Middleton Mouse

We've done Ben Vane, The Cobbler and Ben Lomond so we're not too worried about visibility. Good luck on Ben Vane, that was the hardest and least enjoyable walk I've done so far. Views are ace at the top though if you get there.

After brief chat with my friend we're heading back to Arrochar this coming Sunday to do Ben Ime and or Narnain if anyone fancies joining us. Both of them look pretty easy but looks like it might be a long day.

It sounds cliche but don't look down. I'm sure the only reason I managed it was because I was determined not to acknowledge what would happen if I fell. Scrambling and climbing have never bothered me (yet) so this wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

As I've said we were originally going to do Ben Ime and Ben Narnian but the weather was too good to pass up the oppertuity of finally getting to the top of the Cobbler. We started off from the head of Loch Long at around 10am and by this time the mist was starting to clear. We decided to take the old path up some of the way so were walking through a small stream to start with. There are a number of large concrete blocks from the old hydro electric works. This was a little more interesting than taking the forestry commision path. We eventually did wind up on the forestry commision path and couldn't work out where our path started again so we took it. In my book it says there's a route that goes straight up Ben Narnain from the car park without the need of taking the path that cuts between it and the Cobbler but we couldn't find it. Took a quick picnic at the Narnain boulders same as last time and by this time the mist had lifted off of the Cobbler completely and it just looked too inviting. Anyway we decided to try out Fudge's suggestion and take a different path up the Cobbler this time. We found it by walking on after the first path to the Cobbler veers off to the left (heading to the coll between Ime and Narnain). We found a stone staircase type effort which was far easier than going up through the stream. Even though it was slightly further on it took us less time to reach the top than it did when we went up the stream like last time. We also got some great views across to Ben Ime and Narnain and even saw what we thought was Ben Vane in the background. Ben Ime Ben Narnain Ben Vane??? There was only one other chap at the summit when we got there and he wasn't going to attempt to get to the very top. I crawled through the eye and tried my best to get up on top of three other boulders at the end of the ledge but I couldn't find the holds I needed. There were a few but with me being 5,2" they were proving too difficult to use and I had a scary moment when I slipped off of one boulder and couldn't stop myself running when I hit the ledge. Thankfully there was another boulder to my right so I more of less threw myself into that. All this time my friend was shouting at me to come back through so I did though I was damn sure someone would come along that knew what they were doing sometime soon. Sure enough a couple that looked well equiped (they had proper hillwalking clothes and everything) turned up and made it to the top. I saw my chance and dived through the eye, back up to the ledge and asked them how they got up. The lady was very helpful and told me where to put my feet and hands, my problem was I was trying to go up the boulders the wrong way and really had to wiggle up them on my arse using my feet to stop myself sliding back down. When she told me to stand up on the second boulder and walk over to the third I was a bit nervous but managed it OK and from there it was an easy crawl to the summit. As soon as I got up there the wind picked up and I was desperately shouting at my friend to take a photo. She then said she couldn't work my camera but thankfully she at least managed to get one picture. I know it looks like I'm kneeling in the photo but I was standing up. I'd have spent more time up there but the couple that helped me up were waiting on me coming back down so they could make sure I got back across OK. My summit photo isn't great as it gives no perspective as to where I was but I took a few more as others made their way up. Thanks again for the info about the other path Fudge!

The first time I went up it was very windy and rainy, I managed to crawl through the eye but after that my bottle went. Yesterday it was dry and only a little bit windy so I was determined to get up somehow. We were actually going to do Ben Ime and Ben Narnain but I figured we could easily do those when the weather isn't so good. We got a lovely view across to Ben Lomond, Ben Vane (we think) Ben Narniain and Ben Ime but we could see a fair few in the distance too. I took a picture of what I think is Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich (we were originally going to head there). We could also see Loch Lomond, Loch Long and Loch Katrine.

I think my favourite was actually Ben Venue but the Cobbler is amazing to look at. I scrambled through the eye myself and came to the three boulders you have to navigate up but for the life of me couldn't work out how to get up them. The holds I could see were no use for someone as short as me but I was determined to get up there. Thankfully a couple arrived who knew what they were doing and helped me find my way up. the only hairy scary bit was standing up on one of the boulders. I'll post pics when my photoshop starts working again.

We set off to do Ben Ime and Ben Narnain today but as it was so nice and there was hardly any wind we went back up the Cobbler instead. This time I managed to reach the true summit though so am well chuffed about that.

They have a family of their own but I can't be arsed looking it up!

I think they're one of these one's that are scarily common in houses (In the US). Never heard of anyone here keeping one and not even sure if they're on the DWA.

If I can be very geeky camel spiders aren't really spiders and they aren't venemous so whatever did that it wasn't a camel spider. If I can get even geekier that actually looks more like a bite from a brown recluse spider. EDIT: I worry about myself sometimes... http://household-tips.thefuntimesguide.com...rownrecluse.php

I haven't no, I've read they are very hard to keep in captivity and have powerful jaws too. I have been chewed on by an asian preying mantis though if that counts? Just as well we don't use them in the shows, the scariest thing we get to use is the goliath tarantulas! But good God I reckon a few of the kids shat themselves when their teacher screamed today, what a ponce!

