If even just 4 years ago anyone had said I would by
mid-2013 have 3,800+ followers on Twitter, my response would have gone
something along the lines of “Don’t be so silly!” “I don’t even like the name
or the idea of something called ‘Twitter’”. However, rather amazingly, @spiritofthespey
now has in excess of 3800 Twitter followers!
I have concluded it is best not to ‘twitter’ on Twitter.
People take most notice of worthwhile tweets ~ often Re-tweeting items they
rate and find interesting ~ and more likely to ‘Follow’. Having been introduced and coaxed into Twitter
mainly by my VPR Louise (Twitter name @Approach_Coach) and also Rene Looper
(@tuminds), I have realised one of the advantages of Twitter is that it is easy
~ even I got into it without too much effort but also and most crucially ~ it
is quick to execute. One simply puts together a few well chosen words within
the character limit and/or takes a relevant/clear picture, which, if there’s a reasonable
signal, can be sent instantly ~ job done!
For me certainly ~ blogs are not quite so easy and
‘instant’. Rightly or wrongly I need time to consider content and will want to
include a couple of links and some nice pictures to help tell the story. Also, along
the River Spey, internet connection is not too reliable. Indeed, it’s very hard
to find a signal from a canoe in the middle of the river. In the villages along
the way contact is very spasmodic and even in some of the lovely hotels we stay
in en route during our canoe/whisky journeys, wi-fi is not always reliable.
Because of factors detailed above and the fact I have been
on my knees in my canoe for the greater part of the summer, my 3000+ Twitter
followers have had opportunities to keep up with what I am doing via my many
Tweets sent at opportune moments. However, I am now acutely aware that I have
not written a Spirit of the Spey blog for over 4 months.
Summer of 2013 has indeed been a wonderful in terms of
weather and temperatures. Water levels have been very low and my boats have
taken quite a ‘scratching’. However, apart from 1 location at Dipple above
Fochabers and another at ‘Cumberland’s Crossing’ below Fochabers, we always
know of or can find a navigable channel. Lady Spey has revelled in the warm and
generally very calm conditions. She has looked stunning in her summer dresses ~
all of lush, vibrant colours. First the bright yellows of the broom and gorse
usually fronted through late June/July with rich blues of lupins which have, in
the last decade, become well established along the riverbanks. Now Lady Spey is
draped in late summer greens as the still plentiful leaves are now beginning to
be tinged with patches of ochre and gold. *
Currently I am off of my knees and
out of my boat and have been, for the last few days, sitting at my desk
catching up on administration ~ scaling my email mountain ~ rather than my
preferred option of paddling my canoe in the company of the beautiful Lady Spey.
It was my intention to, sometime this week, take the opportunity to put
together a brief resume of at least some of my Journeys with clients and other
exploits through the wonderful summer of 2013.
However, my resume of the summer may
now have to wait until after Wednesday 18th, when I get back from my
next 5-day ‘At One With Nature’ Journey ~ starting Friday from Kincraig, camping
en route to the sea, with students from Edinburgh University. This is always a
great trip to be involved in, working with such lovely, interested/interesting
students from the world’s 5 continents ~ all coming together to take part in
these highly regarded degree courses delivered by the Faculty of Outdoor,
Environmental and Sustainability
Education, School of Education, University of Edinburgh.
In the meantime, pictures of
canoe/whisky Journeys from the Summer of 2013 can be found on the ‘Spirit ofthe Spey’ Facebook page. I would invite you to view the many photographs and
perhaps even do me the honour of ‘Liking’ the page!
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