Julia Bradbury, simpering Watchdog totty presenter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCk8FlkuAlM) who fame hungrily appeared on BBC’s singing show and has recently been bluffing her way through a Wainwright’s Walks show. Totally changed my opinion of her this weekend.
I happened to flick over the TV yesterday and saw Ms Bradbury doing some climbing. Didn’t think any more of it really as she does these sorts of things, and I knew she’d had a team of people there helping her like she does on the Wainwright show. But then the camera zoomed out, and there she is, halfway up a sea stack, having hardly ever climbed before, and I was amazed.
It was repeated tonight and I’ve just sat and watched the whole thing open mouthed. I’m hoping someone will stick it on youtube so that I can link to it.
During her first climb Julia summed up what the whole Trail Fitness Academy thing was like for me – all sorts of experts telling you that the thing they were trying to get you to do was easy, but you actually finding it far from easy and being frustrated with yourself for not being able to do it. She pushed herself way further than she ever thought she’d be able to go, and bravely admitted to not actually enjoying it half the time. I think if I’d been her I would have cheerfully slapped Tim Emmett (the experienced climber she had with her) in the face for all his “good effort, come on, you can do it” over and over again… but she managed to keep her calm with that too. Massive respect to her.
The only thing I was a bit disappointed about was that they showed the climber bloke twice jumping into deep, rocky water. It might just be me, because I work somewhere where there has just been a campaign to stop youngsters tombstoning, but I don’t think it set the best example to set him up as a role model/hero and then show him doing something young people would want to copy. I dunno…
http://juliabradbury.com/outdoor.html and http://www.timemmett.com
Just checked the weather for next week and it looks ok so I think we will be heading to the lakes, just waiting to hear from Andy about how things have gone with work this weekend and whether he’s needed on Monday. Only problem is I haven’t been able to put the tent up and check it since we put it away last year, so I’m worried it might not be in the best condition. Don’t want to spend the first night damp and the second day tent shopping!
After all that inspiration from Julia I’m even thinking of revisiting Loughrigg Hell to see if we can’t swap that H back to an F. And then, when I’ve lost 8 stone, I want to go climbing!
