How competitive is Scotland in today's travel market?

After being away for quite a while and experiencing a bit more of the Pacific area, and reading some excellent books and articles on many such Business and Travel related items, it has really highlighted as I have said before that the future belongs to the Pacific Rim.

In his book Adventure Capitalist, US investor Jim Rogers slates Ireland and Iceland for learning Gaelic and Danish respectively. He says that he would have his children learn Spanish or one of the Chinese languages.

He backed this up when he moved from New York to Singapore and indeed has brought up his kids to be bilingual.

The infrastucture is growing rapidly in Asia. Rome built its empire with roads, Britain relied on her navy for seapower, and the USA liknked her nation through rail then air travel.

Asia seems to be heading towards High Speed Rail. China have ambitious plans to link up the major cities and beyond.

When returning home to Glasgow I checked in for my flights at KL Sentral Railway Station. I got my boarding pass and waved bye to my heavy luggage until some 20-odd hours later I picked them up off the carousel in Glasgow. Then I hopped on to the KLIA Express which took me 28 pain free minutes later to KLIA Airport.

Impressive or what?

And our authorities in Scotland cancelled the GARL (Glasgow Airport Rail Link). Plus they cancelled the 10 lane superhighway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, our two major cities. For an industrialised nation, and one that has given the world so many incredible engineers, I feel we are so far behind the rest of the world that it is embarrassing.

We have to invest in communication and transport or else we are doomed. The M74 extention is 30 years overdue.

The Kingston Bridge is nearly done and do we have another high capacity bridge being built? Or a wider tunnel under the Clyde? No.

In San Francisco, the Oakland Bay Bridge (more impressive in my opinion than the Golden Gate) is being replaced by a new bridge being built side by side. The relief bridge will take traffic going one way and the old bridge the other.

So if Scotland is serious about being a true world class travel destination then we need to improve our infrastructure. It is simple.

And remember what we pay out now will be worth more in the long run, as a pound today will be worth less in 10 years time.

Perhaps the 2014 Commonwealth Games will see the GARL being built and even the 10 lane superhighway. If not then these 'savings' are false economies, in my opinion.

We are light years behind Asia.

Home Sweet Home

Glad to be back in the UK!

Even popped into work this afternoon after a long series of flights, but if you drink enough water, take your shoes off and make sure you get a decent sleep on the plane, you will feel not too bad. I have to keep awake until sundown, so almost there.

A big thank you to everyone who emailed me or texted me looking to see if I was okay.

It was certainly an experience. A trip of a lifetime... well until the next adventure!

My Sky Jump off Sky Tower, Auckland

Here's some pics of me being the first Sky Jumper of the morning of Thursday, 15th April 2010!

It is nerve racking when you are at the egde. I just looked up and shouted "GERONIMO!"

Work for Classes

HIGHER BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

You guys should be working on past papers.
Pay attention to COMMAND WORDS.

There are a few topics I have asked Miss Dunlop to go over:

Ratio Analysis
Pricing Strategies
Distribution
Payment Methods

Remember don't just rote learn this stuff. Think about what they could ask you.

eg. COMPARING pricing strategies could be a good idea.

Also remember that in Section One (Case Study) you need to use the headings given for identifying the problems (10 marks) which hopefully get you off to a good start in the exam.

Finally, also go back to the Types of Ownership (Sole Traders, PLCs etc) and think about each one in terms of OWNERSHIP, CONTROL and FINANCE.



HIGHER ADMINISTRATION

Divide the week into 2 periods theory and 4 periods ICT.

For Theory, work through the past papers on the back shelf. Solutions are online but remember these answers are only bullet point marking schemes. Don't think just by writing what is in that you would gain all the marks!

For the ICT paper, you may have done most of the past papers, if not all, but it is good practice to redo them all. Perhaps start with the 2007 H Admin paper 2 and give yourself 2 periods to do it. Then move on to 2008.

There are some good practice papers in the filing cabinet, which I will do with you when you return.

REMEMBER:

Databases
For any report there will be a query (filtering out the options)
Know how to:
do calculations in queries
do calculations in reports
complicated searches using a query (using *, BETWEEN AND, using NOT etc. You can do the Revision Database book if unsure).
Remember to use the TOOLS - MS OFFICE LINKS - PUBLISH WITH MS WORD option to tidy up queries.

Spreadsheets
Know when a Lookup is going to come up. When you have some information that is repeated in the sheets but you have some part missing in your sheet.

