Felt like a change for this weekend, and I decided to join the Hiking club for a weekend trip to Wasdale. Set off from the underpass at 8.30ish and arrived in Wasdale at 10.00. Put tents up and had a chat about where people wanted to go. Ended up going up Black Sail pass, over looking stead, and traversing across and up to Pillar. The views down to Ennerdale and Black Sail hut, and across to Red Pike, High Stile and along the ridge to Haystacks were spectacular, the conditions were perfect although the snow was hardly in winter conditions for any serious crampon and ice axe usage. On top of Pillar, it began to get dark, and as we headed for Scoat Fell a particularly amazing sunset set on. Followed the ridge round to Red Pike and Stirrup Crag where we had a food break. Suddenly realising the ground was moving; we looked down and saw the ground moving in waves! We came to the conclusion that we were standing on a semi-frozen mud bog where the top was frozen and the mud was moving beneath us when we stood on it ... was quite amazing how much this thing was moving! Carried on to Yewbarrow then came off the hill and walked back along the road to the campsite ... and the pub. It was pretty cold that night, and I was glad of my cosy down sleeping bag.
The next day, we walked up to Great Gable, and headed up Scafell way, joining the Corridor route, and nipping up to Lingmell before summiting Scafell Pike.
Drove back to campus, where Alex got on the roof for the drive through campus. I must remember to give the hiking club back there tent, which is still in my kitchen. All in all, was a good weekend, met a lot of new people. Must go out with the Hiking club again at some point.

ONCE-UPON-A-TIME RACH AND CLAIRE CAME TO VISIT =P

This week has been pretty hectic, I’ve not had much work to do as of yet in these modules, and no practices in the afternoons, so I’ve been spending allot of time doing ether thing.

Monday night, got back from karate and met Lindsay, went back to mine to watch pride and prejudice and eat cake, we were both so tired though so we cut the night short at about 10:30 and went to bed. Tuesday night I, Lindsey, Amy, Struggles, Matt and a few others had a kitchen / film party at Lindsey’s. Ending up watching Moulin Rouge, then part of the Lion King, then Euro Trip! (Which I’m not a fan of). Me and Amy had a go at table wrestling round tables at some point and I got confused when I thought it had too many legs ... fan was also had spinning round the room on a desk chair. Most people left at 1ish, and me and Matt left at 2ish, or rather I left and dragged Matt with me.

Wednesday was a nice sunny day, a good day for a climb, so that what we did. I and Matt sweet-talked Rachel into driving us there and she really enjoyed the climbing too! Went to Trowbarrow where we did a few routed before it got dark including ‘Jomo’. Wednesday night, me and Amy were scared about going to Karate as sensei Frank Brennan was teaching ... a 7th Dan black belt. Wasn’t too bad in the end.

Thurday went to another meeting about going abroad and I spent most of that night looking at Colorado, Calgary, Ontario and Iceland universities ... still undecided.

Rach and Claire came on Friday for the weekend. We put up the bed and did the Lancaster campus tour, bought allot of cake, and then went back to make potato wedges, which took hours ... it was really late by the time we got to watching films and eating excessively! Stayed up late into the night talking as usual. Got up the next morning or rather Rach and Claire climbed into my bed with me ... made breakfast and got the bus to the station. The plan was to go to Ambleside for a walk, but the train was rather expensive and to we decided to explore Lancaster instead! Ended up at the tourist info! Then went for an adventure in historical Lancaster, where we made a friend on the bridge! Old man Boris ... Old man Boris told us how he built part of Lancaster uni when he was 16 and kept waring us about the ‘Bad lads in Lancaster!’ at some point during this convo I dropped my camera batteries over the bridge ... don’t know how that happened exactly! We chatted for about 10mins then he suddenly said, ‘I once went to B&Q and a man in an orange boiler suite asked me if I needed decking ... I only wanted some screw drivers!!!’ then he walked off. Anyway, we had fun navigating around Lancaster and going in River Island in waking boots!

Made a mess (pancakes) when we got back, then got ready to go out and watched Claries ‘LIPA’ DVD’s and watched the sing along version of Hairspray (and sang along). Had problems with the shower which was flooded and transformed into a wet room. Also I had issues getting dressed, as I’ve put weight on since I’ve been at uni and half my clothes don’t fit!! I have now decided to do something about it as I am also a stone heavier than this time last year!! Went round to Matt’s for a few mins before we went out because Rachel wanted to take pictures of his kitchen. Ended up in Toast and Elements where I scared off a stalker by yabbering on about geology and climbing ... hehe ... got in about 3ish, had a toast feast and went strait to sleep. When to see the lights in Lancaster the next evening ... was luminous.

RACHEL’S 19TH AND CHESTER ZOO!

Yes ... a 19th birthday spent at Chester zoo!

Got on the train after my 9:00am exam, Dad picked me up from the station, and headed back to Southport. Spent late Friday night sorting out stuff for going abroad with my dad and looking into ML’s and SPA’s and an appealing navigation course run by Andy Brown.

Went down to the climbing wall on friday night to sort out my D of E service with Jenny. Woke up Saturday morning extremely disoriented, thought I was still at uni, only to wake up not even in my room at home, but in the spear room as mine is being decorated! Make a cooked breakfast for me and Vicky, and then we headed into town to find her some new jeans and to get me a hat. Met Mum at cafe Matisse at 1:15, then went to the cinema to see High School Musical 3, much to Vicky’s embarrassment when I started singing along (having downloaded the album before the film came out!) ran into a few old friends from Dancing, and chatted for a while.

Went to Rachel’s for about 8.15, and had a good re-union and got excited about going on holiday in the summer! Emma came later and brought ‘You’ve Got Mail’, one of my fav classic films (although we never got around to watching it really). We stayed up late that night.

Met everyone the next morning at 9:00 at Elim. Jon and David were driving me, Emma, Rach, Claire, Eddy, Hannah and Nicole (meeting Bex there) to Chester zoo!!

David got confused when the ‘reliable’ sat-nav told us to ‘take the 1st exit’ at an imaginary roundabout! Finally got there, and I got the camera out as usual. Headed for the cafe and got a chocolate muffin and a hot choc. It rained for most of the day, but fun was had by all, especially when watching the elephants ... (private joke).

I didn’t have fun in the bat cave and Jon had to hold on to me when a bat flew across us, I panicked mistaking the bobble on top of my new hat, for a bat!Got some lunch, then me Rach, Emma, and Bex went for a last look around in the rain while Jon and Claire went to the gift shop and the others had gone home for band practice. Got very sleepy on the way home in the car. Rach fell asleep and I used my scarf as a blanket across her, Claire and me =]

Jon did a good job driving through all the road works on the m-way on the way back, but it gave us chance to talk over a summer holiday trip! Thinking of getting a cottage somewhere for a week or 10 days, chilling, and having some adventures perhaps. Also planning a tips to Wales at some point, and a 20’s party at Christmas, not to mention the annual secret Santa day and new years eve party at Bex’s and Adam’s!! So many good times to come ... =]

Got back to uni a few hours ago, stocked up my cupboard with food and put up my pics on my wall. Matt came to pick up some food from his parents and then I wrote this blog! New modules starting tomorrow ... I may do some work this time ... and do some exercise too ... maybe ... =]

ULTIMATE NIGHT! ARRRRGH!!!!

