All Change

Life seems to be going in distinct one-month blocks currently. November - locuming, December - climbing, and now January is the month of sorting. Currently the next month seems pretty scary - lots to get sorted and not very much time; combined with the fact that trying to actually organise working in South Sudan requires the use of what I shall call "non-definitive arrangements" which is one of many ways that I will avoid actually admitting that I have no idea what's going on. The future is more than a little hazy at present (more of a full-on fog). But a month is enough time to get everything sorted, and as always, it will be fine (this philosophy requires a liberal view of what constitutes "fine").

Well, as theres only so long I can ramble on about how I have no idea what is going on, I think I'll write about my climbing trips and Christmas instead. Over the last month, I've thought of lots of interesting things that I thought I should write in here, but never really got round to it. Don't worry, I won't  bore you with too much. I've been really lucky to have been on 3 climbing trips over December, each quite different, but all enjoyable. After writing about how much I like to improve and push myself in climbing, I have also realised how fun it is to climb things that are completely in my comfort zone and just enjoy the climbing, rather than feeling any pressure (internal or external) to push myself in terms of difficulty.

Apart from the climbing, I've also had the opportunity to catch up with old friends, spend more time with existing ones, and make new friends, which has been as good as the climbing itself. I finally was able to return to the Costa Blanca in Spain and climb a few routes that had been on my mind since my first outdoor lead climb there in 2005. I found myself leading a couple of climbs that I had tried the last time I was there, which I had struggled up on toprope, thinking that the people who led the climbs were super-heroes. It was a surreal moment when I realised this halfway through the delicate, technical crux, feeling pretty comfortable.

My month of sorting is progressing slowly, probably not helped by disappearing off to Snowdonia for adventures this weekend, but some offers are too good to turn down - places I love, with amazing people.