This begins with a bit of an apology to all those out there who await the latest blog every week. Things have been a bit hectic over at Chez Outlook and it is with a very sorry expression I admit the blog has been neglected . I hope our avid blog followers can forgive me and Hi to Anna's mum, who I believe could very well be our number one blog fan (what an accolade). Anna (a memeber of our Planning Team) tells me her mum checks the blog for news every day. If you can beat that please let me know at info@outlookexpeditions.com. Similiarly if you have a story you'd like to see on the Outlook blog - send it over, we love to hear what you're up to and I'm sure others would to!
So, as aforementioned, Outlookers have had a very busy start to the year. All the Planning Team (and Will, never shy to get in on a bit of recce action and have a quick jog up a 6000m peak) have returned from their respective recces with exciting stories, prospects for participants and enviable suntans. Chris has tales of waking up in Laos with elephants in the jungle and a journey through Cambodia with two goats, some squealing pigs and a barrel of carp for company. Tamsin visited the lions she helped to hand raise in Namibia and took them for a walk (those of you who know Tamsin probably won't be too surprised at this) and Anna found fame trekking through South Africa on horseback with a travel writer! You can read about his and Anna's adventure (she even gets a mention) here:
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jan/30/into-a-wilderness/
Despite their strange tales, the strangest thing happened to the planning team a few weeks back when for the first time since the move to Parc Menai, there was a day when Ed, Steffan, Tamsin, Steph, Chris and Anna were all in the office AT THE SAME TIME! As well as her recce in Ghana and deliveries Steph has also found the time to get engaged bringing the total of Outlook Staff waiting to get married up to 5! Never a group of people to turn down a good party, the rest of us await our knights/knightesses in shining armour and look forward to wedding season...
Planners and the boys in the Sales team continue to travel the country from Lands End to the Orkney Islands delivering GDD's, assemblies, parents' evenings and meeting with Link Teachers. We have welcomed new full time staff members in Paul Poole (who many of you will know as your expedition leader) Merfyn Owen and Nick Kenealy and said farewell to Jen H. The Expedition Programme Co-ordinators are working super hard to make sure everyone has the the information and support they need, are booked on to training and enjoying the expedition process! Accounts are accounting, marketing are marketing and the directors are directing. Iwan is doing whatever he does and HR is hopping about, following surgery to his leg but was seen managing crutches and cups of tea when he came in to make sure we weren't missing him too much. (Looking forward to your return Sean!)
Finally, we are continuing to enjoy lots of adventures outside the offices. There are a couple of boys in the Outlook team who have been having a lot of fun in the freezing conditions. I promised them a while ago I'd post their (I hate to say it, but pretty impressive) efforts on the ice routes around Snowdonia, so Tim, Ed this is for you...
