September 20....five and a bit weeks to go!

Hiking boots....check

Thermal underwear in fuschia...check

thermal socks and factor 50 suncream...check

So with my kit list almost completed...it is now dawning on me that I am really nearly on my way.  It sounds silly, but after all the talk I'm now really nervous about actually getting up there and doing the one thing I have had at the forefront of my mind for the past seven or eight months.

But do it I must - and another part of me can barely wait to take that first step...there is no denying it is going to be an incredible adventure.

I can't thank enough everyone who has supported me thus far financially.  As you will see I am making good progress with the fundraising - and I'm going to be making that final push over the next few weeks.  So if you do feel kindly enough to help on this front, or know someone who might like to throw an extra quid in the kitty.  If the weather holds there will be a couple more car boots too...so it is will all add up...

Hopefully I'll get to speak to everyone before I go - and I really can't wait to speak to you all when I am THER...we'll be firing up the old satellite phone for  awhole new dimension to the Afternoon show on BBC Oxford!

August 31....less than two months to go!

Can't quite believe that I haven't updated this since the end of June.  I may not have been online, but I have certainly been eating sleeping and breathing Kili every waking moment!

Aside from working hard on my fitness, and having a brilliant training session at RAF Benson for the radio show, the fund raising has been going great guns - thank you to everyone that turned out for my chilli and horse racing night.  Admitedly I spent most of the night in the kitchen, but it was great to see so many friends and most of them seemed to leave with a smile, a bottle of wine (thanks to sponsors Naked Wines) and even a raffle prize or two.  When all is done and dusted it will have raised just over £1000 for the coffers.....brilliant guys - thank you for your support.

I still have a couple of car boot sales lined up - weather permitting - so again, thanks for all the donations there...and then it will be all about testing the equipment I am taking back to make my calls back to the show...viva la satellite phone - practising my blogging and even getting to grips with a handy cam...argh!

J

June 23 To Snowdonia...and Back!

It seems like a lifetime since I last updated this - in actuality- six weeks...but that might give you some impression of how busy I've been!  I have to start by saying THANK YOU (again!) to everyone that has stepped up and sponsored me during that time.  Again - super generous of you all.

Last time I wrote on this I was boasting about my new boots -you will be pleased to hear they have been used!  Not least, this weekend in Snowdonia - but more of that in a minute.  A couple of weekends ago Dave and I decided to give them their first proper outing - it was a beautiful sunny Sunday evening, and we headed out from the village of West Hagbourne towards the Ridgeway.  Not content with just new boots, I also loaded up my rucksack - to get used to walking with weight.  All *seemed* to be going well - although I wasn't sure about the dirty looks we were garnering from certain motorists....strange.  Until it dawned on me that it was ME they were directing the looks at but Dave - 6'5" - sauntering along - seemingly without a care in the world, whilst a few paces behind me  5'6" struggling under a rucksack!!  First impressions can be deciptive....

The Ridgeway was just a walk in the park though compared to this weekend.  We had the chance for the majority of the group to get together for a bit of bonding and hiking in Snowdonia.  Five and a bit hours from Oxfordshire, we arrived in what can only be described as truly stunning scenery.  Over the course of the weekend we did some pretty impressive walking and scrambling over rocks and scree, and I can now take Trefaan and Gelder fach (?!) off my list of 'To Do's' and put them on my 'Have Dones'.  Happy to say my fitness levels were pretty good...hurrah for the blood sweat and tears of the gym.

Now its all about MORE fundraising....On August 1st I'll be hosting a supper and horse racing night - not a million miles away from here in Didcot - if you would like to come along, drop me a line on jthoenes@hotmail.com and I'll give you all the details.  Also car booting across the summer so if you have stuff you want to donate, I'll happily come and pick it up.

Better get back to the organising now......speak soon

xx

May 10 - Bootilicious!

Just another update on the goings on with preparations for Kili...and a chance again to say thanks to everyone who has jumped on board with the sponsorship since I last updated these pages.  As you'll see, the army of followers and supporters is growing week by week, and that target of £3,500 is gradually looking more attainable.  If you have been meaning to sponsor, but haven't yet - you know what you need to do...anything you can afford please!  I hate begging, and am very bad at it, so as I said at the start of this little venture, if you can spare me the cost of a glass of vino...hurrah!  And to tug on the heart strings...I'm going to be shameless here...look at the little faces in the photo on here.  I'm even taking on promises to do silly things up the mountain for cash...Richard....anyone for cricket!?

So thanks again for all the support.  Its been brilliant....

Yesterday was a bit of a land mark - my shiny new boots lost their shine- in a good way.  Having been in to see wonderful James (again...) at Outdoor Traders (its high altitude, not high fashion darling!) , and been fitted with some lovely baby blue boots (only a girl would think that the colour was so important) I took them on a hike with the BBC Action desk team, and got to see some great views of Oxfordshire and break my new footwear in all in one go.  This morning, no blisters, no aching muscles, no problem.  All the hours on the bike, at the gym and in the saddle (thanks Joss!) seem to be paying off.

I'm in the middle of trying to sort a bit of a do for sometime this summer - either a BBQ fun day or horse racing night, so I'll let you know as soon as dates are confirmed...and if you are having a clear out of stuff from home, and have anything car-bootable, give me a call - I'm going to be running a stall over a couple of weekends this summer too. 

Off to check out brands of thermals on line now....oh the glamour.....