Man Lab is where skills are refined, and incompetence isn’t tolerated. It’s all about learning, experimenting, and achieving something worthwhile. I found myself in some pretty wild scenarios, like being handcuffed to Oz Clarke while an oddly dressed man from Zambia seemed intent on causing harm. And let me tell you, map reading has never felt this intense – it started as a laugh but quickly turned into a survival race.
We practiced precise woodworking, descended through England in search of the ideal pool table, and solved age-old quandaries like remembering names of people you meet at parties. But first, let’s talk about satellite navigation. Modern satnav systems are fantastic; they free you from the constraints of old paper maps. However, there’s still something to be said for traditional map reading, especially in dire situations like breaking out of Dartmoor Prison, a grim facility originally built for French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars.
Dartmoor is a forbidding place, and it looks like a scene straight out of a wilderness survival movie. Escaping from here requires more than just courage; it requires skill. Handcuffed with Oz Clarke, we staged our own “prison break,” armed only with a smuggled map. We started by finding North with a simple trick using a watch and then set out on our great escape, crossing treacherous terrain with only our wits and the map to guide us.
Navigating the moors isn’t easy. England’s largest wilderness is filled with hidden dangers. We made our dash, driven by the hope of freedom and some well-timed snacks hidden in pies. But escape isn’t easy; a team of determined manhunters was hot on our trail, led by a professional tracker. We pored over maps, calculated our route, and avoided detection as much as possible. Despite injuries, near-misses, and escalating tension, we pressed on.
The journey through Dartmoor was exhausting and perilous, especially as my knee twisted in the bog, leaving me nearly incapacitated. But we pressed on, navigating lakes, reservoirs, and forests. Finally, we came close to our pick-up point with our escape mastermind, Knuckles, waiting.
Back in the Man Lab, we faced other challenges, like crafting the perfect pool table. Pool tables need to be level and sturdy; they must maintain their shape regardless of use. We decided on wood as our material and embarked on a project that combined rustic craftsmanship with precise engineering.
Our table relied on precise woodworking joints, which took patience and skill. We sought perfect slate for the surface, which required a journey to the last working underground slate mine in England. The assembly was a delicate operation, involving natural logs for table legs and laser-leveled supports. Finally, we covered the table with blue baize, marking it up with careful precision for its inaugural game. This kind of project truly tests not only your skills but also your patience and perseverance.
But the adventures didn’t stop there. We delved into the art of remembering names, a significant challenge at large social events. Armed with various mnemonic techniques and a hidden earpiece, we tested Rory in a bustling environment. Despite initial struggles and a few awkward moments, Rory managed to remember most of the names, proving that even the most daunting tasks can be tackled with the right tools and techniques.
Throughout these experiences, whether it’s escaping across Dartmoor or crafting a perfect pool table, the lessons in Man Lab are clear: with the right skills, determination, and a bit of ingenuity, almost any challenge can be overcome.
