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 !!