Old Git's Tales, or Old Wives Tales?
By Neville McMillan
To: The KMC Newsletter Editor From N. McMillan
Sir,
Old Git's Tales, or Old Wives Tales?
Those who read Roger Dyke's self-deprecatory account of him climbing, or failing to climb, a VDiff in the Moelwyns, may be horrified to learn that there is worse to come. The last time Roger and I completed a route at the Roaches, we had to take alternate leads on a Moderate! I feel that I can reveal this lowly state of climbing by old men in the KMC by hiding behind my new title. On my recent birthday the President of the Club bestowed on me the title of "The Old Git", and I have the evidence to prove it. (I have not heard since from the Committee that this has been ratified, so maybe it is an unofficial title.)
But old men's tales do not necessarily tell the whole truth. I can further reveal that, since the above episodes, Roger and I successfully climbed an E1 5b at Ramshaw Rocks. This was done without the use of "combined tactics", pulling on the gear, or even the use of a tight rope. Not too bad for an aggregate age of 130 years! So maybe the state of climbing among the old men of the KMC is not so bad after all. Or maybe they are just enjoying themselves like the Last of the Summer Wine.
But are all these events, taken as a whole, believable? Were there ANY independent witnesses to ANY of these events?
Yours,
The Old Git
(Official/unofficial title)
13 June 2001
