Just to let you know that I've now managed to complete the missing parts of my previous entries. Last nights celebratory meal was good. Though the moral questions whether it is right to buy a bottle of wine which costs most half a month's wages here for most people is a good one. The food is still repeating on me now. I woke up the other morning and listening to some music I had brought along. Pearl Jam - 'Alive' is a good song to wake to once you've completed this experience. Yesterday I went around a few shops buying some presents for everyone back at home. Two lads in their early teens followed me back one of them did most of the talking. I never felt threatened. 'Where are you from?... Tell me the name ... read more

Well I'm on the road again and fighting fit, I walked today. Kento (my horse) stayed at the lodge just in case he was needed again. But today I felt good enough to make the 4 hour walk to Lukla. Yesterday I even made it out into Namche Market for a little shopping. It was a bit disturbing to see I humn cranium for sale though. I dread to think what the story behind tat was. The lowlands here are beautiful, and dare I say it actually much pretty than the land above the tree line. After three glasses of red wine and a chicken sizzer I feel almost alive again. We've reached our last waypoint in the mountains and tomorrow I fly back to Kathmandu. I've just come back from watching a Martial Arts display ... read more

I woke up a few times last night. It was the first time in my life I had felt claustrophobic. Our rooms were small and dark with 9"x9" skylights. Felt scared by this window and wondered what my Grandad felt in his Japanese Prisoner War Camp, managed some sleep. The morning was very cold put on my balaclava and goretex coat. When we arrived at Gorak Shep I already felt dizzy and sick. We were comforted by the option of choosiung a dish of the menu. Most elected for cheese omelete and chips. with hindsight this was problably not a good idea. I think I have lost weight. Many of us fantacise about being at home and eating a good steak or another favorite dish. ============== **Completed entry 28 Nov** 20-30 steps head pounding, feeling sick ... read more

**Entry completed 28 Nov 2006** We trekking up to around 4900m today. So much for the rest. I was pleased that my knee held out and my breathing has improved. There are still members of the group which permanently feel out of breath. A number of people continue theirown risky quests and gain no respect from the rest of the group. To run of these mountains (even for a short time), show symptoms of AMS and continue to push yourself beyond medical advice should attract nothing lesss than failure. Another member goes out alone into the freezing cloud. No map, no guide. An act that the individual may consider brave, but really they show no more intelligence than a 3 year year old. The glory of the mountain backdrop has gone. Dingboche is covered in cloud. ... read more

Turns out there is now a internet station in Tengboche. We've just arrived. It was a steep climb, but again I was using my tried and tested small steps. (I'm in no rush) I feel good and am in good health keeping up my water regime when others are slipping. I'm a bit of a stickler for keeping to my own set of rules :) We arrived in cloud cover. A few flakes of snow. Just when we were wondering whether that mountain was going to end, we turned the corner there stood the monastry. Everything is calm and the bleakness is interjected with the colour from it. Crows skawk and the odd dog lies on the plateau we're on. There are four or five buildings here at most. Two monks heralded our arrival by blowing ... read more