Weekend Wash Up - 13th Nov 16

#keepitmoving

A few months ago I added a post about 500 elephants on the move in Malawi.  African Parks is currently managing the largest elephant translocations in Human History.  They are moving 500 elephants across Malawi to a new home in an effort to protect them from poachers and ensure their survival.

This massive house move is now well underway and I wanted to share this video update with you. Click the link below for a short video showing the work done to date, with an update from Prince Harry who has been personally involved in this project.

The Journey of Giants

More information about this project can be found on 500elephants.org

Fundraising

I am still finalising details with my chosen charity and will be launching my fundraising page very soon.  There have been a few administrative hurdles to get get over to enable me to fundraise in the UK and ensure the money gets to the right charity overseas.  Nobody said this challenge was going to be easy but once the admin side of things is set I can focus on the bigger thing ahead of me...all 5895 meters of it!

I have a few fundraising events planned for next year but any suggestions for fundraisers gratefully received - wouldn't it be great if I could raise a pound for every meter I climb!  I will be updating the fundraising page of this blog as and when events are planned so stay tuned.

Please do everything you can to share my blog and encourage people to sponsor me - me and the elephants will love you for it! x

Flying v Fitness v Fitting everything in

I've had a busy few months at work so have to confess that my training has taken a back seat of late. I've recently got back from two weeks in New Jersey with work, followed by a trip to Netherlands and a week in Portugal planned in a few weeks - so my usual training routine has had to be put on hold.  That said I have purchased a set of weights so I can squeeze in 20 minutes of weight training at home when I can and have become the master of planking when I can - that is "mastering finding the odd 60 seconds here and there" NOT mastering doing them - I still shake all over after just 20 seconds!!

The Toe - past Break Point

My broken toe has now fully healed so I'm at least able to do things when I get the time - and I sorting dates for me training session with Ollie Ollerton from SAS: Who Dares Wins.  I've been thoroughly enjoying series two and cant wait to see who makes it in the last episode tomorrow...my favourite has been Moses....here's hoping he can make it all the way.

The clock is ticking....

I now have a countdown on my phone to the climb, as I type this I have 14 months, 12 days, 15 hours and 20 minutes to go until I set off (gulp).

Thats it for now - more detailed updates to follow shortly. 

Pole, pole

Before agreeing to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro I knew nothing about it, maybe that's a good thing as otherwise I might not have agreed to it.  This does however, mean I am literally starting from scratch.  How do I book it? When shall I climb it?  Who should I book with?  Which route should I take?  What fitness training is best?  How much will it cost?  What should I wear?  Where do I wee?  So many questions.

Some people have commented on how long it is before I actually climb Kilimanjaro.  There is a Kilimanjaro mantra I have read many times -"pole, pole" (pronounced poley, poley).  In Swahili it means 'slowly, slowly' and is something the guides repeat throughout the climb.  It doesn't matter how long it takes you to get to the top, its not a race.  Taking it slowly slowly not only means you get to take in some spectacular scenery but it also gives you time to adjust to the altitude, minimising the likelihood of acute mountain sickness.

I would be heartbroken to get so far and potentially not reach the summit on the last night because of altitude sickness, exhaustion or bad preparation.  So I have decided to live by the mantra from day one, start as I mean to go on.  I'm in no rush and want to make sure I have done everything I can to be prepared for this - improve my fitness, do my research, get the right equipment, practise how to squat ;)......I really do need to start with the basics.

Thankfully a quick google search (other search engines are available) pointed me in the direction of Henry Stedman.  It's fair to say Henry is the polar opposite of me.  What he doesn't know about Kilimanjaro isn't worth knowing.  Henry has climbed the mountain many times and then some, taken each route up and is so passionate about it he has written a book, set up a website and generally spreads the word on what an amazing mountain this is.

Henry's book has become one of my trusted companions, as has his website....so imagine how happy I was to see that you could contact him directly for help (which of course I did!!).  Henry gave me lots of information in addition to that available in his book, and that was more personal to me.  He was able to recommend the most suitable route, the best time of year and even a guide that fitted with what we were looking for...that in turn led to the climb being booked!

If you want to find out more about Kilimanjaro or are interested in climbing it yourself I can highly recommend Henry and his vast array of knowledge and enthusiasm.  Everything you need to know can be found on www.climbmountkilimanjaro.com - including details of his book, the ONLY book in my opinion!

Weekend Wash Up - 9th Oct 16

I couldn't quite decide what to blog about today so thought I'd include a few headlines from the past couple of weeks in the life of an unfit, ill-prepared, elephant loving, kilimanjaro climber in the making.  Enjoy!

CITES - Whose side are they really on?
Wildlife conservation experts from around the world met at a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Fauna) conference in South Africa in September.  Decisions made at the wildlife trade meeting can be decisive for the fate of some of the worlds most endangered wild species.  Apparently they work to raise awareness of the ever declining wildlife species targeted by poachers and trafficking and take action to protect these species from eventual extinction.

