31st December 2013

We hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas.

For us, it was very odd being away from all the family but made the most of being together :-D  ...and invited a few friends over for Christmas dinner  ...in fact there were 8 of us and due to the fact that we've only got a little convection oven and had to cook the potatoes, pigs in blankets and stuffing just up the road, a minutes bike ride, we did stunning job :-D  

We'll update you in full ..very soon

Just want to wish everyone a

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Love Jen & Si

xxxxxXXXXXXxxxxx

25th December 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

Seems very odd to be on the the other side of the world from our families but we'll be thinking of you all and raising our glasses!!!

Love and hugs

J & S

X x X

22nd Dec 2013

It's only 3 more sleeps till CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Have the day off today  ..Yay!!   Both of us have been working back to back and have had no time at all to do the Christmas shop, not that you can get much over here, or that we have an oven.  Si's has ordered from a friend on Samui, Turkey, mince pies, pigs in blankets, sprouts and a few other things  ...so today, I've got to get all the other bits n pieces  ....should be interesting :-D

Si's on his 2nd day of Open Water with 6 students  ..his first Open Water in ages  ...I think he cant wait to get back in the water ..today he's finishing academics and then the confined session in the pool, so tomorrow will be dives 1 & 2.

Here are some of our Christmas decs  ...I'm getting there slowly with limited resources :-D

First tree I created was a master piece but fell down LOL  ..Love all your cards  ..Thank you!!

Our baby tree with built in lights and a home made fairy!!!

Twinkle Twinkle massive star!!!! ;-D

It's really hard to get in the Christmas spirit when it's warm but getting I'm getting there with Christmas carols blasting out speakers ..love a good sing-a-long

Missing everyone and sending lots of love and Christmas cheer!!!

"HO HO HO"   ..as Santa would say

X X X X X X X X

14th December 2013

I started Open Water yesterday, Friday the 13th  ...I've got  4 students, 3 young girls and a German chap  ..all very nice and did very well in the confined pool session today.  As we made good time I got them to complete their 200 meter swim and their 10 minute float.  So tomorrow morning they can have a lie in till 9.30am  ...I'm so nice!!!

Tomorrow it's their dives 1 & 2  ..which I get excited about  ..not only is it a challenge but to see their little faces during and after the dive is brilliant  ..huge grins full of excitement

Si's actually been teaching  ..he got called in for a 3 person Advanced course  ..so tonight he's on a Night dive  ..and then tomorrow morning he'll be doing Deep and Wreck.

Got some Christmas decs up, will take photo's and  show you all

11th Dec 2013

Time is just flying by and it still doesn't feel like Christmas one bit ..apart from the odd decoration here and there, you wouldn't know  ..in fact saying that, some of the shops still have the same decorations up since last year :-D LOL

In this last week, I've been teaching a 4 pack (4 person) Open Water Course which was great fun.  A great mix of people, Scottish, American, Swedish and English   ...sadly none of them stayed on to do their Advanced but when and if they come back, they're only diving with me   ...arghh!!!!!!

I have been out on the bike too  ...as Koh Tao is no place to get any mileage in, I think my workouts are going to be hill climbs which I love so much  LOL   ...Yesterday, I went out and managed to cycle all the way to the reservoir  ..it's all uphill and with my great planning, I arrived at midday   ..nearly passed out at one point due to the heat  ...next time, I'll go early morning or slightly later on in the day :-D

03 December 2013

Can't believe it's December already, the year has gone so quickly!

It's the first time we'll be on Koh Tao for Christmas which will be interesting.  I'm certainly going to miss being surrounded by family, good food, the Christmas build up and funnily enough, the cold ...I don't think it'll quite be the same :-D    ...will Santa know where I am/we are if we're not at home??  ...I do hope so.

The last couple of days I've been out and about on my mountain bike exploring the island.  I've come to realize that I'm not as fit as I thought I was, I definitely need to cycle more and especially work on my hill climbs.   Today, I've finally managed to cycle to Haad Tien, the resort where Fiona, Chris, Chloe and Iona will be staying :-D ..it's been nearly 3 years since I went to that bay and a lot has changed ...there used to be nothing apart from a little shack selling soft drinks and now the whole bay has been built up  ..I must say that it's probably one of the prettiest and well laid out resorts on the whole of Koh Tao

Oh, I've also been swimming every day.  I'm not the strongest of swimmers, so it's been a challenge to get enthusiastic about it.  So to make it more interesting, half way through doing lengths, Simon and I play with our Waboba (ball that bounces/skims on/across the water) It's great fun and breaks up doing lengths :-D

I haven't been teaching much as it's been so quiet, I have done the odd day of ECO with the DMT's (Dive Master Trainee's) but that's about it.  Poor ole Simon has been working non stop on multiple challenges and projects..  He's tired now and for the last couple of days, to add to everything has had a sore ear from the pool water.  All he wants to do at the moment is have some time to go diving again..