"Three peaks challenge - May 2003 & old blogs" Personal Page by sourbugger

The Basic aim of the challenge is to climb the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 Hours. I attempted this with a bunch of fellow teachers from the Stamford schools in May 2003.

Hundreds of people attempt the three peaks challenge each year in May / June time. The basic aim is to climb the tree highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours.

A rough timetable works like this :

5PM - Ascend Ben Nevis from the Youth Hostel near Fort William

10PM - Depart for England

5AM- Ascend Sca Fell Pike from the parking area at Wastwater

8AM - Depart For Wales

1PM - Ascend Snowdon

To get your overall time add together your walking time and journey travel time.

No special equipment is needed, If you get good weather you can do it in trainers and running gear. What you do need is a driver who is not climbing to drive you between the mountains. Anyone who is reasonably fit should manage it within the 24 Hours.

My time was actually 22 and a half hours- a travelogue should follow in a couple of weeks.

The picture shows all who took up the challenge with me. They ranged from a couple of nutters who ran up and down every peak to 50 year old who nearly managed to complete it armed with his two hi-tech climbing sticks.

One wag was heard to ask if the sticks were white.

You will notice sourbugger missing from this picture, not because of an inbuild dread of having my photograph taken, which is the normally the reason, but rather because I missed picking up the bus at Ballock and had to hitch-hike to the start where I started an hour late.

My total time for the for the challenge was 22 hours 30 minutes.

Ben Nevis the mountain not the man.

22nd April

I have noticed over the past few months that several members who are coming towards the end of their rookie year put a posting on here to thank people for the experience and to thank all the new and wonderful people they have met on the way.

Poppycock.

My rookie year is almost up, and what's happened ?
I spend so much time on line that my wife thinks I must be conducting a cyber-sex affair with a Swedish Nurse (who likes PVC). My employer thinks I'm moonlighting for a web-design company, and I've put on three stone in weight.

Thanks a bunch VT.

23rd April

I knew they would get me in the end, not only did my boiler announce "Lock out" to me and failed to heat anything, but I also recieved a bolt of electricity as well.

There was me, sat on the couch,quite happily mending the connection on my extension lead, and I forget its plugged in. 240 Volts straigt through me, I couln't let go. None of the namby-pamby American electricity you note - this was real stuff.

My father (on the phone later)decieded I must must be a 'complete plonker', but also argued that a good electric shock also givesthe system a good jolt - I wonder if this is true or an urban myth ?

26th April

Itchy fingers..missed a couple of days.

Today's thoughts are on the subject of meat curry. Having downed a very spicy Vindaloo on Saturday (bog roll in the fridge ready), I came to wondering why it is called a 'meat' vindaloo. Does this mean the 'meat' is of inditerminable provenance ? I have now named the dish a "Wickes curry". Reason ? Have you noticed that in Wickes (a DIY store) they don't have wood along the lines of 'pine' or 'ash or 'oak' etc, It is all termed : 'wood'. I have a theory that it is all grown ina special Wickes forest where trees grow straight and long very quickly.

28th April

I managed to completely embarras myself today - such are the pitfalls of teachings 18 year olds.
One of mys students was doing very well in class today, I complimented her on it and she asked
"and what do I get from you then" as i was thinking about those little smiley faces they put on Children's work in primary schools, I said without thinking "A sticky face". Despite the howls of laughter, my red face and her red face, i'm sure it will just become another anecdote in time.

30th April
May day weekend -I feel so knackered from work this week that I will probably just sleep through it. Nothing interesting in my life has happened, however mundane for 48 hours. What's the point of a blog in these circimstance -a big sorry to any loyal readers.

1st May

It may be the day for the workers of the world to unite, but I had to spend it in the pursit of yet more materialistic good, picking up a couple of bedside cabinets from High Wycombe, The trouble with belonging to Vt is that you are always on the look-out for new material. High Wycombe was useless - what a bland, boring little place to live in. Still, even a dung beetle must find it's meal somewhere - and can;t be too choosy about it.

3rd May

I'm sure Bank holidays were invented to boost the profits of B & Q (Large DIY chain who used to have a slogan 'You can Bang and screw it when you B 7 Q it, but thats another story), I've spent most of the day under the direct supervision of my wife painting the hall and landing. Who said slavery was dead ?

5th May

At last success, in the eternal war of man against matter - brain against brawn : I got to the bottom of my plumbing and boiler woes. And all it cost me was a new spanner.

The system is still about as much use asa chocolate fireguard or a pork pie at a jewish wedding or a condom in a nunnery (has that offended enough groups) but it now dosn't treaten to blow up, and delivers hot water - well, downstairs at least, hurrah. Domestic bliss ensues.

Leader of the pack - Mark

6th May.

I've been getting some Vt withdrawal symptoms lately as some idiot workman at work put his spade through the main broadband cable to the computer network. The amount of people who became visibly stressed because they couldn't get to their e-mail or use the net was quite astounding.

It was also rumoured that the server had been turned off because of a vicious new worm that had already affected sites all over the place.

