And so the adventure begins - next stop Kathmandu!

"Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time." (Leo F. Buscaglia 1924-1998).

I have just two short hours until my taxi comes to transport me to Heathrow and on to Kathmandu via New Delhi. My two bags (guess-timate weight is 40kg) are both parked at the front door waiting to whisked away on yet another this great adventure - although, given the weight, the more appropriate term would, in fact, be 'lugged'..! I have a number of different emotions and thoughts going around in my head - nerves, excitement, standing on the cusp of the known and the unknown... Soon this journey will 'formally' begin... and I can't wait..!!

Before leaving to say a few "Thank Yous" that are long overdue…

Thank you to my amazing friends - for your many emails, calls and words of wisdom. Thanks for your kindness and for making me laugh during those moments when I needed to most and for listening and for picking up so many thing for me while I am away. You guys are the best and I really really can't wait to have a drink with you all in the pub in November…! A huge special thank you to my amazing flatmates DJ Lora  and Pieter and my inspirational climbing partner Magda. You guys rock. Literally.

A huge thank you to David English, who is an absolutely legend and a true inspiration having introduced me to the charity, Hope for Tomorrow through which I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with two amazing women, Christine Mills and Alex Trapnell.  I'm really excited to be working with you. Your enthusiasm and sense of adventure will no doubt give me strength and determination.

Thank you to my family - for your patience and for the spirit of adventure that I am certain that I inherited from you.... although there is some argument which side of the family it actually came from..! I know how much you worry about me but, in the same breath, how much you totally stand behind and support everything that I do. I promise to do my very best to come back in one piece and that my next adventure will involve butterfly collecting or basket weaving.

Thank you to Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and to my colleagues for putting up with my stories and worries and random outbursts on a regular basis. Thank you so much for your support, encouragement and for putting up with me - especially in the last month when my 'hypoxic' state was affecting my short-term memory...

Thank you to the organisations and individuals who have supported me – Sherpa Adventure Gear, Striders Edge, Chucs Dive and Mountain Shop, Maximuscle, and the Sisterhood.

A final humungous thank you to all of you who have kindly contributed to Hope for Tomorrow. On behalf of the charity, I very much appreciate all of the support that you have shown to this tremendously worthwhile cause. Your donations will certainly help to make the lives of those people living with cancer and requiring chemotherapy much more comfortable, allowing them to have their cancer treatment close to home. If you haven't donated but wish to support this fantastic cause you can do so via this link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HopeforTomorrowClimb

On that note, I'd best log off here... My next entry will be from the city of organised chaos, Kathmandu!

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The People You Meet: Dr. David English, MBE, CBE, OSCA - cont'd

As Eric Clapton once told him, David English has a personality that is "larger than life" and hence deserves a second entry in this blog - this time with his thoughts on the 'dream team' of expeditions and to thank him once again for introducing me to the amazing charity, Hope for Tomorrow, of which he is a Patron. Hope for Tomorrow launched the world's first mobile chemotherapy unit bringing cancer treatment closer to home - over 3000 patients have been treated so far and over 70,000 miles of travel have been saved.

David's all-embracing personality serves to remind me of the adventure, unexpectedness and countless opportunities in life... how life should be celebrated regularly, daily... at every opportunity with vivacity and passion. Through reading David's autobiography and spending  time in his company, you begin to realise just how much you can actually fit into the short time we have on this planet of ours -  particularly if you embrace the opportunities presents and never look back.

In a previous entry, I provided a brief biography of his eventful and roller-coaster life and absolutely extraordinary CV. It's definitely worth a read. You can find it online by clicking here. 

Here are some of David's thoughts on his ideal expedition team...

