KingCobra69

On a holiday based in Bethesda, the base of Ogwen Mountain Rescue Team, I scrambled to the top of Tryfan, the Devil’s Kitchen, Idwal Slabs and the Glyders (Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach). I also trekked around Llyn Idwal and Llyn Ogwen.

Incredibly beautiful scenery but can be easily affected by bad weather closing in quickly, such as strong winds, thick rain cloud and hill fog, meaning there is a risk of being stranded there overnight, making it very difficult for the Mountain Rescue Team to reach you until the weather clears.

So make sure you have warm clothing, flasks of hot coffee or tea, thermal gloves and underwear, a warm wooly hat and make sure you carry a fully charged mobile phone to enable the MRT to track you on satellite if you need their help. Adequate food for overnighting should also be carried.

Go on survival training before venturing into wild country and never travel alone. Finally never venture out in any wild area without a map, compass, torch and whistle. The modern, key-ring torches with a brilliant white LED can be seen for miles in the total darkness, to direct rescuers to you if you are injured.

I stayed in a stone cottage in the village of Bethesda and went out hiking daily in the Ogwen valley. Local mountains include Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach, Tryfan, The Devil’s Kitchen, also some beautiful lakes, Llyn Ogwen and Llyn Idwal. Bethesda is the base of the Ogwen Mountain Rescue Team. Tryfan is within sight of Snowdon and the Snowdonia Mountain Railway. Incredibly beautiful scenery but beware of bad weather as it is only too easy to get benighted and stranded by thick rain cloud. Be sure you go in a group, well equipped and with previous controlled survival experience.

I arrived initially in Bahrain on April 1st. 1970, then after a brief tour of Manama got a connecting flight to Dhahran. The architecture of ALL Saudi airports is quite stunning, as is the cleanliness. It is not only the mosques which are maintained to the standards which we should have a right to expect, but rarely achieve, in our UK hospitals, with the MRSA and C.Diff!

The toilets at the Dhahran Airport and in the Airport Hotel are a must-try experience. The gents toilets do not have stand-up urinals; all are sit-down cubicles for complete privacy whether for No.1 or No.2! There is a heavy gauge stainless steel foot pedal by the left foot. You sit down and do the necessary, then press the foot pedal when you are ready to complete. Firstly a jet of warm water spouts from jets around the pan, washing front and back perfectly clean without the need for paper or using your left hand (as is the Arab custom). Then another press of the pedal and a jet of warm air is directed to the genitalia and nether regions which switches off when sensors detect it is dry. That way muslim Arabs can go to the toilet before prayer without losing their cleanliness and having to perform ritual ablutions (Woodoo).

I then got a coach to the military side of the Abdul Aziz Air Base where I was to work as an air navigation instructor for the next 6 months, training Saudi Air Force students. I was allotted a luxury ex-pat accommodation block, of the same sort of standard as Sgt’s Mess, in the RAF. I had a Pakistani servant assigned to do my laundry and room cleaning on a daily basis, including changing sheets.

We then went to the UK Dining Hall for British style food, including fresh salmon flown in by BOAC every Friday morning having been collected from Aberdeeen Airport early that morning, indeed having been swimming in the Scottish rivers the previous evening. We were given a £4 per day alcohol allowance as standard British and German lagers were available at £4 a pint in ex-pat clubs on or close-by the base. Saudi police gave 24 hours notice of a pending visit to give us time to make sure we were only drinking soft drinks when they inspected.

On my first day at work, I met a gorgeous Arab boyfriend from Quatar. We were constant companions throughout my stay in Saudi. Arabs, as a race, are very tactile. They love to hold hands and kiss.

I had six major contracts with the Saudi government in various technical and military sectors and I travelled extensively throughout the Kingdom. There have been major changes over the years but I still love the place. Sadly I’m unable to return as I can no longer fly safely, with having had 3 heart attacks in 4 years.

After taking my 11+ exam at Stamford Park Junior School, I qualified for admission to Sale County Grammar School for boys, at the end of the mile long “Avenue”. I completely failed to adjust to the new school and spent a large proportion of my time “wagging it”. I even managed to get employment at Manchester Airport. I was regularly caned on my return but I thought it was well worth it. Indeed I was significantly disappointed when the headmaster Mr. Paul Norrish decided after one period of absence, NOT to cane me but instead sit me down with a cup of coffee and chat with me about the future and the importance of a good education. Eventually, I left, aged 14, to return to my work at Manchester Airport, with the headmaster’s good wishes. I’ve been back since for a return visit, before the school was converted into luxury apartments.

However I do have much happier memories of Sale as a cadet in the Air Training Corps at 318 (Sale & Altrincham) Squadron. I was extremely proud of my ATC uniform and wore it out to Manchester Airport and hitch-hiked to London Heathrow as well as a weekend visit to RAF Woodvale near Southport, for flying in a De Havilland Chipmunk. As a cadet I was in the Guard of Honour at the Remembrance Day Parade, outside Sale Town Hall, and also represented the ATC at the “Teens and Twenties” exhibition at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. I excelled at shooting and went on to be a marksman in the RAF. I passed my first ATC exam two days after joining, becoming a Leading Cadet, tasked with instructing more senior cadets in aviation skills, shooting and navigation/weather and Air Traffic Control procedures.

I was born in nearby Hale, just over a mile from Altrincham and spent the formative years of my childhood there. My father died when I was 15 and my mother was soon offered a luxury flat if she would act as a caretaker to a firm of Altrincham solicitors (Nicholls, Lindesell and Harris).

We moved there to live in a penthouse apartment above their offices at 7, Market Street, Altrincham.

I got an apprenticeship in the nearby Atlantic Street industrial trading estate of Broadheath, near the Manchester Road. I trained as an instrument maker with the Record Electrical Co., before joining the Royal Air Force as an instrument fitter on navigation equipment.

I had many interesting experiences, including buying a collection of classic motorbikes (BSA, Aerial Leader, Tiger Cub, James, etc) which continued up until after I left the RAF. I took the opportunity for regular nude sunbathing after school and after work also most weekends if the weather was favourable at a local wood, with the farmer’s approval.

Having been a naturist/pagan and involved in the study and practice of ritual magic since the age of 11, I formed my own skyclad (nude) occult group when I was aged 16, much like Harry Potter at Hogwarts. I invited a reporter round from the Altrincham Guardian and got a centre-page spread, to promote it.

As a pagan, I loved the outdoor life and spent many happy hours at the River Bollin and Dunham Park. I also went rock climbing to Laddow and Windgather rocks and regular weekend caving trips to Castleton.

Almost the size of a small town, the naturist (nudist) centre at Cap d’Agde has an extensive beach and marina with seasonal paragliding, archery, speedboat trips, water ski-ing, air rifle shooting, etc.

Accommodation is available, ranging from luxury air conditioned apartments, to beach huts or caravans, tents, or budget apartments.

The wide range of shops and restaurants have nude staff as well as customers although many people prefer to dress for dinner, in the interests of hygiene and health & safety.

Singles are likely to be asked to present a valid INF Passport as evidence of their Bona-Fides. Any inappropriate behaviour will result in eviction and banning. Local high school kids like to return home via the beach. It’s all very easy going. Recommended for the newbie naturist.