Shady Goings On

It’s about time for an update on our central heating installation.

Alisons parents came down for the weekend last weekend and we got loads done.
All the radiators are now fitted, including downstairs. The radiators upstairs are installed using a two pipe system (flow-return) whereas downstairs we’re using one pipe only (flow in and out).
The reason for the two system types is that downstairs we have a concrete floor and so all the pipes run in the ceiling void, this means that the radiators downstairs won’t get as hot (heat rises remember) so it’s neccessary to have a good flow rate through them.

Some pictures of the system upstairs:

We got out rock climbing to Markfield Quarry again last week. It was a bit cooler this time and therefore a much quieter so we got plenty done.

This time we ventured over to the Grey Slab area (below).

Climbed:
BlackSlab - 11m VD
Grey Slab - 11 m S
Gorse Slab - 11 m VD
Just Right - 11 m VD
Click here for more info on the routes.

Tomorrow we’re climbing again, but this time just round the corner to the left of Grey Slab:

and maybe in the Dead Bay Area:

At last we managed to get out climbing for the night. The weather has been nice and dry all day and the sun was just right for some climbing at Markfield Quarry. It’s a litte known spot in Leicestershire that has some good really routes. We only managed two of them tonight, both on Bettys Slab:

• Go Home - 12m Diff
• Clearway - 10m Severe

We top-roped both the routes from two big boulders at the top.
I managed to get a couple of decent photos:

With any luck we’ll get out more often now, especially now I’m in Loughborough and summer is here.

I was in Halfords the other day shopping for some engine oil and made this spontaneous purchase while waiting for the Saturday boy. The cover sold it to me and with more crazy driving on the back it was straight in the basket.
RockCrawling is a sport I’ve never come across before, but is showcased here by the Americans at the United RockCrawling & Off-Road Challenge.
The DVD itself show’s the highlights of the challenge in a very light hearted way, intead of the usual over-excited commentators and loud music it concentrates on the action.