Day One of Course One of the 2012 inaugural Cotswold Winter Skills Course at Plas y Brenin's Scottish base, Alltshellach near Glencoe.  Today saw 25 members of staff summit Stob Dubh on the Buachaille Etive Beag in perfect Scottish winter weather for testing gear - rain, snow and plenty of wind.  Our Mountain Equipment Gore-Tex shells did their job perfectly, keeping us warm and dry whilst learning an array of skills from some of the best mountain guides in the business from Plas Y Brenin, including Andy Turner and Stu McAleese. 4 other members of staff went off to Stob Coire Nan Lochan to get in some ice climbing on Raeburn's Route on Central Butress.  29 tired, windswept but happy faces then had a series of product knowledge workshops, and rounded off the day with an avalanche awareness lecture by Stu McAleese.  All in a day's work!  We're not in Milton Keynes anymore Toto!!  And quote of the day: (referring to the Mountain Equipment Kalanka jacket) " These are Riri Riri good zips..."