Elgin - Scotland

Ian and Renton walking through the woods

I’m currently on a mini tour of Scotland where along with Nicola the camera and picture editor  we’ve been making a series of four films for Newsnight Scotland about the local elections. Last week we were in Dundee  and this week our film comes from Moray. For those who don’t know where that is, it lays between Inverness and Aberdeen along the north east shoulder of Scotland. 

It’s not an area I know particularly well. my only experience of the region  was in a previous guise as a drama worker. About 14 years ago I spent a fortnight in Elgin, when along with a colleague we delivered drama workshops to some local schools. To be honest, I remember so little about the actual town. So visiting there brought back absolutely no memories at all. 

From this visit however I will remember two things:
the first being when I arranged to do some filming in a fish processing business in Buckie,  Nicola had a hard time as she is a vegetarian  and it appears wading about in fish guts wasn’t her ideal job! [It can’t all be cake and tea.] 

Lots of lovely fish guts    we need some sratch and sniff cards!

 I expect it didn’t help when I withdrew  to go and wait in the car with Renton. The smell was overwhelming and I wasn’t doing much to assist with  the filming, so I thought it would be best if I left. Just to get out the way you understand.


For the rest of the day she complained about smelling of fish guts. I didn’t think she did, ...well....not that I was going to admit if she reeked of kippers.  

Filleting Salmon

The other memory is the hotel. I’m not going to name it, because the people were perfectly pleasant and the problem could have been solved if I hadn’t been so idle. 

As I’ve written here before, getting the right hotel when travelling with a guide dog is the hardest part. This particular hotel was ideal in so many ways. It had very large grounds in which to run Renton.  




The problem was the room. It was miles away from the reception and refreshment areas. I had to navigate two stair cases, five doors, two corridors and various twists and turns. Now they knew I was blind and coming with a guide dog, so why an earth did they put me in the hardest room to locate in the entire complex? It wasn’t just me being a blind idiot, Nicola also found it confusing and her sense of direction is normally pretty good.  

By the time we found our rooms with all our bits of camera and sound kit, the thought of moving was too much to contemplate. If I had been staying any more than two nights I would have said something and got us shifted to a better and easier room to find.   It’s probably the only hotel I’ve been in where I’ve needed a GPS  just to get to and from the bar.

The film will go out sometime this week on NewsNight Scotland at 23:00 on BBC 2 Scotland. I’ll put a posting up here when exactly when it will be on. I’ll also put up a tweet on @ihamiltonbbc Or if you don’t catch it, I’ll put up a link to the programme on this blog.   

Rentons' "sleep over"

Renton sitting in the sunshine on  forest path pic by Sheila and Peter

Having two dogs can cause a problem. When I only had Moss it was easy, well, easier to find someone to look after him when we went abroad on holiday. Now with Renton, it's a lot harder to find someone to take him for a couple of weeks while we head for the sun. 

It’s mainly because that few people want - or are able to look after such a large dog. Plus, it is vital that anyone looking after him,  keep to Renton's strict training regime. It's true, that consistency is important for all guide dogs, but it is particularly important for German shepherds. So if anyone was able to take him for a fortnight I would have to be confident that they would stick to his training plan. 

Now the hunt was on to find that illusive person with nerves and muscles of steel. 

However, my hunt has been much easier than I anticipated. My guide dog instructor suggested that I should contact Renton’s puppy walker. These are an essential group of volunteers without whom the whole guide dog system would collapse. They take the puppy from six weeks old  until they are about one and give them all their basic obedience and social training. They take them into town, on buses, into shops. Then the dogs go back to be trained as guide dogs at the centre before coming to someone like me.  

Sheila with Renton and April

I was nervous about making the call  - I was really expecting to hear... "are you mad take Renton, we've still got the mental scars from the first time"  But no! Instead I got the response "YES! YES! YES! OF COURSE WE WILL." It was a big relief all round. 

