I am not quite sure what I expected when Lou text me asking if I wanted to climb UKs highest mountain with her in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. It seemed like a good idea at the time, a challenge I really fancied attempting, and the CF Trust was the perfect charity to support with Lou's son being diagnosed with CF when he was two weeks old.
Months went by and I trained with my boyfriend, heading up and around the hills in the Yorkshire Dales and long walks in the countryside just outside of Leeds. The last month before the 'challenge' we didn't manage to get out to do any big walks due to time and other commitments, however I spent time in the gym working on my legs, building up strength for that long up-hill slog.
I had a few friends who had tackled the 'Ben' (as it is known locally and only by those who have reached the summit). I was assured it wasn't 'that steep', it was just a long hard slog (I should have known better than to trust fell runners opinions of steep!!).
The day arrived and we were both prepared, Lou had not managed to fit in much training, but running around after two small children all day long keeps her fit anyway. I had all my kit sorted and packed, my bag seemed a little heavy, but I was satisfied I needed it all. We were part of a large group (about 34 strong) organised by the CF Trust, all staying in a potting hotel in Forte William (I can only describe it as Fawlty Towers meets old an peoples home).
Due to the weather we set off a little later than planned (strong winds further up the 'hill' were due to settle later in the day). At 10.15am on Saturday 18th July 2009 we set off. The group ventured out together, steadily keeping pace with each other. There was a very light rain but it worked in our favour keeping us cool.
The first hour was a little surprising, slightly harder than we imagined negotiating the boulders and rock that formed the path. These rocks were purposely placed to conserve the path over the years. Lou found this first bit the hardest, but she soon found her comfort zone and moved past me where she remained a few feet ahead the entire ascent. The group had quickly dispersed by this point with everyone finding their own pace.
We quickly climbed and the half way point treated us to some fabulous views. This was where the path straightened out for a short time before heading on to the loose rocks and stones which formed the zig-zag path leading to the summit.
It was probably a little past half way and I started to feel it in the tops of my thighs, it was only a twinge but I knew I had a fair distance to go so popped some ibuprofen to fight off the pain that I knew was eventually going to arrive.
Once we were on the main zig-zag path, ascending slowly to the summit the view left us and we were surrounded by cloud. The light rain was getting marginally heavier and while we both had our waterproof jackets on we had not put our waterproof trousers on. I remember looking at my legs and wondering if I should quickly pull them over my lightweight walking trousers. They were already wet and it didn't seem like a good idea to trap the wetness in with another pair of trousers. We trudged on.
The ache in my thighs was starting to turn to a dull pain, every step was getting harder and harder and stepping over some the larger rocks was a struggle. I was grateful for the walking poles I had decided to pack at the last minute. We could not see the summit as the cloud had swallowed it. Every so often I could make out what appeared to be another small mount above us and I wondered how far we were off and how much longer it would be until we got there. I didn't dare ask people who were on their descent, as they looked at us with pity in their eyes, how far it was to go. I didn't want to know. I just kept going.
Lou and I spotted a small patch of snow ahead and we knew it couldn't be too far now. The rain had picked up, as had the wind. At the patch of snow we met one of our guides who assured us it was only another 5 to 10 minutes. This was a great relief. However this was now the hardest part, it was steep, the rocks were loose under foot, the wind was lashing against us and the rain was now torrential. All my clothes were wet and stuck to me, my upper body from sweat and my lower body from the rain and I was starting to get cold. That 5 to 10 minutes turned in to twenty!
This was my lowest point, about 200 meters from the summit, I think I was literally dragging myself up by my poles against the fierce weather conditions. I had to have a quiet word with myself as the rain disguised possible tears forming. No matter how hard I found it there was never a point where I wanted to give up or turn back, it wasn't worth it, I knew I would complete it no matter how hard it was.
Finally we reached the plateau of the summit to see various walkers dotted about and half of our group who had made it up before us. We headed over and got checked off by one of the guides, he asked us if we wanted to start the descent with the group. Lou and I both need a short rest and we knew we had to do something about our wet clothes.
