Field base is a hive of activity once again with the return of our 10E venturers from Koolal, Huskurhadi and Kerala. After a much needed shower our teams headed to Mysore for a decadent afternoon of pizza, ice-cream, fizzy drinks and retail therapy.
The evening's entertainment, hosted by Eddie and Robin, introduced a competitive element with team games interspersed between the skits. The prize: a full English cooked breakfast. The teams had everything to play for!
The field base team kicked off the evening with a glamorous portrayal of 1930s colonial India, and a delightful dance celebrating the joys of a cup of tea. Charlie One wowed the crowd with technology, bringing us live footage of the latest breaking news from Koolal; Natalie finally finishing her book, Scott's new arrival, and the mysterious beast inhabiting one of the group's tents. Echo Two delivered a winning wildlife documentary about the little-known Echosaurus tribe, hosted by George Otakatakaquango (aka. Luke) standing in fortuitously for the kidnapped David Attenborough (aka. Shane). Tango Three's reminiscence of their phase featured star performances by Tom Leech and Lucas Leech who quite literally swept young Anna off her feet. Thanks to a combination of good teamwork, speedy water-drinking and precision buttock-clenching, the prize breakfast went to Tango Three.
 |
| Anita looking hot in her turban |
 |
| Helen aka. Muddy Bum drops the penny inches from the cup |
 |
| Leeches attack unlucky Anna in Tango Three |
 |
| Lucas, Paul and Sacha-Li (below) drink their way to the top |
 |
| The judges concentrate hard while attempting to add up the final scores |
On day two our weary field base team handed over the reins to the graduates, who organised a unique sports day, a delicious barbecue and a cinema evening. The day's events included chapatti tossing, water filling and carrying, a sleeping bag race and the lentil and spoon obstacle course. Even our taste buds were exercised with the blindfolded tasting competition. The final decider was the tug of war, where Tango Three pulled together to prove their post-trekking fitness, and sealed the overall win.
 |
| Fill up those jerry cans! |
 |
| Julie, Sacha-Li, Vijay and Natalie have finally flipped! |
 |
| Open wide, Scott, for a mouthful of condensed milk, soyatein and creamed sweetcorn. Yum yum! |
 |
| Hold on to your lentils! |
Yesteday morning we headed to the local temple for the group photo, followed by some (hopefully unsurprising) allocations.
We can now exclusively reveal the groups for phase three:
Heading down to Koolal for Charlie One are:
Venturers
Anna Lavelle
Boas Schraven
Stuart Aitken
Helen Wakefield
Stephen Fung
Lucas Pyke
Mary Jennings
Rachel Bachar
Sacha-Li Franks
Shona Bradford
Vijay R
Project Managers
Julie Montgomery
Joanna Hawtin
Off to Huskahardi for Echo Two are:
Venturers
Carole Griffiths
Daniel Cabral
Gemma Lyons
Kyle Sharpe
Louise Norris
Paul Mohan
Renjith
Scott Moffat
Taylor Eve
Tom Pearce
Vicky Gould
Will Whyles
Project Managers
Anita Walker
Nick Bevens
Trekking down to Kerala for Tango Three are:
Venturers
Luke Conibear
Ben Hedley
David Warburton
Kiana Franks
Yvette Hutcheson
Jason Greenwood
Natalie Dilloway
Grace Rosier-Blackman
Murugan S
Lucy Jiang
Project Managers
Clare Templar
Shane Shehade
Robin Scanlon
We wish all the teams good luck for what promises to be a fantastic final phase!
Hi Anna so pleased to catch up with all your news. Looks like great fun. Glad to see you are wearing the leggings during the day as well as night. Hope those bites are settling down. Unfortunately the mozzies must find you irresistible. Good luck on this final leg and have fun. Love Dad, Mum, Matt, Bill and Mike.
ReplyDeleteHi Shona, great to hear from you and thanks for the e-mail, glad you got the packet, hope the sweets went round everyone. Have done as you asked. Hard to think that seven weeks have gone by, there should be a bit more room in the rucksack now unless you have bought more to fill it up with. Hope you enjoy the final phase, let us know what is happening after that. Take care lots of love Mum xx
ReplyDeleteHi Shona you must have had a great day of retail therapy on the 20th your rucksack must be full to overflowing!!!
