And the Oscar goes to...

So, having sent out an email to all and sundry at work this afternoon, including the link to the website I am aware that I may have a somewhat larger audience on the link to this little blog.

And here is the bad news. If you are in fact reading this, the witty anecdotes and amusing stories are not in fact for free. You are required to donate. Your computer will shut down, eat all your photos, send sparks of burning lava into your eyes and crush your fingers if you do not go to www.justgiving.com/alanheleneverest and help us move closer to our magnificent target!

Now... If you have paid you little entertainment fee.. please feel free to read on...

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Now I had planned to write an extensive blog this evening, charting the highlights, low points, lessons learned, friends made and areas visited, but it seemed more important to nip to the pub for a game of pool and a half (okay pint) (please refer to blog regarding carbo loading, it is all part of the training!).

So instead, in no particular order I would like to extend some thanks to people who have been, and will be helping me up the mountain...

So kicking it all off, I would like to extend my thanks to the younger Yeti, Curry Jnr, who sent me an email a year ago, asking me if I was interested in this type of adventure. Since that time he has let me get on with meeting a new bunch of folks, trim trailing, pub training, air guitar playing shaninigans, occasionally ensuring me safely home without batting an eyelid, and more importantly that all of that, allowed me to sign him up to the Berlin Marathon and kept me company on route. Behind the scenes he is also Team Sec and buried in paperwork, but keeps a good humour.

There is also an entire team behind the test who I see at training and parties, but who are otherwise nose to the grindstone dealing with marketing, fundraising, websites, sponsors, permits, visas, airlines, tea houses and a billion other things without which this trip would not make it past Heathrow let alone Kathmandu. There will be proper thanking at a higher altitude I'm sure, but given I work in the NHS and have no idea how all this stuff works, I have to be grateful someone out there knows what the hell to do...

So in addition to that, I'd like to thank the girls... (you know who you are), who have whole heartedly been in support, buying tickets, coming to parties, sponsoring, lending me kit, buying me umpiring hats and magic perfume, letting me leave my kit all over the floor and generally neglecting the house... you are outstanding, and I hope you've had as much fun as I have!!

Before it all gets too Oscar speech like, I'm going to sign out. It is now 23.59, and very shortly the first day of the Everest Test 2009 will be upon us. My back pack is seriously full and sitting in the lounge, logo emblazoned kit is by its side for tomorrows press conference, and this time tomorrow we'll be well under way...