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Sarah, The Bringer of Tea - Not a Lazy Sunday Afternoon

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22nd March, 2009
07:36 pm

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Not a Lazy Sunday Afternoon
[info]zoeimogen, [info]the_local_echo and I thought, since it was a nice day, we'd go and get some practice for our holiday this year...

Zoe is not entirely convinced by the start to this one, as Sylvia stands by below ready to belay just in case.


My turn - this was not my first attempt of the day; that one went quite wrong. The anchor and start were awkward, there was an overhang on the cliff, and I hadn't abseiled for seven months. The upshot of this was that I ended up with my centre of gravity in a suboptimal position, and suddenly found myself hanging upside down against a cliff face, 8 metres up in the air. I never let go with my brake hand, so it was never unsafe, and Sylvia belayed me the moment she noticed me invert anyway, but it was awkward and undignified. Subsequent goes worked a lot better.


And here's Sylvia, practising a tie-off technique she's been reading up on, so that she can stop mid-air to take photographs. It seemed to work quite well.


All in all, a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

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[User Picture]
From:[info]the_local_echo
Date:22nd March, 2009 07:48 pm (UTC)
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and suddenly found myself hanging upside down against a cliff face, 8 metres up in the air

And tragically, nobody was within reach of the camera at the time.
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From:[info]auntysarah
Date:22nd March, 2009 07:50 pm (UTC)
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Crying shame, that.
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From:[info]zoeimogen
Date:22nd March, 2009 07:51 pm (UTC)
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You forgot your introduction to "how to live quite comfortably in the middle of a field", namely one hot Chilli Con Carni at the top of said cliff. :-)

Definitely need eye protection, while bottom belaying the chalk coming down was a problem and it also caused issues while abseiling too. The mule knot Sylvia used was nice - I shall be practicing that.
[User Picture]
From:[info]auntysarah
Date:22nd March, 2009 07:54 pm (UTC)
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The chilli was very welcome indeed, yes. :-)

I got bonked on the head by a bit of chalk whilst belaying for Sylvia. Not entirely comfortable.
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From:[info]paulathomas
Date:24th March, 2009 03:46 pm (UTC)
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How hot is this - the recipe I use calls for 1 tablespoon of chilli powder (I mean raw not the mixture) 2 tbls coriander and 2 tbls cumin for four people!

Oh and health and safety mandate hard hats for belaying:)
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From:[info]emperor
Date:22nd March, 2009 09:52 pm (UTC)
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Looks like fun! Do you not wear lids for this sort of thing?
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From:[info]auntysarah
Date:22nd March, 2009 09:58 pm (UTC)
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They're next on the shopping list.
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From:[info]naath
Date:23rd March, 2009 12:44 pm (UTC)
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Are helmets actually Of Use? I suppose there is rather more chance of Falling Rocks than when cycling but I would have thought that they would have many of the same disadvantages when climbing as when cycling.
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From:[info]emperor
Date:23rd March, 2009 12:44 pm (UTC)
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They protect you from falling rocks, which can be quite hazardous when climbing outdoors.
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From:[info]auntysarah
Date:23rd March, 2009 12:50 pm (UTC)
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I would have appreciated one when belaying for Sylvia. A bit of chalk fell and bonked me on the head! Not serious, but a bit uncomfortable
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From:[info]nixwilliams
Date:22nd March, 2009 10:22 pm (UTC)
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whereabouts do you go for such adventures? curious travellers would like to know! if you're not comfortable saying in public here, you have my email address.
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From:[info]auntysarah
Date:22nd March, 2009 10:34 pm (UTC)
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You have a PM.
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From:[info]shannude
Date:23rd March, 2009 02:00 am (UTC)
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Did you change your hair colour, or does it just look different in the daylight? Either way, it's way pretty!

Also I am totally jealous of your snow! =p
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From:[info]auntysarah
Date:23rd March, 2009 09:45 am (UTC)
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It's faded a bit from the icon. I'll be getting it redyed next week.

We don't have any snow - it was far too warm! The white stuff is chalk.
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From:[info]zoeimogen
Date:23rd March, 2009 12:28 pm (UTC)
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Also, the icon has had lots of sliders pushed way into the "not lifelike" range in Lightroom. :-)
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From:[info]shannude
Date:23rd March, 2009 11:28 pm (UTC)
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Ahh! You'll need to excuse my ignorance, I'm Australian and thus have never seen snow in my life. =p
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From:[info]cmcmck
Date:23rd March, 2009 08:31 am (UTC)
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Looks fun, but I think we'll stick to horizontal outdoor pursuits......
(oo-er, missus :o) off to Bodmin Moor in April and Orkney at the end of May!
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From:[info]auntysarah
Date:23rd March, 2009 09:47 am (UTC)
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oo-er, missus :o

Yeah, is that legal? :-P
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From:[info]cmcmck
Date:23rd March, 2009 06:12 pm (UTC)
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Dunno, but you do it in heavy boots, a cagoule and a woolly bobble hat............:op
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From:[info]taffyboy
Date:23rd March, 2009 09:24 am (UTC)
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Helmets, please? :)
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From:[info]auntysarah
Date:23rd March, 2009 09:44 am (UTC)
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See my reply to [info]emperor
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