Finger Failure

Finally managed to break out of the north for a weekend after finishing the first two modules for the first semester last week (distinction in the essay.......get in!) . Headed down to Dublin for the first round of the IBL. Dropped in to UCD for a quick wall session on friday to limber up for the comp and found out that UCD have finally disabled my university computer account. Thats one of my last few ties with the place severed *sniff*. Crashed with Jerome and Annie in very salubrious surroundings. Fanciest placed I've stayed in quite a while, cheers guys! We all headed into DCU for the comp on saturday morning, the earliest I've ever arrived at an IBL. Comp was good and very well set by Michael, Kev and Big Ron. Just the right level of difficulty to seperate out the pack, apart from Harry who is on another level and crushed everything in sight! Jerome nabbed a comfortable second place......not bad for a guy with an 11 week old baby, and consequently no sleep! :-P

I came 29th, which frankly isn't good enough. Goes to show how little of a well-rounded climber I am that I got 20 points on a basic 6c on crimps and failed miserably on a 5a corner bridging problem and all the slabs! Also managed to knacker my right ring finger which made Paul not a happy camper. Not too badly done in, but bad enough that I probably can't boulder properly for about 3 weeks and am confined to 1 arm stuff on the beastraper. What makes matters worse is that I fell back on an old habit and had a couple of commiseratory cigarettes afterwards. Result: Instant head-cold. Twat. Just about recovered now and will set to the gym and running laps of campus with renewed vigour next week. Its a good opportunity to try and bring my left hand up to the level of my right on the beastfaker too. Every cloud......

Got a lift back up with Richie on sunday evening with plans to hit the surf (first time for me) on monday. Stupid cold buggered that up. Entirely own fault. Did see some interesting stuff at White Rocks outside Portrush though. Chalk overhangs, caves and arches and the like. Spot of tooling anyone? Possible bouldering too. Anyone ever bouldered on chalk before? Seemed solid enough.

Picked up Lance Armstrong's autobiography today for a bit of inspiration/psyche and I'm already half way through! That is one hell of a motivated mo fo. Like the Rich Simpson of cycling. Definitely one of my biggest sporting inspirations, even if he was a bit of a dick (not a cancer joke). Sure he may have had a bit of an ego, but has anyone ever heard of Jerry Moffatt?! :-P

Whats at the end of your leg? A leg-end. Much like this one. WAD

James McHaffie climbing Mission Impossible E9 7a from UKClimbing.com TV on Vimeo.

Might try and get out doing easy routes at the weekend, weather depending. Or dick around on the internet talking shite. It will almost certainly be the latter, as usual! :-)

Peace out

p.s. this post has taken about an hour to write because the girl sitting across from me has the most amazing blue eyes. I love college.