Know how to do a simple If statement.
Know how to do a nested If statement (remember you can copy and paste it and then just change the cells and numbers)

Be aware of what you are calculating. eg when calculating a percentage have you to add the original cell back on (if it is to be a percentage increase) or subtract (if a percentage discount/decrease)?

Remember the Spreadsheet Filter option.

Word Processing
Know how to:
write a proper letter format
Memo format
convert text to tables
calculate in word


Quite a lot to do, but that's why it is one of the most demaning Highers in Scottish Education (FACT!).


S4 STANDARD GRADE ADMINISTRATION

Remember to check your final exam levels. Most of you will be sitting General/Credit.

Work through the past papers, but you can also have a go each period on Hot Potatoes. But please don't spend too long on wasting valuable time messing about on the PC!

Also make sure you know definitions of the key terms. The KU element is always done worse than the PS element, yet it is easier to learn.

(ie know Chain of Command, Span of Control etc)


S3 STANDARD GRADE ADMINISTRATION

You will be given a City to research and investigate.

You will have to create a travel guide, as well as book flights, car hire and hotel accommodation. Depending on time constraints you may also be asked to create a travel itinerary, which there are examples online.

Remember, we are trying to arrange a visit to Glasgow Metropolitan's Travel Centre which has a replica of the inside of an aeroplane, as well as proper Check In desks etc. We cannot take everyone, so only the best presentations will be rewarded with a spot. The trip will either take place in June or August (if everything goes well).

In today's current situation knowing how to arrange a proper itinerary is more important than ever!


S2 ICT

You may be moving on to Web Design, though when I return we will finish off Marketing.


S1 ICT

You will probably be continuing with Podcasting. So make sure you are putting all the equipment away properly and saving your completed files in the correct folders!

RM Shared - Business Education - _Class Folders - YOUR CLASS

Halfway Home

I got a bit of luck when I phoned KLM's local office in Auckland (it was just around the corner but the lift was key operated so I couldn't get to the KLM floor) and they got me a flight to Kuala Lumpur where my friends can put me up, saving me a fortune on hotel bills.

Everyone had to rebook and the earliest I could get was the 27th of April. Every possible combination was taken. Via China, via the Middle East and even a round the world trip via the USA.

Air New Zealand were not the most helpful, though they did give me good advice in not letting me go to Beijing where I would still be stranded inside the airport and with no visa to go outside (and hotels were full anyway).

I am trying to get an earlier flight from KL to Amsterdam to Glasgow, but only if I can get right through. It would be stupid getting to Amsterdam only to sit in an uncomfortable airport for days!

If things get bad I had another escape route planned. KL - Doha - Tuni with Qatar Airways and then the 24hr ferry from Tunis - Marseille (you don't need a visa for Tunisia). From there I'd have to get a train to Calais and wait in line with the others wanting home.

So I shall have to wait it out and I may get another break in that KLM may put on extra flights to get us all home quicker.

S4-S6

For classes starting on Monday...

S4-S6 should all be doing Past Papers.

Good luck in case I don't see you before the exam leave begins!

I am sure Mr MacLeod, Mr Arthur, Mrs Shute, Mr Haggarty and Miss Dunlop will look after you.

I think Mr McAlpine is in the same boat as me!

My Trip so far! - Australia

The above images are some of the adventures I have had in the Australian leg of my holiday.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

The Sydney Opera House

Bondi Beach

Three Sisters, Blue Mountains National Park

My (now ditched) Escape Route!

If I was granted a Chinese Visa I was planning on trying to book up on the Trans-Siberian Railway which takes 7 days to get from Beijing to Moscow. From Moscow I'd have to get another train to Berlin or if really lucky Paris.

From there I'd have to head for the coast to wait in line for the Ferry or Tunnel.

The main problem was trying to get a Chinese visa, which in future if I am ever even stopping over in China I will make sure I apply for well in advance, because sitting in an airport is no fun.

Tickets can be booked here: http://www.seat61.com/Trans-Siberian.htm

The cost for a one way ticket travelling non-stop from Beijing to Moscow would be 580 GBP (this keyboard does not have a pound sign!).

I am glad that I do not have to resort to such extreme measures now that I have a flight to Kuala Lumpur, but it is amazing how desperate and useless you feel when you are stranded 12,000 miles from home.

Now I know how E.T. felt!

Back to KL!

