I have been relaxing at night watching the TV. Not terrestrial or satellite as I do not have this service, but DVD's of classic sitcoms and films. And for the past few weeks The Brittas Empire has been my DVD's of choice.
And Brittas had a dream. A dream where leisure centres were the focus for a rejuvenation of society, through healthy participation in sport and the pursuit of excellence.
Brittas had his faults, slavish acceptance of the bureaucratic routines of the EU, local council and central government, a comic ability to simply not read peoples meaning in gesture and word and his unfaltering sense that he was doing the right thing.
Now, I am not comparing myself to Brittas..... but.....
I too have a dream. A dream where adventure activity provision should touch those that take part and encourage further healthy exploration of and contemplation in the great outdoors and I too strive for excellence. 
I too have my faults. Unlike Brittas I do not slavishly follow regulations but I do develop self imposed standards that are hard for some to work to. I think I read people well enough but I do tend to avoid confrontation and so sometimes relations can become strained due to unresolved issues. Most would probably say, relating to adventure activities, that I have Brittas's sense that I am doing the right thing.
My dream has been a hard path to follow with success and failure in rather equal measure.
I have developed a business that focuses on quality provision and offers activities in a rather more traditional way than many of the more commercial companies and centres located in South Wales. This has been a success.
I was a driving force behind the now defunct (success and failure) Brecon Beacons Environmental Charter that all providers in South and Mid Wales signed up to.
I was key to maintaining the income for many during the outbreak of foot and mouth by negotiating the opening of a key venue. This may well have ensured the survival of some of the privately owned business.
I have been vocal and open in arguing with other providers regarding the standards of provision, both environmental responsibility and safety, through this blog and global emails. This has been a success and failure. Success in that some have 'come over' and failure in that I am no longer listened too, some still work with poor standards and on a personal note, I am not very well liked.
I am a founder member of a peer group that incorporates all of the ethics and standards that I have been working towards, both personally and within the wider industry, and although this group is not perfect, it goes a long way to fulfilling 'my dream' of a cooperative instructors association.
Perhaps it is good that I have a dream, as when all is done, I would have stood for something.
Perhaps it is good that Brittas was a pain in the bum, for at least he is one that, had he been real, would have been counted.
But, it ain't half hard work.
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