Looking to the future

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Firstly, before I say anything else, it is likely that this?ll be my last blog entry here. I?ll continue my blog back at it?s original location at http://shadowsandcrystals.spaces.live.com.

I?m writing this in the lab, where our last trekker tests are currently underway. In three days the lab staff, including myself, will head down to Dingboche, and from there will launch our attempt on Island Peak. We will then move on to Namche Bazar via the Cho La pass, and then join the rest of the team for our doubtless hair-raising flight out of Lukla (the runway is a) very short b) very sloped and c) drops off a thousand-foot cliff) We?ll spend a few days in Kathmandu, and then fly out to the UK ? a dreamland where it is possible to run around without collapsing and potatoes are not a part of every meal. Being honest, though, the idea of being back in the UK seems as surreal and unlikely as the prospect of living at base camp seemed all those months ago. I?m pretty sure that I?ll have no clue what to do with myself upon my return ? sit and listen for avalanches in the south downs, perhaps, or go camping with nothing but a sleeping bag liner, some fake snow and a bag of potatoes. Despite this, I have managed to compile a short list of things to do upon my return to England.

• Drive to the supermarket. Buy up vast quantities of grapes, fruit juice and potatoes/noodles/porridge. Spend an afternoon throwing potatoes/noodles/porridge on to railway tracks, under buses and through high-speed fan blades whilst drinking fruit juice and eating grapes.
  
• Subtly convince all of my friends to take me out to various restaurants, pubs and caf??s on consecutive nights, claiming that malnourishment and a three-month carbohydrate overload has caused a clinical dependence on chicken curry.
  
• Upload the 2.7gb of photos on to my computer. Promise to process them and put on a slideshow by the time the diaries have been looked at. Tell no-one that this will only be in 2009. Late 2009.
  
• Spend a bit of time in the sunshine trying to undo the ?burnt matchstick tan? look Eventually realise that the British idea of sunshine just doesn?t cut the mustard compared to the ultra-strength Everest UV.
  
• Find a chef with whom to share some of the special recipes from EBC, such as deep-fried hard-boiled eggs in batter or roasted cabbage bread.
  
• Send Ben up a large mountain then taunt him over the internet =P
  
• Wait for med-school to start in September, which I look forward too more than ever.

Three days! My testing will be done, and there will be no more diary, no more step tests, CPX tests, people sticking forceps up my nose and needles in my arm etc and the only thing left to do will be to party on in Kathmandu. It?s incredible how quickly time has passed up here, day by day, in a place where there is not really very much to do save be a guinea pig or a guinea pig manager. Here?s hoping that everyone back at home is well, and I?ll see you all in less than a months time. Viva la testing et viva la finale!

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