1st March 2015

Not much has happened in the past week..

I am still doing my own thing, making videos and diving by myself to have a good break from the teaching side.

Its been good, and I am keeping myself occupied when I am not diving by making lots of grub in the oven... This weeks meals have been Sausage Casserole, Pasta bakes... and more!

The temperature has increased, both in the water and on land.... Which has creating some algae bloom (orange stuff in the picture)... I think its a precursor for some pretty wicked conditions, fingers crossed!!!

Jenny has been busy almost everyday with Eco and teaching, which seems to be really enjoying...

We have said goodbye to Tim, who has returned to the UK to look after some family issues... When he will be back, we are not sure... We also said goodbye to Linda, who has returned to Netherlands to begin her Masters degree... We are sure going to miss them both....

The night before Linda left, we had a small BBQ and Jenny invited the bar boys.. They came around at about 10pm, and we made them some food and got the Rock Band kit out...

They were so polite... bless em! Steve was a bit of a mess by the end of the evening, and I had to take him home..

OK, back to cooking a Roast for tonights dinner!! YAY!!

21st February 2015

Not much to report from my side.

Since Jim (my student) left a week ago... I have been taking some time to relax and get other things done.

We went out for the day snorkelling with Steve and his Mum which was a nice day of not having to think about much... Jenny also enjoyed it quite a bit I think.

In the last couple of days, Jenny has been teaching an Eco internship... so has been busy, whereas I have become a hermit... not really wanting to teach at Crystal since I have issues with how things are running at the moment. So I have been spending my time baking pies! First time in I don't know how long that I made one, but it has turned out very tasty.

Anyway.... I am going out for a dive today.... as bad as the visibility is... I have been diving in over a week,.. so I just need to get wet and cheer up!

x

SD

16th February 2015

A late start for myself and Simon.  I think we were up and about around 9.30  ..perhaps Si was up a lot earlier but watched TV and was pottering with web stuff :-D

After a delicious breakfast of bubble and squeak with poached egg on top we headed into Maehaad to say cheerio to Linda's father who had been here on holiday for a couple of weeks.

It is hard saying goodbye to family but so so lovely to have them here  ;-D

Most of the afternoon has been spent in the office, catching up on work mails and Si's been fixing laptops, as per norm.  I did pop down to Crystal to collect washing, put a couple of posters up and laminate a few things.

Now it's 5:39pm and Tim, who is leaving for the UK in the next couple of days, has popped open a couple of beers and we're going to sit outside and relax :-D

CHEERS!!!

15th February 2015

 Yesterday, Valentines Day, was Mum & Dads wedding anniversary, a very special day indeed! :-D

 

As I was working, I didn't see Simon all day ;-(  I had 2 afternoon dives so by the time I got back, 5.45pm, I was surprised to see him at the Crystal bar waiting for me and working away on website stuff which he hadn't planned.

After a couple of drinks, I left Crystal earlier than Simon as I had to cycle and collect half a cooked chicken for our valentine roast which he had prepared earlier during the day.    Once at home, I opened the door, turned on the lights and discovered a beautiful bouquet of flowers  ARGH!!!!!   What a spoilt and loved lady I am!

The roast was amazing, we both had far too much to eat :-D  LOL


Love you Simone!!!

XXX

13th February 2015

So,

A couple of days ago, we left work at 5pm to head down to New Heaven Dive School. They are a good bunch of guys who do a lot of Eco work on the island.

Anyway, one of their students came up with an idea to make a underwater sculpture with real faces on it... so of course Jen and I were up for the challenge.

We arrived, and they mixed the Silicone base...

Jen went first, and the first step was to have her hair wrapped in clingfilm and to spread Vaseline all over her face to prevent it sticking...

Then with only a straw to breathe through... they poured on the goo...

After 20 minutes of laying still and sipping her breaths through the straw. The Silcone had set and the peeling took place...

Jenny's cast was done, now it was my turn!

These casts will be used to make a cement sculpture to put down onto the reef.. I can't wait to see the cement castings... The creator thinks it will be about a month before it is ready to deploy..

Both Jen and I had so much fun.... really made a change! But boy did that stuff cling on to your eyelids... and facial hair.... ouch!!


x


SD

11th Feb 2015

Long time now type  ...sorry everyone!!!!!

I've been busy sorting out ECO  ...trying to put together a proposal for 'ISV' (International Student Volunteers) who are hoping to send groups of 10-15 students here on a regular basis.  They are more interested in land conservation, so going to make a few things up and perhaps get cement mixing  ..YAY!!!

Simon is still teaching a documentary course which is finally coming to an end soon.  I think he's had enough and fancies a change.

Today, we're both at home, Si did pop into the office for an hour and I went down to collect  my bike but now we're at home just catching up with mails, blogs and unpacking all those messy little items that have little use and wonder why on earth do we have so much  clutter  LOL

Kitchen

Lounge

My new stove!

01 February 2015

The last couple of days have been pretty hectic but we've finally moved!!!!!!!! 

Kirsty and I managed to pack  everything and carry it down our numerous flights of stairs, so that when Simon arrived with the Taxi following him, we could load everything on and drive to our new house and unload. With the amount of cases, boxes we've accumulated over the last 5 years, we had to do, two trips ;-D   ..and if only you could see the state of Kirsty and I having after lugging cases, boxes  down the stairs and making multiple trips back up  ..we were exhausted, dripping with sweat and funnily enough, we both had very sore legs the next day :-D

With everything unloaded  ...work was still being done on the house  ..nothing like leaving things to the last minute. ...we unpacked the kitchen things but clothes etc were left until later.

The house as Simon said is nothing to look at but it has a nice feel to it and reminds me of a little hobbit house    ...Si's still not convinced but I think as soon as everything has been unpacked, we've got all our furniture in, it'll be cool.  I can't wait to play with my new gas cooker.

Photo's to come..