On the Road again...

I’m preparing to hit the road again in the 3^rd of my series to find out what the English think about the prospect of an independent Scotland. This time, I’m only just going over the border to Cumbria.

However, I’m not going to Carlisle, as that’s to obvious. Instead, I’m heading further west to the coastal Cumbria town of Whitehaven and if time allows I may even get to Maryport.  Sadly, Whitehaven is known for a day it would rather forget. Like Dunblane and Hungerford it has become synonymous by a gunman who went on a killing spree.

Pict: by Ray Hardie ..titled..Renton has been replaced!..Rentons' guide harness  has been placed over the head of a large stone carved dog...bigger than Renton...even!

I’ve not chosen Whitehaven for any ghoulish Journalistic reasons. No, My reason for going there is..... it’s an area that has a sense of being bypassed by the M6 motorway as  people head to and from Scotland. The areas population are not normally canvassed as to their opinion on politics but yet are just over the Border and ...Oh yes and I’ve never been there before.  

My plan is a loose one which will leave space for the unexpected.  However, I always set off with a few key contact numbers and emails just incase the people I have initially agreed to speak to are not in or are called away...I like to feel organised.

and of course there are a few things to organise before I leave Lanark and they are not necessarily anything to do with the content of my film. All of them have to be sorted out in advance and can’t be left to chance. 

First do I take Renton? If I do, I need a Hotel that welcomes and is suitable for a large dog. Legally, they can’t refuse to take a guide dog, but there is nothing worse than staying somewhere that your not made welcome. Importantly, I need to book a place with space for Renton to do his business (polite way of saying "bathroom) what if he needs out at 2 in the morning? A hotel in the middle of town is often a non starter. This can take quite a bit of research and checking to insure that the hotel is suitable. Fortunately, there are people in the office who can help with this task.


I then have to get Renton's food, water, bowl, towel, dog whistle, treats, haulty, bells and a mat for him to sleep and pack it all.  [Oh yes, my clothes.] I've also got to make sure that  the hotel meets the BBC budget criteria. After all, this is licence payers cash and it’s all about best value. I do like my comfort, but if I was staying in 5 star hotels questions would be asked.

Next on the check list is - do I have a camera person? and  do they have access to a camera? They both have to be checked for availability and booked. Is the car that they have big enough to take Renton and all the kit? Fortunately, I normally work with the same camera people, who have built up an understanding of working with a blind person in a visual media. 

I must always leave enough time to get the camera person to the location and back within the allotted time. Giving us enough time to actually shoot a decent film. Whilst not killing the camera person with an impossible schedule. That would help neither of us.   

So..check list is in order - time to get on the road again..

Renton Digs for Victory

Picture of big paws for digging a big hole!!

In my last blog, I hinted at Renton’s foibles. For some unknown reason he’s started digging a hole in the garden and it’s getting bigger and bigger and deeper and deeper. We know, that he knows that it is wrong to dig, as when we catch him with his giant paws in his newly created crater pumping away like jack hammers, he stops.. looks up, puts his ears back,  then runs away. He disappears either inside the house to his bed, (muddy paw trail across all the floors of course)    Or he dashes to the front of the house and hides...Christine caught him poking his long nose and ears around the corner watching to see if we were still there.

If he would dig in the places that needed to be dug, that would be fantastic and a useful extra skill for his cv. But no! He digs in places I’m likely to walk. For example. In front of the wood store so that when I go to get wood, I fall into it...If I didn’t know better I would think he is setting a trap. 

the beginnings of the whole

Having a guide dog that randomly digs holes makes life interesting. It can make strolling around my garden fraught with a combination of excitement and terror. 

I have considered that maybe he’s trying to tell me something. Does he not like me? Perhaps he doesn’t like working! I wonder if he gets bored sitting at my desk at the BBC? Then again, perhaps it’s just a practical joke against his blind owner.  Who knows! What ever it is, I wish he would stop digging, as it’s bloody dangerous.  

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.  
     

Come up and see my etchings!

For those of you who can see please click on the following link to my past etchings..rather than having them stuck in the attic I thought it would be a good idea to have them out in the virtual world!

picture of etched cottage on the hill in the distance surrounded by leaveless trees

Ian Hamilton Etchings   

sound and vision..something for all my friends

Before Lorne set off on his 8 x 8 challenge he climbed the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glen Coe Scotland.  and played his Bag pipes at the top his friend Greg carried the Bagpipes..his Sherpa!...he meet some German Tourists at the top and they had a go or "blaw" of his pipes also..... enjoy...sound and vision


No matter where you are in the world  He is 57% of his way to his target   please help
 support Guide Dogs and Lornes' challenge at

  http://www.justgiving.com/Lorne-brown/eurl.axd/c7c05e801740374bbca4021a40e66b79

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'."

A Big Thank You - know who you are

A big thank you to all my Blogger readers and writers out thereI cannot believe that my Blog has had 22,202 hits...people are reading it from all over the world from Morocco to Japan - India to Skegness - please keep reading and sharing and enjoying....and learning.