Things that strike me

Some time ago – before this site was born, basically – I flew to Edinburgh to do some climbing lessons. I did this for all sorts of reasons linked to access to lessons here (Edinburgh is easier to get to than UCD, for example ) and the fact that I could get lessons in Edinburgh now, rather than wait for UCD to schedule a beginners’ class – which they do a few times a month – and the fact that, dammit, another reason for people to laugh at me might be good – see her – she’s the one who went to Paris for one day to go to Disneyland for her birthday. I mean how way out is that?

Put in that context, going to Edinburgh for a day to add another item to the list of things I do which could potentially break my fingernails is kinda tame really. I went to Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in Ratho. Before I went climbing of course, I had a lot of time to mooch around Edinburgh and elected to go to the National Gallery – they have some very nice impressionist stuff, but a lot of portraits of people I don’t know.

Anyway, the climbing turned out to be less painful and more fun than even I expected – I was expecting it to be good – and I was planning to do some more climbing except, while out walking, I injured my knee and that softened my cough on the nail endangering sports like kitesurfing and climbing for a little ickle while. I got the all clear a few weeks ago, have been back kitesurfing – brrhhh – and put some thought into going back climbing.

There are a few climbing walls in Dublin. There’s nothing like Ratho, of course, but all told, I can think of 5 climbing walls. Three are linked to universities and the other two are linked to Westwood Sport and Leisure. I live close to one of the Westwood ones, and the DCU one. In fact, I live much closer to DCU than to Westwood; however, to use the one in DCU, it appears, you need to be a member of the DCU climbing club which you can only join if you are a student or member of staff there. Well I’ve spent 6 of my years in DCU and am now just a graduate. Climbing in DCU out. I’ve joined Westwood instead.

When I announce that I’m going to do something like this, various people around me either think it’s cool, or they think I’m nuts. I spent a lot of my life not doing stuff because people told me I was nuts and then I got to the age of 30 or so and wondered why it was nuts. Yesterday, before I sorted out access to Westwood, I looked for rock climbing videos – you know – the type to keep you going.

I found this.

I’m never going to be able to do this. I can try but still….

Anyway, what I wouldn’t mind giving a shot at when I’ve developed a few more muscles and a little less vertigo is ice climbing. I have a way to go; lot of work to do.

So here’s hoping.