I have spent this last week compiling a potential kit list for the expedition in search of the Mande-Burung .Although we are not going until the end of October,its important to have a good idea of what kit we need now, not least because ,as we are self financed, we will need to start acquiring what we need ,slowly, over the coming months.We also need a good understanding of the terrain ,as we will need to carry what we need into the jungle, and weight will be an obvious constraint. Importantly, some of the technical kit, such as night vision technology , and cameras can also be temperamental in humid conditions. So, as well as doing our own research,I have been busy discussing this with my contacts in India.
I have also been considering other potential expeditions. As well as searches for Sasquatch and the Malaysian Bigfoot, the recent Lake Monster activity in Russia has caught my eye.There has been some speculation that the creature encountered by fishermen in Siberia may be reptilian ,but this has been dismissed by most commentators ,as the Lake is on too northerly a latitude to support a large reptilian creature;it is simply too cold in winter.`Ah, but what if it hibernates?`Is a theory that has been postulated by some. This interests me,as it compares very well with the conditions in Lake Seljord, where Selma, the `Norwegian Nessie` resides. In Winter, the Lake is totally frozen over,so the creatures must,I think, indulge in some form of hibernation. I wonder if there is any physiological comparison between the two? I will start to do some serious research on Siberia, in the coming months,to see if it is feasible and affordable to go out there.
In the middle of all this planning and musing today, my daughter,Ella ,(aged 6) came over to see what I was up to. She looked really unhappy, and had a little tear rolling down her cheek.. `Whats the matter ,sweetie? I said, obviously concerned.`Is there anything Daddy can do to help you?` `Not really, ` said Ella ,with a sigh `After all, you are ONLY a man`........

I have just recieved a report of new sightings of the Orang-Pendek from my friends Sahar and Dally in Sumatra. I have edited it slightly , mainly to avoid personal references, but other than that, here it is verbatim......
`Orang Pendek found by man on the small house near his Landang at 10 p.m. He saw Orang pendek was eating sugar, he saw orang pendek clearly about 1 metre from him. When he saw Orang Pendek he felt afraid and shock, he thought what is it?Monkey?Ape?Bear?Or what?Then he saw it is walking with two foots and stand up like human.
Then he stood up and took some sticks to hit the Orang Pendek, but he did not throw it because he was afraid.He made a loud sound to dispel Orang Pendek ,going out from his Pondok After he did this, it left.
After morning has come, at 6 a.m. he was still worried and he went to check, and he was shocked because he saw Orang-Pendek footprints.`
Makes me wish I was out there right now!

I have got over the football now,I really have. I have nature. After it had finished, I took I walk in some meadows near my home to clear my head. Cutting around an ancient hawthorn hedge,I accidentally flushed a small rabbit from the long grass.At that point, a little Owl came crashing down from the top of the hedge, in obvious pursuit,before landing hard on the ground, just three feet from my foot. It took one look at me , then shot straight back up into its lair in the foliage. Awesome .
I have laughter. Aide from my normal Friday nights down the pub, a new comedy has hit the U.K. on Thursday night-Lee Nelson's `Well Good Show`.Its next on on Thursday, BBC3 at 11p.m. If you live in the U.K. watch it.
I have adventure. Right now I have more expeditions brewing than I could possibly go on.I am skint after paying for the flights for India to search for the Mande-Burung,but I can always save again.
So , you see I don't need football. In fact I never want to talk about football ever again!

Well, I have just about recovered from today's football match. England are through the qualifying rounds, with a spirited display, so national pride remains undiminished. Whatever happens in the next round, we have not disgraced ourselves. The U.S.A. are also through, so congratulations to them too. We now play our old footballing foes Germany on Sunday.........

With the plans for the India expedition progressing well, I have now begun to look at other cryptids to search for. One cryptid that has interested me for a while, is the Malaysian Bigfoot. Eyewitness reports seem to refer to a large bipedal primate.If it does exist, it seems to point to the existence of a relic Gigantopithicus, but it is far to early in my research to offer any substantive thoughts yet.I have made contact with the excellent Malaysian researcher, Vincent Chow, who is currently correlating the most recent reports on the creature. I will post more about this topic soon.
I read on Cryptomundo today that Dr.Who's Xmas special may well be on the Yeti.Excellent choice!I love the old Patrick Troughton episodes, and I have been hoping they will do something on the Yeti for some time. Personally, I think Matt Smith has done a great job as the new Doctor-a very good mix of intelligent eccentricity, and humour.Stephen Moffat is a superb writer-the Angels episodes were inspired.Looking forward to it. In the meantime, I will be getting ready for the match on Sunday............ .

I love it and hate it in equal measure.....watching the World Cup is agony,but Engalnd played well.

Honours even .Here's to meeting the U.S.A. again in the final!

The dates for the India expedition have been agreed with my contact in India. I can confirm that we will be flying out at the end of October for approximately three weeks ,in search of evidence of the Mande-Burung. The Garo hills, which will be the main focus of the search, are traditionally one of the wettest places on Earth. Coming from Manchester though, no doubt I will find them more akin to a desert!I find it difficult to believe that anywhere on earth is wetter than Manchester in November.Certainly not my local train station anyway, which ,at 7.15 in the morning, on my way to work, seems to be shrouded in a permanent grey mist at that time of the year. In fact a `Manchester tan` is that orange colour some girls get when they mis-apply fake tan. Streaky legs anyone?
Of course, I am joking. Its a lovely part of the world really, and we do have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world here.....
Oh no, the World Cup is starting. Last time it was on, I was in Mongolia , looking for the Almas in the west of Mongolia. It drove me mad not knowing how England was doing,as I moved through the mountains,as I am a huge fan. When I was at University, I used to go to all the games at the old Wembley stadium.In Mongolia,I enjoyed friendly banter with plenty of nomads about who was going to win, and even watched a match in a huge beer tent in Ulanbataar on the way out to the mountains. Everyone else on earth seems to ant Brazil to win! My Grandad was an International footballer, playing for Wales, but of course they are not in the World Cup-next time maybe.
The first match we are playing is against the U.S.A. Of course we are bound to win.............

