I'm back from sunny Nepal.

I had an amazing trip and I'll write much more about it and a specific breakdown of the trip hen I've had time to decompress and unpack a little.

If you have ever thought about doing a trip like Everest Base Camp, go for it.  Let me know and I'll send you the details of our fantastic guide.  

Team Achieve may be doing something along those lines in the future but that really depends on our adoption journey.

While sat on a roof top terrace over looking Kathmandu a couple of days ago, a few of the guys I was away with were discussing any changes they were going to make to their lives on their return to the UK.  The food came out before my go but it did get me thinking.

Seeing the Nepali people and how well they have coped with the horrific events of last year; 2 major earthquakes that destroyed whole villages in the trekking regions and buildings in Kathmandu, and an avalanche that killed 18 Sherpas and pretty much wiped out the climbing/trekking season and tourism over the last year.

Our guide described the Nepalese as being like a rubber band and they would bounce back from anything. He was right but they are much more than that.  

It is something much deeper than simply bouncing back.

Simple.

And that is the change I want to make.  Don't get me wrong I'm pretty content with what I have but I know I'm guilty of not always appreciating it.

Especially the people around me, I often take Fran for granted.  I'm going to change that and show her how much I appreciate everything she does for me to allow me to do he things that I do.

That does mean showering her with gifts, I used the gift budget up in Nepal ;) but when we are together, actually being with her rather than checking my phone for emails or FB notifications.

The main thing I've appreciated since I got back late last night though was our bed and the ability to spread my legs wide.

For nearly three weeks I've slept in a mum style sleeping bag, the ones that go narrow by your feet.  Although it kept me warm when the average bedroom temperature was about -2C, I did feel a bit claustrophobic.

Getting home to a super-king size bed and being able to really spread out was fantastic.

Fran also made me an amazing cottage pie with lots of vegetables, she did make me have a bath before I could eat it though.  I guess the '24 hour Dal Bhat Power, 16 days with no shower' doesn't really work with people who are clean ;)

Darren 'Bennington' Checkley

PS - I really appreciated the strength I had in my legs to get up the trails, the December bootcamp I took part in did make a massive difference.  Thank you to our members who pushed me along during the sessions.