Training to lead for HF Abroad 

I wanted to lead for HF Abroad so I did an Open University course and got my School German back up to a reasonable level. We're not talking fluency here - just enough to get by - manage to make a bit of conversation with people. However, the fact is that HF currently have two holiday locations in Austria and one in Germany. They sell a lot more holidays in Spain (9) and in Italy (7). Lots of people speak Spanish so I thought learning Italian would help me to get more appointments. In fact last year, they only accepted new Abroad Leaders who spoke some Italian!

I bought a copy of Rosetta Stone. I only have to pay two thirds of the price of courses because there's a deal at work where they pay one third. It consists of a series of DVD's that you install on your computer. There is no English in the course. You are introduced to Italian via pictures and Italian Phrases. There is also speech and voice recognition software. You could be any nationality and still do this same course as it's all in Italian. It sounds hard but it's easy enough to pick up. The trouble was that after about 3 months of this, I felt that I was (sort of) absorbing Italian but I didn't feel any closer to doing simple things like ordering a coffee.

I then saw a course organised by Calderdale Council. Italian for beginners in Brighouse. That's a bit of a trip but not too bad if I go after work. The tutor, Dennis was very good and it was fun learning alongside other students and having real people to talk to instead of a computer. Dennis based the course around the BBC 'Talk Italian' Books and CDs so I bought those. I could then carry on with those at home and move onto the second of the two books in the set. What I liked about Dennis's course and the BBC Talk Italian series was that it taught you phrases that would allow you to do things on holiday but used them as a hook to hang more general lessons on - to extend your vocabulary and grammar.

While I was leading at Glencoe I spoke to one of the other leaders who led abroad and he recommended the Michel Thomas CDs. The 'Total' course of 8 CDs is £90 but you can get it on eBay for about £12. I really like this. It suits the way my mind works. It's much more grammar orientated. I like having a structure that I can then build from.

Then I found a class in Hebden Bridge. About two minutes walk from where I live. The teacher Gillian is very good. I was able to join the intermediate class. The other students are a bit better than me but that's ideal. I have also gone back to Rosetta Stone and it makes more sense now.

So I thought I was ready to take the HF Abroad Assessment. This involved a long weekend at their house in Whitby. There was a lot of preparation required as I would have to do several presentations and discuss a number of different scenarios. There was also a language comprehension test and an aural exam. This was combined with a lot of training. It was full on, with every hour possible being made use of.

The short GPS course was particularly interesting. HF do provide a more in-depth course if you are accepted to lead abroad so this was just a taster. However, it made me realise how much the technology has improved. For years I have carried a Garmin eTrex in my bag in case I got totally lost and needed to find out my Grid reference. I've always been sceptical about using a GPS for navigation as I felt it threatened to erode the map and compass skills you'd need if the batteries ran out. However I think you have to recognise that it's too good a tool not to be using. Especially if you are responsible for the safety of a walking group. Many people on HF Holidays carry them now and it does look a bit unprofessional if the leader isn't equally well equipped. So I have taken the plunge and ordered a Garmin GPSMap 64s. I'll let you know how I get on.

I don't plan to rely solely on it. I like to understand what's around me and you need the map for that. It's just another tool. Let's face it, I haven't forgotten how to do arithmetic just because I use a calculator. Then again, perhaps I'm not representative of the average member of the population as I was Maths teacher for 12 years.

I'm very pleased to say that I passed my Abroad Assessment. So I am hoping to lead a couple of holidays in Italy next year.

I have told my manager at work that I want to take Early Retirement next year and we are currently in discussions about when I can leave and how they'll replace me.

Another year leading for HF

Two weeks at Glencoe, a week at Brecon and finally a week at Dolgellau. It's been good. The last week at Dolgellau was especially pleasant. We had some really good weather and they've worked hard at making it feel Welsh. You're not abroad of course but in my view, this is the closest it gets without crossing the sea.

