Sometimes you hear of stuff on the news and think that "what a tradegy" and that's it not another thought.

This morning when I got into work, I was told that one of the women I work with (same team) and friendly with, would not be in as her sister had been killed at the weekend. The initial reaction is "OMG, I hope XXX is ok, and your thoughts turn to her and how she will be at this time."

Twenty minutes later we find out that the sister was one of the two killed in Kansas at the weekend.

The ironery is that XXX was due to travel out there on Wednesday anyway for her sons graduation. It is such a... well words can't adequetly  describe it, but for what was meant to be a happy time celebrating the success of the next generation, to be turned into such a painful time. It staggers believe.

XXX my thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your family at this time.

Well it had to happen, I'm 39 today.

Right onto the important things.

First up, from comments posted on this blog on Sunday, on the OM forums, word of mouth, and over at Mr TGO himself Cameron McNeish's blog, it appears the early indicators are that the BPC AGM and Lightweight Fest was a roaring success. Well done, I'm so glad that it went so well, and look forward to hopefully being able to attend next years (depending on location).

This evening I've been finishing off some of my meals for the Challenge. Started to get food into resupply boxes ready to be posted. Even tested a recipe for a Guiness Beef stew, that yesterday I was worried wasn't looking right when cooking. But today after a bit longer in the oven came together nicely. This count down in the title of each blog entry really does help focus you on the things that need to be done. You think "oh I need to do X" or "can I get Y intime?" Which reminds me I need to get a pair of Ronhill tracksters for the Challenge...

"Deep throat" (my inside source) at Backpackinglight.co.uk tipped me the nod and wink that there will be new goodies cropping up on the site soon. One I'm excited about as I have been a fan of the bit of kit for a loong time, and been using it for a couple of years now. Also "Deep throat" said that there is an exclusive interview podcast coming out soon as well.

Well what I thought would be happening today hasn't. How cryptic is that? Anyway when it does you can be assured that I will blog about it here ^_^

Well not reported on my "man flu" for a little while. It's still there, but getting better. Alot better in fact. And my mood has got better as well. There is light at the end of the tunnel ^_^

Got back from my Nans with enough food to fed our family for five days, or three TGO Challenge crossings ^__^

It was relaxing to be away, and Nan always looks after me. Nan doesn't do too bad for an eighty year old. She still walks into town most days, cooks for Tram everyday(except weekends), leads a single handed fight against "youths" in her street. Let me tell you a bit about that fight against the "youths". Not long ago, "youths" (well anyone to Nan under twenty is one), moved a large stone that had been in the same place for decades from the side of the car park into the middle of the road. Tram moved it back into place. Nan then painted it with old engine oil. A week later some "youths" (can only assume that they were different ones) thought it would be a good idea to move it into the middle of the road. Only this time they fell into the trap Nan had set, and got their hands covered in oil. Would that qualify Nan as an honoury member of the BPC? Maybe ;) (that's a joke) They don't make them like Nan any more, she is from a different generation that were built tougher than us pampered youngsters.

Waiting for me back home was the new edition of Trail. Yes the "lightweight special" as it was billed last month. Well I'll read it tomorrow on the train, might email Matt over at Trail with some questions, and do a piece on it later. I've also still got Country Walking to read with it's "backpacking special". So potentially two good reads for me this week, and obviousily comments on this blog about them.

Bearded Git aka Stef in his blog for today "Drought conditions for a month" breaks some bad news. At the OM Meet last weekend he got bit by a tick, and now has Lymes disease.

Stef officially becomes the first person I know that has ever had this that. But Stef's luck doesn't stop there. Oh no, the doc then tells him he also has aggravated an ulcer too. So no booze for a month for Stef.

Think I will be revisiting that podcast of Camerons on "Lyme Disease - A Time Bomb Ticking Away".

Get well soon Stef.

Live from a witness protection program I bring you todays blog.