If I was to go on an expedition for 2 months and had to hand pick a team to go with me they would be:

David: I would take Chrissie Mills for the inspiration and cuddles. As guides I would take Sir Ian Botham for his “Never Say Die” outlook on life and Sir Viv Richards for his spirit and laughter (see picture above). Sherpas would be part of the team and Lord Maclaurin would fill that role for  his wisdom and unique leadership qualities plus the banter. My Mum (when she was alive) would be the cook - she made the best meals I’ve ever tasted served with love and care only a mother can give. Plus I’d take my daughter, Amy Rose, a master of the culinary arts. Finally, the porter would be my pal,  Robin Ford (aka ‘The Badger’) who looks after me fantastically at my Bunbury Cricket Matches.

Biggest mountain I’ve ever climbed...

David: Literally -  was the Matterhorn, stark naked (then I woke up)

David: Figuratively – learning the 2000 lines of my character Major Bartellot in Simon Gray’s play, ‘The Rear Column’ at Everyman Theatre, 1981. Never thought it was humanely possible to absorb all that dialogue but I did..!!

"The fact is that people always seem to live and work within the confines of being comfortable. Never stretching themselves, never daring to explore every path to fulfil their promise and dreams. Just think of all those people go who to their grave saying, 'I do wish I had done this or that'. Too late - the chance would have been presented to them but nullified for fear of faulure. Content to read about other people's adventures in the pages of a colour supplement. Not me! If everybody felt that way Everest would never have been conquered, penicillin discovered, Harry Potter written and Ian Botham would not have trudged 5,000 weary miles for Leukaemia Research"

- David English from his autobiography, "Mad Dogs and the Englishman"

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The People You Meet: Charles Finch, Entrepreneur, Media Maverick & Founder of CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop

You could be forgiven for thinking that the words 'glamour' and 'adventure' don’t often make it into the same sentence – let alone the same mountain wardrobe. But, thanks to Charles Finch, entrepreneur, media mavrick and founder of CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop we can all now look as stylish on the beach – or hiking through the mountains – as we do in the boardroom. After all, as Chucs says, ‘A man’s finest hour is often not in the office or the boardroom, but on he sports field, the hill and at sea!’

Over the past 1.5 years I have had the pleasure of working with Charles Finch, the founder of CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop and his fantastic team on Dover Street. Charles takes inspiration for his collection of 'mountainwear' and 'beachwear' at CHUCS from his unique and colourful family heritage which spans generations of explorers, scoundrels, actors and inventors..... 

CHUCS’ ‘Dive collection' is infused with unparalleled style based on memories of family holidays in Jamaica where his father, legendary Academy Award winning actor Peter Finch, and pals Errol Flynn, Ian Fleming, Noel Coward and Ian Pringle together formed the nexis of Caribbean elegance. 

CHUCS’ ‘Mountain collection', on the other hand, reflects Charles’ direct personal history with Mount Everest. I have Charles Finch’s grandfather, George Ingle-Finch to thank for my warm down filled jacket (and hence the title of this blog!).

Whilst he was no ‘Diva in Down’, Australian-born George Ingle Finch, referred to by George Mallory as 'Finchie’ was known as much for his sartorial style as for his climbing flair. He invented the ‘puffa’ or down filled jacket before ascending Mount Everest via the NE Ridge with George Mallory in 1922. Whilst they did not reach the allusive summit on the expedition, this historic climb is cemented in the record books as it was the first mountaineering expedition to breach the 8000m barrier and proved to be excellent ‘reconnaissance’ for the 1924 expedition with George Mallory and Andrew Irvine. Finch also wrote a brilliant book, "The Making of a Mountaineer' of his adventures - a book which features prominently on my bookshelf..!

More importantly (and yet another thing that I will be thanking George Finch for in just over a few weeks time) was that George Ingle Finch was the first person to use oxygen whilst at high altitude. Critics thought this was cheating and believed smoking cigarettes would provide greater benefits than supplemental oxygen. This would certainly have changed the nature of Everest Summit photos and the ‘warning labels’ on a pack of Camels. Whilst George never made it to the summit of Everest, he remained an inventor and explorer and his ideas were often realised and accepted years after his own experiments.

