The Exit Strategy

Our planned weekend away with all our friends was, in hindsight, probably a huge mistake. We had such a fantastic time, from traipsing up one of the highest mountains of the Lake District to playing the box game - every activity was a highlight… and that has made it even harder to leave… to know we are leaving such an amazing group of friends behind for a year.

Weekends away always amaze me. I love the way a group of people who don’t really know each other that well can leave a few days later feeling like they  have a new bunch of friends. We felt the same way after going kayaking in Sweden with Helen and Liam a few years ago. It’s fantastic how everyone cheers each other on, with those who are more confident helping the others out. It’s great trying out new activities in a group because it gives you so much more confidence. I would have been a lot more scared walking up Great Gable without all those other hundreds of people; however I may not have stacked it on the mountain bikes if I hadn’t been screaming at Adelle about how amazing it was!

The other thing we have laughed about a few times since we returned is how the whole group mentality thing works. It was funny how, as individuals, I don’t think that any of us would have got up so early on a Sunday morning to march up a hill in cold and dreary weather. But, as one person got up, so did a few others (mainly the girls to get some make-up on!) and then some of the boys thought they should get up and then the stragglers were like, well I suppose I can’t be the last! And to get a group of people up, packed and out so quickly was amazing! I was so thrilled that everyone was willing to come up Great Gable  and it was wonderful that we got there in perfect time – if a little bit more by luck than judgement! The service was so short and simple, wasn’t it? Two minutes silence, thanks for coming, and let’s gather up the dogs and hot-foot-it down the mountain again! Sometimes the simplest of things are the best.

 

Anyway, we thought that it wouldn’t be right to have the weekend pass by without a few awards of recognition being given out, so here we go, in no particular order… : )

Best membership recruiter:  Mike Hankinson (Hanky) – for the recruitment of additional group member Dave during Go Ape

Couple most likely to be able to perform all positions of the Karma Sutra: Sally and Antony – as displayed during efforts in the box game

Most promising mountaineer: Chris Evans – for getting up Great Gable in a golf jacket and Adidas pumps

Most organised youth hosteller: Jointly awarded to Helen Melon and Liam for being first to find YHA and having the most organised bed side manner

Most dedicated first aider: Graham Schofield – for taking new buddies Hanky and Dave to walk-in-centre. There was strong competition for this award with ‘Nurse Brady’ coming a close second ; )

Most traumatic experiences endured over one weekend (ever!): Emma Brady for not only getting over Go Ape, Mountain Biking and hill walking,  but for also being propositioned with wearing a red balaclava!!! : )

Most inspired entertainment with a balloon: Beccy Tomlinson – we feel that she could have gone further if her efforts hadn’t been thwarted by Jonathan’s misuse and abuse of the red balloon

Most chilled-out couple: Adam and Adelle for embracing all the activities with  a ‘they could have made this scarier’ attitude

‘Potty-mouth’ Award: Rebecca Hutchinson for most outrageous suggestions during a game of ‘I’ve Never…’ in a room full of strangers

Going the Extra-mile Award: Sam and Inspector Jones for managing to get lost whilst following a line of 500 people down a mountain

Best consecutive yelps during weekend: Helen Greaves, Jill Martin and Beccy Tomlinson going over one of the ramps a bit too fast whilst mountain biking in the woods

Most age-defying flexibility: Paul Fernley for winning the box game at the age of 30-something with jeans on!

Best supporting female: Sarah Holman for decorations, balloons and an inexhaustible list of games… and for not making me do another speech! ; )

See you for a re-run in 12 months guys!

“Now, which way is down?”