News hot off the press ... last years entry into the Edinburgh 48hour film Frenzy, Roberta Darling's Recipe for Success has been selected to be shown at this years Leith Film Festival.

I've managed to cobble together another merry band of epic film makers for Edinburgh 48hr 2009.

It all happens this weekend so watch this space!

Sorry for lack of updates. Been a bit manic of late but with only 2 weeks to go, I've been keeping up the training.

Last weekend I went up the Cobbler and was at the peak (circa 880m) within 2 hours.

Part of what kept me going were a very fit couple of women ahead of me. I tried to keep up but they were out of sight, which was a shame as the one with the long blonde hair had a cracking arse on her, accentuated by her tight walking trousers. I pushed on to try and keep up and eventually got level with them as the blonde took off her fleece. It was then that it occurred to me that she had a very deep voice for a woman and as she took off her fleece and shook her golden locks ... I realised it was a man.

Still, could be worse. I could be James Hughes who made comment on a women they were following in Bournemouth Gardens, cracker she was apparently and was saying what he's like to do to her, only to find out as they got nearer, it was his sister.

In other news, last night saw the start of our very own "Come Dine With Me". It's one thing doing it with strangers but I'm not convinced it's a particually good idea unless you're keen to fall out with your friends and partners. Anyway, everyone else was very excited and so I've been over-ruled. First up ... Gemma with a menu as follows (as presented by her on the night).

Fizz & Nibbles

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Onion Bisque with Chilli Oil

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Crispy & sticky Chicken with New Potatoes & Tomatoes, with a Butternut Squash & Red Onion Salad

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White Chocolate & Raspberry Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream

The results were put in a sealed envelope and will be opened on the final night to see who out of the six of us (Gemma, me, Pete, Morag, Heather and Al) will be crowned champion. Unfortunately there's no £1000 to win! Next up, Pete (who allegedly reads this blog)

Naughty me has not been walking for a while (other things have got in the way) but I still haven't got around to posting my epic ... so here it is.

"Hardcore walking/climbing. Managed to do 2 munroes in a day with a total ascent of 1550m (compared with a total ascent on Ben Nevis of 1370m).

Now, I've had a bit of stick regarding my previous comments on the hillocks of Dorset but my legs would like the chance to have their say. Firstly, the facts.

"A Munro is a Scottish mountain with a height over 3,000 ft (910 m). They are named after Sir Hugh Munro (1856–1919), who produced the first compilation of a catalogue of such hills, known as Munro's Tables, in 1891."

As previously stated, Swyre Head in Dorset is the highest peak in the Purbecks at 203m which
qualifies it as a "Marilyn". A Marilyn is basically a piss take of a Scottish munroe. To qualify, the summit needs to be over 150m.

Now, I'm not being funny, but 150m???? Dorset doesn't know shit from pudding when it comes to peaks. FACT!

So yes, a great day, great views, 1550m ascent, 14km & 7 hours hiking but slightly disconcerting when you're looking DOWN on the mountain rescue helicopter."

Dorset is sadly lacking in mountains so we picked a coastal walk from the "hard" section of the book. 8.5 miles/ 13.5km - Trig point 666 feet

"Swyre Head is the highest point of the Purbeck Hills and the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, on the south coast of England. Although not very high, its relative height is such that it qualifies as a Marilyn. The chalk hill is part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation.The hill commands extensive views, including west past the Isle of Portland to Dartmoor, and east to the Isle of Wight, as well as north across the Purbeck Hills to Poole Harbour and the other Purbeck Marilyn, Nine Barrow Down. To the west, the folly of Clavell Tower can also be seen.Set back about 800 metres (half a mile) from the coast, the hill is not on the South West Coast Path, but can be reached easily from the villages of Kingston or Kimmeridge.The hill has a trig point marked as 203 metres on Ordnance Survey maps, but a tumulus, now fully grassed over, forms the highest point, 208 metres above sea level."

Book says walk should take 5 hours. We managed it in just over 3.5. BLAM! Take that, Dorset.

Just some of the images from the Ben Lomond Climb ...

Latest Headlines Kidderminster Shuttle. I hate to say it, but another piece of publicity which has had absolutely no effect on increasing donations (or book sales).

Lee’s novel idea to boost charity close to his heart

Friday 27th March 2009

By Adam Burling »

AN AUTHOR who grew up in Kidderminster is giving people the chance to be named as a character in his new book.

In return for a £3 donation to Bowel Cancer UK, Lee Crompton is asking people to put their names in forward, with the first four names out of the hat being included in the novel.
The book, due for publication in the autumn, has not been named yet but Lee hopes plenty of people will get involved.

“I’ve met so many people who have said they would love to be in a book, so I thought the idea would be a fun way to raise money for charity,” he said.

Lee’s previous novel was the thriller Digging Deep, released in 2007, a change in direction from the humorous tone of his other books, 12 Months and Worlds Apart.

Born in Bromsgrove, Lee’s family lived in Woodfield Crescent, Kidderminster until he was six, before moving to the south coast.

