Thursday 26 November 2015

25th November 2015


Finally, what we've been waiting for and hearing about for years is actually happening.

The Crystal office has finally been taken apart / knocked down  ..and apparently, the scheduling room, restaurant and bar will be soon to follow.



The office/reception is a major change  ..the actual move was not very organised... surprise surprise!! Moving the office from the beach, up to a modified classroom was very chaotic and to me, it seemed like it was left to only a few people to get things done.










Walking around the old reception, I'm actually astonished that it's still standing with all the window frames taken out, it was riddled with termites and there are only a couple of pillars holding everything up.

I think we're both in shock as we didn't think we would see the day.


Lets see how the build progresses over the next month.




What's really good is that we have a lovely new airy kit room for all our equipment.  It's secure, it's got TV surveillance and the equipment can air and dry properly  All that's really needed are a few little tweaks here and there.





On another note, last night was the Loy Krathong festival.  The Thais celebrate this for many reasons, the main is the rice harvest that has ended and its time to thank the Water Goddess for a years worth of her abundant supply as well as an apology for polluting the waters.  Some believe that this is the time to symbolically 'float away' all the anger and grudges you have been holding onto and including a fingernail or lock of hair is seen as a way of letting go of the dark side of yourself, to start a new, free from negative feelings.  They say if your candle stays alight until your Krathong disappears out of sight, it means a year of good luck.


Simon has been busy filming Open Water divers... Here are a couple of links to the latest student dives..


and




Wednesday 18 November 2015

19th November 2015

In the last 7 days we've both been pretty busy, Simon with website design, filming and I have been doing ECO  ...land and dive site clean ups and Reef Check a four day course.  



Day one is an intro for all the DMT's (dive master trainee's) and Reef Check students and as we're limited with space in the Eco office.




 I could only take 6 people on the first day, which was fine in the office but very chaotic on the dives.  Only 3 students carried on for the remainder of the course which worked really well on the dives.  Yesterday was the last day of the course and today, I've taken the day off and it's raining LOL..


You'll be amazed to know that Crystal office, bar area and restaurant is being knocked down in the next week and rebuilt  ...it's pretty exciting and Im thinking that I could use lots of the cement/rubble for Junkyard, our artificial reef  ....I think when we first arrived at Crystal they've been talking about renovating and it's only happening now.  That's Thailand for you!

Today, I slept till around 10:30, so a very lazy morning and as usual, Simon had been up for a few hours working on his computer, making bread and after a cup of tea, popped out to get supplies.

I in the mean time, cleaned the house and made a Key Lime pie  ..it would have been perfect but I over whipped the cream, so it's a little runny, nothing that an hour or two in the freezer can't fix :-D

It's raining, as usual on our day at home together  ..good and cool time to sort out things and clean.
'

Thursday 12 November 2015

12th November 2015

Hi everyone!

Simon and I are both well.  Yesterday, we both had a lovely relaxing day off  ..well, saying that I didn't do a lot while Si made bread, went shopping, did some website stuff and made dinner which was delicious.  I am spoilt but so is he LOL

We've been having a few thunder storms, mostly at night and this is a picture that one of the Instructors caught on camera.    The rain has actually been pretty refreshing but for some reason it always pours down when we're going to or leaving the office. :-D

Today, I'm in the ECO office waiting for an eco student to reappear  ...he checked in this morning at Crystal and then hasn't been seen since.  Strange!





Sunday 8 November 2015

8th November 2015

So, another week and Monsoon truly hit Koh Tao.



Lots of rain brought some uninvited guests to the house, usually while Jen was coming out the shower... Screams and ballerina dancing ensued, with me trying to remove them with a tiny broom.





One particular snake was in our roofing, and got annoyed with me trying to move it with the broom so literally flew through the air at me, which brought yelps from me and a scream so fierce that the staff at Hacienda, all looked concerned and shouted if we were ok..

Another guest was a little more welcome....


This little friendly fellow wanted to get out of the rain. I had the front and back door open, so beside the initial shock when he waltzed in and made me jump. He laid on the floor for several hours snoozing outside of the rain...

When Jen has not been doing Eco, she has been cooking.!  Yes... I know... its incredible!!  She has finally cracked an awesome Key Lime pie (with a little help from her sister Fiona)


Also making 2 Roast dinners in 1 week amazed me... including Bubble & Squeak for breakfast the next morning... it was lovely!!



In the meantime, I have been hard at work on websites (yawn!!) and attempting to replace the screen on my laptop, which turned out to be a total waste of time because the new screen was broken too!


Thats it really... 


x


SD





Sunday 1 November 2015

1st November 2015



Dear Master Tom Mandry,





It's that time of year where we sing...







Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Tom!!!
Happy Birthday to yououououououo!!!!!!


Today you're officially a MAN!!!!  ...no more teenies for you! LOL

Wish we could take you out for a beer or two  ...we'll be having a roast and toasting your special later :-)

Love & big MAN hugs!!!

Jenny Wren & Simone  

x x x