Just realised I haven’t blogged about my jaunt up Ben Lomond last year. Well I did but a couple of short paragraphs doesn’t really cover it. It was a crazy day after all.

It started with the seven of us planning the trip and gradually realising the weather was going to possibly scupper all our plans. Alex ended up pulling out due to a case of the lurgy and one of Willie’s mates gave up as well. In all honesty we possibly should have as well with hind sight.

I guess the first sign that the day wasn’t going to go we the way we planned appeared when we started driving up the east bank of Loch Lomond. Forget the rain we encountered on the way up there. It was definitely the fallen trees on the road that gave the biggest hint.

The rain held off as we got our gear together but thanks to a few errors in the layout of the roads and land *cough* I couldn’t read my map */cough* it took us five minutes which included a walk up a forest road that went nowhere near the summit before we realised we had to head back to the car park to find the real path.

The initial going was good. The weather was a bit crap though. One minute it rained the next it stopped but the wind just didn’t let up. We would get completely soaked by the rain and then by the time it stopped and started again we would have been blown dry. As we started to reach about a third of the way up we really started to struggle with the wind. It gets a little steep at this point and as the hillside is completely exposed once you get pass the tree line at the beginning it started to take it’s toll. Mark decided he just couldn’t go any further. I don’t know if it was the wind or just his body telling him that despite the energy drinks he was stupid to go any further but he was the first to head back and with hindsight I think that’s when we all should have turned back.

The wind didn’t let up at all throughout the climb and in fact just got worse. I read the weather reports when we got back and for most of the climb the wind was gusting at up to 50 miles per hour. Dave and Stoo were determined to at least make it to the half way point which to there credit they did. There is a well about halfway up on the map which they made it passed before they turned back. I don’t know why but I stood for a few minutes shouting to Dave to make sure he knew what to do if something was to happen to them on the way down. I guess it was because although we all had radios with us the mobile phone reception up there is sporadic at best and almost all the survival and first aid gear was either in my own bag or Willie’s ruck sack.

So we pressed on. At times the wind would just hit us constantly for a few minutes and we’d just stand there leaning into it hoping for it to let up long enough for us to walk another couple of hundred yards before the next gust. It was round about this point that we started to meet a few other climbers as they caught up with us. We’d only seen one other person on the hill up until then and he had shot ahead with his dog and you could see his outline as he made a break for the summit. They all seemed nuts if truth be told. We stopped for a quick rest just as it starts to get really steep and rocky just before you turn back around and start the last leg up to the summit. Willie stopped for a breather and I carried on to see how far I could get before I stopped for a bite to eat to let him catch up.

That’s when I bumped into they guy with the dog again. He was on his way back down after reaching the summit and said it was insane up there. As I found out later it was gusting at up to 90 miles an hour up there. He waited until the wind died down before running between rocks and then holding on until the wind died down again. He almost lost his dog three times thanks to the wind apparently. I pushed on and got to within what I thought at the time was about 400 yards from the summit but after looking again at the map it was probably twice that I turned back. It was just stupid to carry on. I took my last picture looking out over the lochs behind the mountain and the camera’s battery died. It’s was definitely a sign.

It turned out Willie had actually decided just to wait where he had stopped hoping that I’d turn back as well. I eventually made it back down to him and just like when I climbed Ben Nevis there was a spring in my step on the way back down. Where we struggled to walk up the damn hill we were almost running down the thing. The worst bit was still to come however.

When we reached the bottom we found out that the hotel was without power. A tree had been blown over and took out both the power and phone lines. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem except all the way back down the hill all we could think about was a nice warm meal and a pint of beer. The kitchen was shut and the beer pumps wouldn’t work without power. We were stuck with warm bottled beer or cans of soft drinks and a scone.

We will be back to do it again when the weather gets better and there are plans afoot to hit The Cobbler in March in preparation. Fingers crossed the weather works out for us next time!

Tags: Ben Lomond, Dave Hogg, hills, Mark, outdoors, rain, Scotland, Stoo, walking, weather, Willie, wind

Originally published at The Apochrypha. Please leave any comments there.

So the weddings almost here and despite setbacks with the airsoft day we settled on going on a subcrawl. Not a lot of planning is required other than turn up on time which as you’ll see is where we went wrong from the get go.

The day before Vonnie had managed to secure us babysitters as the original plan was I went out on my stag night the previous weekend while she went on her hen night on Saturday night. This meant Vonnie was on the go from quite early on but it meant we both got to go out. And then on Friday night something happened that meant our babysitters couldn’t look after the kids. This left us with a problem as they were our last hope. I managed to get my parents to look after the kids from the afternoon onwards but we needed someone to cover the first few hours and we just couldn’t get anyone. Vonnie kept trying right up until I was due to leave without success.

