Can't believe I've been home this long without writting - my head was still in the clouds !!!

Well, what an extraordinary trip !  There were 23 of us in total and 60 porters !  We all met at Heathrow Airport and my journey there had not been uneventful due to a fire on the M4 at J5 !!!  The rest of the group were amazing and all raising money for different charities.  A very diverse group that gelled really well - I miss them !

It definitely wasn't an easy trek, in fact it was bloody hard work ! Camping for the first time in my life was interesting too.  It was so cold in the mornings that we would scrap ice of the INSIDE of the tents !  And I have NEVER been so dirty in my whole life !  Because Kilimanjaro is a volcano we were all constantly covered in dust, and I do mean covered !  The food was amazing though.  Bearing in mind the porters had to carry enough food to feed 83 people 3 times a day for 8 days and cope with different dietary needs it was positively brilliant !

What was really hammered home was the fact that the people out there have nothing.  We are so spoilt.  We sit about whinging at the slightest thing when we have every possible luxuary ie. running water, food, solid homes etc.  But what the people lack in material stuff, they certainly make up for in having the most amazing spirit ! Always smiling, willing to help, friendly, goodness, kindness, positivity.  We really have no idea how lucky we are.

Confession time.... I didn't make it to the top.  Apx 200 meters below the top my achillies tendon pulled and I got hurtled down the mountain - I was like a rag doll when I got to the bottom, and incredibly disappointed and upset.  I wasn't affected by altitude sickness at all and had no headache, dizzyness or anything else, so to be injured was absolutely heartbreaking.  In my heart I know I would have made it otherwise.

I will write more over the next few days, but wanted to give you a link to all the photos I took (over 1,000 !) so that you may browse them at your leisure - I hope you enjoy ! http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/198208716

Abs X