After 2 consecutive weekends away packed with adventure, I couldn’t decide what to do with myself…
So I decided to do exactly the same for the following 2 weekends 🙂
In 2003 when things were a bit tough, I decided to do a weekend survival course (with the now defunct UK Survival School).
Looking back, I don’t know what I was thinking.
I mean, if life’s getting you down, how can skinning rabbits for food and sleeping in a shelter of your own creation in the driving rain make things better? 🙂
Honestly, I don’t know, but I reckon that when the cut and thrust of daily life hits you (relationship problems, gas bills, Star Trek Voyager ending…) it’s time to head out in search of adventure and clear your head.
As it was, I had a fantastic time, living in the outdoors, learning new skills, and generally turning off my phone and getting away from it all.
Courses were based out of Talybont on Usk, near Brecon. I did 3 seperate courses there and on one section, on mountain survival, we decided to walk up Pen y Fan.
We got near to the top, but severe weather forced us back.
After my evening meal (fish and rice cooked on the fire) I lay in my survival shelter listening to the rain and feeling uncomfortable (which didn’t bother me, as I realised I love doing that stuff).
I remember knowing that I’d return and get to the top of that hill, although I was uncertain when.
I’m the weekend events co-ordinator for CDWG. We try to have a weekend away every 3 months and an annual fixture is the Easter weekend in Llangollen.
But I got to thinking (well, Nikki did !).
Although I love Llangollen and it’s one of my favourite places to visit, 4 consecutive days off is a bit of a wasted opportunity if you visit somewhere you can reach in a short taxi ride from your own home 🙂
So, I moved the venue to the Brecon beacons, as there are loads of cool mountains around there to climb and Brecon itself, is a popular town with lots of good accommodation and nice bars and restaurants for the evening (it’s not all about walking !)
Good Friday is the day we normally travel to our base destination. Nikki and I had arranged to stay at the Castle Hotel so we got there and checked in, then went out to explore the town.
Brecon is the home of the famous Gurkha Company (Mandalay), who are based at the infantry battle school.
The town of Brecon has a long association with the Gurkha regiment, going back to 1974 and it was practically impossible to buy a drink or newspaper without being greeted by a friendly Nepalese woman who was probably related to someone from the regiment.
Very much in the traditional Rusholme style (basic furnishings, occasional wobbly chair, but genuinely friendly staff and and breathtaking food).
I ordered Khursani Kukhura (Chilli Chicken). It was offered as medium, hot or extra hot. I ordered hot!
It was delicious, but I had to run to the bar twice while eating it, to resupply the cold beer.
As we left, they asked if I enjoyed the food. I said it was excellent, and that I’d like to shake the hand of anyone who could eat it EXTRA hot 🙂
A few drinks in different pubs around the town, then its off to bed, as we’re up in the mountains tomorrow.
Pen y Fan from Cribyn
A delicious breakfast (served by lovely Nepalese ladies, who were no doubt the wives and daughters of serving Gurkha soldiers).
The car was fully loaded the night before with our gear for the day, so all we had to do was procure fresh sandwiches and we were on our way.
We met 4 of our friends at the car park and headed for the hill.
Pen y Fan is internationally famous, as it’s used by the British Special Air Service regiment for selection.
Most details are confidential, but roughly speaking, a person has to carry a rife and a heavy pack over a 42 mile endurance trail, which will see them pass over the mountain and back again 3 times.
We weren’t so ambitious. Our route would be Corn Du, Pen y Fan (from all those years ago) and Cribyn.
Walking up was just as windy as I’d remembered. Corn Du was completed, and we headed for Pen y Fan, which I’d not stood on since 2003.
The top, was like Blackpool; there were so many people there (they had taken the shorter route from the Storey arms), so I’ve put up a photo of it once we’d reached the peak.
An amazing peak, which I’d definitely recommend walking if you’re in the area.
Sue and Aled descending Cribyn
We complete the final peak, Cribyn and the pub is calling, so we head back and I get talking to Sue and Aled.
Albert Einstein said: “Sit with a pretty girl for an hour and it feels like a minute. Put your hand in an oven for a minute and its longer than any hour. That’s relativity. ”
Hill walking is a bit like that. Chatting to good friends, talking about genuinely interesting things and I felt like we were back at the car in 10 minutes (although obviously, my watch said different) 🙂
On the way back, we drive past the White Hart in Talybont on Usk, where we used to go for drinks after survival school courses.
I was delighted to see that Owen still runs it. Took me back, as I’d usually walked into this pub with my rucksack on my back, bedraggled after numerous days in the woods, with my first taste of a pint and a nice piece of steak to bring me back to reality.
That evening, back in Brecon, we all have dinner at the George pub/hotel to celebrate (superb food, but the “band” were just too loud !).
We’d probably have stayed in there all night, but instead, rushed our food and were on our way.
Note to landlords: Yes, a good live band will put people in a good mood and they will drink more. But if they aren’t and they’re too loud, it will just empty your pub.
Our 2nd walk is Fan Brycheiniog the highest peak on the Black mountain (not be be confused with the black mountains, which are also in that area).
In the car park, there seemed to be some sort of company motivational event gearing up.
I was amused by seeing complete strangers, but instantly recognising their “role” in the company (Alan from accounts, the live wire, the pretty receptionist, the 3 times divorced finance manager etc).
Luckily, my distraction is short lived. The excellent Sue P and easily remembered name, Helen H (rhymes with Helly Hansen) were up for adventure. They’re unorthodox walkers.
By that I mean, they bought Nikki a bottle of wine as a thank you for planning and organising the walks. Long may this “unorthodox” practice continue and I hope its spreads.
Another high pass trek, with howling gales.
On the top, we stop for lunch.
A circular dugout, away from the wind has been nabbed by some other walkers, so we find a heath “wall” out of the wind.
An interesting conversation over lunch about women Bishops in the Church of England and then it’s back down the hill, where there are friendly horses all along the trail.
