Films, books and music for Everest

Just managed to get a bunch of films across to the iPad to keep the team entertained for the forthcoming Everest expedition. So we've got from good old Matrix, Bourne and Ocean's trilogies to the likes of Usual Suspects, Fightclub and Plunkett and Macleane but also including a spot of Holy Grail, Dr Strangelove, Borat and Life of Brian for the lighter hearted moments. There's also Snatch, Lockstock, Lucky Number Slevin, Memento and Layercake to mention but a few. Touching the Void - yes. Avalanche? Alive? Vertical Limits? At the moment a resounding no as I have thankfully run out of space.

But what of music and podcasts? What would you take? And books? A great time to read some tome that you would never otherwise consider. War and Peace for instance. But then it's difficult to get stuck in to something that is too heavy when we are trying to remain upbeat and optimistic. It's great to be able to read some easy drivel - but then we also have to consider that people might visit our mess tent and our reading material may well give people the wrong impression of our team of hardy mountaeers. Particularly if all we have on the table is some Jackie Collins novels, the latest Loaded and anything by Dan Brown.

Here's to an entertaining trip.

No where did I put my copy of "Dark Majesty: The Secret Brotherhood and the Magic of a Thousand Points of Light?" (No 11 on the Amazon list of 'Worst Books Ever Written.')

Will they won't they?

Less than 2 weeks to go and the situation in Bahrain is less than ideal ... because that's where we transit on the way out to Kathmandu.

Gulf Air refuse to acknowledge what Plan B is because as far as they're concerned Plan A is working just fine thanks. But what if, suddenly, Plan A is no longer acceptable? Well they won't say what the alternative is.

I suppose they could fly via another destination (they used to fly via Abu Dhabi but I'm not sure whether they can change locations at the drop of a hat as it will undoubtedly require a lot of ground handling staff and equipment), but my guess is that, if things go truly pear shaped, they'll just give us all a refund.

Which will leave us in a slightly tight spot as there are 11 of us travelling together. So I've come up with our own Plan B which we can put in place at the drop of a hat should we be cancelled.

But there's absolutely nothing we can do about it right now so I'm not even going to worry about it or mention it again.

Apart from that it's all systems go ... so watch this space.

Reciprocal links and refunds

I need your advice. Do you think that my B&B website (or the climbing and expedition website come to think of it) will be enhanced by having a link exchange with:

DESCRIPTION: NationwidePools - offers metal, resin coated or resin injected above ground pools.

I'm just so touched that they have taken the care to contact me, personally, and I would hate to feel that I am missing out on something here.

Incidentally I've also had some bad news by e mail today. My Abbey National, HBOS and Paypal accounts have all had irregular activity on them and have been suspended - until I click on the link to reactivate them which I'll do in a couple of minutes.

But the good news is that I am due a VAT rebate AND have been overcharged by HMRC and am due a tax refund. Unbelievably I am also the sole descendant of Mustafa Mbooto in S. Africa and he has left his entire legacy of US$97,000,691 to me which is brilliant. I am, however, a bit concerned that this may affect my tax refund so I may decline to get in touch.

2 weeks 2 days 2 go

Time is ticking and things are getting slightly bonkers now. Taking oodles of bookings at the B&B as people are sorting their breaks and holidays.

Trying to sort as much of the last minute stuff for the expedition before it all becomes last minute stuff. Various items ordered and are in the post, freight is on the way, Bahrain Airport (we transit on the way to KTM) still open, hotel booked in KTM, accommodation booked in The Khumbu, teeth just been checked and our member of staff arrives Friday to run the show whilst I'm away.

Another booking for Ama Dablam and various other enquiries coming in for that expedition. Glad to see that I'm still top of Google for Ama (although it would be great to be above Wikipedia as well) and highly placed for the B&B. No doubt that will change somewhat whilst I'm away but that's the least of my worries!

Off to talk to a class tomorrow about Everest for their big write. Last time I was there I mentioned that we had a guy along who we all called Gandalf (on account of his big beard). When the kids were picked up one of them told his mum 'We had a talk from a man who went to the top of Everest and there was a wizard.'
'No, Johnny, I think you mean there was a blizzard.'
'No mum, it was a wizard.'
'Actually, Johnny, the word will have been "Blizzard."'
'NO, THERE WAS A WIZARD.'
'Don't be so rude and stop shouting please and listen to your mum when she's trying to tell you that the word you mean is blizzard.'
'WIZARD!!!!!.'
'DON'T YOU SHOUT AT ME - IT IS A BLIZZARD.'

Anyway you can see where a conversation like that is going and little boy ended up in floods of tears and refused to back down whereas Mum knew best and kept correcting him. It all became so distraught that the next morning she went in to ask the teacher what on earth had been going on. 'Ahhh, well Johnny, I'm really sorry for shouting at you last night but I just hadn't understood that there was a guy who looked like a wizard on Everest.'

I wonder what I could sneak in tomorrow to cause more mayhem?.?.?

L'enclume

Just had the most awesome night out at L'enclume - a michelin starred restaurant in Cartmell. Ended up having a 15 course meal. A toptastic night out and the first night in six months that Ali and I have woken up in the same bed together because our totally awesome friend Ann had the kids for the night.

Highly recommended for amazing food, great ambience and really efficient service and presentation. If you want to learn how to put on a show then go here.

A nice relaxing coffee this morning (again, sans kids), a trip over Windermere on the ferry and then collected the children and now we're home. And to top it all we also have guests in the B&B.

Took another 2 bookings for Ama Dablam so that expedition is shaping up nicely and still plenty of others showing interest. Probably not going to be quite as busy as last year but then that was a bumper trip. But delighted that I have so many people on board already (along with 4 for Island Peak as well).

Outbound freight

Just delivered our freight down to Manchester Airport. The trip's been a long time coming and suddenly it's there on the horizon.

It's our 7th anniversary just after I get back and rather disappointingly I have discovered it's the anniversary of wool and copper! WT? I was rather hoping for something more exciting. I wonder whether Ms Summers has an alternative list? Any suggestions?

Anyway never mind that there's a whole load to fit in between now and then.

Tick tock tick tock ... 3 weeks and counting

Departing for Everest 3 weeks today! Yip yip.

Lots to fit in between now and then - whether it be planning, purchasing and training or catching up with my family and making sure that everything is place for the B&B to run smoothly whilst I am away. We're delighted to have been able to appoint Suzanna as a member of staff to run the B&B in my absence.

This has been a week of meetings and liaising with people. Have had chats with other Everest summiteers and leaders asking for top tips and handy hints and thankfully no advice has come to light that hasn't really been covered or thought of already (apart from a tip about the oxygen system. One of my friends had a client who had a freak occurrence that compromised his O2 supply so we've got the preventative measure for that in place).

The team now comprises myself and 5 for the Big E along with our trusty Base Camp manager. Her boyfriend is accompanying us trekking for 4 weeks, 2 friends of one of the climbing team are trekking for 2 weeks and then there are 3 folk for Island Peak as well. So 13 of us in total.

Meanwhile the preparation for the November Ama Dablam expedition is also underway with 5 people signed up for that trip and 4 for Island Peak as well.

And then there are the usual array of guests booked in to the B&B and a smattering of climbing days in the diary for summer as well. Looks like it's going to be a busy year again.

I wonder whether I'll be to knackered to have another go at The Bob Graham Round ...