Ultimate night is the mountaineering club’s social event of the year! I can see why! With the dressing up, stupid games and free stuff, it certainly was a night to remember ... the ‘ultimate night!’

Got to Lindsey’s at 7:00 with Lindsey, jojo and struggles already there (Mark appeared later). Got our pirate gear on, and after spending 20mins trying to fasten my waist-coat, decided I needed to do some exercise in the coming weeks! My flat mates had helped me make a sword earlier in the week, and I was in full pirate mode! ARRRGH!!!

Got on the bus and accused the driver at sword point of ‘steelin me treasure!’ thought up rank names on the bus and harassed everyone. Jumped off the bus in town only to run into international rescue!!! The THUNDERBIRDS!!!

After getting our sheets from ultimate outdoors, we began to go from pub to pub, from bar to bar, club to club, completing idiotic challenge after idiotic challenge (and doing pretty damn well I might add!). One included someone belaying a chalk bad with a pint in it up the bar and someone trying to (and succeeding with minor spillage) to drink it! At other times people were blind folded and chalk balls were thrown, chalk feet prints were left by Mark all the way to the next bar I think.

We had the knack for getting completely hopelessly lost in-between almost every bar, not helped by the fact that we insisted on running everywhere to get there faster and win! Got separated somewhere down Lancaster in-between the last bar and the canal.

By 10:30, most groups were at the last bar, had a while to chat to people, and I managed to start a bit of an ice cube fight with the ice cubes I stole from the last challenge (I have a thing for ice cubes for anyone that doesn’t know!). Points were added up, and we came 3rd!! Winning a nice rucksack, and lots of free stuff inside it. Lost of other free stuff was thrown at us during the course of the night too!

Decided to head back about 11.30 as me, Lindsey, Struggles, Mark and Matt had a 9:00am exam the next morning! After waiting a while for a bus we worked out they had stopped, and got a taxi. On the way back, Matt discovered his rucksack did indeed have two straps (a concept he had been struggling with for the last hour much to the amusement of everyone else). We stopped for a quick climb up the back of spar, and struggles got electrocuted by putting his hand fully into the light! Back to Lindsey’s to collect stuff then we headed back to our flats.

Certain people still had blue faces in the morning after being ‘smurfed’ by some blue smurfs. We were all pretty tired after going home at 2:00, only to panic and start revising! Exam went ok, just hope I’ve got the 60% I need to go abroad next year!

Bassenthwaite weekend

Packed everything up the night before in my new POD black ice rucksack and met everyone down at the underpass at 5.30 after an interesting maths lesson with Struggles Matt and Rachel in which the only thing I learnt was that Pizzeta was 15m to the right of the room. Along with my POD I had bought a few dry bags, chalk bag and chalk from ultimate outdoors 20% off night. I must have que'd up 4 times, and we all had to go to the pub after to recover.

Set off in the mini bus and I fell asleep straight away, arrived at 7.15ish, me and fran claimed a corner of the room, unpacked, chatted etc .... Anna and others on the exec did most of the cooking and cottage pie was on the menu for the first night. Was upset by the lack of gravy but otherwise it was amazing. Woke up early at 7.30 to the sound of Anna shouting BREAKFAST! NOW! Soon we were all packed up and everyone on the ropes course headed for Sheppard Crags. Andy Brown took the course, (who I already know from snow and ice) and despite the horrendous weather, we all had a good day. I think I ended up helping out more that being helped on that day. I fixed some gear at the top of a pitch, taught people how to abseil with a prussic and how to belay with an Italian hitch etc ... we were all glad to get to the cafe at the end I think! Had a chat to Andy back at the hall and I’m thinking about doing my ML and one day SPA. Ill have to get in some serious lead climbing and practice my navigation skills though!

That night, me fran, Lindsey, mark, struggles and a few others helped out in the kitchen, the night then proceeded to table wrestling, wall climbing and cardboard box snogging well demonstraited by Matt. Amy now had some impressive bruises. Got up very confused on the Sunday as the clocks had, or were supposed to go back! Anna forgot to change her clock and got up to make breakfast at 6! Due to the rain over the last few days, we couldn’t get down some roads as they were policed off. Ended up in Keswick car park, then ... the mini bus door fell off! (Sort of). As a result I ended up spending allot of money in ultimate outdoors on quick draws and almost buying a hat in needle sports. We all got to Keswick climbing wall at about 1ish and had a good boulder around for a few hours. The other group got there allot later as they had had an epic journey in Borrowdale trying to rescue 2 ropes ... getting two others stuck in the process, but all was rescued in the end. All in all it was a good weekend ... although with less climbing than expected.

‘QUICK-DRAW BAR CRAWL’ AND OTHER DANGEROUS ACTIVITIES’

Had our first fiend tips to Kingsdale vally to see some terminal morains, glacial erratics and EUGENE THE UNCONFORMITY (an old friend of mine and Becky's) was a good day in all apart from not being able to open the mini bus when it started raining when we got back.

Met up with the rest of LUMC in Cartmel bar, put my harness on ... for we were going on a bar crawl with a difference. Attached myself to Craig with a quick-draw and ordered drinks. The aim of the game was for each pair to go round so many of the bars on campus, having a drink at each bar, and collecting a sticker to decorate a stick – climber. First pair back to Pendle bar were the proud owners of new chalk bags! We set off at a run from Cartmel for Lonsdale ... both amazed at how well I could run in heals. Quick drink at Lonsdale bar and off to grad bar, a few shots later we sprinted to Pendle bar where we got caught by some of the exec ... and missed coming 1st by about 10 seconds, loosing to Matt and his partner.
For the next few hours, we visited all the other bars on campus (attached to each other) ... a few trees got in the way, some railings too! A few manged to attempt climbing up the overhang at the back of Spar before heading to county bar for a drinking race. Fresher’s against the exec ... we lost. At some point me and fran went back to hers for cheese on toast ... bringing some back for Andy of course! Ended up in the sugar house at about 12ish and stupidly practiced karate with Amy before dancing the night away then heading to elements for the last half hour or so. Back on the bus with Struggles, Claire and Matt X2. Went to Pizzeta with Matt then crashed into bed at 3ish ... up for 9am lecture the next morning.

LECTURES, KARATE, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND TWISLETON!

