Monday 25th - Day One of our training expediton... In theory

Day 14 out here. Today should be Day 1 of our Training Exped... But it's not. See below to understand why.
V V Frustrating.

8pm Packed up and ready to go. Have counted and put EVERYTHING (spare batteries, needles/ threads, plasters) into seperate zip-locked plastic bags and then into bigger, marked-up dry bags (spares/ first aid/ electrical etc). We've had to decant all creams out of metal tubes and into small plastic tubs, so they won't freeze, and have even separated our vital five daily (weight is all important so that's our total allowance of loo roll etc - nice!) wet-wipes into 13 individual, zip-locked plastic bags (one for each day), so that they don't freeze into an unusable block.

Was supposed to be our first day of expeditioning and sleeping under canvas tonight, which we've been gearing up for over the last few weeks. but it's been raining torrentially rain all day AGAIN. We were meant to head out at crackadawn but had to raincheck to 4pm and again at 7pm. The combination of horizontal driving rain, high winds and night temperatures dropping to -23 means that it's pretty lethal just walking outside (it's one big ice-rink). The result? No skiing. No camping out. The danger? Getting soaked to the skin, not being able to dry anything out, then freezing into an ice ball at night. These conditions sound relatively warm but are some of the most lethal for these reasons.

Morale is pretty low as we're packed and ready to go but hanging around the hostel. Still, Ness and I looked have used this time as best we can, checking in with all back home. Hear my son Hamish (14 months) just wanted to play "ring-a-ring-a-roses we all fall down" (running around in circles then throwing himself on the floor) all Sunday long - even in the supermarket! V cute but poor Ewen! He's also learning to dance (was teaching him before I left). His latest move is a little head-banging dance to the "wheels on the bus go round and round"! Seems like I need to get home, before Dad ruins his dance floor groove for life ;)

Meanwhile, most of the team went swimming at the pool in town to vent their frustrations. (Ness and I went a few days ago so skipped.) They returned home soaked to the skin, despite wearing full waterproofs; this weather is unbelievable. V glad to be staying under a roof tonight!

Despite having a hob and kettle to hand, we're getting used to expedition food so it's Day One with nosebags and "rat packs" (rehydrated army packs) and already I'm over them. Nuts, more nuts, cheese, salami, apricots, chocolate, more chocolate, wine gums just doesn't cut it. I'm. Craving. Sushi.

V. excited about crawling into bed and under my duvet, while I still can. Tomorrow, we'll be slug-lets in our 3-layer sleeping bags...(We do look like green worms in them!) We're off for a good night's sleep while we can get it.

Night.