Columba McLaughlin & Noel McLaughlin. It was about 11.30am before we woke. Well, what can you do when you are up half the night and have a hangover! Anyway, we got to Dalkey quarry by about 2pm. The sun shone and the Tiglin crowd were out in force and on all areas. A good few of the locals were there also. It was busy so we roped up as quickly as possible.

We were lucky to get a chance to warm up on 'Paradise Lost' and then Noel led 'Fragile' HS 4b [see photo]. While, 'Levitation' (HS 4b) and Mahjong' (VS 4c) were fully occupied, we decided to do something new. Being lazy and to save a long walk around into the East Quarry, we abseiled down and then climbed 'Yorkshire Pudding' (HS 4b). This climb is the first corner to the right of the 'Ghost'. Noel led it, as it should be led, careful placement of feet, picking his spots, nice smooth hand-brain and feet co-ordination. However, Noel's description of me was that of a man in a hurry and he thought that a bull was after me. No excuses offered, I was just glad to get up it without slipping too much on the wet bits. No hanging about on the narrow crack as it had a slippery wall to the right.

We eventually collected the gear and went around to the East Quarry. After all the practice last year, Noel made a clean lead of 'Ivy Chimney' (5a) and went smoothly up and over its hard left-hand start and its sloping ledges. I joined him at the belay for a cool drink and a brilliant view to west of the gathering rain clouds. Some hailstones fluttered down and we abseiled down over the ledges. There was a queue for 'Streetfighter' VS 4c so we decided to call it a day. However, it will be on the agenda on our next visit. Back to the pub for the 'hair of the dog' and the girls had a good feed on.

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