 We saw a Red Kite flying over the garden today. We first saw it on Friday - the first time we have seen one in this area. We wonder if it could be nesting nearby. We don't know why it is showing an interest in our garden; maybe it is the chicks at our bird feeding station… or even one of our chickens!  I have just taken my 2nd Dan Black Belt in Wado-Ryu Karate. It was a 2 hour grading session, so I am feeling pretty exhausted now – all helps to improve my fitness for the Amazon! It looks dark blue, but it is black really! Now I just need to pack all this kit into the rucksack! (first I need to buy a couple of final items like a mat to sleep on - but deliberating over whether to get a hammock instead - waiting to see what the final weight of my rucksack might be). I am also waiting for my mess tin to arrive from Trangia in Sweden, and a lightweight Haglöf fleece to arrive from Cotswold Outdoors. I got a couple of head-torches in the week, which I am really pleased with, and am looking forwards to putting to the test. Then I need to sort out the heavier items like cameras, a pair of binoculars (which I am borrowing from my mother), loads of batteries, a journal and a book to read on the journey. What have I forgotten? I have my final vaccinations tomorrow, and also want to get the anti-malarials sorted. 30 days to go.... so reasonably under control.   I have just come in from a wolf photography workshop in Bedfordshire with the Anglian Wolf Society, and organised by Wild Arena, courtesy of TESCO Clubcard vouchers! I enjoyed hearing about the society’s passion and knowledge about wolves, and I loved the opportunity to photograph these beautiful carnivores (see some of my efforts here). Unfortunately, it poured with rain the entire day, but it did give their coats a lovely texture which I really liked photographing. Over the next few weeks, I hope to be able to do another photography workshop, as I would like to be able to use any new skills to improve my photography when in Peru.  Recently I visited Bristol Zoo, and encountered some Peruvian wildlife, though I am not sure if I will be seeing these on my visit!
 Two weeks after returning from the Amazon, I will be moving down to Exeter and starting University. I know those two weeks are likely to be very busy, as I have some reports to write and have to present a talk, so there will be little time to pack for University then. As well as preparing for the Amazon, I have decided to start getting organised for Exeter now as well. I have just started to obtain some books from the reading list, which you can see here (40cm high so far), and so I have plenty to read whenever time allows.
 Over the last few weeks I have been learning to drive, mostly in Swindon, but more recently, in Cheltenham. Today I was driving around the streets of Cheltenham, and ended up going to the Cheltenham Science Festival. After many years intending to go, we finally got there! It lasts nearly a week, and today was the last day. Lots of well-known scientists and TV science presenters attend and give talks (this year’s programme included Brian Cox, Lord Martin Rees (Astonomer Royal), Steve Backshall, Chris Lintott, and Kate Humble amongst many others). We went to a talk by Jim Al-Khalili (theoretical physicist who has presented several TV science programmes) and Johnjoe McFadden (molecular geneticist) about the fascinating new field of Quantum Biology. It made me realise the importance of the interdisciplinary Natural Sciences degrees, and the new sciences developing at the boundaries between the traditional sciences. In the case of this talk, Al-Khalili and McFadden were talking about the subject of their book – “Life on the Edge: The Coming Age of Quantum Biology” – where Quantum Physics meets Biology, though other interdisciplinary areas are developing, such as mathematical and computational biology, biophysics and materials chemistry. The study of atmospheres and oceans is also underpinned by a large number of scientific disciplines.
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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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