My Journal popped through my box a few days ago. Talk about a red-letter day! Let me tell you, this is no ordinary rag. Not only is it small, thin and discreet, it's also very, very absorbing and much easier to use than other journals.
Trip reports are extremely well written and not at all sanitised, whilst it's useful to see what's coming up, so you can plan for your comfort and protection. Full vibrant colour accompanies each sheet and I for one thoroughly enjoy seeing photographs of members getting themselves into tight holes. There's also a very useful meets list, this allows me the freedom I need to plan my caving life to the full. I note that many of the monthly trips, give me plenty of opportunity to experience P.M.T- that is pitches, mud and traverses, and now that I have been shown the ropes, I am looking forward to going down with Andy this year much more than I did last year. There is nothing more exciting than getting yourself periodically caught between a rock and a hard place.
I see that quite a few of the trips are of a longer duration; this is fantastic news for the women cavers of the club. When caving, many women take a while to relax and really get into their stride, a longer trip means that they have time to emotionally and physically prepare in order to gain a fuller more satisfying experience. There is nothing more frustrating for a woman caver than a trip that is unprepared for and finishes all too soon. Male cavers however seem to enjoy long and short trips with equal enthusiasm, as long as they have something pretty to look at whilst down there, they are happy enough and in this respect I suppose some of the planned trips are a little biased in the male direction. Personally, I always prefer a longer one- something I can really get my teeth into. I'm not sure if I agree with the idea of getting from entrance to exit as quickly as possible. As long as you're warm and comfortable, I don't see anything wrong with taking your time.
One of the trips I'm particularly looking forward too is waterwheel swallet in June, going through that lovely long duck will be the prefect opportunity for me to try out my new maybeline waterproof mascara. I tell you, it's so hard to find one that stands up to the job, and most either go cloggy or end up running down your cheeks. It can be a real nightmare, especially if you've forgotten your mirror. There's nothing worse than being caught down a cave without the right equipment. Oh, but I digress.
I'm confident that my journal will stay close to me even during my most vigorous caving activities and best of all; no one need ever know it's there. They say that even when you don't feel like it, a little gentle caving exercise does you good. My journal will ensure that I always have someone to do it with, even though I'm sure I'd enjoy doing it by myself. A bonus of this journal is that it's compact size means that it fit's neatly into my handbag so that even on non caving days I'm never caught out and can be ready to ‘go with the flow' at a moments notice.
I can honestly say that my journal gives me the confidence I need, to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. Always.
So, as your ChCC's ‘official minister for women,' (a lonely job in a man's world) it's nice to be able to come across something decent, something good and wholesome. Something without smut, sex, and innuendo, something un-littered with double meanings.
No doubt there will still be those who will see smuttiness in almost anything they read but, ha! Let them try to make something rude out of this journal…. I think they will find it increasingly hard.
Therefore, I'd like to give a big hand to all those members who have contributed (in no small way) to the pleasure it has given, and I'd like you all to know, it is most defiantly, good for me.
I do hope that with the publication of this journal, more women will be encouraged to get in the club, it would be lovely to have something girlie to chat about for a change.
Now enough of this frothy chit chat…I must press-on.