The Video starts at the high point on the Saddle looking down into Glen Sannox and then there are a couple of clips during our return journey down Glen Rosa.

Just got back two weeks walking in the west of Scotland, we started on the West Highland Way at Crianlarich, went on to Loch Lomond and Lochgoilhead and ended up on the marvellous Isle of Arran.

Of course I took hundreds of photos and will be posting some shortly when I have finished sorting them.

In the meantime here is a very short video I shot as we approached the summit of Ben Lomond. Hiking to the top of the mountain was hard, not least because it was sunnier and hotter than we expected, but we both found the decent the hardest on our tired legs. In the background you can sometimes see Isabel in her orange shirt and also Loch Lomond which had been our starting point three hours previously.

I shot this video using a wonderful little gizmo called a Stickpic which lets you attach a compact camera to the end of your walking stick – the result is a video that almost seems as if it was shot by an accompanying camera man. Spinning around with the camera, which I do a couple of times in this video including at the summit, produces a really impressive visual effect.

Of course one couldn’t relax completely because, as the sign below explains, Broadstairs beach holds all sorts of hidden and worrying perils. Thank god someone did a risk management assessment on it and could put up such a reassuring warning.

The first farewell was at the last Board meeting of Islington Training Network, an organisation I set up ten years ago and the Board of which I have Chaired for the last few years. The staff clubbed together and bought me an engraved iPod – a very lovely present.

Next I had lunch with the staff team and members at ACBBA – The Association of Community Based Business Advice – an organisation I helped set up to promote a new way to support enterprise in socially excluded and migrant communities based on a long piece of EU funded development work. More nice presents and speeches.

Finally I had a meal with some old colleagues from Regeneration – I have worked with these people for a very long time.

Boxing day was the usual large gathering at Paddy’s in Hackney. You can see the photos from Hackney by clicking here.

On the Sunday after Christmas we gathered for the Swash family get together, a few presents, some games and lots of loud conversation. You can see the photos from the Swash do by clicking here.

If you want to listen to some music while you read click the orange button below. Keep clicking the orange button until you find a track you like.

Please note that all the photos on this web site are my personal property and cannot be published without my prior permission.

To see all the photos click here