CYHA News

Plague!

It has long been a standing joke within the group that something always goes wrong on the New Year trip:

04/05 saw Jim the victim of a vicious trolley mugging (bananas lifted from an unattended trolley).

03/04 a power cut had us seeing in the New Year on a wind-up radio.

02/03 we accidentally set off the smoke alarm, causing the local volunteer firemen to dash from their New Year's parties to our aid. Oops.

01/02 icy weather had us on our hands & knees on some of the roads near the centre and saw Dave P's car taken home on the back of a break-down truck.

00/01 unexpectedly heavy snow almost prevented some of us getting back to the centre after our day walks. Good for rucksack sledging though!

99/00 the gas (our only means of cooking) was cut off and New Year's Eve dinner was a logistical nightmare, being cooked in two buildings and served in a third.

Not to be out-done, 05/06 will go down in the club annals as the year of The Plague.

It started innocently enough with a sprinkling of snow and some seriously icy temperatures. Slips, trips and dented pride characterised the first day, but it was worth it for the spectacular views of Hope Valley & Stannage Edge bathed in golden winter sunshine. However, Sarah was already feeling a bit unwell and before the night was over Cressida, Sue, Tom & Dave P had also succumbed.

Friday saw a test of Jim's considerable patience as he led Cressida, Tom, Sue and Dave on what has now become known as The March of the Zombies. A 3½ mile walk took 4 hours, at a pace that could only be described as "shuffle".

As more people fell under the spell of this virulent disease, conversation inevitably revolved around symptoms and possible sources of contagion (enough to make anyone feel ill). George was sent out to Somerfield to buy Dettol, bleach and anti-bacterial spray - but it was too late the plague had already taken hold. By New Years Eve even Trudi (immune to virtually all infection after years of eating rubbish) had fallen under its spell. By the end of the trip we figured the virus had a score rate of over 70%.

This is not to say we didn't have a great time. In between vomiting (and occasionally during) some excellent walks were had. Still it does beg the question: what could possibly happen next year?

Ali

Caroline's Birthday

Everyone who came along to Caroline's surprise birthday meal will know already that a) it was a surprise, b) Caroline was delighted, and c) it was a gorgeous meal! Thanks to Marion for organising such a lovely evening, and we hope Caroline enjoys all that pampering.

Christmas Dinner

Thanks to everyone who took part in this year's splendid meal. Apart from the brandy butter, which lay forgotten in a dark corner all night, and a tense moment when a table cloth caught fire, everything went to plan and another delicious meal was had by all.

The Weakest Link!

Welcome to Glenbrook, we hope you enjoy your stay. Words far from the reality, when Mrs A greeted me on arrival! Maybe she was Anne Robinson's stand-in, as little did we know that we were about to have our very own 'The weakest link' contest!

The trip started well with an afternoon walk in the thin crisp layer of snow followed by a special festive beer in the local hostelry. Cressida put the locals straight later in the evening when she told them that their wine was outrageously expensive, and far cheaper in her pub in Basildon!

Thursday, and the group split, with some climbing Mam Tor and the others doing Stanage Edge. The weather was good and a nice walk had by all. By the evening the locals had got their revenge and Cressida was struck with some sickness bug.

With the chief sarnie maker out of action, the hostel lay quite for unusually longer the following morning. The weather outside looked far from appealing and there were rumours of more feeling ill. As the trip progressed, whilst the fit planned their next adventure out on the Derbyshire edges, there were regular reports of those who had been taken sick and teetered on the edge of their beds or the toilet pan!

