Story
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;">Why??.</span> well why not? I like a challenge..those comic relief people crept in last year and so I had to delay my trip 'til the fuss calmed down..and now "our Cheryl's" in hospital with Malaria...I will not be put off.(<span style="color: #ff0000;">Glad to hear from the tabloids that</span> <span style="color: #ff0000;">she's b</span><span style="color: #ff0000;">etter</span>)</p>
<p> I've bought a new day sack..which is going back,cos it feels not quite right..if I use my old one,it'll stop me taking too much junk,(1 tube of lip gloss only!)</p>
<p> I've bought a new bladder (plastic,not renal)as I dont think Evian plastic is "la mode"</p>
<p> I've bought a sleep mat..Gosh...that nearly broke the bank..</p>
<p> Have had a seriously scary talk with th nurse about what jabs I need and even scarier..how much they will cost..</p>
<p> I'm just scared sensless really. Scared of the dark.Get frozen going round the supermarket.Haven't camped since ....when???and toilets!!!</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;">PLEASE</span> donate some money, it's ALL going to Cherish Uganda.Check them out.www.cherishuganda.org</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Thank you</strong></span> so much for visiting my page.</p>
<p>My target is fluid,the more the better, I just picked a sum equal to the height of the Mountain .</p>
<p>P</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;">UPDATE</span></p>
<p>The mat is going back too...Mrs.Indecisive...going to hire one out there ..then I dont have to be awake at 3.00am worrying about losing it in Nairobi.</p>
<p>Have purchased spare bootlaces and merino wool long johns..so you can all rest content that my nether regions are going to be protected.!</p>
<p>Dragged Dave to Derbys. to start training..his navigation was poor and so we ended up missing out on Ashford in the Water and Miller's Dale..and made do with a tramp around Carsington Water..hmmm.!!!He was happy because there were toilets(not "drop")and he found a cache of Raspberries,to boost his Vitamin C levels.</p>
<p>Also had a little plod in the gym in walking Boots,with loaded rucksack...they've seen it all before....Shame I've got to go to a hog roast in Dorset next week,have to have a week off.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Quite a lot of more serious training has been undertaken.I have biked to the top of a seriously horrible hill some 12 miles away from home (and back again).Forgetting HOW SORE a saddle makes you ,I did another stupid bike ride in rain and wind that same week.</p>
<p>Then, got VERY serious and climbed Snowdon on 3 consecutive days,doing it up and down twice on the last day.B<strong>rilliant sun tan! I am feeling very trained and professional.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Have been to hospital and they have topped me up with iron AND my visa came back safely this morning..good to go !Just need some courage and a head torch.</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>I DID IT.</strong><strong>.</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>thanks to head guide Davis...who carried my back pack for "quite a lot of the way" on the final ascent...then linked arms quarter of the way round the crater rim and more or less carried me/ danced with me .....(I had a</strong> <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>very</strong></span> <strong>bad cold!! and hadn't slept for days..)</strong></p>
<p><strong>My thanks to all of you,who have followed my tales and been so generous and supportive.</strong></p>
<p><strong> For you others...still not too late to make a donation... </strong></p>
<p><strong>(Watch this space...still got to add my off-line donations)</strong></p>
<p><strong>..Petrina </strong></p>