Below are some pics in some of my outerwear, as promised.
Obviously the flip-flops will just be for in the teahouse. ;-)
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Join me for a drink?
If anyone feels like buying me a drink and wishing me luck, I'll be at The George from 6pm on August 13th.
Below are some pics in some of my outerwear, as promised.
Obviously the flip-flops will just be for in the teahouse. ;-)
Below are some pics in some of my outerwear, as promised.
Obviously the flip-flops will just be for in the teahouse. ;-)
Extreme Tech Update
Just as I finished posting my doorbell rang and the goggles were delivered. Astonishing really as the shipping was free and I just ordered the things yesterday. So I've tried them on and spent a few minutes pretending I'm a fighter pilot. Cats are now in hiding. ;-) And please excuse the pyjamas.
More Extreme Tech
So my insurance is finally stumping up and thus yesterday I went out with my Jessops vouchers to replace my camera. Although they sell the same exact camera that was stolen, I've decided to switch horses, so to speak, and instead got a Fujifilm XP. While it unfortunately only has a digital zoom and all that, it's a hardened camera recommended for extremes and is waterproof to 5m, shockproof, freezeproof to -10C and dustproof. Oh, and it has GPS. I also got a 16GB Extreme SD card to go with it. And I still have most of the vouchers left over to buy a "proper" camera when I get back.
I've also been shopping for a cheap watch with an altimeter. Cheap because, let's face it, costs have been escalating. I waltzed around central London yesterday checking all the shops but the cheapest I found was £175 and they went up drastically from there. No way. So this morning I did what I should have done in the first place and checked online and have now ordered a Casio. It seems to have all of the functions that I'll want but would it really kill them to make a ladies version? This is going to look utterly ridiculous on me. I haven't worn something so horribly ungainly since 1980.
And finally, I have ordered some OTG goggles. OTG means Over The Glasses and these will allow me to protect my eyes from glare, UVA/UVB/UVC, and wind while still wearing my prescription glasses. I'm gonna look a right nutter in them but at least I won't go snowblind.
I've also been shopping for a cheap watch with an altimeter. Cheap because, let's face it, costs have been escalating. I waltzed around central London yesterday checking all the shops but the cheapest I found was £175 and they went up drastically from there. No way. So this morning I did what I should have done in the first place and checked online and have now ordered a Casio. It seems to have all of the functions that I'll want but would it really kill them to make a ladies version? This is going to look utterly ridiculous on me. I haven't worn something so horribly ungainly since 1980.
And finally, I have ordered some OTG goggles. OTG means Over The Glasses and these will allow me to protect my eyes from glare, UVA/UVB/UVC, and wind while still wearing my prescription glasses. I'm gonna look a right nutter in them but at least I won't go snowblind.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Going Off-Grid
Solast week I got a discounted solar off-grid backpack from Voltaic and had a great opportunity to test it over the weekend as my BF and I went up to the Peak District for the wedding of a fellow ACCU friend.. This gave me the chance to both have a long walk AND to see what the charger could do.
I confess that at first I was not terribly impressed but I think that this is because I've never used a solar charger before AND because (I confess!) I hadn't read the instructions. OK, ok - mea culpa. Fortunately I did my usual "up with the sparrow's fart" routine and set the pack in the window to charge at dawn and so, a few hours later after an ample English Cooked Breakfast (BTW, props to the staff at The Waltzing Weasel for the hearty meal!) I returned to a fully charged battery pack which swiftly charged my iPhone.
It should be noted that the batter pack was then depleted and needed to be charged again. Therefore I donned my wellies and hit the Sett Valley Trail for a 2 hour walk. This was slightly less successful and i suspect that this was because the early morning sun had clouded over AND the charger was not facing the sunlight at all times.
Lesson Learned: Look, the damned thing works BUT you must keep in mind the following: 1. Direct proper sunlight will give you the best result, and 2. You shouldn't wait until you're down to the last bar of whatever device you wish to charge or you may get caught out. Be sensible - it's not called a trickle charge for nothing so manage your expectations!
I confess that at first I was not terribly impressed but I think that this is because I've never used a solar charger before AND because (I confess!) I hadn't read the instructions. OK, ok - mea culpa. Fortunately I did my usual "up with the sparrow's fart" routine and set the pack in the window to charge at dawn and so, a few hours later after an ample English Cooked Breakfast (BTW, props to the staff at The Waltzing Weasel for the hearty meal!) I returned to a fully charged battery pack which swiftly charged my iPhone.
It should be noted that the batter pack was then depleted and needed to be charged again. Therefore I donned my wellies and hit the Sett Valley Trail for a 2 hour walk. This was slightly less successful and i suspect that this was because the early morning sun had clouded over AND the charger was not facing the sunlight at all times.
