I enjoy reading kayaking magazines and a few of them arrive through my letterbox every month or so. It’s fun to hear what other people are up to, see the latest bits of kit and read interviews with colourful characters. Imagine my surprise while flicking through the last-but-one edition of ‘Canoe & Kayak UK‘ magazine to see myself peering out from the pages of their ‘2011 awards’ issue (issue 126).

Unbeknown to me, I was ‘highly commended’ in ‘the Chris Wheeler Adventure Paddler of the Year Award’. This is the first time that the magazine has issued awards & it seems this particular accolade is for someone who not only goes on some good adventures, but also shares them with other people by films, magazine articles etc.  So thanks to the team at CKUK for thinking of me. Fittingly, I am off to Russia at the end of the week, to join Sarah Outen in kayaking from there to Japan – more on that in another blog before I go.

On a completely separate note, my sister Holly has just entered a new adventure! She got married to her longterm partner on Saturday! Congratulations to her and Al and I hope they are having a lovely honeymoon in Africa. My dad did comment in his speech that he doesn’t often see his daughters in dresses! I may post some photos…