In the winter in Chamonix, a great friend, Sauze, asked if we fancied joining her and her husband, Patrick, on a trip to climb a 6,000m peak in Kashmir. As any invitation for adventure or travel always receives a “yes”, we agreed. Later we started hearing of unrest in the area and some pot shots being exchanged with the Pakistan army over the border. Fortunately one of the guests in the chalet had an associate who was fairly high up in the Pakistani Military Intelligence so we received a report stating that it was mostly political and that it would all be calm again after some elections. A  few weeks later we discovered that the destination was Ladakh and not Kashmir after all.

The build up to the trip was a logistical nightmare to get the right kit together in the right place at the right time. Usually all our winter kit stays in Chamonix. Some climbing kit from the UK went to Greece with us and then into my parents shed in Berkshire. Other kit, like high mountain boots, was gleaned specifically for the trip and needed “breaking in”. A spreadsheet was required to identify how it was all gonna come together and want needed to migrate from where to where. Then there was a suit for me and a dress for Breezy which needed to get to a hotel in the New Forest for my parents 60th wedding anniversary in Sept.

Itinerary wise we flew into Delhi then got a flight the next day up to Leh  (3,500m). A few days in Leh, exploring and getting some altitude hikes in before starting the trek to Stok Kangri. Five days trek to get to base camp (>5,000m) then a rest day before getting up in the small hours and ascending; getting to the top, then back down to base camp for 11am.

After the trek we returned to Delhi for a city tour then Breezy and I tagged on a couple of nights in Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

We had an amazing trip and fabulous food throughout. Great fun and lots of laughs. Everyone we met were so friendly and helpful. Traffic in India, especially Delhi and Agra is crazy. You can watch it for hours and see no discernible patterns or rules of the road emerging. The only rule I managed to discover is that all traffic, motorised or not and whatever size, gives way to cows.

When we got back we had squatters in one of the bird boxes. These have now flown and are eating our nuts. This spurred us on to develop some more accommodation for feathered friends. We have now opened two more boxes for great tits, a wren box and a robin’s “shelf”. All made out of offcuts from previous works. The big development is an owl box which is now installed and awaiting bookings.

Also we have reassembled a wine vat and modified it as a new deluxe outdoor shower. The old shower has been dismantled and is decommissioned.

Next adventure!

Well it’s been 12 years coming but chuffed to bits that Liz (My Mum’s god daughter and my friend from day dot) plus hubby Mike and Mike’s son Harry could squeeze in an action packed few days with us. The weather was just superb and they totally lucked out because as they left the rain began…..

They made good time from Carcassone and caught us at the bar rather than the parking so a cheeky drink there before heading up to the barn for drinks and dinner on the terrace. Simple supper on the terrace of spag bog, garlic bread and salad and choccy mousse and then star gazing.

Al and I had de bunked to the Naughty Corner and the stars from there are amazing as there is no building (that being the barn) in the way which is not quite the same from the front terrace. We do love getting back to our old home and miss it some what.

Harry was keen to walk from the barn on the first day rather than drive anywhere and then have a big mountain day on the second day. So Port de Salau it was no moans and no groans at all, Al and I were impressed. 1000m up for a 12 year old without one grumble, that is a first….The Hulleys dipped in the plunge pool on the way back down before we guzzled lots of cold drinks on the terrace. A very quick shower cleared the air and meant we could have a quick game of rummikiub and then BBQ outside with some yummy cheeses and rhubarb cake to finish with. Al got the fire clubs out and Harry and Mike both had a go. The slack line also got some use. Star gazing again and then bed as early start for mountain day the next day.

We had chosen a route with a bit of everything and we hope it ticked all the boxes, a drive up to beyond Guzet to get as much altitude as possible with wheels as it was so hot, small col to climb first then boulder hopping, dip in a chilly but gorgeous lake, Etang D’Aube then Harry led the way following red dots and cairns on the steep scramble to a summit Pic de Seron at about 2500m, for lunch with fab views and then it was back down for another dip in another lake BLISS in the heat and then a little bit of via ferrata to finish with before flopping into Billy! Harry was a total star I think he is going to be a mountain man. He definitely won gold medal for war wounds and path finding!!!

Back to the barn, drinks on the helipad, roast chickens for supper and a relatively early night I think we were all a bit weather beaten!

Woke to mizzle the next day so brekky was inside before they all trundled off to the coast for a few days of R&R. Their timing was perfecto.

Totally fab to have all the Hulley’s to stay and hope you enjoyed your “off grid” experience.