I don't think it would make any differences at home, it already seems to be addled with more viruses than a King's Cross whore

10th May

Woke up this moring with two chirping within earshot. As I am not a premiership footballer or an ageing rock-star the true story is little more mundane. The noise thes two little feathered friends make , considering their size is astonishing. I ended up shouting out of the window at 5.30 in the morning "If you don't stop doing that, I'm going to come up there, rip off your necks and **** down the hole" - much to the consternation of two Latvian immigrants on their way to work across the road.

If they are not gone in the morning then tomorrows starter for dinner will be chick-in soup...literally.

Tuesday 11th May 2004

I was somewhat alarmed yesterday to have managed to have attracted my first 'fan'. Unfortunately it was not a good look admirer, but rather an evil-looking thug who was thrown off VT within a few hours of joining (well done G). He looked at my motto on the homepage and then went on to describe how much he hated poor people ! I understand now how some people get so mis- understood by the terminally stupid : my sentiment was very much taking the view that the very poor, sadly, have to cart their life possessions with them - because that is all they have, whilst the rich take things so much for granted. It is not original - it comes from the writer AA Gill, who really should get around to putting out a good travel book sooner or later.

P.S didn't here the birds this morning - perhaps the eviction notice worked !

Thursday 13th May 2004

The press is still rumbling on about the fake pictures in the Daily Mirror concerning the treatment or Iraqi prisoners by British troops. I can't see what all the fuss is about : I see pictures of fake things everytime I open the Sun to page 3.
It is however a serious moral dilemma - how far can interrogation take place in order to obtain useful information, whilst preserving human rights.

Saturday 15th May 2004

Just been watching the Eurovision porn contest (sorry song contest). As usual it was another 3 hours of my life wasted although I did manage to complete a mountain of ironing and match up some socks that had long since been parted in times of strife.

Rather predicatably an upbeat song featuring rauncy women in leather outfits mas top of the poll.

The Eurovision song contest encapsulates why the concept of democracy is profoundly suspect : most people tend to vote because of long helf greivances and prejudices (both positive and negative) rather than the actual issues at stake.
.

At the top and hardly perspiring

Wednesday 19th May 2004

I see that the final list for the Olympics for 2012 was announced yesterday. I suspect that Paris will get the vote. Terrorism fears will rule out New York , London and possibly Moscow, whilst the Barcelona Olympics means Madrid's bid is too soon.

Sydney's olympics were impressive - perhaps they should be staged there every time.

Friday 21st May 2004

Isn't teaching a great career without any kids ? Having got rid of a load of them today to face the outside world - and exams I've got so much done ! I might even have time for a life, and do normal things for a while.

Sunday 23rd may 2004

Reality strikes - you think yoiu have more time, then spend the entire weekend becoming truly knackered from DIY work. I now even have a video of me lowering a cast iron bath out of an upstairs window (just don't ask). I then of course proceeded to have my last bath in it by connecting the garden hose to the hot water supply. With a couple of candles, a glass of champayne and a good back scrubber - what could be finer ?

Wednesday 26th May

I've been doing a bit of invigilation the last couple of days for examinations. I was told of a good game to play to pass the hours, although I will of course not admit to playing it.

You use the plan of the examination room with all the desks marked and proceed to play a game of 'battleships' based upon how ugly a child is / or how bad their hair is - anything is better than counting bloody bricks.

Friday 28th May 2004

Despite the title of this page I am now at last able to report to the outside world that my wife is pregnant and we will be expecting a bouncing baby in early December. I saw the 12-week scan yesterday and the little mite was jumping around like it was at a rave. The radiologist had a bugger of a time trying to get a good picture.
Seeing such a clear image was quite a sobering moment - you realise for the first time in your life that you are responsible in such a direct way for another life. The great debate about names will now ensue - although my choice of 'Algernon' appears to have been ruled out court at a very early stage.

Thursday 3 rd June 2004

Been a bit quiet on the blog front for the last few days as I have been catching up with...sleep. I'm on holiday visiting the in-laws in Ireland, and I find the air so soporific and relaxing that...ahhh time for a nap.

I met an Irishman one who claimed that you could translate the world 'Manyana' into Irish, but it just somehow lacked that sense of ugency.

So with typical celtic zeal and uguency...the blog...sorry but I just couldn't be arsed.

Monday 7th June 2004

Another year achieved - and still clinging to this mortal coil, although I'm now just over the "Three score years and ten" of life. I read yesterday that with advances in genetic engineering it is though that lifespan could be extended up to 200 years ! In that case I shudder to think how long I would have to do this job to pick up a pension.

Tuesday 15th June.

I know , I know I just couln't be arsed recently.

Local news : We had a riot in our market town - Boston, Lincs after the England game.

Obviously the local inhabitents thought they would let off a little steam : Two burnt out police cars later, every other shop window bricked in and the off-licence looted, according to a local councillor the place "Looked like downtown Beirut"

I think I would quite like to brick all twee gift shops, to stop my wife wasteing time and money in them. Or Hamley's - all those happy toys jiggling and singing at the same time.

wed 23rd June.

I'm just in the mood to write anything for a while. I'll restart the blog in September. So don't bother calling - have a vacation, chill out, ther is more to life than VT.