We get back to the car park with pub aspirations.
The spirit of enterprise has left the landlord unfortunately and although it’s a sunny day and the front door’s open, a sign says it won’t officially open for another month. This sets a trend for the next day.
The Castle Hotel
In the evening, with Sue and Aled already gone, Sue and Helen head for home.
We head back to the Castle hotel which has become our home.
When I pop in and ask if they have a table free, they explain they are full. Seeing a table in the room, completely unused, I ask if we could have dinner at that table.
A quick conversation in Chinese, and we’re ushered to the free table.
The last evening of our adventure, Nikki and I share an intimate and pleasant meal.
So what to do tomorrow ?
Brecon is famous for the Black Mountains, which is sometimes confused with the Black Mountain.
The previous day, we’d done the highest peak on the Black Mountain and so today, on our way home we decided to walk in the Black Mountains.
Nikki had found an amazing route called the the Dragon’s Back, which involved several peaks in a winding trail and we were lucky with utterly fantastic weather.
A family were doing the same walk. Luckily, I found this spot behind some rocks to have a wee. Perfectly innocent, but with children around, it’s easy to do something like that and end up on the sex offenders register.
More superb “Nikki” sandwiches and we’re off again, and we’ve reached the top in no time.
We get back from an amazing walk and there is a pub next to the car park.
I wander over to get a drink, before our long journey home; a chap cutting grass in the garden explains that the pub is closed today.
I’m not Richard Branson, but I couldn’t help thinking he’d be better serving pints to the 20 other car park customers and paying someone to cut his grass !
We head for home.
Back home, hot bath and then we go to Artichoke for Sunday roast.
I “transition” from my adventure self, back to my normal, pay the bills turn up on time kind of self (both are essential, the 2nd one might not seem that fun, but he pays for the adventure of the first 1).
On my way to work, I took this picture with my phone.
I always say, never waste a pound or a minute. My train to work is 13 – 15 minutes, so I use the time to think of ideas, make lists and plan stuff.
If I need any data (availability of trains, opening times etc) I use my phone, but otherwise, I just use the notebook and pen. I feel like the blank page is calling to me for ideas.
Friday’s here before you know it, and Nikki and I are having dinner, discussing plans for the weekend.
We’ve arranged to meet my brother. Like Nikki and I, he and Leigh (his wife)Â make the very most of their free time, so the irony is that we struggle to find a time when we can all meet.
But we’ve finally worked something out, and we’re going over the next day.
Nikki and I decide to make the most of a trip to David’s with a day walk. But where?
Ridiculously, the best expert I know on walking in that area, hasn’t lived permanently in the UK for 10 years. It’s my oldest friend Frank.
Frank suggests Ebden Bridge and we decide to walk the Ebden Bridge round.
We arrive early to find a cafe and consult the map to align it with the walk pdf I’d printed out. The village centre is empty of people and it’s starting to rain.
Otherwise though, I’m delighted to see so many familiar places. Frank used to come here each year for his birthday and I was a regular attendee.
The walk begins at Callis community gardens.
Loads of people seem to live here using primitive technology, and I’m delighted to see a Yurt as I walk along the Canal bank.
There were children’s play areas, wind chimes and all sorts of other hippy shit, in a friendly and harmless setting.
As we continue, the walk pursues a long section of the Pennine Way.
It’s a lot steeper than it looks on the map (perhaps you should have been reading it a bit more closely says Nikki).
We continue around, head over pack horse bridges and the like, then something amazing happens.
We arrive at a place called Gibson Mill.
Looks familiar to me, but I can’t think from where.
Then I realise. When my friend Dave married Jen we arrived by an old bus and walked a mile along an old mill road, before they got married in the old mill.
At the time (since I’d been dropped off) I had no idea where I actually was. But then I realise and it instantly brings back happy memories.
We have a nice ice cream and lolly served by a Polish guy, then head back to Hebden Bridge.
The town centre is transformed now, with a busker and the Shoulder of Mutton pub is packed inside and out. There’s a fab vibe everywhere, so I pop in to the Rohan shop.
Our next stop is David’s house.
Chance to catch up with my brother David ( I haven’t been to David’s house in at least a year and it’s great to catch up with him and Leigh and for them to meet Nikki).
We have coffee from this really cool coffee machine, get settled in and then head to Bella Sera restaurant for dinner.
Superb food and good company, but like so often when life is really good, it flies by and before you know it, it’s practically midnight and time for bed.
I should mention that David isn’t a big fan of photos, so didn’t want to be photographed. The picture above, is the lovely Leigh, during David’s 40th birthday. David would like me to point out that he has a more modern TV now.
In the morning, we get to chat over a delicious breakfast cooked by Dave. But we’re all busy people, so by 11am, Nikki and I are back on the road.
We’d intended to visit the War Museum of the North and the Lowry, but because there was a local derby, we headed for home. Just for a change, we watched Gone girl, which we both enjoyed.
The evening finished with another evening in the superb Artichoke. We’re part of the furniture in there, but the food and service make my normal rule of “never become a regular, you’ll be taken for granted” defunct.
One other fab thing, was Dave had been clearing out his loft.
He gave me this brilliant Robot vacuum cleaner. I haven’t had much chance to try it out, but I’ve got spectacular (lazy) plans.
And with that, 2 more adventure weekends are over. Tired, but I’ve enjoyed the very essence of life.
Some people will take the wheel and steer it where they want it to go, and others (the majority) will sit comfortably at the back letting it take them where it will (and when it arrives somewhere they dont like they’ll say that life isn’t fair 🙂
Won’t surprise you to hear, that most of my friends fall into the first category.
Thing is the bus of life, is like flow of life, which you carefully craft in the direction you want it to go.
But like anything that’s ever worthwhile, it requires effort, and we all need to rest sometimes or re-energise. The simple phrase I use for this, is a bolt hole.
