Climbing Training

Indoor Climbing again... are we mad??

We both did a bit of indoor climbing on our access course with Prince’s Trust but we tried it again to have another go, try harder climbs and get further than we did before.

We spent the morning learning about the safety checks and what equipment we need and their purpose.

Equipment checked and used:

• Helmets
• Harnesses
• Carabiners
• GriGri
• Ropes

 

We each checked our own helmets and fitted them to our heads.

The main parts to keep a safe helmet:

• All 6 clips attached inside
• The adjuster stays adjusted not loose
• No faded patches
• No white stress marks
• Keeping the straps untwisted

Then we went through harnesses and what to look out for. It is all part of us being able to check our own equipment is safe and others when they are getting ready to climb.

The main parts to keeping a safe harness:

• No fraying
• No tears or cuts
• All stitching is intact
• All metal buckles are free from damage

We were shown all different types of carabiners and other things you can use in substitute of the GriGri’s. To check to carabiners and the GriGri’s we checked along all the sides of the metalwork looking for:

• Sharp parts
• Broken mechanisms
• Shiny/ worn parts 
• Dust or dirt
• How much parts have been worn down to (Max 30%)

We talked through how to check the ropes and what to look out for, and then looked at a few examples; one that was 4-5 years old, one that was 2-3 years old and a two week old one. Some had examples of cuts and frays and others how they show their age. We used 60 meter ropes that went on forever! It had a twisted core of up to nine separate ropes and a tightly braided sheath bound over the top.

The main parts to keep a safe rope:

• No fraying
• No abrasions
• No fading or discoloured parts
• Flexibility

Once we got through all the security checks on all the equipment we packed what we thought we would need for the seven of us to climb with two separate climbs. We got it all right but didn’t put in extra carabiners.

We walked up to the army barracks where the indoor climbing wall is which, quite luckily, was only a ten minutes walk away at most!

We got the ropes changed over to ours and set up the climbs. In order to beeline each other safely we were talked through the V, Knee, 1, 2, 3 method and all gave it a practise.

We went through some warm up transverse climbs, where you climb the wall sideways across the bottom. Then we all did a climb each and took turns to solo beeline each other.

We wasn’t there long as after lunch the army needed the walk to climb and we came back but it was fun and we were pretty tired out as it is. Bear tied a perfect daisy chain on the rope - better than the one we had to undo, which didn’t even work like it should!

We finally got back and unpacked the kit and put it all away! We are definitely going to try to go again at some point and master the wall and be able to beeline each other safely. Always better when no-one falls to their death!

- Bear & Penguin x x x

Claws' Swim To Heaven

Our dearest Claws the Electric Blue Crayfish sadly passed in the late evening of the 26th July 2013. She died having complications whilst shedding, this is very common in from what we know in shellfish and spiders too. Crustaceans shed their shells when they grow and when they are happy in their environment, she was growing so fast and a happy little lobster!

I was chosen today,

I'm learning to fly.

The world took me away, 

But please don't you cry.

And i chose you today, 

To try and be strong.

So please don't you cry,

And say that i'm gone.

When you're feeling alone,

just remember our love.

I'm up near the stars,

Looking down from above!

Remember our love

in a moment you'll see

that im here still beside you

when you are thinking of me.

- Bear & Penguin x x x

Come Dine With Me

Everyone knows the show "Come Dine With Me" right?

"Come Dine With Me is a popular Channel 4 television programme shown in the United Kingdom, produced by ITV Studios (formerly known as Granada) and first broadcast in January 2005. The show has either four or five amateur chefs competing against each other hosting a dinner party for the other contestants. Each competitor then rates the host's performance with the winner winning a £1,000 cash prize. An element of comedy is added to the show through comedian Dave Lamb, who provides a dry and "bitingly sarcastic" narration."

This is Dave Lamb.

The Prince's Trust group planne to bring in a variety of people who work alongside Prince's Trust for a three course meal in the same sort of layout.

So hell yeah we put our names down for that one!

The Menu:

Starter:

Toasted French Bread topped with Mozzarella and Tomatoes, drizzled with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. Served with a side salad.

