T minus 1 day. Argh!

Passport. Check.

Insurance. Check.

Money. Check.

Clean boxers. Check.

As John Denver's lyrics put it:

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go ... I'm leaving on a jet 'plane, don't know when I'll be back again"

Although I sort of know I'll be back next year, it's an awfully long time away.

Anyway, last minute things have been done, bought a years supply of Immodium and Marmite and had my photo taken for all visas I need. Isn't it strange that passport photographs make you look like a drug addict that has just been arrested for mugging an old lady. If I saw that photo, and didn't know who I was, I would throw myself into rehab alongside Ms Winehouse and Spears.

So my bus leaves early morning tomorrow, in the predicted snow and ice. An auspicious start no doubt to a calm and uneventful trip. If all goes to plan, I'll be in Nepal mid morning Nepal-time on Monday. And the elections are still going to be going on in Nepal on the 10th April, with the Maoists saying that they expect to win and if they don't then they will rise up again. Not many others expect them to win though. So, interesting times ahead.

This may be the last post for a while depending on how things go, but I've uploaded some of my photos from previous trips here http://picasaweb.google.com/saminnepal

For those I have forgotten to speak to before I go, my most sincere apologies, for those I remembered, once again my most sincere apologies.

SAM

and yes, Jilly is still for sale...