I just thought I’d mention one of mine, as an inspirational example.
I work in support and infrastructures, but Moneypenny has an extensive dev team as well (and let me be clear, that dev is short for developer, not deviant as some may think 🙂
Put simply, although they work in IT like me, their interests and profession are entirely different to mine, although we share a common culture.
Each Friday, we go to the Yale Witherspoon in Wrexham. We have a drink (I have a pint) and some nice food.
It isn’t expensive, but a chance to relax, have interesting conversation and touch base in preparation for the weekend (if your interested, you can search this blog to see details of my weekend planner and how it works).
Anyway, I just wanted to take a moment, and thank Wayne, Reggie, Alex, Jamie and the new one for all their help, support and occasional piss taking of me, and see you next Friday 🙂
Date for your diary: Sat 23rd of May, My birthday “outing” in Chester.
Reading the financial managers report for my pension the other day, it listed potential global risks.
A shrinking Chinese economy, tension in Ukraine and a fall in worldwide oil prices were listed.
But that’s not the real problem. There is a sickness in the people of Britain today, something that cuts through every culture, religion and social class.
I’m talking of course, about Ski-ing.
This sport has a veneer of respectability, which cleverly hides sinister and questionable goings on (in a fashion not seen since the days of Jimmy Savile !).
And I know what I’m talking about. I’ve suffered personally at the hands of this snow based jackboot of pastime.
Only the other day, Nikki decided to desert me and waste a week of her time on this futile hobby (made all the worse, by taking 2 of our closest friends with her, Christine and Sue).
So, off to the slopes these “Jihadi brides” headed, and I was left to my own devices for a week.
But not so bad, it allowed me to do some solo projects of my own.
My first project, was to return to Buxton.
I had many happy times there over the years, mostly with my friend Frank Walmsley.
I took the Friday off, and get the early train to Manchester, then another train to Buxton.
Surprisingly, I last got this train 20 years ago, and its just the same.
I worked out a route involving sections of the High Peak and Tissington trails for my journey out (I would be staying the night at Hartington hall youth hostel).
It was fab to be alone with just the trail for company. I was in my element.
It was mostly grey during the day, with occasional spurts of sunshine.
Most importantly, it didn’t rain (which was good, as I’d covered 21 miles by the time I arrived at my destination).
Delightfully, there was a fish and chip van at the village when I arrived, so a warm bag of chips was my reward.
The youth hostel is a beautiful building. Some friends had stayed previously and showed me pictures, so it was on my list of places to stay for this year.
The usual efficient check in at the YHA.
I had some bad experiences last year at Castleton YHA, where some Chinese people thought 2am conversations with all the lights on in the dormitory was acceptable.
For this reason, I opted for my own room. On-suite, with full English breakfast, it all came to £32 for the night which I thought was a real bargain.
Once I’d showered and changed, I headed back into the main building. A couple of pints and a nice beef madras, before I relax with my book and a few more pints.
The staff and other residents were very friendly and I was completely at home.
But I was also exhausted, so away to my bed by 9:30pm.
I eat a breakfast big enough for 3 poeple to prepare me for the day, then rucksack on back, I set off.
A different route back to the centre of Buxton (18 miles, and mostly cycle routes, so a lot flatter).
At 13, Frank and I went camping, and I was introduced to Cold stream farm camp-site.
I’ve been there a few times since, and it always has special memories for me.
My 2nd night, wasn’t as comfortable, but in my little tent, with my kip mat and sleeping bag, I was set up nicely.
A couple of pints and dinner in the town, then back to my tent for some shut eye.
In the morning, I made a cup of coffee on my stove, packed everything away, and headed into town where I had breakfast and got the train home.
Back in my house for 1pm, a hot bath beckons. Overall, a smart little weekend away.
For the next 5 days, I’m back at work in the daytime and catching up with stuff in the house in the evening.
I saw this headline. I really couldn’t care less about Jeremy Clarkson, but ‘Walking adds years to your life’, just confirms something I’ve always believed anyway 🙂
The following weekend, I’m heading for Snowdonia.
I meet Sam and Dave in Wrexham where we have dinner at Elihu Yale (a Witherspoons pub I’ve grown fond of). Apparently, Elihu Yale founded a University in Wrexham, and then later founded the famous University in America.
I have a nice steak and a pint for the unbeatable price of £8, then we set off.
A weekend had been arranged by Birmingham IVC.
They had booked exclusive use of the Snowdon ranger hostel, somewhere I’d always wanted to stay.
Throughout the weekend I was endlessly impressed with how organised they were, with rota’s for cooking and washing up (the hostel is closed at certain times of year and only opened for exclusive hire. In this case, the warden had turned up, unlocked the doors, turned on the power and left us to it!).
Various groups head out the next day. I’ve got clear and exact plans of what I’m going to do.
Last year I’d attempted to walk every route up Snowdon, but failed due to not completing the Watkin path (and indeed a failed attempt in January this year).
So, I set off with Sam and Dave, and we drove to the start of the walk.
The weather was quite horendous. Very near the top, there was a decision about whether we should continue. I saw some people coming down the hill, so it was decided we’d ask them how for to the top, and go from there.
The path had become very hard to follow, and it turned out we were going the wrong way. The lads said they could get us back to the path, but Dave and Sam decided to call it a day.
Left at the path, I set off on my own. Freezing, trousers soaking, with only a cheese sandwich from the Moneypenny canteen to keep me going.
It was only 2k I was told. The first was pretty flat, but the one after was really steep, and at times I was climbing through scree and snow on my hands and knee’s.
A while later, the path I’m on joins the Ryd Du path and I know I’m only 300m from the top.
At the top, I get a quick photo taken, then off down the hill (this time I’m going down the Snowdon Ranger path, which will take me straight to the hostel).
Halfway down, the clouds clear, and I get this view down the hill.
