I went out last night with some friends, but I had to leave early because I felt so ill. I was really dizzy and I found it difficult to focus, my arms were also aching from the jabs and countless people bumping into them throughout the evening.

I don’t know whether it was the cocktail of injections I’d had which made me feel like this, or perhaps I had heat stroke, but I had to leave. Feeling loads better today though!

There was a pre-departure meeting and social on Wednesday evening for the Leeds group going out to Everest on the Base Camp Trek. It was good to finally meet some more of the group that would be going up the mountain with me.

The meeting was informal, held in a room upstairs in a pub opposite the university. We went over bits and pieces such as medical forms, booking forms, insurance (which I still haven’t got!!!! – but I will get very soon) the itinerary, and general questions. We saw some pictures and video footage of the trek. It’s all getting very exciting!

There were nine of us at the meeting. In addition to Dave and I, there was Chris who I went bag packing with, Lucy, Jack and Paul who I met at the last social and some new people I hadn’t met before: Hannah, who’s Irish and studying at Edinburgh university but is going out with the Leeds group; Alex, who’s American; and Andy who’s on the Leeds Uni film/TV crew and will be making a documentary while we’re out there!

After the meeting we went downstairs to have some drinks and get to know each other better. Everyone’s very friendly and we all got on immediately, sharing our anxieties/excitement about the trip and how our training’s been going. I’m really looking forward to going out!!!

There was a social last night at the pub. I was really looking forward to meeting everyone I’d be going to Everest with. I got there quite late as I had a rehearsal to go to that didn’t finish until 9.30 and everyone had been in the pub since 7.

By the time I had got there, there were only three people still left in the pub! It was quite disappointing, but at least I got to know a few more members of the group. Lucy, the group leader reckons that we won’t actually be able to all meet up properly until we’re at the airport to begin our Everest base camp journey.