Well it seems my blog entry the other day about the up and coming Backpackers Club AGM and Ultralight Fest at Bellingham has started a bit of a storm over on the OM thread about the event. Now so many people are so keen to meet me in person after this, never knew I had so many friends ^_^

I hear on the grape vine that at the AGM under "any other business" they will be declaring a Jihad against me, and I will be having to fend off suicidal campers while on my crossing of Scotland next month. Luckily I can shave my beard off, get an Akto tent, and the BPC suicide bombers will be none the wiser ;) Dave has now been officially signed up as security for the crossing.

I'm not going to comment on what was posted on OM (don't want to flame this any more than it is). I said my piece and stand by it.

Forgot to say yesterday I also heard on the grape vine that Lightwave are not going to be mass producing their rucksacks this year (they will be next year). Which has upset one or to people in the biz. So it looks like my S 54 could be a "limited edition", so may just have to pop on over to ebay ^__^

And finally my replacement YHA card arrived today. How fast is that? Big thank you and well done to the YHA.

Soooo much to blog about. But where to start? That is the question.

I know the shock news of the day for me was Bob has the Nalgene Folding canteens in stock. Especially when I've talked to Bob today before I found this out. Did he mention this then? NO... I had to read it on Andy Howell's blog. What did Bob say to me? "well it was on the site"! Read all these blogs, write my own AND monitor Bob's site for updates!! I have a life you know? ... err ok hands up not much of one, but still I do have one ;) Well I've managed to get a 1.5 litre one put aside for me. Phew!!! 

Onto another Andy now, Andy Howell in fact. Andy has blogged today that I am in the finals of that Kleenex Spaces comp. But I'm not (just try voting for me). I came top in the group I was in. BUT overall I wasn't one of the top ten most voted for blogs. Hence not in the final. I should say I thank you to those that voted for me, which IIRC was about 26 or 27 people in total. It was very kind, and I didn't know my mum had access to the internet to vote that many times ^__^

Next up my mystery goodies turned up today for making up my sub 2 kilo fanny pack wild camping kit. That's all I'm saying on this at this point in time. More later in the year on this.

A BIG BIG THANK YOU to Dawn, who made me a midge net for the tarp (I'll try and get some piccies at the weekend). Now Dave describes a tarp with a midge net as a tent without ends...there is just no educating some people ;) Dawn also included in the package a get well card, and a dvd called Lighten Up!: An Ultralight Makeover. Now I have something to take my mind off the 1-0 defeat of Liverpool T_T

Now onto Dave. I talked with Dave earlier, and even if I have the "man flu" I'm still going up to take part in the Challenge. The options I had was not to go and pull out, OR go and do a low level route instead. Discussed this second option with Dave, and if I am still with "man flu" then I will do our Foul Weather Alternative instead an meet Dave at the camp spot in the evening. And lets face it, the route is only really a guideline, on the ground conditions may change some of the pre-walk decisions anyway.

Next up Dave has also been a star and managed to solve my gaiter problem. I.e. it now looks like I will be able to get my hands on the gaiters that I want for the Challenge. It was looking grim in finding suitable ones to use with Inov8's. Paramo said their short gaiters weren't suitable due to the design of the Inov8's but were fine with other trail/approach shoes.

Oh yesterday I forgot to say that I got the YHA to resend me a membership card, as my new one never arrived this year. So that is on it's way.

There will be a BIG blog news story this coming Monday. But more then. Oh I'm a tease aren't I.

Today was the funeral of Mike Young. I was going to attend, but I was too ill for that. The last thing the family would of wanted is my "man flu" ruining things.

My thoughts and prayers are once more with Mike's family and friends on this day as they say good bye to him.

I hope in time the wounds will heal and they will look back and remember Mike and the good times they shared with him.

He was a loving husband, a caring father and a good friend.

We'll miss you Mike.

