Tuesday was a rest day, otherwise known as an acclimatisation day. While there are many attributes needed by those who successfully climb the world's highest mountains not least amongst them is good acclimatisation. Without it climbers will be beset by physiological problems that will, at best combine to the reduce the likelihood of a successful summit and return. At worst it can result in a pulmonary or cerebral oedema and, if not returned to lower altitude immediately, death.
Acclimatisation cannot be hurried. Some people find that taking a drug called Diamox can help, although its use is not universally recommended by the medical profession as there are side effects. One of the milder of which is that it makes you pee copiously. Given that the other principle aid to acclimatisation is maximum hydration you will appreciate that taking a diuretic drug could be counter-productive.
Leaving aside Diamox and hydration the only other way to acclimatise properly is to spend sufficient time at altitude and let nature take its majestic course.
All of which serves to explain why today I have been studiously, nay even enthusiastically, doing nothing. I shan't bore you with the details of the excellent breakfast, lunch and dinners served by the cooks, nor of exactly what form 'nothing' took. I will concede though that whereas on previous expeditions I have loathed spending hours and hours doing nothing, especially at night, this expedition is different. Tim has left me in no doubt, and I mean NO doubt, that all of my training and preparation will count for nought if I am not properly acclimatised and that right here right now, that means doing nothing. Not nearly nothing but precisely nothing.
Good man that Tim.
Night night all.