The Lab in Denmark may yet be able to pull something out of the hairs we found in Sumatra in September.Like those we sent to Todd, they have found that the D.N.A. within them is badly decomposed. However, they are working on some new techniques which may yet yield some results.I am not building my hopes up, all we can do is wait and see.....
The planning of the Indian expedition is going well. I am just waiting for confirmation from the local team on the ground there, and then I should be able to confirm the dates we are going, at the latest , by the weekend. Then it will be a question of planning all the kit and equipment.
Yesterday, I was a true Brit by the sea. I sat next to Ella, ice cream in hand, and watched the waves gently lapping the beach at Llandudno. Afterwards, we went for Fish and Chips.
`This is the best day of my life,Daddy` said Ella.

Its hot in the U.K. right now, and it seems to be getting hotter. Whilst I am not a fashion guru by any means, I do have to say a serious no ,to sandals and socks. Gentlemen, if you wear that combo, you will NEVER get laid again......
The animals also seem to be making the most of the temperatures.The tortoise has now become `The Lord Of The Carpet`, as the conditions are more akin to Reptiles, whilst in contrast my two Burmese cats look like they have been stuffed, immobile in the sun.

Outdoors, the hedgehog I have been giving a few treats too, has become bolder,shufling between my feet, as I sat outdoors late on Thursday night.
This all bodes well for the weekend.In true bohemian fashion, I am off to spend a few days sleeping in caves, tracking and obviously chilling.I always have a great time.
I went to an 80S party last night, dressed in all my old Ska gear. How come I know all the tunes? I have no idea, I am far to young for all of that!
In the words of Haircut 100 :
`Where do we go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear....

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion amongst those who follow cryptozoology, about whether it is appropriate to receive funding or not. So, I thought I would clarify my own position on the matter.
In terms of donations, I have never got so much as a dime off anyone. With the exception of the films I have made, I ,and the people with me , have financed them in their entirety themselves.Indeed, I never asked for money.In this very materialistic world we live in, I am always surprised by how measurement of achievement is often related to how much money someone has accrued, rather than what they have achieved, or done for others.Indeed, even on the films-I financed my own trip for National Geographic when I went to Mongolia.In terms of the films I made for MonsterQuest, they paid for my trip out, but I never asked or received any money from them.Indeed, Will Yates, the producer on Apeman of Sumatra, did offer me a small fee, but I never collected it. Over the years, I have spent thousands of pounds of my own cash , on the hunt for cryptids.Why? Simply, because I passionately believe some of them exist, and by proving that to science, I hope to enhance the possibility of them STILL existing after I am gone. Cash just never came into it.That was for over ten years.
This however, is not always the best strategy, and I acknowledge this. For example, when I last left the Congo, I literally had the equivalent of a fiver in my back pocket.In a dangerous place, where money talks, I was at serious risk, and to have had extra funding would have been a great relief. On an amusing note ,just before I went on Camera in China, I had to have my old charity shop pants stitched up ( with pink cotton as a joke, by the Producer,Jared).
That said, I do not disapprove of organisations or individuals who raise money for research.Indeed, within my own experience, some of the things I have achieved would not have been possible without funding. I first pitched the China`s Wildman film to Doug at MQ. I could not have afforded to go without the teams funding and expertise.I am very glad he took me up on it!
People often say to me `why don`t you use this type of camera , or this piece of equipment?I am always open to ideas, but normally the answer is , `because I can`t afford it, right now`
The website you are reading is run by Ash from the Parafactor.He does it, as a favour to me,because he is my friend.
I would love to do this full time. Ideally,making films along the way.There is nothing I enjoy,or care about more, apart from my kids.At the moment though, I work full time. I will get Paypal on this site soon, and every single penny raised , will go towards expeditions. I think I have to recognise, that for whatever reason ,not everybody wants to go running through jungles , or climbing mountains, but they DO care, and that can be a way for people to consider that they are part of the story. So, whilst it is completely right to give anxious scrutiny to those you do donate to (its your money after all),please do continue to give, if you can.A lot of good IS being done. I ,for my part, will continue to try my best.

Well, it seems like we have a difference of opinion on last weeks `important` question. Most Brits and their continental cousins, seems to be voting for the `Balls of a bulldog` , whereas my American friends seem to prefer the Horses mane comb over. I am heartened that in the midst of General Election, people were able to turn their minds to such mindless amusing trivia!

Preparations for India are trundling along nicely, and we are starting to get to grips with the type of equipment we will need.As well as the almost de rigeur camera traps, we are also sourcing some of the most up to date night vision technology.Inevitably, the key determinant will be what we can afford.
Sightings of the Orang-Pendek, encouragingly are continuing , I can report, with the greatest concentrations focusing in some of the very important areas I have researched before.I know its out there,its more a question of whether I can prove it exists....
This afternoon, I have been tracking (not hunting)deer and pheasant with Ella and Olly.The children practised mimicking their calls, and spotting their sign and movement through the countryside. They were impressive.Afterwards ,Ella (who you will remember is five),went up to a Ranger. `Do you know `, she said `I will be both the worlds greatest tracker and mountaineer, when I grow up` she said. Ella never ever lacks confidence!
There is also another very exciting prospect in the pipeline. I will reveal more of that ,when I can, here. Things are looking good though , my friends........