One week to go...final preparations

Hola,

Solo, seite dias mas!!

Well...can you believe we are only 7 days away from Mexico? I can't!

Thank you to everyone who helped out with checking all the kit last week. Everything is there and all zips, poles and pegs are intact - so nobody should be getting wet toes in Mexico in their tent.

Hopefully everyone has started their anti-malarials (they taste disgusting don't they?) and I hope no one had any ill effects.

Things to do this week:

1. Hand in any paperwork you still need to give me (or get a younger sister to bring it in - hint!)

2. Make sure you have 4 passport-sized photos (they don't need to be the same as your passport).

3. Pack you bag - as tightly as you can - remembering you need to have extra space to carry team kit - tent, trangias etc. Don't take anything extra that isn't on the kit list!! If you need extra pants, socks or t-shirts when we are there we can buy them in Mexico. Take small bottles of soap, shampoo etc. Again we can buy more in Mexico (they will have many of our brands there). Don't pack your hiking boots - you will wear them on the plane...also you can wear (or carry on) a bulky fleece if you're tight on space. When Tom is here on Friday he will repack you bag and check your kit!!

Just make sure you don't pack your cat!!! This is Leo, one of my cats who crawled into my bag and went to sleep....bless!

4. Get your personal spending dollars. Shop around for the "best rate" - although the dollar exchange rate is pretty poor at the moment. On Friday I will give you three coloured envelopes in zip-lock bags - one envelope for personal money, one for team money, and one for World Challenge money.

5. FRIDAY - BUILD UP DAY: Tom will arrive at lunchtime ( exact time TBC). We will be meeting in Mrs Barnett's room (Rm. 29) for the afternoon. He will go over last minute training, repack your bags etc. Your bags will be stored in the mini-bus overnight (I think).

6. BUFFET: I then have the Community Lounge booked from 4 pm to about 6.30pm (another group need it at 7pm) for our buffet. If its nice weather we can spread out onto the grass. So could everyone have a think about what they would like to bring e.g. nachos, salsa, guacamole, sausage rolls, crisps, juice etc. No alcohol please.

7. SATURDAY MORNING: Tom is going to make his own way to Edinburgh - as Friday night is his only night to visit his family in Stonehaven before heading off on two back-to-back trips. So the rest of us will meet at 5 AM at the school. We'll then load what we can into the bus and the back of Mr Harris's car for the trip to Edinburgh. There will be time to get breakfast at the airport - if you're like me and can't eat breakfast at 4 AM! Take about £5 to £10 with you for buying stuff at the airport.

On Friday night I will change this website for use as a blog - so all the information will come off the site and it will be updated by the challengers when we are in Mexico with photos and stories.

Anyone can post a message to the blog by emailing to the following address: katyfraser40.mexicochallenge@blogger.com . There are only about 12 days out of the whole trip where we won't have access to the internet and phones - the first three nights for example we're staying in a hostel in Mexico city with its own internet access - so Mum's and Dad's should expect updates reasonably regularly - so there is really no need to sneak your phone with you (you're not allowed one anyway).

Hasta Viernes!!