Day 5 - Summit Day

Day 4

Thank you to Aston Business School

Certified MAD !!!!

Day 3

Tea Time - 4:30pm - roasted nuts, tea, coffee, chocolate...

Day 1

Set to go !! Finally at Rongai Gate

Day 2 - we slept above the clouds....

Day 2 we slept above the clouds... who would have thought that hey.... it was an awesome sight... as soon as the sun went down the temperature dropped drastically

Farewell to our friends

Morning day six.... 6:30 we woke up and washed, packed by 6:45, breakfast for 7, and then everyone got together to say their farewells. Traditionally all our guides, assistant guides, porters, assistant porters, cook, mess waiter... all gather to be presented with their tips... there is a hierarchy for who gets what and with the guidance of others and our help Jean-Luc had worked out which group would get what and presented these formally so that there would be no internal wrangling later... we also left anything we did not need, walking sticks, snacks, mattresses, clothes and these would be shared out amongst themselves... but just before all this happens, Joseph explains it is traditional for everyone to sing us the Kilimanjaro song and so he get the proceedings going.

It was touching... we had made great friends, they had looked after and cared for us and helped us reach our goals... this from a society which subsists on almost a $1/ day...

Tip Giving Ceremony - Day 6

Here you see Dennis receiving his Tip at our final farewell.... he served us in the mess tent everyday... he looked after us...

Next Picture - Qasim with Joseph our head guide for the trip and some of our entourage - last day - day 6 - it was a cold, damp moring, frost on the ground, the area covered in mist... we had still been sleeping above the clouds

Gary Barlow, Chris Moyles, Alesha Dixon - Meet the guide !!

On our first night before the climb we were greeted by Emmanuel - or Abdul as he likes to be called. Abdul was the Comic Relief guide for Gary Barlow, Alesha Dixon, Chris Moyles etc... you will see him on the YouTube clips..

He is lead guide in charge of all guides and climbers and was taking a group of 20 Voluntary Service Overseas - VSO- Irish students up on a seven day Rongai Route - ours was 6 days.

We would keep coming across each other along the trail and our groups and Abdul struck up a great relationship.The Irish know how to party !! Abdul is so down to earth and your should have heard the banter between Qasim and Abdul and the Irish and us over the next few days... it was hilarious... you should have seen the jig he danced when Ghana beat USA in the World cup together with the Irish and us after we got down off the mountain and watched the match in the Bar of the Hotel we were staying at..

And yes Abdul did tell us about the celebrities he was looking after.... but that's for another day..

Yes ! Yes! Yes!!!!!!!!!

I made it to the Roof Of Africa at 7:30 24th June 2010 The views are awesome.. 7 of the team set off to climb to the summit Uhuru - 5895 m - 3 of us made it !! 4 had to turn back due to exhaustion, AMS, dehydration... but without them none of us may have made it ...

Below a video of Gillman's point which we reached just 6 am after a 6 hour punishing climb , you can see the sun just beginning to rise, we had lost three of the team by this stage but were about to loose another after this video was taken..

A new chapter begins....

It's 23:15, Thursday 17th June 2010....

If we hit the summit on Wednesday next week the forecast is - ( I've just checked )

Max temp - 6 Deg Cent, Min Tem -8 Dec cent, add in wind chill -8deg cent ; wind 5km/hr, some clouds, sunrise 5:33 sunset 17:30

I've been up since 5:30. Packed a load into the day. I hoped to clear my desk at work, but failed miserably. It was like making castles in the sand, with the waves coming in every few minutes. Got home , changed and went out again for another meeting across town. Finished there 19:20 and decided to fit in some Latin at The Cross in Mosley.. what a nice way to end the evening. The taxi is booked for 3:15, we fly at 6:00

I've just got in, showered and changed into something comfortable. As I sit on the sofa and write this, my last entry before the climb... It's silent, peaceful.. Everyone else is asleep in the house, and all I can hear is the ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece. I am... at peace, with myself, with the World, just content. I am withdrawing into this special zone. I recognise it, I have been here before. Closing myself of from the past, being in the moment, contemplating the adventure ahead. There is anticipation, excitement, anxiety, determination.. the mixture is intoxicating. We have been getting best wishes all day.. We thank you all for your support.

We have a great team. We have jelled well. We have developed trust, respect and comfort with each other. And I know we have each other's back. This is immensely important. I recognise in us all a special character trait.. adventurous, determined,positive, Alpha !! It's great.

