It has been quite a journey getting here, with many fundraising activities & begging letters. Today a box of multi-vitamins for children arrived - donated by Lamberts - which I am very grateful for. I also have a sack loads of specs, small toys and homeopathic remedies to take out. I think there will be room left for two T-shirts & a clean pair of underwear, so don't expect fashion photography.
People have had many different reactions, ranging from a fear for my health (had all your vaccinations?) to a fear for my safety (don't go out alone at night). I also have heard people say how exciting it will be, how scary, how rewarding, how different. I suspect it will be all of these things.
I do have one concern though, in one of my many waffly emails I told my friend that I would be looking forward to going and might see some tigers. Recognising a geographical dimwit when she saw one, she wrote back to tell me that I should be looking out for lions. At this point I began to worry - does she know something I don't know, is there a lion out there with my name on it? we shall see.