ReplyDeletehi shona!! im not sure if this is the right place to message u but i hope so it has taken me some time to find it lol!! ur trip sounds amazing i am soo jealous, sleeping next to the elephants i bet u r actually loving it!!!
ReplyDeletedont worry u r not missin ne thing exciting back home...except maybe x factor haha but that is reali as gd as it gets!! missin u lots!! enjoy every minute of it, i no u will be :) lots of love xxxxxxx ps its em lol xxxx
HI Lucas, I hope to get your call today. I did get the message. No probs. Just seen the blog - what endless fun! Well done Tango 3! Would love to have seen your winning skit.I just can't imagine what your going to be like when you get back. I just don't think life will be the same again! Sure you'll have a great time in Koolal.
ReplyDeleteTake care, lots of love and see you soon Mum xxx
Hi Natalie, sorry i missed your call the other day i was so annoyed i did'nt get to speak to you. Dad says you have now finished phase 2 and i see from the blog that you will now be joining tango 3. I like your sports day events nice to see you clean and tidy for a change you are normally covered in mud from head to toe, your skin must be amazing. I have just got back from Karon's today (Sunday),dad and catherine met me at the airport and catherine has taken Stanley and Katie to doncaster for another week's holiday while we came home and i go back to work tomorrow. We all had a lovely week in the IOM kid's were really good even Eddie ha ha. Well we are all still missing you loads but still jealous we are not there with you keep up the good work, very proud of you as always love you lots Mum and Dad. x x x x x x x xx x x
ReplyDeleteHi Stuart,
ReplyDeleteYou all look to be having a great time. Love your pose in the photo - don't know how you kept your balance! Good luck on the next phase. We all miss you and are really looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks.
Lots of love Mum and Dad and all xxxxxxx
Hi to Mary from her Dad. Looks like its going really well and is good fun as well as hard work. I hope you enjoy the last phase and I look forward to finally seeing you back in the UK and hearing all of your stories. Love Dad
ReplyDeleteHey Helen (or is it Muddy Bum these days?!). Thanks for the e-mail - I guess you were beaten by the Indian phone lines in the end! Looks like you are still enjoying yourself from the latest photos :) Good luck with the last phase - make the most of it! Miss you lots, Jim x x
ReplyDeleteHi Sacha-Li, You are having quite the ball aren't you.. You are not out in your pajama pants (SQUAWK. LOL, LMAO !!!) You and your sister will be home in no time.. It so nice to see pictures ,hope you are taking plenty of pictures too. hope you have lots of fun in your last phase as well. Take care and please give Kiana my love. Love you both Mom.
ReplyDeleteHi David W,
ReplyDeleteSo you are off to the beautiful region of Kerala. It doesn't have the rugged majesty of the North with its mountains and the Ganges River but you will nevertheless find it breathtaking. I Love you and miss you.
I am finally making some headway with the Iraq Inquiry and ask for your prayers to get me or my team an invite to appear before them. They will try and resist me all the way.
Love
Dad
XX
hello shona B!!i've finally found where i need to post a mes for you!thank you for your e.mal, USA was amazing!hope you are having lots of fun out there..looking forward to hearing/seeing you!!take care.mwah!xxxStephxxx
ReplyDeleteHello Natalie just wanted to let you know your mum has printed off some of the blog news for me to read so i can see what you are getting up to out there. It looks like good fun but hard work at the same time so keep up the good work, and i will look forward to some updates from mum and dad. Keep safe and enjoy the experience love Granny and Grandad xxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteThis message is for Natalie. Just to let you know i am back to work now after my week in iom. Keeping busy at home and lookinf forward to the next update on the blog. I saw Damon and Chloe in work the other day they send there love' Chloe had a good holiday she will let you know the gossip later. I hope the camera has got to you now if not please make sure all your friends take lots of photo's on your trek. Keep your chin up we are thinking of you all the time. Lots of love Mummy.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteHi Helen,
ReplyDeleteHave been trying to keep you with your adventures on here as much as I can - loving the new nick name "muddy bum". I have a card to send hopefully it will be waiting for you once your back from the last phase. I can't believe how fast its gone.
Missing you and really looking forward to hearing all the stories.
