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

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.

BayPromoTeam.. Doing what we do best.

We've been hard at work in and around the Bay with an aim to promote the town to it's full potential. We're a collective team of like minded individuals (NO POLITICS, ahem. ) who all are aiming for the same thing.. the progress and promotion of Herne Bay.

For starters, Project Palm Tree has really taken off, we've had numerous press releases and are making great steps with the Council. Hopefully by 2013 we'll be able to have the Herne Bay Riviera in place. The guys have been squirreling away, behind the scenes trying to get permissions for this to work. Cannot wait to see the results!

In other news, we've started up an awards scheme for the town. The first "Flagship Business Award" going to Abi Calder of the Activity Box (Mortimer Street). We'll be doing a presentation with a trophy this afternoon.

You can find more about the wonderful little shop by going here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Activity-Box/131056393633133 I highly recommend it. Wonderful fun for all the family.

See.. Just shows you what a little positive attitude can accomplish. Looking forward to the Herne Bay Festivities once the Summer (weather) commences! Not to mention I best start sorting out my Carnival Costume for this year... Just wait till you see what we have lined up!!

If you haven't all ready done so. Check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/baypromoteam and add add add! We have all the latest news and happenings and not to mention we now even have a mobile app!

Not so Hernia Bay?

Kudos to Mr Gerald McCarthy of Herne Bay..


He's been a very busy boy. After all ready successfully pulling off the First Official Herne Bay Zombie Crawl of 2011, he's all ready planning the 2012 route and has some even bigger and wilder plans! (I will obviously blog on this subject at a later date..  but very excited to be involved!)

In his spare time he's created this wonderful promo video for the town..It's been such a hit I've heard that the Council all ready want to use it in official promotion for the Summer. I love it; it just shows how perception can change with the right attitude.









It's wonderful to see that there are Bay residents who are so passionate about the town that they want to get involved. It's the positive things that got me involved with the town in the first place. I've always taken the attitude: if you can get involved locally and actually make a difference.. it makes every bit of effort worth it.


I always find it amazing that so many are so happy to snipe and moan when the town doesn't get enough positive coverage. The amount of names I've heard the Bay called over the years still astounds me, especially as I absolutely love living here. The sea, the fresh air, local business... What more could one want? I did the London life and I still ended up back at my favourite seaside residence.


It also astounds me furthermore that the people who are behind the negative comments never seem to want to get positively involved in perhaps changing the perception.


Well done Gerry, hopefully this will conjure more positive thinking and I look forward to working with you in the future!




NB: You can follow the progress of the 2012 Zombie Crawl on twitter: @hbzombiecrawl or look it up on Facebook!