April 18th 2009. Yes, I know, where are we and what has been happening over the last three months? Are we all dead?
Can't actually remember, but I do recall Gerry's excellent Do on Birchen Edge celebrating exactly 50 years on the rock though I believe there may have been some sort of a lapse during his middle hamster period. Still, 1959 seems a long way back so congratulations Gerry. I think that I may have started even earlier that that with 60 feet of Frost's Alpine hemp, clinker shod boots and one steel extra full weight Stubai screw gate carabiner but unlike Gerry I kept no records, well that's my story anyway.
The sun shone, there was case loads of excellent Cava from the cool box, a cake and even some climbing. Picture 01 shows some of the supplies arriving with Gerry and Eileen and Bill Wintrip and Graham Rawcliffe, 02 the table being laid with people hovering around the Cava box and 03 Gerry cutting his anniversary cake. Just to prove that some of us can still just about claw our way up the gritstone, picture 04 shows Bill Geary making an in-depth examination of Monument Gully Buttress, originally given Severe but now HVS 5b. Gerry, not to be outdone solo'd 50 routes before dinner. Well OK, some were rather short but 50 is a lot of routes. I did 3.
Picture 05 is the obligatory group shot before we all headed down for some beer and an excellent buffet in the Robin Hood.
Left to right: Dot Robson, Bill Wintrip, Nick Gregory, Alison Wintrip, Nick Longland, Roy Small, Marilyn Small, Adey Hubbard, Val Middleton, Mrs Ted Wells?, Mike Mortimer (back), John Robson, Marjory Mortimer, Gerry Langsley, Ted Wells, ?, Nobby?, Dick Turnbull, Sheila Rawcliffe, Graham Rawcliffe, John (Ackers) Atkinson, Linda Pendlebury (nee Mcleish), Dot Robson, Kath Graveling, Jack Street (back), ?, Dave Pendlebury, John Middleton, John Graveling, Martin Harris.
Suzy had a clash in her appointment book and went bird watching in the morning but managed to make it for the buffet.I don't know why I'm mentioning all this, no-one was the least bit grumpy! Many thanks to Gerry and Eileen for an excellent day.Look in the gallery for more and larger pictures.
New (ish) from Graham Rawcliff, picture 05, L-R Chris Jackson (me), Roy Small, Nick Longland, Graham Rawcliffe, Gerry Langsley. Queuing for the Old Folks Home Alcalali branch February 2003?
April 25th 2009. Some of the Grumpies went on a boy's trip climbing on the crags near Chateauvert in southern France. About an our and a half drive from Nice, all thanks to John Robson, one time holder of the Grumpiest T-shirt. At times, the arrangements seemed somewhat laid-back to the other members of the team and we had visions of camping out in Nice International Airport, but in the end it all turned out splendidly. Grumpies included were Geoff (doug) Douglas, Gerry Langsley, Nick Longland and Chris Jackson (me).
So, how was the climbing? Undergraded - grump, polished -grump and busy - grump but apart from that the climbing was excellent and we all had reet nice time. During our regular soiree John seemed to making a bit to reclaim his T-shirt of which he claimed he was the rightfull full-time owner. Picture 06, most of the 5bs were a bit steeper than this but we managed most of them with just one rest. Picture 07, typical evening at the Gite. Check out the gallery.
The Grumpies are off to Kalymnos in October. I have dipped out of this one but I expect some scandalous pictures and outrageous tittle tattle from them when they return. Or I'll get grumpy-er.
September 29th and the year is nearly over as we start the long run-down towards Christmas. Or do we? Not for some as most of the Grumpies are off to Kalymnos for some autumn sunshine, Greek beer and even some climbing. I will be remaining here to hold the fort and repel invaders, grrr! Suzy and I have just returned from our second holiday of the summer after France and Spain, to Devon and Cornwall just in time for a wrecking team to arrive to dismantel our ageing bathroom.
However, Al Evans who is not really grumpy sent me a picture of Jack Street who is not particularly grumpy either, but who was one of the leading lights back in the Cioch club days of the '60s. Jack was a top climber in those days, since then he has mellowed? and taken up bird watching. Picture 09 shows him on the rock climbing mecca of Lundy island looking for a reported sighting of an Orange Throated Gonk.
In the meantime, what are we doing? Well when the weather is unkind which has been for much of the summer the Grumpies migrate to the climbing wall. Picture 10 shows a typical bit of overhanging nastiness with Bill (ex grump-off champion) Wintrip clinging on in desperation. When Tom, the wall's tame route builder is not away in exotic places putting up new routes he is employed down at the wall assembling them. Picture 11 shows what looks a little like a construction site but it all worked out in the end, new routes from 5+ to 7a.
10
11
12
Stressed out and exhausted, 7 routes (gerry's rule) or 5 routes (chris's rule) later we usually retire to next door's excellent Cafe Euro. Picture 12 Grumpies Lohn Robson, Gerry Langsley, Geoff Douglas and John Jones.
Picture 13, it's sometimes just a bit too much for some. Roy Small in a state of collapse despite the legend on his trousers which perhapse should have 'ed' appended to it.
Monica was the delightful young lady climber behind the desk at The Edge climbing wall. She's Polish, and I say was because she and her boyfriend are leaving Blighty to settle in Spain where the sun always shines and the rock is in plentyful supply. Gerry and Eileen, ever ones to rise to an occasion printed a special Honorary Member T shirt for her, honorary, as she's not old, never grumpy and certainly not a man.
So, left to right Bill Wintrip, Gerry Langsley, Monica in new T shirt, Bill Philips, John Middleton, Bill Geary and John Graveling who is also never grumpy.
See the gallery for more and bigger pictures.
We're all going to miss her and wish her all the best.