Lots of love always
Rach xxxx
Hi Shona just to let you know people are trying to send comments to you but it seems that it is proving difficult, anyway they will get to you in the end I am sure. Hope you and your group have settled into your new location and things are going well. You were saying how hot it is over there well we have had loads of rain and sometimes it could be Autumn rather then Summer, its been raining on and off for the best part of two weeks. Donald is busy as usual and sends his love. Anne passed your message on to Viv to give to your former pupils but she does not know how they did. Passed your message to your Dad and he sends his love. Take care thinking of you Mumxxx
ReplyDeleteHi Anna. Glad to hear the bites are healing. Looks like the leeches are pretty awesome too. Looking forward to seeing you on 12th. Love Mum and Co.
ReplyDeletemessage for mary from grandpa and grandma,we are so pleased you are enjoying your time with raleigh in india.We cannot imagine all the wonderful things you are doing.Mum is with us at the moment and we are having a nice time.I am typing this myself!I think I am very clever!lots of love grandma xxxx
ReplyDeleteHello Natalie, just a note to say well done so far on your Indian adventure. Your mum has been keeping everyone up to date with everything, so i just want to wish you luck with your final phase and let you know we are all thinking of you. Can't wait to see all the photo's when you get back. Lots of love to you from Maggie Power x x x
ReplyDeleteHello Natalie mum here, i am back at work again now and it don't even feel like i had a week off but never mind. It's raining like mad here so you are not missing much back home i think the summer is already over. Uncle Mark Kelly and the kids are off to Turkey tomorrow so i hope they have a good holiday they hav'nt been for ages and they are all looking forward to it. How are all the mozzie's now are you coping better with the bites or have they settled down now let's hope so. I will look forward to hearing from you even if it's by a message. Keep your chin up love as always mum xxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, Message from Mum & Margaret. Received your letter today. Keep up the good work. We are all proud of you. We are sending you a little package with some treats. The bonofee pie seems to have been a success!!! Would you like a hamburger & some chips. YUMMMM!!!!! How's the nail varnish & and the toes doing. I am sure they are all chipped. Love from Mum & Margaret
ReplyDeleteHi Helen, got back from Croatia in the early hours of this morning. Had a great time but it's been hectic - lots of travelling and sightseeing.
ReplyDeleteSorry I wasn't around at changeover but got your email this morning so am up to date with your news.Can hardly believe you're now on the final phase! Am so pleased you're having such an amazing time - it all sounds fantastic, an unforgettable experience. Enjoy every minute of it.
We're going to Italy on Wednesday but will be home before you finish. Hope you 're enjoying this last phase as much as the others!
Lots of love Mum xx♥♥
Anna, Wow. 2 post cards and 1 letter all in the space of a week. Cant wait to hear the full tales of your travels. I can see that 5star hotels and spas would never provide as much fun as this aventure. Looks like it bashers from now on. Lot of love Mum and co
ReplyDelete"Mum please pick up the phone!"
ReplyDeleteMessage posted by Field Base and recieved over the radio.
Hi Dave W,
ReplyDeleteJust saw you on Sky news Bull racing in the mud in Kerala - it looks great fun - are you going to introduce it to Maidenhead on your return :)
Love
Dad x
Hey Grace, who'd have thought those canoeing classing you took years would have come in useful? It sounds like you're having an amazing time and seeing some interesting things. You must be extremely fit by now (have you tried yoga yet?). Nice to know you're having some familiar home comforts. It's been raining London so you're missing much ( except for maybe you friends). We're supposed to be going for a picnic on Hampstead Heath for the bank holiday weekend and Joshua's birthday. Caroline got an internship! I hope you're not getting bitten to much and have fun during the next phase.
