A snowy Lakeland weekend

For our last significant training session before the Cloud Seven Challenge, we spent the weekend in and around Buttermere. The heavy snow just before we arrived made for some fabulous views...

...but the walking was more like the Alps than the Lakes! Here we are half way up Glaramara.

The green fields in the valley were barely visible in the mist, and the walking was pretty tough...

... the weather worsened considerably as we climbed 1,950ft from our base in Seatoller, with freezing winds, sleet and thick cloud. Just before the summit, Nicola stepped on some fresh snow, only to disappear up to her waist in freezing water! At around minus 10 degrees windchill, we made a quick decision to turn back.

Back at base, we decided to continue walking in less challenging conditions below the snowline (which is clearly visible on Glaramara in the background

Everyone looks happier in the relative warmth of the lower Borrowdale fells - although it was still just 3 degrees!

We think this sheep was called Joseph, for obvious reasons!

On the following day, the weather looked more promising as we set out from Buttermere towards the imposing mountains.

Sadly the views down to the lake were spoiled by swirling clouds - this was about as clear as it got in the valley.

There was quite a bit of scrambling on the way down - I think I forgot to tell the girls about this before we set off ... oops!

It's a good job you can't see the look on Nicola & Janet's faces

The route down from the arrow was a bit testing in the slippery conditions, and there was a fair amount of sitting down along the way...

...although Paul found the best spot to enjoy the scenery!

Back at the Fish Inn in Buttermere, it was a well-earned pint of 'Dirty Tackle' for me. Quite appropriate during the Six Nations - and equally descriptive of my walking kit after 2 days, 21 miles and 6,200ft of climbing!

Great Expectations...

As part of my fundraising efforts for 'Springboard', my boss organised a charity dinner at Lloyds of London, which took place on Wednesday night. The organising team struggled to sell tickets at first, but the attraction of a fabulous meal cooked by four top chefs proved irresistable to the 200+ guests (including me) who came along!

The chefs who cooked a course each are pictured above and include (clockwise from top left):

Anton Edelmann - formerly Chef des Cuisines at the Savoy Hotel, London where he worked for 21 years leading a brigade of 80 chefs and cooking up to 2,000 meals a day.

Mark Hix - runs three of his own restaurants: Hix Oyster and Chop House and Hix Soho in London and Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis, Dorset. In 2008 Hix took part in BBC TV’s Great British Menu  and, as one of the three finalists, took both his famous stargazy pie and perry jelly to Paris to cook for the British Ambassador's banquet.

William Curley is the three-time winner of the Best British Chocolatier Award and was the youngest ever head patissier at the Savoy Hotel at the age of 27.

Giorgio Locatelli owns and runs the fabulous Locanda Locatelli restaurant in London, which holds a coveted Michelin star. It is renowned as one of the best Italian eateries in the UK.

The food was delicious, and the evening held one or two surprises for guests including an entertaining talk by Greg Wallace, presenter of 'The Great British Menu'.

To top the night off, our persuasive auctioneer managed to part guests with their cash for a number of donated 'lots'. Thanks to Catherine Roe, Chris Sprague, Nicky Bland and the support team, we raised over £15,000! What a great Night!

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So it was with nervous anticipation that I went to Old Trafford on Saturday to watch the Manchester Derby, on the back of a poor performance by United the previous week. After a week focussed on the 'Great Wall of China', the omen as we arrived at the stadium looked encouraging...

...ans so it was. Wayne Rooney scored a wonder goal to secure the win for United!

Gorton's Alive !!!

Last Thursday evening I attended our company's annual 'Achievement Awards Ceremony'. The theme of the night was 'Mystery of the Masquerade', which saw everyone don colourful masks for the journey from Central Manchester to our 'secret' venue.

We arrived at the incredible destination of Gorton Monastery in heavy rain and a howling gale - quite befitting the almost eerie setting.

The historic Monastery was built between 1863 and 1872 by Franciscan monks who had come to Manchester to serve the local Catholic community. Designed by Edward Pugin, whose father helped design the houses of Parliament, Gorton Monastery is considered one of his finest masterpieces.

The Monastery was for some 120 years the hub of religious, social and cultural activity - the Franciscans ran 3 schools, a theatre group, brass band, choir, youth club, successful football teams and numerous other activities for the community - it was sadly vacated by the Franciscans in 1989 and, after a false start for a new use, was left prey to significant vandalism and theft.

Following a 12 year fundraising campaign by a charity - The Monastery of St. Francis & Gorton Trust, a total of £6.5m was raised for the restoration, and the huge task began in December 2005, taking 18 months to complete.

Inside, the lighting and entertainment continued to fuel the 'wow!' factor.

The awards were hosted and presented by the charming and highly entertaining Fiona Bruce of the BBC News and Antiques Roadshow. Fiona is also famous for regular appearances on Children in Need!

It was a fabulous night, with members of my team winning a superb four out of ten awards, and rounded off with more great entertainment!