Lesson Learned: Look, the damned thing works BUT you must keep in mind the following: 1. Direct proper sunlight will give you the best result, and 2. You shouldn't wait until you're down to the last bar of whatever device you wish to charge or you may get caught out. Be sensible - it's not called a trickle charge for nothing so manage your expectations!
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Good News/Bad News
So the good news is that I've lined up my next project AND even found a small piece of work for 5 days next week to "in-fill" before the the new project kicks off. This is very good news indeed because it means that the money keeps flowing and, frankly, the cost of this shindig PLUS not working for 2.5 weeks while away is making some serious inroads into my finances.
But the bad news is that I'll be working ever day between now and take-off so there's no time for the trip to Mt. Snowdon, shaking down the equipment, getting my UK passport replaced, etc. I project manager language, there is no slack in the critical path. :-(
This also means that there's no time for the last minute publicity blitz I was hoping to organise.
So here it is folks: there's less than a month to go until I leave so if you were thinking about donating please do it now! And please spread the word! The link to donate is http://www.justgiving.com/Astrid-Byro and you can also donate by text in the UK by following the instructions below.
But the bad news is that I'll be working ever day between now and take-off so there's no time for the trip to Mt. Snowdon, shaking down the equipment, getting my UK passport replaced, etc. I project manager language, there is no slack in the critical path. :-(
This also means that there's no time for the last minute publicity blitz I was hoping to organise.
So here it is folks: there's less than a month to go until I leave so if you were thinking about donating please do it now! And please spread the word! The link to donate is http://www.justgiving.com/Astrid-Byro and you can also donate by text in the UK by following the instructions below.
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Blagging Advice
Those who know me know how terrible I am at asking for help which is, no doubt, why I've been so crap at fundraising. Nonetheless, I was asking the lovely Kate Russell from BBC Click for her advice with regard to mobile media rechargers the other day and she recommended that I try the Voltaic backpack AND encouraged me to try to get it for free.
And so, with much trepidation, I contacted Voltaic and to my immense surprise they offered me a 40% discount! Well, needless to say, I've now ordered said backpack with solar charger and will be reporting back on it as soon as I get to test it.
At least now I'll be guaranteed a power supply on the trek. Connectivity, however, may be another matter. ;-)
I wonder if Apple would sponsor a Macbook Air...
And so, with much trepidation, I contacted Voltaic and to my immense surprise they offered me a 40% discount! Well, needless to say, I've now ordered said backpack with solar charger and will be reporting back on it as soon as I get to test it.
At least now I'll be guaranteed a power supply on the trek. Connectivity, however, may be another matter. ;-)
I wonder if Apple would sponsor a Macbook Air...
More bloody shopping
I love my other half but I have to say that he's not the best at discouraging me from spending money. I've now taken his advice and bought the North Face insulated trousers as well as a down jacket. Mind you, pointing at the weather forecast for Base Camp (-23C and 50cm snow) makes for a rather compelling argument in favour of having more extreme weather gear with me. ::sigh:: So that's another £250 but at least I got them in the sales or it would have been twice as painful.
Anyway, I know I don't even have this first trek under my belt yet but I've got all the equipment now so I have to confess that I've been looking speculatively at other mountains & treks. For example, I'll be in NYC for 10 days in September and I've suggested to my father that we hike to the top of Mt. Washington - home to the world's worst weather. I just hope that his health and fitness are up to it. And I really ought to encourage him to get some proper hiking boots and start breaking them in now!
Back to the here and now - fundraising seems to have ground to a halt. I really don't know what else I can do! Suggestions will be gratefully accepted. My BF says I was too hasty and that I should have scheduled this whole thing for next summer but I never dreamed it would be so hard to raise this money particularly to save something as important as Hut 6. Ah well, chin up. Mustn't fuss. I guess I just have to channel that Dunkirk spirit and carry on.
Anyway, I know I don't even have this first trek under my belt yet but I've got all the equipment now so I have to confess that I've been looking speculatively at other mountains & treks. For example, I'll be in NYC for 10 days in September and I've suggested to my father that we hike to the top of Mt. Washington - home to the world's worst weather. I just hope that his health and fitness are up to it. And I really ought to encourage him to get some proper hiking boots and start breaking them in now!
Back to the here and now - fundraising seems to have ground to a halt. I really don't know what else I can do! Suggestions will be gratefully accepted. My BF says I was too hasty and that I should have scheduled this whole thing for next summer but I never dreamed it would be so hard to raise this money particularly to save something as important as Hut 6. Ah well, chin up. Mustn't fuss. I guess I just have to channel that Dunkirk spirit and carry on.
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