Erithacus rotundus: 2015

January: An icy winter walk with SWOG, then a winter-wonderland one with Amazen, in the same month as honeysuckle bloomed in our garden.

SWOG walk

Macclesfield Forest

February:

Rowena & Cary went sledging (best results were two on a sledge)

Rowena sledging

Following a second midweek winter wonderland walk, Cary hopped off to Langdale with ice axe, crampons etc, to find less snow but more in blisters from wearing Scarpas all day without footbeds.

Amazen 2 - Shutlingsloe top right

Great Knott, Langdale

Somewhere in the mist in Crinkle Crags

It was great to see old friends from St Albans Adventure Group (formerly YHA group) with a trip around Robinson, High Spy, Cat Biels & then something smaller in a blizzard.

Near High Spy

Newlands valley

The Year of Running
Cary seemed to be in "training" all year for:

Wilmslow half marathon approaching the end

Venue for weekly 5km Park Run at Wythenshawe

Wilmslow Half Marathon (March) - a lovely sunny day sandwiched between rainy days, and a time well inside 2 hours.
Chester metric marathon (October) - an odd distance 26.2 km in 2 h 30 min, persuaded me that a full marathon would be way too much to attempt.
Conwy half marathon (November) - running uphill for something in excess of 20 minutes was hard and slow, but still managed a time of just under 2 hours.

Rowena attends ballet & acro dance, but Clara likes the less formal sort

Ebay year - the last of the train set posted off, and a day trip to Hoylake to deliver hi-fi equipment rather than trust it to couriers (who managed to destroy one item)

Hoylake

Pippa visited us from NZ

School spring end of term: Dad's 80th birthday treat in St Albans. I stayed on for a few days with Clara - we visited a few sites, most memorably London Transport museum (well worth a trip) and Whipsnade Zoo.

Spain: June
Rowena finished her GCSE's on 9th June, and on 10th flew to Spain with Cary. A great day on the Montejaque circuit followed wet weather in Grazalema National Park, before taking Rowena to Seville for a two week language course. Cary filled two weeks easily by wandering about at 3000 metres in the Sierra Nevada, followed by a week in the foothills looking up at the peaks. Lots of water, flowers, butterflies. Then a visit to the Alhambra, and roasting weather of 40C in Seville to reclaim Rowena, who appears to have had the time of her life.

Sierra Nevada range, mid-left far peak is Valeta

Valeta peak - close to the edge

Rowena in Seville with mates

Shropshire - July

Clara's (sunglasses) preferred photo pose

France - July

A great Saturday evening in Paris watching the city enjoying picnics and dancing along the Seine. Then a long train trip to a cycling holiday in the Dordogne and Lot valleys, with absolutely fabulous meals, rounded off by a days' canoeing. Then a week in the Mont Dore area: old volcanoes and cooler, if wet, weather, a relief from the hot cycling.

Twin Peaks of Cheshire sponsored walk - September
Taking in Shutlingsloe and Shining Tor, originally a 12km route intended to inspire parents, teachers & pupils to join in. I walked variations of this route 4 times this year, with a final modification to omit a NW climb out of Chapel Forest (incorrectly marked as Macclesfield Forest on OS 1:50K),

On a sunny, then cloudy, day in September with 41 participants, Rowena joining in as a marshall, we raised £1500 in sponsorship - not bad at all. I am now sending in the Gift Aid claim. School intends to spend the money buying kit to support school DoE expeditions.

Scotland trips: Two in April, one September, bringing the Munros total to 227

October
Half term trip to one of my favourite places in England: Robin Hood's Bay, with a stop off in foggy York on the way.

November
Our annual London shopping trip, which tipped down on us.
Met up with old school friends from Francis Bacon (no piccies!)

Penny
Pilates year