Mike Sweeting

Suited to local groups, U3A, societies. Can do an after-dinner version too. A humorous journey through the world, sharing my many mishaps and cultural mistakes! Standard focus on Hong Kong, Tibet, India, Uganda, Southern Africa. I can also adapt to covering Eastern Europe in hard times, Argentina, Nepal, Namibia etc. My talk on mountaineering and wilderness adventures is separate.

Suited to societies, arts groups, antique groups etc. I use my experience as Chair of the International Map Collector's Society to take a fun look at the weird and wonderful world of old maps including the unusual, the weird, the VERY inaccurate, map myths, etc. The romance and the artistic exuberance of old maps. Pirate maps, anyone? Most map makers were a bit odd too -spies, King Charles II's dancing master, rascals, soldiers, frauds and Dumbledore style geographers!

Aimed at entertaining. Good for after-dinner etc. Personal tales of survival after various climbing accidents. I statted climing when I was 15, then spent a month in the Bavarian Alps when I was 17. I was hooked! At 18 I hitch hiked to Chamonix in the French Alps. At 21 I had my first accident - falling almost 150 feet and coming out of it with a cut hand and a purple leg! Another time I had to put my ankle back on the joint myself and then crawl for help. Another time, I .....