First Frosts

November is usually a tense month for me. By this point the frustration of being pinned inside for months - too cold for rock climbing, too warm for winter climbing - has mounted to the point of near insanity. I'll spend hours each week peering at weather forecasts looking for that one word which will fill me with joy and fear: Snow.

Once the mountains put on their white winter coats, all manner of irrationality kicks in for climbers. Here it's all 3am wake-up calls, hours of torchlit walking, hot aches and frozen noses, all so we can scratch our way up some frosty rock with out ice axes. Great.

There's so much more to it than just a bit of climbing though. It really does feel like an escape heading into the hills in winter. The the subdued greys and blacks of everyday life are replaced by fresh, shocking white. The sound of godawful xmas music and delayed traffic replaced by the clank of metal on rock and the manic croaks of ptarmigan. When you return home at the end of the day, you do truly feel like you've been somewhere else. And also like eating all the food you can find.

This year's different. We've had the most beautiful autumn I can remember, and I've been lucky enough to keep myself active with my bikes, so I've not felt that frustration and yearning that usually overcomes me at this time of year. Have I lost my Winter Psyche?

Hell no. I'm getting up to go climbing in the cairngorms in about 3 hours.

And I'm bricking myself.

A List

No, not that one. It's spelled all different, innit?

Here are some things:

• I went to see Battles again the other week. One of the best gigs ever. There was some impressive multi-instrumentalism, an incredibly high cymbal, loudness, a roomful of post-rock nerds dancing in 7/4 time and one of the best atmospheres I can remember. The Pigeon Detectives they aint. I urge you with every possible organ in my body to see them if you can.
• Give Blood. Not only do you get free biscuits, but a sense of smugness and achievement that would usually require some actual effort. Lots of biscuits.
• I'm beginning to think Buck 65 might be mankind's saviour. If you don't believe me then go to his website and download the Dirty Work EP for free. Track 2 may just be one of my favourite songs EVER. Ever.
• Bikes. Yeah!
• Isn't it a great autumn? Have been out in the hills a bit this past few weeks and it's even more stunning than most autumns. Must be payback for such a soggy summer.
• In the year 2000 there are no more elephants but also no more unethical treatment of elephants.
• I have completed and sent off my Shuffleathon 2007 CD. Each and every song makes me smile like a fool. Can't wait to see the review.

That's all for now. Smell yer later!