Big Bother

I spent most of yesterday lying on the sofa watching TV, being incapable of doing much else as my stitches were hurting. I watched most of the first series of "Life on Mars", having been introduced to the natty function on my cable that lets you watch old episodes of various shows, and also catch up on stuff you might have missed during the week. But despite all this time for TV watching, I am very proud that I have not (yet) succumbed to watching any of this year's Big Brother. I am determined not to, as I have much better things I could be doing with my time, and if I manage it, this year will be the first that I haven't eventually got sucked in (albeit halfheartedly if recent years are anything to go by). So, for regular BB updates, don't bother watching this space.

The other TV non-event this week was that "scandalous" Dutch reality programme about someone choosing who gets one of her kidneys. There was loads in the press about it and how disgraceful it was, but from the moment I heard about it I was convinced that it couldn't possibly be real and would turn out to be a set-up designed to get people talking and to promote organ donation. And I was right. Clever idea though, and hopefully some good will come of it in terms of increased awareness.

I have been told by Steve to do some entries about the forthcoming holiday - this time in 3 weeks I will be en-route to Kathmandu which is all very exciting. Not really got my head around it yet, cos been busy with other things, but I might have a look at the guidebook this afternoon to try and get in the mood. Decided against buying a puffa jacket in the end as I'm really short on money at the moment and figured my ski jacket would do just as well, but think I ought to go and get some thermal underwear as it's supposed to be pretty chilly, camping at 5000m. Let's see if I can find an example on YouTube. Ah. Hearing that wind, I think I had better get that North Face down jacket after all... surely it's what credit cards are for? The other thing I was going to do is to start a sweepstake about how much weight I will lose while I am away due to all the walking at altitude and the fact that food in Tibet is supposed to be dreadful, consisting mainly of dried yak meat and tea made with rancid yak butter. If anyone wishes to take part please post your guess (in pounds) on the comments, and I will bring back a present for the person who gets the closest.