Fortunately the rain had stopped at the summit, I actually think we were above the rain cloud, but we were both soaked. We made it over into the ruins and without a care in the world both of us quickly stripped off, giving fellow walkers a nice eyeful of our soden underwear and wet, blue naked skin! We need to get some dry clothes on and fast because it was mightily cold at the top and while the heat from our bodies kept us warm on the way up I knew the way down was going to be much colder. It was a real struggle negotiating show laces etc with fingers that were quickly going numb, hopping about on one foot while struggling getting trouser legs off over boots that wouldn't come off and dry, waterproof trousers back on. My t-shirt was soaked with my sweat so off that came and on went a dry, warm fleece followed by my waterproof jacket. I was desperately trying to get my numb fingers into my lovely warm ski gloves, this whole time attempting to eat half a cheese sandwich.
Once Lou and I were suitably covered up and a lot warmer we headed to the 'official summit' climbed the steps to the highest point, had a quick hug and headed down. It wasn't pleasant up there, we couldn't see any views and we weren't hanging about!
It was a great relief we had made it. Now we had the two to three hours hike down. We started our descent into the cloud, with it brought the lashing rain and wind again. It was so hard but were we moving at quite a pace, both desperate to get off the top, out of the cloud and into some drier weather. While we set off with a small group we soon found ourselves on our own, it was pleasant and Lou wasn't happy at this point. The cloud made it hard to see the path ahead and the ground underfoot was loose with rocks and pebbles which made us stumble and trip a lot with our tired legs.
The whole way down we didn't stop for a rest once. My legs were like jelly by this point and if it were not for my poles I fear I would have tripped and fallen off the mountain. I knew if we did stop, and indeed sit, I would probably not have made it up again. We flew past a lot of our group, making up for our slow ascent. We were both on a mission.
Once we had made it to the half way point and we were out of the cloud it was much better, we knew the path ahead, even better we could see the path ahead! However it still took just short of 2 and a half hours to make it down and off the 'hill'. Every step got harder and harder as our legs got more tired, with large rocks to negotiate with wet slippy boots.
It was a fantastic sense of relief once we were at the bottom. We headed into the pub for a quick drink before meeting the rest of our clan at the coach to head back to the hotel.
The aftermath... I am so please we did it. I loved it, no matter how challenging it I found it. My legs, two days later, are very painful, they are tender and stairs are extremely difficult to negotiate both up and down! I am a little disgruntled that I hurt so much even with my training and Lou has not suffered as much as me. I put this down to her being a couple of stone lighter with a lighter back-pack!! Who knows...!
Anyway it is done, we have raised £1,011 between the two of us for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and achieved a personal goal. I am happy and proud of us both and could not have wished to do it with a better walking companion.
Peace n love
Malibu x
Monday, 20 July 2009
Monday, 13 July 2009
Safeguarding young people in the digital world
So up to this point I have not really found much time for this blog. Nor have I found a use for it. However I DO have something I would like to share with you all, something I am very passionate about... safeguarding our young people in today’s digital world!
The last thing I am wanting to do is teach my granny how to suck eggs. However this is an area I have to consider from a professional angle for work and have experienced on a personal basis. It is something that is very important, especially in the ever changing, fast paced (digital) world we live in and I simply want to share my experiences and thoughts on the subject with you all.
My experience. OK, so most of you who know me are aware that I manage the Breeze website for Leeds City Council, a site for young people in Leeds to help them find out what their city has to offer them. I also have some younger (as well as an older) siblings (12 and 14 yrs old) and a stepson (12 yrs old) and they are VERY web and social media savvy.
About a year ago I went to a conference organised by Education Leeds on this very subject. It didn't tell me anything I didn't already know but it opened my eyes a bit more than they already are and made me sit up and think. We had some outstanding speakers. My highlights were (forgive me because I can't remember all their names) a woman from CEOP who highlighted how easily it was for people to access personal information of young people through their social media sites if they were not educated as to how to protect themselves, the other was around cyber bullying from Childnet and finally was Ed Gibson, Microsoft’s chief of security.