Air New Zealand were no help at all. They were taking me from Auckland to Beijing, but because I didn't have a Chinese visa I was not allowed to fly. To get a Chinese visa I would have to travel 11 hours by car or 1 hour by plane from Auckland to Wellington to the Chinese Embassy. There it could take 4-6 days for it to be processed.

I found KLM's local office and went there. I couldn't get in as the lift had keys! I then phoned them and they have wangled a flight via Malaysian Airlines to Kuala Lumpur, where at least I won't have to pay for hotels.

The first flight home is on the 27th of April!!! I hope I will get home before then, but this is a waiting game I think. I'd rather do it at least a bit of the way home than being in Auckland and slipping further and further down the pecking order.

Stranded in Auckland

I am stuck in Auckland as Air New Zealand are not allowing anyone flying to Europe to leave. They did let some go to the stopover points in Asia but have stopped that now as it is causing mayhem there. They have nowhere to go and nowhere to sleep.

This volcano erupted some 200 years ago and did so for 2 years! What will we all do if this is the case? Airlines will go bust, and so will many firms as freight and people are not being 'delivered' so to speak.

I am thinking of doing a Michael Palin in a week's time if things are not any better and try to get to the USA and then a container ship home. I worry that when the European skies are clear it will have moved over to the East and straight into my flight path.

KLM are testing low altitude flights, so fingers crossed that works. It is estimated it would take 9 days to clear everything. So at best I think I am here for a week. Everyday we have to call a number to see what is happening, but it doesn't take Einstein to work out that I can't go anywhere until Glasgow and Amsterdam are clear. I wonder if KLM will pay for my hotel? Or will 'Act of God' be used again?

This just shows how reliant we are on technology and air travel in particular. I wonder what all the Environmentalists will make of this? Close air travel and ruin the world financially?

It is when the money runs out that everyone will be in serious trouble. Roll on pay day!

Kia Ora, G'Day, Bienvenue, Wilkommen etc!

Kia Ora from the other side of the world. I am currently on the last leg of my Antipodean Adventure, in Auckland. And yes, to my S4 class who thought I would chicken out I DID do the Sky Jump off the Auckland Sky Tower. It was incredible.

I even shouted 'GERONIMO!" as I leapt 192 metres above the concrete of the city.

(I hasten to add that is not me! I have full DVD and photographic evidence!)

My travels have taken me from Kuala Lumpur (again - but just a short stop) to Sydney, Australia - a superb place. The waves on Bondi Beach reminded me of my childhood at Machrihanish, near Campbeltown!

Then on to Wellington - where the runway is so short the large airliners don't come in! And that is the capital of New Zealand! Kia Ora means hello in Maori. I thought it was just a fruit drink.

Then up to the hot springs of the thermal areas of Rotorua in central NZ, and now I am in Auckland.

I am coming home via Beijing - but I don't have enough time to get out of the airport. However with all this incredible carry on from the Iceland volcano I do not know what will happen yet. I may have to catch another flight into Southern Europe and then drive home. That would be a laugh!

I am determined to make it home for Monday morning and my reg class, 2D3. Though I am sure even if I travelled the 12,000 or so miles to make it back tired and exhausted they wouldn't crack an eyelid!

I wonder how many other people are stuck all over the world as it seems most of Central and Northern Europe has come to a standstill all because of a volcano. It is quite appropriate considering I am in a country that is still prone to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and indeed tsunamis. New Zealand is a very young country and is Mother Nature is still violent here.

So the next time back home in the UK we complain about the rain or snow, just remember we live in one of the most stable regions on Earth.

Anyway, I will have to wait and see what happens about my flight home from China!

Mr McGowan's pipe-dream!

If only this were true! And before anyone starts, yes I know I need a haircut. It was sorted last Monday by a visit to the brilliantly named Shears in Hamilton. Though not as good as my regular haunt in Paisley, Getyourdomedone barbers.

The Scottish Golf Festival was pretty entertaining and for any pupil who went was a great example of a trade fair/exhibition.

Not only were golf manufacturers present like Nike, Callaway etc but golf clothing, wetwear, golf holidays, even a dental product!

Golf lessons and clinics were also up for grabs and the magazine Bunkered had a large putting green where people got lessons from a Professional.

I even tried out a new product called the Two Thumb Grip for my putter, which I have to admit was fantastic! So watch out this year!

I really enjoyed the Explanar kit which helps you swing your club on the proper golfing plane.

Staying with the marketing theme, we were asked to fill in questionnaires for feedback about the show and asking what we would like to see next year.