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!!

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

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.