“After this, my first mountain ascent, I had made up my mind to see the world, to see it from above, from the tops of mountains”. - George Ingle Finch, 1922

In 2005, Charles founded Finch & Partners creating a London and Paris based media company representing and advising global luxury brands, entertainment companies, celebrated individuals, nation states, and philanthropic organisations on all aspects of image from public relations, brand development, product endorsement and placement, to events and marketing. In 2011, Charles Finch took inspiration from his grandfather and opened CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop. Ultimately CHUCS Dive and Mountain shop provides the discerning traveller with everything required for a trip to the beach, mountain or hunting lodge…

If you were to go on an expedition for 2 months and hand-pick a team of individuals to be on your team, who would you pick and why?

Charles: If I was about to go on a two month expedition I would take George Ingle-Finch - for obvious reasons..! I'd also add Graham Greene, one of the greatest novelists of the 20th century, to the team because his ambition was to make love behind every alter in every cathedral in Europe. Errol Flynn would also be on the expedition team because he'd be fun. I'd have Michael Sandberg onboard as my personal physician and Daniele, the chef from the Delfino restaurant in Positano would certainly be cooking all of our meals!!

What is the biggest mountain that you've ever climbed - either figuratively or literally?

Charles: Mont Blanc!

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A huge thank you to CHUCS for sharing with me their rich history and for keeping me comfortable (and stylish!) while on the mountain..! The only caveat is, next time I decide to ‘explore often’, please remind me to focus on the ‘dive’ rather than the 'mountain' - a beach holiday, a bikini, espadrilles (and a mojito) are pretty appealing at the moment!!

Live Well. Stand Tall. Give Freely. Explore Often.  CHUCS DIVE AND MOUNTAIN SHOP

CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop

31 Dover Street, London

http://www.chucs.com

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The People You Meet: Accomplished British Alpinist & Author, Andy Cave

Whilst this blog claims 'not to be a climbing blog' - I can't help but include the profile for Andy Cave - a figurehead for British Mountaineering with more than 20 years of desperate routes to his name in the Himalaya, Patagonia and Alaska and esteemed author of Learning to Breathe and Thin White Line. I had the pleasure of working with Andy - not as a climber, but as a change-management consultant - in May 2012. We drew upon our climbing and consulting experiences to co-present at the PwC Finance Leaders Summit, an event organised by the firm to provide an opportunity for finance leaders to learn how peer organisations have delivered significant changes to the finance function, share their own ideas and innovate to deliver new solutions.

You wouldn't immediately think that this would be a natural place to find someone like Andy - you'd think he would be more comfortable hanging off a vertical wall or plodding his way to the summit of a remote peak in Alaska, the Andes or the Alps. However. through combining the lessons learned from the early days of his career 3000 feet underground as a coal miner to his experience in climbing the North Face of the Eiger (at the age of 20!), attaining a PhD in Sociolingistics from Sheffield University, and reaching the summit of the notoriously difficult Himalayan mountain, Changabang by one of the most challenging routes ever recorded, Andy has a plethora of experiences to draw from and share in a business context. 

He often runs workshops and presentations with organisations to illustrate how motivation plus teamwork and an ability not to be limited by the expectations of others can lead to the realisation of extraordinary goals. Succeeding on the world’s most formidable, inaccessible mountains requires innovation, effective planning and the ability to manage risk, sometimes in situations of extreme crisis. These are themes, which are central to the business world - hence the perfect opportunity for a talk to an audience of business leaders which was, well, 'beyond' the numbers..!

Our presentation titled, 'From Basecamp to Boardroom' used the John Adair Action Centred leadership model through which we demonstrated that good managers and leaders should have strength and depth in each of the 'elements' of the model, drawing from each of these elements according to the situation. These three elements of the model are: Achieving the task; Developing the team or group; Developing individuals. Being able to do all of these things, and keep the right balance, gets results, builds morale, improves quality, develops teams and productivity, and is the mark of a successful manager and leader - be it at basecamp or in the boardroom.

Reflecting on our mountaineering experiences we were able to discuss the qualities of individuals and experiences in which we saw elements of true leadership. In a very engaging presentation, Andy drew specifically from four main mountaineering case studies - his experiences as a coal miner at the start of his career, the climb of the North Face of the Eiger, Shishapangma as well as the climb of Mount Kennedy.