Amongst the topics discussed was the ridiculous idea of lifting the ban on the elephant ivory trade - to allow stock piles of ivory to be sold legally again and therefore reduce the demand for illegal ivory...and therefore somehow save the elephant from slaughter by greedy, heartless arseholes.  In fact all it would do is encourage more people to kill them....but I'm no expert.  Thankfully this proposal was rejected.

There was also a proposal put forward by Kenya to give African Elephants the maximum level of international protection.  Around one thousand African Park rangers have lost their lives over the past decade fighting against the illegal ivory trade and many African countries are doing all they can to protect elephants - uplifting the level of protection to the maximum level would send a clear message that the ivory trade must stop.  However this was also rejected.

The proposal failed to gain the two thirds majority needed, the opposition of the EU (who vote as a block) was pivotal.  Now that the global "wildlife conservation experts" have spoken elephants will continue to be slaughtered for their ivory.  Good job.

We said goodbye to Mae Thai
Mae Thai was one of the lucky elephants to be rescued from a life of street begging by Elephant Nature Park back in 2002.  She was one of the longer term and loyal nannies to the other younger elephants at the park.  I spent some time volunteering at the ENP and got to spend some time with Mae Thai - feeding her, washing her and watching just how graceful she was for something so big!  You could see just how wise she was by looking deep into her eyes.  Mae Thai sadly passed away peacefully at the Park on 25th September.  Whilst she will be a big loss to all that work at the Park, their never ending hard work and determination continues as they are still rescuing elephants, young and old and giving them the life they deserve.  I highly recommend a volunteering holiday here so check it out - www.elephantnaturepark.org

Me and Mae Thai 

Fifteen months and counting
In more positive, exciting news, I'm all booked.  The climb is a go!!!

Set off: 26th January 2018 to reach the summit on 31st January 2018.
Route: 7 Day Lemosho Route
Followed by: A Safari to Lake Mantra and some volunteering...watch this space.
Charity: Still TBC - who knew it would be so hard!

Now the serious training begins....eek!

The toe reached Break Point
After my little mis-hap my broken big toe is now on the mend so training can start again at last.  Unfortunately it meant I had to miss a half days training with Ollie Ollerton, star of SAS: Who Dares Wins.  Ollie and Laura from Break-Point were so lovely about it and we agreed to reschedule so I didn't miss out.  I will no doubt update you all on how well I survived this after the event - and promise to include a few action shots as well as a selfie with the man himself.

The new Break-Point Fitness portal will be launching soon and I can't wait.  I'm all registered to get the exclusive insight into Special Forces fitness, mindset and performance.  I'm sure its going to help me get the top of Kilimanjaro, helping both mentally and physically.  Register online by visiting the Break-Point website now.

SAS: Who Dares Wins returns this week with Series Two - in the Jungle.  Having grown up living in the depths of the rainforest in Papua New Guinea I can't wait to watch and see what they get up to.  Whilst I am fine with spiders and snakes...and the occasion scorpion in my bedroom, I'm not sure my childhood in any way prepared me for what these brave boys are going to be put through.  Set the never miss now - its going to be epic!!

"Not all who wander are lost" J.R.R.Tolkien

As a child I was fortunate enough not just to travel but to live overseas, growing up in a number of amazing environments, learning with a rich cocktail of people and experiencing some of the most beautiful, diverse cultures this planet has to offer.  Leaving the UK on my first birthday, my family moved to Indonesia, then Mozambique, then Nigeria.....then Papua New Guinea.  Its true that travelling broadens the mind - you may be thinking that these experiences are lost on a child, but actually these early childhood experiences and memories have shaped who I am today.
We didn't live in a compound, we didn't go to a British school - me and my sister Vikki lived as locals, in the local communities and were educated in straw huts surrounded by spiders.  We were the minority yet treated no differently.

Me and my big sister Vikki in Indonesia

Walking the streets with mum in Indonesia

This blog post title is taken from a J.R.R. Tolkien poem "All that is gold does not glitter' written for the Lord of the Rings trilogy (for the Geeks out there it features twice in Fellowship of the Rings).  It is one of my favourite quotes as it describes me perfectly.  I grew up wandering and will probably never settle - but that doesn't mean I'm lost, travelling is home to me.

Going for a swim in the local swimming pool 'yuk creek' in Papua New Guinea

The older I get and the more the world changes - the bigger the pull I have to give back, and to do something for the animals, people & environments that are fading away as the gulf between the developing and developed world grows.  I'm all for change, in fact I thrive on it, but wouldn't it be great if everyone could benefit as the world advances - without the loss of the diverse cultures and environments that exist across the world.

Big sister Vikki, me, yellow ted and the house boy in Nigeria 

Me, Vikki, Ngozi & her daughter in Nigeria

I can't wait to get back to the more rural parts of Africa to see the landscape again, feel the dry soaring heat and see the wildlife running free as it should. I'm hoping for some great views as I make my way up Kilimanjaro.  Whilst climbing this mountain is going to be a great challenge for me I am hoping to raise a shed load of money to help the local communities thrive and the wildlife survive.  My fundraising page will be up soon so please do what you can to spread the word and get people following me - I will not only be updating you on my training and planning but will be highlighting some of the vital work being done by my chosen charity along the way.