I must admit, its taking rather allot longer than I expected to get into the way of doing work again. I’m enjoying my course so far, particularly the ‘global climate change’ module. Met some interesting people this week on my course, and in the mountaineering club. Went home on Saturday to see Rach, Emma, Eddy and Jon and the famous Southport musical fireworks! Apart from the moment when the bridge was almost set alight ... and the smoke, they were SPECTACULAR! Despite being stuck between 2 ‘romantic couples’ that were Emma and Jon, and Rach and Eddy, it was a nice evening of friends reunighting. Walked back through Southport after, and I realised how much I had missed it. Up early on Sunday, I and dad drove up to Langdale to meet up with Neil (dad’s oldest friend and my Godfather) and Ian for a ramble. We had a spontaneous day without much map reading (which proved a silly idea when Neil started going off in the wrong direction on the way back and I had to rescue him), and we all laughed at stories old and new. May have seen a few mad scouts from ‘Splash and Dash’ on Coniston Old Man at some point (I still feel bad for not going to help Jenny out). Had a long lunch break looking over to Dow Crag and Eliminate A. Got back late me and dad tidy my room, got some food and went to bed.
Went to the mountaineering clubs ‘safety talk’ on Thursday with Struggles (a friend of me and Rachel’s from our course) then got chatting to a fair few people in Furness bar after. Went to twistleton scars today with the club, me and Lindsey nailed a few good routes with a stupid amount of laybacking and smearing involved, and got to know people. I LEAD A SEVERE! I have decided I need to buy some guide books now.
Anyhow ... we’ll see how this week goes =]

FOAM AND GLOWSTICKS!!!!!!

Lonsdale’s ‘Big Night Out’ and passed out people

Went on my college ‘Big Night Out’ last night (I think) got to the 1st bar where this guy was passed out (despite it only being 8:00) after checking his pulse I proceeded to show everyone just how crazy I can be ... I attached allot of Menu’s to him and pics were taken. Wont go into details, but throughout the night, Kate bought me my 1st drink (VK Cherry) which was my only drink of the night. I didn’t get into ‘walkabout’ as I only had my purple card on me and was told that would get me in, so when I met up with the others they gave me some of their wrist bands and I sat down in the middle of the floor to put them round my ankles. I ate a lime =] and chatted to allot of cool new people in ‘Mint’ and also stood on top of the fountain yelling ‘Lonny Lonny Lonny!!!’. We all ended up at the ‘Sugar House’, which was packed ... and we danced the night way. Got back not too late and Sam proceeded to clean the kitchen.
Had another meeting with my department, had a quiz, and the lectures started giving out free beer ... such a strange department is the Environmental one. Went to check out one of the lecture theatres with Rachel, and then headed back to cook tea and get ready for the FOAM? 80’s RAVE PARTY!!!!! More pics will go on the wall of shame tonight I think in the kitchen!! All my body paint has washed off and I’m’ soaked!
Back now! So covered in foam it’s unbelievable! Once they turned on the foam machine the whole bar was about 1m deep in the stuff ... I swallowed some and nearly choked on it! I collected about 50 glow sticks and decorated my shorts with them ... and spent about 10mins chasing round 2 guys who thought they could steal them!

Barn dance and Lancaster !

well howdy there!!! went to the barn dance at church on sat night ... the less said about the burnt hot pot the better ....

The first few days here have been ... interesting. still getting to know alot of people, met so many its hard to keep track. mum, dad and vicky left without a tear, but promised to buy me more cushions =]. met the people in my flat, in our triangle kitchen. i have to say the baked potato night was very tasty and after we decided to bring the 'party' back to the flat. hed a txt from Matt at about 2.30am asking me to go and see his kitchen ... (campus is cold at 2.30am in ur PJ's) went on a 'white t'shirt' party' last night, which was really a bar crawl around campus in which the intent was to show all the other colleges that Lonsdale IS THE best. went to meet the Environmental Science dept yesterday. me and a girl called Rachel had some fun trying to understand how the course works. got a posh 'do' tonight, should be fun!

x

THINGS THAT GO ‘BUMP’ IN THE NIGHT

Spent most of the week getting things ready for Lancaster and worrying about my finances. I can no longer see the floor in the ‘expedition room’ for so many boxes full of clothes, plates, and copious amounts of stationary and cushions. Also my laptop is dead …
Got up early on Saturday morning as me and Vicky were getting the train to Liverpool to go to Awesome walls climbing centre … little did we know that we s=would get hopelessly lost on the way and would spend 2 hours walking round Liverpool trying to find it. We since discovered that the older proportion of the generation do not know where local climbing walls are and there was infact a station right by awesome walls. We crossed m-ways, canals and jumped over walls to get there. Once we were there we had lunch and a rest to regain out strength. Spent a good 30mins in the crypt boldering, and then did some good walls and the pinnacle. Did a few 5a’s. Our rock shoes are holding out pretty well!
Went out for a last meal out at Chiquitoes on Saturday night at 9pm. Met Claire, Bex, Rachel and Emma, Eddy, Adam, Jon and Samuel there. Was good to see Bex, as she was back for the weekend from Regents. We ordered and all had a good chat about things past present and … future while the male waiter flirted with Eddy. As per usual I ended up eating more than my fair share of everyone’s desert. Decided to go back to Rache’s for a last sleep over (having spent a good few nights there already throughout the summer). Drove Eddy home 1st, then went to Emma’s to get her overnight stuff … the car horn came in useful here. Rach and me had a good talk about bacteria going to Heaven.
Watched some planet earth while we got ready for bed. Its funny how, because me, Emma and Rach have spent so much time having sleepovers, we all now have a ‘side of the bed’ at Rache’s in her huge bed. We listened to Michael Buble and planned a 40’s party at mine for Christmas and had a really good chat about anything and everything for the last time for a while until the early hours.
Woke up at 9am by Rach saying … what’s Emma doing on the floor …? Apparently I had jumped out of bed in the middle of the night, tried to get Emma and Rach up thinking something was after us, lay down on the floor and couldn’t work out how to get back in my sleeping bag … so put on Raches dressing gown and emptied her pockets of Tea cake wrappers all over her room in my sleep … I do worry sometimes. Anyway, made breakfast, dropped Rach and Emma off at church as they were doing a drama for Lexi, went home to pick up mum and Vicky and went to church for the last time before uni. Was good to see everyone, then went to meet everyone at Elim as we had planned to go into town to Apherohead for a hot chocolate. Saw Emma’s mum on the way and had a chat about Emma’s room … at some point Jon, Emma, Bex and Rach lost me in WHSmiths when I got distracted and sat on the floor for 15mins reading ‘climb’. Had a shop around and did the usual ‘trying expensive clothes on in Bay’ then wondered home. Went past church on the way back where Dad, Peter (the minister) Amy, Kathryn, Mike and Andy were chopping down trees. . . me and Dad will have fun chopping logs in days to come =]

D of E reunion, Starbucks, last few times at youth, ‘film night’, and decorating =]

Tuesday night we all met at Alcamy to hand in our D of E books and go for a meal out to celebrate. We had originally planned on going to Fuegoes but me, Rach and Eddy could get 25% discount at Nandoes, (plus ... its Nandoes) so we ended up there instead. Me, Rach, Eddy, Gary and Josh went in the car and mike on his bike. Took us a long time to order as I had to be talked out of having a whole chicken. We all had a good laugh about D of E and ma Rach and Josh talked about the scientific side of life while others messed with my camera. Debated going to the cinema after, then headed home.
As many of us are all going off to uni soon, the last few nights at Elim have been very special. Although I only started going in the last 2 years, the mad Tuesday and Friday nights of odd films, odder challenges involving malt loaf, eggs, cold spaghetti and wool and glue, great live worship, sports and hanging out have been great. Emma, Claire and Rach came round to mine on sat and we put a film on for 10mins before getting board, trying to do an old 70’s retro exercise tape then going on the phone and webcam to Bex in Regents. Spent a good few hours talking and seeing her new friends.
The last week has been mostly composed of me, Emma and sometimes Jon and Rach decorating Emma’s room. Talk about being spontaneous! Bought paint from homebase after spending half a day de-junking Emma’s room and saying ‘aaah! Remember this!!!’. I and Rach went to the tip to chuck stuff and recycle the paper. Drove into town to dump old clothes at the charity shop and to get masking tape before realising I hadn't put my parking ticket in the window, but in my purse. Ran back to the car park only to find this waiting...