I've learned heaps from Andy and have gone on to reflect on our presentation and other parallels that exist between bascamps and boardroom and the lessons learned from individuals in both environments. I look forward to continuing to work with Andy in exploring these new routes and helping others to forge their own - both in business and in the hills..!

If you were to go on an expedition for 2 months and hand-pick a team of individuals to be on your team, who would you pick and why? Roles could include: Team mates, Guide, Sherpa, Cook, Porter....etc.

Andy: I would take Dave Hesleden as a lead climber, he seems to know how far to push it and has good judgement. he is also very courageous when necessary. Mick Fowler would be a great asset too, he is always motivated and is excellent at the meticulous planning and dealing with authorities to gain permits to unusual areas. Jamie Oliver could do the cooking!

What was the biggest mountain that you've ever climbed - either figuratively or literally..?

Andy: There are too many to mention. At 20 yrs old Eiger north face was a big deal though I went on to climb much harder things in the Alps. Changabang north face first ascent was arduous. But also projects we failed on (and remain still unclimbed) Gashebrum lV south ridge, Annapurna 3 south west ridge, Ogre north face - These climbed in alpine style will be cutting edge challenges. Going where nobody has been before is pretty exciting.

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The People You Meet: The Royal Mail Postman bearing gifts of mountain kit

One of the more random people that I’ve met along the way of in this crazy mountaineering journey is my friendly local Royal Mail postman. Central London isn’t exactly the mountaineering mecca of the world and you’d have a much easier time finding a pair of Gucci heels or Alexander McQueen gown within a ten mile radius than a pair of high-altitude boots and a matching down suit. So, needless to say, I can now add ‘online shopping’ to my extensive CV alongside being able to light an epigas stove above 7000m and set up an altitude tent in the comforts of my bedroom.

Over the course of past expeditions I’ve learned to pack ‘lite’…. Generally this equates to 1 x ‘stuffed to the max’ 110 litre duffle bag complete with equipment duct-taped to the shoulder straps and bottles training from the frame… I look more like bulky yak trying to navigate Heathrow Airport check in lines than a fashion-conscious traveller trying to schmooze my way into business class. There are times when fashion comes second to function – and packing for Makalu (or any big mountain for that matter!) is a prime example of one of those cases.

Packing for Makalu presents an interesting predicament – I finished packing last night. In a state of panic at the sight of the mountain of bags in my front room, I spent my morning writing to JET Airways grovelling for (a) an upgrade AND / OR (b) a *tiny bit* of excess baggage allowance above and beyond the permitted 30kgs.  I have about 45 kilos… of...um... essentials.

When I look at the ‘snapshot’ of kit below, I can’t help but admire (yet again!) early mountaineering pioneers such as George Leigh-Mallory and stand in awe of their achievements wearing wool socks, gaberdine jackets and leather boots..!! Climbing isn’t just about going up and down a mountain. It’s the culmination of years of planning, testing new equipment, getting to know your equipment, and the 'i' word... investment....

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What happens in the altitude tent, stays in the altitude tent…

For the past 8 weeks my bedroom has become a tourist attraction… I don’t believe that it’s hit ‘Time Out's Top 10 Things to See in London” yet (although I’m sure that it would make good advertising for the White Company) but it has raised a few eyebrows from guests to the flat....

I came home the other day and my flatmate mentioned that a friend had come round and happened to peek into my room and demanded, “What’s up with your flatmate – is she into that Michael-Jackson sh*t..” alluding perhaps to the rumors that  in the 1980s, the King of Pop slept in a hyperbaric chamber to slow the ageing process.  I personally prefer to rely on Oil of Olay as my ticket to eternal youth.....

My bedroom has also become a playground – my friend’s two children recently came over and I quickly saw the tent transformed into a jungle-gym as the plastic ‘door panel’ of the tent quickly turned into a make-shift slip n’slide with my feather duvet serving to break their fall.  

