Ice ice baby

Tyres - check -  (and not arrested for them)
Rope - check -  from the climbing wall just as they were doing a swap out of old rope.
Eye bolts - check - brought from the UK hoping they would fit - yes they do!


Its all coming together finally and with help which is really appreciated to all the people that have dug in along the way.

Its amazing how many people are helping out - even an American (I know he won't take offence) armed with a drill to make the holes in tyres, who might even join me in pulling training tyres :)

After my rant last post its back to the polar trip

On the 4th April we will be hitting the white stuff. Then from Ice Station Barneo - which already sounds like its out of a horror film, we are being picked up by a HIP MI-8 helicopter. By the look of the helicopter it has probably been around since the cold war was in full swing. Then having all our kit dropped in the middle of nowhere, and left to our own devises to make it unsupported to the North Pole.

Pulling all of my kit behind me in a pulk, that weighs more than me, with everything that you're going to need to keep you alive - literally. As if the stove breaks its end of trek, if the tent blows away its end of trek.... You get the idea.  But the best bit is that includes loads and loads of chocolate (yay) I hope it all lasts for the 2-3 weeks, as if you haven't guessed I'm a complete chocoholic.

Bit of Rant! Just for this one post.

You may not agree with what our military are doing, but you should still acknowledge they perform a duty and as with any job deserve a duty of care.

Did you know compared to our American cousins the British Military care for veterans is like the third cousin twice removed at the wedding that you have to invite under obligation. Our standards for looking after ex military, and their families, in any shape or form not just injured personnel is just appalling.

Our American colleagues have it written in the law that they automatically get money towards their education, priority jobs, priority housing, grants, mentoring, free medical and dental support and counselling when they leave.  What does the average British military person get when he/she gets out - nothing.

I have had the experience of being injured twice in the Army. One time my ankle had to be completely reconstructed, and the other I had my spleen out.  Long stories maybe I will tell you over a pint one day - you're buying :)

I ended up in Headley Court which even though its a government funded rehabilitation centre it relies mainly on charity donations to keep it going.  When I went, before Help for Heroes got started, there was no female accommodation (as the military were still in the mind-set that, good grief women getting injured on duty surely not, they can only be sitting behind a desk somewhere)  so they put the six of us girls there, in a side wing on the medical ward. The whole place was worse for wear. The paint was peeling, the hydro pool had scum around the sides and tiles were coming off.  But the rehabilitation was second to none. It was a humbling experience. I went there being told I will never walk again properly and being in depression, to coming out being fitter than I had been for a long time, after the dedication of the amazing staff there. Thinking how lucky I am to have both my legs and arms and mentally intact. That was the best medicine in the world, having banter with those amazing people who made my injuries look like a scratch.

I've also been asked why I'm not doing this for Help for Heroes - well the majority of people aren't aware of this little known fact, but H4H only help serving personnel and veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict.  I just don't agree with this in any shape or form as there should be no cut off date to receiving help if you served your country, and I think this is just not acceptable.

This is why we are doing this trek, and this is why its so personal to me - giving back to our military family, so that they don't have to fight for help like we had to do.

Don't forget our just giving pages too - https://www.justgiving.com/NorthPoleLastTwoDegreesRSBF - Royal Signal Benevolent Fund 

https://www.justgiving.com/NorthPoleLastTwoDegreesDianaAward - helping to mentor disadvantage children 

https://www.justgiving.com/NorthPoleLastTwoDegreesWwtW - walking with the wounded to help provide for injured and disabled military personnel a better quality of life.

The criminal used tyres!

Well who would have thought how difficult it is to get used tyres in Bahrain. Its a serious criminal offence!!

Why? I hear you ask. Well since the uprising here no man - local or expat can buy or take used tyres, just in case they have this uncontrollable urge to burn tyres in the middle of the street and cause a riot. So its actually an advantage to be a female in Bahrain, as you never know when you have this desire to drag tyres around the place.

Because transportation didn't manage to get me any, myself and a female friend, who has lived here for a long time, set off to hunt these elusive gender specific tyres.  The area she took me to was called Salmabad which is an industrial area that has the highest concentration of backstreet garages in such a condensed area I have never seen before. It was chaos. With all states of cars just left in the middle of the road it was like a slalom course through car parts and crashed vehicles. With cars being driven any side of the road you feel like driving today.

We finally found a place that would give us two tyres, when my friend told me just tell them you're going to use it to put plants in if they ask, as if you try and explain you're going to the North Pole they will 1. Think you're crazy 2. As being female what else would they think you would do with tyres except put plants in them lol.

Only in Bahrain :)

As an aside and unknown to me at the time this was where some of the major uprisings actually took place, where the tyres were burnt funnily enough.

Count down to pulling tyres

If you are wondering why there aren't any pictures of me looking like a boiled lobster pulling tyres yet this is because :-

I will be in 13 days!!!! (James is way ahead on me on this)- this is due to two things which really have slowed me down.

