November 11th, 2008 by Jake
It seems like it’s been a frightfully busy couple of weeks since the last post. First there was 5 days at RMA Sandhurst (or HMP Sandbags as it’s sometimes known!) acting as a mentor for a civilian leadership challenge. It was great to be back at RMAS, this time with a pip on my chest, and not getting shouted at all of the time! I had a fantastic group of 8 who I looked after for 4 days whilst they underwent all sorts of leadership training and testing, such as planning exercises and command tasks.
There have also been a couple of lectures, including the Croydon College Graduation ceremony, where I spoke to about 1300 people in Fairfields Hall (my biggest audience ever!).
Had a wicked night in London last week going to the Chivas Regal Party in Marylebone to hear Nick and Giles English (of Bremont Watch Company) speak, and a tasting session of some rather delicious whiskey. As if this wasn’t enough, Simon (my Manager) and I then headed down Bond Street to the opening party for the new Victorinox flagship store (and in fact, the only one in Europe!). Had a great chat to Carl Elsener, the CEO of Victorinox about climbing in Switzerland! Not only were we bombarded with free drinks and chocolate penknives all night, but the goodie bags were rather generous as well!
Saskia and I went climbing in the Wye Valley on Saturday with Rupert Rosedale, my climbing teacher from school. Somehow we managed to get the weather spot on, and we all had a great day (although Saskia might beg to differ!). A lot of frantic polishing that evening then prepared me for the Rememberance Sunday Parade in Cirencester with my Squadron. Absolutely freezing (not much room for thermals under my service dress!), but again somehow managed to stay dry, and of course a little shivering is a small price to pay to be involved in such an important day.
October 25th, 2008 by Jake
It’s been a busy couple of weeks since my last post - let me fill you in…
I’ve spoken at a number of schools including: Marlborough College (my old haunt!), St. Gabriels (Newbury), Benenden (Kent), Edgebaston Girl’s High School (Birmingham), Prince’s Mead School (WInchester), Tonbridge School (Kent) and Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (Bristol). QEH was especially enjoyable, as it was their prize giving and speech day, and the event was held in the Wills Memorial Building at Bristol University - the same room in which I received my degree last year.
I also spoke at the Barbican centre for a big corporate event for a Multination Media Company, and have just returned from 5 days on board MV Ventura - the 115,000 ton P&O flagship. We spent a lovely day in Gibraltar, before returning to Southampton across a rather rough Bay of Biscay, and all I had to do is chat about my adventures. It really is a hard life!
Coupled with a fair amount of Army bits and pieces (and I’m off to Sandhurst for this week to train some civilians on a leadership course), it’s been frightfully busy, and the paperwork on my desk is growing at an alarming rate (bloody tax returns - need I say more!). However, quite a few interesting opportunities and projects on the horizon, and perhaps even Xmas is a rather nice warm place (free holiday/work!).
And they say that being an adventurer is easy… !
Prize giving at QEH in Bristol
October 5th, 2008 by Jake
Giles Vickers-Jones and Humfrey Hunter have just brought out a book called ‘The best day of my life’. This is a compilation of true short stories to inspire, move and entertain. I met Giles last year at an event in Surrey Quays and he asked me to contribute, which naturally I was thrilled to do, and I recieved a copy of it yesterday. It’s weird seeing my words in real text in a real book! Also, I’ve got a smashing picture in there as well. The book is full of great stories, by and complete mixture of celebs and everyday people, and it was wonderful to see that the entry after mine, is by my good friend Jamie Murray Wells - the boss of Glasses Direct.
September 29th, 2008 by Jake
Last couple of weeks has been very busy for me. I’ve spent most of the time up in Otterburn with my TA Regiment on our annual camp, which was a great success. Lots of time in the field and a weeks worth of live firing meant that we were certainly kept busy! In amongst the fun I managed to get back down south for a few days to give a talk at a Help for Heroes event at the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester which managed to raise thousands of pounds for the charity. I also finally managed to go skydiving, and on the friday, lept out of a plane from 13,000ft and5 minutes later landed softly in a field full of cows! It was an incredible buzz, and now I can’t wait to do it again. Also managed to get to the Goodwood Revival in a 1920’s Bullnose Morris, which was another wonderful day out in our weird Indian Summer. This morning I spoke to 150 girls at St Gabriel’s School near Newbury, so hopefully I’ve inspired a few of them to get out and climb their own personal Everests. Marlborough College tomorrow, and the Benedon girls school in Kent on Wednesday. Phew… it’s almost like having a proper job, thank goodness my weekend starts on Thursday!
September 8th, 2008 by Jake
Just got back from 5 days on Oceana, one of P&O’s cruise ships, where I gave a couple of talks to entertain the passengers. This was the second time I’ve done the cruise ships, and I have to say that I do really enjoy them. Last year a good friend and I spent 5 days on Arcadia sailing from Gibralter to Southampton, this time Saskia and I flew out and met the ship in Lisbon, and then came back via Brest and Cherbourg. It’s a great gig to do, the audiences are always incredibly welcoming and having a few days to relax, eat our own bodyweight and check oput some beautiful foreign ports is always an attractive option! It’s a hard life! Looking forward to going on Ventura in October with another friend.
Relatively chilled out week this week, battling my way through a rather long ‘to-do’ list at the moment, catching up with last week’s stuff, as well as bits that seem to be left over from the expedition! Lecture in Swindon on Friday, and then off up to Otterburn for 2 weeks of annual camp with the TA… fun fun fun!
August 25th, 2008 by Jake
Saskia and I went over to Northern Ireland for a great party this weekend, but also managed to get up to the Giant’s Causeway on Sunday afternoon. Northern Ireland’s top tourist attraction was certainly busy on a slightly overcast bank holiday, but it is an incredible sight and we were really pleased that we made the effort to get up and see it whilst we were over.
Today was spent sitting in the canteen at Netheravon Airfield eating rounds of bacon sandwiches and drinking multiple cups of tea. We were waiting to try and do a tandem parachute jump, which I had won at a charity auction before the expedition, but unfortunately the cloud cover was too heavy and low, and after 5 hours our patience had worn out and we sacked it in. A great pity, especially considering how some of the family had seriously psyched themselves up (Mum had raised over £500), but we’ve already booked ourselves in for another attempt in 4 weeks time. Fingers crossed for weather then!
