Scaling the Heights

Not content with the thrill of indoor flying (see earlier post), we also like to have a pop at a bit of rock climbing every now and then. You can have a go at Milton Keynes where they have some cool walls, but it's generally harder as they use fancy automatic belaying devices. All well and good, but if you need a rest to shake your tired hands you can't stop.

The preferred place for us is Craggy Island in Guildford. http://www.craggy-island.com/ They have hundreds of routes spread out over many walls that get switched every three months or so and they cater for all levels of ability and experience. And take it from me, the manual belay makes it a whole lot easier!!

Missed Opportunities

So it turned out that Zoe from Blue Peter was one of the hosts at the Scouting LIVE07 celebration at the O2 Dome last weekend. And I declined the invitation to go.

Gutted.

Better Than Larsen?

If you're feeling a bit cynical and want to stay in the mood, but be cheered up at the same time, try a couple of cartoon strips from The Perry Bible Fellowship, these artists have truly got it going on. Either see their work weekly in the Guardian G2 supplement (Fridays?) or on line at http://www.pbfcomics.com/.

Try a sample of my personal favourites below.

"Baby"

"Wishing Well"

Requiem in Blue

Our younger one wowed us all when she took part in a performance of Requiem in Blue by Harvey Brough. Described on the interweb as "an amazing amalgam of classical, jazz, blues and folk styles that combine to give voice to an outpouring of deep emotion", it both stirred the soul and provoked a few thoughts. It's probably not one for the out and out purist, it's written for all ages and abilities, but if you're keen and fancy something a bit different then go to Harvey's site http://www.harveybrough.com/, click on the Requiem in Blue link, scroll down and take a listen to a couple of the samples. Unfortunately we couldn't really see our girl so don't study the attached clip too hard, but trust me, she's in there somewhere....!!

The Real Jambo

For anyone out there with a Scouting background, or for anyone wondering just what exactly they meant on Why Don't You when they said...."switch off your TV set and go do something less boring instead", check out the Youtube link or go to the bottom of the page to view the efforts of Andy, Ben and Boo who spent 2 weeks in the summer living it up at the World Scout Jamboree.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8n5myx_BVsY

Just try not to dwell too much on the fact that these guys represent our future........

Sky Diving

Ok, so not actually jumping from a plane but check out the awesome thrills of Airkix http://www.airkix.co.uk/. For the wee sum of 100 notes they will give you 8 minutes of free fall joy (or indoor bodyflight to give it the correct name) in a vertical wind tunnel in the happening town of Milton Keynes (it's right next to the Snow Dome for any MK afficionados). I recommend saving up a tenner a month for a year and then treating yourself. We splashed out this time and bought the girls a couple of minutes of flight time each as well. The instructors look after them, they get half a minute getting used to the sensation then they take them up, up and away into the column spinning around with mad grins on their faces. Me personally, I'm starting to get the hang of it, launching myself, going forwards and backwards, spinning around and most recently side slides. Would I do the real thing? I don't know, it seems crazy to me when the indoor option is available, but I'm told that even though you have the feeling of 120 miles an hour of wind rushing towards your face in the tunnel it's just not the same as experiencing the ground hurtling towards your head at that speed.........