Living in the wild often meant visits from the local residents!

I now have the dates confirmed and deposit paid for my climb, its all getting real now.  The toe is on the mend so I'm hoping to get back to training soon.....but first a week of treats as my school friend Jo from Papua New Guinea is visiting from Australia.  Last time I saw her was a year ago as we celebrated our 40th birthday's together with our friends and family from PNG in Bali.  The world is such a small place, and life is too short.  Get those walking boots on and get travelling, there are many overseas volunteering opportunities available if you wanted to give back as you go!

Kilimanjartoe

Well it's been a while since my last post.  I had hoped to be updating you on my exercise, walks in the woods, plans for my trip and passing on some words of wisdom about nature, belief and focus.  Instead I'm sitting here with my feet up getting slightly worried that all my hard work to date may have been for nothing.  I'm sure I can find something positive to say though....

On Saturday I was home alone, looking forward to a lazy evening in - I had done my chores, fed the cats, changed in to my comfy clothes and was getting settled on the sofa for a quiet night in when someone knocked on the door, I jumped up off the sofa and as I walked away my big toe got hooked in the turn up on my other trouser leg (baggy lounge pants!).  I had stepped forward before I realised.... And snap!  One broken big toe.

Okay, okay, not a massive injury but as its my big toe I have been told to stay off it for 5-7 weeks. No yoga, not PT and no Fight Klub 😰😰

Since breaking my toe I have heard lots of stories of people breaking their fingers or toes in clothes related accidents so I know I'm not alone.  To respect their confidentiality I won't share any here, but let's just say I didn't know knickers could be such a hazard!! 😂😂😂😂 you know who you are! 😉 Thank you to my friend Kate for helping me out in the immediate aftermath.

So now for the words of wisdom, don't wear baggy clothes, watch where you step, slow down and be careful!  Also, everything in moderation, take a break, treat yourself, enjoy life...and a spot of rose gardening!!

#500Elephants

Happy Monday!

Now the Olympics are over I'm sure we'll miss the personal stories.  Inspiring stories of passion, determination, teamwork, commitment and dreams.  These stories don't begin and end at the Olympics, these stories are happening everywhere, everyday and I want to share an extraordinary one with you now - this one has an added trunkful of hope, possibility and survival as #500Elephants are on the move in Malawi.

Africa Parks in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife is undertaking one of the largest elephant translocations in human history.  Up to 500 elephants will be moved over this year and next from Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.  All three parks are managed by African Parks, who is responsible for the protection of 90% of Malawi's elephants.

The 500 elephants are moving as African Parks is building a 16,000 ha sanctuary in Nkhotakota for the elephants and other reintroduced game species.  This is an extremely hopeful story for conservation, elephants, Malawi and the people involved.  It will relieve two parks of human-elephant conflict situations and better protect their habitats while simultaneously restoring wildlife to a park that has been depleted due to poaching.  The new arrivals to Nkhotakota will help with tourism, park development and local employment whilst fueling a conservation led economy.

Whilst I'm loving the image of a line of 500 elephants, trunk holding the tail in-front, walking the 500km journey to their new home - its actually a lot more complicated than that and has taken the efforts of many experts to ensure this specialised operation is a success.  Here is how you move 500 elephants:

1. Elephants will be darted by helicopter
2. Retrieved from the field by crane and recovery trucks
3. Awoken in purpose-built 'wake-up' crates (wish I could have one of them in the mornings)
4. Loaded on to 30-ton low-bed trucks for their journey
5. On arrival, the elephants are released into a holding facility with food and water
6. Following a period of 12-24 hours they will be released in to the wilds of the larger sanctuary to roam freely, roll in the mud, stay safe....and multiply!

If you want to follow their progress and share your support find out more at www.500elephants.org.

You can download banners for facebook & twitter, hashtag your posts with #500Elephants & #KeepItMoving or make a donation towards this epic house move.  I'm sure I can hear 500 rumbles and trumpets to that!

World Elephant Day

Well I couldn't let today pass without a post!  August 12th is World Elephant Day - created to bring the world together to help elephants.  It is a day to honor elephants, to spread awareness about the critical threats they are facing, and to support positive solutions that will help ensure their survival.

A small act from you could make a big difference for these beauties, Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is the largest game reserve in Africa - at 54.600km2, it is bigger than Switzerland.

In less than 40 years it has lost 90% of its elephant herds.  Between 2010 and 2013 six elephants were killed every single day.

Please take two minutes to join the WWF's fight to save Tanzania's largest wilderness.  It really just takes two minutes of your time but will mean a lot to elephants everywhere.

https://makeyourmark.panda.org/selous

Thanks for doing your bit to celebrate World Elephant Day - now crack open the wine and have a good weekend!