The 1st thing I did was get my camera out, then went to flutter my eyelashes at the traffic warden and beg for forgiveness as I had bought my ticket.ive written off about it and all should be fine ... I hope. I also ended up in Emma’s loft looking for sheets and trying not to step through the ceiling at one point. We had some tea at some point.
Went to Rachel’s for a late breakfast the next morning and we went shopping for uni stuff, it was a long day. Me and Emma went to raches that night after house group and stayed over before going for an early painting start at Emma’s in the morning. Also had fun making scrambled egg and jacked potatoes for lunch. Decorating still unfinished, but were getting there. =]

see http://picasaweb.google.com/Emmmmmmmmmmmma for many pics comming soon =]

Things that happen when you go to the gym =]

Spent the last few days with my friends and earning money. Friday was a free day so I met Emma and Rachel in town at 11:00, after looking for an outfit for Emma, going the CBS, me shopping in Primark, going for lunch, Rach buying me some hair clips and just ‘chillin’, we realised we were meant to be going to the gym ... and it had taken us three hours to get there so far! Got to the gym and did half a work out before we all got ‘chatted up’ by some sick 30 year old man. Apparently he had been watching me and Rach doing sit-ups ... Emma was rather annoyed with the situation. Wondered back into town and planned a few things for weeks to come. Emma went her way and me and Rach walked home and had a really good chat about life etc.
Went to Bex’s that night for a ‘girls night in’ with Bex, Claire, Rachel and Emma, as it was the last time we would see Bex before she goes to Regents. Spent a few hours exploring their new extension, messing around taking pics on Bex’s webcam on her laptop ... much to Rachel’s surprised when I jumped on her on Bex’s bed to get in the pic! Claire came ... with Chinese. Heated up pizza too and had a feast of junk. Jon and Adam arrived later. Dropped Rach off and we listened to the CD we borrowed off James on the way... good tunes.
Meeting Rach and Emma for a session at the gym tomorrow, and I think a coffee (hot chocolate) afternoon and a lunch out will be arranged ... and a night out too!

My 18th Party and Caving =]

Had my 18th party on Sat night. We had spent about three days getting the Marquee up in the garden only to wake up in the morning ... to it blowing all over the garden. Anyhow, went to work, sold shoes, picked up my new jeans from next and went home to prepare for the madness. Me and Vicky had gone to Tesco the previous night with the intend of buying party hats ... we came home with allot of hats, balloons, and lots of other things and spent a few mins messing around with them when Rach, Bex and Pauline got to mine about 6:30.

Batman – Me and Matt had planned to go and see Batman at some point. Arrived at his to pick him up, only to find out he had got the times wrong. Anyway, we ended up gong back to mine to watch a pre-batman Frasier. The film was really quite impressive and cleverly done ... and very long. Got home at about 12:00ish and may have taken a wrong turn coming out of Tarleton ... forcing me to do an illegal manover in the middle of a deserted major road.

Shopping – went shopping to Grasmere and Ambleside on Monday. Should have left earlier as traffic was bad and we didn’t have time for much browsing. Got a Rab Active 460g 3pl waterproof from Cotswold and also another base layer ... which is an interesting shade of pink. We went to Zefferelies for pizza ... much to Matt’s disappointment, as it was a vegetarian restaurant. Drove back passing through Lancaster and had a quick look around in the rain. Me and Dad got a shock when it started to rain torrentially and a car went over a bridge above up, showering us with tonnes of water as we were going 80mph.
Diehard – me Carrington and Matt had arranges to have a Die-hard marathon, and watch all 4 die-hard in a row one day (and night). We had a pizza break at some point and we had to stop the film when it rained really loudly on the conservatory roof. We had a good chat about all things university, and then resumed the film. I think I liked the 1st three best, but I was getting really tired by the last film. Got home at 1:00ish.
Caving – got up early on bank holiday Monday and loaded the car with caving tackle. Me, dad and Vicky were planning to explore upper and lower long churn in Yorkshire and a while later we arrived at Inglesports, ordered a hot choc, and marvelled at a Rab Active for £180 which I had bought in Cotswold a week earlier for £80. Needless to say I was quite impressed. Drank hot chock and had a read through a few ‘climb’ magazines and read an article on the ‘moose’s tooth’. Got underground at 15:00 and spent an hour exploring as dad didn’t have a wetsuit. Went through a few scrambly bits ... and Vicky slid into a well placed deep pool. Didn’t go through the cheese press this time though. Had an interesting time getting changed back at the car, and then headed for home after dropping off the helmets at inglesports.

Found out in Tuesday that I hadn’t got into Edinburgh. Mum rang work to see if I wanted a lift ... and I knew it was bad news. Anyhow ... I’m starting to see the bright side of things again. Lancaster’s a great uni. 10th in the country. Ill get go have a year abroad in North America or Australia and I’ve only heard good things about the uni. The mountaineering club looks impressive, they seem to do a wide range of stuff, like courses at Glenmore lodge and winter mountineering in Scotland in the winter, and there’s more local stuff in the lakes too. They have a climbing trip somewhere local every Sunday.
I can only conclude that I must be ment to go to Lancaster ... I must have been ment to totally mess up that paper; I just have to trust that.

A level results and an experiance at the gym!

Allot of things have happened since France ... hence my delay in up dating my blog. Got back on the Sunday and went straight to Rachel’s, after a quick unpacking session. Arrived after everyone else and hadn’t been there 15mins before Jon was suggesting a BBQ. Me, Jon, Emma and Eddy drove round to Tesco express and picked up the BBQ from mine. Ended up going to three Tesco’s as we kept forgetting things and about an hour later we were back at raches cooking and singing with guitars till 3:00am. We stayed up till 5:00am doing crazy make-over.
Woke up a few hours later screaming about the time ... and thinking I was still downstairs. Got up at about 10:00 after Emma had gone for her driving lesson. We all made breakfast and Hannah and David left, Nicole me and Adam watched one tree hill and Bex stayed asleep. Ended up going home in my pyjamas and it promptly chucked it down.
Got my A level results on thurs 14th aug. Went early as id spoken to Mrs Wilde about how important it was to contact Edinburgh and plead with them if things didn’t go according to plan. Anyhow, got onto my tracking and ... Edinburgh = Unsuccessful. Thought my world had ended. Totally broke down in front of everyone and didn’t even notice they were all looking at me ... went into the bathroom and fainted.
Spent the next hour in some kind of trance around college, specking to different people about what to do. My results also got lost and went in my envelope and a horrible photographer tried to take a pic of me and Rachel hugging and crying, before Rachel yelled at him and pushed me out the way.
I actually got ABC. The C was in chemistry and was 1% off a B. The B was in geography!!! Apparently I got AAAAA and U in my modules. It’s been sent off again to be checked, and Edinburgh is holding me a place if it is a mistake, if not ill go to Lancaster. Hopefully do my maters at Edinburgh.
Me, Emma and Rach went to the Gym, and decided just to go swimming. We did about 20 lengths, and then loads for ‘members of the older generation’ came in and someone started YMCA and the like. We found our selves in the middle of an aqua aerobics class, which turned out to be quite a fun experience!