Tomorrow feels like a new chapter in my life and it reminds me of the first two verses of one of favourite bits of poetry from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam


1

AWAKE ! for Morning in the Bowl of Night

Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:

And Lo ! the Hunter of the East has caught

The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light.



2

Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky

I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,

"Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup

Before Life's Liquor in its Cup be dry."


We our going to fill our cups......

Have we prepared? We think so, if we haven't will it stop us going - I think not, what will be will be. We will throw the dice and see where they fall and take our luck. It reminds me of my next favourite verse from the Rubaiyat:

23

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,

Before we too into the Dust descend;

Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie,

Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and - sans End !

- Beautiful - live your life to the fullest - take the opportunity... I don't want to look back in life and regret the things I did not do...

We started off with eight of us. We are now down to seven. And as Chris the character played by Yul Brynner said in my best all time western ever - The Magnificent Seven -"SEVEN is my lucky number..." and the theme tune was great too....lol.

So goodnight all.... speak to you in 10 days.... Wish us luck !!

6 Day Rolling Weather Forecast at the Peak - 19,710 ft

I nailed the final team photo !!

I did it !! I got the team photo - finally

We all met in the Mailbox. Andreas booked a table at the Bar-Room-Bar, his favourite haunt for watching the football and of course it was BOGOFF on Pizzas.

So with Brazil playing North Korea in the background we downed the beers and the pizza and some friends joined us for the final get together - so Mojo, Kavita and Mark celebrated our success so far.

It's a great team spirit and I'm glad we have a good bunch of people going, it will make the whole experience that much more enjoyable.

Dave still has not bought his gear so he is shopping tomorrow. The others are pretty much set. Jimmy announced that Aston University Business School will be sponsoring us to the tune of £1000 - so that's fab news.

Brazil won their match 2-1 and I left the team about 10pm. I can just picture the peak.. its going to be a great adventure !! The magnificent seven ride !!

3 Days to Go !! - What's the weather like???

I just checked out the weather - 15/6/10

Here is the forecast summary for the next 4-5 days.

Days 4-6 Mount Kilimanjaro Weather Summary: A dusting of new snow. Temperatures will be well below freezing (max -6°C on Fri morning, min -8°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

The full forecast is :

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Kilimanjaro/6day/top

Temperature with wind chill is -13 deg cent at night at 15,000 ft - we are going to 19,710 feet , wind 15Km/hr with a dusting of snow

Sunrise :5:33 am

Sunset 5:30 pm

4 days to go !!! more costs !! More Hassle

Well today I saw the Doc and got the malaria prescription. I opted for the one-a-day short course tablet- Malarone so I don't have to take the tablets for weeks after I return . The Doc told me that the NHS don't like to prescribe it on prescription because they figure that if someone can afford to go on adventure holiday and want the more expensive tablet they can pay for themselves..

My Doc gave it to me anyway ( nice one !!). So I popped into the first pharmacist who apparently didn't have it in stock. So I went the Lloyd's Pharmacist across the road from it but they only had 1/2 the dose in stock. They gave me that and told me to collect the rest tomorrow. The whole course cost me £74 .... Yes !!!! Blimey...

And to top it all Jean-Luc sends me an email to say Exodus have run out of sleeping bags to hire in Tanzania.. so now I have to pay £30 and rent it here and carry it with in my luggage. That means I will have to shed some weight elsewhere.

Oh well.. just plough on.. I mean it's not the end of the World, but I could have done without the hassle.

The team are on for a meet tomorrow for beer and 2 for 1 Pizza and football in the mailbox at Bar-room-Bar tomorrow 7:30pm


From: Jean-Luc Priez [mailto:Jean-LucP@Lenchs-Trust.co.uk]
Sent: 14 June 2010 11:01
To: Parveen Mehta; 'qasim.majid@integrous.co.uk'; 'I Lotay'; 'Naraine Jimmy'
Subject: Sleeping Bags


Hi

Monday morning crisis – I have just learnt that Exodus is out of sleeping bags – so I have had to source out new rental ones for the 4 of you. They are £30 each and will be delivered to me tomorrow or Wednesday.

You need a lining for them. I will hand them out tomorrow if I receive them, or on Friday am at the airport.

I have paid with my card.

See you tomorrow

Jean-Luc



Jean-Luc & a team of supporters will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2010 in aid of our capital appeal for William Lench Court. If you wish to help us raise money for this valuable cause please go directly to our JustGiving webpage www.justgiving.com/kiliman-jaro

6 days to go.......

