Went out walking again on Sunday. A last minute idea on Saturday evening. I was run off my feet with things to do at home, but I can always make time to get outside (and I’m, not talking about standing in the garden).

We normally stay close to home, but decided to head out to the Snowdonia national park. After parking the car we followed a path and then a mountain bike track up the hill.

After this, we found ourselves at the foot of a very steep hill. First problem, there wasn’t actually a path, and it was dense heathland. Brian reckons we just march across, so off we go.

It was completely exhausting, but I realised I found the perfect way to get fit !

As we reach the top of the hill, there’s a road. I look back down the hill and take a picture.

With the wind howling, we follow the road, and then head across the tops. Taking a circular rout back down, it becomes very boggy, and my feet are quickly soaking.

Shattered and exhausted, I’m reminded of the Woodsmoke Abo course (here and here) where the joy of something comes after the event, and the actual activity itself is largely insufferable :).

Off the hill, we return to the village of Penmachno and have a drink in the Eagle pub.

A lovely little pub, it is soured by the staggering £3.30 per pint. No matter, the company of walking friends and warmth of the fire make up for it (and a big pile of trail magazine’s to read).

The mantle piece has an interesting statement carved into it: “Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered. There was no-one there.”

Above the mantle, were the original crampons worn in Touching the void by Joe Simpson.

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I’m planning 2 trips to the lakes this year. 1 a sort of holiday, and the other an alpine style trek across the Cumbria way. The inspiration for these trips came from watching a documentary about Wainwright and watching the BBC Tv series, The Wainwrights, where Julia Bradbury does selected excursions from the 7 Wainwright volumes (which took him 13 years of his life to complete).

I’m trying to recruit for the Cumbria way, but I think I’ll probably end up doing it on my own, as a sort of pilgrimage (thanks to Brian and Sue the other evening for their suggestions on accommodation for the trip).

Thinking about solitary adventures, made me think of Wainwrights thoughts. In his 7th volume, he said when he died, he would like his ashes scattered over Inominate Tarn.

In Memoirs of a Fellwalker in 1990 he wrote “All I ask for, at the end is a last long resting place by the side of Inominate Tarn, on Haystacks, where the water gently laps the gravelly shore and the heather blooms and Pillar and Gable keep unfailing watch.

A quiet place, a lonely place. I shall go to it, for the last time, and be carried. Someone who knew me in life will take me and empty me out of a little box and leave me there alone.

And if you, dear reader, should get a bit of grit on your boot as you are crossing Haystacks in the years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me.

Just got back from a superb weekend visit to Munich.

Obviously, a good time was had by all, but drinking a 1 litre Stein glass lead to an unexpected outcome.

My friend Dan, is a regular visitor to this website, and has serialized the events for your viewing pleasure.

 

Ive recently updated the Borneo section of my website. The links are Borneo 1, Borneo 2, Borneo 3

Ive also update the 19 things I like section. The links are Til

Before I write about whats been happening lately, take a look at the picture above.

As you can see, the sign says that the 17.26 train the Llandudno is on time.

Yet I’m waiting for the 16:26 train, its 4 minutes late, and there’s no mention of it. So basically, they just list the train after it as being on time. Whats that about ?

Loads interesting adventures coming up.

Obviously, I’m off to Munich at the end of this week, with Dan and Glenn.

At Easter, Im going camping to Llangollen. Ive also been thinking some more about my trip to the lakes.

One one hand, I want to do a kind of dice man, where I arrive there, maybe rent a car, maybe sleep in a tent, maybe stay in a hotel, whatever I like, a week of pure spontaneity, with some “touristy” peaks in the daytime.

On the other hand, I want to do a “proper” walk. I’ve decided that the Cumbria way looks pretty smart, and by sleeping in Hostels along the way, I can travel light.

On reflection, I cant do all of this in 1 trip, so I’m going to do them as 2 separate trips. If any of this sounds interesting and you want to come along, give me a shout.

I went to a leaving do for Chris and Mel from Unitron the other day. It was the first time I’ve been to the London Bridge in Stockton Heath, and it was a superb pub.

Tmro, my assistant Dan, is attending an Anti Virus seminar. Not just that, but its at Old Trafford, with a tour of the ground included !.

 No much else to tell. On the work front, all of our technical infrastructure stuff is ordered, Its just a matter of waiting for it to arrive.

TV wise, Hustle finished the other evening. Ill miss that show. Ive also started watching something called the Finder. I cant decide if its quirky or cliched, only time will tell.

For the rest of the year, I’m intending to visit Sofia, Tallin and Israel. If your reading this and your interested give me a shout (Ill be giving a talk about my adventures in Lisbon and planning a weekend city visit, at the Chester Globetrotters meeting at Chester museum on the 17th of March).

Near and far, the search for adventure continues…

 

Out at the weekend with the Chester and District Walking Group. A couple of my friends have joined and the newest recruit is Tony G.

Tony doesnt have a lot of outdoor gear, so I lent him some of mine.

As you can see from this picture, there was snow on the ground, which made the adventure all the more photogenic.