Arriving back at the hostel, Sam and Dave are snoozing. I have some hot chocolate, get a shower, then get an hours sleep.
In the evening, we have another excellent meal, washed down with cans of Tesco lager 🙂
Happy and content, I drift off to sleep.
No clear plans for Sunday, but the weather was very wet again, and there wasn’t much enthusiasm for the walk I wanted to do to Marchlyn Mawr.
Instead, over breakfast we heard from some people (who’d been the day before) that Caernarfon castle was having some building modifications, and because of this, it was free entry.
Off we went, explored the castle for 2 hours, had a pint at the Black Boy pub (amazes me they get away with calling it that) and then head back to Wrexham.
Dave drops me off at the station and 3 minutes later I’m on a train thundering towards Chester.
Later that day, I’m re-united with my darling Nikki (after almost a week, I’ve forgiven her ski-ing foolishness) and we have dinner at Artichoke.
Two adventures over 2 weekends. Not much time for admin and faffing about, but life as its meant to be lived in my opinion.
There’s not much I can say that’s positive about the recent plane crash in the Alps, which has claimed 150 lives.
But I am reminded at moments like this of the teachings of Viktor Frankl.
A survivor of the holocaust, he wrote many papers and books, among them, Man’s search for meaning which has always been an inspiration to me.
I’m not a book reviewer, but in essence, it says: you can’t always control what happens to you, but you can usually control what you do about it.
– And if you cant do that, at least you can control the conclusions you reach from the situation.
There must be people sitting at home saying I’ll never fly again. That’s one conclusion, and they are perfectly entitled to it.
For me, it says life is a rare, short and precious gift. Don’t wast a moment, go out in search of adventure, as you dont know when fate will close its door.
My deepest regrets to the families and loved ones of the 150.
The search for adventure continues (but sometimes at a higher cost than we’d like)…
Ok, when my dining table looks like this, it can mean only one thing
Yes, with the arrival of late march, its adventure season once again (and my adventure gear is out of the cupboard and being prep’d for action).
I’ve done loads of cool things recently which I wanted to write about, but there just wasn’t time to update johnsunter.com (much as I’d like to have done).
Updates will follow shortly (I’ll be taking my laptop away with me, to catch up while travelling.
Nikki’s going ski-ing for a week with 2 of our friends, so that gives me the opportunity to do 2 “rough” trips, we couldn’t really do together.
This weekend I’m off to Buxton where I’ll walk to Hartington hall youth hostel for the first night, then walk back and camp at Cold springs farm for the 2nd (I stayed there frequently as a teenager).
Following weekend, I’m away in Snowdon, and staying at the Snowdon Ranger hostel with my friends Dave and Sam, hopefully completing the Watkin path, and succeeding in last years goal of walking every route up Snowdon.
Weekend after that, Nikki is back, and we have 4 days in the Brecon beacons, doing some iconic mountain walks there with Sue, Aled and various other friends from the walking group.
Overseas projects are already booked for Albania, Corfu and Bruges, with a couple of others in the pipeline.
If you haven’t got anything planned at the moment, feel free to join me, or get cracking and organise something. Adventure won’t wait forever.
Near and far, the search for adventures continues…
One morning at 5am in the morning, I set off for the lake district to collect a sofa which I’d arranged to buy on ebay.
I’d only worked at my new job at Sonova for a few months, and wasn’t very comfortable borrowing the company van, so you can imagine my delight when someone I hardly knew, offered to come with me and pick up the sofa.
We picked up the sofa and drove back to work. Once there, there was a slight problem as the van was needed, so we had to unload the sofa into the warehouse reception temporarily. It took 4 days before I could get it moved, and one of my fondest memories of working at Sonova is seeing the Polish girls very politely sitting on the sofa waiting to clock out and go home.
The person who drove the van, who refused to accept any payment, was the now famous Mithering Gareth.
We’ve been good friends ever since, and I was surprised to hear recently that he’d decided to leave Sonova for pastures new.
Tracy told me there was a surprise leaving party, and asked if I wanted to go. For a friend like that, there was no question.
I arrived early at Tom at 101, and sat chatting to Phil and Lisa. Without any warning, Gareth appeared, said hi and headed for the door.
Turns out it was also a 30th party and Gareth knew all about it.
Loads of Gareths other friends from Sonova and Unitron were there, and many of his former customers had actually flown in from Ireland and the Isle of Man to be there.
My memory of the day was loads of children playing with balloons, and loads of grown men playing with mobile phones, trying to watch the match without being seen.
I gave Gareth a gift of a framed copy of the photo of the sofa. My new boss asked whether Gareth would prefer something like a bottle of whisky, but I knew better 🙂
Whilst doing up my bedroom, I had to take the carpets up ready for the excellent Martin fit the laminate floor.
I was convinced that the telephone cable into my house presented at ground level and the cable I was holding in the bedroom, was an un-needed extension.
Drunk on my own sense of power, I got giddy with the wire cutters. The outcome, I cut off my own internet. Fool.
I needed the external cable moving and Lucy from work helped, by putting these easy to understand points onto the photograph I sent to the window people who’d agreed to fix it.
In the centre of this picture, my old friend Tony, formerly landlord of the Frog & Nightingale, now the Lock Keeper.
Tony (like most people from London) considers swearing a hobby and starts most sentences with F@cking …
I was delighted when he approached me with a plan to introduce some culture into his life, and visit the Angkor Watt in Cambodia.
We sorted out the tickets and visa’s and stuff and here he is, on the ground in Cambodia enjoying himself.
Talking about friends.
Have a look at this photo of me and a few friends having a curry in Frodsham.
Have a look at the woman 3rd from the left.
Now look at this scene from Coronation street, at the woman on the bottom right.
Yes, its the same girl, my Parrot loving friend Maria from IVC.
I’ve been at Moneypenny now for about 7 months.
Its fab, and one of the first projects I had to work on, was to setup a TV in our playroom, with cryptic messages and a countdown timer on it.
