Cultural Tour of Budapest with Paul Lazenbury, Ewan And Alex

28th August 2015 By Paul Leave a Comment

Cultural Tour of Budapest with Paul Lazenbury, Ewan And Alex

So Paul Lazenbury’s Cultural tour starts with the 7:59 train from Parkstone to Luton Airport, via London Waterloo. Then a quick flight from London Luton on WizzAir to Budapest, somewhere I’ve not been since 1998.

In fact, I am not sure that I have seen both Ewan Cairns and Alex Thomas for a beer since about 2004, following the mass exoduses from Nissan Europe. Alex returned to Amsterdam and joined Mitsubishi, Ewan moved to Bahrain with Toyota and I continued my globetrotting by joining TTS Europe. It’s crazy how quickly time flies. I have seen Ewan on many occasions, due to my frequent visits to the Middle East or flights routed via Dubai.

Nissan Europe Rugby with Ewan Cairns, Alex Thomas, Mark Steele, Andrew Lowe, Mark Hodgson, Matthieu Delcoustal, Paul Lazenbury, Alistar Langdon

So why the trip?

My good friend Mr Ewan Cairns has finally decided to make an honest woman out of Maria and the day is planned for October. Now given the old tradition of looking after the condemned man, we have a stag do to attend. Given that none of us live in the same city, I suppose it did not really matter where we met. So some bright sparks chose Budapest, Hungary. What a place for a cultural tour.

So what do I know?

Ewan Cairns and Alex Thomas did arrived safely or someone has hacked Alex’s facebook. I have my passport, plane ticket (just double checked), the name and booking reference for the accommodation and a phone number to meet two of Ewan’s mates (Kieran & Neil) in the bar in Budapest Airport.. What could go wrong???

I will post photos and update this as the weekend goes along, if however you don’t hear from me again, something has go wrong..

So here we are managed to survive night 1, if fact it was couple of social beers, dinner, local show, then some wine. Sat with Outside in a little plaza, until 2:00 when it closed.

Saturday’s entertainment is 11:30 off to go shooting.

Budapest

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Serre Chevalier, SnowMonkees, Xmas 2014

23rd August 2015 By Paul Leave a Comment

Serre Chevalier, SnowMonkees, Xmas 2014

Xmas 2014 was a strange one, I had planned to tour through Thailand, but following the coup we had to look for an alternative. This is when Gareth of SnowMonkees came into play and suggested Serre Chevalier. We booked the Xmas week with Gareth and the team. The apartments that SnowMonkees offer are in a great location within a couple of minutes walk to the village centre.

It had been a few years since my last full on snowboarding holiday and I was looking forward to the chance to have a go at Snowkiting. As with all trips boys need new toys. Luckily enough I don’t live to far away from Ben at Big Dreams snowboarding in Wareham. So following a visit and great banter with Ben, I left the shop a new board, bindings, boots, helmet and goggles. Now with a fully loaded T5 the trip can start. In fact it was an uneventful drive via Eurotunnel through France to Serre Chevalier.

Ok so it was not the best year for snow, but as I said before the location is great.

The view over the vilage from the SnowMonkees Apartment

I’d not been on a board for a few years and it is 18 years since achieving my BASI snowboard instructor’s certification. So day 1 I booked a couple of hours with Julian of ESI Generation. As with all sports they evolve, from both a style/performance and technical/technology point of view, so there is always an opportunity to improve. I learnt to board back in the early 90’s and when I was teaching it was all about super stiff boots and boards. To be honest the 1^st day Julian, did fall about laughing, watching me board was like watching a very early snowboard video. I was a very rear foot boarder, more surf style. After two sessions with Julian, we then could start racing all over the hill.

Poor snow conditions but the hill was still open and loads of fun — The snow conditions are not great but the hill was still open and loads of fun

So given the snow conditions it was a golden opportunity to try Snowkiting. As a IKO Kitesurfing Instructor (International Kitesurfing Organisation), I do understand the principles of kite flying. So I hoped my speed to competency would be quicker than a complete novice. Julian recommended his friends Alex Robin and Remi Borgioli of Kite Légende @ Col du Lautaret.

Up and riding within 2 hrs on the ice. — Up and riding within 2 hrs
on the ice.

Listening to Alex it is easier to learn to snow kite on ski’s rather than a board. The rational behind this statement is you can maintain your balance much easier. What we did was closer to ice kiting rather than snow kiting and given the harsh conditions board damage was inevitable.

The Ice was like concrete but good to learn on — The ice was like concrete
but good to learn on

In fact by the time I’d finished, you could only describe my board edges as rounded like a spoon. A small price to pay for a few hours of fun on Christmas Day, so yes the board did need a service afterwards. If there had been snow this would not have happened. Due to strong winds in the Col du Lautaret, did not manage to get back out on a kite during this stay.

As you can see no snow. 4 days later the col was closed due to, too much snow — As you can see no snow.
4 days later the col was closed due to, too much snow

Snowkiting was great fun. I will admit it was easier to learn, because of the amount of time I have spent kitesurfing. If you fancy a go, I would strongly recommend Kite Légende. Both Alex and Remi speak really good English, know their stuff and can’t do enough for you.

