Well apart from being an annoyingly whiny tune from 1980’s power ballad drummer extraordinaire Phil Collins, it could conceivably describe yet another day in Llanberis, arguably a climbers paradise, but for the residence often a little mundane, when it comes to day to day living. You still have to pay your rent, car tax, etc… It was one of those days where little actually happens. Probably due to the birthday party I went to last night, and the amount of beer I consumed.
However I still manage to get up and write another pointless blog about nothing in particular. These are some of my favourite blogs really, being a fan of Withnail & I the concept of a world happening around you, and you achieving absolutely nothing is something that I can relate to. Sure I might have written some stuff on anxiety for my coaching blog, researched some relaxation protocols for my thesis, and looked at some more photo’s for my book I didn’t really achieve anything. I guess after 10 days work I can conceivably allow myself a couple of days where I do nothing?
That is what I was content to do until at some point this afternoon probably 2.30 the pager went off and the ‘Team to nant’ appeared. Sat at home doing nothing didn’t seem like a good enough excuse not to go, so I threw a bag together and headed in. I have to say that when I found out the call was for two 17 year old girls I became keener to go on the hill (well they could have been good looking!). Anyway eventually I walked up with a 100m rope, Casualty bag and a radio, whilst the rest of the team carried the stretcher.
Anyway we got one of them in the stretcher and I have to say that I basically carried my own bag back down, whilst the rest of the team carried the stretcher. I really don’t want to hurt my back before I go on holiday. Anyway the group were a D of E group, and they appeared to have done everything right when the incident happened. What amazed me was that the D of E group was off the road!
The majority of the times that I see any D of E groups they are often walking along the roads. I nearly run a few over on my way to work between now and the end of the summer holidays. It appears that they either have a) no imagination or b) an inability to follow a path that runs parallel with the road. I suspect the later, as if I was a kid from the inner city, tarmac would definitely being in my ‘comfort zone’.
Now I don’t want people to think I don’t think the D of E is a bad thing to be involved in, I truly believe that it has a lot to offer many middle class children in terms of looking good of their CV or UCAS application. I am just wary that it is often not the people who would really benefit who engage in activities like this. I am sure that there are many less well off children involved in the scheme, however I suspect the market is skewed to upper middle class.
Did I ever do the D of E award scheme? No, although back then I was in the right socio-economic caste. I did do some similar challenges though in particular the Ten Tors was a mighty challenge. I also did a weeks sailing course as part of something that in Dorset was referred to as ‘Project Trident’, which was a blatant rip off of the D of E award scheme.
Anyway my point was at least these guys got off the road and halfway up Snowdon, which to me is more in keeping with the ethos of the award than following a road. Although wouldn’t it be funny if D of E groups from North Wales did their Expeditions across central London, camping out in Hyde Park! It would be just as scary, put them out of their comfort zone, and I don’t think their is a rescue team for inner city London, when one gets a blister, still at least they could call a ambulance, and navigate with a Tomtom or iPhone!