Big falls at Sissy

Steve, Gav and myself returned to Sissy crag yesterday, it was the first time all three of us had been there together since 1997. Not much has changed in the last 12 years as the Jones boys tried to follow Gav up the desperate slopes.
We all warmed up on some easy classics before doing Go Granny Go (v5) (photo above) and playing around on some harder problems but nothing worthwhile was achieved so moved down the crag to the days main objective - the slabs. This block is home to two beautiful blank and committing lines. We had to invest a lot of time cleaning the lines since these problems have lay dormant for over 10 years.

The first line fell quickly as only the bottom half is blank then there are just enough small edges to make for an exciting but easier top out. Steve below on the crux first 5 meters on the right side slab called Slabia Minora E1 6a.The second line didn't go yesterday as we ran out of time and couldn't get the last 3 meters cleaned (we didn't expect to get so high). This problem Slabia Majora was first (and only) ascended by Gav in 97 and is about E4 6c. I had a nice drop from 3/4 of the way up but Gav took the biggest plummet falling with only 2 meters to go - enjoy!

Perfect Winter Climbing

Had a good day at the crag today climbing with Gav, Ryan and Adz. We climbed a few of the old classics to warm up including an old route I bolted for a mate in 1997 called Up The Duff (22), a horrible route that I am glad someone stole so I don't have to admit it was the work of myself and Paul Duff. I also sent Scones of Doom (23) a piece of unfinished business from the mid nineties. After that I spend some time on Gav's new project and another thin (and painful) route on the blackboard wall - The Red Menace (24). No luck on this sharp and sandy number and I am not that keen to thrash my tips on it again any time soon.

Having a few more bods at the crag allowed me to get some pics. Below is a photo of Gav on his new route Grumpy Old Men (23), a hard boulder problem that could be very solid for the grade.The next two photos are of Gav on his unfinished line on the pocket wall. The route is hard (26?) though Gav was desperately close and the next session should see it done. I am putting Gav on notice that if this route is still unfinished by August I will do my best to coerce a belayer to the crag and try and steal the first ascent - this is an awesome line I would be happy to claim as mine.

Latest developments...

Well we've bitten the bullet and decided it was a good time to start toilet training Lachie! He has shown signs of being ready for a few months but with a new baby we felt there was no rush to start until everything had settled down at home - which it now has.

It's day 3 today and I have to say, he's doing pretty well. Still have a way to go but I'm hoping we have it sorted before kindy next Wednesday.

Ryan continues to do well and I just had to share a little video of him having a "chat" with me. Please excuse me in the background!

Lastly, here are some photo's before going to a birthday party last weekend...

Hmmm, got Lachie looking & smiling

Ok, got Ryan smiling but not Lachie

Best of the bunch - how hard is it getting

2 kids looking & smiling at the same time?!

Latest Bouldering and Climbing

I have been enjoying the cool conditions of Sydney's winter to do some climbing at Berowra and some bouldering at the Balkans and the Fear Factory.

Gav and myself have been doing a few routes down at Berowra, including a couple of first ascents, and hopefully more to come. Gav has completed one new route at grade 23 and is very close to doing a great line on the Bullet Hole wall that will come in at about 26. I have completed a new link-up of a 25 (Are You My Mother) and a 24 (Glamopus), I have graded the link-up at 23 as it by-passes the final crux on AYMM and the start crux on Glamopus. I have my eye on a few other hard lines at the crag and have made up stainless steel U bolts so will try and equip those routes in the coming weeks.

The bouldering has dropped off while I have been doing more climbing. I have had a few sessions at the Balkans and one outing to the Fear Factory. I have manged a few new v4s and v5s and Hollow Mountain Dreaming (v7) (pictured below), but most of my energy has been focused on trying to get some link ups and new problems established.

Update on Ryan

Ryan is now 18 weeks old!!! Where has time gone?!

Since my last post, he has really worked out his sleeping during the day. Last couple of days we've been getting a couple of 2 hour naps during the day! :-O Yesterday afternoon, I woke him from a 2.5 hour sleep as I was worried how it would affect his night sleeping.

When he's awake he's all smiles, when he starts showing his tired signs it's straight up to bed and off to sleep without a peep. Almost like he's glad to be there! He's feeding like a trooper. Still up once or so during the night for a feed but I really don't mind as it's quick and straight back to sleep for both of us.

Things with Lachie were never so smooth, even though he too was a placid, happy baby. We had much bigger battles on our hands when it came to sleeping & feeding. Or was it just us that had less of a clue first time around? Probably!

