Perhaps Paramo will forgive me for being rubbish, now I’ve sold two jackets for them: http://forum.countrywalking.co.uk/forumlive/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=689 
Also bit the bullet and reproofed Andy’s Paramo smock and my older waterproof this weekend. First with Tech Wash to get them clean (Mine had a disagreement with a Tiger at Marwell – the sign did say don’t get too close!) and then TX Direct to reproof. The scary bit is that you then have to put them in the tumble dryer, and Andy’s took an age to dry because it’s so thick. A few nail biting moments as I tried to work out how long would be long enough to dry but not melt them! It all turned out fine and they are both now beading water off like new… and the towels that went in the wash after the waterproofs didn’t come out water repellent, so everyone’s a winner.
Having spent a week housesitting with Andy and working to his schedule of getting up at six and being at work early, instead of my schedule of getting up at 8 and taking advantage of flexi time, I’ve discovered you can cram a lot more into a day! I’ve also officially reserved my flat – went for the second floor one in the end and have a provisional completion date of May 1, so that’s a climb I’ll be doing at least once a day!
Sian and Richard are off on the next Trail trip next week and I am insanely jealous, but I just cant get the time off at short notice. I have got some days booked either side of the bank holiday though, which have been in the diary for months, so Andy and I are heading to Cornwall again, and I’m going to take the Paramo up on the cliffs for some proper testing. If it’s anything like as good as Andy’s jacket that he wore in the terrible weather at New Year, I’m not going to be disappointed.
