[TobyD]

I am released from bondage, I can now walk with my head held high, looking any man in the eye.

YYFY.

blimey i know you said you were dieting for it but chaining yourself up is surely a step too far?

(NIce one again )

[Andy F]

Is any step to far? It's bloody hard to diet when there's not much too loose. It's all worth it, now I can    without 

[Andy F]

I'd like to thank the many, many belayers who have put up with my efforts over the last 4 or so years. Ian P, we can go somewhere else for a change! Davo, Uptown and Nic for all the psyche and positive vibes. TimB - beat that for an epic   
 

[SA Chris]

You left out the fact that those 4 years included one complete retirement from climbing, and arrival of 2 bairns.

[Andy F]

You left out the fact that those 4 years included one complete retirement from climbing, and arrival of 2 bairns.

Only 1 bairn came along during the siege, but Your right about the 'retirement; 

[Adam Lincoln]

You left out the fact that those 4 years included one complete retirement from climbing, and arrival of 2 bairns.

Only 1 bairn came along during the siege, but Your right about the 'retirement; 

More importantly! What's next? Urgent?

[Andy F]

Probably Ecstacy.

[Adam Lincoln]

Probably Ecstacy.

Good choice. A fair way from the 'other' end of the crag 

[andy_e]

Is that a route or are you just going to become a druggy?

[Monolith]

I took a year out too for that lad. Won't do you any harm

Chris brought up a very good memory, Mr Farnell's dramatic resignation from the sport. Wad also for anybody who can find that quote. Fairly sure there was a priceless paragraph from you Andy. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon beast.

[IanP]

Probably Ecstacy.

When you said go somewhere else I was thinking a bit further than the other end of the crag   

Classic epic, wish I'd been there to see the final crushing!

[shark]

I took a year out too for that lad. Won't do you any harm

Chris brought up a very good memory, Mr Farnell's dramatic resignation from the sport. Wad also for anybody who can find that quote. Fairly sure there was a priceless paragraph from you Andy. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon beast.

Mediocrity - not my choice
 by - andy farnell  on - 31 May 2008
I've reached a point in my life where things have conspired to mean I can't sustain my current progress, or even get close to the level of climbing I know I'm capable. I had a choice: Mediocrity or quit. I've chosen to quit. It was probably the toughest choice I've ever made. Climbing has been my life for the past 20 years. Thanks to everyone I've met over the last 20 years, you were all great.

Andy F 
 

[Monolith]

YES!!!!

Shark thankyou.

Andy, though you might not realise it, you have inspired me more than reading any book by any climbing demi god. To have completely resigned only to come back and do GA, I can envisage the rampant crush that must have been unfurling within your psyche over the period since returning to work (p.s. are you not entitled to some form of auxillary governmental support for this return?).

You saw the board and you stepped up to the oche. Respect.

[Johnny Brown]

Incredible. I really can't comprehend the mindset of quitting rather than accepting decline. Its going to happen sooner or later.

[Doylo]

Me too. I'm gonna dust off the rack when things head south.

[Nibile]

when my training decline will start, maybe I will finally take up climbing...
yeah, that sounds as a good idea.
after that it will be bodybuilding.

[Jaspersharpe]

[Krank]

had a haircut Jasper?

[Johnny Brown]

Nah, its Bennet with the lights on.

[Krank]

the strobist blog really is good

[Nibile]

with a whole bunch of mixed emotions, I am here to announce that I have ticked "dolomitenmann" at città dei sassi.
since falling in love with the place in the 90's and then finally start ticking there in 2006, I've worked my way through alot of very nice and powerful problems.
I have climbed every problem I wanted to, there, and now I feel some kind of a loss.
still YYFY, but of a very strange kind this time. I wasn't expecting it to be like this.

[Falling Down]

"(p.s. are you not entitled to some form of auxillary governmental support for this return?)."

FFS he's a teacher! 

[Dolly]

Climbed outside for 30 minutes today for the first time since the thumb incident nearly 3 months ago
Just a few easy problems at trackside but it felt great.
In the first week after the accident Norton suggested that Strawberries would be a good one to see if I could still do it without a thumb end so... did it OK  (I'd really like to edit this emoticon so that there's only a one thumbed version BTW)
In the same week Seb suggested that the pinch problem at Crag X might be interesting. Not sure about that yet 
I'll leave it for a couple of days to see how I feel before my next foray onto easy angled rock. 

[shark]

Norton suggested that Strawberries would be a good one to see if I could still do it without a thumb end so... did it OK 

I'll take a wild guess - Curbar not Tremadog.

[Dolly]

I'll take a wild guess - Curbar not Tremadog.

Unless trackside has moved to North Wales then yes you're correct