Almost eight months ago to the day I wrote about patience.

“I can’t imagine anything more trying to the patience than the endless wasted days of waiting.”

—Captain Robert Falcon Scott

And I’m thrilled to say that as of today, the waiting is finally is over: after more than 10 years’ planning it was an incredible feeling to stand alongside Captain Scott’s grandson, Falcon Scott, Intel and Land Rover this morning at the Travellers Club in London, on the eve of Scott’s birthday to announce that The Scott Expedition is officially going ahead in 2013.

In October this year Tarka and I will depart for Antarctica. I’ve dreamed of (and worked towards) this moment for an awfully large chunk of my adult life, and I’m still pinching myself that we’re finally able to make this announcement.

With less than 19 weeks until our departure from the UK we’re now moving into full swing. Andy is deep into planning the logistics, Tarka and I are upping our training (I’m off to tackle a vertical km race in Chamonix later this month – more on that to follow) and we’re making the final tweaks to kit and nutrition following our recent training trip in Greenland.

But I want to take this opportunity, as we make our big announcement today, to thank everyone that is playing such an important part in making the Scott Expedition happen. To Land Rover and Intel as co-presenting partners, Kcom and Drum-Cussac as expedition partners, Bremont and CF Partners as supporting partners, Mountain Equipment for providing so much of our kit (including the snazzy black jackets we wore at the launch today), Field Notes for the only notebooks I’d consider taking in my sledge, Hilleberg for our tents and YouTube for its support building the stunning bespoke channel where Tem’s fantastic videos will now live.

Also, thank you Falcon Scott and Rob Swan for your support and guidance as expedition patrons, and to friends and family across the world who’ve believed in me over the years.

We wouldn’t be in this position without you all.

I’m immensely grateful to you all and so looking forward to what the next 12 months will have in store…