30th May 2015

I do apologize for the slight delay in publishing this blog   ..island life and internet

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday Dear Jan

Happy Birthday To You !!

We really hope that you had lovely day!!

Hugs and kisses

Jenny & Simone

XXX

Happy Wedding Anniversary Rosie & Charles!! 

   

Have a swimmingly happy day! 

Love Jenny & Si 

xxx

 

26th May 2015

So, the time ticks by and I am getting increasingly excited to head back to the UK... beside the money cost.

In the meantime, I have taught a Self Reliant course to 2 friends (free of charge) so that they can now dive alone.

We have also had a couple of hours playing the new ping pong table at Hacienda... Jeez, all of us were drenched in sweat within minutes of playing... and with the ping pong ball being so light, there is no chance of having a fan there!

So, tomorrow its Sail Rock time... a dive site thats 2-3 hours away.... I think Jen and I will be heading there to have a little bubble... big waves mean their may be a lot of sick people!!.

Scratch Sail Rock... as I wrote that I had a call from the dive cente manager to work tomorrow... oh what fun!

22nd May 2015

Nice message from my Self Reliant student...

Hi Simon, sorry I didn't make it to the bar for a farewell drink the other night. I was a bit knackered and a bit unwell.. I'm full of cold now and dosed up with medicine. I was worried that I might not be able to do the final day of the course but thankfully it hadn't quite developed then. I really enjoyed our time together and thank you for your expertise and good humour during those 2 days. I will be back sometime for sure and would like to spend some more time on the Eco side of things. I just love looking at those beautiful corals and was impressed by how much they've come on in the last 2 years, thanks to all of you dedicated people. Be encouraged to keep up the good work. Thanks again for the tuition. Bobby

Its good to get some feedback.

Back to another Self Reliant course... this time as a favour to 2 people...

x

SD

20th May 2015

Starting a Self Reliant course with a guy called Bob who I had met a couple of years ago, was a nice relief from the norm... so I thought.

It turned out to be one big headache... not the course itself. Bob was actually very easy to teach, listened and learned and had done all his studying before we started the course. We had 3 great dives and watched him go off on his 4th dive all by himself. Jenny came on the boat for the last 2 dives, and had a little visit of the Catamaran at Tanote Bay. Bob now heads back into the jungle on the Mainland to continue building his house. Well done Bob.

The headache actually came from the payments. The difference with this course is that all the equipment used in the course has been paid for by me and Steve, not the dive school. Who got paid what turned out to big one big argument. In the end, I handed all the money to the dive school and washed my hands of it. with not a very good impression of how the situation was handled. I am sure it will all work out, but I spent most of the day dealing with attitudes and aggression when there was no need.

Anyway, just venting... Unfortunately when you work long hours with lots of people, things can get heated sometimes, and we shall see how the next couple of days pan out...

Jenny is going strong on Eco still... with the next project of releasing the clams that have been locked into cages for the last 18 months... Its not like they are going run out screaming "Freedom!" but its about time that they get to fend for themselves without our protective cages... fingers crossed they do well and I am sure you'll see some pics within the next week...

Meanwhile... we are still swimming everyday!!

17th May 2015

Sorry for not posting.

I haven't really had much to say....

Everyday, Jen and I are swimming... I am now up to 70 lengths... This is to replace the running, since the heat makes it impossible for me to run any kind of distance.

Its been very stormy during the night and early morning..

Add to that, our water quality at the moment is certain to give you a multitude of diseases!!

You can probably understand that I am quite looking forward to getting back. I am dreaming of turning on a tap, and the water that comes out is clear and does not smell like rotten eggs!! This is what we have to shower in !! 

Third world problems.... oh well... I'll go have another relaxing swim in the pool, sunbathe, then dive...  its not all bad I suppose!!

xx

SD

9th May 2015

A busy few days for both of us.  Simon's been teaching Open Water for the first time in months.  It wasn't the best of starts at he came home the first night with a blistering temperature and sneezing continuously.  After a terrible nights sleep and taking a few tablets, he managed to get through the confined pool session  ..

I took him down his lunch and made sure he had something to eat.  By the time his 7hr pool session was over, his feet were in a lot of pain from not being used to being in the high chemical content pool water  ..poor ole thing.  Anyway, I had the day off so it was good that I could pop and see Simon to make sure he was ok.  After my swim and a little too much sun, I cycled home and prepared a shepherds pie for dinner.  The rest of Simon's course went well  ..none of them went onto do the Advanced but the odd thing was, one chap was based at the RAF in Odiham  ..small world.  Simon has now what he thinks is an ear & chest infection. Poor thing!

After my day off, I've just been taking people out for Discover Scuba Dives which has been pretty easy and not too challenging.  Today I was supposed to take a couple out, but they didn't show, so I'm at the ECO office answering mails and sorting.  I think I'll pop to the regal for a swim and then go home and look after Simon and if I have the energy, go cycling with the gang.

2nd May 2015

Boy it's been hot!!

Simon and I have started swimming in the mornings.  Today was our tenth day in a row  ..so we're pretty pleased with ourselves.  I'm doing just 40 lengths whereas Si does 50 as he's a lot faster swimmer than I am ;-)   I have been out on the bike a few times and tonight I'm going to out with the cycling gang, probably up to the reservoir  ..the first time in months, so I know it's going to be a tough ride.

The Regal pool

The reservoir  ...there is a great view from the other end :-D

Simon as I type is preparing dinner.  Tonight we will be having a lovely salad.  We've been making our own pickled onions & beetroot but Simon has been amazing with his culinary skills.  He cooks 90% of the time, does most of the shopping and plans  ..I'm not the best.

With it being quiet, I've done quite a lot with the DMT's (Dive Master Trainee's) taking them out to Junkyard, our artificial reef to do coral transplants, a bit of cleaning,  deployed a few structures and have replace the mooring buoy line ..which is my first. 

Simon has been learning a different style of diving called Sidemount diving. This is where the tanks are on your sides and not on your back. He found it very easy since he is already a Technical diver.

Yesterday, we both went to Twins for a couple of dives, and Simon took the drone to flight test it from the boat. It was quite nerve wracking but all was good. Afterwards, we did a couple of dives transplanting coral from our rope nursery, to the newly deployed concrete blocks.