New Beginnings

Right so that's it... After about four years of empty threats I've finally gone and done it.

My notice is handed in. My bags are (half) packed and I'm heading for sunnier climates very shortly. 

When I say sunnier climates, you all know I mean Egypt. Yes, Egypt. The place where everyone in the UK is claiming that is dangerous.  Believe me when I say that it's really not.

I'm quite sure I've got more chance of something happening to me in London when I visit. I've been motoring along the M20 at rush hour for well over the last year, day in and day out for work. I've seen tonnes of fatal crashes along the monotonous drive of every day life.

Not to be negative, but if my name is on the bullet at least it should be somewhere I am happy and doing something that I love rather than on a cold and wet UK motorway.

I'm not going to update this blog because I think the world wants to know what's going on, however, for the family and friends who know me and want to follow my new path and update on where I am; this is where I shall lead you to.

I shall also try and not bore you all to death with diving photos!!!



I'll be back in the next few months for a fleeting visit any who so it's not exactly like you're getting rid of me permanently.

See you all on the sunny side.

Jen

Summertime Reflection.

Someone said to me that other day that I needed to update my blog. This made me realise I actually did need to do this, and also that I have people that enjoy reading my ramblings of unimportant things. I was quite chuffed, if I'm honest. 

At the end of the day the blog is just another egocentric way of putting down all of our own thoughts down hoping that others may take notice. Life has been full speed recently; I haven't had time to sit and muse. I take that as a very good thing, however I do miss having the time to sit down and just think about things.

My hayfever has been at an all time low this year; it's kept me awake, it's kept me swollen, puffy and looking like the elephant man for most of the day. I sit at work with permanent sniffles, everyone thinks I'm sickly. (To be fair, they're kind of right there!) 

I've been told it's been extra specially bad this year. However, it was extra evil at midnight, and now it's woken me up at 5:30am this morning. My sinuses feel like they've peeled away from my forehead and my eyes; well, I won't give a full description but it's not pretty.

So, I've sat outside on the decking with a cup of tea and my iPad.. Writing this note. Every cloud has a silver lining, I suppose. It's very peaceful. Even if I have to have an allergy tablet and a supply of tissues with me on the bench at all times!

I'm off to Dahab (Egypt, my second home) on Thursday. I've been counting down the days since January. My home away from home is finally just forty-eight hours away. It's amazing, as soon as I'm on the plane my allergies quite simply disappear. The dry, arid desert is wonderful, a few full weeks of being able to breath through my nose without choking, or soreness, or sneezing etc. I think half the reason I've been so focused on the flying date is specifically because I've suffered so much this year.

I know what you're thinking, #firstworldproblems. I know, I think it too. Of all the things to whinge about, hayfever is pretty low on the list of things. All I can say is that when it becomes a constant for months on end that it starts to fray your nerves. Either that or the lack of sleep is finally beginning to make me twitch!

Anywho, little blog over and out. I shall sit in the sunshine and report from the beach next week, honest! 

 

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/ 2^nd 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.