They work :o)

Well we may have purchased new sleeping bags in the depths of last winter, but in the new autumn cold, we were very relieved to know that we were actually hot last night at 6°C and we've still got the extra liners to use. In fact Nicola is just pleased to know that camping hasn't changed much since the last time she slept outside. Roll on the below zero temperatures of Nepal, we're getting ready!

Car boot craziness!!!

So, it has finally happened. After literally months of planning and the conclusive agreement is never again! Why on earth would a sane individual get up at 5am on a Sunday to go to a car boot sale? Thankfully the sun was shining, but being parked under a tree, again proved how cold it can be even wearing base layers! We all worked very hard to pack, unpack, pack and repack all possesions and have been really grateful to all donations made for our table. £200 somehow doesn't seem enough for all the energy used, but every penny helps. Special thanks must go to Nicola's mum for all help, hard work and worry.

Getting high in Switzerland

Just back from recent escapades at altitude high above Zermatt and we're still going to Nepal. In fact we enjoyed it so much we're even planning future ventures in this challenging environment. You never know, maybe even the Matterhorn?!

Our accommodation turned out not to be a cow shed, it was actually perfect. It was a brilliant location to start our daily adventures and we were extremely glad of its position at the end of the day. Over the four days the ups and downs were plentiful. Spent most of our days walking at heights between 2-3000m on everything from forest trails to glacial moraine and yikes that was wobbly under foot at times. Although not as high as the highest altitudes we'll experience whilst in Nepal, it was none the less great experience and fun training. We reached our highest climb at 3130m with spectacular views and the Matterhorn was very considerate at gracing us with her presence. It was a lot longer back down to Zermatt than our minds had anticipated and I remembered about all the muscles I had long forgotten. Ash seemed to just be able to go on and on, much to his amusement and my frustration!

Truly amazing after dreary weather on the second day, Klein Matterhorn (3883m) beckoned and we realised just how cold you can get that high even wearing multiple layers and a sky clouldlessly blue and warm! Walking back to Zermatt from Trockener Steg, just below Klein Matterhorn, we even managed to get up close and personal with the moonscape environment around the snout of the glacier near the foot of the Matterhorn. It was so amazing how the ground just sparkled with all the minerals, so amazing we wandered off course only to realise once confronted with a sheer drop!

For those of you now expecting us to be waif like, we'd just like to point out the Swiss are famous for their cheese and liked to use it in most of the dishes we sampled. Having said that, the Swiss are very hospitable and we were bowled over by the Swiss spirit, making our adventure really enjoyable.

Mapping heights in Europe

After many hours with our heads in the atlas, we've decided that Switzerland is as good a place as any to get our first bite of altitude. Only problem is our indecisiveness of final choosing has left us with few sleeping options, since everyone else seems to be going at the same time. I was told, some exposure to altitude was enough and so camping is out. We are booked in a place we have no real idea about as there are no pictures. Sounds like it might be an ex-cowshed, just how ex remains to be seen. Will update on our return. I hear the Swiss make great chocolate, so if there are cows, at least we'll know the milk is good.

Thank you Jelly Belly

A quick post to say thanks to Jelly Belly UK for supplying us with a huge box of Jelly Belly jelly beans.

Being high in sugar they'll be a great boost if blood sugar levels start to drop, not mention they taste great! And when you compare them to glucose gels (yuk!) there's just no contest. I'm sure they'll also help us gain lots of friends along the way too. They may even pass as hard currency within our team in a place as remote as the himalaya!

Fundraising is going well so thank you also to all those who have made a donation so far but there's still an awful long way to go. We've also started recycling some old phones donated to us by family and friends so this is working well. If you have any old, unwanted phones taking up space at home (you know, the old grey ones with the sad face that appear on the carphone warehouse tv adverts) then please pass them on and we'll gladly send them off to raise money for Diabetes UK.

If you'd like to make a donation to our cause then please click on the big pink button opposite or visit our donations page. Thank you.

6 Months to go!

Sorry for not having written anything in such a long time but life is fairly manic at the moment what with work, raising money and being ill :(

Anyway, just a quick post to say only 6 months till will leave! So time is ticking away and there's plenty still to do. If you would like to make a donation to our fund raising efforts but haven't done so yet then there's no time like the present.

Another thing we're doing to raise money is collecting old mobile (cell) phones for recycling. So if like us you are on a contract (and even if you're not) and you get a new phone every 12 or 18 months then no doubt you too have a drawer at home full of all your old phones. Those phones are worth money and can be recycled (providing they're no older than 5 years or so). If you'd like to donate them to our cause then we'd more than happily take them off your hands. All we need is the phone and the battery. No chargers, boxes, manuals or anything like that. And it has to be in working order. It doesn't matter if it's scratched or anything else cosmetic, just so long as it works.

Hopefully I'll start to post on here a little more often to keep you all entertained with our latest news, so until then.

CHOICE has given me choice again... Should make things easier

Completed the CHOICE course with Diabetes team and yes there is light at the end of the tunnel! Training is actually not causing major problems with the ability to finally work out carb ratios for exercise. Still not completely perfect, but I managed a 5 hour hike with climbs without having the slightest hypo. Hooray!!! Would definitely recommend anyone with Diabetes reading this asking about the course.

CHOICE (Carbohydrate (CHO) and Insulin Calculation Education)(similar to DAFNE) is a group education programme designed to help improve your knowledge and expertise in managing your diabetes. An integral part being, learning how to adjust your insulin to the food you eat. Therefore, giving you the freedom and choice to eat what you like and still have good blood glucose control, engage in physical activity without the worry of having a hypo and taking charge of your diabetes and maintaining good control.