Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
The 21st anniversary of my fateful climb on Mt.McKinley has coincided with the COVID-19 Lockdown and Mental Health Week 2020. Here’s a few thoughts and… Read More »Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
Nigel Vardy
Explore From Your Door…
How well do you know your local area? You may be surprised by how many paths and greenspaces are waiting for you to find! Now’s… Read More »Explore From Your Door…
Learning to Survive and Thrive…
21 Years have passed since my fateful expedition to Mt McKinley in Alaska. Besides the obvious surgery, I also experienced isolation, fear, mental fatigue, physical… Read More »Learning to Survive and Thrive…
BBC Radio Derby Lockdown Interview…
Recently I was interviewed by Ian Skye on BBC Radio Derby about the present COVID Lockdown. I come in at 1:36:36…
The Self Propelled Podcast…
I recently spoke to Dave Cornthwaite on his Self Propelled Podcast about life, mountaineering, frostbite and resilience. Dave is an accomplished traveller and creator of… Read More »The Self Propelled Podcast…
The McKinley Diaries – 21 Years On…
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be recording daily video logs about the fateful expedition to climb Mt McKinley in Alaska. April 30th 2020 will be the 21st anniversary of the adventures start. Using original images, equipment and reading from my mountain diary, I’d like to share my experiences, feelings and emotions from this life changing time in my life…
Read More »The McKinley Diaries – 21 Years On…McKinley 21…
This April and May will be the 21st anniversary of my fateful climb on Mt. McKinley in Alaska. Using original diary entries, 35mm slides and… Read More »McKinley 21…
Control…
Due to the present COVID-19 outbreak, we’re all under Central Government Control. Control is a subject I’ve been discussing with my close friend Helen Davies for a while, so by the power of the internet, we’ve maintained #socialdistancing and brought our ideas together. Before we get started, here’s an introduction from Helen…
Read More »Control…2020 Ordnance Survey #GetOutside Champion…
I’m delighted to announce that I’m a Ordnance Survey #GetOutside Champion for 2020, but these are different times for us all. Getting outside isn’t… Read More »2020 Ordnance Survey #GetOutside Champion…
Windswept and Wet, with a Virus on the Way – The Tenth Frostbite Report…
It seems surreal that only three weeks after returning from the Highlands, we sit under lockdown for a virus that no-one can see, taste or feel, until it has its hold upon you. At first I didn’t feel much like writing, but as a long time diarist, I feel that records must be kept.
Read More »Windswept and Wet, with a Virus on the Way – The Tenth Frostbite Report…Homeschooling Resources…
Here we are in lockdown 3.0 and once again COVID-19 sees many children being schooled at home. Here’s a few links which you may find useful to keep their creative minds going. They’re all engineering, creative, travel or outdoors based and I hope will be of use to you. If you have any suggestions, please drop me a line and I’ll add them to the list…Read More »Homeschooling Resources…
COVID-19 and the Outdoors…
In these difficult times, it’s important that we keep physically and mentally fit, but also work within the rules. Here’s some important information about… Read More »COVID-19 and the Outdoors…
The Power of Words…
“Sticks and Stones Will Break my Bones, but Words will Never Hurt Me’ is a phrase which many of us grew up with as children, but is it true? I wonder if anyone reading this has never been hurt by words? I believe that words have the ability to convey beauty and love, but also horror and hate. I’d advise you say what you mean and mean what you say…
Read More »The Power of Words…Live at the NEC…
I’ll be speaking at this years Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC next week along with a list of TV Celebrities, Travellers, Campers… Read More »Live at the NEC…
Still Got the January Blues..?
January is over and 2020 brings a New Year and fresh new decade. At this time of year, the media is filled with adverts for… Read More »Still Got the January Blues..?
2019 – Exemplo Ducemus
What a year 2019 was, or wasn’t. The first time I missed a Scottish winter for 20 years, a trip to Africa cancelled at the last minute, a climb in India scrapped because of lack of interest and a cycling trip to SE Asia cancelled because of injury. For some just that would be disastrous enough, but all those setbacks paled into insignificance on March 20th as, out of the blue, I lost my Dad. The literary world is strewn with poetry, prose and paragraph about death, but no words can describe the feelings of loss I had and still have. I’m happy that he left us peacefully, with his loving family around him. He felt no pain or suffering and I thank God for that. Only the night before, he’d been on top form, laughing and joking with me at a Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Presentation. It was a striking lesson in living every day of your life to the fullest of your abilities.
Read More »2019 – Exemplo DucemusWalking at 80 Years Young…
Having lost my Father, I concentrate much of my life caring for my Mother. She still enjoys getting out walking and enjoys the fresh air,… Read More »Walking at 80 Years Young…
Opening the “Big Screen”
On Friday 6th December I officially opened the ‘Big Screen’ In the Vicar Lane Shopping Centre in Chesterfield. The screen aims to promote Chesterfield and… Read More »Opening the “Big Screen”
The Kendal Mountain Festival 2019 – Friends will be Friends
The run up to Kendal is always busy, so this year I decided to spend as much time as possible in Hospital to shield me from the chaos. Actually, I’d been knocked off my bike by a car and was nursing some rather stiff joints. Serious care, rest and drinking would be required over the festival weekend if I was to make it through…
Read More »The Kendal Mountain Festival 2019 – Friends will be FriendsShout…
It’s been a while since I posted a blog. The loss of my Father has put many of life’s (so called) priorities into stark perspective. Caring for my Mother takes up much of my time, but with family support I still get out into the hills. I reflect more, stare more, say less and await the grieving to come. I’m a rather stoic old Englishman, with far too much stiff upper lip and not enough heart to easily let go – for now anyway. Real life has put the virtual world in its place, but it sometimes still intrudes…
Read More »Shout…