He made return visits to Wyre Forest in subsequent years during holiday times to visit relatives. Lee was inspired to start raising cash for the charity after his father, Edward Crompton, died of bowel cancer last May, aged 55.

“It was a complete shock to everyone,” explained Lee. “To lose your father is hard enough but especially when he had remained so positive throughout his treatment and was so looking forward to my stag do and wedding day.”

He also faces the “toughest challenge of his life” in May when he will be taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge. He will attempt to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland – within 24 hours.

“It’s not something I would normally dream of doing,” he said. You can sponsor Lee by visiting www.justgiving.com/leecromp ton or www.justgiving.com/ leecromptonbook

Just for the record, my last book was not called Digging Deep, I left Kidderminster when I was four and I don't remember saying the 3 peaks was going to be the "toughest challenge of my life" but having climbed Ben Lomond, it's probably not too far from the truth.

Ben Lomond (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Laomainn, 'Beacon Peak'), 974 metres (3,200 ft), is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. It is east of Loch Lomond, and is the most southerly of the Munros.

So this was the first munro we conquered, all 974 metres of it. Weather conditions, together with my fitness levels, weren't ideal. It was a struggle to say the least and being hit in the face with hail for half the descent wasn't much fun either. That said, lots of positives (and negatives) to take from the day. Firstly, and most importantly, I managed to complete it, as there were times I thought it was best to give it up as a bad job. Secondly, with my new 1000 mile socks, my boots didn't rub (well, they did, but I didn't get blisters). We also managed to do it at a reasonable pace, 4 and 3 quarter hours up & down.

On the downside, Ben Lomond is still a couple of metres short of the smallest of the 3 peaks on the challenge, Scafell Pike. Having completed, driven for an hour home, watched the Grand National and fallen asleep for 3 hours, I awoke at 8pm feeling as though I had been hit by a bus. In reality, it would be about this time we would be arriving at the next peak to do it all again. I had a job to climb the stairs let alone another peak (followed by another one).

So whilst I'm encouraged by today's feat, there is still a long way to go. Despite going to the gym and completed 3 hill climbs, there is still no way I am in any physical shape to complete the 3 peaks challenge. That said, whilst I feel as utterly shattered as I did when we did walk one to Place Fell some four weeks ago, we've been up (and down) a further 1000 feet today than we were in Cumbria. Encouraging signs but still plenty of work to do.

PS Thank you to the one person who last week agknowledged they read my blog. I salute you!

I forgot to mention that on Friday night, The Stirling Castle pub had the pleasure of being graced by myself, Gemma, Miff (the one member of the Jitterbugs who can sing) and Jackie and Angie from work.

I don't remember much of the evening but was reminded I dueted with Miff for "sterling" renditions of "Yellow" by Coldplay and "Baby When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Sporty Spice.

I remember drinking copious amounts of Guinness, whisky, ordering a chinese and falling asleep after a couple of mouthfuls. I also recall dreaming about going to the toilet on at least 3 occasions but luckily awoke in Miff's flat to discover I hadn't wet her sofa bed. Phew! Probably staying in with cocoa next Friday.

I'd just like to make it QUITE clear, that Gemma watches America's Next Top Model and not me but when I happen to wander through the lounge and catch a glimpse of the TV, I notice this image of Norman Bates, and then realise that Marjorie is actually one of the final few to be a MODEL on the programme?

Amongst her hobbies, Marjorie confesses to assuming her mother's personality and repressing her death as a way to escape the guilt of murdering her. Hmmm!

In less inspiring news, this week Digging Deeper was advertised in the national newspaper the Independent on Sunday. With a readership of over 600,000 I am pleased to say that my cynicism has not been overruled as this has led to ... no additional sales.

I can also confirm that I have received confirmation from Rise Films that the film script did not win the Summer Challenge.

Back to work tomorrow I guess. Humph!

Just to reiterate our place amongst the Falkirk gliterrati, we were featured in this weeks Falkirk Herald as the "wedding of the week". Our prize for such an accolade? £30 voucher for Behind the Wall in Falkirk. Yum!

Following on from our epic adventure up Place Fell a fortnight ago and having had a couple of weeks at the gym, John and I (joined by Gemma) set about the task of climbing Ben Ledi today. What started out as a bright summers day at the bottom turned into an icy cold wind and snow at the top.

Luckily I'd packed my map, compass, waterproof top and bottoms ... then realised I'd forgotten my walking boots so had to do the climb in my trainers (as did Gemma).

We actually reached Meall Odhar which is about 40m short of the summit but it was just too windy to continue. The last section is a very steep scramble and the wind was howling so we decided to turn back. That said, we got around 2750 feet high which is around 600 ft higher than last time but still 450 feet short of the smallest of the 3 peaks, Scafell Pike and a massive 1650 feet shy of the top of Ben Nevis. So, still a lot of work to do bit some encouraging signs.

14th March 2009 - Place Fell - 3 peaks training part 1