All three made brilliant cases about their specific areas. They highlighted dangers that were so frightening it made me uncomfortable. I actually welled-up watching the cyber-bullying video re-enactments.
However alarming they were, none of them hinted at stopping our young people using these mediums. In fact quite the opposite. They were encouraging for young people to be on social networks, to blog, to set up their own websites, to interactive with the digital world as much as possible. Their message was basically that it was up to us to educate young people in how to use these forums. To highlight the dangers whilst not scaring them off. It is an exciting and empowering world, we cannot expect our young people not to use it. If they want to use social media sites etc they will find a way, barriers will not stop this and this is also when the problem starts and they will become at risk. Surely it is much better to be honest and open about these issues and work through how to use the web safely as opposed to put restrictions on?
Let me talk about my siblings and stepson and relate my professional experience to a personal one. All three use various sources of social media, in fact I think they are all pretty much addicted. My 12 year old sister is a keen user of MSN and Live Space where she likes to chat with her friends. My 14 year old brother and 12 year old stepson are Facebook addicts. None live with me but whenever they visit they are straight on my laptop (if I haven't beaten them to it) and are happy surfing away to see what their friends are up to, any comments left on their profile etc.
My brother has 509 fb 'friends'! Now I know he doesn't actually know 509 people. Some are actual friends, some are people he has met on holiday and some are people he has never met face to face. Some are friends of friends, pretty girls he has liked the look of and befriended through this social media world. He lives in London and therefore fb is the perfect way for me to keep in touch with him and see what is going on in his world. His mum and dad were both friends with him on fb until recently when he decided it was getting too personal and his dad was becoming too embarrassing. I am allowed to remain his 'friend' as long as I don't tell mum what he is up to (obviously there are limits to this). My point is he is now alone in a world, without parental supervision, where he is making friends with strangers (be them pretty girls or not) where both him and his friends think it is hilarious to make crass and crude comments on each others profiles.
Why does this not bother me? This doesn't bother me because he knows how to be safe. We (myself and his parents) have educated him about what it is safe to do and what it isn't safe to do. He knows his boundaries; he knows not to give away personal information, not to meet up with anyone he chats to online. Some people may think we are being naive about this, that there should be more supervision over his facebook account, that he shouldn't be allowed to be friends with people he only has a tenuous link to. Maybe they are right but we also respect his need for his own personal space, somewhere he can interact with his friends whilst knowing how to be safe and enjoy himself.
A quick one with regards to my 12 year old stepson. He is still at a place where it is OK for his Dad to be his facebook friend (give it another year and that will be out the window). However doing so highlighted the fact that a few months back he received an invitation from a friend to join a group called 'We hate (name of girl from his school)'. As you can imagine his dad was horrified and upset that his son had engaged in cyber-bullying. He immediately contacted him at his mothers and had some strong words to say to him. It was apparent that my stepson had no idea of the implications of how serious the matter was, he was following the crowd and joined because a friend had invited him. It even turned out that he didn't really know this girl at all and it meant nothing to him. However that just demonstrates how easily it is for children to be swept up in something that can be so hurtful to another. Can you imagine now as an adult how it would feel if 80 odd people joined a group offering their support about how they hated you and posted wall comments about you? Anyway my stepson was very quickly educated on cyber-bullying and how hurtful it was, he left the group immediately and the matter was brought up in the school where it was addressed.
I think my whole point to this blog is that we all have to take some responsibility in trying to educate our young people how to protect themselves and others in the digital world whilst encouraging them how to use it and not putting up barriers for them to find a crafty way around it. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a librarian or run a website yourself we must make sure we go to every length to ensure the safeguarding of young people.
Finally for anyone who wants some really good resources’ on this subject here you go:
The Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre
Think U Know- fantastic online resources for young people, parents and teachers.
