Welcome to Nepal

Welcome to Nepal

Saturday 31 March 2007

Shopping

Last minute

We popped into town today to buy some wax for my hiking boots and also a new camera pouch. Whilst there, my wife was looking at the new boots on offer (with 20% off). She has been wanting to upgrade to a new lightweight, waterproof pair for some time now, so who was I to argue when we spotted a bargain. A pair of Peter Storm Goretex boots with a Vibram sole... knocked down from £54.99 to £39.99. So we went ahead with the purchase. She is now happy as Larry, toddling along with a new-found rocking motion.

Friday 30 March 2007

Aches and pains

Back

For the last couple of days I have had aches in my hip and lower back. I just hope this isn't a problem starting to emerge before going trekking in the Himalaya. I tried doing some stretching exercises this morning to free up my spine. I think I will also have a hot bath as well. I must get this sorted before I fly out to Kathmandu.

I am going to recheck all my kit for Everest today, just to make sure I have everything and that I am under the 20kg weight limit for hold baggage. I have decided on taking a few extra items. For example, my Dictaphone to keep a diary on tape. This might be easier than writing a notebook - I also intend to capture the sounds of Nepal, to add to the many photos I intend to take.

Now I'm getting nearer the time for departure, it is bringing home just how much I'm going to miss my wife and family. Three weeks is a long time to be out of contact with them and I don't know how I will fare. It will probably be harder for my wife as she will be on her own, but I expect the kids will rally around to keep her company.

Thursday 22 March 2007

Kit

Freebies

My Xtreme-Everest kit arrived by courier this afternoon... finally. I have had to badger the representative for this to come to fruition... disappointing but not unexpected in this day and age unfortunately. Persistence pays off though.

I am now the proud owner of a Mountain Equipment Windstopper jacket and Polarfleece top. These items will come in most useful on the trek. ME in my eyes is still the Rolls Royce of climbing equipment.

Wednesday 14 March 2007

All change

Flight Times

Not a good start to the day.  I opened the post to find that my old ISP provider was going to pass arrears to a debt collection agency... the second letter was to tell me my flight times had changed for my Everest trek. Great.

The matter regarding my flight times was really inconvenient.  The pre-booked domestic flight was now of no use and had to be cancelled incurring a loss of £50.  I couldn't see why I had to pick this up and spoke to our trek provider to seek some form of recompense. I was asked to provide written evidence and they would see what they could do. I am not very optimistic.

I now need to seek alternative travel arrangements to get me to Heathrow for say 0600hrs in the morning. A tall order if I'm not to stay overnight. My son then offered to drive me down, although I am a little concerned over the distance for him. That said, I suppose we can share the driving and his wife will hopefully assist on the return journey to give him a break. This is a generous offer that I can't refuse... it also means the family can wave me off.

Friday 2 March 2007

Extraction

Ivory Heaven

Well... there's another tooth gone to Ivory Heaven. After my two latest fillings were tested with some evil tasting fluid, which seemed to burrow its way to the nerve of the tooth and make me wince, the dentist made up her mind which was the one causing the pain. She believes I have a dodgy nerve.

Decision time: to remove the nerve or remove the tooth?

I suggested the latter in view of the trip to Nepal and the dentist agreed. A couple of injections later, some forceful leverage and a cracking sound... and the 'problem' was out. Whether the 'problem' is solved, I cannot tell you yet. I'll have to wait until the anaesthetic wears off to confirm it was the right tooth to be extracted. I do hope so.

Thursday 1 March 2007

Restless night

Pain

I woke in the middle of the night as my teeth were troubling me, necessitating a couple of paracetamol this morning. I phoned the dentist to make an emergency appointment, but was told that she had commented to say there is nothing she did that may have loosened the tooth. Ignoring this, I still went ahead with making the appointment so my teeth can be checked out. At the mo they are feeling a little better, but I will wait until tomorrow morning before cancelling the appointment just to see if things have definitely improved.