By Harvey Jones:

I like this idea, it keeps all the things such as spices, dry goods and perhaps, maybe keeping the vegetables in the drawers and stuff.

This one from B & Q:

is pretty clever as well.

we went to Wales over last week. I finally did a couple of routes that i wanted to do last time i went to the Pass boulders in Llanberis – and they felt easy. A tried jerry’s roof, he successfully linked the first two moves, which is better than the last time he attempted it. he then promptly fell into a pile of sheep shit. i may have laughed a bit.

we also went to the rac boulders and i kept falling off the crux of a v4 which was annoying – i simply don’t have the power to get through it. its a bit shouldery. maybe in a couple of more attempts i would have got it, but the people we were with were getting bored and sore. i did re-do a v3 again, so it wasn’t all bad.

we stayed at the idwal cottage yha which was a great place. really quiet and it had both jenga, and pool so there were things to do in the evening other than drink. i remembered how bad i was at pool and lost at jenga too.

i met my niece for the first time last weekend as well. she’s adorable and very chilled out. she only cries when either mum or dad aren’t in the room or not giving her the full attention that she needs.

right – i better go off and do some more reading as that is why i had quit work.

went for a run today, it was supposed to be from the end of stanage to longshaw estate but i had to stop at burbage as my friend fell open and ended up gashing her knee right down to the bone. A picked us up and we then drove back to the start of the run and J then drove home and onto the minor injuries unit. J ended up with 3 stitches and told not to run for a week. luckily she only needs to have 1 week off and the stitches come out in 2 weeks.

currently watching the f1 and fuming about the ferraris. never mind – it really doesn’t affect me at all.

i’ve started physio and that has really helped my climbing. although i do need to do some today so i’m going to go an do that now.

after that i’ll be going to the foundry for a quick training session and then home again for food – salmon ceviche and gruyere soufflé

because i’m currently editing an academic book, working on my proposal and still working at the firm i resent the work that i’m doing there. its so far below my level but i still seem to be making silly mistakes and resent the time spent away from the other work that i’m doing and enjoy much more. even though editing isn’t exactly the most stimulating thing in the world. 

okay. whinge over.

just about to go for a meal with the in-laws. trying a new restaurant in the area so i’m totally looking forward to it.

this weekend has been pretty good. saturday was a bit of a wash out – actually, lets start on friday. friday was very busy at work and by god i was pleased it was finished. then we went down to the foundry and i actually pulled on – not too strong mind you – but i managed to latch the top of a L3 and possibly next session be able to link it. the crux (i’ve never actually written that word, hope its correct) is at the bottom so will have to definitely work on it. the others had been biking in dalby so they were totally shattered meaning that the session was a lot shorter than normal.

we then tried a hilarious little restaurant in the locality. it was probably about the size of the front room with at least 9 tables in it. the owner was eccentric to say the least. he had a waistcoat on that was, or at least, could have been the off cuts of somebody’s sofa upholstery in the 80s, or maybe the 70s. it was clearly unwashed and just around his paunch there was engrained grease stains so much that the embroidery had faded and it was all one horrible, stained colour. this was over a pair of clearly well worn and little washed trousers; and completed with unwashed hands, long and grimy fingers and funny hair.

the food was disgusting, overpriced and its suffice to say that i’ll never go back there again.

saturday was a wash out. i worked and then shopped and then had people over, watched eurovision and went to bed.

in fact i’m going to go to bed now so the story (fun that its not) is never going to be told.

i did finish reading Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay. now that is a good book, and i may even review it in a couple of days time when i finish all the editing work stuff that i’m doing at the moment.

the fire is on and the cats are accounted for.

went for a run. it was tough but my knees didn’t give out which is good as they’ve been rather clicky.

we’ll see.

hopefully, the meal will be lovely and then we can enjoy the massive chocolate pudding that we have from Costco. now how we managed before we found that place, i’ll never know. most of our christmas dinner, and provisions for our holiday are from there. best go check the potatoes again. and we’re good.

i’ll try and write a bit more in a couple of hours. i’ve just sat down to watch hard grit. haven’t seen it in a while and hopefully it will get me in the mood for gritstone again, rather than plastic.

we’ve packed and i’m now simmering down and listening to vaughn williams. its all very nice. i can hear the dishwasher in the background which adds a certain sense of modernity into it. i’ve finished tidying up, and now i just want to pass out, but its a bit early yet.

vaughn williams is a bit sad – which isn’t a wonderful word and creates sweeping statements that i don’t really mean. all i can suggest is that he’s very melodic and beautiful but melancholy. its wonderful, but not what i would want to listen to if i was grieving or upset. he is traditional english and i can understand why people associate his music with england. until now, i had never properly listened to him. of course i can identify different parts of his compositions from television and other sources.

on other notes, our loft has been finished – finally! we’ve had the new floor down, put up all the insulation and even stained and varnished the wood! how exciting. now we have to get a plasterer in and then paint. then, perhaps about a year later, the loft will be done.

we’re going to dartmoor soon. i’m hoping to get out bouldering if the weather is good. otherwise i can see myself wandering around abandoned villages from the medieval times and lots of different ruins.

I’m very very busy at the moment. Currently working at a Law firm and haven’t very much to write about. However, more will come. Possibly tomorrow, even.

AC went to Wales with his colleagues on the weekend, so I had the weekend to myself. I climbed a lot, and worked and generally didn’t get much sleep. Sprocket managed to get some sort of bug and shat everyhwere. It was so rank that it nearly made me throw up. But, the climbing was good. We went to the climbing works twice and my fingers haven’t really forgiven me yet. The first session was mainly a ploddle and I went around the 4 – 6a circuit and the second session was a bit harder and focussed more on slopers. I was knackered from the walk over there too.

Anyway, its not long until we go to Italy for a week and I’m so looking forward to it, although I’m still paranoid that I have lost AC’s camera.

I don’t really have much to say. Other than they have reset the foundry wall and its rubbish. Or more accurately, its set at a harder level than I can climb. And I need new shoes. And I would like a new harness. And that is about it.

Evening Wall E1 5b

While what I did wasn’t particularly difficult, I really enjoyed leading. So, I guess thats the way to do it. Stick to the low grades for a while and then start to push myself.

Bilberry Crack VDiff

I definately could lead VS once I get more experience at placing gear and knowing when to place what. Although sitting in an office saying that is miles different from standing or balancing on small holds half way up a cliff.

How not to use double ropes, unless knitting is the intention

Its raining again and I’m not impressed. Connie has come to say hi. I want my breakfast!

Friday, I got back on my 7a but knew that it wasn’t going to go that night. Not much has happened really.