Childnet International - more fantastic resources for all on making the internet a safe place for young people.
Peace n love
Malibu x
The last thing I am wanting to do is teach my granny how to suck eggs. However this is an area I have to consider from a professional angle for work and have experienced on a personal basis. It is something that is very important, especially in the ever changing, fast paced (digital) world we live in and I simply want to share my experiences and thoughts on the subject with you all.
My experience. OK, so most of you who know me are aware that I manage the Breeze website for Leeds City Council, a site for young people in Leeds to help them find out what their city has to offer them. I also have some younger (as well as an older) siblings (12 and 14 yrs old) and a stepson (12 yrs old) and they are VERY web and social media savvy.
About a year ago I went to a conference organised by Education Leeds on this very subject. It didn't tell me anything I didn't already know but it opened my eyes a bit more than they already are and made me sit up and think. We had some outstanding speakers. My highlights were (forgive me because I can't remember all their names) a woman from CEOP who highlighted how easily it was for people to access personal information of young people through their social media sites if they were not educated as to how to protect themselves, the other was around cyber bullying from Childnet and finally was Ed Gibson, Microsoft’s chief of security.
All three made brilliant cases about their specific areas. They highlighted dangers that were so frightening it made me uncomfortable. I actually welled-up watching the cyber-bullying video re-enactments.
However alarming they were, none of them hinted at stopping our young people using these mediums. In fact quite the opposite. They were encouraging for young people to be on social networks, to blog, to set up their own websites, to interactive with the digital world as much as possible. Their message was basically that it was up to us to educate young people in how to use these forums. To highlight the dangers whilst not scaring them off. It is an exciting and empowering world, we cannot expect our young people not to use it. If they want to use social media sites etc they will find a way, barriers will not stop this and this is also when the problem starts and they will become at risk. Surely it is much better to be honest and open about these issues and work through how to use the web safely as opposed to put restrictions on?
Let me talk about my siblings and stepson and relate my professional experience to a personal one. All three use various sources of social media, in fact I think they are all pretty much addicted. My 12 year old sister is a keen user of MSN and Live Space where she likes to chat with her friends. My 14 year old brother and 12 year old stepson are Facebook addicts. None live with me but whenever they visit they are straight on my laptop (if I haven't beaten them to it) and are happy surfing away to see what their friends are up to, any comments left on their profile etc.
My brother has 509 fb 'friends'! Now I know he doesn't actually know 509 people. Some are actual friends, some are people he has met on holiday and some are people he has never met face to face. Some are friends of friends, pretty girls he has liked the look of and befriended through this social media world. He lives in London and therefore fb is the perfect way for me to keep in touch with him and see what is going on in his world. His mum and dad were both friends with him on fb until recently when he decided it was getting too personal and his dad was becoming too embarrassing. I am allowed to remain his 'friend' as long as I don't tell mum what he is up to (obviously there are limits to this). My point is he is now alone in a world, without parental supervision, where he is making friends with strangers (be them pretty girls or not) where both him and his friends think it is hilarious to make crass and crude comments on each others profiles.
Why does this not bother me? This doesn't bother me because he knows how to be safe. We (myself and his parents) have educated him about what it is safe to do and what it isn't safe to do. He knows his boundaries; he knows not to give away personal information, not to meet up with anyone he chats to online. Some people may think we are being naive about this, that there should be more supervision over his facebook account, that he shouldn't be allowed to be friends with people he only has a tenuous link to. Maybe they are right but we also respect his need for his own personal space, somewhere he can interact with his friends whilst knowing how to be safe and enjoy himself.