Well the above is apparently part of the clearance stock that Backpackinglight.co.uk will be taking up with them to the Backpackers Club (BPC) Annual Grumpy Old Codger get together next weekend at Bellingham (Are there any of the BPC that are under retirement age? Not guessing by the publicity photos they have for the event.) Although for some reason in one publicity picture they decided to dress up as pirates on a camping trip from a home for the senile, or were they meant to be wearing buffs? It's so hard to tell, I think I prefer my conclusion from the picture. And is that Dicky Attenborough on the right?

Anyway the picture is a midge net for use with a tarp.  Which I think is in the 500g region. So if you decide to get a tarp from Bob at the up and coming "Let's place an event in an inconvient place", I'd think about adding one of these to the purchase as well.

Back onto my rant about this meet and ultralight fest. From the agenda that the publish on their website for the event.

"At Demesne Farm Camping site will be an outdoor demonstration of backpacking tents and equipment, open all day.  Closed to the public at 5pm"

So if I get this right, you go ALL the way up and decide to do a nice walk. Well you wouldn't want to waste the opportunity would you. I mean they are promoting the fact that this is prime walking country. But you have to be back before 5pm if you want to look at any of the tents and stuff. Not very fair on any of the retailers invited up there, and more importantly not very friendly to all those non-members who travelled up there.

Isn't this BPC AGM meant also to be like a recruitment drive for new members. Yet non-members are having to camp half a mile away on a different camp site. And then after 5pm they aren't allowed to look at the toys, as it is only for "members" then! That sounds friendly and welcoming. Now I know originally that the non-members where meant to be camping with the members, but due to the tent city growing in size they decided to seperate and make the convient camp site for "members" only. I think this has been a victim of it's own success in attracting companies there to display their goods. And in so doing has created a us and them situation. Which they could of helped to counter by not having the stupid 5pm deadline for non-members.

Glad I decided not to go now, and can't see myself going to any future event of theirs where the public are invited along, or recommending people to either.

After that rant, I have some goodies on the way that I won't at the moment say what they are or where I got them from. I don't want to tip off John to some of the kit I plan to use on his "Fanny Pack Competition" so I can take him too the cleaners ^__^

My initial thoughts are that the weigh in should be without food and water, so it is a base pack weight that is measured. In reality the winner will be under 2 kilos. But, and it's a BIG but (place rude joke here), this will only be possible with the right location and exceptional good weather.

But I think so far I am the only one to show some interest in taking up John's challenge. Hopefully that will change.

I decided to google the new pills that the doc gave me yesterday. And they are steroids. Which according to the misinformation interweb thingy, this one is used for arthritis and for asthma. Will have to wait and see if they are affective, as I feel like crap at the moment after spending the day at work.

Now for some non-outdoors related stuff, so stop reading if you aren't interested in video games.

Well Elite Beat Agents arrived today, been playing it a little. What a fantastic game, and as usual with a rhythm game it relies heavily on the selection of songs. Which from the list below seems pretty strong to me.

Here is the track listing (taken from Wikipedia):

1. Walkie Talkie Man - Steriogram
2. ABC - Jackson Five
3. Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
4. I Was Born to Love You - Queen
5. Rock This Town - Stray Cats
6. Highway Star - Deep Purple
7. Y.M.C.A. - Village People
8. September - Earth, Wind and Fire
9. Canned Heat - Jamiroquai
10. Material Girl - Madonna
11. La La - Ashlee Simpson
12. You're the Inspiration - Chicago
13. Survivor - Destiny's Child
14. Without a Fight - Hoobastank
15. Believe - Cher
16. Let's Dance - David Bowie
17. Jumpin Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
18. Makes No Difference - Sum 41
19. The Anthem - Good Charlotte

While I'm talking about song listings in games here are the xbox360 Guitar Hero II song list (taken from Wikipedia). But I seem to have created a monster in Kate as she loves playing the game. And hardly lets me have a go!

