 I had a fantastic weekend on another art course at Nature in Art, near Gloucester, and learnt to use charcoal under the guidance of wildlife artist Stephen Walton. I was pleased with my "Barn Owl" practice piece, and my parents liked it so much that they are getting it framed to hang on a wall in the dining room, and have given me a contribution to the expedition J.
I have now got a replacement for my holey box mosquito net, so hopefully that will keep the mosquitoes out! After a tip-off from Beau at BE, I have also bought two Craghoppers Nosilife shirts (with sun protection and insect-repellent technology) from Debenhams at the fantastic price of £18 each, rather than the more usual £60!!! I am virtually finished with the vaccinations now (just a final Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid around a month before the expedition). I have been hunting everywhere for somewhere I can get the TB vaccination done, but so far had no luck. I understand that other Young Explorers have been having similar problems. I have now heard that BE have made this vaccination non-obligatory, but I still plan to keep trying to get it as I’d rather err on the side of caution since we may be travelling through areas where TB exists.
 At last my rucksack has arrived, and I can’t wait to start using it. It seems robust and fits well, and I believe it fits the BE criteria. It is an Osprey Aether 73L, and in the end, Cotswold Outdoor’s seemed to be the cheapest place to buy it once I’d used the affiliation code supplied by British Exploring. I have just completed my latest art commission, a dry-point etching of a red squirrel – really pleased with it… and more funds towards the expedition. I have been doing this alongside some etchings of Roman artefacts for the museum where I volunteer in Cirencester. Here is a photo of a Blue and Gold Macaw Ara ararauna which I took on a recent visit to the Cotswold Wildlife Park. I hope I will be seeing these in the wild in 5 months’ time. 
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Photo by Angus Malmgren
FundraisingI MANAGED TO REACH MY FUNDRAISING TARGET - a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped make it possible for me to take part in this amazing adventure.
THANK YOU also to the following for grants and sponsorship: 
The David Haydock Memorial Trust The Hedley Foundation The Lord Mayor's 800th Anniversary Awards Trust The Roger and Miriam Pilkington Charitable Trust The David St John Thomas Charitable Trust Archives
September 2015
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