To all quite simply THANK YOU - namaste

So it’s just over 3 days until lift off.... The past year has flown by quicker than Jenson Button over that finish line in Australia yesterday!! It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride and there’s been some of the best times I’ve had. I’ve met loads of great people (some I’ve not met yet!!), been to loads of new places (with more still to visit) and taken part in loads of great activities: fundraising, swinging from the trees at Go Ape!, blogging, Friday lunching, climbing the hills of Scotland (plenty more still to do – but remember ‘I don’t have a tick list’!).... just lots of fun times...

With all of that in mind, I think it’s now time for some more thank yous to everyone who has made the last year possible and the future so very very bright! Here goes:

Mum, Dad, Karen (sister) and Ryan (the bestest nephew in the whole wide world!) – you’s are my everything Love you guy’s lots; my brilliant family too many to mention but you all know who you are; Linda for being always there and for listening to my talking about all manner of things, for your fantastic fundraising efforts, Christmas card making and cake baking and a true friend; Brigitte for your endless support, encouragement and a good friend; Donna a dear friend what more can I say, I’m just sorry we missed out on all those years but we’re making up for it now; Bernie for being a good friend and a long distance pen pal; Susan thanks for everything you are a great friend, a brill mummy and an inspiration; Andrew thanks for the very cool quiz night posters and for sharing your fantastic pictures on Flickr – they really are amazing (check his pics out here, taken with an old fashioned Holga camera); Olly M quite simply thank you, for your wise words, encouragement, fabulous films, great pictures and I’m glad I can now call you a friend; Kev, Chris, Ian H, Sharon, Ian Mc, Douglas, Louise, Vikki, Billie, Tara, Suzanne, Dorothy a great bunch of fantastic friends and workmates; to everyone at work in DASS that has sponsored me, bought my cakes, came to the quiz night, encouraged me, helped me and hopefully read my blog! – thank you all; Jackie O and the fabulous members of the Ochils Mountaineering Club thanks for taking me under your wings and up the mountains, yes ‘tis true people I am now officially a member of the OMC (I have a card and everything!!); Martin McGarvey a pal, a great source of information and still a huge inspiration – Good Luck in 2010 I know you will do it!; Michael for your wise words and your offer to take me up the hills – I’m holding you to that when I get back; PTC is that really your name! Keep writing that marvellous blog, your stories, foties and kit advice are great!; all the inspirational speakers I’ve heard over the past few months Simon Yates, Kenton Cool, Ian Parnell, Es Tressider, Kev Shields, Olly Metherell and Niall McNair - the simple words and fabulous panoramas you offer really do provide lots of inspiration to lots of people - keep it up!; Dave and Claire MacLeod I’m an avid reader of your blog and congratulations on the ever-continuing success of Echo Wall - a great film that even us non-climbers got hooked on within the first few minutes – inspiring!; Alison Culshaw, Claire Maxted and Tom Bailey thanks for taking me up a munro in the Cairngorms and giving some great memories and photos of the day (see Trail magazine Oct o8 edition); Jackie Johnson from Marie Curie Cancer Care, thanks for your help and encouragement; to all the lovely 4th year students who will graduate in June including Karen A, Andrew H, Frazer, David C, Nina, Matthew, Gwyneth, Gareth S, David P, Gemma, Alex S, Lyndsay H and everyone else so sorry I won’t be there when you guys hand in your dissertations but GOOD LUCK and you’re in safe hands at the office with Linda!; Paul Roberts at Terrevista Trails - thanks so much for the sleeping bag liner much appreciated; to Mark Beaumont the first person to really inspire me way back in early 2008 with his solo round the world cycle, it gave me a fire in my belly and compelled me to step outside my comfort zone, take on a new challenge and live life to the fullest that I can – Thank you, truly.

And finally to new friends Kate F, Ruth R, Andy W, Emma C and the other members of team Charity Challenge EBC 2009, can’t wait to meet you all!!

To all I simply say thank you... for everything.

Ange xxxxx

Pictures done on Wordle.net

More pictures and larger sizes here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ange77h/sets/72157616028845491/

Busy bee...

So that was a busy weekend!! Phew, birthdays aren't usually that hard work but it was a very enjoyable weekend that has left me with a cold and runny nose.