Main:

Homemade Lasange with home made Garlic Bread.

Dessert:

Blueberries, Raspberries and Strawberries with Vanilla Ice-Cream with an Icing Sugar Dusting.

We had a whole timetable to stick to as we were catering for about 25 people. We laid out all the tables to look smart and professional and added final touches, such as napkin rolled cutlery, table water and name places. We were pretty much rushed off our feet the whole entire time as once we finished the ton or two of chopping we had to make all the courses so they flowed easier later on!

Somehow at the end we even managed to lead the unexpected tour. So if we ever stop blogging you know Bear & Penguin have gone into business as tour guides! We did okay considering there was a big group to show around and we ourselves had only gone into about three of the room out of the many that was there.

At least on the way home we got to relax on the train home with strawberries and creme fraiche. 

Yummy!

- Bear & Penguin - Both Chefs and Tour Guides! x x x

Making Simon his Birthday Card

This is Simons beautiful card made by our nephew today! He drew his Uncle Simon wearing his WHF hat, himself and a Cheetah at the bottom! It was so cute and he wrote it our beautifully!

The first two are is the card. The third is his half the the envelope we had to make. We told him that he could decorate it however he wanted. So Simon got Sonic and Shadow. And finally as Simon's other half I did the other half of the envelope and  drew what Leon asked me to.

Then he wanted to play with Claws in the paddling pool. She wasn't in there for long but Leon loves her. Afterwards we drew her in the pool. It is just too cute!

- Bear & Penguin x x x x

Open Day at Wildlfe Heritage Foundation!

Their website:   

http://www.whf.org.uk/

Their Facebook page: 

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wildlife-Heritage-Foundation-UK/177615625595537?fref=ts

Their Twitter: 

  https://twitter.com/BigCatWHF

Those of you who have read past posts or pages will know that Penguin's other half Simon is a big cat keeper. Where he works isn't a zoo. It also isn't open to the public normally. You have to buy an experience to go. But once a year, for a few days, the have their open days. On these wonderful days, thousands of people all go to visit the big cats. Although we are rather lucky, as Simon works there we get to go and look around every now and then anyway, the open days are so lovely we decided to go!

As well as being able to see all the cats and have keepers do talks about the cats while we see them being fed, they have stalls there. They don't normally but for the open days, it helps to raise money. They are a charity, so all the money they get helps to look after the endangered animals they have.

Ares the male Jaguar getting his dinner down. We think he practices this routine! One handed, no hands! So cute to watch! He really was a crowd pleaser when he couldn't make up his mind to go for the food or roll around looking all cute!

Themba the male While Lion, Kafara the male African Lion and Sophia the female White Lion growling back to the children in front of her.

Mandalay the female Clouded Leopard. 

Viktoria and Valentina the sister Pumas, Ares the Jaguar again and Mia the female Cheetah. 

Nais the daddy walking around, sleeping and getting his dinner and his two boys Toba and Kubu sleeping.

Penguin's favourite stall was the face painting one. For the second day in a row, she got to be a Lion. Last year they wouldn't do a Lion... It took a fair few baby wipes to get it off but it was worth it!

Bear's favourite stall was a paintings stall. There was a painting of her all time WHF favourite cat! She searched everywhere for a Mephisto the Cheetah she loved and found a t-shirt, Print and key ring painted and made by Mike, an amazing artistic Keeper at WHF. 

Here's his website: www.mikematthewsartworks.co.uk/

Then she found a massive painting of Mephisto. Made her day!

There was a lot of food! Penguin has 2 hot dogs, strawberries and cream and fudge. Simon had a burger, apple and blackcurrant crumble cake, strawberries and cream and 3 different types of fudge! Bear had a veggie burger and carrot cake. Matt had a burger and chocolate cake.

Always a favourite with Children (or childish adults, like us..) They had mascots!

We were rather tired after the long exciting day, not that you can tell from the pictures we took when we got home. I didn't want to take my face paint off! But I had to in the end. Bear looks beautiful in her top! And as always we needed to take some pictures of us pulling funny faces!

 - Bear & Penguin x x x