I can’t claim that the altitude tent has done wonders for my sleep pattern and do wonder every night as I zip up the flap to ‘seal’ the tent and provide the controlled environment into which the air is pumped whether it's working with a loud <whooshing> sound. It’s really not a surprise that Mo Farah and a handful of Olympic athletes were forced to sleep in their altitude tents outside of the Olympic Village for the duration of the games because of the noise. The small beer-fridge size machine which sounds like a low-decibel lawnmower is connected to the ‘tent’ with an 8 foot long clear plastic hose which pumps the oxygen controlled air into the tent. The body’s response to the lack of oxygen is to stimulate the production of red blood cells, giving the blood better oxygen-carrying capacity and lowering the heart rate.  This is extremely important for endurance athletes like Mo Farah, football players such as Wayne Rooney recovering from injury, and something that will be very important to me in just over a weeks time as I make my way up to Makalu Base Camp at 5050m. It takes the body more than two weeks to produce new red-blood cells – hence why I’ve been sleeping in this plastic bubble for nearly 8 weeks now..!!

If I don’t pre-acclimatise correctly, I risk suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) which caused by a lack of oxygen when travelling to higher elevations. This usually occurs in individuals exposed to an altitude over 2,100 m who have not had a chance to acclimatise to the altitude before engaging in physical activities.

I must admit, I’d prefer acclimatising high in the Swiss Alps in a gorgeous chalet with a fantastic mountain view while eating cheese fondue with a dreamboat ski instructor named Otto, but I’ve learned that in life (in this crazy world of high altitude mountaineering) you have to learn to make compromises….

The effects of the lack of oxygen have clearly taken effect...

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It's official... Makalu 2012 expedition confirmed!!

Not only do you learn about mountains and cultures in this wonderful world of mountaineering, you also learn about politics... and the art of being flexible and always looking on the bright side of life (flashbacks of the Olympic Closing Ceremony spring to mind here....). To put it mildly, a change of plans in mountaineering terms is a little bit more complex than changing your Saturday evening plans from Plan A: 'The White Horse Pub'  to Plan B: 'Tiger Tiger Disco Bar'....  To keep the nightclub analogy going, today my Plan A: 'White Horse Pub' plan (a la Cho Oyu) officially changed to Plan B: the equivalent of a an all-nite rave bar in Shoreditch with a lot less oxygen (although am sure that the effect on brain cells is not dissimilar).... Welcome to Makalu. At 8463m it's the 5th highest mountain in the world, just 385 small metres lower than the summit of Everest and an unpredictable beast of a mountain with an absolutely gorgeous silhouette.... 

Over the past 5 years Tibet has occasionally been closed to climbing by the Chinese government. When I decided to head back to Tibet this year to climb (and ski) Cho Oyu, the 6th highest mountain in the world, I knew that this political uncertainty was one of the logistical risks. I've been keeping my eye on the border situation in Tibet for a few months now so it wasn't a massive surprise when I received confirmation from my expedition guide, Adrian Ballinger from Alpenglow Expeditions, that the border was well and truly shut  and that the Chinese Tibetan Mountaineering Association (CTMA) were not handing out climbing permits this autumn. Hence, the move to to Plan B.  Makalu, one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb, will be a massive challenge for various reasons - not only because of the altitude (the obvious answer!) but also due to factors such as the remoteness of the mountain, the distance between camps, the tremendous summit day, the technical nature of the mountain (have I sold it to you yet?). 

Through the climbing grapevine that runs thick and fast during Himalayan climbing season, we've learned that a number of climbing teams who had planned to climb Cho Oyu have been in Kathmandu for over a week, visiting the Chinese Embassy and requesting access to Tibet without any success in receiving the climbing permit required to attempt most Himalayan peaks. 

