic School from Hove, and with that number, I easily beat my previous PB for audience size set only last month in Croydon.
Television: I had a few rather positive meetings with certain TV companies, who are potentially interested in doing some stuff next year… fingers crossed, and watch this space!
Africa: Saskia and I went off to Morocco to do a winter ascent of Jebel Toubkal in the High Atlas. At 4,167m, it’s the highest mountain in North Africa and although many people climb it during the summer, during the winter, it provides a worthy challenge. Saskia has never climbed a ‘proper’ mountain before - and has certainly never climbed in crampons, so it was a real baptism of fire (or should I say ice!) for her. However, she did fantastically, and we both got to the summit on a wonderfully clear day last week. If anyone is going to Morocco, I strongly recomend Toubkal - it is a good little challenge in a wonderful country!
On returning, I did a 30 minute radio show for Premier Christian Radio, which will be going out on the Sunday the 4th Jan at 3pm, and then returned home to get into the Xmas spirit. 3 full Roast Turkey dinners in 24 hours left me feeling rather like the Vicar of Dibley, but with a mountain of very generous presents to conquer, I can safely say that I have worked those extra calories off!
A nice quiet last few days of 2008, culminating in what I’m sure will be a rather messy New Year’s Eve celebration in Cornwall and then a busy month of lecturing starts on the 5th Jan.
So Merry Christmas to you all, and a very Happy New Year. Wishing you all a very successful 2009, and best of luck for any physical, mental or metaphorical mountains which I’m sure that next year will throw up for all of us.