Really really girly girls and stupid teachers... Was in a school doing an environment show with some animals today. 3 out of the 4 classes I had were great but the last one was feckin terrible. Didn't help that the school had put me in a room that was completely unsuitable for my purpose (despite being told the requirements when they booked). Anyway there was a group of 5-6 young girls (down Kilt down ) that sat and whispered all the way through until we got to the last half hour which is entierly animal handling. I was bringing the giant cockroach round and the other kids were fine but these girls were being really stupid and acting scared of it. Eventually one put her hands out so I let the roach wander off into her hand, she screamed and dropped the thing and all 6 of them ran to the back of the room and stood there like a herd of frightened gazel. Cockroach was nowhere to be seen and I was getting a bit worried as I knew damn fine it had to be stuck to one of them. Next thing I know their teacher spots this big monster cockroach and instead of calmy tapping my shoulder he jumps up and screams (and I really mean screams, he screamed like a big fucking wean)... OH MY GOD IT'S ON HER SKIRT ...while pointing to one of the girls. Well you can imagine the result of that. I had to damn near rugby tackle this girl to get the blasted cockroach back. I probably shouldn't be allowed to work with kids!

Finding hair in food AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG :barf Oven baked potato filled with baked beans smoothered in melted cheddar cheese and I couldn't eat the damn thing!

Ben Chonzie next for us I think, I'm trying to get the three in the Loch Earn area done by the end of the year.

I can easily see how some of the walks could be very dangerous especially if he was on his own. Poor lad!

Here's a few pics from yesterday... The corbett Stob Ghabhar and Cruach Ardrain on the right The summit of Cruach Ardrain with Ben more & Stob Binnian in the background From the top of Cruach Ardrain... Ben More & Stob Binnian Ben Vorlich & Stuc a Chroin Ben Ledi Looking back to where'd we'd walked from Beinn Tulaichean from Cruach Ardrain Cruach Ardrain from Beinn Tulaichean Pic of the day - looking back at Cruach Ardrain from the bog The biggest problem we suffered yesterday was the wind. I'll maybe update you with a decent report later but I've lost my internet connection and the report I was typing in another window crashed and I lost it.

I thought Ben Lui looked too hard so Insisted we did another instead. Thankfully one of my friends was willing to do an easier one so we climbed up Cruch Ardrain from Crianlarich. I was feeling a little sick when we got to the top but there was another Munro right next to us which we decided to go for as well. It was only about 1km from the hill we were on and it looked smaller than Ardrain. I can't remember the name of it though I'll look it up later. My first Munro double header though and it was quite a nice day apart from the wind (which was awful). Was a bit boggy in places as well which made going uphill a bit difficult. I'll post my photos when I get my internet connection back, I got some nice ones from the top. EDIT: The other hill we did was Beinn Tulaichean

I'm the same in a way but I tend to hang out because I hate going to the doctors/hospital, probably because I can't really remember not being away from them when I was younger. I've past the sore throat stage now and onto the coughing stage. Tried phoning a pal earlier and managed a 5min conversation before having to give up. Sodding cold!

Was meant to be in Donibristle Primary though I've just noticed it's in Dalgety Bay. Don't think I'll be in work tomorrow though, not unless the school are happy with me spraying the kids with vomit/phlegm. No local schools really for me at all this week. Tuesday I'm in Dundee, Wednesday Edinburgh (but that's only one hour then I get to go home at 12 ), Thursday Dundee again and Friday I'm in Kirkintulloch.

I just started a new job in April and haven't had to take sick leave yet. We have no sick pay so I'm trying to avoid it and I like the job anyway. HGG I got an awful chest infection in June/July. I was coughing non stop for a month and when I went to the doctors he said it was a bacterial thing and antibiotics would clear it right up. No more of this "wait 2 weeks before you go to the docs for a cold" for me I think. Having a bit of trouble speaking now so I'm not sure if I'll be able to go in tomorrow. I think I've only got 3 45min sessions in a school in Dunfermline so maybe I can go spread some germs while I'm in Fife. Am pretty sure I'm only there for the morning and I've no sessions booked for the afternoon but knowing my luck the office would ring me up at lunch time and send me somewhere else.

Anything's worth a try I think. I'll see if I can get hold of them too, I work in lots of different schools every week so I expect this has something to do with it.

I think I get more than my fair share, say maybe 5-6 bad ones a year.

But doesn't being cold batter your immune system making you more likely to catch colds and things? Words cannot describe how much I hate having the cold. especially those few days in the middle where your throat hurts and it's impossible to breathe through your nose therefore you have problems sleeping too.

Fecking colds and flus. I was meant to be going out tonight and it fell through but it's probably just as well as I've only been able to breathe through my mouth all night and I've just spent the last 5mins throwing up I really really really REALLY hate having the cold! Why the hell am I getting one at this time of year anyway?! It's not even cold outside yet! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

My walking buddy wants me to do Ben Lui with him next Saturday. From what I've read this will be the most challenging I've done so far (done Ben Ledi, Ben Lomond, Ben Newvis, Ben Vorlich *over loch Earn*, Ben Vane, Ben Venue and the Cobbler *though failed to reach the true summit). Anyone done this one that can tell me what it's like?