Xbox 360 (exclusive tracks are listed in italics)

1. Opening Licks

• "Surrender" - Cheap Trick
• "Possum Kingdom" - Toadies
• "Heart-Shaped Box" - Nirvana
• "Salvation" - Rancid
• "Strutter" - Kiss
• "Shout at the Devil" - Mötley Crüe (Encore)

2. Amp-Warmers

• "Mother" - Danzig
• "Life Wasted" - Pearl Jam
• "Cherry Pie" - Warrant
• "Woman" - Wolfmother
• "You Really Got Me" - Van Halen
• "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" - Spınal Tap (Encore)

3. String-Snappers

• "Carry On Wayward Son" - Kansas
• "Search and Destroy" - Iggy Pop and The Stooges
• "Message in a Bottle" - The Police
• "Billion Dollar Babies" - Alice Cooper
• "Them Bones" - Alice in Chains
• "War Pigs" - Black Sabbath (Encore)

4. Thrash and Burn

• "Monkey Wrench" - Foo Fighters
• "Hush" - Deep Purple
• "Girlfriend" - Matthew Sweet
• "Who Was in My Room Last Night?" - Butthole Surfers
• "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" - The Rolling Stones
• "Sweet Child O'Mine" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

5. Return of the Shred

• "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" - Rick Derringer
• "Tattooed Love Boys" - The Pretenders
• "John the Fisherman" - Primus
• "Jessica" - The Allman Brothers Band
• "Bad Reputation" - Thin Lizzy
• "Last Child" - Aerosmith 

6. Relentless Riffs

• "Crazy on You" - Heart
• "Trippin' On a Hole in a Paper Heart" - Stone Temple Pilots
• "Dead!" - My Chemical Romance
• "Killing in the Name" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Freya" - The Sword
• "Stop!" - Jane's Addiction (Encore)

7. Furious Fretwork

• "Madhouse" - Anthrax
• "The Trooper" - Iron Maiden
• "Rock This Town" - Stray Cats
• "Laid to Rest" - Lamb of God
• "Psychobilly Freakout" - The Reverend Horton Heat
• "YYZ" - Rush (Encore)

8. Face-Melters

• "Beast and the Harlot" - Avenged Sevenfold
• "Carry Me Home" - The Living End
• "Institutionalized" - Suicidal Tendencies
• "Misirlou" - Dick Dale
• "Hangar 18" - Megadeth
• "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd (Encore)

Bonus tracks

Xbox 360 exclusive tracks are listed in italics.

• "Raw Dog" - The Last Vegas (Winner of the "Be a Guitar Hero" Contest)
• "Arterial Black" - Drist †
• "Collide" - Anarchy Club
• "Drink Up" - Ounce of Self
• "Elephant Bones" - That Handsome Devil
• "Fall of Pangea" - Valient Thorr
• "FTK" - Vagiant
• "Gemini" - Brian Kahanek
• "Push Push (Lady Lightning)" - Bang Camaro
• "Laughtrack" - The Acro-brats
• "Less Talk More Rokk" - Freezepop
• "Jordan" - Buckethead
• "Kicked to the Curb" - Noble Rot
• "Mr. Fix-it" - The Amazing Royal Crowns
• "The New Black" - Every Time I Die
• "One for the Road" - The Breaking Wheel
• "Parasite" - The Neighborhoods
• "Radium Eyes" - Count Zero
• "Red Lottery" - Megasus
• "Six" - All That Remains
• "Soy Bomb" - Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives
• "The Light That Blinds" - Shadows Fall
• "Thunderhorse" - Dethklok
• "Trogdor" - Strong Bad
• "X-Stream" - Voivod
• "Yes We Can" - Made in Mexico

Xbox 360 downloadable tracks

Guitar Hero Track Pack 1

• "Bark at the Moon" - Ozzy Osbourne
• "Hey You" - The Exies
• "Ace Of Spades" - Motörhead

Guitar Hero Track Pack 2

• "Killer Queen" - Queen
• "Take It Off" - The Donnas
• "Frankenstein" - The Edgar Winter Group

Guitar Hero Track Pack 3

• "Higher Ground" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "Infected" - Bad Religion
• "Stellar" - Incubus

Is how the Doctor described my "man flu" when I went and saw him today.