So anyway the girls came round to start off the hen night at our house while I packed up the kids and waited to hear from my mum. The original plans were for my mum to come and pick them up and my brother and I could head off into Glasgow straight away but when she phoned and Vonnie passed on what was happening I picked her up wrong. I was actually supposed to take them down to my parents but instead I ran about the place stressed because my mum hadn’t turned up yet. It turned out that I didn’t have the kids ready anyway until we did actually leave so the delays were my fault entirely.

So anyway on to the day. Mark and Dave had headed in to town early on to get breakfast with the idea of meeting us at 12 noon. I think we actually ended up getting into Fat Boab’s Ale House in St Enoch Square for 3pm. There goes the day right from the beginning. We had a choice to make. Scrap the subcrawl and just make it a normal pub crawl, attempt the subcrawl anyway knowing there was noway we’d actually finish it as the subway shuts at 11pm or jump ahead a few stations and just continue as if we’d started at noon as planned.

The last option won out and it wasn’t until we were actually on the train that it was decided to start at Ibrox. It was actually in the Stadium Bar that I came up with the idea on how i could record the night. I was going to review the toilets of every pub we went into that night. Not the best idea I’ll grant you but it was fun whilst I could make out the text on my phone as I typed them up as we left.

So anyway here goes on what I remember.

St. Enoch – Started of at Fat Boabs for the first pint of the day. We wandered in and I almost died. I wanted to by this place so I wouldn’t have to change the name back when I was a student and they were playing really crap 70’s pop music. My heart actually bled.

Ibrox – The Stadium bar was the pub of choice seeing as we were to busy trying to get indoors and away from the multitude of police that were about. This was where I thought of the toilet reviews as when I went in it was like any normal Southside pub I’ve been in except there was literally an inch of mould on the pipes under the urinals and it came out a good foot onto the floor. Ick. Nice enough place despite it looking like a cowshed inside.

Govan – Next stop was Brechan’s. It was quiet when we went in but by the time we were almost finished it was full of pissed old men. As for the toilets, the sign said mind the step. What it didn’t say was mind the step and oh by the way is bloody sloped as well so you might want to watch that. I almost ended up face first in a pool of piss on the floor.

Partick – Hayburn Vaults. What can I say about this place other than two guys tried to accost me when I went to the toilet because one of them wanted me to back him in a fight with the other one and the other wanted the same. They were at least 70! Oh and the toilets smelt like a colostomy bag.

Kelvinhall – The Three Judges. Small but bus. This was where I was given my Groucho-style fake nose and glasses. One of the other subcrawl groups going about found it hilarious that I had one on my t-shirt so made me wear it for photos. The bogs smelt of flowers but were absolutely tiny. This was Willie’s first pub of the crawl.

Hillhead – We ended up in Vodka Wodka on Ashton Lane. Not the busiest place on a Saturday night. There was about 9 folk in there and most of them were us. Still…at least the toilets were interesting. The disabled toilet opens up into the guys toilet for some reason and some girl was in there trying to sneek peeks just as we left.

Kelvinbridge – This is where it starts to go a little fuzzy for me. I haven’t a clue what the pub was called and all that I remember about it was there was an elephant skull thing hanging from one of the walls. The toilets were huge though!

St George Cross – This one took a bit of finding but we managed to find The Royalty. The regulars were a good laugh and despite the look of the pub the toilets were sparkling :p I think this was the place where Willie fell down the hole. Walking back to the tube station he just dropped by a few foot as he went down the hole in the street. Was ery surreal and something that only ever happens to Willie.

Cowcaddens – I believe we were in MacIntoshes and I say that because I’ve only got my phone as proof. This was the second one we had to hunt for. Its also where Barry joined us but it involved me running around to Trader Joes to get him which in itself was a feat. Firstly I could still run and secondly I could remember where it was despite only ever being there once. And lastly and more importantly I managed to find the pub we were in on the way back!

Buchanan Street – I believe we went in to Waxy OConners despite me meaning to go to The Vale. I believe this is my fault because someone asked where we should go and I stumbled in the back door.

‘Closing the Circle’ – Although we didn’t do the full crawl we still felt as though we had to go back to where we started. This involved braving Fat Boabs again. They had Kareoke on. I hate Kareoke. I refuse to sing Kareoke. After about 3 drinks in there Willie and Barry dragged me up with barely a struggle from me. I couldn’t tell you what we sang. I don’t think I could tell you when we were singing it what we sang.

I have to say I had a great night but feeling sick before you head home never mind when your in your bed sets you up for a bad hangover.

No tag for this post.

