[AuRavelling79]

Hi Steve Pen-y-fan is brilliant - I was up there sunrise 2005 on January 2nd - snow, still (usually gale force winds) and fantastic views.

But I notice you're from Liverpool and you must know that Snowdonia even tops the Brecons. Do Cader Idris first - fantastic mountain and then the one in my piccy - good ole Crib Goch.

It's no good asking Tosh - he's from windswept Northumberland - he thinks that anything over 1000ft is a real mountain!

[steve k]

I spent nearly 5 years in the Paras so got to know Brecon intimately so really enjoy the mountains there although the place seems to look the same from wherever you are on the Beacons!!
I agree Snowdonia is a fantastic place but not knowing it inside out, I would have to navigate and believe me, my lack of map reading ability literally stalled any career I might have had...
I have sat on top of Fan Fawr in thick snow and looked over to the Fan...not a sound...just white blanketed stillness...absolute bliss

[windows_chepstow]

It's no good asking Tosh - he's from windswept Northumberland - he thinks that anything over 1000ft is a real mountain!

Hey,

I've climbed Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in Western Europe) and most of the other high peaks in Europe (well Germany, Austria, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales too).

I know how to 'French Walk', tie knots and order beer in several different languages, and have spent nights in snow holes (okay only two nights, but I've done it; when we couldn't find the next hut before it got dark). 

In the French Alps I was so badly sun-burnt I looked like I'd been scorched in a car accident (I lost my hat, sun glasses and sunscreen whilst drunk in Chamonix).

I never really enjoyed mountain climbing though.  It just got me time off from work.  It was a lesser of two evils.  In the army it's called 'Adventure Training'.

I've also spent two weeks sports parachuting in Netheravon, which is a lot more fun than what Steve K has ever done from his Para Regiment work. 

Jumping out at 300 feet - as modern day para do - is not much fun - your parachute has barely enought time to open - and I believe it's the lowest a Para can now jump.  Obviously the less time spent in the air, the less time you can be shot at.

5000 feet is really good fun though, especially when you haven't got a 30 lb back pack, plus rifle and then forced live in a hole for the next fortnight once you land.

[steve k]

Tosh, it was 800 ft in my day and even then you had 3..!! yes..3 seconds to realise a malfunction of your main canopy and deploy your reserve before you hit the deck. I was scared every jump...I did 35... and judging by the number of hardmen closing their eyes and moving their lips, I wasn`t the only one...still the best time of my life though...when you landed safely, the thought of a couple of cold, wet and muddy weeks in a hole was alright by me.
I am SURE I read on an earlier post that you lived in S.Wales.

[AuRavelling79]

He does but he's in Chepstow, so close to the South-East border I can see the whites of his eyes from the North West edge of my patch across the Severn Bridge in England.

[RAHomeServices]

Hi Steve,
Had a similar problem today in bowring park area. Took on several new customers prior to xmas. Nice people, anyway decided to canvas rest of area and came across 'local window cleaner' Threatening self and staff that he would 'sort us out' if we canvassed 'his round' needless to say after trying to explain about free enterprise etc.etc he was quite adament that we should stay away. After initial enquiries this so called window cleaner charges next to nothing doesn't do the job properly. We have been asked by his present customers to clean their windows but they are afraid to cancel him. Anyway to cut a long story short we took on these new customers and canvassed the whole area. At the end of the day steve we can't let these cowboys intimidate us we are professionals and run legitimate businesses. By the way this fella from wimpey I'm sure we have had a run in with him but he did not offer us money he promised us loads of work if we stayed off his 'patch' which as you can guess we did not.
Oh by the way if you come across someone selling a round locally I would avoid them. Met a bloke today selling a round valued £4k He turned up half canned totally unprofessional charges £4 a house no accounts at all when we told him we were not interested got quite verbally aggressive etc---just a warning note to everyone.

[steve k]

The wimpey lad has actually been on the phone and he is looking out for work for me!!

The round for sale that you mention...it`s not the one advertised in Knowsley Village is it?? Seen it in last nights echo.

Cheers