Another batch of those oh so effective antibiotics (tongue firmly in cheek there), and a new lot of tablets as well (little red ones) that I have to take six of a day.

I did stress how important it was to the Doctor I was fit for doing the Challenge which is 18 days away now. And under my breathe muttered that I would personally hold him liable if I was not cured by then.

So when Emma on her blog wrote "Short but sweet...." 

"I umm-ed and argh-ed about whether or not to go despite viral chesty cough thing..." and "Sadly, on the way up to the camp, the chest thing totally got the better of me. I just couldn't get enough air in..."

This got me worried, as if this hasn't cleared up by the Challenge, here is a bit of what I have to look forward to. As some of you out there know there is a bit of ascent on this route, with a particularly hard day three.

I know one thing if I don't make the Challenge I will be gutted. And that may be a reality I have to face. The other "life events" at home seem on target for me going. So it is just this "man flu" that needs killing off ASAP, and is my main threat now to going.

There maybe another option but I need to discuss that with Dave.

In the meantime my waterproof or is it resistent note book has come from the US today. I'm going to use this to hold notes for the Challenge like useful numbers, route notes (especially the great advice I was given by people), and then with any spare pages I'll use for notes as I go along on the Challenge.

Over at Backpackinglight.com they have a review of the "Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn Tarp" which I have to read yet. But what grabbed my attention to this is that it has a claimed weight of 8oz!!!!!

Now I just need to sort out recharging my phone (an MDA Pro) while I'm on the Challenge. Now Roman over in his article on "Hiking and technical items - A systematic approach III" found this AA-powered charger from Energizer. Has anyone out there used one of these successfully with an MDA Pro?

And the clock ticks away...

Another glorious morning, and once more out with the dogs.

Well we had our orders for todays dog walk. Kate wanted us to collect some bits of bark for her class to draw in lesson time tomorrow.

The pack and I headed off to the scene of yesterdays walk. This time no soldiers around so I was able to get some photos of the little ammo dump of theirs (minus the ammo).

So in the quest to find interesting bits of bark for the kids to draw tomorrow, the mutts and I wondered off into unexplored parts of the woods (well for us it was). Which threw up more examples of our Armed Forces having played their little games.

Above: Remains of a smoke grenade.

But what you really want is to see some more pictures of the very scenic woods that we have at the moment. They are springing into life, green fern shoots breaking through the old dry crunchy remains of last years ferns, bird song, green leaves, it's very pretty at the moment.

Above left: Woods with Army target practice thing in for ground. And to the right Bud paddling in a rather large puddle. 

Below:This is the quiet spot that I found yesterday.

And as I write this blog Kate is playing Surrender by Cheap Trick on Guitar Hero II. She has just got 87% her best score so far on that song. And like Nathan it is the only song she plays. Me I'm struggling to play Hanger 18 at the moment on Medium. But I have tried Surrender on Hard and Expert settings, and boy are they difficult.

Back on track, and it is 19 days until I start walking across Scotland with Dave. And I still have this "man flu". Worried? Who me? Just a tad. Kate couldn't be happier at the mo. The clock is ticking and the race is on.

Well what a nice day it has been. It would of been even better if I was on the hills camping and enjoying the scenery.

So I've made do with walking the dogs round the Potters. Managed to find a nice quiet thinking spot that I should be able to use when I just want to get out and have a moment or two to myself. The only thing that did comfort me, well not really a comfort, but I was coughing and spluttering a lot on the way round. So maybe, just maybe the doc was right. doesn't make it any easier to accept tho'.

I'll post a couple of pictures tomorrow from the walk.

So in the meantime, have also made a step to remove one of the barriers for me to have a good weekend away. What barrier is that I hear you say? Well the Nissan Bluebird. We have replaced it with another old banger, but this old banger can take the dogs. Sooo I can use the Nissan Tino Almero for weekends away ^_^ No more car breaking down on the way and having to be recovered. ^__^

Still jealous of all those that got away this weekend. Swines how could you?

