Welcome to Nepal

Welcome to Nepal

Thursday 30 November 2006

Antibiotics

No adverse reaction

I have been prescribed a course of antibiotics for my infected finger. I have taken three tablets to date and don't seem to be having any adverse reactions, thank goodness. My finger looks a little better as well. I hate having things wrong with me.

Tuesday 28 November 2006

Inoculations

Infection

One of my fingers on my right hand is badly infected. So much so I am going to have to resort to a doctor's visit to get some antibiotics. It is angry, inflamed and quite swollen at the top... the redness is starting to spread down the finger and around the front. It is also very painful. I just hope he doesn't want to lance it. Not that I'm a wimp, but there isn't any yellow pus to be seen - it is just bright red and hot, where my own antibodies are trying to fight the infection.

What caused it? Well it could be a number of things. Ruby (my Jack Russell) has bitten it and punctured the skin. I have also had a blackthorn embedded in it which I dug out with a needle - that wasn't sterilised. I have also had my hands in the pond to clear the filters out. To top it all I then immersed my finger in hot water to try and force the infection to the surface. I suppose I had better tell the doctor everything so he can make his diagnosis and treat me accordingly. 

Whilst I'm at the doctors I may as well ask his advice regarding my inoculations for the Everest trip. I also need to order a stock of antibiotics for any upper respiratory ailments and for bacterial diarrhoea. I presume he will prescribe these. There is not much more to organise now for the trip. I have to get my Nepalese Visa, put together my First Aid kit, go for my sea-level tests and attend the introductory weekend... oh yes, and pay the balance of the cost.

Thursday 16 November 2006

Eye protection

Sunglasses

I have spent the morning corresponding between The Specs Place on the web and my local opticians. All to try and negotiate a best price for my new Rudy Project spectacles.  My optician has quoted £280 for a Rudy Project Kabrio Titanium frame with Lazer Black flip up sunglasses, with Essilar AS Stylis 1.67 Crizal coated lenses.  The Specs Place has quoted £220.  This is a £60 saving that I can ill-afford to ignore.  I have left this final quote with my opticians to see if they can meet the price.  I would like to remain loyal to them if possible, but competition on price is starting to make this more and more difficult.  I can see I will end up ordering from The Specs Place.

I have also been in touch with the lady at Global Positioning Systems regarding the delivery of my Etrex Legend C.  Unfortunately, there is no prospect of getting a replacement for the model that was mislaid by the carrier as it is now discontinued.  I have therefore suggested they supply me with an Etrex Summit (£149.95) for the amount I have already paid to them (£129.95) as a measure of goodwill and for the inconvenience caused.  She said she would need to check with her Product Manager to see what the profit margins were to see if this could be done and will phone me back this afternoon with an answer.  Failing an agreement on this I have asked for my credit card to be reimbursed with the initial outlay.

I have just received a telephone call from my local optician - they have agreed to supply my Rudy Project specs for £220 and match the price of The Specs Place.  Brilliant - just shows what can be done if you persevere with negotiation.  A Win/Win situation all round I think.  They still get the sale and a customer who will stay with them, and I get a good deal.  Let's see what happens with the GPS this afternoon now.

Well... I suppose it was just too much to ask for it all to work out.  GPS will not do a deal so have refunded my money.  Ah well it was worth a try.  Looking on eBay though, there is a couple of the Summit models for sale that might be worth a shot.  We'll see.  I do believe things happen for a reason, so no point getting worked up over issues.

Rudy Project glasses with sun visors

Friday 10 November 2006

Lost parcel

Garmin Etrex

ANC have now confirmed to the supplier they have definitely lost my Garmin GPS package.  Bugger.  Even more annoying is that the supplier now say they are out of stock.  I suppose it was too good to be true.  Although the Garmin Etrex C was a discontinued model, it was still excellent value for money... and it was just too tempting for someone I presume.

I am now left with £130 having been debited from my credit card and nothing to see for this.  The dangers of buying on the web I suppose and the problem with privatised mail services.  Would this have happened in the old days of the Royal Mail monopoly... probably not.

Thursday 9 November 2006

Missing parcel

Garmin Etrex

Typical. So much for paying out for next day delivery. Checking the ANC website to see how my order was progressing, I noticed it had not arrived in Lincoln. This was slightly suspicious, but I left it for a few hours to see if the order information was updated. Unfortunately not. I telephoned ANC first thing in the afternoon to find out the problem. It transpires the package has been mislaid and therefore I need to report this to the distributor (why they couldn't do this I don't know).

I therefore contacted Global Positioning Satellites to let them know my GPS unit had been mislaid. The Customer Services team then contacted ANC Middlesbrough to confirm my story. I am now expecting a call from a Line Manager at Global Positioning Satellites to advise me how they intend to remedy this loss. Just in case of any dispute, I have sent an email as a record of our telephone calls. 

This is annoying - I will see what happens next.

Wednesday 8 November 2006

Garmin unit

GPS

I decided to order a Garmin Etrex C GPS unit this morning which was reduced by over £100. A real bargain. I have been after a GPS unit for some time, but couldn't justify the expense.  At just over £130 this is now manageable.  This model takes 2 x AA batteries so I will use it on my trek to Everest next year. I can also use the rechargeable batteries with my solar panel. I can then keep a check on the route taken and the height gained in altitude each day. My aim is to maintain a diary during the trek and this will be useful data to add to this. Furthermore, it will be an aid to navigation when we go walking in the UK after the trek is over. If we find we don't use it, we can always sell it on.