Dear Friends and Colleagues, 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year, and I hope Santa is more careful with your presents than this.  

Here are some of my highlights of 2011:

Walking

April-May:  In Nepal for a month, for a 20 day trek with Dave Pye.  Trekking in Nepal had been an ambition of mine for many years, so when Dave (who was working there) asked if anyone would like to join him on a trek, I wasn’t slow to sign up.  Thanks again to Dave for his excellent organisation and guiding.  The trekking was every bit as good as expected. My most useful accessory was an umbrella (for rain, sun, and trekking pole).  

Dec: As an optional add-on to their field visit to Sheffield, we took our Masters students for a walk in the Peak District. (Castleton, Lose Hill area).  The mountain rescue helicopter was not for us!

 Theatre: 3 sublimes and 1 ridiculous

Wagner’s ‘Das Rheingold’ in concert at Leeds Town Hall.  Much better than I expected. Being on stage rather than in a pit, the orchestra was at full strength.

Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet at the Coliseum, London. Ballet is not my usual cup of tea, but this featured the best two dancers in the world. (Both Russian of course.)

First Night of the Proms at the Albert Hall, featuring the youngest ever Proms pianist.  My first ever visit to the Albert Hall.

Ken Dodd’s ‘Happiness’ show at the Pavilion Theatre Glasgow.  Well, best to see the living legend while he still is.

 Cycling:

June: Great Yorkshire Bike Ride was as well organised and enjoyable as ever. Despite the economic gloom, I raised more money this year than before.

July:   Taking advantage of a forecast fine spell, I spent 4 days cycling from Leeds via Gainsborough to Skegness, Cleethorpes, Grimsby. My first visit to this stretch of the coast, and it was better than its reputation!

Aug: A ‘question-mark’ shaped ride though Central & Southern Scotland. Rather a lot of rain!  

Aug: Cycle trip to Holland & Belgium with 9 others.  Windy again!

Sept:  Sold my car (and didn’t buy another!) Having owned a car almost continuously since I was 17, this was quite a big step. It remains to be seen how I will cope through the winter.

Dec: Cycling in Dinner Jacket! Invited to a ‘black tie’ dinner at a friend’s house, I couldn’t get a taxi for love nor money (Friday night), so in desperation went by bike. Just like the Dutch.

 Work:

Nov:  Three years after my fact-finding visit to Rwanda, we finally signed a contract to help deliver two masters transport programmes.  My 3 weeks in Kigali in November involved quite intensive teaching, and was hard work but rewarding.

Nov: Novel Teaching Methods.  Thanks to my sister for bringing me up to date with modern teaching methods in schools. These are just two examples of the sort of thing that goes on nowadays.  My sister assures me that it is very effective!  Independent vs Dependent Variables     Scientific Method Song

 This year,  I have made a donation of one pound per recipient of this email (223) to Practical Action

Best Wishes

Frank Montgomery