Mankind has been drinking beer in some shape or form for over two thousand years and the demand for beer shows no sign of slowing down – despite the boom in fine wines and the so called ‘Alcopops’!

Good news for beer lovers

The good news for beer lovers is that today there has never been a better choice of ‘quality’ beers available and that the quest for new types of beers and new flavours can be a joyous voyage of discovery. Go back to the fifties and sixties and choice was very limited. If your favourite tipple is Pale or Brown Ale, Stout or perhaps Mild then you were likely weaned on them between 1945 -1965 when these were the prime choices (not forgetting of course the enduring popularity of Guinness) The ubiquitous ‘Bitter’ has been around a long time too in various guises and often mixed with other drinks to create more subtle flavours (remember the fad for ‘Mild and Bitter’?) It wasn’t until relatively later that the ice cold continental lagers became fashionable as more and more holidaymakers discovered the pleasures of cold beer. Teenagers in particular tended to shun the heavier warm bitters for the trendy bottled lagers that could be swigged whilst walking along the street leading to the media fuelled icon of the ‘lager lout’.

What is beer?

But what is beer exactly? How is it made and how can so many different flavours be created from what is essentially a single process?

The answer is that making beer is in many ways as simple as making wine. In essence wine is made from crushed and fermented grapes and beer is made from partially germinated grain boiled in water, seasoned and then fermented. The final product, though, needs to be of a certain quality if people are going to pay good money for it and producing quality is the real challenge for brewers.

The process of beer making

A good beer is created by the brewer paying close attention to each stage of the process and using experience often gained over many years. Ingredients like malted barley need to be carefully selected and even the water it is soaked in must be thoroughly tested in terms of its mineral content and alkalinity. Quantities need be just right and boiling times and temperatures carefully monitored. As the barley malt is heated the starches within the grains are converted into sugars which combine with the water to form a substance known as ‘Wort’. Hops are then added to the Wort which act both as a preservative and as a flavour enhancer.

Varieties of hops

There are thousands of varieties of hops grown all over the world and each strain contains a unique set of flavours which can be used in different combinations to determine the colours and tastes of the beer that is finally produced. Hops added at the start of the boiling process for example produce a more bitter flavour whereas hops added late produce more aromatics. Over centuries of experimentation the beers we enjoy today all stem from the same basic process.

Types of beer

Today beer choice has never been better. Beer connoisseurs can sample white beers, golden beers, wheat beers, fruit beers, trappist ales (made by monks in Belgian monasteries), spiced beers, festival beers, seasonal beers and many more besides. Even more amazing is the growing acceptability of selecting beers to accompany specific restaurant dishes in the same way that wine buffs have been doing so for years. The good news is that there is no ‘beer snobbery’ necessary – good quality beers can be a great accompaniment to all different types of food and there are no rules other than – if it tastes good then ‘go for it’.

Cheers!!!

Personally I’m not really bothered about the rights and wrongs of the rules around pub quizzes, but it is interesting to see how people react to it and what it tells us about business.

“No Googling!”

One pub landlord who has run popular quiz nights for many years has now resorted to placing large signs both inside and outside his pub saying ‘No mobile phones’ and ‘No Googling’. Interviewed by a BBC reporter the landlord, Stephen Duffy, commented: “Some of the crowd are a bit older and can remember a time before mobile phones, and their phones are not as advanced as the ones owned by younger people. Somebody was telling me they’re bringing out face-recognition software so you’ll even be able to cheat in the picture round. There’s even an iPhone app called Shazam which recognises what song is playing – it could be the death of the pub quiz as we know it.” Mr Duffy added that he tries to come up with questions which can’t be found quickly on the internet but it’s getting harder all the time.

Innovation changing the way we communicate

Basically – let’s face it – innovation is changing the way we communicate. Some people resist it, longing for the “good old days” whilst others embrace it – and the changes to our culture that it brings. I’m not at all surprised that a lot of wily pub goers are winning quizzes by using their mobiles and iPhones. The phone is the ideal resource to get information quickly and in many ways this is just another example of exploiting the phone’s capabilities to gain advantage. I don’t think this is necessarily the end of the pub quiz, but I think it will undoubtedly change the format and the way we think about quizzes in the future.