Makalu is our Plan B over other mountains because despite its' challenges, it is believed to be a realistic goal for our very strong team of 4 climbers, 2 international guides and 5 Sherpas. As with so many challenges much will come down to planning and putting in place all of the infrastructure required to manage (and minimise) the risks and maximises the chances of success. This means a high climber to sherpa ratio (1:1), climber to guide ratio (3:1); fresh food, excellent base camp and abc infrastructure... and supplemental oxygen. I'd love to be a 'purist' and follow in the footsteps of so many of the mountaineers that I look up to for their alpine-style climbing techniques (light and fast with no fixed infrastructure) however, I have to be realistic with my approach and my overall objectives about Why I climb... but that is the subject of a whole other blog entry!

In terms of logistics, in order to have Makalu Basecamp established in time for our arrival and expedition, our sherpas and equipment will be flying from Kathmandu tomorrow and then they will start the 8 - 10 day walk into Base Camp. We will be helicoptering into Base Camp at just over 4000m (hence my pre-acclimatisation antics!) around the 11th or 12th of September with a view to hit the late September / early October summit window. This is the window when the normal jet stream winds of 100kph+ subside for a few short days and allow for a summit attempt before picking up to their gale-force speeds.

It will be a tremendous adventure and one that I am very much looking forward to - I won't lie and say that there is no apprehension or nerves but you never know unless you try - and no matter what, it will most certainly be an adventure of epic proportions with so much to do and see and people to meet along the way... and, after all, isn't that what life is all about?. 

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Sounds like vindaloo... and nearly as spicy. Makalu, Nepal. 8,463m/27,765ft. September - October 2012.

"While standing on top of Everest, I looked across the valley, towards the other great peak, Makalu, and mentally worked out a route about how it could be climbed… it showed me that, even though I was standing on top of the world, it wasn’t the end of everything for me, by any means. I was still looking beyond to other interesting challenges." - Sir Edmund Hillary

Having had a similar vantage point from other Himalayan summits, I can certainly relate to Hillary's famous quote and can certainly relate to his character. No sooner had he achieved one goal, he was already looking to the next one..!

Whilst I must admit, my original goal was not Makalu it has turned out this way due to an unexpected change of events which has closed the border between Nepal and Tibet for the autumn season.  Having said that, the prospect of attempting this absolutely stunning 8000m peak (just under 400m lower than Everest) is an exciting yet tremendous challenge. Here are some slightly 'dry' climbing stats but I hope to put them into perspective for you over the coming weeks..!

Elevation: 27,765 feet (8,462 meters)
Location: Nepal, Asia
First Ascent: Jean Couzy and Lionel Terray (France), May 15, 1955

Just 22kms / 14 miles east of Everest, Makalu (derived from the Sanskrit Maha Kala, a name for the Hindu god Shiva that translates to "great black") has a distinctive pyramid shape, with its South East and North Western ridges being most prominent. The latter provides the 'normal' route of ascent for the majority of climbers attempting the summit and will be the route that I will follow. The steep summit ridge is on the border between Nepal and Tibet and is one of the most challenging 8000m peaks with steep climbing, exposed ridges, and rock climbing on the summit pyramid.  Only five of the first 16 attempts successfully reached Makalu’s summit.

The French team led by Jean Couzy and Lionel Terray that made the first ascent in 1955 climbed the north face and northeast ridge  and placed nine climbers, including one Sherpa, on the summit.

Though the pyramid shape of the final ascent makes topping Makalu extremely difficult, just over 300 people have since accomplished this feat in the decades since... compared to over 5000 summits of Everest. 

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Hanging in there with the Air Force and more traditional techniques...

Training to climb a mountain has its ups and downs (literally). One of the fun parts of training for me has been my regular sessions at the Castle’s indoor climbing wall. It seems like a bit of a pointless exercise to grunt and groan and ruin a perfectly good manicure to get up an artificial wall only to be lowered back down again… but it is phenomenally good exercise and it provides very tangible progress – both on physique and overall ability to climb higher and higher grades with different techniques. The only downside is that the shoes are even more uncomfortable than my Jimmy Choos. Why someone doesn’t invent comfortable, stylish climbing shoes is beyond me – somewhere someone is missing a trick.

