Up to Penrith for the weekend with Phil, Lewis and Steph. Was going to drive up on the friday evening but due to the severe weather warning left it to the saturday. Got to Phil's for about 11am and decided to go and have a look at Blencathra. Packed to stuff into rucksacks, or well Lewis' new Millet Peuterty to try it out for the day! Set off in the car up to Scales.



Parked up after a minor epic invloving breaks and a very ice hill to discover than Phil had forgotten his boots. Decided that warm dry feet for the day didn't really warrant the 40min round trip back to Penrith we set off with Phil in his Etnies trainers - perfect winter mountaineering footwear! Got to Scales tarn in good time, looked at Sharp Edge which looked very icy so opted for out 'home-brew' of routes up the back wall of the coire. Spotted what looked like a nice gulley below a what we though was a scree fan buried in snow so headed for that. Lots of ice was forming around the tarn many inches thick in places. The Gulley was really good, deep poundery snow most of the way up with a few short sections of neve, nothing more than about grade I. Topped out to the summit plateau and headed to the top, posed for photos and then back down the ridge and to the car.

Had Lasagne for tea, cooked by Steph and then got ready to go out. Went into Wharehouse about 7.30pm, and didn't leave to one after much drinkage and dance-age! Steph and Lewis were pretty tired by this point so got a Taxi home, me and Phil moved on to Toppers. I'd never been to Topper's before but Phil assured me it was amazing, I can say now though that while having a great atmosphere it has to be one of the dirtiest clubs I've been in...! I was wearing slip on leather shoes and each time I put my foot down and lifted it up my shoe stuck to the floor it was so sticky! left about 3am, got some food from a dodgy eatery in the basement first. They didn't have any bread left so I persuaded the woman to just give me the bacon of my bacon balm in a box!

Had planned to do Helvellyn the next day, but due to me and Phil getting in so so late and consequentely distirbing Steph (angering her!) and the prospect of a not to good weather day we sacked it off. Instead had a uber fry-up after spending £20 on meat in Morrisons and then I kicked Lewis' ass on Halo.

Lift home with Steph about 5, made good time and got back for 6.30ish then straight out to the Network Exec meeting which after arrving at the Ropers I found had moved to the Ship! Poor organisation.... Drinks after that, lots of young faces there that was good. Planned out next weekend's winter Lakes adventure with Carrington and Emma, won pub quiz and then caught a lift home with Bob about 11.15pm.

Had a lie in this morning to 10ish, then got a lift to college with Ian (cheers). College as normal, back home now writing this!