I keep wondering when Ryan's going to throw us a curve ball and change!! LOL

A very recent pic of my 2 beautiful boys:

The things kids say...

I recently started back at work and the other morning I came downstairs in my work gear (skirt & top) but had my dressing gown over the top as it was quite chilly (how glamorous!). First thing Lachie said to me was, "Mum, going to the Fire Station?" Bless! I said, no mate, I'm off to the Office. He sat there pondering that for a while and then asked in a little shock, "Mum, where are your pants?!" I showed him my skirt underneath and said that girls and ladies wear skirts sometimes too (clearly has been a while). Lachie then proceeded to tell Baz & I that "when I older, I wear a skirt too!" (at the moment it's all about 'when he's older') I explained again that little boys and even big boys don't wear skirts but with even more conviction, he declared when he's older, he too will wear a skirt! So, I'm putting this down in writing to remind us so we can give him one to wear when he's 14 or so! Let's see if he's as keen then! LOL

Climbing at Berowra

I have been doing some climbing at Berowra with Gav. As well as doing some of the old classics we are trying some of the harder lines and looking to establish some new routes. The last week has seen Gav and I both do Are You My Mother (25) and a go very close to redpointing Bill Collins (24) - I feel on the last thin move. We are also working the desperate Daily Grind (25) (the first ascensionist Mike Law says the route is well under graded and is possibly 27), either way it is a worthy climb that will be very hard to finish.

As well as doing some of the old routes we are looking at some new lines. Yesterday Gav got a first ascent up a bouldery new line. We had hoped the route was going to be around 25 but it fell second shot to and ended up being 23, Gav has named it Grumpy Old Men. I got the second ascent a few minutes later.

Gav has bolted another line on the bullet hole wall that should be closer to grade 25 or 26 and I have placed a bolt to link up Glamapous (24) and Are You My Mother (25) , the route should be long and pumpy and take out the ugly moves on both routes to provide a nice sustained rising traverse. I am also keen to check out some desperately thin lines on the Blackboard wall once the weather improves.

Lachlan

Lachie is 2.5 years old and compared to Ryan, seems so grown up now :( Not a baby any more, that's for sure. He'll let you know that he's "a little boy" too any opportunity he gets, especially if you call him anything else - only this morning he told me he's not a darling (how dare I call him that) he's a little boy! If you ask him what his name is, you hear, "little boy"! I think we drilled it into him just a little too well before Ryan was born as he used to refer to himself as "baby" all the time.

He's loving his play area outside - which just had a new addition of a sand pit yesterday! His vocabulary is growing all the time - amazes us what he comes out with. We often say to each other, where would he have heard that word?! Fortunately, not bad words. He's a little Thomas the Tank Engine loving character who is happy, confident, sensitive and loving - don't get me wrong he has his moments but what 2 year old doesn't?! His carers at Kindy just love him and only the other day were telling Baz what great manners he has. We're so proud of the little person he's turning into.

Here are some recent photo's:

Just before his swimming lesson






Today, making playdough


Enjoying the playdough!


Lachie & his Granny


Lachie & his Nanna


Oh dear, do you think he'll kill me for this one when he's older? I had to get him to try on the tutu I made for a birthday present to see how the size was. Couldn't resist giving him the wand & taking a pic!


Blowing some bubbles at Ella's birthday party with Chloe




Dancing to the Wiggles on a Bouncy Castle, doesn't get much more fun than that!

Ryan

Well my little cheeky chops is 15 weeks old now. How time flies! He now weighs 6.5 kg and is 59.5 cm long (compared to 3.05 kg and 49 cm at birth). His dark mop of hair seems a lot lighter and more sparse now - not sure if he's losing some of it or if it's just because his head is growing bigger. Also seems to be turning quite a gingery colour - bit of a surprise!

His little gummy smiles light the room up all the time and he is still adored by his big brother who often asks to cuddle him or will just randomly go and kiss his head or pat his back. At first glance Lachie & Ryan appear to look quite different but we're starting to notice some similarities such as their lips and certain expressions. I think they'll end up looking reasonably alike.

Ryan still wakes around 1 to 2 times a night for feeding but he feeds quickly and barely stirs as I put him back in his cot, so 15 minutes out of bed at a time isn't too unbearable. Bit of a cat-napper during the day but that will sort itself out in time.

All in all, he's a great little baby who's pretty laid back and happy. I think we'll keep him ;-)

Here are some photo's taken yesterday...









Excuse the poor quality, had the camera on wrong setting. I love how Lachie is stroking Ryan's head almost absentmindedly in this one.


And a few photo's taken in last few weeks:


Daddy's biggest fan!




Another spontaneous cuddle