What do you call a band of Scottish chefs?....The Kooks

Now we're cooking!!!!!!!!
Since my last blog post things have changed. Firstly I have left the lovely residents of Mr. Dawson, a big thanks to Paddy for his fine hospitality. I am now living with the International Airport (Charles de Gaulle) and my lovely wife to be RED (over their <--). Secondly I have managed to find employment, with no thanks from my outcry on my last blog. As of Monday I will be working at the LSE (London School of Economics) so if anyone wants some free lectures or maybe a book on accounting I am your go to guy. The last four days have involved some real activity on the Everest front on my behalf.

Captains log (of the Starship Enterprise not Team Hilary):

Sunday, 26th of October:
After receiving news of Tenzing disastrous three peaks challenge and some serious white van driving the soup maker and I turned up to the first Hillary cricket nets armed with two arm chairs and last seasons smelly cricket kit.
We arrived fashionably late in the hope that the bleep test would be completed before our arrival. No such luck, as we walked through the door we heard the boom box thumping out the sounds of "Competitor 1 you will go on my first whistle....".
The bleep test was completed to varying level of success and helped as all to realise that there is plenty of work still to be done. I personally achieved level 12.8, which I was not that over the moon about but has helped me to set a target for the beginning of April (level 15).
After a brief recovery it was time for nets, there was plenty commitment on show and some real potential, with some surprising big hitting from Blade, front doggin' from Glen and formidable induckers from BJ.
After a brief coaching stint for Kirt we even managed to get him hitting the pitch and missing the side netting in the same delivery - so there is serious hope for the boy to be our opening bowler come April.

Monday, 27th of October:
Woke up and was offered a job - ummmmed and arrrhhed about it for about an hour and then accepted.
Charles and I then decided to plan a day trip for the next day along the South Downs Way to break in my new hiking boots and enjoy a smashing day in the country. Many thanks must go to Derek for his very detailed online posting which without we may still be wandering aimlessly around Sussex.
Monday was then completed with a 10.2 mile run along the Thames and a lovely dinner for two, interrupted by third wheel Sugar!!!!!

Tuesday, 28th of October:
After waking up earlier than two unemployed men needed to The Soup Maker and I were out the door and buying previsions in ASDA by 7.15. After an hour train journey and two Homer Simpson's doughnuts we were dropped off at the delightful village of Hassocks. We arrived with no map and only some guidelines jotted down from Derek's blog. So the first stop was the local Londis store in search of Ordnance Survey Map 198 (Brighton & Lewes) and as luck would have it we managed to pick up the last copy in the store. The map was purchased for £6.99 but you will be able to find a signed copy of our map up for auction on EBay at a computer near you.

We started walking at 9.10 towards Jack and Jill (Charlie kept harping on about these - which I did not realise were a set of traditional corn windmills built in 1824 until we got to them; for more information on the windmills please visit www.jillwindmill.org.uk)

The day started off very cold with some frost on the ground and after an hour or so we had found our way onto the South Downs Way. We trekked until around 12.00 and found our way to Upper Beeding were we intended to stop for lunch, however after a few quick calculations we realised that lunch was not an option on this walk or we would be ending it in the dark. Therefore lunch consisted of two trek bars and one of Sloughs most useful outputs (after Ricky Gervais) the Mars Bar.

During the walk we discovered that if you do chose to walk around the British country side wearing a backpack then people you pass assume that you want to have a conversation with them and therefore will begin to strike one up with very little option but to join in.

The walk concluded at 4.32 at Amberly (a one horse town that seemed to have lost its horse). The light was just fading so we were thankful to have skipped lunch to arrive in the light. We were not so thankful that the only establishment that Amberly had was the Amberly Working Museum with not a single shop in sight. With four very sore feet and one very large blister (pictured on the side) we boarded the train back to London and the inviting prospect of a warm meal and a hot shower.
You will also be pleased to know that you will be able to purchase the missing piece of skin at the Everest Charity auction (Kirt my contribution is in the post).

Wednesday, 29th of October:
The day stared with a limp and wince as I hobbled around the house trying to take on some protein. I then ventured onto the glitz of Oxford Street in the hope of finding some clothes for my newly acquired job. Unfortunately M&S do not stock trousers longer than 33 inch leg and shoes larger than a size 11 so I went home empty handed apart from four London Lites (I need to learn to say "No") and did not help the blister situation.
The days events were concluded with the now famous Trim Trail, fascistly run by Tom. A great turn out from the Hillary boys (10 of us in all) made for a good group session and although I still felt the burn it was not as hard as my first outing with my inhuman ankle allowing me to duck out of some of the stations.

A brief meeting in our kitchen helped Glen, Kirt and Jules get across some much needed points as we start to focus on the task at hand.

Until next time...................