i) Emergency glow sticks - now I just need to learn the cheerleader signal for S.O.S.....
ii) Mini binoculars - useful when needing to confirm that we really are lost and in the middle of no where...
iii) 'Bush Mechanics' DVD - a group of young Aboriginal men solve mechanical problems with bush rememdies such as filling a shredded tyre with spinafex grass to build a new tyre. I don't think spinafex actually grows in Central Asia but perhaps we can use yak manure as an alternative....
iv) Travel sewing kit - that way if we do get kidnapped by bandits and sold to Kazahstani camel farmers, at least we'll be able to sew a button or darn some socks for them.
v) Safety whistle on a key ring - should be useful if need to herd yaks along the way.
Items still be to be purchased:
1. Visas, visas and more visas...
2. The game Twister (could come in handy when needing to pass the time whilst charming guards at border crossings)
3. Wigs (for when we haven't showered in over a week and are having a bad hair day)
Lessons learnt from recent camping & rally driving weekend:
i) My trusty co-pilot and chief mechanic is far more knowledgable under the car bonnet than what I'd realised! Hurrah!!
ii) When being taught by your co-pilot AND her father how to change a tyre, DO NOT run your dirt-and -oil-covered fingers through your blonde hair.
iii) Do start to lift heavier weights at the gym if you want to have any hope of getting the wheel nuts off without the assistance of your co-pilot's left foot and her father's right foot...
iv) If a bull ant bite gives you a huge welt on your leg, chances are you'll probably be allergic to scorpions in Central Asia. Still, as the Australian government once said - 'Be alert, but not alarmed', and rest easy in the knowledge that your co-pilot has undertaken an online first aid course which brings me to my next point:
Lessons learnt from Sardi's online first aid course:
1. In the event of requiring CPR, please point out exactly where your sternum is placed, as the online diagram wasn't quite clear on that one.
2. In the event of an abdomen laceration resulting in organs spilling out of the patient's body, firstly reassure the patient and keep them calm (sounds pretty straight forward...) Secondly, do not attempt to place their organs back in their body - leave them out for the doctors to deal with. Thirdly, wrap the laceration and external organs tightly - so we will now be adding cling wrap to our inventory list of items to take.
Yep, all on track with rally preparations indeed,
Karen