This view of the western end of the Cadair Idris ridge across Llyn Gwernan is lovely.

Then there's this shot looking backing along the Arans Ridge with Aran Fawddwy in the distance poking out from a sea of clouds was marvellous after we'd been walking in mist for a couple of hours.

Sassongher

Dorothy and I had a most enjoyable holiday at Selva with HF Holidays. We were there for two weeks and in the first week I did their 'High Routes' holiday. My favourite day was the day we went to the top of Sassongher.

Sassongher (2665m) is to the East of Selva. We took the bus to Colfosco and then the lift to Utia Col Pradat. Here is the view part way there looking South.

Sella from Forc di Sassongher

There were a few cables for protection on the way up. Here is a picture of me at the top.

Pete on the summit of Sassongher

It's a very dramatic mountain as you can see from these pictures taken on the way to Rifugio Puez, before we descended to the beautiful Vallunga (valley).

Looking back at Sassongher on the way to Rifugio Puez

Looking back at Sassongher from nearer to Rifugio Puez

If you'd like to see more of my photos from the holiday you can see them here.

Tour De France in Yorkshire

It was a lovely sunny day on Sunday as the cyclists rode past our house in Hebden Bridge on the way from York to Sheffield. The roads had been cleared and the 'caravan' of cars and trucks giving away small cycling gifts had gone by when suddenly... whoosh, the breakaway group sped by. Then, two minutes later the peleton. All over in a flash. 

Tour De France in Hebden Bridge

We went over the road to the park to watch the rest on the big screen. Everyone has been saying how wonderful it was but I'm not sure it was really the cycling that they enjoyed. After all the cyclists went by in about three minutes. I think they enjoyed each other! Everyone was out on the streets having a good time together instead of being stuck in their boxes (homes) watching TV.

Calder Holmes Park

There was something slightly surreal about watching the race on television then popping out of your house and being in it. Then going across the road to what seemed like a festival or a protest rally.

The day before I'd returned from a week leading for HF at Brecon. We had some excellent weather and I think the wide empty expanses of the Brecon Beacons made a packed Hebden Bridge even more of a contrast.

Bannau Sir Gaer and Llyn y Fan Fach

Walenki

As you'll have read in the last post, I have been finding out more about this dance. It's "a Russian style dance to an instrumental version of a traditional Russian folksong telling the tale of a young girl wishing to go and see her lover on a cold winter’s day and calling for her “Walenki” (Russian Boots) which have been hidden by her mother. She does not find them, but goes out into the cold anyway knowing her love will keep her feet warm." (HF Dance Instructions).

Here are the lyrics:

Валенки да валенки ой да неподшиты стареньки
Нельзя валенки носить
Не в чем к миленькой сходить
Валенки валенки эх неподшиты стареньки
Валенки валенки эх неподшиты стареньки
Ой ты Коля Коля Николай сиди дома не гуляй
Не ходи на тот конец ох не носи девкам колец
Валенки валенки эх неподшиты стареньки
Валенки валенки
Чем подарочки носить лучше б валенки подшить
Валенки валенки эх неподшиты стареньки
Валенки валенки эх неподшиты стареньки
Суди люди суди бог как же я любила
По морозу босиком к милому ходила
Валенки валенки эх неподшиты стареньки
Валенки валенки

OK. You want a translation. I found this although I can't vouch for it:

Valenki da valenki
Valenki, valenki
oj da nepodshity, staren'ki
Oh, are not restored and are old
Nel'zja valenki nosit'
It is impossible to wear valenki
Ne v chem k milen'koj shodit'
There is nothing to put on to go to the darling
Valenki, valenki
Valenki, valenki
jeh nepodshity staren'ki
Ehh, are not restored and are old
Valenki, valenki
Valenki, valenki
jeh nepodshity staren'ki
Ehh, are not restored and are old
Oj ty Kolja, Kolja, Nikolaj,
Oh, you, Kolya, Kolya, Nikolay*
sidi doma, ne guljaj
Stay at home, do not walk
Ne hodi na tot konec
Do not go to that street
oh ne nosi devkam kolec
Oh, do not bring rings to the girls
Valenki, valenki
Valenki, valenki
jeh nepodshity, staren'ki
Ehh, are not restored and are old
Valenki, valenki
Valenki, valenki
Chem podarochki nosit'
Instead of carrying gifts
luchshe b valenki podshit'
[b]it is better to restore the valenki[b]
Valenki valenki
Valenki, valenki
jeh nepodshity staren'ki
Ehh, are not restored and are old
Valenki valenki
Valenki, valenki
jeh nepodshity staren'ki
Ehh, are not restored and are old
Sudi ljudi sudi bog
People and God, judge me by
kak zhe ja ljubila
the power of my love:
Po morozu bosikom
during the frost I went barefoot
k milomu hodila
to my darling

Since we are now onto the Folk Song rather than the dance do check out this lovely musical version. Or this incredible version. I bet you you couldn't dance to that!

How about a version that includes the lyrics? Here we go

Well. If you're still here, there's a version with a bass balalaïka and here they tell you how the boots are made! OK Enough!

Back at Glencoe

I have been back to Alltshellach (Glencoe), leading again for HF. I just love this area so much. I suppose there are so many memories from when I led there in my youth.

In the first week I was being 'monitored' by one of the other walking leaders. Having led for HF on four occasions before, this allowed HF to take me off probation. I'm glad to say that it went well.

At Alltshellach I found the Mamores Book where, in the 70s and 80s people had written their attempts at walking the whole Mamore Ridge in a day. These include ten munros:

• Mullach nan Coirean (939 m)
• Stob Bàn (999 m)
• Sgurr a' Mhàim (1099 m)
• Am Bodach (1032 m)
• Stob Coire a' Chàirn (981 m)
• An Gearanach (982 m)
• Na Gruagaichean (1056 m)
• Binnein Mòr (1130 m)
• Binnein Beag (943 m)
• Sgurr Eilde Mòr (1010 m)

In 1977 we started in Kinlochleven at 6am and returned at 10 pm. We did them in reverse order to the above list because, with Binnean Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor being outliers we decided that the temptation to give up on them at the end of the day might have been too much for us.

I'll never be as fit as that again. Great day out though!

Meanwhile back in 2014...

During the 2 weeks I got to the top of Sgorr Dhonuill (twice), Sgurr Ban, Sgurr Dearg (all on Beinn a Bheithir), Stob Ban and Sgurr a Mhaim via the devils ridge and Meall Breac just across the Corran Ferry.

I also got to walk in Glen Nevis up to Steall, on the West Highland Way, in the beautiful Ariundle Nature Reserve near Strontian, up to Loch Eilde Mor and below the cliffs of Ben Nevis.

Only the first day was wet, otherwise just the odd shower.

Looking North from Sgurr Dhonuil

I met some lovely people and was lucky enough to work with six other really good walking leaders over the two weeks.

Dorothy joined me for the second week. I am hoping this will be a successful formula in future so that we can have a holiday together as well as me leading walks.

HF offer evening entertainment. This might be a talk by a local speaker or something organised by the Walking Leaders. I've been working on a Murder Mystery evening. I tried it out twice at Alltshellach. It seemed to go down well but I'll be revising it based on feedback.

I also called the my first Scottish Country Dance for about 30 years. I'd like to do more of that and I've been investigating a dance called Walenki. Check out this youtube clip but possible incorporating 'stamping' as in this version and extra up and overs as see here.

If you watched all three clips I bet that tune is now stuck in your head. Well I'm getting carried away now so I'll put more about Walenki in another post.

Now I've passed my probation I'm hoping to be able to lead abroad. I do have my Open University Certificate in German although without much use, it gets a bit rusty. However HF really need people who can lead in Italy so I am teaching myself Italian. I'll write that up in another post. Ciao!