www.DurhamMountainSports.org.uk

Hi everyone.
You can call me Mac...or Rob (mac's my nickname, Rob's my first name (don't ask...it's to do with the army lol).

I've read the beginners guide about members being self sufficient...unfortunately I'm not (unemployed again, no car, no gear etc).

Recently divorced, had a bit of a hard time dealing with it all (combined with unemployment and living on my own - sorry to sound like I'm moaning) and haven't done any outdoor activities for quite a long time so everything is a fresh start for me....including my fitness!

I sent an email to the club to introduce myself and a lovely photo so they could fit a face to the writing!

I'd like to get out and about and start meeting new people, make some new friends with similar interests since I find myself living in an isolating place with no friends who have any similar interests.

If anyone has any suggestions on obtaining some cheap (or free) clothing - winter jacket, walking trousers, boots, gaiters and waterproofs (even a rucksack) so that I can get started would be great.

I'll do my best to obtain in the meantime.

Background: Ex army (15 years service). I was a physical training instructor for 10 years, abseiling supervisor, hill walking expedition leader (summer), still water kayak instructor, have organised quite a few sports and outdoor pursuits a long time ago now (orienteering, cross country runs, athletics etc).

That's all the past so I need to build up my fitness/health once again and re-learn things pretty much from scratch (weather, navigation etc).

I'm more interested in starting of with some low level walking, mountain biking and going along with people to help out with belaying for crags and build things up slowly.

A chance to meet up for socials and get to meet some friendly faces would be great.

Hi Mac

welcome and thanks for your post, best thing to do is get yourself down to the pub night.

The next pub night will be Tuesday Dec 1st, we meet just after 8pm at the Tap and Spile - just ask at the bar and the staff will direct you to our room.

Phil

Welcome, glad to know im not the only ex squaddie now lol

Hi once again. Thanks Phil and Liam for your replies and apologies being a while getting back in touch.

Went to the pub meet last night for the first time and it was nice to see a bustling friendly crowd. It'll be nice to put some faces here to people I introduced myself to at the pub.
I'll be registering for membership this month and getting the form of to Lynda.

Activities I'm interested in getting involved with:

Hill-Walking, MTB and possibly re-introduction to kayaking.

I'm not big into rock climbing though I've had plenty of past experience in belaying and abseiling (as the old military qualification Abseiling Supervisor) and would like to get my hand back in with that, to get out and about, help out and basically have a good day.

Hill walking side of things, I'm looking to start of slowly as a way of building up my fitness, navigation/survival skills and awareness of the weather/environment. Any opportunities to do some low level skill building and walks I'd be happy to hear from others. The last time I did any was 2004 when I went out for a day with someone from Weardale and Teasdale mountain rescue and having had a four year lapse of using map and compass, surprised myself that I still beat the Satnav in plotting exactly where we were....joy

Kayaking. I'm happy to help out as a driver to pick up people at end points, and as and when I can afford some equipment I'll get onto the still water and do some paddling down grade 2 rivers until my fitness and confidence is up. Several years ago I went down a grade 3 in high spate with four other instructors and nearly came a cropper but ended up saving the life of one, so that experience crapped me up a bit and I've not done it since.
I learned my kayaking in Norway, have kayaked rivers in Germany, Canada and the Swale near Richmond. It's just something I would like to do as a way of exploring the countryside again, going down some slow meandering rivers with a few small rapids thrown in along the way.

MTB. Again I'm not looking at anything competitive or too demanding. More just to head out with others and have a bit fun.

For me everything is less about being the expert or competitive sport and more about the activities being a vehicle to explore the outdoors at a leisurely pace, enjoy the views, have a few challenges thrown in and enjoy the company.

I'd like to get away on some weekend club trips from time to time.

The problem I have at the moment is that I don't have a car but I'm happy to contribute to fuel costs.

Current on-going activities/interests:

Slowly getting involved as a volunteer with the Red Cross, a member of Durham Amateur Dramatics Society (currently just helping out at the moment). Got alot of house maintenance going on and most friday nights is spent with my young lad. Last weekend of each month I get together with a couple of ex army mates.

My sport interests are Basketball and Squash. Again, haven't done for quite a long time but looking for others who might be interested and to maybe get some kind of regular thing going with the Squash, maybe a friendly league if anyone is interested.