Quarter Peals!
Back in May it was suggested that shipmates who were bell-ringers should get together to ring a quarter peal in honour of the fifth anniversary of the new boards.* The 22nd July was suggested as the Saturday nearest St Simeon's Day (21st). One of those who volunteered, although living in Norwich, had connections in the Bedford area so organised a tower nr Bedford (Carlton). It then transpired that we had seven people willing and able to travel to the meet so a second tower (Harrold was added).
Thus this morning caliston drove me over to Carlton to meet up with people. It took us slightly longer than we expected but we got ther about 1115 instead of 11, just as The Great Gumby was trying to phone us! They then rang up, I avoided this because they'd started by the time I got up there with the aid of the local. We were then photographed by a woman from the local paper. We then had a quick drink of water while we decided what precisely to ring. Qoheleth wasn't confident to try minor, so that was postponed to the afternoon when Ricardus had arrived and Grandsire Doubles was agreed upon. Roxanna took the treble which left me with the two. It was said `we want safety first, rather than firsts' so I didn't admit that I'd never rung a quarter inside. I did say I'd be safer on the treble too, but we couldn't both ring it.
So we set off. There were only a couple of points where I got a bit lost (concentration going, mainly at 4-5up dodges TBH) and had to cry for help but nothing too serious and the third was shouted at once. The biggest problem was the heat. I had sweat running down my face within the first 5 minutes. From the second, I could see the clock, which is a mixed blessing because I saw it after 5 and 10 mins and thought, long way to go yet! But we made it. My fingers were interestingly blistered though.
Then it was off to the pub (the Bell in Odell) for beer and lunch. Qoheleth went into Bedford to pick up Ricardus and returned just before an almighty thunderstorm with torrential rain. Rather later than originally suggested we decided to brave it and head to the second tower. Things weren't helped by the lack of phone signal in the area for arranging to collect the keys.
Qoheleth opted out of this one because he wasn't up to minor which meant that Roxanna couldn't slope off back to Derby and her inlaws and I couldn't rest my blisters. We found the tower first aid box and with some bandage and micropore I strapped four of my fingers. Roxanna and I fought over the treble and the two and in the end Sarum Sleuth placed us. I got the treble which was probably safter. Going lead, 2nds, 3rds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sixths, fifths, fourths, thirds, seconds, lead lots is easy. The first extent had only Singles in it and no Bobs which was interesting. The two was a bit wobbly at times but mainly put right quickly. Just before the first bob the strapping came of the worst of the blisters (i.e. the one where the skin had gone) but I coped. Sometime later there were a few iffy leads as the two went a bit wobbly and others were put off. The conductor was getting quick terse and then went `second lead now and make seconds.' then vehemently `That's all'. It had come round, just. Which is why he'd been so strong in those last leads because to lose it in the last few leads is very frustrating and he wasn't going to let that happen.
But that doubled by QP count (previously I'd scored two and lost one) and they were both firsts. The first my first inside and the second my first of minor. The first two had been trebling to Bob Doubles and to Grandsire Triples. I was less dead at the end of these, though I did stagger to a bench and sit down after the second because my knees had gone.
*This scared me because I started posting a year or so before the new boards came so it means I've been onboard for over 6 years which is an awful lot of hours spent reading and posting!
Thus this morning caliston drove me over to Carlton to meet up with people. It took us slightly longer than we expected but we got ther about 1115 instead of 11, just as The Great Gumby was trying to phone us! They then rang up, I avoided this because they'd started by the time I got up there with the aid of the local. We were then photographed by a woman from the local paper. We then had a quick drink of water while we decided what precisely to ring. Qoheleth wasn't confident to try minor, so that was postponed to the afternoon when Ricardus had arrived and Grandsire Doubles was agreed upon. Roxanna took the treble which left me with the two. It was said `we want safety first, rather than firsts' so I didn't admit that I'd never rung a quarter inside. I did say I'd be safer on the treble too, but we couldn't both ring it.
So we set off. There were only a couple of points where I got a bit lost (concentration going, mainly at 4-5up dodges TBH) and had to cry for help but nothing too serious and the third was shouted at once. The biggest problem was the heat. I had sweat running down my face within the first 5 minutes. From the second, I could see the clock, which is a mixed blessing because I saw it after 5 and 10 mins and thought, long way to go yet! But we made it. My fingers were interestingly blistered though.
Then it was off to the pub (the Bell in Odell) for beer and lunch. Qoheleth went into Bedford to pick up Ricardus and returned just before an almighty thunderstorm with torrential rain. Rather later than originally suggested we decided to brave it and head to the second tower. Things weren't helped by the lack of phone signal in the area for arranging to collect the keys.
Qoheleth opted out of this one because he wasn't up to minor which meant that Roxanna couldn't slope off back to Derby and her inlaws and I couldn't rest my blisters. We found the tower first aid box and with some bandage and micropore I strapped four of my fingers. Roxanna and I fought over the treble and the two and in the end Sarum Sleuth placed us. I got the treble which was probably safter. Going lead, 2nds, 3rds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sixths, fifths, fourths, thirds, seconds, lead lots is easy. The first extent had only Singles in it and no Bobs which was interesting. The two was a bit wobbly at times but mainly put right quickly. Just before the first bob the strapping came of the worst of the blisters (i.e. the one where the skin had gone) but I coped. Sometime later there were a few iffy leads as the two went a bit wobbly and others were put off. The conductor was getting quick terse and then went `second lead now and make seconds.' then vehemently `That's all'. It had come round, just. Which is why he'd been so strong in those last leads because to lose it in the last few leads is very frustrating and he wasn't going to let that happen.
But that doubled by QP count (previously I'd scored two and lost one) and they were both firsts. The first my first inside and the second my first of minor. The first two had been trebling to Bob Doubles and to Grandsire Triples. I was less dead at the end of these, though I did stagger to a bench and sit down after the second because my knees had gone.
*This scared me because I started posting a year or so before the new boards came so it means I've been onboard for over 6 years which is an awful lot of hours spent reading and posting!