The last post

Let's be frank, my blogs have never been work of arts.  It's been fun, no really it has.

Time to move on, so it's over to the Instagram account from now on :)

Agoraphobia?

I have just worked out that since the middle of April I have spent 119 days living at high altitude, very high altitude or extreme altitude.  This means that for 119 days I have been used to living in a space 7ft x 4ft x 4ft.  I genuinely feel as if I am suffering from agoraphobia having returned home!

Now, the sensible thing would be to kick back and enjoy the break before the Scottish winter season kicks in, but that would be far too easy.  My list of things to do and projects are as high as the mountains that I've been climbing and I can't wait to get stuck in.

I read recently a thing about farmers and how they thrive on suffering, working long hours and keeping busy.  Considering I actually have come from farming stock I think that if I wasn't a climber I would be a farmer.

Getting back in the saddle

You know when you have been spending too long in one place when you have left all your equipment there.  So for the first time ever, I actually don't have to worry about excess baggage or using all the tactics at airports to avoid the hefty charges.

This will be a big trip for me.  Not because it is technical or mega high, but because of Manaslu.

My friends have been absolutely fabulous this past fortnight, in more ways than they probably realise.

So, today I am heading back out to Kathmandu for another 4 weeks of fun packed adventures.  This time, we're attempted a peak called Himlung Himal and we will be updating the Adventure Peaks news page whenever we can.  What is going to be super exciting is on return to the UK it will be the Scottish winter season and that, my lovelies, is the best season of them all.

Why the radio silence?

Life.

Life.  It's just 4 letters at the end of the day.

Life.  It's just one word.

Life.  It's what we do with our life that is important.

Life.  How we take it for granted.  

Life.  It will come to an end to us all.

Life.  Never again will I take it for granted.

Bookie books

It was Russell Brand who I heard speak about Bookie Books first and it's kind of stuck.

As I depart the UK for a fairly lengthy spell in the big mountains once again, it's time to stock up on the bookie books.

Why do I choose bookie books and not computer books?

1.  I don't have to worry about having to charge up the device.

2.  I don't have to worry about squinting to see the screen in bright light when sitting outside.

3.  You can trade a bookie book.

4.  It can be a talking point when, after 6 weeks living together, conversation starts to dry up.

5.  It can get you away from the mountains in more ways than one.

6.  I spend enough time looking at screens and it's good to have a break.

I am once again pulling on the Adventure Peaks hat and am bound for Manaslu.  Since this peak is entirely in Nepal, I don't expect there to be any problems with visa's or permits :)

All expedition updates will be via the Adventure Peaks News page - whoop!

People doing cool stuff

Ever since I found the world of Instagram I find myself not blogging so much.  I love the way that you can put a groovy photo up, share it to the world, and get on with life.

My feed is full of amazing photos of people doing cool stuff and it got me thinking.  Recently I was in the Alps doing cool stuff but sometimes the days weren't perfect.

Instead we didn't do cool stuff. 

We just stood under trees.

We stood under trees on more than one occasion.

So for everybody out there that enjoys looking at photos of people doing cool stuff, just remember that they too have stood under trees on more than one occasion.

Dodging the downpours

Managed to dodge the showers the past days which is always a bonus.

It is good to know that I can still climb with my noodle arms which is a pretty good thing since I know what is coming next.

I am going to miss Scotland and all her adventures but it's now time to look forward to copious amounts of wine, ice creams and fine cheese.  Roll on summer ...