It seemed a bit eccentric to me, and a lot like messing about. I was told it was very important (and now I know a bit more about the Moneypenny culture, I know why).
Basic idea, was that on the 7th of February, Moneypenny would have been trading as a company for 15 years.
At the time, this was 138 days away, the the TV above would count down the months, days, hours and minutes until then (an excellent chap who’s now my friend and called Reggie wrote the website).
The idea, is that there would be 15 events to celebrate the 15 years, culminating in one event 15 of 15, which would be the biggest one of all.
Loads of events happened (too many to mention here), but one highlight for me, was to arrive at work and find a crane set up in the car park for everyone to have a go at Bungie jumping.
Months later, and 15 of 15 is announced. It would be an amazing Black Tie evening at the Queens hotel in Chester (only 150m from my house, I couldn’t wait and got my dinner Jacket dry cleaned in earnest).
On the night, I met a few friends for a drink first before heading over, into what nearly became a faux pas.
As I got there, I heard some sort of noisy music being played outside.
Considering how important the evening was, and presuming them to be vagrants, I immediately walked over with the intention of telling them to p1ss off.
As I got there, Ed (one of the company’s directors) asked if I liked the band he’d arranged. Turns out they’re a professional outfit called Karamba Samba and do loads of stuff in Chester.
Once inside, it was “proper” Champagne in lavish surroundings.
I was delighted to be there with all my friends, and the “PA army” we’re all so proud of.
Excellent food, quality wine and cracking music. Can’t have been cheap, but quality usually costs money.
Only low point of the evening, was when the zip on my trousers broke.
But I’m a career engineer – a safety pin from the hotel reception, some creative (and careful)Â fastening and I’m back out enjoying myself.
Later on, awards were announced and people were called to the stage. The announcements were pre-recorded by Marc Silk who’s famous for his work in TV.
I think I’ve done well at Moneypenny, but in 20 years in IT I have had promotions, pay rises and qualifications, but never any kind of award.
So you can imagine my surprise, when I won not 1 but 2 outstanding contribution awards for customer service and going above and beyond (1 of only 2 people in the company to do this).
Chosen and voted for by the very people I help every day.
As I accepted my 2nd award, our managing director Glenn told me how much I was appreciated at Moneypenny (I think he might have thought I was being aloof).
It wasn’t that. It was one of the proudest moments of my career. I was speechless with emotion.
Afterwards our band Incognito kicks in and the room is on its feet.
I find a quiet corner and chat to a few friends. Feeling very satisfied and content, I see off 3 bottles of wine all on my own 🙂
So who actually organised all of this (including hotel bookings, bungie cranes, tea at the Grosvenor…) ?, while keeping everything top secret so it was a special surprise.
A. an event management company ?
B. a 50 year old project manager in a £1200 suit ?
C. Laurence Llewelyn Bowen ?
None of those. Rachel, a capable assistant in our marketing department.
She couldn’t win any awards as she was organising, so here’s one from all of us here at johnsunter.com
That was the best company event that I’ve ever been to by a mile. That’s as simple as I can say it.
This blog entry began with me talking about things that have pride of place in my home.
It’s going to end the same way. Back in my living room, my favourite chair, my TV, fish tank and my wooden blinds.
But what’s on the table in the middle.
Both my Moneypenny awards. Exactly where they belong.
I had a fantastic time, but like so often, it seemed to fly by, and before you know it, its January and I’m back walking to work in the dark.
Its difficult really, as I’ve always suffered from Seasonal effectiveness disorder (ironically, normally called SAD).
I can still function and achieve the same things at this time of the year, it just takes a lot more effort, at a time when most animals are wrapped up warm underground in hibernation.
Still, life’s for living, so lets move on. Speaking of which, here are 2 quotes IÂ heard recently by Sherlock Holmes.
1. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the common places of existence.
2. Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.
Some people ask me why I buy such expensive outdoor gear and clothing.
The truth is, I dont so much now (well not since 2008). The days when I could walk in the Rohan shop and spend £300 are long gone and I’m just as likely to buy £6 jeans from Tesco.
However, there are some things I just won’t compromise on. My boots are Saloman quest 4D, the best I could afford, and my daysack an Rohan volition, extremely high quality and made without compromise.
Amazingly, they both developed small faults recently. The daysack had a jammed zip and one of the rivets came loose on my boots.
The outcome:Â Although 3 and a half years old, The Chester Rohan shop, replaced the daysack with a brand new one, on the spot.
As a Cotswold explore more customer, anything I buy has its guarantee automatically extended to 2 year.
Once again, I pop into the shop and leave with a brand new pair of boots (in this case the mark 2 version which have only been available to buy for 2 weeks).
So, you see spending a bit more with a quality supplier pays dividends in the end.
One other thing. In neither case, did I have to rattle around looking for the receipt. By registering with both suppliers, they have the details of everything I’d purchased and when, right there in the shop !. That’s why I’d always recommend registering for peace of mind.
Sad news.
I recently heard my old friend Gareth (in the centre of this picture, larking about outside my house, when they went to visit Chester races) is leaving Sonova.
The famous “mithering” Gareth is a special kind of mate. Although I dont work for Sonova anymore, I’m genuinely sorry that he’s leaving.
Take care of yourself Gareth, and congratulations to Phil and Lisa, who are getting married soon.
Oh, and my house doesn’t look like that any-more, it has a new front door and new windows 🙂
Speaking of old friends from Sonova.
During Christmas, I took my yearly pilgrimage to Macclesfield to meet up with Lyndsay Lomax.
Regular readers of johnsunter.com will remember we worked together for a while, then she took a job at the head office in Switzerland.
Brilliant catching up, and I got to see a few more pubs in Macclesfield (although I didn’t get to meet generic mum).
As a proud Mancunian, I can remember the days of Madchester (although I will always believe the best music to come out of Manchester was a few years before from the Smiths).
