I’mm excited to be speaking this week at the Do Lectures.

The simple premise is that speakers come along to talk about what they Do. It’s set me wondering what do I actually Do?! And what do I want to Do. Which, I guess, is the idea of the Do Lectures. To encourage us to Do what we want to Do.

I will be talking about my round the world ride, and how doing that encouraged me to do more with my life. About how the ride taught me to just get on and do stuff without fearing failure and without procrastinating for the perfect moment.
I’mm still not particularly good at what I want to be good at and I’mm still not where I want to be. But I’mm no longer worried about just getting on with trying to get there.
I’mll talk about our plans for Antarctica too, and about self-publishing, which I really believe is the future for small little non-celebrities who still have an interesting tale to share. People who want to get stuff done.

They have also asked me for a list of recommendations of my “favourite websites, books and organisations” to go on their blog. I thought I might as well share my suggestions here too. I’mve decided to limit myself to 3 of each or else I’mll be here all day, rather than actually Doing anything. I can’t possibly call these my favourites though, perhaps just this week’s favourites!

Websites:
Ben Saunders – a beautiful site, and excellent content.
hIrScH – the best cycling/travel writing I’mve come across. He nails what it feels like.
Mark Twight – it’s not comfortable reading, but I print out this essay whenever I’mm getting mentally or physically or morally flabby.

Books:
Laurie Lee – As I walked out one Midsummer morning
Ernest Hemingway – For whom the Bell Tolls
Antoine de Saint Exupéry – Wind, Sand and Stars

Organisations:
Amnesty – for so many people on Earth, life sucks. Amnesty reminds us.
Hope and Homes for Children – my round the world ride supported this charity.
The RGS – if they would focus on what people are interested in (hardcore, groundbreaking expeditions) rather than anoraks and geography field trips.

(update: here’s the talk I did:)