A quick one with regards to my 12 year old stepson. He is still at a place where it is OK for his Dad to be his facebook friend (give it another year and that will be out the window). However doing so highlighted the fact that a few months back he received an invitation from a friend to join a group called 'We hate (name of girl from his school)'. As you can imagine his dad was horrified and upset that his son had engaged in cyber-bullying. He immediately contacted him at his mothers and had some strong words to say to him. It was apparent that my stepson had no idea of the implications of how serious the matter was, he was following the crowd and joined because a friend had invited him. It even turned out that he didn't really know this girl at all and it meant nothing to him. However that just demonstrates how easily it is for children to be swept up in something that can be so hurtful to another. Can you imagine now as an adult how it would feel if 80 odd people joined a group offering their support about how they hated you and posted wall comments about you? Anyway my stepson was very quickly educated on cyber-bullying and how hurtful it was, he left the group immediately and the matter was brought up in the school where it was addressed.
I think my whole point to this blog is that we all have to take some responsibility in trying to educate our young people how to protect themselves and others in the digital world whilst encouraging them how to use it and not putting up barriers for them to find a crafty way around it. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a librarian or run a website yourself we must make sure we go to every length to ensure the safeguarding of young people.
Finally for anyone who wants some really good resources’ on this subject here you go:
The Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre
Think U Know- fantastic online resources for young people, parents and teachers.
Childnet International - more fantastic resources for all on making the internet a safe place for young people.
Peace n love
Malibu x
Thursday, 2 July 2009
To plan or not to plan.
It is Thursday. One day left until the glorious weekend. Fifteen days left until I climb Ben Nevis. Twenty-one days left until the wonderful Breeze on Tour. Fifty-three days until I head to the south of France with my family to de-stress from a summer full of 'fun'!! That is me counting down until the next few dates that will bring me joy, relief or exhiliration.
I am not convinced life should be spent counting down, but I am. This is not to say I am not enjoying everything in-between I just like to have things to look forward to. I am a planner and without something to plan in my life and think about I get bored. My boyfriend jokes that I make spreadsheets for everything, he might not be far from the truth there.
Ironically I don't like planning too much for my weekends. Don't get me wrong I like to do things at the weekend but I don't like feeling rushed or too busy. My working week is action packed usually and at the weekends I like to chill out, go at a slower speed, take in everything.
My boyfriend is the opposite to me, he HATES planning anything. I have to plan when I can plan things with him...! I have to work out when the right time is to bombard him with my spreadsheets and my research on the next fabulous place I want to visit. This is OK, I don't mind it at all. I think we complement each other in that sense. It all works out in the long run.
Anyway, forgive my ramblings. My next post will hopefully be less obscure.
Malibu x
I am not convinced life should be spent counting down, but I am. This is not to say I am not enjoying everything in-between I just like to have things to look forward to. I am a planner and without something to plan in my life and think about I get bored. My boyfriend jokes that I make spreadsheets for everything, he might not be far from the truth there.
Ironically I don't like planning too much for my weekends. Don't get me wrong I like to do things at the weekend but I don't like feeling rushed or too busy. My working week is action packed usually and at the weekends I like to chill out, go at a slower speed, take in everything.
My boyfriend is the opposite to me, he HATES planning anything. I have to plan when I can plan things with him...! I have to work out when the right time is to bombard him with my spreadsheets and my research on the next fabulous place I want to visit. This is OK, I don't mind it at all. I think we complement each other in that sense. It all works out in the long run.
Anyway, forgive my ramblings. My next post will hopefully be less obscure.
Malibu x
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Nonsensicle Sunday babble...
So it is Sunday. I have had to work today, put on a workshop for the Breeze International Youth Festival to promote the Breeze Youth Promise with my Breeze kids, sorry young people!!! Despite it being a Sunday and having to work it hasnt been that bad, I enjoyed it, it was fun. I would like to say they keep me young but they don't!
I am feeling rather tired to say the least. My neighbours had a rocking party last night and between that, the heat and Seans phone ringing at 1.20am I was kept awake for some hours. Having 'Thriller' echoing down the street at 1am in the morning was something I would have prefered not to hear! Anyway no harm done and we are culprits of that behaviour at times.
