Dry.

Last night's céilí was in fact a céilidh, which is a céilí but Scottish. I prefer the Irish one. It was all a bit organised and people were actually trying to follow the steps.

Yes, I most definitely prefer a céilí with a start time of 8pm so people start drinking at 6pm, the instructions are called out once, and participants just go for it, with nobody really doing it properly and resorting to an assortment of skipping, jumping and falling into each other. Jen the Medic is from Belfast and we agreed that the Irish do it better, and vowed to have a good Irish céilí after expedition when we can drink again. Making no effort to dispel stereotypes, myself and Jen were the last two standing. Until 4am.

This photo was taken after I dropped my phone in the sink. Whilst Jen was washing dishes.

Yes, that's me with Paul Stanley make up. I'm hot.

With the Home Country Venturers arriving today, last night was the last time we could drink until after expedition. I made the most of that fact. It was also the first time that some good rock songs got played nice and loud. My neck hurts from Killing in the Name, my ribs got busted moshing to Smells Like Teen Spirit, and my throat hurts from screaming along to Monkey Wrench. Completely worth it.

As we were leaving Fieldbase at 4am, we heard a sound from the terrace. An investigation revealed a visitor to the terrace in the form of a cow.

I was concerned that a poor farmer might be missing his cow and that we should tell someone, without really knowing who. Jen suggested that cows always make their own way home, and she's from a farm, so I trusted her judgement. The cow had a bit of a moo and headed off.

Then it was today and there has been pain.

During a break in the céilidh, we watched a slideshow of images of us over the past three weeks. It was really nice. We've done an awful lot together and had many, many laughs. We're a good bunch.

Throughout the various tasks we've had to do, I've thought that I haven't really been able to bring much to the group. Everybody else has such specific knowledge and skills, and I'm mainly here to sit at a computer. But apparently people's mothers have been reading the corporate blog and really like it. So that's what I bring, whatever the word is for keeping mothers informed of what their babies are up to.

Also, I apparently give really good hugs. A valuable skill?