Anyway, I’ve always been proud of my home town, and 2 stories about a particular band (the Happy Mondays) bring a warm feeling to me, as they represent some of the value’s I as a Mancunian try to adhere too.
1. Being offered a recording contract, they were told that their friend Bez (famous for eccentric dancing and presently making anti fracking noises, all those years later) couldn’t be on board with the deal.
This wasn’t like the kind of poncy music scene you have today with 1 direction. This would be the difference between being millionaires or simply being unemployed and making music in your garage. But they said no, and wouldn’t desert their friend. And in the end, they got their way.
2. Sean & Paul Rider (Sean was the lead singer) were in their house on a Sunday afternoon.
Their father was berating them about being failures, saying how he was embarrassed they were his sons and he was ashamed to know them (with a comment about wasting your time playing music in the garage !).
At this, Sean turned to his father and said no dad, your wrong about that. We will be SOMEONE. Then pointing at the TV said, and when we do, we’ll have that guy on the TV appearing with us.
The guy on the TV was the famous Canadian yodeller Carl Denver.
Above is a video of the Happy Mondays performing at GMEX. They paid Carl Denver £30,000 to sing with them, and their dad was in the audience.
Reading in the Chester Chronicle (I only ever read it in the takeaway, there’s only so many school gymnastic displays I can be bothered to read about).
In operation Blue Christmas, Chester police targeted 300 key offenders. In a slightly sarcastic (but effective) way, they had Christmas cards printed for potential criminals.
They showed the picture above, wished them Happy Christmas and explained that if they didn’t behave, that’s what their Christmas dinner would like like, from inside a cell.
Better still, they were individually hand delivered by the local police officer.
My council tax paid for that, and honestly I think its one of the best things they’ve ever done with the money :).
Apparently, crime over Christmas was at a record low !.
I’ve put this picture up from Christmas day.
I know that you can get dvd’s of fish, that make your tv look like a fish tank.
The problem with dvd’s that try to turn your tv into a fireplace, is who exactly has a fireplace halfway up with wall ?
I’ve been working on the house a lot, and in the evening, studying loads of new computer skills.
But, all work and no play makes John a dull boy (and that would never do).
So, I was delighted the other evening, to have dinner at Tropiero.
Its a Brazilian restaurant, they have a massive salad bar, and all the quality cuts of meat you can eat.
Washed down with fine red wine, what a superb evening.
One thing I find awful at the moment. At the end of a meal, I have to ask people if they get to keep the tips or if they just go in the till.
I can’t believe that someone can run an establishment and think that’s fair ?
Well, bags of adventure planned for this year, and a final planning meeting, this coming Friday.
One thing I’m especially looking forward too, is visiting Scotland.
The picture above is taken from the James Bond film Skyfall.
I’ve actually managed to find out the exact GPS location of this picture, and I’m going to be sure and visit it and take a picture.
And just to show that adventure isn’t always fun.
This is a picture of me on Snowdon last Sunday.
The weather was absolutely appalling. We soldiered on, but once we got above the col, the wind speeds were 60 mph.
Since we were already cold and wet, the wind chill made for a potentially dangerous combination, and I had to lead everyone back.
Very frustrating, as according to the GPS we were only a quarter of a mile from the top (we were walking the Watkin path).
No matter, better safe than sorry, back down the hill, we were drinking warm coffee in Capel Curig shortly afterwards.
I’d like to thank Pete, Astrid and Christine for coming along, and making it fun all the same.
Especially, I’d like to thank Nikki.
She must surely question the wisdom of some of my hair brained schemes, but always supports me.
On this occasion, driving everyone to the mountain, and marching around in the driving rain, without a single complaint.
OK, so I can’t really light candles with my fingers.
I can however achieve pretty amazing things, by simply planning and writing down what I want to happen.
It’s Christmas eve and I’m reviewing my mindmap (I do one each year, with various goals and projects for the year and once its complete, I’ll finalise the new one for 2015).
I’m struck by what a superb year its been. Hard to choose, but I think the years 5 most significant achievements were…
Nikki – I celebrated my 2nd year together with Nikki. I’m as happy today as the first evening we went out as a couple.
House – Has new doors, windows & a new boiler. It’s also had loads of decorating and laminate flooring. More work to do, but it looks the way it always should have.
Moneypenny – Changed job. Happy at Phonak, but learned in 2008 what happens when you don’t continually adapt and change (think surfboard and big wave 🙂
Cuba – Only 1 overseas trip this year, but what a trip. A return to long haul touring with 2 weeks in Cuba where I saw the whole country.
Medical – I’ve sorted out my knee and polycythaema.
I also realised that there were loads of things on a “should have done by now” or “I really should do that/go there again” list:
Wepre Woods
Background: It was a Monday morning in 2006 and I was at my desk in Morris & Co, when a girl I worked with called Angie came in.
I asked her if she’d had a nice weekend, and she told me she’d spent the afternoon with her boyfriend walking around Wepre Woods and that it was a great place to go walking and explore.
A seed was planted and I decided I wanted to go.
Goal: To visit Wepre woods and go exploring.
Outcome: Success. I lead a walk there with the Chester and District Walking group.
It was quite a challenge, as the walk was expected to be 8 miles long, and Wepre Woods is only a mile according to Ordnance Survey !.
I completed it by doing a wide circle and zig zagging. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day, and it was as lovely as Angie had said all those years ago.
The Monsal Trail
Background: Before Frank settled in Thailand in 2005 we used to go walking regularly, and he loved Derbyshire.
The Monsal Trail and the Limestone Way were his favourites. The Monsal trail followed the path of a disused railway line from Buxton to Bakewell. All the tunnels were closed in 1967 so the path snaked over hills and under viaducts.
May 2011 – the tunnels are re-opened and for the first time in almost 50 years you could walk the original route.
