It's been a period of busy activity and then time for a holiday. After carrying out some inspections for both Learning Outside the Classroom and for the British Activities Holiday Association (BAHA), I had some time off over Whitsun, and went with a few friends to paddle the Great Glen trip from near Fort William to Inverness.

As can be expected, the weather was everything from rain and near gale force winds, to sunshine and blue skies, and mirror-like lochs through to waves 2 feet high sweeping us down Loch Ness. The British Waterways Board do a fantastic job in providing toilets and showers for canal users and the wild camping reflects the different access legislation the benefits Scotland so much. The photo is of one of the canoe rafts sailing down Loch Ness in a calmer moment.

As well as working and canoeing, there have been other developments - I have had the honour to be elected as Chair for Mountain Leader Training. This is where the four Home Nation Boards meet with the National Mountain Councils and the professional bodies to coordinate the delivery of all the Mountain Training awards from Walking Group Leader, right through to the Mountain Instructor Scheme. So back on a committee but with all the changes that are starting to develop in mountain training, it's an exciting time to be involved.