Thawing from hillsides like this one very muddy, and I began to regret wearing cross trainers rather than my Karrimore walking boots. I suppose its down to personality’s. I tend to big things up and exagerate. The walk leader Christine, is charming and very level headed.

When she said it was very muddy, my mind converted that into “a bit muddy”. When in reality, she was quite correct, and in places it was horrendous (my poor Merril Moab trainers are ready for the bin).

Additionally, poor Tony sustained a foot injury. It was obvious he couldn’t complete the walk (although he’d done half of it). I saw a loose rock on a nearby drystone wall, and thought of putting him out of his misery so that I could continue the walk with the rest of the group.

I decided that were better than animals, and instead walked back to the car park with him. We weren’t able to join everyone for a drink in the pub, but we had an enthusiastic talk about walking, in the car on the way home.

Finally, a shot of me in my new Rohan walking jacket. I always prefer lightweight thigh length waterproofs in sensible colours, as they can be worn anywhere from an alpine walking holiday, to a day tour of Hong Kong.

My previous jacket (a Haglof) was tragically stolen, but every time I put this one on I like it more and more. You can buy one like it at Rohan.

Reading through the Capetown/Garden Route pages, I’ve decided to make some changes (and spell check !).

New pages: capetown 1, capetown 2, capetown 3.

A lot of people think that people who work in IT departments are nurds and watch Battlestar Galactica all the time (well, its 50% true in my department 🙂 ).

Another common cliche, is that HR people are all touchy/feely, but the boss is always a real bastard.

Well, just to show that isn’t the case, read on.

My company is laid back, but nobody said anything about relaxed. We utterly dominate the markets that we work in. Its supposed to be because of innovation, but I recon its because we try harder than any of our competitors !. Today, we were all busy working on something important, so most of us, didn’t get any time to eat our lunch.

As I came to leave, Pam, our HR Manager (who had been especially stressed), kindly gave me some “Scouse” that her mum had made for her lunch, which she hadnt had chance to eat (for those that don’t know, Scouse is a sort of Liverpudlian Corned beef hash).

I thought this was really kind of her, and thought so all the more, when I got it home (as you can see, I was working at home, and eating my evening meal (normally called T, where I grew up) at my computer).

It really was one of the nicest things I’ve ever eaten, and I’d like to thank Pam (and her mum) for this very kind gesture.

Next time I make Ginger Chicken, I’ll bring some into work for you all.

John

In the pub the other day and Dan was taking the piss (much like every other day, in that respect).

I was lamenting, in an off moment, how once life had been really good, how I’d suffered the dark times. That although life was still very hard and I thought I was doing ok, things could have been easier.

He commented that for someone who proclaimed to be poor, I seemed to have some pretty cool possessions.

It struck me for a moment.  I now posses 2 items of furniture, Ive wanted for more than a decade. When I was very well paid and life was easy, I couldn’t afford them, yet today, having previously seen my salary halved, I own them, both. How did this happen ?.

Necessity is the mother of invention ?. Well fine, but how specifically ?

1. I have always wanted to have a glass topped desk.

This one, wasn’t hard at all. Put simply, I went on an event with work. In the truly beautiful hotel we stayed in, I had a glass topped desk which I worked on with my laptop. I often say, I have stood on table mountain (an event which completed my bluelist ) 500 times. Once in body, and 499 times in my head.

Sitting at that desk, made it real in my mind. After experiencing this, I had focus.

A couple of hours of research (Google) found that the desk could be purchased with artist style supports, for £60, or spectacular ebony supports with in built shelves, for only £104.

£104 !. That’s what it has always cost, but I was so convinced that it was a specialist item,that I convinced myself I could never afford it (and this is me, who lectures other people on limiting beliefs).

As Scully said in the first episode of the X-Files, the answers are there (Moulder), you just need to know where to look.

2. I have always wanted a “proper” wood dining table and chairs.

A friend from work was leaving the UK for a secondment to Australia. I overheard her saying she was “getting rid” of a table. I know what sort of person she is, as I have frequently fixed her computer.

Described as “shabby chic”, I knew that when she said it was “OK” that meant to most ordinary poeple (including me) it would be spectacular.

She needed to sell in a hurry. I couldn’t believe that she would part with it for £30, provided I could pick it up in 48hrs.

Ok, so it could be argued, that this is co-incidence. I don’t agree. It has a more poncy name (which I cant be bothered to look up) but I believe its the Green Renault Megan principle.

So here’s the story. One of the partners at my old firm, attends a breakfast lunch. A motivational speaker, gives his talk, and asks the people present close their eyes, and focus on a Green Renault Megan.

The following week, they come back, and he asks them how the week went (Some of the people present have been in business for more than 40 years). They laugh, and say OK, nice setup. To their mind, there was clearly a special promotion in car showrooms, as there were Green cars of this type on just about every road.

Except that’s not the case. As the speaker says, there are no more Green Megan’s on the read this week, than there have ever been. Its just that now your looking for them.

Never ceases to amaze me that people who set a personal goal are surprised when “co-incidences” occur and opportunities appear. Youve decided to do the Inca Trail, but funds are scarce. “amazingly” your next door neighbor has a suitable rucksack in the loft from his inter-ailing days.