For those that miraculously escaped the bug, some good walking was done, which included walking around Lady Bower reservoir, seeing a lovely sunset over Froggart Edge and visiting Dovedale. For the not no lucky, who blamed the food, the water, Cressida, Mrs A or the other sick people in their room, well apparently something has to go wrong at new year - you were the weakest link! Jonathan

All Sausage and Gluhwein

Many thanks to Geli for bravely inviting us over to visit her in Germany. Seven of us accepted her invitation and arrived in the chill of a Continental winter at Frankfurt Hahn (nowhere near Frankfurt). A couple of hours on a bus saw us arrive in Frankfurt proper. Once settled in at the hostel, we set out into the town, with instructions to meet Geli at the Starbucks close to the centre of Frankfurt Christmas Market. As good as our word we were bang on time, despite of being tempted by delicious smells from stalls in all directions, only for Geli to be delayed by a missing train (all too common in UK, but a rarity for Germany). It was just getting dark and the market was coming alive with lights and crowds. There was a serious danger of getting separated in the crush, but somehow we all made it to the same food stall and pancakes & apple fritters were enjoyed by all. This was then washed down with a mug of fabulous gluhwein. An entertaining evening was spent poking round the stalls, taking an obscene number of photographs and sampling most of what Frankfurt Christmas Market had to offer. Gorgeous fresh strawberry fruit kebabs, covered in chocolate (I'm actually drooling as I write this), big bratwurst sausage-in-a-bun, hot roasted nuts and of course lots more gluhwein. If only the markets back home were like this.

The Saturday saw us exploring Frankfurt in daylight and in greater detail. In the morning we re-visited the market whilst it was quiet, just for those essential souvenirs you understand. We then visited the Paulskirche, site of original German Parliament and now home to a display on the history of German democracy. After more shopping, more bratwurst and yet more gluhwein it was time to move on to Bad Homburg and the hostel about a mile from Geli's flat.

Bad Homburg is a smallish town, quite close to Frankfurt but with a much more homely feel. It was, as ever, time for another meal, so we headed to a little Italian restaurant round the corner from Geli's. In a feat of bad planning all the German speakers sat on the same table, so we had the experience of Gerry ordering for us in bona fide Italian. Then it was back to Geli's for a nightcap, as we hadn't had any gluhwein for hours.

After a solid nights sleep, our Sunday activities started with a bus trip out into the woods a few miles from Bad Homburg, to a recreation of the Limes (a Roman ditch and fence to keep out the barbarians). An icy walk through the wood took us to a traditional German inn, with spectacular views towards Frankfurt, where hunger drove us to yet more sausage and gluhwein. After spending rather too long at the inn, we found we the recreated Roman fort was closed (but then it's always good to leave something to do another time), but in time for another (and possibly the best so far) gluhwein from a roadside vendor.

The evening had us touring the Bad Homburg Christmas Market (every town has one apparently), which was lovely. However the highlight had to be our tour of the Schloss, which was entirely lit by candles (enough to give the National Trust palpitations at the very thought).

In spite of our dedicated eating regime, we still had enough room to do Geli's soup and sausage evening meal justice. However even the likes of George & Dave P couldn't eat all the sausage Geli had bought for us and we did feel a bit guilty about leaving so much with a vegetarian.

And then the weekend was over. Lots of hugs goodbye, and promises to return in warmer weather. We left with happy memories, hundreds of photos and lots more in the luggage going than when we came. Splendid. Ali

Maths, History and Sunday Lunch

When I came across a pub with the mathematical name of the Square and Compasses I knew I had to lead a walk that visited that pub. And so it was that an intrepid 10 remaining souls who had not jetted off to Germany set out bright and not so early on a frosty and foggy Sunday morning in December. Of course, being MY walk, something had to go wrong, and the Pub had already rung me, apologising that they were closed as they had forgotten to apply for their new license but we were welcome to use the car park for our walk. Forewarned I changed our lunch venue to another pub. (this being the most important part of the walk!). As John M was in Germany I took it upon myself to educate the group about the history of the area and we learned of the Strutt family, The Lords Raleigh, who inhabited the beautiful village of Terling and admired the wall paintings in Fairstead Church which date back 700 years. The weather improved and it ended up a bright crisp day. At last, however, we could stop all this walking lark and get to the St Annes Castle Pub in Great Leighs, supposedly haunted and very old. Sunday Roast and beer rounded off the morning perfectly.

Cress