Two Weeks to Go

Man, two weeks to go... I can't believe it! Pretty scary to be honest but I am really excited. I've got most of my kit together now and am in the process of packing all my worldly goods to put into storage. I'm moving out on the 23rd (Saturday). Matty H is coming down to drive the hire van up to Yorkshire. Bang me stuff in the garage and then hop it to Manchester for final farewells. I'm only finishing work on Friday so it's all a bit stressful at the moment. Still, it's keeping life interesting as I'm desperately trying to learn Spanish, sharpening my bird identifying skills (sorry, sharpening? More like blagging) and in an intense fitness program of... erm... trying not to smoke as much. Looks like I'll be set then! As for what it is I'm going to be doing in Ecuador you can visit the company's website here and the specific project I'll be working on can be found here. If you're interested the website is pretty good but in a constant state of change so the link might not work for long.

Probably my two best pieces of kit so far are my bins (binoculars for Bill Oddie ing) and my new camera... Pentax istDL. Here's a shot I took the other day before boarding the London Eye:

Taking a digital camera to a rainforest might not be the best idea. Hmm. Got to try it though. If anyone's got any tips on keeping it dry etc, please feel free to share them.

Incidentally, watch this, it's unblievable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ol7XJJlz9E

It never rains it pours.

What a dismal picture. Life is what you take from it. If you sit back and accept the norm then there you go... you get the norm. That makes plenty of people happy and I respect them for that choice. Unfortunately I tried it and it hasn't worked for me. So I'm off again. Is it a knee jerk reaction??? I couldn't possibly say. I'll tell you again three weeks in. Right now it feels like the rightest thing I ever did do. Av it. I'm off to the Amazon for a 10 week expedition. Bugs, spiders and all other disease ridden foul creatures are welcome but I envisage little room for passengers. Wish me luck and give you loads of tropical disease.

Love and kisses,

An idiot.

My Apologies,

This blog has become a statistic. It's heavily under used and just a waste of virtual space..... hang on... 'virtual space'?? fuck it then, it can remain a dormant beast for as long as it likes. Needless to say I never joined the vientienne underground. I am now a sedentary bottom feeder, living the life of a bum. I like it though. I have to admit it was better when I was on the mive but the whole village feel of where I am now is quite nice. Actually, it's better than quite nice. I'm back where I feel I belong. The only bastard is that my feet won't stop itching. Old wives' tale... I think not. They are honestly itchy... I've tried scholl and everything but it did abate a bit the other day when me and my new squeeze booked 2.5 (decmal you know) weeks in Borneo (Malaysia masive side). Old wives, I salute you.

Peade out

Evenin' all. Just a quick post to say that end of my lazy days is upon me. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Nightmare. But at least I'll be employed (although not paid). Yes that's right, it's a volunteer position. Sounds quite good though. The only bastard is that I have to be in Oldham by 9.30am every day. Yaa boo, sucks to that. Not very pretty. I'll have to get up at 6 in order to make it, so set your alarm early, wake up, chuckle to yourself quietly as you think of me dragging my sorry arse out of bed into the cold darkness, then roll over and go back to sleep. Gits. Anyway, I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Happy Nu Year!

Been a while since I wrote anyting on this I know, but lets face it, my globe trotting's ended. I could tell you about the class house party we had on New Year's eve, but I won't. That's just bore you probably. Anyway, I sincerely hope that all of ye had a grand eve and a wonderfully happy crimble.

I'm still unemployed. Haha, and I have been for ages... and ... and.... I think it's starting to get to me. Nah it's not really. I'm starting a volunteer position on Monday though, working with young tearaways on adventure retreats and urban regeneration projects etc. Shouold be a good laugh. Sian's already done it and has duely informed me (in a Scottish accent) that I'll have a wonderful time. Marvellous. Looking forward to it but I have to be in Oldham by nine thirty every day. Bastardos! That means getting up at half six ish. Oh dear. So I'm desperately trying to reset my body clock following the season to be jolly (Fa lala la laaaaaa, la laaa la la). It's bloody hard but Seema (my personal pharmacist) has put me onto this new tea called Valerian root. To put it mildly it knocks the shit out of you. An hour after imbibing it you're away with the fairies. So anyone having difficulty sleeping, get some Valerian in ya!