Co-incidence ? Really ?

Once home, I position the table flush to a wall in my house. This means it can only have 3 chairs around it. Another “co-incidence”. My friend Glenn (the largest supplier of antique pine furniture in the country), has 3 really superb chairs of the type I really like. Unfortunately he cant source a 4th chair.

He’s sorry to disappoint me, but because of this, he can reduce the price :).

I was out with the walking group the other Sunday.  A chap I’ve not met before engaged me in conversation. It was clear that he was passionate about gardening. I wanted to engage with him in conversation, but I was in a bit of an odd position.

I love my home, and do everything I can to make it comfortable, but Im a practical sort of guy, and its purely functional.

My friend Tony quite literally built his house. My brother David has an amazing home, that wouldn’t be out of place in the ownership of a millionaire (he and his wife Leigh, take care over every detail, and it shows).

Me, I bought cheap paint from Wilkinson’s to brighten up the place, and paid an unemployed mate to paint it, as I thought I’d get it on the carpet !.

What to say ?.

I had an idea.  My house is 100 years old, it has an original pine staircase and doors and I’ve got 2 or 3 pieces of antique furniture to compliment it. I said that I loved old wooden furniture, and had a few really special pieces I was proud off, then switched the conversation back to gardening.

Later as I was walking on my own (walking groups join and separate like this throughout the day) I started to think more about my Pine Furniture. The Pine mirror above my mantlepiece, was a gift from Glenn for my birthday. Its 150 years old, and I look at at 4 or 5 times each day (I cant help it, I like looking at my own face 🙂

I was reminded of something which happened a few years ago, which made me smile.

My brother and I were in an outdoor shop, and my brother was looking to buy a multi tool, and I a penknife (which I later gave to the excellent Henrik, responsible for setting up this site).

The guy in the shop, was making a pigs ear of the sale, so just for fun, I asked if I could take over, and “sell” the item to my brother.

It was a pretty mellow sort of day, so he agreed. I said simply to my brother. What can you buy out of a months wages and give to someone, which their grandchildren will be able to use practically every day (that’s why, if you’ve received a gift from me, it may well be a Zippo lighter or penknife.

That’s when it hit me. I wasn’t just being pretend empathetic with my walking colleague. I really enjoy being in the room with my pine furniture. It isn’t the prestige that appeals to me (although its clearly there) but genuinely brings me pleasure to be around.

At some point, my collection of pine really has become special to me. For the investment, it will last the rest of my life, and I’ll feel like I’m sat in a room with friends (and for several other people’s, lifetimes after that)

If your interested have a look at Glenn’s website.

 Just before Christmas, I heard about a 1 day New Year Booster course run by Sewells. How could I resist.

So there I was, walking along the Canal towards Christleton, where the event was held.

I had previously attended there Working Miracles course in 2004. How ironic it was, that I should be walking from a house whose purchase and ownership, took form on a goal setting session at this very place.

Took me back. Wandering along, I thought of the original course. Too many amazing things to list, but I left the venue years before with a plan:

What would really make me happy £1,000,000, a Porche ?

Not for me, I decided I would get a job as a travel writer, buy a house in Chester and use my new job to complete a list of places Ive always wanted to see and things I’ve always wanted to do (later to be named a bluelist).

But that didn’t work out, and this is where being flexible and comfortable changing plans comes in.

There are were 5 full time travel writers in the world, with an expense account and enough money to purchase property in Chester city centre

What about, I stick to something I love doing, like fixing computers *1 and building networks. It will challenge me and finance both the house and traveling ?.  As far as becoming a travel journalist, I could make better use of my website and write my own articles (lets face e it, as editor, everything I write will be published. To market it, I would have travel cards printed and give them to interested people I met while adventuring (presently 300 hits per week, from all over the world).

Back to present day.

These guys dont miss a trick. The event kicks of at 9 on the dot, but Bacon Butty’s are available from 8:30 and your are encouraged to get their early so they haven’t all gone.

The demographic of the course had changed since I last did it. Previously there had been web developers, secretaries and the like. This time, there were sales directors, company owners, heads of marketing etc (Director of purchasing at Pilkingtons and the MD and Marketing Director of Slimming world, were 2 that stuck in my mind)

An intensive day, that left me exhausted. We had a superb lunch and I bought a copy of Wills excelent book The Guide.

Obviously, Sewells make a living by selling a unique product, so I wont go into detail about anything that I learned, you’ll have to book on it to find out.

Suffice to say its invigorating to have a sense of purpose and change your perception of yourself.

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*1 note:

I love fixing things. While in hospital, I bought things from the Sunday morning car boot sale in the hospital car park.

I fixed several items including a wireless keyboard and a web cam (my boss wouldn’t let me have my laptop, as I was supposed to be relaxing, but I had my work bag with all of my tools in it ( it was once joked, that if a flying saucer crashed in Chester, there would be enough kit in my bag, to repair it !)).

I repaired items away to relatives of my fellow patients.