These boots were made for walking

Well it has been a long time since i even thought about posting on here. and to all those people who don’t read my blog i apologise, it was mainly shear laziness that prevented me from posting.

Alot has happened since my last post in my life. Not sure what to say.

I suppose the biggest thing to happen is an absolutely fantastic walk that i went on with my dear friend Steph. We somehow decided that it would be a good idea to walk part of the south coast walk.

So we got there on the Friday which in itself is nothing serious. But we decided to go for a walk along the prom and then go stone skimming, which then immediatly involved me going down concrete steps arse first, which, for anyone planning this, i seriously reccomend not doing! Now no one can be blamed for this really as it was a simple case of the concrete was well polished and wet and slipery.

The next day the walk began, and I have to say, i wasn’t in the mood to start with (not that I told Steph this) but as they day went on (after about 20mins) the weather really perked up and I started to have a whale of a time walking and chatting. The scenery down there really is fantastic, and the walk itself from Lands End to Treen I would definatly recommend. Not the world’s easiest walk but can jsut about be done in a day, and there is good public transport links to Penzance.

Now there was only one problem I had with this day, and that was the 40′+ fall I had whilst climbing. Whilst talking about this I will take the chance to say the worlds biggest sorry to Steph, I have never seen anyone look more scared or worried in my life, so I am sorry! But a big thank you at the same time to all the people at Nanjizal Cove who came to see if I was alright, especially the couple (?) who gave me baby wipes and one of thier baby’s towel to mhelp mop up the blood. You’re all stars!!

After we got back to Penzance we stayed in a little hostel called “Penzance Backpackers” which I have to say was a VERY enjoyable experience, it was a nice little palce, with comfy beds. The only down side was the guy who ran it, a little bit wierd and I wasn’t happy with Steph being around him alone – but that’s probably me having no faith in humanity these days. But seriously if you in need of a palce to stay, stay there! service was good, some free food (perishables that cans till be eaten left by previous guests) and reasonablly cheap.

Photos

Day 1

Rubbishness

Ok so I’m rubbish at keeping any promises that involve blogging.

I was meant to do once a week and let you know how my fitness was going. But I didn’t did i?! Anyways it’s actually going quite well I now cycle the long way round to work everyday and thankfully there is a shower at work so I jsut use that.

That’s not the only thing I am rubbish at it seems. As some of you may remember I almost messed things up with a very good friend of mine by kissing her a few months ago. Thankfully we sorted that out, but at the weekend, the same thing happened and now I am back at square one, but at least we are talking (unlike last time).

I don’t really know what happened, or even why, just that it did and I am actually sorry it did as this particular person means more to me than alot of other things on this planet and it would hurt (alot!) if I lost her as a friend.

But out of all this there is some good things we can take as a bonus, it has helped force me to rely on God more and I have someone in aber I would now feel comfortable talking about most things with.

So all in all I can’t complain really but if anyone reading this is a christian please feel free to pray that things between me and this person will go back to normal and we won’t keep messing up in this way!!

To be fit is to act fit

Well I decided that I have beena cting like an idiot over the alst few weeks just spending money to find something to do. Not any more!

In the last 3 years my fitness has dropped significantly, there was once a time where I could run 1.5 miles (2,400 metres) in 9mins 47.6seconds. Now I am lucky if I could run the length of the prom without having a minor heart attack. Why, because I have sat on my arse doing nothing for far to long! SO starting today I am going to attempt to run up consti, then down again until i can non-stop sprint it. I am also going to do a weekly walk from aber to Borth and back again as long as it’s not too windy (rain I will walk through, but wiond makes it far too dangerous with the cliffs)

I will also post how I am doing on here (at least once a week).

The reason I am doing this is so that hopefully when I have enough money in a couple of years I will be fit enough to be able to attempt one of the 5 peaks in Bolivia (5 6000+ foot  monsters of mountains) with my dear friend Stephen Westwood. Unfortunatly (and annoyingly) though, he is already fit enough to do this and is doing one this summer. SO I will beat him!

Climbing in Pembrokshire (2)

Well as mentioned earlier I went to pembrokshire with the company and might of ended up doing some climbing in shoes that weren’t sticky, far too big and without ropes.

It probably wasn’t much more than a V. Diff. but the holds had a habit of falling out as I held onto it, but none the less it was fun and the sense of achievement after topping out, spectacular.

Now, also mentioned a few posts ago I said I would put some photos of climbing up. Not got many yet but here are the ones I do have.

 

Strangly Satisfied

Have you ever had a weekend where although not hugely different from any other one, certainly no more noteable, you feel so utterly revitalised about it you want it to happen week after week?

Well I had one this weekend. I guess it started on Friday when as a company we went down to launch a portal for a customer and after that went for a very nice walk around the pembrokshire coast. Then preceeded to have an ok(ish) meal at “Stackpole Inn” I don’t rate the food much.

Then nothing spectacular happen on Saturday I dont think. Spoke to my friend Sally from Basingstoke which was good.

Then Sunday the morning service again was ok. Then had lunch at a friends house and then church again.

I’m sure you will agree, nothing majoprly abnormal there. So why am I so revitalised and ready for work?

If you have ideas please let me know!