Well I can't help feeling down, knowing if I was feeling better (I have "man flu" you know), I would almost be in Wales by now.

So how have I handled this disappointment of being ill? To try and cheer myself up I posted bad comments about a retailer on Amazon.co.uk. But hey hold on let me explain why first before condeming me. I ordered this second hand book for a princely sum of 1p, with a postage of £2.75. Which I thought ok a little more than I think is right for the postage, but I was still coming out cheaper than a new copy of the book. Today it turned up, well a card did from the post office saying that they couldn't deliver it as it did not have the correct postage, and I now owed them £1.60 (60p postage and £1 handling fee). So I had to waste a lunchtime, and petrol on top of the £1.60, all because this third party couldn't put on the correct postage that I had already paid for (remember £2.75 for P & P). So I did give them very negative feedback. Isn't there a saying that if you are happy with something you tell one or two people, if you are unhappy you tell everyone and his dog?

Having bought one of those fanny packs Backpackinglight.co.uk were selling at the bargain price of a tenner IIRC, since John Hee posted his Hip-pack Competition rules I've been giving serious thought about taking John up on the challenge. Still waiting for him to say just what the prize will be for the winner. With this in mind, I got wind from a mole within Backpacklight.co.uk that they have a new ultra light meth stove on the way, which was meant to be going up on the site a day or so back. I've never been a fan of the old meth/solid fuel stoves. But if it means taking John to the cleaners I'll swallow my pride (you buff owners out there don't get any ideas).

For those wondering where the columns are on OM today, so am I. I sent them in but not heard from Jon D. So can only assume he is out and about enjoying the good weather or ill. Which ever it is, I'm sure they will be up as soon as he can do them.

Well I went to see the doctor this morning. Not my usual doc, as he was not in today. So the one I saw today, did the usual "what's a matter with you?" So I explained about the "man flu" this weekend, and Scotland in May. Basically the doc laid it on the line for me, go away this weekend and risk not being well for Scotland. It was as simple as that. Rest and avoid exercise is how she put it.

I left with prescriptions for antibiotics and an inhaler, and a cloud over my head full of disappointment for this weekend.

Decided to add some extra help to the recovery, by getting some Lemsip Max Strength. The Sudafed wasn't doing much. My eyes are itching as well (dam should of mentioned that to the doc) so will start to pop an antihistamine (sp?) as well.

Of course all this talk of me being ill, is getting Kate's hopes up that maybe I won't be well enough to go. In fact this all looks too convient now. Maybe Kate has a voodoo doll or something to try and stop me going.

Over at the OM forums it looks like there may be a new contender to add to the list of plastic bags to test.

My Katadyn Purifier Walter Filter bottle arrived today, and I was looking forward to using it this weekend. But that will have to wait a week longer. But hasn't stopped me "commissioning" though.

Dave and I had a chat on the phone today as well. Ok so I lied the other day we do talk ^_^ Dave bought up the subject of what we would do if one of us was unable to complete the walk for some reason. And this is, as Dave said to me something we hadn't discussed, or maybe had avoided so far discussing. We agreed that if it was due to lack of fitness, that the other should go on and complete the Challenge. BUT if it was medical then it would have to be assessed as to the seriousness of the problem etc. I suppose this is one of those extra complications that you don't have to consider doing a solo crossing.

Well somehow I've been put up for the latest rounds of the "Kleenex: Let It Out Spaces" competition!!!

I know, beats the crap out of me how I got on there. I never even knew this existed until just now, when on my stats page it showed as a refering page to my blog. As I (and I know Stef does), sometimes you pop on over to these linking pages just to see who has been visiting.

It's intereting to see what the other blogs are, and it does appear I'm the only Outdoors blog there (Please correct me if I am wrong).

So who ever nominated me, thanks for doing so, I'm flattered.

Looking at the voting I have (and this is to the nearest whole number) 14% of the votes. Like WOW!!!! Ok only 14 people have voted in this round so far, and I think if my math is correct that gives me 2 of those votes.

