I felt ill on Monday night so went to bed accompanied by a Lemsip. Everyone was going to attempt an ascent of Ben Nevis, so I stayed in bed until lunchtime. When I got up, I had to enter the cold air and I felt I would probably die of pneumonia in the sub-zero temperatures. I was really partaking of the highland life to the fullest. I had some toast and sat in front of the fire and read my company law notes. I thought and to d about the case of Saleman v Saleman which established the principle of the company as a legal person. But my mind drifted over the sunlit lake and the snow covered mountains and life and the universe.
Then David Gilmore walked in without a shirt on, this amazed me as i cuddled up to the fire. He also had his socks rolled down; he had had a lovely time sunbathing as well as wearing his crampons. We went to the kitchen and started making a continental lentil loaf with walnuts. I peeled millions of apples, then quite a lot of potatoes with Janet and Dave G. Six people struggled long hours preparing a feast:- D.G; J; D.W; A; Li& me. Pilchard dip was put on the table, with side dishes of carrots, cucumber, green & red peppers. Toast which had been cooked and tossed on the Aga was also there. We washed some candlesticks which we’d found, and put in candles brought in Inverness. These candlesticks were lined up along the table.
When everything was ready, we went into the living room and relaxed. Some sombre thoughtful music was played on a small cassette player. We discussed the morality of bringing this player on the trip. Time marched on punctuated by Lizzy biting our feet and other parts of our bodies. Just after nine, we decided that at 9.30pm we would get REALLY WORRIED about the late arrival of the others. But most of us pre-empted this deadline, and started to imagine many gruesome scenarios of death on the mountains or destruction of tyres on the minious. Finally David G. rose from his seat and moved towards the door – he said he would phone the police. We were all terrified. We waited. The fire burnt in the grate and the music continued as before.
We heard the door of the lodge open. During the time he moved along the corridor everyone’s eyes moved to the door. When his face appeared, I knew that something had happened, but that no one was dead. Somehow you can tell about what they are thinking. He told us the news, we knew that Jane was hurt out not “seriously”. We remained tense. There was a crackling sound from the dining room next door. THE LODGE IS ON FIRE!!! Everyone flew onto their feet and Louise grabbed the curled up bundle from the fireside that was Lizzie. We flew up to the door. Rushed in. It was just a log crackling in the grate.
Everyone collapsed in a massive sigh of relief. We decided to start our this would be the quickest way to bring our candlesticks and turned off the sober, thoughtful music, food, nome. We took away the because we didn’t want this atmosphere. Some loud, jolly music replaced it, and at last the others returned.
Andrea.