Today I have been ticking off my checklist and packing my bag for the climb. 95% of the list checked off...

Charged all the camera batteries, switching sim from my Blackberry back to my Nokia

Just malaria tablets still to sort and perhaps some camera gear..

Decide on rations, top up meds..

I'm sure I've missed something but I have a few days to review the list..

Contact sheet to be circulated

I feel like going for a jog, but I'm feeling twinges in the knees so better ease off, can't afford an injury at this stage.. have a luke warm shower instead.. it's been a nice warm day... I can't wait to go.. Like Jean-Luc said yesterday when we met.. we just want to get on with it.... we all feel an edge I'm sure, an anticipation, beginning of a great adventure... just get through the next few days, clear our desks at work, focus, cope with the challenges of the day job.. and then escape.. bring it on!!!

7 Days to go.....

I dropped by the Lench's Trust offices today to collect my complementary travel bag from EXODUS as Jean-Luc said they are very good and robust and are exactly what our porters will find easy to transport.

And indeed they are very durable and very large. But I can't help but wonder, apart from our team's 7 luggage bags how many 100's of others from exodus will show up at the airport, thus leading to chaos and possible mixed luggage. We really can't afford to get our luggage mixed up...

Hmmm, shall I shan't I???

Only 7 days to go. I will have pop into town tomorrow to finish of last minute shopping - sleeping bag liner, film, batteries, Kendal mint cake, season 4 socks..

Jean-Luc - A great organiser

It's getting close to our departure date and everyone is crossing the Ts and dotting the I's - Jean-Luc in particular is a great organiser - see the email below keeping all on track

Also good news - My Diamox arrived in the post today - the AMS Tablets recommended by MASTA - I suppose I had better try one now in case I have an allergic reaction. And I have to book an appointment with the Doc on Monday 5pm to get my prescription for a course of malaria tablets which I have to start before I leave next week. While at the chemist pick up water chlorination tablets, and syringes for the med kit..

From: Jean-Luc Priez [mailto:Jean-LucP@Lenchs-Trust.co.uk]
Sent: 08 June 2010 11:30
To: Andreas Sticher; David Pugh; Inderpal Lotay (ilotay@twinbuild.com); Naraine Jimmy; Parveen Mehta; Qasim Majid; Stuart Cusworth
Subject: Flights


Dear all,

I confirm that the flight out is at 6am on 18th – so we can agree to meet at 4.30 at checking desk for KLM. I will have with me the Electronic Ticket Locators.

I have received from Worlds Apart the bags sent by Exodus – if you prefer they seem perfect as main luggage – ideal size and shape, flexible and secure (Mark tells me he uses his all the time now for trips abroad). Let me know how to get it to you or do come and collect at Head Office.

Bob, our Marketing guy for the capital Appeal, is asking our printers to give us 7 printed sweatshirts – great if he can pull this one out!

I have ordered the 3 sleeping bags.

See you all for the pizza next week... really looking forward to it now, yesterday’s meeting was good and encouraging.

Take care

Jean-Luc



Jean-Luc & a team of supporters will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2010 in aid of our capital appeal for William Lench Court. If you wish to help us raise money for this valuable cause please go directly to our JustGiving webpage www.justgiving.com/kiliman-jaro

Follow our journey at http://to-the-summit-kilimanjaro.blogspot.com/

Thank you.



Lench's Trust

271 Hagley Road

Birmingham B16 9NB

0121 4558808
www.lenchs-trust.co.uk

Man Down!!

We had what will probably be our last team meeting before we go on our climb.Jimmy could not attend as he was at home in Poland apparently. So again no chance of nailing the final group photo.

Jean-Luc delivered some bad news. Stuart has had to pull out on the grounds of fitness. So we are a man down. All flights and fees have been paid for so the hunt is on to find another team member. If you know of anyone let us know.

I somehow had a instinct from may be our third meeting that we may loose a person before we embarked, but I did not think it would be Stuart. So "The Magnificent Seven" ride !!

We reviewed our preps for the climb, went down the equipment lists, talked about sponsorship, medical supplies, clothes, packing, food/snacks,visa, travel insurances etc....We discussed mobile phone reception, but came to the conclusion that even if we did get a signal we would not want to be in touch with what was going on back home, after all we are trying to get away from it all .. so we will have to keep partners guessing lol... We agreed the time we would meet at Birmingham Airport.I'm conscious I still have a few loose ends to tie up... After the news of Stuart had sunk in, eventually everyone was in a jovial mood, and without exception we couldn't wait to get out there... Half of us are already talking about what the adventure is going to be next year!!

