OK - so I'm now all packed! You'll see from the picture that I got everything organised this weekend and I'm pleased to say that I'm just under the advised 15kg weight limit too! Can't wait now!
Monday, 28 September 2009
Monday, 21 September 2009
Next Week!
Well, I'm off next week and think I'm pretty well all prepared now. I nearly had a practice pack at the weekend - how sad am I?! I've got all the last few bits for my first aid kit as it's been significantly depleted since my last trip over 4 years ago. The only part of the preparation that's not gone so well is the physical bit. I was really good over the summer and went out on the mountain bike all the time - doing some fair mileage too. That's dropped off to being almost none at all now. But with 10 days to go now, no point worrying about that. Not afraid of a bit of hard graft - and it's only for a few days. I've got lots of pain killers - so should be able to work through it!
New digital camera that John got me for my birthday has arrived and I'm very excited to start playing with that. Just can't wait to turn the Blackberry off and be on my way now. Still a good few hard days of work left though between now and then.
New digital camera that John got me for my birthday has arrived and I'm very excited to start playing with that. Just can't wait to turn the Blackberry off and be on my way now. Still a good few hard days of work left though between now and then.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Three weeks to go....tomorrow!
I'm off for a long weekend - where hopefully I will get off my b*ckside a bit more than I have over the last few weeks. I spend far too long sat at my desk!
I've been making slow progress on the fundraising but am much happier with where I have got to now. We've got a cake sale organised in Oxford for the Friday before I go, so hopefully lots of people will come down and visit the department (no 1 priority!) and also buy some cake to raise a few more pennies (no 2 priority.
I was also really relieved to hear that I don't need to take malaria tablets! Not only does it save me some money, but it stops me from feeling ropey whilst I'm on them. Another piece of useful advice (via the medium of facebook) was to take probiotic drinks/tablets to help the immune system in the gut. I normally take these during the winter to ward of coughs and colds - which does seem to work - but I've started a bit earlier with my probiotic multi vitamins and yoghurt just in case it does help - even a little bit.
My sister has also dropped off a great box of educational books from WHSmiths (her employer) which will be really useful. Not quite sure how I'm going to get them out there with the weight limit. I think the hand luggage is going to be critical on this - whilst making out that my bag weighs less than the 5kg hand luggage allowance. It will be interesting getting through security though - I'm sure they'll think I'm smuggling staples!
Not long now - and I'm so excited. I really hope it works out to be as good as we all think it will be.
I've been making slow progress on the fundraising but am much happier with where I have got to now. We've got a cake sale organised in Oxford for the Friday before I go, so hopefully lots of people will come down and visit the department (no 1 priority!) and also buy some cake to raise a few more pennies (no 2 priority.
I was also really relieved to hear that I don't need to take malaria tablets! Not only does it save me some money, but it stops me from feeling ropey whilst I'm on them. Another piece of useful advice (via the medium of facebook) was to take probiotic drinks/tablets to help the immune system in the gut. I normally take these during the winter to ward of coughs and colds - which does seem to work - but I've started a bit earlier with my probiotic multi vitamins and yoghurt just in case it does help - even a little bit.
My sister has also dropped off a great box of educational books from WHSmiths (her employer) which will be really useful. Not quite sure how I'm going to get them out there with the weight limit. I think the hand luggage is going to be critical on this - whilst making out that my bag weighs less than the 5kg hand luggage allowance. It will be interesting getting through security though - I'm sure they'll think I'm smuggling staples!
Not long now - and I'm so excited. I really hope it works out to be as good as we all think it will be.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
5 weeks to go!
5 weeks to go - or one month tomorrow to be precise! I'm pleased to report that after my RE World article last week, my sponsorship has taken a jump up to £720, after some very generous donations. I'm so pleased and want to thank everyone who has supported me so far.
I've also learnt that whilst lots of people are very interested in my trip, going onto the Internet and sponsoring someone is alien territory and I guess also ties people into feeling like they need to give a fair sum of money, be it £5 or £10. A few people have asked whether I could send round a sponsorship form, and if I'm honest this never crossed my mind. So, I've drafted a form and will start sending that around. I'm sure people are going to get a bit hacked off with me soon, so I'm going to make this the last big push. A few £2 here or there soon add up to £10, £20, £50 etc - so I think it's worth pursuing.
Anyway - onto the more important stuff. Went and got my fringe cut at the weekend. As usual, I had left it far too late for a weekend appointment, and I'm busy over the next two weekends. Fortunately, Vicky could squeeze me in for 10 mins - so attacked my fringe such that I can see again now. The other benefit is that longer hair is easier to look after in expedition conditions. It may sound like madness, but scraping your hair back into a pony tail, rather than looking something that's been dragged through the African bush backwards by a large and scary animal is much easier to deal with! I'm sure you all needed - and wanted - to know that!
I am really starting to look forward to my trip now and all the adventures it will bring. Whilst I've still got lots of work to get done before I go - it's really helping motivate me to get everything cleared - or organised and underway, before I go. I need to keep reminding myself that I'm only actually out of the office for 6 days, and the world won't stop turning without me. It just makes me feel much better to work this way!
I've also learnt that whilst lots of people are very interested in my trip, going onto the Internet and sponsoring someone is alien territory and I guess also ties people into feeling like they need to give a fair sum of money, be it £5 or £10. A few people have asked whether I could send round a sponsorship form, and if I'm honest this never crossed my mind. So, I've drafted a form and will start sending that around. I'm sure people are going to get a bit hacked off with me soon, so I'm going to make this the last big push. A few £2 here or there soon add up to £10, £20, £50 etc - so I think it's worth pursuing.
Anyway - onto the more important stuff. Went and got my fringe cut at the weekend. As usual, I had left it far too late for a weekend appointment, and I'm busy over the next two weekends. Fortunately, Vicky could squeeze me in for 10 mins - so attacked my fringe such that I can see again now. The other benefit is that longer hair is easier to look after in expedition conditions. It may sound like madness, but scraping your hair back into a pony tail, rather than looking something that's been dragged through the African bush backwards by a large and scary animal is much easier to deal with! I'm sure you all needed - and wanted - to know that!
I am really starting to look forward to my trip now and all the adventures it will bring. Whilst I've still got lots of work to get done before I go - it's really helping motivate me to get everything cleared - or organised and underway, before I go. I need to keep reminding myself that I'm only actually out of the office for 6 days, and the world won't stop turning without me. It just makes me feel much better to work this way!
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