Well here I am, sitting in the Emirates lounge ready for the five weeks that lay ahead.  I’ve had my glass of Veuve to celebrate the pack tonight – that was certainly the finest I’ve ever cut it!

It’s going to be fun – a bit of sightseeing in Germany before I settle into Frankfurt for the 20th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work and then it’s on to meet Karyn in Chamonix to begin to hike the Haute Route.  I’m hoping the training I’ve done will get me up and down the mountains without too much suffering!  The photos will be telling in terms of whether I’m donning a smile and I think I’ll be looking for a spa retreat in Zermatt! I’m disappointed Lee and Mia were unable to come in the end but happy to have such a great walking companion in Karyn. I reckon us two vego, wine drinking hikers are going to have a great time motivating each other – we’ve already discussed our behaviours in times of stress (quietly I’m thinking chocolate will pull me through).

I get to enjoy four more days in Switzerland before starting the journey home….but that’s ages away!