Be aware that Vodafone have managed to issue and at the same time cancel my mobile phone SIM card – I’ll not be available by moby for the next day or two.
Jul 01 2010
Busy? Me? Never …
So what’s been happening in the world of Green then. Scouting. lots of that. And lots of other things getting in the way of Scouting. For them not in the know, there’s an International camp happening in our County in the 1st week of August, and I’ve got the problem of dealing with the entire camp for a day (that’s around 1200 punters). Hence being a bit busy. I’ve got help mind, GOOD help in the form of Dawn Hankinson and Hugh Miller, but they’re busy in other ways too, so it can be a bit mind melting at times. Especially when I’m doing other things too (just spend 2 hours migrating, updating, un-breaking and promoting the http://lancashireunison.org website), repairing car (new radiator, ignition coil, sparks in past few weeks), looking for new car and the rest of it. But I digress.
After the last post I went and did Green Day with Caroline Mac in Manchester. Cracking gig – played a good 2hrs 45 constant – good entertainers too. A bit samey at times, but a great set, really good at getting the crowd going. Managed to get in a good spec too, excellent night.
Few days after that was Ricko Charnock’s stag weekend up at Moor Crag. Excellent weekend, good to catch up with people. Mark was a bit broken beforehand, so took him out for a climb on Farleton on the way up. Went and took Sam and Martin up Middlefell Buttress on the Sunday too. Broke around 12 on the Sat night – my personal taste alarm went off as we were heading into the Stag club in Bowness, so me, Sam, Nige and Pete veered off into the bar and listened to a dodgy bloke on a guitar. Good laugh.
Finished off the Climbing Course for Explorers the next week (most of them through after 7 weeks!), then after a Crew social at the Hop Vine, it was County Camp. I helped out with the Activity Allocations this year (although badly), and managed to arrange it so that I was doing sod all, leaving me free for the day to do a sub-camp site visit for Red Rose with Dawn, Kerry and Scouse. Good to do, helped a lot. I also got some other things in my mind for International day, and went ferreting in the GEC shed.
This week I’d called a meeting of the Mountaineering Group to see where we’re going next – Matt Forshaw’s mission to Canada has got the approval, and looks to be an excellent trip for 2012. I’m still hoping to get something together with a bit more exploration to it, but I’m running out of time to get anything researched before the end of Summer with Red Rose and the Fitzcharnock wedding happening in the middle of that.
Should have been doing loads on Red Rose and fixing Pete Freemans pooter tonight, but have spent hours on the Unison site instead. We’re going to ballot on Industrial Action against the (allegedly) illegal action that the Council has taken in forcing through the new Terms and Conditions for LCC workers, so we needed the site live before the weekend, and as I’m off to Scotland tomorrow with Clare O I needed to get a shift on!
Right, sleep calls.
Oh, and I’ve got my Tansads tickets. Life is good.
Jun 14 2010
Ardennes, Northumberland and Mr Ridout.
Been a busy few weeks.
2 weeks back, on the 1/2 term I was on the annual county Explorer trip to Belguim, in the Ardennes region. I’ve helped with this for several years, and I keep going back as it’s ace fun. It was a really good week, great kids who developed a lot, led by Andy Mathers to great esteem. Nuff respect to that feller – he’s very good with the kids. Only a couple broken, and they were mostly to do with mountain biking (suprise).
As ever, the only real problems were to do with transport.
- Phil H, on a mission to get a Geocache, reaches the ferry region a long time before us in the bus withthe trailer, but misses the ferry.
- Phil’s alternator blows up about 1 mile into the journey home
- An impressive wipeout in the fast lane in terrential rain by a member of the public leaves me and Andy stopping the traffic on the M6 on a busy sunday afternoon (really) to escort the driver in a stunned and partially freaked (yet intact) state to the side of the road. Got an air ambulance and everything to that one.
This last week I was up in Northumberland at Sam and Red’s doing some practising for Ricko’s wedding. We’ve practiced long and hard, and are firmly of the mind that none of us are prepared to be his bride. We had some long discussions over many (many) bottles of ale, and Noah helped by hitting drums, but our minds are made up. We are steadfast.
Caught Ellie on the way back and watched Daffyd blow up their £900 Anti Midge device which was entertaining for a while. Especially when I tried to disconnect the propane bottle which was attached to the alight device only to find out it had been turned fully on when I’d been told it was turned off. That was interesting for a moment.
Tonight, Carrington and I have been to see Dave Ridout. For those in the know, Dave has been diagnosed with cancer of the stomach, and he’s been in a pretty bad way for a few weeks. The mass has been blocking his asophogus (?), but he had a stent fitted a few days back and can now (after several weeks) eat again. As you can imagine, having not eaten for several weeks has had a massive hit on his build and systems, but Dave is feeling better, has more energy, and was bollocking Carrington for not finishing his D of E report yet, so it’s not the end of the road yet. Starts Chemo in a couple of weeks, and is really optimistic for getting out again. The terminal word has been used, but from the sounds of it everyone is working on that being a long way in the future yet! Fantastic to see him - that mischevous glint is still in his eye, and we all wish him the very best of health and a speedy recovery over the coming months.
Apr 28 2010
Still alive, just very tired
There does really seem to be an awful lot going on nowadays. Either that, or I’m doing the same amount but getting older is meaning that I’m less able to deal with it all.
Whats happened then.
Reesy Roo & Samsun Booth’s wedding. That was good. Caught up with the Popes, Sandays and many others in a highly random evening. One of the best MC’s I’ve seen in a while. Not every day that the bride bump-n-grinds the entire congregation.