CARAVANS AND CLIMBING AND MY 18TH BIRTHDAY =]

As you may have gathered from my last post, I have been living in a tiny 2-man caravan with my mum, dad and Vicky ... needless to say, I was feeling slightly squished by the end of the experience. Many a nights were spent sprawled across the gravel floor outside the caravan as the rubbish ‘bed’ loaned to me by the Forshaw’s, which proved inadequate, and the slighted movement caused the whole contraption to capsize, landing on top of me.
YAY IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY ON WEDNESDAY THE 16TH JULY!!!! WOOO IM 18!!!! As I am having my party a month from now, I just met up with Emma and Rachy-babe for an early breakfast in Broadbent’s ... muffins, caramel squares, hot choc with cream and marshmallows as on the menu. Rach and Em paid for me =] we then went dress trying on in Bay ... as per usual, and TKMax too! Wedding dresser were involved ‘I do’ believe. Went off for a bit of ‘me’ time after and later went out for a mean with mum dad Vicky, nana, gran granddad and Aileen (Mike on holiday). I was surprised by an apple pie with a candle in at the end which made it all too funny, not to mansion gran stealing handfuls of mint imperials ... she won the compotition. I had a caterpillar cake ... =]
Luckily for me, I was to endure the least of the conditions of all of us as I was working so much. Thursday night 5-12, then Friday Clark’s 11-4 and pizza express 5-10, then on to Emma’s birthday cinema expedition. Bex (with Rach and Claire in the car) picked my up from work and we made an emergency stop off at Asda and met up with Emma, Jon, Adam and James. After raiding the sweets and chocolate isle, we proceeded to see Mama Mia! There was a pizza throwing incident in the car park and we risked getting arrested down Neville Street as I was getting changed in the back seat. Had to wait till we got to the cinema to pull up my skinny jeans properly, much to the embarrassment of a few people in the car park. Decided to go for a ‘walk-through’ at McDonalds as it had shut. And I got a bit silly doing a car impression through the drive through.
The film was really good! And if I wasn’t a fan of Abba before ... I certainly am now! The funniest thing was Pierce wotsit ‘trying’ to sing ... and simply achieving the constipated look. I was sleeping over at Emma’s as I had work in town in the morning and didn’t want to go back to the caravan. We spent a while trying to figure out some of her birthday presents and finally went to sleep. Got up in the morning, bread was discussed and I left for work at 10:00. Work was hard but rewarding when a lovely women gave me £10 for telling her I was going to uni to save the world! Anyhow ... the day passed and I bought my shoes from Clarks, and worked at pizza express until 1:00am.
Was slightly shattered in the morning, but got up for church and did the projector, saw Kathryn, who I had been dying to see, and I got the most amazing collection on presents including a beast of a balloon. Got back to the caravan and me and mum watched ‘A Walk to Remember’ ... no more need saying here ... except many trees were sacrificed. Back at work later ... yeah.
Packed up on Monday morning and returned to the seeming mansion we now live in. Have been mostly working since and packing for France on Thursday. Matt and Carrington came over spontaneously on Monday night ... and I totally ‘Notebooked’ them... also ‘I am Legend’ was watched and polar bears were abused in the process. We planned to go climbing on Wednesday (today) and this morning we met at Matt’s at 9am, who had just got up, and was tucking into a large amount of pancakes mmmm. Set off shortly after leaving our mums to chat over a cup of coffee. The three of us arrived at Wilton quarry soon and geared up. Did a few good single pitched up Orange wall and countless others. Did a few VD’s a HVS and one VS which Matt did an amazing lead on without a top rope. Even though he was putting in protection in along the way, I was still slightly concerned. A few technical knees were used I do believe and I seconded taking out protection along the way. Topping out was difficult as Matt was in the way and all I cold see were his bear feet. I gave him his flop-flops which Carrington had attached to my Harness, and all was well. Had a bite to eat at some point, where Carrington went for a long 2minuet walk back to the car for food, leaving me and Matt to discuss a gear shopping spree ... I must make a list.
We somehow ended up making a sort of zip-line and about an hour was spent tying knots, and sliding up and down the contraption. In due course Carrington pulled my up the last part taking all the skin off my knuckles ... there was blood.
Stopped off at KFC on the homeward journey and listened to the Top Gear album while illegally cutting through people’s gardens as a short cut ... the less said here the better. Got back soon after, and I went to work, where a strange man gave me his number secretly and a note saying ‘you are lovely’ ... hmm ... well ... scary.
Now sitting up at 2:00am writing this before I forget it all in France, I’m realising how much the little things mean I life when you take the time to write them down and laugh at all the things that makes the world go round. The last week has been an experience. Lived in a caravan, worked into the night, seen my friends, turned 18, and been climbing. I feel, for the first time in a long time ... that everything will work out ok, I will go far and ‘save the world’... and climb Everest ... (that’s ‘into thin air’ talking).

GLASGOW AND POLAR BEARS

I had my first waitressing night on Tuesday. I only had about 4 tables at a time, but it was hard to keep up with them all, and make desserts in the back simultaneously.
Anyhow, got a text from Emma at about 1:00am Wednesday morning, saying Bex and Adam wouldn’t be coming to Glasgow with us as their plane from Egypt had to do an emergency landing in Cyprus! Rung up Emma first thing in the morning (and consequentially woke her up too) to see what the situation was. Everything was okies but they were stranded in Cyprus for the time being.
Packed up for Glasgow. We were going to a Christian youth event in a church up there and staying over. The mini bus set off at about 2:00pm and to my surprise Bex and Adam made it by some miracle and much fun was had on the way down involving, me, Emma, Snowy(my polar bear) and Richard (Bex’s teddy bear), much to Jon’s annoyment. We soon had the music blasting and got into the mood for a great event later. Played numerous games of ‘word association game’ and many ‘I spy’ games.
Arrived in good time at the church and after a pep talk on how not to get shot at in Glasgow, we braved the streets and raided subway. By this point it was beginning to rain, so we made for the church and finished eating on the way.
It was quite an extraordinary night, we started off with some worship songs, and band was amazing and the drummer was wild. Everyone was getting into the right frame of mind and a really calm yet powerful atmosphere was about the place. There were a couple of guys that shared there testimony and performed some pretty remarkable rap songs which got everyone up and dancing. There was a speaker who had recently been in Florida (Mick), and he shared some of his experiences at the Christian events there that have been publicised around the globe recently. He certainly had the gift of speaking and connecting with people and the message he got across was clear and in such a powerful manner it was obvious to all that God was speaking to him. I wont go into details here (please feel free to ask me about this though).
Everyone was supposed to be in bed and lights off by 12:00 ... but ... you know how it is ... the girl’s room was a children’s play area, and I made my bed in the ball pit. I don’t have any horrible memories as a child, but I rediscovered just how hard it actually it to get out of one, especially when you are completely submerged with two of your best friends. Like trying to swim through near solid water I suppose. A while later, me, Emma, Bex, Hannah and Lexi (youth leader) decided to go to sleep in the adjacent room and leave the others to stay up all night. The result was that we were kept up till some stupid hour in the morning from lights and shouting in the next room. many Jaffa cakes were eaten that night/morning.
Later that same day ... at an Earthly hour, I managed to get up and raise the alarm that it was later than we thought. All was packed up and I drank alot of hot chocolate (mmmmmmmm). Me, Bex, David, Hannah, and other people (can’t really remember as I was still asleep) went for the healthier option of a bread shop ... while the others want to McDonalds for pancakes and syrup. I then decided to go to Summerfield to buy a random carton of milk ... yes ... while Jon and Adam went looking for meat to prove their manliness ... or something like that.
There was a short meeting in the morning, then we were on are way home. I was just getting to sleep when I was rudely awakened by Adam grabbing my hand. Odd things went on in the mini bus on the way back ... me and Emma are still awaiting the publishment of our ‘adventures of snowy the polar bear’ video.
This blog is ending here for a good week and a bit as I will be living in a tiny caravan some where near Tarleton, as strange golf people live in our house. I shall report back when ... and if I survive. =]