Hive Mind Challenge

For example, given the inevitability of punters bringing their mobile devices to the pub, the organisers of the “Hive Mind Challenge” in London may have hit upon the future of pub quizzing. Billed as “the quiz where you are meant to cheat”, it actually encourages participants to use mobile technology, search engines and Twitter to find answers to obscure questions, such as the height of the Eiffel Tower (324 metres according to my quick search!) So winning the quiz is about how quick and skilled you are at using the technology rather than personal knowledge.

The purpose of pub quizzes

I sometimes wonder whether the technophobes have forgotten the point in having pub quizzes? For the most part they don’t exist in order to find the smartest person in the village. Instead, they are there to get more people into the pub, spend more money on beer and create a social atmosphere.

Besides, I somehow think a little bit of cheating in pub quizzes went on long before the advent of mobile technology!

If you are totally focussed on your life’s objectives, using every possible opportunity to maximise your inner potential and enjoying a rewarding and contented lifestyle then congratulations – you are one of the 1% of the population who is already ‘living the dream’.

Alternatively, if you are still unsure about exactly where your life is heading or feel there is ‘something missing’ then you are in good company – 99% of us are still trying to work out where we want to be in our lives – and how to get there.

And this is exactly what ‘Life Coaching’ is all about.

Simple and powerful

Life Coaching is a much misunderstood concept and often confused with Counselling, Therapy or mentoring. Life Coaching however is none of these things. Instead, it is a very simple but very powerful method for converting dreams into reality in a constructive, professional and structured way.

The concept of Life Coaching is still relatively new but has seen considerable growth in the USA over the last two decades, being introduced into the UK and Europe in the late eighties.

The growth of life coaching

It was born out of the realisation that there are millions of people ‘searching’ for some missing ingredient in their lives that cannot be resolved by traditional remedies. Quite simply individuals were reaching a stage in their lives where they felt the need to stop and take stock of their ambitions, motives, lifestyle and plans for the future. These individuals recognised an internal need to change certain aspects of their lives but were unsure how to turn their ideas and dreams into tangible reality.

In the past this need would rarely be met and people would continue to walk the same treadmill, destined to remain forever unfulfilled and frustrated, feeling trapped in the ‘rat race’ and unable to see a way out. The traditional structures of Society provided little opportunity to change this situation and there were few people individuals could turn to for guidance. Although there was no shortage of ‘advice’ from well meaning partners, friends, family or well wishers this was rarely objective or framed in such a way that real benefit could be derived.

Development of coaching tools and techniques

Today, however, things have changed. Professionally trained Life Coaches are able to help individuals maximise their potential and achieve their goals and ambitions through a series of guided one-to-one sessions and practical exercises. Coaches use a variety of tools and techniques to both challenge and assist their ‘clients’ in reaching their chosen targets in a similar way that sports coaches help athletes achieve maximum performance on the sports field.

Having your own ‘life coach’ to help and support you through periods of change might have seemed a little unusual a few years ago, but today it is becoming more and more acceptable and few senior executives in the USA are without their own personal life coach, stimulating and encouraging them to sustain peak performance within a balanced lifestyle.

A word of caution

But before you sign up with your own personal life coach – a word of caution. Today ‘Life Coaching’ remains an unregulated industry which means almost anyone can call themselves a ‘life coach’ – and untrained coaches give the profession a bad name. Conversely, a professionally trained and accredited life coach can make a real difference to people’s lives. In today’s world of rapid change, economic uncertainty, career unpredictability and relationship breakdown individuals often need someone they can turn to for professional guidance. In other words someone who has been trained to listen in a non-critical and non-judgemental way, knowing that the coach – client relationship is always conducted in complete confidence. A good life coach is someone the client completely trusts – someone who is always fully supportive, encouraging, resourceful, challenging, honest and totally dedicated to the clients aspirations and dreams.

