So, Thursday and Friday have been spent in and around the hotel, last minutes dashes into town for that last piece of kit which you have overheard, which someone else has, which you don't, which is going to make ALL the difference !

Was wondering why with all the poverty why there are all these cows wandering around the town seemingly unowned. Surely with the price of steak aren't they missing a trick to nick the odd one and sell it to a butchers? Then reminded that this is a predominantly Hindu country and the Cow is sacred so one would lose a lot more than one would gain, aparently. Durrr !

Meeting the guides, they all look like Clark Kent but underneath you just know they are wearing their underpants over their trousers and feed off Kryptomite.

Surreal munching Club sandwiches by the pool in the warm sunshine only half contemplating the lack of basic creature comforts which awaits you ....unzipping the rear of your down suit at 7,000m as opposed to a warm kindly lit warmed bathroom, re hydrated rations and no a la carte, ten week old body odours and no Tom Ford !

Meeting the injured guys from Walking With The Wounded, all of whom have sustained injuries on tour of Afghanistan. Asking them questions about how they got shot or blown up, sensitively asking whether they mind me asking these questions. ' Well we aren't going to be of much use as Ambassadors of a Wounded Serviceman's Charity if we just say 'sorry I don't want to talk about it', now are we?' These are awesome guys, they tell it as it is, beers every night, never shirking a conversation or answering a question they must have been asked 100 times, 'How do you tie your shoe laces with only one arm?'

Anyway, kit packed, pathetically low bar bill paid, tomorrow a 5.30 wake up call. Everest base Camp beckons, just 12 days away.