Well I left home promptly at 1125hrs which was in fine keeping with military tradition having scheduled my departure for 1130hrs! One of the hardest things was leaving Jess my border collie behind, we had a cuddle, her paw extended over my lap and her head pressed into my neck and then I was off. Mothers cries of don't do anything stupid ringing in my ears; as if I would!

The drive to the airport was uneventful and efficient, as I sat there alone in the car I reflected how much I wished I had my cousin Ian with me to share this experience. He's a lot of fun and I regard him as a brother; I felt quite lonely in the car heading off with thoughts of my distant soul mate up in Scotland preparing for her own journey and found myself wondering what all my other friends and family were doing now and what plans they had for the upcoming weekend.

I was drinking a lot of water constantly as I drove which was great for hydration however it meant I arrived at the airport desperate for a rest room; I parked the car and as I exited instantly started hopping around like a flea on hot bricks as I realised just how badly I needed to pee.

Got my bags out the car loaded them onto a trolley sorted myself out from trainers into hiking boots......and realised I'd parked in the wrong section of the car park!! Bags back in the car, lots of hopping and crazy dancing throughout as I drove down to the valet parking area praying there was a toilet down there; there wasn't.

Grabbed another trolley; bags back out of the car and followed the signs for valet reception to book my car in........couldn't find it anywhere!! Just opposite the car park my instructions said! 20 minutes later after extensive searching and lots more hopping I found it at the far end past some building site barriers!

With the car finally booked in and the staff wishing me a pleasant flight I was finally free to attend a rest room......what relief! Happily the rest of my airport experience was very relaxed and chilled as me and the rest of my group including our leader chatted about the trip ahead and enjoyed a nice meal.

As I type this I'm sat on a very plush airplane watching Exodus Gods and Kings on my personal back of seat entertainment system which has more options and media offerings than a Curry's superstore!! We are due to arrive at 0630hrs in Nairobi before a short 1 hour hop to Kilimanjaro airport, I miss my wife like mad and wish she could be doing this with me. I'm so glad I have her wedding ring around my neck so a part of her will hopefully summit with me; it feels wrong without my own wedding ring on my finger but then that was the idea.

We both feel lost without our wedding rings but then when I return to Scotland we can be whole again, meanwhile I know a little bit of my precious Kate is close around my neck; makes a change from her trying to strangle me out of frustration I guess!!

I'm looking forward to getting to Tanzania now and the hotel so I can shake out and prepare for the climb, a book I read prior to my trip summed up the perfect technique for such a challenge I feel; one step at a time!