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Fireworks in the Fog, Champagne in the Rain! 
Thirty-two of us visited the Glenbrook Centre in the Peak District at some point over the New Year week. We enjoyed some magnificent walks in sunshine and snow, and even succeeded in our ambition to see in the new millennium from the top of a hill! 
On Tuesday Tom led 7 of us on a stomping hike to an obscure spot height on Kinder Scout. It had never occurred to me before that the biggest bog in England could be beautiful. It was a winter wonderland; bright sun, sparkling snow, blue sky, crisp underfoot, grouse squawking, vistas across the plateau and to Bleaklow beyond and green Edale valley below. You may already have heard from the others about our New Millennium night; Slightly to Dave's & my surprise, everyone, all 25 or so, went to the top of Mam Tor. Dave P said we should go at 10.30 and so at 10pm the common-room was quiet; card-game, book-reading, and some girlies in the kitchen calling for "all flasks" to put the mulled wine into.. 
At Mam Tor car park we togged up against the drizzle and all went up together at the speed of the slowest. The wind at the top was fairly fierce, and we got there at 11.30. Colin and I managed to get everyone to get into one of the four group shelters we'd brought - and so 4 little parties started to develop. At 5 to 12 we put away the shelters ("cor, it really works, its cold out here" said someone) and gathered at the trig point on the summit. By now there were about 70 people up there, and someone had a radio/cassette. It was turned up loud for Big Ben's bongs and we all along to sang Auld Lang Syne. There was a real party atmosphere going; champagne, hugs, whisky, bagpipe music blaring. I'd got some rockets and Chris S helped me set them off using a cigar! Someone else had brought a box-load so we had a good display although somewhat diminished by the thick mist! 
Everyone agreed afterwards it was a damn good idea for the end of the millennium, and it was certainly different, memorable, and even fun! The serious fun got started when we got back to Glenbrook, opened more champagne, let off the rest of the fireworks, and danced to 3.30... 
The millennium dawned frosty and dazzlingly bright. By 11.30 everyone had emerged from their pits and taken on enough tea and bacon & eggs (well done Dave P) to contemplate climbing Win Hill. It was a lovely easy-paced walk, brilliant view at the top, and a PERFECT day's hike to open the century. Cor! Lorna See some more pictures of our trip I most enjoyed seeing the beautiful snow covered top of Kinder Scout, a breath taking view (Helen it wasn't real snow - I think it must have been that artificial cotton wool stuff!). And oddly enough being huddled in the shelter drinking mulled wine on the top of Mam Tor on New Years Eve. I also enjoyed: Lynn My First New Year Trip I came to find out why I'd had such a rough ride last New Year when Mummy was in Wales (and I was in Mummy). I slept through the New Year's Eve celebrations but the I was warn and cosy in bed while everyone else got cold and wet. Mummy and Daddy thought I was too young to witness the debauchery and drunkenness that followed. The Win Hill walk was very good. I slept all the way up and I slept all the way down, but the views at the top were well worth Daddy's hard work. Thank you to everyone who tried to entertain me (I tried to humour you by smiling at your silly faces!) Next year I will be able to walk all on my own. Bethany Strellis (very advanced for her age) Lynn & Paul's Wedding Well none of us knew quite what to expect when Lynn and Paul said they were getting married, but their bring-and-share wedding was a tremendous success. Weddings can be rather solemn events with lots of serious looking relatives in big hats. Lynn and Paul's wedding was a joyous, flag-waving occasion. Friends and relatives came from far and wide to join in the celebrations, including Debs and Nico all the way from Holland. Nick the Vic gave a witty and amusing sermon on the joys of marriage and how to keep the love alive. Co-operation was one of his "5 C's", ably demonstrated by the happy couple as they charged down the aisle at the end of the service in different directions, trampling the official photographer on the way! The bring-and-share buffet was enormous with delicious and varied contributions from all the guests. The whole event was rounded off by some seriously energetic barn-dancing. The vision of the bride being whirled around in a centrifugal basket will stay with me for some time! Many thanks to Lynn and Paul for having such a great celebration, and all our best wishes for your future together. Christmas Blowout Our annual pilgrimage to Chignall St James village hall went off, as usual, without a hitch. Two enormous birds arrived, roasted to succulent perfection, along with delicious, crispy spuds and traditional veg. 37 of us partook, starting with soup, followed by fish and sauerkraut, main course, steaming Christmas pud, satsumas, coffee and mints. Unbelievably there was a high take up of seconds (God knows where they put it). Many thanks to all the volunteers without whom our turkeys would have remained raw and our veg unchopped. The evening was a roaring success and there was even enough turkey left for a sizeable curry courtesy of Jim at New Year. A Grand Day Out Sunday dawned a rather grey and drizzly day, but never the less 13 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs met up in the car park of the Henham Cock for what proved to be an absolutely gorgeous day out. In order to deserve the enormous lunches we had booked it was necessary to complete a 5 mile circuit of the locale. True it was a bit muddy under foot (and over foot and up the insides of you trouser legs) but the weather just got better and better. We walked along sun-dappled bridleways along side the river Cam (at this stage just a brook, nothing you could punt on) and the dogs scampered about, Buster thrusting his head down all the interesting-looking holes he could find. After our extremely substantial lunches, those with enough stamina remaining visited the Mole Hall Wildlife Park. Along with herds of deer there are loads of cheeky little otters (I'm not sure if they are that friendly to everyone or if they simply mistook us for the bloke doing the feeding). Also peacocks, flamingos, cranes, barn owls, snowy owls, eagle owls, marmosets, sheep, lamas and wallabies. The lady even let us play with one of her snakes! Definitely a place to visit again when we have a bit more time. The day was capped by a totally gorgeous sunset, the sky aflame in turquoise and orange - absolutely perfect! Goldhanger Walk A bright sunny Sunday at the beginning of December saw eleven of us assembling at Heybridge Basin car park. Nigel led us around the coast to Goldhanger, repeating a walk we did five years (less a week) ago. After a fine lunch at the Chequers we made our way back across the fields (repeating the same navigational errors of five years ago), perfectly timed to see a colourful sunset as we got back to Heybridge. Steve's Day on Snowdon While most of us were ambling around Goldhanger, Steve was a little more ambitious… Decided to go into Wales and do some walking on Sunday, so booked into Capel Curig YH. Difficulty getting car started in the morning following blizzards and a very cold night, meant I had to walk to Pen-y-Pass - no snow on the ground in that area. Seemed relatively straight forward up to Crib Goch - but then I saw the ridge! Unbelievable. With just a little snow and ice I picked my way along eventually getting to Garnedd Ugom. Other people were on the ridge too making it a little safer, and at one stage I decided to use by crampons and ice axe as it looked slippery, especially where other people had been. Reached the top and came back via the treacherous ice of the Miners Track. Good to be back on a proper level track before nightfall. Walked back to Capel Curig in the rain. Arriving soggy. Amazing day. |
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