I have decided that I’ve got used to writing this blog ... and looking back on some past experiences ... I have concluded that there are more interesting going’s on in my life than even I realised!
Since D of E, I have recovered, passed my driving test, learned to balance many plates at Pizza Express, marvelled at the new plates my mum has bought for us (which are whiter than white) and have moved my stuff to a tiny caravan in which me and rest of the Cairns’ will be living for a week while strange and peculiar golf pros live in our house. Oh, and been to JJB gym many times with Emma, Jon, and Eddy having resolved to do something about my excess ice-cream eating recently. JJB is so posh! I’m getting slowly back into working out and am determined to retrieve my 5-pack from hiding. Also, i have stolen all relating mountineering and climate change books from around the house and they are now accumlated in my room, along with a very long rope ... i enjoy tieing things up ... =P
I’ve been driving around as much as I can. It was so strange being in the car by myself, than I had to direct myself by saying ... ‘turn right at the round-a-bout’. I picked Rachy-babe up the other night to go to Emma’s to play on her bro’s ‘wee’. The out come was that when it came to parking, we drove down the length of the road and round the corner at 5mph with Rach leaning out the door saying ‘closer, closer, closer’. Also I suck at guitar hero.
Spent an hour and a half at the train station on Friday morning, as the train was cancelled. Jumped on the 10:30 train to Burscough Bridge, met Carrington who had been shopping for Alcatraz supplies (totally gutted I couldn’t to that) and we drove to Liverpool Awesome walls after stopping off at Carrington’s house to feed the small fury animals we found there (Merlin the cat). Got kitted up and did a good few 4a’s and 4b’s and one 3 speed climb, we also had a bit of time on the pinnacle, and after my hands started ceasing up, we grabbed a sandwich. Topics of conversation were mostly goldfish, how Carrington was my guardian for the day, and many other funny things i now can't remember ........... I also spent about 5mins hanging a foot off the ground ... because someone found it funny.
I’m starting to feel the effects of working till 12:00pm at pizza express after working at Clark’s from 11:00am. The only consolation is that I get free pizza ... and money for certain extreme sports.
Went to give Jenny a hand at the YMCA climbing wall on Monday night. I amazed her with my one handed, eyes shut, bowline. So ... I spent an hour flying off the floor when belaying people heavier than me as there was no where to tie down to, and I resorted to getting people to hold me down.

D OF E GOLD - DAY ONE =]

By 7:00pm on Saturday night, I decided it might be a good idea to pack for my Gold D of E! Realising I had no food apart from freeze dried stuff, me and my dad whizzed down to Morrison’s (which I will never forgive him for) and fancied a take-away from the Shamratt on the way back. All was packed and food was eaten by 9:30.
The next morning I met the rest of the crew at Alcamy at 10:00am. Arrived at Kettlewell youth hostel at 12:00 and after a quick bite to eat, sorted gear out, to much amusement to everyone when I de-cluttered Gary’s bag to half the weight. Met the assessor part way through a game of chocolate ‘Deal or no deal’, and had a final pep talk.
Got tea on the go at 6:00. Bex dropped Josh’s on the floor, which worked out well for him as he had some of each of ours and ended up with more in the end! Much fun was had over pudding when Rachy-babe and Eddy came up with the new word ‘wald’ (an alternate for the word warm, between hot and cold!) Eddy is now on a mission to find the metal that malts at ‘wald’ and become a world class professor. Moseyed on down to the pub later and me, Rachy-babe and Josh decided to go awondering. We walked out of Kettlewell, through large branched over the bridge, I saved some small animals by scaring them ... and Josh and Rachy-babe taught my about animals. Also came across an old petrol station ... the kind they use in dodge car adverts etc. Met the others at the pub and took part in the pub quiz, and didn’t do to badly I add! Raced the others back to the youth hostel and won ... much to Gary’s annoyment. Fell into bed at last and had strange dreams about ‘deal or no deal’.

DAY TWO =]

Woke up bright and early, grabbed a quick shower, packed up, and organised everyone into a production line for a cooked breakfast in the kitchen. Rach put bread in the toaster, I buttered it, Bex cooked the beans, Mike cooked sausages and bacon, Gary set the table (or should have done) and Eddy and Josh took food out. After everybody was suitable stuffed, the guys washed up and soon we were all rearing to go ... and pretty lost in Kettlewell before we had gone anywhere!
The first few km were spent contouring down a valley and round a hill. We went past Scargill house – many a happy memories for me and Mike as we went there for the church weekend away. We saw a silver group ahead of us and some badly shaven sheep, but the soil creep, limestone pavement and craggy bits were the most interesting. Met Dennis the assessor just before Conistone and had a quick blister stop and refuelling session. Got to the bridge and had lunch and an art stop before trudging up a hill, rolling down it and having a navigation stop. I, Mike and Josh did most of the navigation and we didn’t get lost at all! We found an old barn which I insisted on exploring and a good few pics were taken.

There were some issues of the exact location of the campsite, which turned out to be someone’s back garden! I and Mike had been running up and down a few roads to find it, and eventually we got there. Our ‘tidy’ skills have certainly not improved since last D of E and after showers, boil in the bag tea’s and some camera action, all was tidied up and I called a de-brief of the day and a quick chat about the route and plans for the next day. All were in bed by 10:00 and after a game of ‘Deal or no deal’ between tents, we fell asleep.