But who cares about that, I'm very happy that some-one out there cared enough to nominate me. Thanks again to whoever.

Well it's nearly back to normal today. The "man flu" is back. Which is worrying. It was back with a vengence yesterday. But that was not the appropriate time to say anything, considering the news of the day. This is sapping my strength, after going for a sandwich lunch time I was so weak, and felt so light headed. I'll have to see how this is tomorrow, but I fear this will ruin plans for the weekend. Worse bit is, I've heard stories of people at work having this for 6 weeks!

Over at Romans blog he asks whether we should blog or not while out on the TGO Challenge in May. My take in this is that this years Challenge sees at least four bloggers on it. One of them is actively blogging at the moment while he does his LEJOG, and setting a very high standard for the rest of us to follow (drinking or blogging, take your choice which to follow).

But there is a relevance in this discussion to my own crossing, and this blog. Now it has been mentioned in the past that Dave and I will be blogging while we cross. Dave has even mentioned plans to use a GPS transmitter, that will send our location to a map that can be viewed on the interweb. Now don't hassle me over this, as I have no idea if this will happen, how far progressed it is, etc. Next you will be assuming that Dave and I actually talk to each other.

Roman asks "Isn’t a hiking trip something private that you would keep for your own and not sharing it on a daily basis?" But, alot of hikers keep a diary as they cross, and then write up the trail journal when they get back. So how is that different to blogging as you go? So whether you post those blog entries as and when you can, or all when you get back. I see little difference between blogging and keeping the paper diary.

is the farewell message that the dolphins in the Hitch Hiker books said as they left Planet Earth just before it was demolished.

Today I heard that on Saturday Mike Young a friend, and work mate died from lung cancer.

After a long spell off work due to illness I returned back to work, to be placed in the desk next to Mike. My return back to work was not without it's problems, which were due to events at home. As you tend to do while sitting next to some-one you chat. And Mike and I talked about my home life. Mike had been through similar himself, and he listened, and gave great advice. During our stint sitting next to each other, Mike also had health problems (unrelated to his smoking), so would be off from time to time. But I remember most fondly his stories of DIY, and rewiring that he would get upto. Mike also used to be heavily into doing game mods, and in his early programming days even wrote a computer game.
As happens so regularly at our place people are moved around the office in a big game of corporate chess. And so it was that one of these moves seperated us after six or seven months. I'd still pop by Mike's desk and say hi, and we would chat about how things were going.
It was only about two or three months ago that I found out that Mike was off ill with lung cancer, after I enquired about having not seen him for a while. And that brings us up to today, and the very sad news.
It's hit one or two of us hard. We lost another work collegue last year to lung cancer (who I also used to work with and knew), and I lost my step father to it as well during the period I mentioned while I was sitting next to Mike. So some buried feelings have been bought back up to the surface.
It may seem flippant introducing this posting with a Douglas Adams quote. But I can think of none more apt in saying good bye to a friend. My wife often says that I hide behind humour, or attempts at it anyway, when I try and avoid talking about emotions and stuff. But not this time.

My thoughts and prayers are with Mike's family at this time.

Another hot day. Which gets me thinking about the weather for the TGO Challenge.

Apparently Challengers watch the weather in the month before the Challenge (I guess that is April) to try and see what the weather is going to be like for the crossing.

If it is hot I will suffer. There is no doubt about that. So I am hoping that it will cool for May.

But is does seem now that nature is springing into life. And it all seems to be in the last week or so. Leaves are all of a sudden on the branches, blossum is out. It's magical, almost awe inspiring.

Currently my dehydrater is finishing off the salmon jerky, while also drying out some tuna chunks (this is an experiment), as I will try these dried out flakes with some noodles. If they rehydrate ok in the same time it takes to cook the noodles, I have a nice meal option.

Also got my boxes to send my resupplies in. Two for food, and a larger one to send to the TGO Control in Montrose containing clean clothes, and stuff. Not worked out what "stuff" will be yet.