14 OCTOBER 2008 - I'm back and it was all just amazing - really tough walking as with China, Nepal has many, many steps!! It was also the first time the monsoon season lasted for a month longer which meant we were soaked several times and the leeches were out in abundance. However, the scenery is the most wonderful I have ever seen, the Nepalese are such lovely friendly people and seemed very amused at a bunch of westerners (43 trekkers + back up support of 100 Sherpas) traipsing past their homes and fields. We were very well fed and apart from a slight touch of altitude sickness the very first day I had no other ailments and my boots lasted the pace once again. To get to our highest point (3,000 metres) which we did at the beginning of the trek, the end of that day was nearly a mile straight up!

On opening my mail on my return I was pleased to receive a donation of £500 from Roddy Ross at  Alexander Ross & Sons (Sand & Gravel) Ltd, Inverness and thank you again to Angus for his lovely donation. What a wonderful surprise to return home to. As the week has progressed I have received a further £210 in sponsorship so it has been a fantastic week especially as Dudley popped up with £75 which I had completely forgotten about.

Thank you all to everyone who has supported me - this page will stay open for a month or so yet, if there is anyone else out there ..........

Hopefully, you will be able see some photos if you click on the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=166664&l=1be8a&id=530225083

 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=166667&l=3403d&id=530225083

These photos have come via Sarah Williams our Macmillan rep who was trekking with us.

December 2007: A big on line thankyou to the local businesses who have sponsored me so far off line.  The gratifying sum of £1485 has been received so far in response to my letter asking them for their support.

March 2008: I raised £792 at my Bric-a-brac stall held in the garden of my neighbours Susan and John Shearer who were holding a garage sale of surplus items and who also kindly gave me a commission on their sales. I held a raffle, had my sponsor sheet available along with a guess the last three digits of £100 note. 

April 2008: Donations off line amounting to £247 have been sent to Macmillan from Friends, family, members of Probus, and £37 from my friend Barbara Dodd who I met on my China trek last March. All very much appreciated.

May 2008:  I have been thrilled by the support I have received through Geocoins and I have to say an online thank you to Jan Cutherbertson for arranging the auction of the 'Highland Fairy' for my funds - as you will see from the list below this raised over £350. I have also added a further £181recently received in sponsorship to my off-line total.

I was pleased to raise £350 at my Quiz Night on Friday 23 May in the Episcopal Church Hall here in Grantown. I only had 8 teams, but an enjoyable night was had by all and I must say an on-line thank you to Rae Donaldson who supplied us with such a fabulous supper.

September 2008: The winner of the £100 Note competition was Elizabeth Cameron from Glasgow who comes to Grantown regularly to visit an elderly aunt. I have also banked a further £700 in donations.

I am now concentrating on walking as much as possible as part of my training regime and making sure I have all the correct equipment. A warm cosy sleepingbag being top of the list!

2 October 2008: I have just banked a further £1,040 which I have received in further sponsorship and this evening I have a further £50 in cash which has been handed in to the house. I am indeed overwhelmed by the level of support I have received once again. Thank you all so much.

Look out for the photos when I return.

November 2008 Further donations have been received of £225 so I am thrilled once again at the support I have received.

Moira xx