DAY THREE =]

Second day of actual D of E began awfully. I have never seen such midges! All was quickly packed up by 8:45 and I spent 20mins looking for my hot chocolate. Sang a few walking songs to get us going and had a few cow encounters on the way. Had a minor ‘BO’ stop and passed the map around so everyone had done a bit of navigation. I had taught everyone how to use a compass in Kettlewell, and it was proving useful! Lunch and an art stop were had in a nice yellow field and Eddy went mad with the suncream. Moseyed on down and met Jenny and Paul who sorted Eddy’s feet out and we were soon heading along the Pennine way to Malham.
Camped at Gordale Scar, after tea and tents, I managed to drag people down to the waterfall for a scramble – which was unsuccessful. Anyway, fun was had by all and lots of photos were taken, Gary predicted it would rain at 9:00, and it promptly began to chuck it down at 9:05. Dived into the tents and chatted for a while, was then woken up at 2:00am by Rachel screaming about potassium and pudding ...

DAY FOUR =]

Time was spent on the limestone pavement above Malham cove and certain people were shouted at when they started taking pictures of their feet ... over the edge. Went through allot of shake holes around Gorbeck, and walked through a bog ending up in a mini forest, by which point it was getting pretty damp and people were pretty wet. We hung wet stuff on branches and got some hot chocolate going, while Gary-lad made a miniature forest out of some well chosen sticks. I wasn’t allowed to build a shelter to I settled for bisects. Met Jenny and Paul just out of the forest and after I pointing out the Yorkshire fells, we were allowed water.
Got into the campsite at Stainforth in good time. Eddy was upset as there was a considerable amount of cheese in the shop which he couldn’t have. The evening was spent doing art by the river, playing gladiator on the kids play area, racing up and down the campsite and eating excess food. Playing cards in the guy’s tent went on till gone 11:00 and hence we were pretty shattered the next morning.

DAY FIVE =]

It was a wet start to the last day and some navigation expertise in leap frogging was almost required at points. The morning was hard as people were starting to get fed up of the naff weather and constant bogs. I ended up singing ‘Hairspray’ up half the road, and I and Josh sang the traditional SClub & ‘Don’t Stop Moving’.
Met Jenny and Paul to collect some rubber gloves for over Rachy’s gloves. Soon stopped for lunch on Knowe Fell then powered round Malham Tarn to the finish where there was apple pie and cheese waiting for us (Eddy). Stopped off for chips on the return journey before picking up Dennis for a de-brief. All was successful and we all passed.

In conclusion, D of E was an amazing experience to test friendship and my navigation in fog =] we all learnt something and it was one big holiday ... just with allot of rain ... it just made it funny really!

for more photoes see - http://picasaweb.google.com/Emmmmmmmmmmmma

MORE EXAMS, WORK, HAILITE, DANIELLES PARTY AND ASDA

The last few weeks I’ve hardly seen the light of day ... been revising to the point of chemistry coming out of my ears. Started my job at Clarks, and was surprised at how easy it was to sell shoes, providing your good at convincing strangers they need things they don’t really need ... like ‘shoe trees’ ... I can be very persuasive. I also got to wear a sexy head set like in the movies and spent the first five minuets pretending to be Kylie!
Danielle’s party last night was certainly eventful. Me, Alice, Danielle, Shawnee, Sarah, Pauline, Beaky and Mike had our last geology exam in the morning, and chose to celebrate by visiting the famous Mr. Evens for the keys to the geology room ... and stealing a rather large amount of Halite (a very salty rock). Anyway, we made it to the entrance hall, and after having a geography revision session with Mr. Porter, Mr. Clowes (geology teacher) finally hunted us down and demanded his beloved rock back from Alice ... that reused point Blanc. Soon we were on the bus to Skem and saw allot of nice fields which I want to run around in one day =].
The party got started and I made friends with Danielle’s Nan (who is amazing!) we danced the night away, and danced in front of the TV when the male portion on the guests decided to watch the football ... but ended up watching us! At about 10:30, me and Danielle walked Shawnee and Michael to the bus station ... only to find there were no trains till 7:00 am, and a scary man watching us. So I calmly phoned Arriva ... the bus did turn up in the end and everything was ok.
A while later, me Alice, Lisa and Pauline were standing outside Asda weighting for Alice’s dad ... who the whole time was weighting for us across the car park but had his phone off. The result was that we spent about 45 minuets, standing around Asda with a few trips inside to get Galaxy ... mmmm and to have a look at the bedding section, just incase we had to spend the night. I got home at some ridiculas hour in the morning and went straight to bed after polishing off the galaxy as I had work in the morning.
Had my last chemistry exams on the Thursday which went awful and I’ve been thinking of a back-up plan if I don’t get into Edinburgh ... =] Anyhow, I met Pauline, Becky and Mike at the station later that night for our geology party organised by Mr Evens and Mr clowes. We moseyed on down to Lloyds bar for a drink or two and then for a geological tour down Lord Street (I had no idea there were so many brachiopods in the walls of Waterstones!) got to the Restaurant and reminisces over the past two years and especially the trip to Arran in Scotland! By the end of the meal, some of us ... Toby ... were a little worse for wear due to the now absence of a bottle of wine or two. We then found an Irish dancing pub ... somehow... and yet again I got the party started by getting everyone to dance!

A good time was had by all and I know for sure I certainly will never look at a rock or formation without questioning it again after these two amazing years!

A BLUSTERY DAY IN MAY

On Saturday night, me, Matt and Martin drove up to langdale for an early start the next morning on Bowfell Buttress. As we got there fairly late, the campsite was full and we found a nice spot at the side of Blea Tarn. Decided to go the pub first, to avoid being caught with our tents up in certain illegal places, I must admit I was feeling quite anxious after all the climbing talk and flicking through the guide books as crevasse rescue and the like. Anyhow ... put tents up around 11:30 and may have drifted off around 3ish as it was so windy!
Woke up 7am sharpish and packed up. Moseyed up to the car after taking a few scenic photos and had some breakfast. I refused a potato cake Matt tried to feed me, as past experiences have taught me not to accept any form of food or drink for him...

It was about a 2 hour trek up Bowfell and traversing across to the base of the Buttress, and after a quick gear sort out (very quick for me), and a bite to eat, we began up the 1st of 7 pitches. The 1st pitch was easy, but we soon came to a chimney, which gave the climb its VD grading. Theres alot of waiting around in multi-pitch climbing which resulted in getting very cold, and taking pics of the interesting bedding planes of the conglomerate which is Bowfell! All was going fine and there were a few other people on the rock too, we came to what we thought was the ‘slippery chimney’ and had allot of fun getting up it. Only to find out later that is was indeed not a VD and part of an E3 route!! We had a slight communications breakdown around and about the final pitch. By this point it had got so windy that me and Martin couldn’t hear Matt shouting to climb at the top of the pitch, so we just stood there ... and stood there ... and stood there. Eventually I moved up onto a slightly higher ledge and waited till I felt the rope tighten, and took it everything was fine and began the last pitch.
Topped out about 4.30ish and summated Bowfell before walking off the hill and making it back to the car in good time to get back in time for tea! Spent the journey home texting my dad to see if he was still alive in the cairngorms after his train had failed to arrive.

All in all a good days climbing that certainly inspired me to get serious with some ropes in the coming summer months.

THE PRECEEDINGS TO A CLIMB – LAST FEW DAYS OF COLLEGE

Thursday 22nd may was my last day at KGV College, took many photos, mainly in geology, when I ambushed someone in the corridor asking them to take pics of our class! Spent a bit of time in the LRC not doing work ... and reminiscing the past 2 years.