Tags: ale, Barry, Buchanan Street, Dave, Enoch Square, Glasgow, Mark, Southside pub, St Enoch Square, Stadium Bar, Willie

So…catch up again. Why do I always seem to be playing catch up?

Mark and Willie came round to the flat on friday night for a beer or two while Vonnie was out with her friends for what will probably be the last time before the baby appears. Had a good laugh but with Willie having to get a lift home it was quite an early night for all concerned. Think Mark got to see teh pilot of The A-Team for the first time ever as I dont think he was aware someone else played Face. Stag night plans were discussed along with possible travel arrangements. Turns out some places abroad are a hell of alot cheaper than heading to places in the UK!

Weekend plans were to do nothing. I had Barry’s 30th on saturday night which I was having trouble getting to as we were having trouble finding a babysitter for Finn. Vonnie had forgot this and had got 2 tickets to see the Bloodhound gang in the hope we could find a sitter as well. So…we managed to find a sitter and went to the gig. The idea being the gig finishes at 10 and we were only popping by Barry’s party to say hi anyway as we’re skint. Didn’t quite work out like that though. Gig was good despite missing the opening act because we got lost in Cranhill. Electric Eel Shock blew us away before the Bloodhound Gang did their usual on the stage. By the time the gig finished Barry hadnt got back to me with what was happening after his party so myself, Mark, Willie and Rev headed to the cathouse for a couple of hours. Between the 4 of us only one person paid thanks to guestlists and PIYP’s so a cheap night was had. Still didnt hear anything and have vague memories of my phone going at the back of 2 but I’ve no idea who it was as I’ve only just remembered about it and I havent touched my phone all weekend! In fact I forgot it this morning as well

Sunday was spent vegging on the PC, tidying the flat up alittle and ‘better’ organising the stuff in teh living room so we can acess it a bit easier to unpack as well as taking up less room…we have all our seats free again! I then spent the night sitting in front of the TV watching my Teachers Series 1 DVD’s.

And now if you’ll excuse me my lunchhour is finished so I’d better get back to the mess I left behind on my desk from before I went on leave. I’ve not stopped all day

Tags: Barry, Mark, possible travel arrangements, United Kingdom, Willie

So yeah, aye and all that kind of thing.

Not much has been happening over the last week or so. Lawyers still have thier thumbs up their arses and seem to be working on a ‘go slow’, moved into my parents to get some room but its stressing everyone out just a little. Works been…I’ll not kid myself, my boss has been off and I’ve done nothing this last week and I’m going to pay for it today. And stuff happened…cant remember what it was but it must have happened otherwise I wouldnt be here feeling like I do.

Spent Saturday night up at Mark’s starting off the roleplay. I’d managed to lose all my papers for the game at Vonnies so I couldn’t really start it off properly. Spent about an hour talking Mark and Willie through the setting and how they came to be amongst The Guards ranks. Then LotR’s 3 got thrown on the TV and we sat gabbing about airsoft and Ultima Online for hours. I’d managed to drink a litre of fake red bull and was flying by the time I got home so couldnt sleep.

Yesterday was meant to be sorting out the Govanhill flat but we didnt get ther until 7.30pm…but we still got most of it done. Didnt get to bed until midnight mind you. Unfortunately we couldnt store the couch in the bedroom…it turns out the bedroom doorway is 4 inches narrower than every other door in the flat! So we had to bin it. It was in teh street a matter of minutes before the cushions went missing andthen within 20 minutes the couch itself was gone. They left the bed though :S

Tags: Mark, Willie

We got onsite for dead on 10.30 only to find Steve running through the safety speech already. Looking good for a quick start and plenty of gaming!

By the time we got geared up and signed in the first game was over and done with and the teams were divied up into 4 six man teams for timed farm clearing games. These kind of games are OK once in a while so I quite enjoyed it after not playing them for months. My only gripe is that although each game only last 15 mins if your not the attacking team you can go 45 mins without firing a shot. I think between the 6 of us we managed to go through about 100 bb’s between us during this time and most of that was me shooting the heads off plants. When it came our turn to assault the farmhouse we decided to try and capitalise on the mistakes we seen the other teams making. Alot of the teams werent defending the corner room very strongly and were filling up the courtyard with bodies that were vunerable from the front. Splitting into two teams we sent Mark, Shug and Tony round the front to snipe on the guys out in the open (which seemed to work despite them breaking cover too early and almost killing the guys that were already dead. Myself, Willie and Ryan decided to take the corner room fast and hard..unfortunately we got a little bogged down trying to take the back door but we cleared that and I got Orev a peach as he was lining up a shot on Wilbur. Pretty soon we were trying to clear the courtyard as well whilst guarding the backdoor (which ended up being our undoing as I miscountd the number of fol I thought were out there and the last guy got me and Ryan). Willie got into a shooting match with one of Orevs mob…he’d just taken my head off from about 5-6 yards as he was hugging the wall just inside the courtyard. After Ryan mediced me back in I told Willie who started ducking round the corner and openign fire. They traded fire a couple of times whilst Ryan watched on after being shot himself by this guy and by myself as I struggled to get my gun up for a shot. When Willie finally got him the guy called blind firing and told Steve about it. Fair enough the first couple of pellets that were coming out of the gun might have went off before Wilies head was fully in view but he wasnt blind firing and all three of us new that the guy wasnt going to be sitting at the end of the barrel when the gun opened up if that was the case anyway. It turned out we romped that game which is weird considering we’ve never been very good at storming the farmhouse…ever!