We had been so so so looking forward to seeing our great friends Ruth and Pete, friends initially from Chamonix now living in Australia. Have not seen them for 5 years so just great that they could squeeze in 3 nights on their European hols so we could have a proper catch up.

They arrived just as we were finishing up lunch and as the weather was great we squeezed in a quick stroll up to Cirque D’Anglade before back for bubbles on the helipad, and then dinner on the front terrace with lots of wine and chatter.

We decided to stay local for the next day and after a leisurely start with brekky on the terrace, and the views at their best, we yomped up to Port De Salau for lunch before back via a tiny hidden away dip pool which Ruth and I jumped into. More bubbles, more fodder, and some yummy cheeses and more chat.

Final day not so good on weather front so we headed to Seix for a low level stroll, bad idea as horse flies had same POA! so we cut it short and after a coffee in Seix, boys took on the girls at boules, sadly girls were pipped but mucho fun.

Final night still more chatter to be had, and more food, drinkies. We ended the night with girls v boys on Chinese chequers and the girls pipped the boys at the post this time… The 3 days has just zoomed by far too quickly for us anyway.

We were very sad to wave you both good bye but so chuffed you got to see us here in the Pyrenees, we will get to see your little bit of paradise before too long…..

The scorching weather is lovely but slightly too hot to get anything big or heavy done outside. So small indoor projects have been ticked off. The biggest of which has been to freshen up the stairs. Having salvaged the staircase from a mate’s house in Chamonix; dismantled and cut the stringers in half so it all fitted in the van, transported to the Ariege and then renovated the barn around the pile of bits for 3 years, once reassembled they happen to fit in place with about 3mm tolerance. Since then they have been in dialy use but received no TLC at all. So they got a paint job.

Other smaller jobs have been renovating and rewiring a funky salvaged table lamp, making 2 new bookshelves for cookery books, converting a light fitting based on a cart wheel as a candle chandelier and made some more bird boxes. Also started a cork board, though we are lacking corks so if anyone has a stash they can spare that would be ace.

Armed with the latest climbing guide for Greece we flew to Athens, hired a car and headed north to Meteora. An area of conglomerate pillars with half a dozen monasteries on top, this is bedlam in the summer months with tourists and a great spring destination for climbing. Having said that mid May is starting to get a little too hot already. The climbing itself was great though from long run-outs which tested to nerves somewhat to intersting route finding. We found some 30m 5b pitches with 2 bolts and zero options to use any trad gear for protection. Highlights were:

• Excellent tavernas to get a taste of Greek food

• Holy Ghost Guardian – 6a pillar multi pitch route

• Fantastic history and Monasteries

From there we took a week exploring the Mani Peninsula in the Peleponese. Mostly on foot but managed to get a couple of climbing sessions in at Kardamyli. Top memories include:

• Picking up our first words in Greek

• Walking amongst the amazing old towers dotted around the peninsula

• Trying to buy sheeps cheese from a farmer out of the back of his Hilux who would not take any money off us

On we went to Leonidio where we stayed for a week and met up with an old friend Rob and his wife Kate and their 2 kids who were staying 100m away and also there to climb. Here we climbed daily avoiding the sun when possible mostly with the Connolly gang. Limestone climbing on superb rock with loads of protection. We could easily have spent longer here. Kaprissi, just to the south is beautiful and also has some brilliant climbing. Having a car is a must.

One night in Athens where we dumped the climbing kit and jumped on a ferry. Sifnos was the first stop. You can stay in the centre and walk to any part of the island then get a bus back. Highlights:

• First exposure to white and blue houses

• People painting the cracks in the pavements white ready for the tourists

• Huge art scene

Milos was next. A larger island though we still managed to walk most of it and then use the local transport to get back to base. Highlights:

• A walk from Triovasalos to Pollonia  along the coast exploring the amazing geology and then a very special fish lunch

• A day sea kayaking round the coast with a fantastic group and a guide stopping at a natural cave sauna.

• The beautiful old colourful fishing houses and tiny harbours

Santorini was the last port of call. A little bit of a culture shock with the volume of tourists and all the associated businesses which serve them. Still worth a trip though partly for the contrast and to see “how the other half live”. Here we hired a scooter for a day to get around the southern part of the island which was fun, though a little scary at times. Highlights:

• Caldera hike

• Sunsets over the Caldera

• Swimming at Oia

Final port of call was Athens. We loved Athens, walked miles and saw loads. Highlights

• Acropolis by day and by night
• Guided tour around Paul’s boat and a fab seafood dinner afterwards.

We really loved the Greek people, the food, the climate, the scenery, the coast, the hikes, the climbing, the swimming and of course the wine! Would highly recommend it as a place to visit.