Scottish Boulder Comps
Robbie and Nat: Winners of their respective Senior categories at the TCA competition
November and December have seen winter bouldering competitions both at the long established EICA:Ratho, and new kids on the block TCA:Glasgow. I entered both, finished mid of the field in both, and (perhaps more interestingly) took some shots at both:
> TCA Comp
What can your Voice say?
The First Edinburgh VOXparty @ The Meadow Bar
From time to time, something comes along that just makes sense. Voxtropolis is one of those.
It started in the states, before springing up first in the UK in Sheffield. Now Vox Parties are a reality in Edinburgh too.
In promoting yesterday’s Party at The Meadow Bar, our host for the night, Geoffrey Baines, said:
“This is the first Vox (Voice) Party to take place in Edinburgh. The idea is we use our amazing human abilities to make the world better.
In Africa, malaria is a bigger killer than AIDs and we aim to begin in a simple way by contributing to the project to to end malaria in the African continent by the year 2015. We hope to send 60 mosquito nets – the whole of your ticket price will go to MalariaNoMore.
We have singers to start the Vox Partys: The Weatherfolk (from the United States and based in Edinburgh) and Cynthia Gentle bringing some African soul. It should be a great way to begin.“
Unlike these people, I don’t have a voice that makes music which others would come to hear. My voice is visual – a story told in images of a beginning. Vox is here.
Memories, Munich, and Mountains
Funky journey - Off to the heights!
The last of my summer vacations this year needs to last a long time: all of the months between now and Christmas. Fortunately, the 10 days staying and travelling with Seb and Michaela has provided just the frame of mind with which to attack the final third of the year.
It is almost two years since James and I first met these two wonderful people at the climbing garden of JoSiTo’s in southern Turkey. At the time, we each preferred to climb in Scarpa Miura’s rock-shoes, and on Mammut Supersafe ropes. That was enough to get us talking. It didn’t take much. By the end of 7 days, it seemed like we had been friends for far longer than just one week. Social networking ensured that we didn’t need to leave it at that. May this year saw James and I host our German friends in Bonnie Scotland, and 4 months later I made the return journey.
The week at the end of August contained many good things. Mountains, of course. Sun. Sushi. Memorial bells. Ice-creams. Idyllic castles. Wedding parties. Funk dancing. Sport climbing. Night-time city-biking. Coffee drinking. Beer drinking. Postcard writing. Glacier crossing. Italian speaking (or lack of on my part!). German speaking (or lack of on my part!). Iser swimming. Van touring. Hut sleeping. Photograph taking. Contagious laughing…
Some of the italian liqueur we sampled on the Alpine slopes is now sitting on a shelf beside me, back in Scotland. Some of glacier stash we picked up on our tours is sitting on my window sill. But the things of most value can’t be contained like that.
Munich and the mountains – great food and better friends. Good memories that will last in my mind’s eye. Good feelings that will last in my heart.
The stereo was often on in the van as we sojourned from one place to the next. There was lots the we heard that I liked. But this lyric is the one that stuck:
Yorkshire Highlights
Natalie Berry working the moves of "Predator" (F8b), Malham
Well, after a marathon photo-editing session last night, I’ve caught up with the backlog from last week! Just in time, as Friday sees me head out to Munich for 10 days where the camera will yet again be put to use at theWYCCs in Imst (C’mon TeamGB!), and then in the Italian Alps (weather permitting!).
Anyhow, I’ve split up yesterday’s photos into two separate sets:
First comes Coaching Week 1, where Ben and Pete pushed their sport lead grades to new UK heights under Robbie’s ceaseless encouragement and Nat’s watchful eye.
Unfortunately, the second coaching week was cancelled at short notice, but that gave the three of us time to climb at Malham cove. So the second set captures some of Robbie and Nat on the rock. They were both on form: Robbie ticking Overnite Sensation (F8a+), and Predator (F8b) in the face of the glare of my lense. Nat ticked off Raindogs (F8a) without too much of an epic battle ( & Robbie’s video of the same is well worth 4 minutes of your life), before following Robbie onto Overnite Sensation and Predator. It’s just a matter of time before these get a tick, too, I think!
Back from Yorkshire
Robbie Phillips - Malham, Predator 8b
A week runs past all too quickly, and now I am sitting with a hard-drive full of photographs to show for it.