After lunch we had an ambush game that seemed to drag on a bit but I manged to tag two folk without dying only for time to be called just as the red team were making thier way down to the ‘Little Bridge’.

I wasn’t at all happy about the games at The Alamo though. Again we were split into our 6 man teams but this time we were teh defenders whilst teh 18 attacked us and our defense timed. They just turned into a bb-fest and I managed to go through 2 batteries and about about 2300 bb’s in the 4 short games. We’d barely hit four oclock and most of us were having to ration our ammo or go onto springers or pistols to get by. It was fun in a lets hoot loads of bb’s and inflict pain on anyone in the alamo kind of way but thats not why I play airsoft…apart form the first squad game at the farmouse during your ’15 minutes” there was very little in the way of constructive airsofting like we used to play. Fair enough Steve wasnt; well and fair play to him for making it out to run the day but almost 3 hours of similar gameplay was a bit much.

The predator game ended up with myself borrowing Mark and Wilbur’s glocks and runnign about pretending to the guy from Equilibrium only to realise that i’m a shite shot and cant hit anything with them

A few pics came out OK and can be found here

Tags: Little Bridge, Mark, Ryan, Wilbur, Willie

I spent yesterday getting angry about the slightest things and I don’t know why. I ended up with a migraine at one point during the day but thankfully it disappeared by the time I left work.

Vonnie was heading out to Renfrew after work and as I have no key to hers anymore I organised to go to the pub to draw up some of the characters for the roleplay we’re going to run soon. The battery on my phone was almost dead so after I got to the flat in EK I charged it for the length of time it took me to find the WOD books…about 10 minutes. This meant I had to have my phone turned off for most of the night.

Couldnt be arsed sitting about the flat so I went to the chippie and got some food and headed down to the pub to read some of my book and get a head start on the characters. Paid for my first pint and the woman tried to shortchange me…wasn’t happy. Eight oclock came and went and I started to worry but Mark and Willie are usually fashionably late anyway so I switched on my phone to check the time..20:20. Then a text from mark arrived saying that he couldnt make it. I asked him to let Wilbur know it was cancelled and I’d head for the bus. I drained the pint in front of me and headed out to teh car park only to find Wilbur had already arrived. We sat and talked for a bit about tattoos, vikings and the flat before getting stuck into his character. I really like the idea he’s got and I hope it works out in game.

Got a lift down to my work from Willie where Vonnie was going to pick me up. I’d just sat down and started to finish off my book when she showed up so there was no waiting about. Headed home and slept like a log.

I still feel like a disagreeable bar today mind you.

Tags: food, Mark, migraine, teh car park, Willie

So…strange weekend all round.

Sat and watched X-Men 2 on friday night I think…or was that thursday night?

Saturday was messing about the flat before heading up to EK to get my bus pass and pick up my provisional drivers license that had arrived that morning. Dropped in on my parents who cooked us dinner as well and by the time we got back to the flat FInn was out for the count and I sat down and watched Donnie Darko. Vonnie didnt seem to impressed at first and was intent on her knitting but by the end of the film she was enthralled I think. A “total mind-fuck” was how she descrived it I think.

Sunday was airsoft with the lads. As usual I was having trouble making it up to EK with all my gear so Shug managed to give me a lift to the site. Willie and Mark seemed to have a good day which is always a bonus

I am now sore all over. I think my body just isnt used to running over undulating ground not knowing if im gong to drop a foot or not. I was just getting iinot the swing of things by the end of the day as well. You get to the point where your body remembers not to automatically assume the foots going to land on hard ground at the same height as the other so you dont bother starting the next step until you know your on solid ground. Sounds a little strange but it works suprisingly well even though you do feel like your bouncing rather than running at times

Got back…had a chicken kebab and soaked in a bath for a while. By the time I’d got out Vonnie wanted in and we were both shattered by the time she got out. Early night for both of us so it was.

Tags: Alabama, Donnie Darko, Mark, Men 2, Willie