Present: Lucy Brill, Andrew Croughton, David Dillon, Mark Garrod, Tony Gask, Michelle Harvie, Sheena Hendrie, Chris Ivory, Alan Liv. Jones, Lester Payne, Mary Stuart, Jim and Judith Symon, Jonathan Timmis, Dave Whittingham, Chris Williamson, Anne Wooley, Dave Wylie.(19)

The weekend started of extremely well weather wise; I arrived in glorious sunshine on Friday -- perfect I thought, never listen to the forecasts they're always bloody wrong. Mr Timmis arrived late afternoon, also declaring the delights of the weather, and went off onto the hill for a run before tea.

A dozen or so bods were at the hut by a reasonable hour.. no probs with traffic at all considering it to be a bank holiday weekend - good oh! Lets be off to the watering hole at the end of the lane, just for the one of course.

Saturday dawned with the brightest warmest sunshine you could imagine, and the two earliest birds were, surprise surprise, Mark and Michelle up off to Dow crag before 8am!! Keeeen is not in it. So, setting the pace, everyone else also keen to get a good start, were off in hot pursuit not long after. Needless to say, Dow was quite a popular venue on such a perfect day, but the crag wuz ample enough wiv its roots to give everyone enuf to do. After lots of hot sticky climbs, what better way to cool off than in your own local tarn (the usual crew, you know the people who like to disrobe at the drop of a hat) Anyway, at the very end of a Scorchio day, the drizzle did threaten enough to send a few people scuttling back to the hut.. never mind, lots and lots of mega routes were ticked which made it very worthwhile. The rain didn't set in until much later ... good job because Mark and Jono were still on the crag well after dark!!

The rain did eventually set in though, albeit half heatedly at first but enough to keep people off the rock. Some went to the wall, and got lost on the way back... good landmark Dow crag; but are you sure you need to via this marker to get to Tranearth? Question of the weekend was apparently; did the rope get stuck by accident or was it fate? OR, How did it take three quarters of an hour to walk from the car to the hut? OR Why did Chris want to take Anne's clothes off anyway??

Wet weather always seems to provoke various antics from all and sundry and this was no exception... Stoker Dillon, apart from being very handy at building a furnace in the lounge, also seemed quite adept in aerodynamic construction, and using bin bags, garden canes, and help from the team, made an impressive looking kite. Other memorable events happened that day, but we wont go in to them here as its a family show; but that's what its all about, and as long as everyone enjoyed themselves that what counts isn't it!!!

A big thanks to all who made the meet so enjoyable.

May Bank Holiday in the Lakes ..... come and join in the fun: Tranearth climbing hut near Coniston GR 281957, it's out of the way from the madding crowds but close enough to stagger to the pub and back at night - and I should know. Last years meet was lots of fun, the hut is well situated, heated by a coke stove, but with all mod cons too. Dow crag is close and Wallowbarrow is not too far away and there is plenty else to do as well.

This year I have asked for serious heat as well as sunshine, so see me at the pub with a fiver to secure your place. If I'm not there, give it to the Ketchup Kid.