After the meeting Qasim, Indy myself and Dave went across the road to TGI Fridays for a beer. We were nice and chilled by the time we left.

10 Days to go !!!

Ticked of with the Doc!!

Everything I have researched about altitude mountain sickness- AMS:

(http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/altitude.htm)

indicates that as a back up plan I should take some Acetazolamide (Diamox)to prevent the onsett of the symptoms of AMS.And unlike all the celebrities that have done this climb we will not have a GP with us. You can only get this on prescription yet my learned doctor said I don't need it and suggested I use " sea sickness tablets " instead. So you can imagine how P....ed off I was when on the Jazz evening I had learned that most of the others in our group had no problem getting it prescribed by their GP. What made it worse was I met a very interesting GP - Hillary who couldn't understand why I was not prescribed it..

Anyway not one to be put off easily... I did what all the secret Viagra buyers do and went online to a online pharmacist specialising in AMS tablets - linked into the AMS website and filled in an online consultation. 10 minutes later and £17 payment ( almost the cost of a prescription ) I had ordered 12 days supply of Diamox. I will just have to check with my doc I d0 not have any allergies to the meds as a precaution. So , another job done and tick of the checklist.

It really does cheese me off about the inconsistency of some GPs. You know if I was ever going to be a Doc ... I would be "Dr House"... in some ways Hugh Laurie's TV personality and mine are very similar..scary...

I love Live Jazz.....15 Days to go !!!

Last night was brilliant. Over 50 people showed up for the Jazz Evening. It was great to see some old friends - Clare/Lee/ Rumen and make new ones - Hillary/Steve.

Steve Yimga and his band - yes I know I have had three different versions of his name , but I finally got that cleared up in person, with the main man!! - were amazing. The sax player.. well what can I say, he just mesmerised everyone... and the drummer developed some stalkers and would be groupies .. I won't say who the women were - you know who you are... ( they were also lusting after Jimmy and I'm reliably informed have started stalking him on FB heheh )

One of Steve's friends came along and recited some poetry he had written. And Jean-Luc and Steve - the sly fellows got Chris, Steve's very small and cute nephew to go around with a bowl to collect additional funds for the Charity.

The food was delicious - Goat Curry with rice, jerk chicken, dumplings, fried plantain, salad and some other stuff... followed by fresh fruit salad dessert - a lot of the fresh produce was donated by MWW Ltd.(Thank you)

I was one of the last to leave, sticking around to speak to Steve with some other friends over a nice glass of white wine. Steve gets extra cool points for loving salsa and wanting to take up Kizomba.. we will no doubt meet again at one of the classes.

Steve gave me one of his business cards.. I thought it very interesting that where you would normally find the title it read " Artist " - that's so cool....lol

I got to bed for midnight, everyone I had spoken to had fun, and I was nice and mellow. Compliments poured in all day today and it was great to get the following email from Jean-Luc

From: Jean-Luc Priez [mailto:Jean-LucP@Lenchs-Trust.co.uk]
Sent: 04 June 2010 09:12
To: Andreas Sticher; David Pugh; Inderpal Lotay (ilotay@twinbuild.com); Naraine Jimmy; Parveen Mehta; Qasim Majid; Stuart Cusworth
Subject: Jazz Evening
Importance: High


Dear all,

Thank you very much for your support yesterday evening – I think we all agree it was a fantastic event which raised £340 net for the team + excellent PR for all (Kate, our Trustee, was impressed by the goodwill generated towards the Trust).

Thank you to Andreas’s company for the £1,000 sponsorship. I am waiting to have full details to send an official Thank You letter to their MD. Parveen may like to mention them in the blog – Lisega Ltd United Kingdom.

Parveen – your friends Raj & Debbie added a £50 donation if you wish to acknowledge.

All in all a very productive evening – and I hope we can pull another one sometime after our return!

Good luck with your sponsorship chasing...

Jean-Luc


Jean-Luc & a team of supporters will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2010 in aid of our capital appeal for William Lench Court. If you wish to help us raise money for this valuable cause please go directly to our JustGiving webpage www.justgiving.com/kiliman-jaro

Follow our journey at http://to-the-summit-kilimanjaro.blogspot.com/