Well soph and Hayden have been absolutely brilliant at trying to come up with things to keep me entertained (but vertigo free) and we were running out of ideas. Sophie sarcastically said she could take me climbing. I thought about it for a second and then said ‘why not?’. I used to absolutely love climbing back during my Uni days, it really helped me to relax. Vertigo isn’t a fear of heights as many people mistakenly believe after a certain Alfred Hitchcock film. So we booked Clip N Climb at Exeter climbing wall eek!

I had almost had panic attack at 4am on D Day – not so much about the actual climbing but the impact it could have on me afterwards. Only had to swig a couple of bottles of Rescue Remedy to calm down! I relaxed all day so I was the best I could be vertigo wise.

it was a nervous start on both parts. I think Soph deserves a medal for bravery for just taking a person with vertigo climbing let alone the actual climb itself! We were very fortunate in that normally there can be up to 30 kids in the place and we had it entirely to our selves; it was quiet and not busy so ideal for me. We had an absolute ball! After a shaky start requiring promises of wine and pizza to get Soph down from the top we were away. I found that as long as l didn’t look up or down and just concentrated at the matter at hand I felt fine!

Gladiators ready:

At the top (let’s call it a draw ;-)):

It’s was a tricky one but fun:

The ‘Leap of Faith’- climb 8 metres up then launch off a platform onto a trapeze, just like being in the circus!

I only did this to let the illness know who’s boss (sounds ridiculous I know).This was terrifying! I started to feel a bit dodgy at the top, the only reason I managed it was I realised that jumping was the quickest way to get down! Of course after the ‘invalid’ managed it poor old Soph really didn’t have much of a choice 😉

I think this photo screams ‘screw you vertigo!’:

Soph was so relaxed on this one she managed some yoga:

Then we went for some well deserved wine, pizza (cheese free of course!) and banoffee pie.

I’m so excited I managed it but I’m well aware I could pay for this big time over the next few days but it was worth it to feel NORMAL again. It’s nuts that I found climbing much easier than walking to the local shop 100 metres away. This illness really puzzles me but coming away has made me realise that yes, I have to be careful and ‘listen to my body’ but it doesn’t mean that I can’t ever have fun again. Duvet day today after all that excitement 😉