Friday – met Emma, Bex, Rachel, Claire, Adam, David, Hannah and Nicole at Frankie and Benny’s for Jon’s surprise party. It took a while to get him there, but Adam and Eddy did a good job in the end. It took us about 30mins to order and we also had this amazing cake that Emma made, I ate 2 pieces I was so impressed with it! After, me and Bex skipped down to JJB with Emma and Rach so they could join the gym, then went on a miniature shopping trip to Matalan before departing for revisions sakes!

Scary Film, Pink Party, Classical Concert ... the usual

Friday night, went to the cinema to see ‘Doomsday’ with a few from Network; Carrington, Matt, Jenny, Tom and Martin f.lol. Just the name says allot about the film, and I ended up taking my polar bear with me for when I got scared, as well as my purple fluffy socks. Turned out to be not as scary as ‘I am legend’ and I only jumped once! Spend about half an hour in the car park after, trying to get Tom’s car to start etc ... was deceivingly cold that night.
Saturday had a big lie-in =] then went into town to get my hair cut, also got a free head massage ... very strange, but nice! Walked down to church to help out with the carwash, only to find it had finished as they had run out of cars! Got in about 2 and did some revision for a few hours before getting ready for Sarah’s ‘pink party’. Got a phone call from Pauline at about 8 asking me to go and pick her up, and we got to Tarleton for about 8.45ish.
Had some very pink champagne and partied all night with some friends from geology and some I haven’t seen since snow and ice in February! Requested my all time favourite dance track – Whitney Houston, ‘I wanna dance with somebody’, and also saw some very interesting dance moves from Matt...
Sunday ... revised all day then Mike and Jon picked me up about 5.45ish and we set off for Liverpool Philharmonic to see Steph and Becky in their concert! Lets say ill be listening to classical music for the next few days! Lack of sleep started to catch up on me when Jon asked how McDonalds had an effect on the environment, and I replied with, ‘they cut down trees to grow COWS!’ We did end up stopping off there on the homeward journey, and as I had to money left from buying everyone ice cream in the interval, I stole a straw ... =]
I will have to start getting more sleep, as exams have started, as I keep doing stupid things, like sitting on the step for an hour because I forgot my keys .... But forgot to ring the doorbell!

Pizza and movie night!

U know how ... in the movies ... (and friends) the 'pizza guy' always comes to the door with about ten pizzas stacked up!? ... that was us tonight =]

Rach stopped by to pick me up to go to Bex's and Adam's, as Rach is doing her music A level we listened to Chopin in the car, which inevitabley inspired us to marvel at the nice houses down Waterloo road on the jorney lol. Arrived at Bex's and found that Frazier (the family dog) was glad to see me, and greeted me by licking my legs ... ordered pizzas and all gathered in the front room (how we managed to fit about 15 people in there I'll never know!) Had a mosey around on facebook with Emma and witnessed Adam harrassing Jon ... lets say there was touching ...

we decided to watch 'i am legend' which resulted in alot of sceraming, on and off film, pity we only saw half of it :( there was also an incident involving claire's foot ... had hot choc too which reasured me a little bit.

evaluation - i have the best strange friends =]

Summer days on the grass =]

Summer!!! It’s finally here!! Weather (haha) or not its here to stay is another issue though! Had a really good day on Thursday! I decided to be daring ... and wore a dress to college, served me right when it blew up just as the college bus came round the corner. Got to college and made my way to geology to have some fun looking at ‘dead biology’ as Rachy-babe put it. I, Becky, Alice, Sarah, Danielle, Shawnee and Pauline discussed the usual issue of ‘cake Friday’ as Mr. Clowes handed out work on ... coal. Toby also broke the coal ... somehow. Were still trying to get that field trip to Southport to see the ‘interesting’ rock waterstones is made out of organised, will be quite an achievement if it happens as we only have three weeks left! Bex, Rach and me decided to go to Tesco in our free next to get Bex an outfit for her interview! It was really nice ... until I got barbed wire stuck in my toe!! Moving on ... got Bex a dress and Rach had beans on toast in the cafe and bought me a random hash brown =] got back to college and met up with Emma.
We decided to have CU (Christian union) on the field! Playing a game of splat and building a human pyramid are excellent ways of attracting the attention of about a hundred people. The donuts were good that day and sent me and Bex hyper! We did something we hadn’t done since primary school ... TWIZZIES! This ended with both of us on the ground laughing so hard I thought I was going to be sick ... ah the fun of being immature... Jon, David and Tom came to visit us too =]

Also went to visit Mrs. Meadows – my legendary dancing teacher who I haven’t seen for a good few weeks! It was great to be back in the studio and join in a bit of tap ... must go back again soon. Can’t wait for summer to arrive properly! I think its going to be a memorable one!

Church walk, Band night out and Network Ramble

A very hectic weekend began bright and early on saturday morning. Me and and the rest of the Cairns crew packed up the car and headed down to church to collect Peter, Ian, Mike, Katheryn and Andy for an adventure in minature up Pen-y-gent. had a quick dance around the carpark with Kathryn with one shoe ... and donated the sat-nav to Peter and embarked on our jorney.

Arrived at 10.00am, had a quick brief of the plan and left Vicky and Kathryn to navigate for D of E practice. Mike and me found some interesting abuse of limestone and took a quick pic for Mr Clowes. Reached the sumit in good time and stopped for a quick break, after rescuing a group of old ladies stuck on the scramble bit near the top! Headed down to the pot hole where we had lunch and some interesting gymnastic moves from Andy... Stopped at cafe for a quick pint of tea and scones! before having a daisy collecting competition in the carpark.

Got home 5.00pm and did some revision, then went out to pizza hut with 'the band'. Had a bit of fun parking Mike and Andy's cars at the front, then ordered far too much food causing me to throw my fone repeatedly across the room! (the second time was to demonstrait the first ...) Discussed T'shirts for the band and how to go about ice cream factories! All in all a good day enjoyed by all .. must do it again soon.

5.30am sunday morning! waaay too early. Yet again me and dad packed up the car and started out for Capel Curig in wales. attempted to revise chemistry on the way, but fell asleep at about St,Asph (spelling?) Met Matt, Smiler and Lucy and the others at the campsite and managed to eat something. conditions were quite good to start with, and we all enjoyed the scramble to the top of Tryfan including one v.diff! Also found a stray boot on the hill ... can't imagen how someone would loose such a thing! A quick snack at the summit before making a quick escape attempt as the weather deterioated into mist, rain and awfull visability. decided to skip Bristly Ridge and headed down to the road.

A while later once everyone had dryed off, we headed for the Bryn Tyrch pub for a quick drink and a discussion with Ash about my ice climbing in the Cairngorms on snow and ice!

Weather took a turn for the worst on the homeward jorney which made it hard for dad to teach me how to 'read corners'. found out the sat-nav lies and adds on time no matter how fast you drive! Got home a good few hours later and had a gear sort out in the celler before eating alot and going to bed!

Conclusion ... a very good weekend, felt like i achieved something ... an excellent de-stress from exams =] xXx