Climbing a Grade 5 - Attempt No 1

The sunset over Bowles rocks yesterday evening. The colours were more spectacular in real life, my photo taking has let it down.

So item no.52 on my list is to climb a grade 5 route. Climbers reading this may notice I have been deliberately vague :)

I haven't specified indoors or outdoors. I haven't specified grade 5a, 5b or 5c (they get progressively harder, after 5c it goes to 6a). I haven't specified if I have to climb it in one go, if I slip off, but then go back to the same point and climb it again, or rest on the rope does that count?

Basically the answer is I havent decided yet! To complete, in any shape or form, a 5a/b/c wil be such an achievement and show a marked improvement since I started climbing nearly a year and a half ago. And thats really what this item is about. To get better.

Yesterday, I made a very good attempt at a grade 5a at Harrisons. I fell off, but re-did the move and carried on. Unfortunately I also couldnt quite get over the top. I was so tired from the effort of getting there, and also for the last push there is only one point of contact. You have one good foot hold but there is nowhere for the other foot and nothing except flat rock to balance your hands against...

It has reminded me I need to BMF properly to increase my overall strength and fitness again.

Work In Progress

Thanks to the help of my fantastic brother I started work on 4 items on the list last night!

We have our socialising down to a fine art now. I instruct him on when and where to turn up, and what he needs to bring, and what job he will be doing for me and what the reward is!

So last night he dutifully turned up after work and was fed pork with cider and mustard sauce and crushed new potatos which is the first of 12 new recipes I'm going to cook over 12 months (Item 90).

We then headed off to visit our elderly relative, and she was so delighted to see us I was pleased we'd made the effort. (Item 27).

Back at my flat Graham began my guitar lessons. He knows an awful lot and I wish I could remember more of it today, but the thing I do remember is that holding chords down really hurts your fingers! I think this is going to be harder than I anticipated, but it was quite fun, and I hope we do it again soon. I must practise the chords I learnt and see if I can get a bit better at moving from one to another, currently there is a 30 second pause while I say "ummmmm..... oh yes! No... thats not quite right...." which is not good enough! Still good progress for a first attempt I feel! (Item 50)

Graham is also going to keep an eye out for a black and white film for me (Item 48). I had assumed I'd have one to hire on my BT Vision, but it seems I don't, and Graham thinks he can find one in the sale for nearly the same price as rental, so hopefully one will come up soon, I really need to get something else crossed off the list!

Item 31

11 days into the 1001 and I have completed my first item which is this blog.

I must admit I have had a little (ok, quite a lot) of help from my personal IT help desk. It was quite a lot harder than I thought!

I'm pleased to have got something crossed off the list. Right, better pick something else to work on now...