The Wickey Wickey Weekend.

Had a heavy week of work/childcare last week as Spud was preparing and attending interviews for teacher training. So climbing consisted of time on the board, which was actually quite nice because I hadn't used the board for a while and was a bit lacking in motivation to get on it without the impetus of otherwise not climbing. However it was also a bit depressing because I started by going through some of the old problems expecting (like an idiot) to do then fairly easily/quickly. Oh no, it was a spanking. So I quickly moved on to devising new problems which I kept telling myself were much harder and more specific to my goals than those older problems. Blah blah blah, what bollocks, I got caught out and that's that. I think part of the problem is board climbing is a unique thing and even if I think (in fact know) that I am a better climber now than the months ago when the first problems were done it doesn't transfer onto the board medium. Or at least it doesn't for me. Or am I just making excuses....
Anyway enough of the dullness of training the final interview was on Friday and Spud was accepted onto the course, hoorah! So I checked the weather forecast and cashed in a pass for Sunday. There was an open invitation to Spud and Lard but I did explain that wind was predicted and I would want to stay climbing and not run away when one of them (Spud) gets cold. Lard was still keen, but as he is only twenty months old Spud played the veto card and they stuck with the home fixture leaving me with an away match alone. The plan was go to the Cliff, meet the guru, crush Keelhaul, crush Jess's Roof, crush Demon Wall Roof Left Hand, crush Stu's Roof, have a coffee, some cake then head home for the final of the snooks.
Meanwhile in the real world it was blowing a gale at the Cliff, I got shut down completely, horribly and depressingly on Keelhaul, I couldn't be arsed dragging the mats very far through the hurricane so prepared to bin it. Then I thought I'd have a quick go at Underhand Extension, which got crushed but was a bit scary due to the gnarly landing coupled with the winds mat rearrangement efforts. Wind has no concept of Feng Shui. Anyhoos something ticked so I'm off. A quick text to let the guru know and I hightail it to Caley...

Which is damp. Oh well the guru shows up and gives me the tour (thank-you kindly sir) and I leave with a list of a couple of things to come back to.
Zoo Yorks - looks quality but was wet and has a "several mats and a couple of good spotters" landing
Ranieri's Reach - amazing line, obviously hard, but could have a go (even though slightly damp) and I'd like to go back in decent conditions.

And now it's snowing.