It was with some fear and amazement that I thought I’d look and see when I last wrote a blog – and turns out it was in 2011… so there was a fad which came and went!

But it is back, at least for now – and it comes alongside a new life direction – since 2011 I have moved to London, got married and now I am about to embark on a new career direction by studying for a masters in Environmental Technology.  Many of my first expeditions were environment and conservation based and for a number of years I have wanted to move back into that line of work – or at least learn more about it.

First step – 3 weeks prior to the course starting has been to start doing some reading, starting with Tony Juniper’s “What has nature ever done for us”. I was initially a little disappointed by what seemed a rather detail lacking statement of the obvious which amounted to “it’s done a lot”.  But having just reached the end of the book I am feeling quite inspired – inspired enough in fact to restart this blog.  

There are some really nice examples of environmental issues where really practical, economically sound solutions are proving that economics and environment can in fact work together.  There is also a positive feel of a movement among major business leaders which really could alter the way the world addresses environmental issues.

Perhaps what struck me most on a personal level, as I start to think about where my new masters may take me in the long term is a section on the medical and psychology benefits of the natural world.  This is something which I have always strongly believed in and fueled so many of my expeditions and indeed life decisions.  It has driven me to travel, and seek outdoor spaces, and want to share them with others.  The broader concept that there could be a tangible economic value in terms of health savings which could in turn drive greener and more sustainable living already has my brain ticking away of future directions which may be able to tie together my apparently wildly wandering ‘career’!

We will see – it may at the very least lead to a few more blogs in 2013…