Weekend after was the Network Gathering. Same ole same ole, many sprouts, used a boat this time to navigate the bog as it’s getting a trifle deep. One minor injury – we really should have had a dedicated first aider up there through *mistake*. Good to catch up with lots of people, delivered an adequatly wierd weekend with the aid of Ali & the Vollers. Came back early on the Sunday to catch ex-Rollins & Casey in the Hopvine, then the following evening did the same with the Kellies without a Noah. Excellent to catch up & drink decent beer.
Next weekend was the Ardennes Training. Low numbers this year, lots of questions over whether it’ll happen or not. However, enough people are now on, and we’ve pulled some other expenses as well, so by the looks of it we can make it happen. Not entirely sure where I’m going to generate another multi-pitch climber from at the moment, but we’ve a good group of kids, and Mr Mathers (taking the reins from Mr Miller) is well set to make it happen. Looking forward to it, shame that many of the normal bunch can’t make it. Should be able to destroy some cheese and beer with Phil H & others though!
Weekend after was weekend 3 at GT – Red Rose Mega Meet. This was the Staff weekend for our major international camp that’s happening this summer. I’m running one of the days (for around 1200 kids) as well as being a sub-camp staff member. It’s going to be a trifle busy. Should be damn good fun as well though. Spent sat going through training, getting head round the flow of the week, and meeting with some of my team. Sunday was spent beating the crap out of logs (the Caga got it right & proper), then Freemen dragging them round and whittling them down. Managed to partially break Charlotte & trashed some of the ground, but luckily had helpful staff on hand to repair the ground – as well as repairing the trashed ground caused by nameless w@nkers and their 4×4′s on the Gathering.
Next weekend *breathe* was NOT at GT for a change, but still busy. Saturday was Jamboree Selection day. Had 27 to get to 4 places – and they were all very good. There’s a chance that the letters haven’t gotten to all yet, so can’t mention names at the mo. I’m sure we got the right kids – that is the kids who we think will benefit most from the experience. Hopefully my “There’s billions of things to do out there” talk got through to some of them & they don’t feel too miffed.
The Sunday was St Georges Day parade. Decent turn out from Explorers, disappointed with Network turnout though. Hey ho.
I’ve also been running (with gratefully receieved help from many other leaders) a climbing course for Explorers in Ormskirk over the last 4 weeks. Welsh meet this weekend, then Skye the weekend after for 10 days (low numbers this year), then a breather before the Ardennes trip.
I was hoping for both a spot in the Alps this summer, though I’m starting to wonder how & where I’m going to fit that in. Figure a chat with Geoff this weekend will deliver. Hopefully.
Mar 22 2010
Dave & Tracey’s wedding
A fantastic weekend had, up in NW Scotland. I’d booked a day off on Friday, so hammered up there Thursday night, getting to the Ben Nevis Inn at around 10 pm. Met Heather & Popey in there who had recently arrived from Chamonix via a 20 hr ferry ride – quaffed ales with a worried eye on the weather, as it was trying to lift the roof from the pub. Dave and Tracey also arrived, generally beaming!
The next morning, the weather hadn’t relented. We decided to go to the Ice Factor after a decent breakfast, so went into town getting a few things and helping Dave pick out some last minuite presents for people.
Off to the ice factor for an hours climbing on the rock before 2 hours in the fridge. Played around with some different axes, but also spent some time working on technique, traversing, downclimbing, and ascending hanging logs (cos that happens a LOT in nature). Back to the pub for a pint, then out for a meal with the wedding party in town (I was an usher). Met stacks of people, including Tom & Maria, had a decent catch up & got to wierd out some of the extended family.
Saturday morning came, and with that we all set to work. There were a great many willing sets of hands, so much so that we completed a lot of stuff quite early, including rehearsing with Drew and Heather. Tracey’s execl organisation had been pretty detailed, but not that much of it involved me, so Tom and I bimbled down to Fort Bill to grab a brew & talk randomness.
I met Dave at the wedding site (about 400m from the pub, just off the main path up Ben Nevis). He talked me through what was wanted as I was in charge of getting everyone in the right spot. After grabbing suit, buttenhole and guitar, I headed up to the site & met the piper on the hill (piping his pipes). A quick check of the site, and then the stream of bodies began up the path. 20 mins later and we were ready, with Tracey 5 mins behind everyone.
The ceremony was a Humanist one, and the celebrant did a great job. Several readings of poems were done, lots of cheering was had, then Heather, Drew and I did a rendition of Newton Faulkners “If this is it”, which seemed to go down ok. Quite luckily really, as Heathers’ voice was pretty destroyed that morning! We got some photos, then back down to the pub for beers, meal, speeches, more beers, and then a storming Ceildh which ran for several hours. Good & young band, straightforward tunes, and I think there were no injuries. Well, I probably caused some but didn’t recieve any. Young Jack Pope really buzzed off the music – transfixed by these wierd sounds that were coming out. Made it til about 1am when I crashed and burned.
Sunday, up and away reasonably early – think I left by 10.15. Didn’t rush back, took time & enjoyed it, Home for about 4 after fighting with car for a bit (bonnet refusing to open & oil light on!)
Then hit Parbolds new cinema with Nige to view the hurt locker. Not bad for £3, although the seats are bloody firm and my arse has been giving me real pain for 2 days now (no comments 
)
Will stick some pictures up in a bit, also check http://davidandtracey.net
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