Meet the Community: Aphra
What is your name? Aphra
How did you get introduced to climbing? I actually had a dream about it! I woke up and thought "that looks fun, why am I not doing this in real life?!" I hopped online, found Boulders, and convinced my partner to come with me to an introductory session. I don't think I've ever had so much fun in my life, so I signed up for the learn to climb course, and the rest is history!
Where is your favourite place to climb? Boulders, of course! I've never actually climbed anywhere else, though I would love to give climbing outdoors a go.
Describe your best climbing experience! Where was it, when was it, with whom and why? I'd been trying to do this particular bouldering problem for absolutely ages. The crux of it was right near the top of the wall, and I'm a bit of a wimp, so the height was bothering me a bit. I tried all sorts of things that I didn't think would ever work, and then all of a sudden I worked out that if I flagged my leg just right, I could reach the final hold! I felt so elated, I think I probably had happy tears in my eyes!
What's your favourite piece of climbing kit and why? If I've got a comfy t-shirt, I'm happy.
Why do you climb? Because it's fun! And because I love exploring the limits of my capabilities, finding out what I can and can't do, and pushing myself to do more.
What would your advice be to someone thinking about trying climbing for the first time? Do it!!!! Even if you end up not liking it, at least you'll have given it a go and tried something new.
What's your favourite food? Does a nice cup of tea count?
What’s your #1 most played song? Recently, it's "Where the Lonely Ones Roam" by Digital Daggers.
What is the last book you read? The Liveship Traders trilogy, by Robin Hobb. It's everything I like in a book(s) - fantasy, dragons, pirates, high stakes, strong female characters, sex, and epic worldbuilding.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? At the moment I'm missing being able to visit my parents due to the lockdown, so currently I'd choose to travel there if I could.
If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why? Cristina Scabbia, the frontwoman of Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil (my fave band!)
What would be your perfect day? I don't think there's one perfect day. I think the perfect day would involve a mix of productive stuff and being lazy, so possibly something including climbing, some time chilling with video games, and then maybe pizza and a D&D game :)
Fun Fact about you? I'm scared of mushrooms.
Please feel free to share some information about what you do - plug your business, your work, your fundraising, your Instagram, anything! At the moment I'm spending quite a lot of time wedding planning, as I got engaged just before the lockdown began!