On the subject of climbing walls, the other day I came across a You Tube video which I found fascinating (yet worrying that funding actually gets put into these projects). The creatively named, Dyson inspired, “vertical ascender”, built by an engineering team at Utah State University which won an Air Force contest to design a device that will turn members of the Special Forces into the equivalent of Spidermen.... at least long enough for them to reach the top of a 90-foot wall. Tubes attach the giant battery-powered vacuum in a backpack the size of a small beer-fridge to giant pads worn on the hands of the wearer, allowing suction to seal the pads, (and their wearer) to the wall. With 30 minutes of battery life, the vertical ascender has about enough juice to scale the wall (and clean it at the same time) but not much more than that. Now, all the team needs to do is reduce the device’s size and weight—and maybe turn down the volume.... and then come vacuum my room when they're done with the wall..!

At the Castle, one of London's best indoor climbing walls

Not quite sure what I'm doing here other than ruining my nails

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Grow a pair...

I came across an online article the other day which prompted me to reflect upon my approach to life. The article is titled, "10 Ways to be More Interesting". Whilst the title seems a bit 'misleading' (reflecting on who you're making life more interesting 'for'), I felt that it was worth sharing.

On days like today when I have a 'to do' list that seems impossibly long, I wonder how on earth I'm going to get through it all in a day. Why do I always seem to take on so much and how is it that I am rarely bored or looking for something to do... and why can't I enjoy a mojito and a beach holiday like normal people? (ok, I do enjoy the occasional mojito from time to time!) Through a constant desire to explore the unknown, to push myself to the ultimate limit, to share my discoveries, to have a go at the impossible and, by embracing my 'quirks', I have set out on journey after journey and have opened myself up to countless opportunities - some have turned out well, some have taken unexpected divergences, some have been 'character building',  and some I'd rather forget..! I love to write and share my experiences both through my writing, through client-work, through telling stories and laughing at myself and the rather random situations that I get myself into (see notes on 'embracing your innate wierdness!')

These experiences and the people that I've met along the way have enriched my life and have made life more interesting to 'myself'. I hope that I have been able to impact others in the same way. I genuinely believe that if you focus on simply making your life more interesting to yourself, you’ll enjoy life more and odds are that others will find what you do interesting (although, sometimes mad!) as well.

And if they don’t…who cares as long as you’re happy? ;-)

How To Be More Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps)

By: Jessica Hagy

1.Go exploring.

Explore ideas, places, and opinions. The inside of the echo chamber is where all the boring people hang out

2. Share what you discover.

And be generous when you do. Not everybody went exploring with you. Let them live vicariously through your adventures.

3. Do something. Anything. 

Dance. Talk. Build. Network. Play. Help. Create. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re doing it. Sitting around and complaining is not an acceptable form of ‘something,’ in case you were wondering.

4. Embrace your innate weirdness.

No one is normal. Everyone has quirks and insights unique to themselves. Don’t hide these things—they are what make you interesting.

5. Have a cause.

If you don’t give a damn about anything, no one will give a damn about you.

6. Minimize the swagger.

Egos get in the way of ideas. If your arrogance is more obvious than your expertise, you are someone other people avoid.

7. Give it a shot.

Try it out. Play around with a new idea. Do something strange. If you never leave your comfort zone, you won’t grow.

8. Hop off the bandwagon.

If everyone else is doing it, you’re already late to the party.  Do your own thing, and others will hop onto the spiffy wagon you built yourself. Besides, it’s more fun to drive than it is to get pulled around.

9. Grow a pair.

Bravery is needed to have contrary opinions and to take unexpected paths. If you’re not courageous, you’re going to be hanging around the water cooler, talking about the guy who actually is.

10. Ignore the scolds.

Boring is safe, and you will be told to behave yourself. The scolds could have, would have, should have. But they didn’t. And they resent you for your adventures.

On the rather unexpectedly chilly summit of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

White water rafting on the Bhote Kosi River, Nepal

Trying to put up a tent somewhere in Canada

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