2009

I'm coming back...shortly. So much to tell you all, new car, new me, new nephew etc...


I am shortly off to meet this lovely lady for a cuppa as I've been in her town for the weekend

Bye for now

Overdue

Blimey, its been a while since I last posted...sorry about that life has been pretty hectic this year!

In 2 weeks and 2 days I will be off to India, an experience of a life time...I will be trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas in aid of ChildLine. I have almost managed to raise the £2500 that was required of me to do, have around £300 left to raise now so am so pleased with myself! Also, getting fit for the trek was a must - so I joined the gym and a local Slimming World class and have almost lost 1 and 1/2 stone through it and I feel great! Still have a lot to lose before I will be happy but will probably lose more when I'm actually in India.

If any of you lovely bloggers would like to sponsor me, then you can here.

Ups and Downs

I broke down. On the slip road joining a stand still of traffic on the A38, well I didnt actually make it on the A38, the car konked out just before joining. When the RAC man got to me, he took one look under the bonnet and decided he was 99% sure it was the head gasket that was gone and towed me home. Later, my friend came over to take a look at the car and says he is almost sure the RAC man is wrong. Lets hope that he is wrong and it is something minor so for the time being I am off the road, some may say that that is not a bad thing!

Anyway, in better news....I am soooo excited, I have been selected along with 34 other Apprentices that I am off to India in May in support of ChildLine. I just have to raise £2500 in sponsorship! I will do it, January will see me in the gym, losing hopefully a couple of stone and getting fit for a 5 day trek in The Himalayas!!! Itinerary as follows:



Itinerary
6th – 16th May 2008


This superb trek passes through the Kingdom of Gaddi, a semi nomadic race who spend many months wandering the high pastures with their sheep, we will enjoy some of the splendid views of the Dhaula Dhar mountain Range, and have time to explore the Dalai’s Lamas home and monastery.

Duration 11 days.
Trekking 5 days.
Physical Challenge: Moderate to difficult.
Focus: Mountain views, Monasteries, Buddhist People, Rhododendrom in bloom in April and great variety of Himalayan birds and Laka Glacier.
Best Time: May to June & Mid September to Mid November
Highest Point: 3500mts

Day Tuesday 6th May Morning flight with BA direct from London Heathrow to Delhi
Arrive 23.00 Delhi International airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 Wednesday 7th May Delhi
We will have a leisurely morning and briefing before lunch. We will visit the BT Call Centre in the afternoon between 3 & 5 pm followed by dinner in local restaurant and then transfer to the railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Pathankot leaving at 2130hrs.

Day 3 Thursday 8th May Pathankot - Dharamsala
We arrive Pathankot at 0730hrs and then transfer to Dharamsala (approx. 3 hour drive) in time for lunch, and check in to hotel. Evening visit to H.H. Dalai Lama residence and monastery. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 5 Friday 9th May Dharamsala (Mcleod Ganj) to Kareri Village (2050 m) 14 kms
After breakfast we set off and walk past the Tibetan Children’s Village and on to Satobari village from where it is steep descent to Ghera Village. After crossing a small stream via a wooden bridge we start our ascent to Kareri Village. We overnight in a camp outside the village.

Day 5 Saturday 10th May Kareri to Bahl Village (2300m) 12 kms
From Kareri we trek for about 2 hours gradually descending to Rawa village. From here it is steep ascent for 3 hours through mixed forest of oak, rhododendron and pine trees. Our overnight camp is by a small river near Bahl village.

Day 6 Sunday 11th May Bahl to Triund (2975m) 12 kms Today is a steep ascent through more mixed forest. Triund is an alpine meadow on top of a ridge with good views of peaks of Dhaula Dhar on one side and Kangra valley on the other side. Overnight camping.

Day 7 Monday 12th May Triund-Laka Got (3500m)-Triund 10 kms
A gradual ascent for about two hours takes us to Laka Got, the site of a temporary shepherd summer camp, situated at the snout of a small glacier. Weather permitting we can also walk over the glacier to reach Lahes cave. Lahes cave is an overnight shelter for the shepherds going over the mountain. We return to Triund for overnight camping.

Day 8 Tuesday 13th May Triund to Mcleod Ganj ( Dharamsala) via Laheta 12 kms
We start our day trekking over a grassy ridge for about 4 kms with fine views of the valley below and snowy peaks on one side. It is steep descent through Laheta village and finally we reach Bhagsu Nag village from where it is about 15min drive to our hotel just outside Mcleod Ganj (Dharamsala). We check in to the hotel and have an evening celebratory meal with local folk music.

Day 9 Wednesday 14th May Dharamsala
We have a morning free to shop and explore Dharamsala. After lunch we transfer to Pathankot for the overnight train to Delhi. Train departs at 1840hrs.

Day 10 Thursday 15th May Dharamsala/Delhi/ Departure.
We arrive early morning at 06.55 hrs Delhi and transfer to the Connaught Hotel for breakfast and where we have rooms from 12.00hrs (early check in will be requested). We will visit the BT Project between 1 & 4 pm and have dinner at the hotel before transferring to the airport.

Day 11 Friday 16th May Delhi to London
Early morning direct flight to UK

This itinerary is complex and maybe subject to change.
© Copyright of Classic Tours

£2500 to raise through sponsorship and fundraising events...there will be bake sales galore at work, a sponsored Abseil down one of the buildings in Plymouth and also I am considering a sponsored Tandem skydive!! All ideas gratefully recieved!!

Mmmm, cuppa tea and thorntons mint choccys yum!

Car is FAB! I cant believe I have been without a car for so long! I have had a couple of mishaps, after only having the car for 3 weeks...have scraped the passenger right side of car with another car but luckily no damage to either car and managed to reverse into a lampost yesterday and again no damage!!

So in other news...erm tis nearly me birthday...ok so still another 4 or so weeks to go but still I do get excited near birthday time. And then its Christmas!!

Off to Deutschland on Thursday with some of the girlies to stay with my best mate who is doing her year abroad there. Managed to get return flights Manchester to Plymouth for £16!!!!! So, bring on the beer!

I'm on the road

Yes people, thats right as from tomorrow I will be driving in my new car...a Fiat Brava or you can call her FunkSoul...get it?!

Anyway, the people of Plymouth are not safe so watch out! Will post piccies soon!!

Pished off

Last night, I went to download my holiday photos from my memory card but were they there? No is the answer...I've lost them, all of them as well as all the photos that were on my card. So in total about 300 photos. I am so pissed off, I really dont know what has happened...the only pictures left are those that I took at the weekend. I had about 2 years of memory on that camera and now its gone, just like that.

I am having a BAD week and to top it off I slept through my alarm this morning and was late for work. I am now going home after taken some leave to go and sleep the rest of the day away.

goodbye

yipppeeeee

Today is finally here! Off to Turkey this afternoon, very excited and looking forward to chilling out in the sun!

Everything is all packed and I'm raring to go.....however last night whilst painting my toenails my back gave way and I havent slept a wink which is not good as our flight is night and we are going to be tired anyway so this has just added to it. I am in so much pain, I cannot describe. Painkillers - check! Tiger Balm - Check!

Right see you all in a week (well you wont actually see me but you know what I mean!)

love to you all xx