Castleberg Crag

This is the view from my kitchen window of Castleberg Crag,it is the toe of the Pennine chain,the backbone of Britain.


When I was fitter,I often hiked to the top,on the footpath to read my newspaper and look at the views.
Last year,due to loose rocks,the path was put out of bounds as a danger until the Rock Climbers of UK had an idea to open it as a new climbing centre,with some sponsors of local business to pay for the climbing fixings etc.
The local council agreed and on May 2nd 2008 it was officially opened,ironically,it was my 60th birthday and the day I was diagnosed with cancer being given 6-9 months to live, without radical treatment.
I watched from my lonely health induced prison cell of a kitchen with envy,the climbers enjoying themselves so much,knowing I would never be able to join them on the rock ever again,but there was another thing I could do,I could sponsor a climb.
There were already 25 runs sorted,and Dave Musgrove the rock climbing contact promised to look in the Autumn for a new fairly challenging one I could sponsor.
This week he emailed me with climb # 26,from the bottom right corner,across several climbs,to the top left,using overhangs etc as added challenges.

I am so pleased that I can name it,not just for me,but to show respect for all battlers of this horrid disease.
The new climb is to be called "Paul Taylor's climb for life"

Read press reports and pics about the climbing experience. HERE
And also the official rockclimbers articles about the climbs etc HERE
God bless all the climbers,protect them from harm.
Paul
xx

George's birthday

October the 13th would have been George's 38th birthday,it was a very emotional day,I went through to Hull to visit his grave,to take a carving of an Eagle in wood,Eagles were Georges favourite birds.
It was the first time I had visited his grave since his funeral 13th July,the soil is settling well and grass seed has been sown,it was wonderful to see paw prints of foxes on the soft soil,he would have been thrilled to know,wildlife had visited so closely.
The grave will look better when his headstone is erected in January,the time alloted by the parks and cemeteries department in Hull.
The pictures show his grave next to his nannas,Mary Agnes Stork (nee MacSporran,the purse holders to the MacDonald clan)I am really pleased I bought the ajoining grave as our family plot,side by side he is not alone,he is also 4 rows exactly up from his cousin Lee,and my late sister Carol,his aunt.
The support of my friends really helped me that day,as they do on so many occasions,God bless you all.
Paul
xx