Renton in the river

To make sure everyone would be happy, it was agreed to give the puppy walkers Peter and Sheila a two day trial. I had no doubts they would cope, they are very laid back, and have a good balance of discipline and fun. After a fabulous lunch with lots of puppy stories and lists of commands for Renton. We all went for a walk down by the river and Renton seemed to remember some old favourite paths down to the river bank from when he was a puppy and was very happy to show us which way to go.

Renton showing April how to paddle in the river

I'm pleased to say everyone was happy. In fact. Renton had a little play mate in the name of April a 11 month old German Shepherd (guide dog in training)who kept Renton in his place by nipping at his ears and trying to jump on his back.

April and Renton in the back of the car

 Ah at last the tables were turned on Mr R. he had tried this with Moss, but the old guy was having none of it...

Now where should we go on holiday... UM…  

Welcome to 2012 - I'm back....

I’m back.

As you will have noted, I’ve not written anything for a while, however I’m now back  with a vengeance!

Since last summer I’ve been on the road covering a whole range of stories from politics and organic produce to cost of care, history of the Scottish political parties, corporation tax the Arts Turner Prize, and the gap between rich and poor people.  I’ve been all over Scotland, England, northern Ireland. I even ventured abroad when I visited Holland as part of my Cost of Care Series. (you can see some of the films on Camera Prof. Nicola Blackmore's site)

Now I’m very much into the issues around the Scottish referendum debate. I’m not long back from Cornwall and Corby to gauge their opinion. next week I’m off to the North of England to hear about their views on Scottish separation from the UK.

I suspect that I will be working on this particular topic for the next two years at least. 

What about Renton and Moss I hear you ask? 

Picture of Moss and Renton sitting side by side

Well, he’s been fantastic and has really matured. However, he’s not lost that sense of fun. Importantly he is a great guider and when shown a route once he never forgets. Renton just loves to please so he tries hard and enjoys his work.  

Renton has just a few foibles. Which I’ll tell you about in future blogs. I’ll also give you an update on Moss, so don’t forget to return here and read more.  
     

AMAZING Achievement for Lorne and Guide Dogs

Lorne Brown, 80, achieves Italian eight peaks climb

By Catherine LystBBC Scotland news website

After completing the climbs, Lorne is already thinking about his next challenge

Continue reading the main story

 

An 80-year-old man has achieved his ambition to climb eight major mountains in eight days in the Italian Dolomites.

Lorne Brown, from North Lanarkshire, began climbing the via ferrata routes just days after his birthday to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Using ropes and ladders, his 8x8 challenge took him up overhanging cliffs and precipitous slopes to some of the highest peaks of the Dolomites.

He was due to celebrate his achievement with a tandem paraglide.

Mr Brown's daughter Christine told the BBC Scotland news website: "I'm just really proud of him."

Continue reading the main story

Lorne, who lives in Dullatur, was a late starter, only beginning to climb Munros at the age of 75.

A via ferrata is a mountain route equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges to assist climbers.

Each day Lorne walked and climbed about 3,000 feet (900m) - the height of a Munro - to get to the start of each via ferrata.

He trained for the 8x8 challenge by going to the gym three days a week and climbing once or twice a week to strengthen his muscles and increase his stamina.

"He hadn't bought a pair of gym shoes for over 60 years," Christine said.

"He feels vindicated that someone who is 80 can go out and do these things.

"And he is raising awareness for guide dogs at the same time."

Lorne has so far raised £6,000. He hopes to hit his target of £8,888 and has set up a Just Giving website. This year is also the 80th anniversary of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Tandem paraglide

"Sometimes you have no time when you're younger to follow your dreams," Christine said. "It's like he's gone into his peak in his 80s. He's really found his niche."

In April last year, Lorne gained his husky driving licence following a 10-day trek in Greenland.

He faced sub-zero temperatures as he led a sled pulled by the dogs to the Arctic Circle.

He also provided the entertainment after taking his bagpipes along.

"He's already thinking what his next challenge is going to be," Christine said.

"He's doing the tandem paraglide just for fun. It's another thing he's always wanted to do."

Following the paraglide, the group Lorne is with are taking him on a short climb, using just ropes.

Christine added: "He said 'no wonder he's losing his hair'."