Let it snow :)

Hi all. I'm in a much better mood this week. Apologies about the rambling desperate last post. Felt low pretty much all of last week, out of guilt and all that, and because of eating rubbish and drinking which really does make me feel miserable. But I guess, as Mike said, once you've hit that low, the only way is up and thats the way I see it. And hey, it is a weight off my mind and we had some good times. I just hope in time we can be friends again.

There is another cloud on the horizon though. It appears at the moment as if my Auntie Jacquey has leukaemia. Found this out last night after Mum rang up to say our trip down to theirs at Christmas is cancelled. I hope to god its a less serious kind if it is leukaemia, one that they can treat fairly easily. She's only about 40. Very worrying.

Anyways that was a big comedown after a fantastic day yesterday, one that really put the life back into me after a week of mooching. It was time once again for a hike after missing the last 3. The trip was to Coniston in the Lake District. What can I say? I wish I had a camera! It really was stunning, theres no other word for it. The tops of the hill were all covered in snow and looked fantastic from the valley bottom. The party was headed for the top of the tallest mountain in the area, Old Man of Coniston.

The walk itself was tough. Climbing the first part nearly killed me, it has been so long since I last did some good exercise. But I eventually found my stride and reaching the tops made it all worth it. The snow had been blown by the wind into these amazing spike like crystals clinging to the rocks. And the views were fantastic, it was so clear. We could see the Isle of Man (I didn't know this was possible!), Scotland and Blackpool tower (at least thats what it looked like). And of course the rest of the hills which looked ghostly in the fading light.

Oh yeah, here's a photo to give you an idea:



Although there wasn't as much snow as on the pic.

Then things went a bit tits up. Ian, the navigator took us up the wrong peak, so we never got to climb the Old Man itself (oh well he's probably sick of being trampled on, it can't be much fun bein a mountain). And then with the sun going down we were on top of a snowy mountain several miles from the coach. We walked the last stretch in darkness, though there was still time for a pint or three :D

Met a nice guy called rob from Surrey. We chatted about supermarkets for ages. Yes I am rather sad. But he seemed canny. And got chatting to a third year whose mates are nearly all doing my course, os he knew my timetable off by heart. Scary.

And now the snow appears to have followed me back to Manchester. Well, to an extent. It strated snowing while I was riding the bike into uni (typical!) and by 12 noon it had formed a nice wholesome layer of wet brown slush the entire route back to Fallowfield. The backwheel of the bike flicked up slush so far it was flying over my head! You should see the state of my coat :(

So no snowball fights yet, but hey its only November. Hope it snows when I go home so that there is some hardcore sledging on Nelson Hill. Although they might try and ban it this year after the events in Feb. (someone was killed after crashing into a tree)

Bah, who cares, I love this city! Right time for a powernap. Good day :D