Goal: To walk the full length of the Monsal trail, recapturing old times and exploring a route relatively few people have experienced.
Outcome: Success. With a possy of women and Nikki at the wheel we head for Buxton, complete the walk and get the bus back to the car.
Sadly, I have to say I enjoyed the “mountain” version of the walk more, but I only know that now that I’ve done the “rail” route.
Solo hostelling and walking around Castleton.
Background:Â Brian and I attended the YHA AGM at Castleton, their flagship Youth hostel.
Got me thinking how fun it would be to just jump on a train, travel to the peak district, do some walking and try out the youth hostel.
I’ve stayed in youth hostels before, but usually with friends in our own dorm, not really as a solo traveler. I wanted to try it, as I was struck most by how much freedom, travelling like this would provide.
Goal: Do 2 days walking around Castleton and stay over in the youth hostel with pie and chips in a local pub for dinner.
Outcome: Success. Train to Bamford, 21 miles walking (including standadge edge) in appalling weather but fantastic scenery.
Youth hostel was lovely. Got showered and changed, and then pint and Steak and Ale pie in a pub in the town centre.
Retired to bed, annoying Chinese tourist’s kept me awake most of the night talking and turning lights on. More walking next day, then train home.
Complete all 9 of the hills from Julie Bredbury’s Wainwright walks series.
Background: In the basement of Cotswalds Chester, I was looking for outdoor things for a trip I was doing.
A dvd was on at the time, Julia Bredbury talking about a hill called Catbells in the lake district.
When I got home I googled it, and realised it formed part of a series of programes she’d made about Alfred Wainwright and his quest to map and walk the lakeland fells.
Over 2 series, she visited 9 fells and mountains, and I put them in a list to complete. I did 2 last year, and this year I was going to complete them all. Instead of the Wainwrights, I called them the Julia’s.
Goal: To climb all 7 of the remaining peaks.
Outcome: Fail. After visiting the lakes 4 times this year, I’ve done them all except Castle Crag. Top of the list for 2015.
Climb Haystacks and visit Inominate tarn, the final resting place of Alfred Wainwright.
Background: While watching Julia Bredbury’s Wainwright Walks, it mentioned Wainwright’s last wishes.
In his book he’d described how someone who knew him in life, should scatter his ashes over inominate tarn near a fell called Haystacks.
I was going on a hostelling weekend to Derwent water so decided I’d go walking on my own, and go there on my way to Pillar.
Goal: Pay my respects at Inominate tarn, and stand on the top of Haystacks.
Outcome: Success. Visited the tarn and stood on both peaks of Haystacks.
A visit to the Eden project and fish & chips from Rich Steine’s famous chippy.
Background: After seeing it featured in the James Bond film Die another day, I was determined to go and see the Eden project…
… and 10 years later I still hadn’t been. I’d heard that Rick Stein had a chippy in the area so while there, I wanted to try his fish and chips.
We’d received a wine tasting event at a vinyard in Cornwall as a Christmas gift, so it made sense spend a few days camping in the area and put it all together.
Goal: Spend the day at the Eden project and eat fish & chips from Rick Stein’s chippy.
Outcome: Success – Eden project was quite simply amazing and I would recommend it to everyone. Fish & chips were a little expensive, but divine.
Were going back to Cornwall camping next year, it was that good.
Have a pint at Pen Y Gwryd.
Background: A magazine I receive from Rohan told the story of Pen Y Gwryd hotel in Snowdonia and its place in history.
The first ascent of Everest had been planned here.
The mountaineers spent long evenings organising their trip and in the daytime did lots of fitness/training walks around the area.
Still open to this day, its a living museum of the golden age of mountaineering.
I’d unwittingly driven past it dozens of times and never realised.
Nikki and I were off to climb Tryfan, and I was determined to pay a visit whilst there.
Goal: Have a pint and soak up the atmosphere of Pen Y Gwryd.
Outcome: Success. I sat in the famous boot room. The pint wasn’t bad either.
 Complete all 6 routes up Snowdon.
Background: I’ve climbed/walked Snowdon (highest mountain in Wales) on numerous occasions.
I decided this year, I would make a point of walking up all 6 recognised routes.
Goal: To stand on the top of Snowdon, having ascended it by all 6 routes.
Outcome: Fail. I did 5, but failed to complete the Watkin path.
Stand on Kinder Scout – highest mountain in the peak district.
Background: After being a keen hill walker for over 30 years, how can it be that I’ve never been to Kinder Scout.
Kinder Scout is the highest peak in the peak district and the location of the famous mass trespass which led to the foundation of the National Trust.
Goal: To stand on top of Kinder Scout.
Outcome: Success. With a few friends from the walking group, we spend a day out walking and reach the summit.
It seemed such a perfect spot, I decided I’d go back there at some point and climb to the top of it.
Couple of years later, Nikki ends up leading a walk there. Challenge accepted.
Goal: To stand on top of Tryfan.
Outcome: Success. Its quite a hard slog, but we all get to the top.
We even made the most of the weekend, by having a camping trip to Beddgelert.
Visit Greenfield, my childhood adventure playground.
Background: As a lad, I spent frequent day trips and weekends camping to a place near Oldham, called Greenfields.
It’s full of childhood memories and I’d always been determined to back there.
New Years eve 2012 visit to Patterdale Youth Hostel and a chance copy of a walking magazine with an article about it spurs me on.
Goal: To visit Greenfield and have some lunch in the forest.
Outcome: Success. I spend the day there, with spectacular weather.
Get my own dinner jacket.
Background: I’ve been to several black tie dinners over the years.
I’ve usually rented the clothes and everything, and after a time, I thought I really should buy my own stuff.
Not just that, but once purchased, I wanted to take it for a test drive.
Goal: Buy a dinner jacket and wear it to an event.
Outcome: I get a cracking suit by M&S on ebay for £10. I get the other bits and pieces and attend a charity dinner organised by Rowson Digital.
