The first day of Melloblocco in its classic sense as a weekend event. This year the festival has been extended over 10 days, 1 for each of the 10 years it has been running, that’s just one more than Alpkit! but I remain unconvinced that it has been better for it.. admittedly the weather has been poor.. but looking on the bright side it appears to be picking up some.
It was time to get the CAC machine running, not a problem, with only 200 shirts I needed a gazebo and a large table. The gazebo I had, the table I borrowed from Chiara, and after sorting the multitude of colours and sizes I was set up and ready to trade.
Time passed and climbers came and went, mostly went, great for them as they could go climbing. It wasn’t the flood of business I was hoping for. Giuseppe from next door introduced himself. He had set up Climb for Life with the aim of getting more people to give bone marrow. Giuseppe himself has been waiting for a transplant since 2010 when ironically he went to donate bone marrow. Tests showed he was in the wrong queue. Getting a good match is difficult, really difficult especially when your parents are from different countries which is why it is important for more people to get themselves on the international register, it gives someone like him a chance.
The shirts proved popular with the English contingent, but the Euros weren’t biting. I think it calls for a change in strategy tomorrow, because at this rate I can’t look John in the eye.
I have never been on this side before.