Climbing in Pembrokshire

Ok so this weekend I went climbing with my mate Steve Westwood, and Chris. Chris I have been climbing with for a couple of months now and we get on really well and our climbing styles really compliment each other nicely.

Steve on the other hand I have been climbing with for about 2 years and our climbing styles (and grades) are now about comparable, if not I have [finally] overtaken him on the grades.

Saturday

On saturday we woke up at first light and headed off to Coeten Bay and hit off about a dozen routes all within the lower grade range (V. Diff – HS) but all though they were easy they were very good fun climbs.

Routes Climbed on Saturday include:

• Fuzzy Peg (S -Lead)
• Suprise Slabs (HS – Lead)
• Diamond Buttress (S – Lead)
• Coeten Direct (V. Diff – Second)
• Coeten Gully (V. Diff – Solo)

Sunday

This was a rather pathetic day as we only got 1 route done in the morning but it was quite an adventure. It started off by me leading a route called Ffynion Crack (E1) but about a 1/3 or the way up it started rainging and the climb soon became rather dangerous. But none the less fun.

In the end I succesfully lead it and Chris successfully seconded it and once Steve, Rosie, Ed and EMily had finished thier routes we quickly packed up and ran back to the cars to dry off. We did this by going into town and wondering around St Davids Catherdral and the town and popping into some outdoorsy type shops and window shopping.

Whilst in the cathedral we were politly asked to leave by one of the wardens as we decided that the inside walls (of the refectory) would make for some fun climbing so started dynoing up the walls, apperently a café isn’t a climbing wall and we were inconviniencing the customers … pfffft.

After that we went back to the tents and slept for a couple of hours before heading into town and down the pub for a couple of drinks and a meal (Homemade burger).

On returning the weather had cleared up enough to go climbing (in the dark, with head torches) so we went down to Red Wall Area and climbed 2 routes and finished at about 01.00 and went and had a well deserved sleep.

Routes Climbed on Sunday:

• FFfynion Crack (E1 – Lead – Heavey Rain)
• Red Wall** (S – Lead – Night)
• Red Wall Arete (VS – Second – Night)

Monday

It started of very windy but dry so we thought we would go climbing but somwhere close so ended up going back to Red Wall area (Porth Clais) but jsut as we started setting up th abseil it started to rain and with recent memories of Sunday we decided to do some light bouldering instead. Plus the crag was getting rather busy with trainees and its only a small crag.

All in all was a VERY fun weekend and can’t wait to go climbing again

Confessional

I’m not very good at writing these confessionals am I?! I think the reason for that is I havn’t had the chance to break the rules so I havn’t. Until this weekend.

THis weekend I went climbing in St David’s (pembrokshire) and frankly the weather was great Friday Eve (2 routes) and Saturday (12 routes), this lead for on Friday a hello pint with the rest of the club which turned into a nice blue Sirloin Steak from a wee restaurant in St Davids  called Jones’ (little pricey but definatly recomend it).

Come Sunday though we managed to get 1 route in the morning. Until the heavens opened and then we reatreated into town for a cuppa tea and a slice of carrot cake from St Davids Refectory (part of the cathedral) and then went back, had an afternoon kip and then met up in town for a nice Chuk Burger from the Farmers Arms and a few pints.

On the Monday we tried to go climbing but it was still desperatly tring to rain so we settled for some bouldering and 3 pasties, bottle of oasis, 4 packets of crisps, and a large bottle of Oasis from the local non-branded supermarket.

All in all a very sinful weekend but it was nice to get away from life for a few days.

Food for thought

So I thought I should tell you what I had for tea last night as I mentioned I was short of food etc, etc yesterday.

It wasn’t very exciting really, I had  … PASTA!! once again the italian invention ruled supreme. The biggest issue I now have is I am opretty much out of food. My cupboard contain the following:

• Some more paste
• a can of tuna chunks
• some mayonaise
• 2 pots of rice pudding
• 1/2 bag of rice
• some spices
• 2 apples

and my diner plans for tonight have just been planned due to the glorious sport which is cricket and my hostess has to go and bowl for Aberystwyth University (Go her!!).

So any bright ideas on what I can eat tonight with a budget of exactl £0.03 would be appriciated

Weekly Confessional

Well this week has been far better for me. I think I have bought 1 Marogan’s bun and that is it.

So can’t complain. Well not about that, it’s not been hard to be good as I have no money at present and am waiting for my father to lend me some for a couple of weeks but he hasnt yet and I’m begining to get concerned about tea tonight as I really DO NOT want pasta again.

I know I should be happy that I can have paster (albeit again) as there are thousands of people around the world especially recently with the earthquake in China and Cyclone in Burma, that don’t even get that but I’ve had it near enough every night this week!!

but yes lets see if next week i can be perfect for this challenge :¬)

And so it ends

Well hasn’t the weather been fabulous today?!

It looks like we have had our summer and that we are doomed to have the cold fog of doom for the reast of the year.

Normally I get to look out of my office window whilst im sat at my desk typing away about some blooming program not working in IRC and look a good 5 miles out to sea, today, i could only just see the harbour wall at times!!

It has how ever helped the day go much faster, and personnally I think more productivly, so I am happy