I am sprawled on my sofa, breathing in the BBQ smlells drifting in the open window from somewhere down the street and doing some reading up for work and prep for the week ahead. I trying to swat up on the trends of teens in social media. I am also attendin Shift Happens 2.0 at the Pilot Theatre in York. As you have probably guessed it is all about social media in the art world. Should be interesting, am keeping my fingers crossed it is.
I have recently induldge myself (rather childishly) in the Twilight books - am sure they are targetted at teenagers, but the way I see it is I am just trying to keep up with what the kids are into at the moment!! Anyway I reckon I will head for a bath shortly and find out what Bella and Edward are up to at the moment.
Oh and the biggest news of the week... we picked up my beautiful beautiful new mini (so lovely) and I started my driving lessons. Roll on the day I pass my test.
Anyway enough of this nonsensicle Sunday babble. Will catch up with you all later.
Peace n love
Malibu x
I am feeling rather tired to say the least. My neighbours had a rocking party last night and between that, the heat and Seans phone ringing at 1.20am I was kept awake for some hours. Having 'Thriller' echoing down the street at 1am in the morning was something I would have prefered not to hear! Anyway no harm done and we are culprits of that behaviour at times.
I am sprawled on my sofa, breathing in the BBQ smlells drifting in the open window from somewhere down the street and doing some reading up for work and prep for the week ahead. I trying to swat up on the trends of teens in social media. I am also attendin Shift Happens 2.0 at the Pilot Theatre in York. As you have probably guessed it is all about social media in the art world. Should be interesting, am keeping my fingers crossed it is.
I have recently induldge myself (rather childishly) in the Twilight books - am sure they are targetted at teenagers, but the way I see it is I am just trying to keep up with what the kids are into at the moment!! Anyway I reckon I will head for a bath shortly and find out what Bella and Edward are up to at the moment.
Oh and the biggest news of the week... we picked up my beautiful beautiful new mini (so lovely) and I started my driving lessons. Roll on the day I pass my test.
Anyway enough of this nonsensicle Sunday babble. Will catch up with you all later.
Peace n love
Malibu x
Friday, 19 June 2009
RIP Paul Christopher Mayhew
Today I attended my friend and colleagues funeral, Paul Mayhew. He was 31 when he collapsed after a night out and still we dont know why.
It was a very emotional funeral at St Aidans church, Roundhay Road Leeds. It is a large church and it was packed - as you would expect with someone so young. It was a lovely service and prompted fond memories of Paul.
Paul and I were once very close and were good friends, what actually happened and why we didn't stay like that I am not entirely sure, I think we drifted. Looking back and in light of current circumstances I wish we hadn't. Paul was such a lovely, happy, friendly person with a big heart and an even bigger simle.
I just wanted to say that despite not being as close as we use to I will miss you deeply Paul. Work is not the same without you and I expect to see you about all the time. You will be missed by many. My heart goes out to your family in this sad time.
May you rest in peace, xxx
It was a very emotional funeral at St Aidans church, Roundhay Road Leeds. It is a large church and it was packed - as you would expect with someone so young. It was a lovely service and prompted fond memories of Paul.
Paul and I were once very close and were good friends, what actually happened and why we didn't stay like that I am not entirely sure, I think we drifted. Looking back and in light of current circumstances I wish we hadn't. Paul was such a lovely, happy, friendly person with a big heart and an even bigger simle.
I just wanted to say that despite not being as close as we use to I will miss you deeply Paul. Work is not the same without you and I expect to see you about all the time. You will be missed by many. My heart goes out to your family in this sad time.
May you rest in peace, xxx
Sunday, 14 June 2009
First post
I am not sure why I have started this blog I am just feeling the need to share. I don't feel I have anything dazzling to say, nothing that will be outstandingly profound, nothing that will make people sit up and really listen. Like I said I just feel like sharing.
When I was young I use to keep a diary and I enjoyed writing thoughts, observations and opinions in it so why not try it again... but in line with the twenty-first century!!
When I was young I use to keep a diary and I enjoyed writing thoughts, observations and opinions in it so why not try it again... but in line with the twenty-first century!!
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