Random thought of the day: Roy walker used to say "it's good, but it's not right"
This seems to fit so much of life now-a-days.

me and the mrs ready for the halloween party. muchos fake kung foolery later on, especially with the guy dressed as a GI!

I've been reflecting on the year so far this week.

This was brought on by the imminent re-assessment for my mountain leader award, something that has hung over me like a little personal black cloud since April.

Wednesday was a low point. I thought about failing the first time, having to close the walking business, having to sell the land rover.

But I still have health, great friends, a job I enjoy (and part time hours) and all the comforts of a house and car. In truth not having the ML was nothing to do with the lack of business.
I was resigned to failing and "putting it all behind me"

Something odd happened yesterday. The re-assessment was in the same area I had walked in practice on Wednesday. The sun shone. The assessor was laid back. My confidence rose as I watched my fellow sufferers struggle and my navigation legs went well. Time passed and as night fell I realised that I must be in with a good shot. My last leg was navigating to a spot I knew well - a last shot in the arm from karma. By 9.30 I was convinced that I could not have done any better and by 10pm I was shaken by the hand and told I had passed.

I still can't quite believe it. 4 years after starting something I wanted so badly I have it. As ever, nothing much has changed. I still feel more relieved than anything else, maybe once the tiredness passes I will be more elated. Can't help wondering why I wanted this so much - validation? Approval from others?

I didn't mention the chafing. Owwwwww, not good. Whizzer will known about it, and probably keeps two plasters specially for the purpose.

I celebrated my 46th this year by entering the Mourne Mountain Marathon for the first (and probably last) time.

It was definitely a case of "I'll book now before i know the competition dates, I'm sure it will be OK" in May this year. Luckily we had a great fortnight in Donegal beforehand, so Mrs G didn't mind coming home a day or two early.

As most of these things go, it was an early start - registration was at 8am (and some distance away)
It's a two person entry (steady now) and boy was I surprised that my partner insisted that we were going to run parts - I had thought more of a fast walk. We entered the short (35k) section. Day one (19k with 950m height gain)) went well apart from a total loss of energy after not stopping for drink/food and an energetic river crossing. Sorted with a bag of jelly babies. The sun even came out for the final hour.

We finished the first day third in our class - amazing considering our competitors were much younger and wearing running gear (we wore winter boots and carried a four season tent) Total pack weight was around 9 kilos I guess. Oh, our total age is 102 - this caused much hilarity in work.

Our early finish meant we had most of the afternoon and all evening to sit in the sun, dry our gear, eat most of our grub and watch as others arrived - well into the night. Pretty comfy campsite, but braying donkeys and barking dogs nearby meant little sleep.

Our good start meant my partner was feeling really competitive and insisted on running loads the next day (16k, 650m height gain). We reclaimed third place at one stage (thanks to clever navigation rather than speed) but finished 5th. We were also the fastest veterans by an hour or so.

As you can imagine, I was pretty sore and tired afterwards, but there was consolation chips 'n eggs 'n sausages tea at home.

Today has been mostly sorting gear, washing cars and resting the legs.

I only work two days a week, but I'm excited about the bank holiday weekend.

In other news - the sale of our beloved Land Rover Ernie has been agreed. The end of a decade of landy ownership. Sniff. As Mrs G put it "the head says yes, but the heart is sad"

The Mourne Mountain Marathon is approaching fast and I've been walking less than usual. Time for a few "serious" mountian walks.

Mad dog panic this morning as I couldn't find my new camera - last used when walking/climbing on Friday. As I finished the walk in the dark, I presumed it has fallen from my bag unseen.

I checked my rucksack twice this morning before going to work in a huff, thinking about driving the 30 miles back to the mountain after work for a search.

As I was just about to leave the work car park at 6pm, the ever wonderful Mrs Zeaphod found the camera - in the side pocket of the rucksack. DOH!
I think I've got a kind of negative autism about seeing things that I think I've lost. Or just stupid.

today's words are tequila and hangover. Oh dear.

Out climbing again on Friday night, after a shortish afternoon walk. It chucked it down several times. This meant climbing on damp rock in walking boots. Not ideal. In fact after seeing the trouble R had leading this and then seeing his anchor set up, I declined. I did climb something else though. FACT ALERT: walking boot rubber is nowhere near as grippy as climbing shoe rubber - who knew?

hahahahaha! well, OK it's rubbish. I'm well chuffed anyway, having just finished replacing the rear facia boards and guttering. This meant balancing on top of a ladder balanced on top of a board on top of the conservatory roof for many hours. I'm not sure how much good my helmet would have done if I'd fallen through, but I wore it for good luck anyway.

Yesterday was the most "fun" as the rain lashed down and the old guttering poured its'contents down my sleeves as I attempted to rip it off.

In other news: climbing 10 days ago - first time outdoors without instruction. Hopefully climbing again soon.

Also up at the caravan in Donegal over the past couple of weekends. Weather much better than forecast, so swimming and walking and drinking and catching fish and barbecueing and drinking and mucho fun generally.

Working this weekend sadly, but off next, so off to the van again. Cotswold work has tailed to 2 days a week as we hit the quiet summer period and the walking business has died completely: time for a closing down sale/drink soon. No regrets about trying with the business, but it is apparent that no-one or v.v. few can make any kind of living at this particular kind of dream job.

Thank goodness for Mrs Zeaphod's promotion/pay increase. God bless the civil service!

Oh - I think I heard a bottle of Sauv Blanc opening somewhere, must dash...