Swapping between climbing rock (‘cos it’s fun!) and climbing rope (to get some shots of others climbing rock!) has made 9 days seem like less than your average weekend.
Once I’ve had chance to pick out the cream of the crop, and apply some edit, I hope you’ll agree that the time on the rope was well spent. Ben pushed his redpoint grade to 6c+, Robbie ticked off a couple of Malham 8bs, Nat ticked the classic of the crag at Malham. I’ve canned a bit of all of that action. As for my rock-time, a couple of 7as, a 7b and 7b+ for 3 days climbing ain’t half bad – so that was time well spent too.
Look out for the full set on my Flickr pages soon.
Yorkshire Coaching
Choosing tomorrow's crag
This week, I’m on location with Robbie Phillips. He’s running a coaching course, with Nat Berry. Ben and Pete are enjoying the 1:1 coaching ratio, and today I joined them at Robin Proctor crag to add some value through some images to take home. Now we’re in the pub, I can relax as the shots from today have been well received…
Tomorrow takes us to a new crag, hopefully more of the weather we enjoyed today!
A taste of the High Life
Looking down into a moody Torridon
The first time that the hills from which I took this photo came to my attention was looking at Dave’s images from the walk between Achnashellach and Torridon. Amy and I explored Sgorr Rhuadh and Beinn Liath Mhor in the round, before heading south across the A890 towards Bearneas bothy. Stopping before the bothy to find an exposed (and hence midge resistant campsite), we found a pleasant variation of the “book” way to climb Lurg Mhor and Bidean Choire nan Sheasgaich.
Saturday was Amy’s first Munro walk taking kit for an overnight stay all the way to the summit. Very worthwhile, giving the location in which we awoke – and about time, given that she is approaching 200 Munro summits!
Take a look at the full set on Flickr.
The new Mr & Mrs
Dave & Alex Gruar
Weddings are like birthdays, but better! They’re a reason to gather people together and celebrate something amazing. And (hopefully) you get fewer weddings in life than birthdays!
Last weekend I travelled down to Chichester, for the wedding of friends Dave and Alex – now Mr & Mrs Gruar.
As Dave had asked me to be his Best Man, there was plenty to occupy my mind away from framing photographs. But I did manage a couple, which you can find at the end of this link.
There’s a few from a sunny Friday setting up Chichester Assembly Halls, followed by the combined (and sedate) hen/stag meal. The story recommences in the B&B where Dave spent some of his last batchelor’s minutes finalising his speech, before jumping past the ceremony (where I was fully occupied with other things), and on to the reception after…
A Heart of Song in our City of Stone
Ken & Casey at the Dalkeith Manse - July 2011
This is the first in a series of posts – they may be frequent, or they may be few: Time will tell.
In them, I hope to share some of the story of Ken & Casey Weatherford‘s 18 month journey with the Edinburgh and Forth Methodist Circuit. We have much to thank God for in the events that have brought them to us. And much to hope in God for over the coming year-and-a-half.
Although in and about the City myself, there will be much of what they hope to do that I won’t see. You won’t find so much of that here. But I hope to share the essence of what I am able to particiapate in, through some of the images that I capture along the way. And maybe I’ll share the odd word or two, as well.
Yesterday we sat in the Dalkeith Manse, after most people had moved on from the afternoon of barbecue food, tea, cakes, and raindrop dodging. In amongst the everyday things of life of its living room, the Weatherfolk created something that may be “everyday” in their lives – but that is actually something very special. These guys were born to make music together: Even the sun emerged to shine on them.
Today we welcomed them into membership during this morning’s worship. And they shared some more music. It’s different to the music we usually hear in that setting. It’s good – it asks different questions of us as worshipping people. I’m looking forward to the variety…
Something tells me that 18 months won’t be long enough!
~~~
You can see the full image-story here.
You can hear one of their songs on this page of my site.
Those who wait
Peter and Rob arriving at Sgurr Na Ciche
There are some things that are all the better for having waited in anticipation.
Peter and I had been planning a walk around Loch Quioch for over two years. We did it this last weekend, with the amiable company of Ellen and Rob.
I’m not sure what was better: the breathtaking view from the summit of Sgurr Na Ciche at 9pm in the evening, or the breath-taking dip in Loch Nevis the following morning.
I’m very sure that there is nothing better I could have done with the weekend.
Hopefully you’ll agree that this set justifies backpacking with nearly 2kg of camera…
