En-suite Camping

 Bear and McGuyver (1 hr in)

The last time I set up a tent was a few years ago. At the time, my father and I nearly had what people in the UK refer to as, ‘a domestic’. We’re both ‘experts’ when it comes to setting up tents. I’d like to think of myself as a modern-day female version of ‘Bear Grylls’ and my father considers himself a more ‘refinded’ and dignified McGuyver. So, let your imaginations run wild in a scenario of Bear Grylls and McGuyver setting up a tent in deepest, darkest Canada in the pouring rain with two ‘experts’ that have a way of making something relatively simple seem infinitely more complicated than it should. After about 1.5 hours the tent was erected and my Dad and I shared a beer to celebrate our success.

Millet Everest Meet Jimmy Choo

I can't say that I've ever been a 'fashionista' but I do recognise the difference between 'fashion' and 'fashion-faux-pas'. I'm sad to say that on Everest I will not be receiving any Vogue-style-points or make it onto any 'Best Dressed' lists in the glossy pages of Hello and Grazia magazine over the course of the 72-odd days of the expedition... I will even go as far as to pre-warn you that I will fall victim to the 'fashion-faux-pas to end all faux-pas'... "Crocs with Socks" (followed a close second by sandles with socks... *shudder*...). Having said that I have come to appreciate the true utilitarian quality of the not-so-fashionable mountain hardwear and have embraced with giant, down clad arms the advances in climbing technology since the original ‘puffa jacket’ was developed by George Ingle-Finch in the 1920s and since Mallory and Irvine set out for eternal Everest glory in their hob-nail boots.

The best training for Scotland is... Everest

Scotland has always conjured up images of horizontal rain, old castles, haggis, men in kilts... not to mention Braveheart, Mike Myers and the very dashing Ewan McGregor (*sigh!*)...  Scotland now takes on a meaning much more significant than unusual Scottish fashion and gastronomic tendencies....