A great couple of hours, What a way to spend Xmas Day — A great couple of hours,
What a way to spend Xmas Day

If you are going to go to Serre Chevalier and want to go self-catering, have a look at SnowMonkees. I know Gareth and Sarah will make you feel very welcome. If you intend to learn to ski or snowboard, I would recommend using one of the smaller independent schools like ESI Generation rather than ESF.

Now for snow kiting, if you are going to try this sport, it is great fun. I would suggest that you take land kite flying lessons before your holiday. The trick with snow kiting is kite control; you can book a ½ day course in the UK for about £50. In the UK the sport in governed by BKSA (British Kitesurfing Association) the international organisation is the IKO (international Kitesurfing Association).

Normally there is lots of snow for your Xmas holiday, I have been boarding in Serre Chevalier as early as mid November before, statistically the area has better than average snow for France. On our last night the snow arrived, 2 meters of snow fell over the region and this gave us and about 25,000 other visitors a delayed trip home. The Col de Lautaret was closed due to high snowfall. As with all activates that rely on Mother Nature, it is out of your control. Kitesurfing with no wind, Surfing with no waves. We had a great time and be assured, we will be back again ASAP.

If you would like any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me via this site.

Briançon

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22nd Southampton Cubs, Scouts & The Scouts Association

13th July 2015 By Paul Leave a Comment

22^ndSouthampton Cubs, Scouts & The Scouts Association.

I’ve always had an interest in being active, as a child I passed through, 22^ndSouthampton Cubs, Scouts & The Scouts Association, picking up a couple of badges on the way. Also joining Army cadets, thus finding out a military life was probably not for me. But all of these places, including school allowed be to play team sports (in most cases badly). I think it was the being part of something that was what I enjoyed most of all.

You will see photo’s from days in the cubs and scouts in the galleries. Everything from the West District cubs swimming gala circ 1973, in which in did not win anything and had to be given one of Chris Mills certificates for the photo.

At the same time most of us played football for 22^nd Cubs and then Scouts and just won everything. There is not much better for a 9-10yr old to be having fun with friends from my street and school. Just a quick thank you to my Mum for the photos.

Southampton West Ventures Scouts, one day at Redbridge school 4^th & 5^th year assembly there was a presentation from a couple of guys called Glen Joyce and Andy Southam about joining Venture Scouts. I went along with Neil Perry, we just had loads of fun and did some crazy things.

We would never win the Champions League, but had loads of fun…

We did do the occasional serious thing, look at in our sexy uniforms..

I still see Neil Perry regularly, but then he is my sister’s boyfriend of 30yrs.

It all finally culminated in a visit with my Mum to St James palace to collect my Queens Scout Award. Just look at that hair. Mine not hers…

ventures queen scout award

In fact I had so much fun I even joined a second group based in Totton, in another scouting district, Ealing Sea Ventures.

Ealing Sea Ventures was lead by Roger Street, who at that time was a teacher at Millbrook School.

XtremesPaul

13th July 2015 By Paul Leave a Comment

I’m Paul Lazenbury; also known as Spike, Lazer and XtremesPaul, dependent on when you met me. Originally from Southampton in the UK, but over the last 30+ years have been lucky enough to have lived and worked in many amazing places.

I’m writing this blog site not as a travel reference guide or a “how to” guide, just a place for my observations and to say Thank You to the people I have met and that have helped me over the years.

Cayman Island Rugby

The passions of my life are (and have always been) my family, friends and being outside. This has manifested itself in playing Rugby, Snowboarding, Mountain Biking/Cyclocross & Windsurfing/Kitesurfing.

With my automotive background, it has eabled me to work in such interesting places as Canada, USA, South Africa, Nederland’s, France and the Middle East. When this is combined with business trips, rugby tours and holidays I had some great experiences. Over the next couple of months, I will slowly add to this site with photos and blogs from trips both old and new.

Since 2009, Xtremes Management a Business Consultancy based in Dublin, Ireland have employed me as Director of Change, Learning and Development. So I still spend a lot of time working outside the UK, though my home is now in Poole Dorset.

Paul & Frank at work

Outside of work, I still enjoy teaching and have gained instructors qualifications in Snowboarding, Kitesurfing and Standup Paddle Boarding on behalf of Xtremes Learn2Ride. There is nothing better than seeing the big grin on students face once they’ve cracked it. Weather that be a first run down the hill without wiping out on a snowboard or the first time they standup and ride in control on a kitesurf board.

During the Xmas holiday of 2014, I took up snowkiting and I’ll share images and feedback later.

Cycling used to be way, I go around before I could drive. Now it just for fun, but is cycling in the UK with -5 degrees in January fun. Yes you bet, see the blogs and images on CX Sportive’s or my routes on the Garmin viewer.

This site is for fun and to share my experiences not a commercial activity. If you have any comments please do not hesitate to contact me via the site.

Cultural Tour of Budapest with Paul Lazenbury, Ewan And Alex

Serre Chevalier, SnowMonkees, Xmas 2014

22nd Southampton Cubs, Scouts & The Scouts Association.

22^ndSouthampton Cubs, Scouts & The Scouts Association.