Bonjour, as we GCSE-fluent-folk may say down here in surprisingly damp France.
Here’s what I’md like to share with you this week:
(This week’s photos are from when I rowed to France with disabled soldier Major Phil Packer. I must say that taking the ferry this time, eating crisps, was much easier…)
‘¢ A good book to read: Where The Mountain Casts Its Shadow takes a clear, honest look at the dark side of adventuring. We praise adventurers for their focus, drive, and bravery. But what about those left behind? This book turns to those who live always in the shadow of the true love – the thrill of the next mountain’¦ I found this book uncomfortable but powerful.
‘¢ A lovely Twitter / Instagram account to follow: I was sad when Robert Macfarlane appeared on social media. He seemed too erudite and too busy doing clever things to join the rest of us down in our sordid world of irreverent nonsense. But Rob has taken to the format brilliantly (particularly on Twitter) with his informative, interesting Word of the Day post. (Instagram link here.)
(Almost as enjoyable is the gently teasing Robot Macfarlane’s automated Word of the Day.)
‘¢ A superb outdoors film to watch: These things I enjoy: bothies; photography; a perversely British enjoyment in making things difficult; slowing down life; this film that combines all of the above.
‘¢ An even better newsletter than mine to subscribe to: Please help! I am running out of ideas here. Please send me the link of any excellent newsletters that you enjoy receiving!
The Brainpickings newsletter regularly expands my reading horizons and always gives me masses of new stuff to ponder about life, living, and other clever stuff like that.
‘¢ A positive social media story: I received a nice message from a young disabled person who had enjoyed my newsletter. I decided to turn to Twitter to find some interesting adventurous disabled people who he might enjoy following. The result was a fine example of just how fabulous social media can be when used for good.
Here is the crowd-sourced list of interesting stuff that resulted. And Bear Grylls kindly got in touch to offer him a visit to the Bear Grylls Adventure Experience. Well done, Twitter!
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