1. I had to have injections in my knees 3 weeks ago and got told to rest them - boooo

2. Its hot hot hot in Bahrain. 

I'm used to the heat as I've worked out in the Middle East for five years and used to do my runs in 55 degree heat.  Told you I was crazy. But that was a dry heat which I could handle but this one here in Bahrain, wow, the humidity makes you think you have walked into a hot bath. So the cool(er) weather is meant to be starting in November.

Hmmm did you really ask me that?

"Not all girls are made of sugar and spice and all things nice. Some girls are made of adventure, fine beer, brains and no fear!"

I keep getting people ask me why do I want to do this, especially being female.  In this day and age it actually shocks me that people still think like this.

But I've always been this way. Not to prove that women could do it, it was just a why can't I. One of the first females to do my trade in the Royal Signals. The first woman to do my job in the police. The first woman in my position in Iraq.  I've ski bobbed, freefall parachuted, para glided over the Alps, to name a few, and anything adventurous that I could do, I'd put my name down for it. Not to prove a point that I'm female its to prove a point that I'm alive!

Now where are those tyres ...... :) oh and the fine beer!

Things got real

We have just received all the paperwork to confirm that the trek is on!!! Eeeek. Got asked by the guide Eric Philips, "who's not getting excited" truthfully I'm nervous as hell. With all the briefings about the effects of frostbite, polar bears, death waivers, falling through the ice, never cross country skied before, its definitely going to be a challenge.  I feel sorry for James as I'm sure I'm going to be bitching the whole way there. And then he will have the joy of seeing me first thing in the mornings too so if you hear a scream echoing from the Artic - you know who it is.

The Westminster Dash

Good to go!

We're now only five and half months away from hitting the ice. Drumming up interest from corporate sponsors is pretty hard work and, so far, we're had sporadic interest in our endeavours. But we will persevere.

On that note, I spent an evening in the presence of a number of potential sponsors and Members of Parliament, working on convincing them to provide support for the trip. I'd like to say the event was organised solely to shine a light on the 'Last Two Degrees 2016', but there were numerous individuals there, both from charities and observers looking in.

So how did it go? There was a flicker interest from a couple of companies; no firm commitments, more the expected, 'Have to run it by my boss.' And that is the kind of start I'm looking for. We want to capture people's collective imagination. Sure, the north pole has been done 'quite a few times', but, as far as we believe, there is one aspect of our trek nobody has attempted before now (I'll keep that one in the bag for now - corporate sponsors can post a message on our Twitter page requesting more information).

On a sidenote, last night was more than just an opportunity to talk about what we're doing - it was also a great way to network in the corridors of British power. I met some truly amazing people, some of whom I will no doubt be able to help at some point in the future, and vice versa.

Back soon for another update.

Too much information?

 

Well not really to me and I have been asked about it. As what really stood out from the training we did - besides putting up a tent and trying not to burn your eyebrow off when using the stove in the tent (and also a bit worrying of how to pick it up and chuck it out the tent if it catches fire) is the night time routine of what happens if I, being of the female persuasion, need a pee in the middle of the night.

I know for some this might be a bit TMI but in my book its right up there, on a need to know basis, as I am not getting out of a warm tent to -30 to freeze my bum off to the elements. So when I asked what do I do, I got told find a wide necked bottle, now designated the pee bottle and get it in your sleeping bag pee in it. Niiiiiice.

And if you want to do anything else you use the snow or wet wipes.  I know which one I will be choosing. Ahhh the glamour of it all.

Sponsorship and just giving

If only the trip was free but unfortunately not. If anybody knows of any company who would be interested in corporate sponsorship please get in touch. Even its to have the privilege of helping to fund you all laughing at me trying to cross country ski freezing my bits off. 

Don't forget our just giving pages too - https://www.justgiving.com/NorthPoleLastTwoDegreesRSBF - Royal Signal Benevolent Fund 

https://www.justgiving.com/NorthPoleLastTwoDegreesDianaAward - helping to mentor disadvantage children 

https://www.justgiving.com/NorthPoleLastTwoDegreesWwtW - walking with the wounded to help provide for injured and disabled military personnel a better quality of life.

Tyres ....

These are going to become our worst enemies for the next few months.  Dragging these bad boys around to build up stamina as the pulk (sled to you and me) we are going to be pulling is more than I weigh!!

Talking of weight. To actually be told that I'm not to lose weight as we will need the reserve to help deal with the extreme cold, and physically demanding skiing we will be doing, is new to me.   AND on top of that having to eat 5000 + calories a day, mostly made of chocolate - ding ding ding winner!

How rude of me ... Introduction time

Let me introduce myself - I'm Anita and for some reason I'm called the "Crazy Brit" here, working with Americans in Bahrain. Ex British Army and have been friends with James since back in the midst of time when we were both in Germany on posting with the Royal Signals. CERTA CITO!!

So when James said he was thinking of going to the Pole I was the first to jump at the chance - I think the jumping up and down going "Me me me" kind of helped.

I've been to Headley Court twice for injuries during my time in the Army and anything that helps raise money for the injured and disable military is a worthy cause in my book.

Just a little bit of shopping