Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Taking the Plunge

Hello blog. Long time now speaky! What can I say?

Life has been, well, progressive I guess. After the last year and all of the mental challenges it finally feels as if I’m coming out the other side and into the Sun (Although, this is a metaphorical sun as it seems that the real thing has disappeared for good in Kent). Working hard with the new job. Playing hard in the meantime. Put on a little weight, however mostly muscle. Lots of gym work, lots of cycling. I’m happy and at peace. All is well!

The bike ride I’d signed up for didn’t happen, due to a gammy ligament in my right knee. Training went out of the window which is highly frustrating. However, I’m booked in to the London Bikeathon in September, spending a lot of time in the gym trying to strengthen that knee up. The new bike is actually being used. (Huzzah!)  Although the racing saddle is proving to be the challenge of what I need to get used to. Gel shorts have been purchased! However, nice baggy boardie looking ones, rather than the lycra. After seeing my friend get off his bike last year after the London to Brighton; in lycra and looking like he was wearing a full nappy, I decided they were probably not for me. The even better part of joining up to this charity event is that I’ve bullied my brother and the boyfriend into taking part too. Both aren’t exactly exercise nuts like me, so I’m quite chuffed they’ve accepted the challenge. Go team Edwards! Also may have planned a little sky dive trip in July. Not talking about that one though, it scares me just thinking about it. Going to just forget about it until D-Day arrives.

On the same subject of exercise and hobbies, one thing I have done recently is finally set about having my own dive kit. I’ve been deliberating the pro’s and con’s of having my own scuba gear for quite sometime, and finally decided to take the plunge. The London Dive Show at Excel back in March finally swayed me when I picked up a good deal on some regulators. Ebay has been my fwiend ever since J Not to mention I got an absolute awesome BCD (Bouyancy Control Device) through family at a bargain. I’m near enough fully kitted out now. I have to thank my good twitter buddy @Fivemetrestop for all his advice, and the help I got off his website blog, of which you can find at www.fivemetrestop.com  All I’m missing are the gauges and the mask, both of which I shall be purchasing in Dahab, which happens to be next week. I also need to learn how to use the i3 tech. I’ve always been the typical “normal” BCD user, this new fangled technology has thrown me a little, read the instruction manual and just hoping that I can make sense of it when it comes to the crunch!

So my current set up is:
Wetsuit: 5mm Semi Dry Waterproof Lynx/ Mares boots.
Regs: 1t Stage Aqualung  Calypso/ 2nd Stage Octo
BCD: Ladies Aqualung Pearl i3
Dive Comp: Suunto D4
Fins: Mares Avanti 3’s.

The aim is to use my 3mm shorty wetsuit over my 5mm and actually attempt to dive off Kent this Summer. However, at the moment the weather is dictating no, in the “computer says noooo” fashion. Come on weather, buck up!

Anyway. That’s me for now. Excited about my holiday next week, however I’m not really going solo anymore. I’m off for 11 nights and the boyfriend is joining me for 7 of them. Bloody gatecrasher! On the brighter side, he’s a diver too and has been bitten by the bug. It’s such an addictive hobby, it’s just such a pity it’s not cheap!

Signing off for now.

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