An accredited life coach charges for their time in the same way as a Lawyer or Accountant though the costs are likely to be considerably less. The benefits to be gained from employing a life coach, however, can be far more profound and far reaching.

So why has coaching suddenly become so popular and why is it so effective?

Quite simply it has been proven through research that most people spend more time planning a holiday or house purchase than they do planning their lives. This means that most of us go through life like a cork in the ocean – being taken where the ocean currents take us rather than in the direction we really want to go. But even those who do take the time to plan rarely keep up the momentum choosing the easiest path when things get tough. This is where good Life coaches can really make a huge difference. A Life Coach will force their clients to really spend quality time on thinking about their future so that goals, objectives, dreams and ambitions can be thoroughly examined and understood. The coach will then take their client through a series of practical exercises and goal setting scenario’s so that idle daydreams can be constructively turned into workable and achievable plans. The coach – client relationship is not a one-off event though. Many relationships continue for months or even years. The coach has been trained to listen, understand, support, challenge and guide their client to not only construct their life plan but to actually make it happen – and life plans are not just about careers and job satisfaction. Financial security, work-life balance, relationship stability, health, fun and enjoyment and personal growth are all elements of life that need nurturing in order to flourish and life coaches will make sure every aspect of their client’s life is given a thorough makeover.

Changing your life for the better

For those who have chosen to employ the services of a good coach the results can be truly dramatic and life changing. By having someone challenge your deepest dreams and anxieties and turn ideas into actions amazing things can be achieved. And for those who are still not sure that employing a life coach can be a cost effective decision then just think  for a moment about the alternative – ‘What is the ultimate cost of not changing your life for the better?’

I’ve always been interested to hear about new innovations or new uses for mobile technology. This one though (technically speaking), is a real gem!

Japanese phone giant KDDI Corporation has developed technology that tracks and monitors even the tiniest movement of the phone user and then beams the information back to HQ.

Identifying everyday activities

It works by analysing the movement of ‘accelerometers’, devices found within many handsets. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or even cleaning can be identified from the data the researchers claim. KDDI has announced plans to sell the service to clients such as managers, supervisors and employment agencies, though the possibilities for this technology are mind boggling.

Up until now, mobile phone motion sensors were capable of detecting only generalised repetitive movements, such as walking or running, but the KDDI phone, is able to detect more complex behaviours by using analytical software held on a remote server. For example, say KDDI, a mobile phone strapped to a cleaning worker’s waist can tell the difference between actions performed such as scrubbing, sweeping, walking an even emptying a rubbish bin.

Analysing staff behaviour

According to a KDDI spokesman “We are now at a stage where we can offer managers a chance to analyse more closely the behaviour of staff.”

Now is it just me, or is there something a little sinister going on here? Sure, I can see some potential benefits in specific situations – like the medical profession for monitoring patients, or even in places like the prison service – but for the average office worker I’m not so sure…

Surely as a responsible employer we should be using trust, respect and encouragement to motivate our staff rather than snooping on their every movement? It hardly engenders confidence in either employer or employee!

Human rights

In response to some initial human rights protests KCCI were quick to respond: “This is not about curtailing employees’ rights to privacy. We’d rather like to think our creation more of a caring, mothering system rather than a Big Brother approach to watching over citizens.”

Will these phones ever catch on in the UK? Somehow, I doubt it!

Anyway, it’s new technology so I’d like to get hold of one of these phones to check it out. As soon as it’s linked up to the server back at HQ I think I’ll head off to play some darts, then a little tennis and finally a swim.

Then tonight…..if I’m in the mood for romance…

Let’s just see what the clever phone will make of that!

Founded by Richard Schirrman in 1909

The idea began with a German schoolteacher, Richard Schirrman, who opened the world’s first youth hostel in 1909. Richard was driven by the desire to enrich the lives of young people living in large industrial cities by providing simple accommodation in the countryside. Recognising the same need for walkers and cyclists who enjoyed the countryside in the UK, a joint initiative between cycling, rambling and youth organisations brought together enthusiasts who formed the Youth Hostels Association of Great Britain shortly afterwards.