ReplyDeleteSee you soon
Joseph
Dear Mary
ReplyDeletejust read your message about picking up the 'phone.I've had no missed calls on my mobile or emails or post.I'm at Grandma's at the mo.We went to evensong at The Minster yesterday-it was wonderful.Dad says the boys are fine.I will be back at work Weds 1st Sept where someone will be on the end of a 'phone all day!! Hope you've received all my letters and blog messages.I'm thinking of you all the time and can't wait to see you on 13th to hear all about the trip.Take care and stay safe.Lots of love.Mum xxx
Hi Shona just off for a couple of days so will not be able to access the site, but as usual will be thinking of you. There have been no blogs on any of the groups since you were all back at base camp and I am sure I speak for a lot of the people trying to follow you all that we miss the reports and the contact no matter how tentative. Take care love you lots Mum xx
ReplyDeleteHey Rach!! Have been checked out the blog whenever I can, sounds like things have really come together and you have a day to enjoy, did you manage to get to a shower? Tee hee! We are all fine, looking forward to my birthday, can't believe you will be home in a couple of weeks! BTW set a date for mine and Michael's wedding FINALLY and of course you are bridesmaid which i know you will hate - ha! Do you want us to send you anything? Is there anything you need? Thinking of you loads lots of love Aliza, Michael, Hannah, Mum and Miriam xxxxxxx
ReplyDeletehey rach i see aliza beat me to it! just wanted to say it was such a nice surprise getting a call from you this morning. what time was it in India when you rang? mum showed me the postcard you managed to send us sounds amazing what youve been doing over there. i cant wait to hear about it properly i bet youve got loads of stories to tell us. enjoy the rest of your expedition you sound well look forward to seeing you when you get back lots of love mir xx
ReplyDeleteHi Shona,
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know that I am thinking of you,gosh, you are doing so well out there. As we are now lacking in dry weather/heat over here, could you please send some back for us? !! We did see that you've had some heavy rain there, maybe it was helpful as a 'cool-down'!! Love and best wishes, Phil xx
Hi Shona, sorry I was not there to pick up the phone, hope you managed to get your camera fixed. There is no time left in which to send anything out to you now so if you need anything it will have to go to Dave's and so I will need the details. Hope you are feeling better you did not sound too good on the second message you left. Take care thinking of you Mum xx
ReplyDeleteHi Lucy and Stephen,
ReplyDeleteHow's life in India? It must be great. Do enjoy the time and life which is unforgettable. When you look back like me, you would feel that it's amazing.
When you guys come back Hong Kong, let me know...
Let's share
With Love,
Ice
Hey anna its sophie!!!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for the postcard it was so nice! i hop youve managed to read my previous posts, i never know if they've worked or not :( anway i just came back from egypt it was so hot, i got really bad sunburn! ha. but im sure its not as hot as where you are, although on some days it was 45 degrees! ah! when are you back? im going to university on the 12th of september! but im sure your back a few weeks after that? i'll ask your mum and arrange to come back to see you when you return! :D i cant wait. anna ive missed you so much! sorry i dont write on here enough, i hope this one gets through to you. all my family are good, hope yours are okay, i must ring your mum, or facebook billy! ;) hahah. my sister got the job at my wok place too so now we work together until i leave for uni! ha, its like michael wisher all over again! ha, i hate working with food! see you soon i love you.
sophie
xxxxxx
Hi Kiana andSacha,soon you'll be back so enjoy every moment of your incredible journey and experience.These are memories that will last forever. Love you lots,Dad xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteLUKE!
ReplyDeleteyour actually got a tan. wow thats a first haha :)
hope your having a amazing time and we can't wait to see you again
love you:)
conibears♥
Hey Anna, it's Olga!
ReplyDeleteIt's not long until you're back now, i can't wait to see you! Are you back on the 13th? I'm going to spain from the 8th to the 15th, really excited but i want to make sure that we see each other before you go to york!!! We need a proper catch up. I hope you're having a fab time and winning your battle with the leeches, mozzies, etc! Oh and the postcard hasn't come, but never mind i just wish you'd come back sooner! Miss you, ice just isn't the same without you! Lots of love xxx
Hey Anna! It's Shobhanaa. Hope you're well and having a good time! Had a look at some of the photos and it looks great! When are you back and then when are you off to uni? Hopefully get to see you in between the two :). Enjoy the rest of your time there and hopefully see you soon, look forward to hearing more about your trip :) xxx
ReplyDeletep.s. Sorry it's taken me such a long time to write a message xx
Hey YVETTE, finally found the blog it only took me god knows how many weeks lol, well better late than never huh!! good to see ur having a great time, cant wait for u to get back and hear all about it, take care hunni :) mmmhaw XX Lee xx
ReplyDeleteHey Shona. Its Aunty Anne and Ali here. We both wanted to say that we are thinking of you and hoping you are having a fantastic time. We hope you are keeping well and have lots of stories to tell when we next see you. It would be great to here from you as to what you will be doing once you finish with Raleigh. Take Care Love you loads. XX
ReplyDeletehello shona!!how are you??i've been thinking about you lots and really miss you- it's so hard not to chat!anyway, new job has started well, tricky tho!megan has moved to london-so theres only one more member to come...that's you!ha ha..hope your keeping well and taking lots of care!missing you much!steph
ReplyDelete