Today was technically a working day in my office, but I took a day’s leave.  And I’m glad I did.

I had a nice lazy start to the day, then went to the climbing centre.  Did some top roping and then some lead roping.  I love top roping because I can do silly things (like jump to grab a hold) knowing that if I miss, nothing bad will happen.  I love lead roping because it scares me and I know I need to be scared every now and again.

Then I got a haircut.  There’s something nice about shiny coiffed hair, and something about the way they dry it which is irrepeatable,  so for one day only I get that “just stepped out of a salon” look.

Then I met my brother and his wife for dinner.  Its always fun to catch up with them, and they were on good form.

Then I went to the church ceilidh.  There were a lot of people there that I knew, and a lot of international students that I’d never met before.  And I was REALLY impressed with the international students for their willingness to give it a go and learn new dances.

And then there was a strange game which gave me the opportunity to do a handstand.  And starting the year upside down is probably exactly right somehow.

Bring on 2009!

My friend took me rock-climbing the other day.  Outdoors.  I’d had visions of hiking for hours in the pouring rain and then climbing a gruelling and terrifying multi-pitch route.

But in fact – contrary to the weather forecast – it didn’t rain.  Neilston quarry turned out to be the perfect height for scaredy-cats and there was no need for any multi-pitch stuff.    I had two moments where I was picturing my own death but I think that was more due to an overactive imagination than any actual danger.

And then, just when it was getting to the point where I was thinking it would be nice if quarries came equipped with coffee-shops, the guys next to us asked if we wanted a cup of tea!  Tea?  Out in a quarry?  Oh yes.  They had a little stove.  It was good, it was fast.  And they gave us sweet black tea and a slice of madeira cake.

Nice.

Last time I was climbing was in January. I didn’t think I was missing anything by not going, because I’ve had lots of other exciting things to do instead. But yesterday I went for a climb because a couple of friends (R and Ninja1) wanted to go.

Good thing about yesterday’s climb:
- all the serious climbers were climbing outdoors, and all the students were away, so there was lots of space
- Ninja1 picked up the basics quicker than anyone I’ve ever seen, and LOVED it. Nice to see a new convert being so enthusiastic about something you love.
- I got to climb again! And I can still do it! And it still makes me feel good!
- I now have two new belay slaves (oops I mean climbing partners) which means more opportunities for climbing throughout the summer

One of the world’s best natural highs is that feeling you get which is a combination of adrenalin, physical exercise, and the happy feeling of having faced a challenge and overcome it. Oh and being with people who are fun to be with, that is the icing on the adrenalin-cake.

Yippee! Its good to be alive!

Sometimes you need to nearly lose something to appreciate it.

The other week I left my jacket at the climbing centre. This is a jacket I got second-hand, so it wasn’t ever of huge financial value. Then after I bought it, I wasn’t sure I liked it.  Its a muted kahki colour, and usually I’d for jackets that are either colourful themselves, or are dark colours which go well with brigh colours.  But gradually I was beginning to use this jacket, and was beginning to like it, but continued to take it for granted and didn’t really think of it as a favourite.

Then one day I left it at the climbing centre, and didn’t manage to get back to pick it up for over a week.  When I finally got to the climbing centre, they consulted their on-line lost property system (ooh!  An on-line lost property system, you don’t get that everyday!)   According to the system, no lost property had been handed in for a month.  I began to get a sinking feeling.  I’d never see that jacket again.  Just as I began to realise what a good purchase it was, it had been cruelly snatched from me.  Or, more accurately, I had foolishly left it behind on a post-climbing adrenalin high.

Then the nice man at the climbing centre said he’s check the lost property cupboard anyway and see if it happened to be there.  And it was.  Right at the front, looking a little forlorn and chalky but none the worse for its ordeal.

My jacket and I were reunited.  No longer taking it for granted, I spent some quality time with my jacket that evening and again the following day.

And we all lived happily ever after.

Did a lead climbing course today, and at the end of it the instructor got me to have a go at the huge big 6b on the scary wall.  Its the wall that all the serious climbers go on and without his encouragement I’d have stuck with the little flat wall.

And I got 3/4 way up before falling off and it was COOL and falling off wasn’t too scary either.

It was towards closing time and most people who were there were just packing up and ready to go.  So there I was, hanging under an artificial cliff-edge, quaking in fear with what felt like the WHOLE climbing centre cheering me on!  Kind of cool, kind of scary!

DEFINITELY want to try that climb again.

And I thought with lead climbing I could only climb several grades lower than my usual top-roping level, so it was nice to try a 6b and make a good go of it.

Good adrenalin rush.

Rock climbing rocks.

 So far I’ve only really climbed indoors, but its still a LOT of fun. There is a huge amount of satisfaction in climbing a route this week that last week seemed impossible.  Seems I can now climb almost any 6A with confidence, I can get past small overhangs, and have done a few 6Bs.  Yee hah. 

Its the perfect antidote to a sedentary office job!

There was a church lunch on Sunday, nice chance to chat to various different people.  After that, a few of us went for coffee in the Landsdown.  Haven’t been there for ages and we got to sit in the atrium and had the sun STREAMING in through the glass.  It was lovely.

And Monday after work was another trip to the climbing wall.  Managed to do that red 6A that nearly killed me last week, which was a great sense of achievement. 

Also bumped into someone that I met a few weeks ago who’d let me have a go on a ’slack rope’ in Kelvingrove park.  He and some friends had attached some rope (webbing kind of stuff) between two trees and they were practising walking along it.  It was a gorgeous sunny day and the park was full of people relaxing in various different kinds of groups.  After watching from the sidelines for about half an hour finally plucked up the courage to have a go.  (Thanks to C, for encouraging me to give it a go!) I wasn’t very good, but one of the guys gave me some instruction, and the use of a shoulder! What was surprising was that the hardest thing was just getting on it.  It really was very wobbly.

It was one of those idyllic days where it just seemed that everyone in Glasgow was happy, outgoing and adventurous.  I loved the fact I could just join in on someone else’s game, and would have loved to have hung around a bit longer and got a bit better at it… Anyway, that was a long way of saying it was nice to be remembered by someone I only met once, and also nice to be reminded of one of the best days of the summer.

Mmm in fact just thinking about it makes me feel relaxed and happy.  Good stuff does happen, and the world is full of nice people. 

PS the circus thing didn’t happen.  Next chance is the weekend after next…

Really enjoyed climbing last night.  The new shoes are magic and give me superhuman strength.  I can do anything.  Well as long as it doesn’t require upper body strength.

 And on Sunday I’m joining the circus, more on that later.

Today I bought some climbing shoes.  That made me happy.  Haven’t had a chance to use them yet but somehow I imagine that they will give me superhuman strength and I will scale walls as never before.  AND they’re bright blue.  And there was a nice man at the climbing shop who took the time to tell me exactly which shoes were exactly right for me. 

I’ve got a bit of a cold today, head feels kind of foggy.  Was thinking I should have some red wine for medicinal purposes.  But before I got round to opening the wine on my own, my brother phoned and asked if I wanted to go to the pub later.  Drinking in company is SO much better.

So three cheers for brothers, boots and beer!

…even if it is really shoes, wine and brothers, but sometimes alliteration is more important than accuracy..