Since its creation the Youth Hostels Association has been a phenomenal success. The early years saw a steady acquisition of properties, chosen specially for their proximity to the country’s national parks and open spaces and over the war years membership numbers doubled as more and more people found the countryside a refuge from the stresses of daily life.

50′s – 60′s YHA introduces rambling and cycling clubs

The YHA continued to grow through the fifties and sixties as people found they had more leisure time and rambling clubs and cycling clubs were formed. The YHA were unique in providing everything walkers and cyclists needed to allow them to plan touring holidays. At last nature lovers could find somewhere cheap to stay that didn’t mind muddy walking boots or dirty bikes. The hostels were usually in wonderful locations with all the essential amenities that people needed. Comfy beds, a drying room, a member’s kitchen with all utensils and a large lounge – often with a log fire. The hostels were, and still are, managed by ‘wardens’ who are responsible for the day to day upkeep of the building and facilities.

The role of YHA wardens

Wardens are very often a husband and wife team supported by one or two volunteers. The wardens are usually YHA enthusiasts themselves and useful sources of information about the local area. Unlike in hotels, the hostels are kept clean by the hostellers in return for the cheap accommodation. Each morning after breakfast everyone would be allocated a small cleaning task by the wardens which soon became an integral part of the whole community experience.

For most people though, the most rewarding aspect of membership is the camaraderie that exists between hostellers. Unlike hotels which can be a bit pompous, or bed and breakfasts where you just have a bedroom to stay in, the hostels provided a sense of community. Members slept in male and female dormitories to keep costs down and spent the evenings in the communal lounge relaxing and talking over the day’s events. Hostels rapidly became somewhere you went to make new friends.

1970′s – Growth of outdoor pursuits and introduction of YHA magazine

The seventies witnessed even more expansion with lots of modernisation taking place and the YHA starting to organise specialist outdoor pursuit courses and publishing magazines. School parties and the Scouts and Guides started to make increasing use of the YHA’s facilities and beautiful locations.

The really good thing about the YHA is the way it learned to constantly adapt and improve as it still does today. By the eighties the rules were changed so that not just walkers and cyclists could benefit from the YHA experience but, for the first time, so could motorists. Morning cleaning tasks were no longer included and all facilities gradually upgraded.

1970′s – Commercial focus leads to improvements

In the nineties the YHA Management Committee became much more business and commercially orientated, closing down the non-profitable hostels and upgrading the quality of the popular hostels. Dormitories were converted to high standard bedrooms and the quality of the food was brought up to an exceptional level. All facilities were improved so that the distinctions between hotel and hostel became blurred – and yet the YHA has never lost sight of its roots so the friendship and fun of hostelling remains as strong as ever.

Today the YHA’s statistics are very impressive:-

Freedom to Roam initiative

Today, the YHA continues to grow and prosper and involves itself in many good causes. Recently it played a key role in the ‘freedom to roam’ initiative which led to the passing of the ‘Countryside and Rights of Way Act’. It is involved in the creation of new National Parks and works closely with the Countryside Agency and Ramblers Association. It is involved in numerous environmental campaigns to improve and sustain the natural environment through education and training. Other initiatives are focused on helping disabled or deprived children to get better access to the countryside and to enjoy outdoor pursuits. Sustainable development is another goal that the YHA have been promoting since inception – long before the term became fashionable.

More recently the YHA has started to grow its network by teaming up with other accommodation providers and even offering rent-a-hostel schemes for large groups who want to get away from it all with friends and family.

YHA – An amazing story

The story of the YHA is therefore an amazing story of success. For most people, however, the YHA represents what it has always represented. A place to curl up beside a log fire on a winter’s night with a cup of cocoa amongst new friends after a day’s walking or cycling in the worlds wildest places.

Next Steps

We would love to hear any stories or experiences you may have of using the YHA so please feel free to share them with us by using the comments below.

Also, if you would like to commission me to write an article for you or your organisation, then please contact me by calling me: 07766 911 300 or send an email to: rory@rorygear.com or you can contact me through my contact page HERE>>