Go to Frodsham for a curry and a few pints.
Background: Frodsham is a place about 10 minutes from Chester on the train.
Its a place I visit frequently, as its hills, fields and forests make for great walking walking.
Additionally, Frodsham has some great pubs, and some great places to eat.
I’ve always felt it would make a brilliant venue for a sort of Saturday afternoon “few pints and a curry” of the kind we used to do back home in Manchester.
What do you know, those adventure hounds at IVC organise one in complete isolation, and I’m invited.
Goal: I spend a Saturday around the pubs in Frodsham and then have a nice curry to finish off.
Outcome: Success. Its that good that I decide I’m going to do it every summer from now on.
Scramble Crib Goch.
Background: I’d always wanted to walk/scramble Crib Goch.
All of my friends have done it (although I’d later find out, it was more than 20 years ago for most of them !) and its a piece of real mountaineering, relatively on the doorstep.
Goal: To complete the Crib Goch walk from the Youth Hostel to the Summit of Snowdon.
Outcome: Fail. The intel I used wasn’t very accurate. Although the weather was superb, due to poor logistics (buses) we didn’t start the walk until 1 in the afternoon).
Its on next years list, and I’m going to do it this time.
Climb Helvelyn.
Background: A classic lake district walk, which for 15 years had evaded me. This year I was determined to crack it.
Goal: To stand on the top of Helvelyn.
Outcome: Success. A bit easier than I thought, just got in front of a single group of 40 people, otherwise would have taken 3 hours longer.
Looking forward to joining some of you in 2015’s adventures.
After much procrastination, 3 and a half years ago, I finally attended a walk organised by the Chester and District Walking group.
Not long after I became a full member, and since then I’ve joined the committee as weekend events co-ordinator. It also enabled me to meet/make some great friends and meet the love of my life Nikki.
As well as a varied list of activities throughout the year, there are 3 annual events which the group organise.
The walk the walls summer pub crawl, the Christmas curry and the Christmas weekend away.
This year it was my 4th Christmas weekend away, and I was really looking forward to it.
Nikki and I took Friday off, and decided to head out early and do a walk on our own on the Friday, before meeting up with everyone in the evening to start the event “proper”.
As we drove up, we stopped at the motorway services for coffee and to buy a map. Annoyingly, the only OS maps that they had were for the lake district.
No put off, we continued on. When it came to doing the walk, we had a description of the walk with colour photographs (far from ideal) and as the route constantly referred to compass points.
We didn’t have my Suunto compass, so we ended up using this small thing from my first aid kit (connected to a torch and whistle for emergency’s).
We experienced all 4 seasons in the 4 hours we were on the hill and had to keep our wits about us, so as not to get lost.
In the end, we completed the walk and I was quite proud of our improvised navigation technique stalwart composure.
The picture above is our “equipment” and the one above, is me at the top of Pendle Hill (exhausted after being pelted with hale).
We arrived at the hostel and got organised.
We had 2 nights there, the first night we would be dining in the local pub, the following night having Christmas dinner together in the hostel.
Malham is quite a small village, so we headed for the Lister arms. Food and drink were superb, if the £4.70 per pint was a little expensive.
We had dinner with Dave and Amanda and an unfortunate incident where I fell over a cushion, before we had back to the hostel and off to bed.
Although I’m 6 foot 1, and theyre completely impractical, there’s something rather exciting and romantic about bunk beds 🙂
The following morning, after a cooked breakfast, we head off.
I spent the morning catching up with old friends, and before you know it, were at a waterfall known as Janet’s Foss.
In this picture, the excellent Amanda (of Dave and Amanda fame) and “none-weedy” Ray are present. NWR was discussing doing an organised walking trip to Morocco, and having been there twice I was able to assist.
A while later, we arrive at Gordale scar.
It was one of those Eureka moments for me.
Realising the only way to get through it, is to climb up or around a waterfall, I realise I’ve been here more than 20 years ago with with Fairbridge Drake.
I’d actually climbed up the waterfall in the pouring rain then. I had no interest today, as I posses a brain now, unlike 20 years ago, and a simple fall onto rocks could easily break bones.
In those days, I just got in the van, and they drove us to the countryside so I would have had no idea where I was.
A few people attempt it. In the end, my mate “Alpha male” Dave succeeds (and in doing so, strands himself from the rest of the group for the next 2 hours 🙂
We follow a different route, around over a hill and have some coffee.
On the final leg of our walk, heading for Malham Cove, we find the National Trust have setup tents to have a Carol service.
A few pork pies and mulled wine are purchased by the group (we’re nice people and we like to help charity’s and the local economy).
Finaly a view of Malham cove from the bottom (we’d had a break for lunch at the top).
Bad weather had been predicted for the day, so Graham (the outgoing Chair who organised the weekend and lead the walk) had arranged for a fairly short walk of just a couple of hours.
Which meant that we got back for about 2pm.
I thought it was nice to sit by an open fire and relax with friends for the afternoon.
This picture was taken by accident, but as the pints filled me up and the afternoon wore on, it reflects pretty much what I could actually see 🙂
In the evening, we had our Christmas meal, Secret Santa and I laughed and chatted with my friends into the night.
The following day, full English again. After some initial messing about, we got out.
An initial conversation about Peny Ghent didn’t stick, as people wanted to walk straight from the hostel.
Everyone expected the weather to be foul, but despite mud underfoot, the sun came out.
At one point, we walked through a field which was awful. Thinking aloud, I commented “what a bedraggled piece of sh1t field this is”. As I looked around, all my friends were laughing.
We stopped at a little cafe in the village which “encouraged” muddy boots (which is different, as most places only “allow” muddy boots).
We had cake and some nice coffee, before heading home about 2. Bath and drinks, then dinner in Artichoke to wrap up a brilliant weekend.
Thanks for Graham and Jo for organising. Another fab year, and I can’t wait for Christmas 2015.