I'd decided ages ago to make this birthday a special time for me in what will be one of the best years of my life so far. And so it began on Thursday with a trip to Glasgow for a bite to eat and then onto a Mountain film festival at Glasgow University run by Olly Metherell of Super7. We had a tortuous journey as we hit the busy rush hour traffic and then I only managed to go and take the wrong exit from the M8. A little detour action was needed but we eventually made our way to the car park I'd circled on the map just behind Ashton Lane in the West End (which also just happened to be conveniently situated next to the venue for the film festival). By this time we'd been in the car for an hour and a half and I so needed a pit stop as soon as we got to the restaurant. A quick meal was delivered and then we set off to watch some films.

I think Linda was disappointed there were no chick flicks on show but she soon had a wee tear in here eye watching this one film about 2 South African rowers. Very good story. Then there was Echo Wall by Clare and Dave MacLeod. It still amazes how people can hang from a rock with only one finger and one toe actually touching the rock!! Amazing.... Next was I Can Do That - the story of the Lipstick Blondes and their expedition to ski off the summit of Mustagh Alta (7546m). Very inspiring group of women but it left me slightly concerned about my trek (I won't spoil it if you haven't seen it but it kind of spooked me a wee bit!!). To finish off was Zoltan which in fact was a good way to finish the night off, very funny wee 5 minute film and I think I'm going to take up 'tubing' next, ha ha.

After a wee chat with Olly it was time to set off on the homeward journey. This only took about 30 minutes - roads much quieter than the drive in.

I woke on the morning of my birthday feeling... well pretty much the same actually. Aren't birthdays always like that? Set off for work and had a pretty good day all in all. We started with our customary Friday morning scone from Clive's cafe. Yum! A few messages came in via various sources from friends old and new. It was great. Then it was time to head home for the get-together at my house.

People started arriving about 8pm and soon the house was filled with family and a few friends (mum has a huge family - 12 brothers & sisters). As I was sitting there listening to everyone chat away I thought this is great! All the people that meant something to me were there. Of course a few were missing due to various other commitments but i had a warm fuzzy glow inside knowing that they'd all made the effort to come for my birthday. Now there was supposed to be a rule in place that no-one except Linda and Christine stuck too - the rule was you had to bring something relating to 1) Nepal, 2) the mountains or 3) the number 32!! Linda brought a Toblerone and Christine brought a pasta necklace (32 pieces of pasta on it) and the pendant was a small karabiner with a little compass attached!! Good effort ladies well done. None of my family brought anything like that although they did threaten to come dressed as the Von Traps!! (Mountain related - sort of!) ha ha. I opened my cards and Linda had given me a picture card she'd bought at the film festival the previous night - it is well cool and ...sshhh *whisper* one of the best birthday cards I've had in ages... Well chuffed I was.

So Friday was a great night and I think it eventually ended about 2am after the guitar and drums came out and a few old favourite songs were sung. There's about 3 songs that are sung at all the family do's: whiskey in the jar, blueberry hill and forever and ever (my fav old tune). It was good and made me a bit emotional sitting listening to them all chanting away to their hearts content. Family and friends - what it's all about really eh!

Saturday I had a lie in and was woken by the postman knocking at the door. My new Oakley prescription sunglasses had arrived!!!! They are fantastic and so light-weight to wear. Perfeck! The afternoon was spent in Stirling getting more kit - or so I thought. I'd decided to head into Tiso to see if I could pick up a few smaller items: all purpose soap, gel hand wash, iodine tablets and more but managed to come out with another pair of socks, a merino base layer top, a spork! and neutralising tablets. They didn't have much other wee bits in stock. I heard quite an amusing conversation between two members of staff but out of courtesy I won't mention a word!

Saturday evening was spent at my good friend Donna's. We got a takeaway and settled in to watch a good girlie film - Definitely Maybe. It's a nice wee chick flick and, yes, it managed to make us cry a bit. Just what you need every now and again eh ladies?

Sunday was another birthday in the family so again we gathered at my aunts house for dinner and a good old natter. A good laugh but by 7pm I was starting to flag a bit. So I said my good-byes and came home (which is only just down the road by the way).

So yeah I was a busy wee bee this past weekend and never got out in the hills. Must try harder!

The countdown to the trek is just 24 days!!! I remember this time last year when the first thoughts of trekking to Everest Base Camp were just a dream, soon it will be a reality and now I am starting to panic a bit. It will be well worth it though, won't it?...

take care

Ange xx