Again I seem to have been too busy and too content to post. I suppose it’s one of the side effects of getting older, you don’t get phased as much as when you think you have to do all and be all.
About two weeks ago, the Mem Sahib and I set off ‘darn Sarf’ to get her up in one of them paraglider thingies. I’d bought her the two day taster package for her harrrumphieth birthday back in December and it was time to put pen to the rubber on the road – so to speak. So as you do, we set off on Saturday 3rd May and promptly went to a christian conference … the first “The National Gathering” of ‘Church Without Walls‘ hosted by the Church of Scotland at Ingliston. We are so glad we went. Excellent praise, superb talk given by Michelle Guinness, and a lot of hearty people who we met in the tented village. Each CoS had been invited to rent a tent for an exhibition about their church and what they were active in doing beyond the church boundaries and in their communities. Very interesting. Far too much top quality tablet [fudge] and cakes on offer tho! Stayed at Livingstone overnight before charging off down to Derbyshire the next day.
Monday dawned dull and drizzly, but not to be deterred we joined Paul Allmark of Parapente on the top of a hill called High Edge just outside Buxton. The wind was feeble but good for training. As the day wore on things got brighter, the wind got a bit better and we moved to a slopier site where the Mem and others practised running down hill whilst strapped in to a giant duvet cover on strings. At the end of the day there were even short flights of 10-15 seconds duration at an altitude of almost 3 metres. Height was controlled by means of the instructor hanging on to the harness! Day 2 was blighted my sunshine and far too much wind – so went for a small 7 mile hike instead. The next day saw us visiting Lyme Park – better known as Pemberley, the home of Mr D’Arcy in Austen’s “Pride and Sensibility at Northanger Park” … or something. A jolly good time had by all. Popped in to Castleton & had an ice cream.Since the wind didn’t drop we came home on the Thursday, popped over to Aberdeen on the Friday and Saturday to boast about aerial exploits, pet the dogs, stroke the lizards and encourage the intrepid Duncan / Hutchison households in their homesearch odyssey[s].
…more available here inc vid clip
Since then it’s pretty much been bizz as usual. Gardening, enjoying friends and family, simple churching and reading.
Got to go – Cotoneaster hedging beckons!
