Team Submerged, Halloweekend, ZombieBall and BEYOND!

When I first left for Egypt, I jokingly sat down with the rest of the BayPromoTeam and laughed. "By the way Gerald, would you mind if I created an El Gouna PromoTeam? " - At the time it was purely in jest. (To my good fortune he also told me to crack on...) Little did I know that actually, this was a genuine possibility.

El Gouna isn't unlike Herne Bay, both on the seaside with a beautiful coastline and plenty of activities for locals and visitors. Swap your London weekend visitors for Cairo peeps and Bob's your Uncle.. Red Sea Riviera vs Kentish Riviera! Admittedly the types of residents differ, but considering I'm on a different continent it's not particularly surprising. I loved being part of something bigger, the events that I helped form and work at changed my outlook on life and what I want to be doing. I've always had a warm fuzzy feeling watching people smile and enjoy themselves.

A few months ago I was chatting with Dan on how they don't really seem to have events here. Well they do, but not really anything that brings community together. There's events for the tourists, the all inclusive and then there's events put on by the mainstay locals; such as Hoda from the Clubhouse (Highly recommended by the way!) I just sat there one day and thought why the hell not? Kids love Halloween. Adults love Halloween.. let's do this! Therefore the next thing I know, Halloweekend and ZombieBall were born and we've been working our butts off ever since! The team has grown and now between four of us, we're making this happen!

Admittedly, Submerged Egypt isn't exactly the El Gouna PromoTeam, but we've got the same form of basis. We're an event company who will eventually put money back into the area with the formation of an NGO to help the local children.

Orascom and El Gouna themselves have been  amazing with helping us with our vision and day by day we're getting there. On Friday 28th October, we have a marina music festival in the Abu Tig Marina for early evening, followed by the ZombieBall 2016 taking place in the New Marina till early hours of the morning. Then the next day, Saturday 29th October we have a full afternoon of events for families including a new World Record event to form the Largest Human formation of a Pumpkin, a free Abu Tig or Treat walk around the marina for kids and then finishing off with a street disco for all.

Back to why we're doing this all... there's a serious amount of underprivileged children here who have no idea how to swim, let alone know what the Red Sea is about and how we should be looking after the corals and marine life. Our aim is to create an academy of sorts, education through the medium of water sports and conservation. From this, we want to ensure that the Red Sea is looked after for the future. Children who'd never normally get the chance.. will have big opportunities to learn to swim, to scuba dive and to kite surf their way into the future. There's one hell of a lot of potential talent for future sportspersons. Why not start when they are young and let them enjoy themselves?!

So yes.. these are happening.. spread the word because this is a big thing for me. I want my town to be proud to know that from the little acorn that was BayPromoTeam just five years ago has not only become so very successful in putting Herne Bay on the map.. it's spread to another country where I'm hoping that that warm fuzzy feeling, those smiles and enjoyment will be repeated again and again by others.

www.zombieballegypt.com

www.halloweekendfestival.com

www.baypromoteam.co.uk

#zombiesarecoming #zombieballegypt2016 #elgouna #hernebay #baypromoteam #mygouna #spookygouna

Blog time... A little late!

Ok, five months in and it's pretty apparent just how terrible I am at keeping a blog. I don't really have an excuse as such.. More a case of I've been too busy enjoying life for a change.

What can I say? Life is grand. I never expected to be here doing what I'm doing but I wouldn't change it for the world. Especially now seeing what the world is up to. When I first got here I found myself checking the news daily, just to keep up with what's going on.. Now I look at it with upset and disgust. I laugh at why everyone questioned me moving to the Middle East, when really pretty much the rest of the world is the same, if not more dangerous.

What have I accomplished here so far? Well, other than the obvious.. Relaxing, making friends and making a life for myself... I'm doing pretty much fine. I miss my family and friends, but other than that I can't really think of much. I've learned to take some time for myself and grow a little. Life is short and finally I feel I've hit my groove, it's only taken thirty years.

Gouna is full of similar types, many Egyptians who have escaped the rat race of Cairo, lots of multinational ex pats who have decided that life is better in the sun. There's a nice mix of people who like to work and get stuck in whilst still retaining the theme of being able to relax. Gouna is pretty much a business hub, you have the best of both worlds.

I'm volunteering at the cat shelter once a week just to get my animal kicks. Dan and I miss having animals but we can't get one in our apartment... So at least I get a little animal joy still!

So yeah on another note.... ZombieBall has been launched for This Halloween. Yes, The ZombieBall. BayPromoTeam inspired me.. So much that Halloweekend has been born out of it. I joked with them before I left that the GounaPromoTeam might happen, little did I realise that in a certain form.. It would do so. I hoping that this is my way forward, I've alwa ys loved events and planning so I might as well stick to what I enjoy the most. Also have some mega plans for 2017, but kicking it off slowly and getting it right... Watch this space!

Guess that's the update for now. To all friends and family.. You're always welcome to visit. It's hard to explain how lovely life really is here until you visit 😌😉

My first update

I just managed to delete a whole blog update. Well that sucks!

A week later and I'm here. We've settled into our new place, a beautiful one bed apartment that overlooks a Lagoon. It's a 10 min walk to downtown and I cannot complain (although I might do when the summer months kick in). The sun shines every morning, up to a cool 30c, the evenings are a little chilly but by UK standards.. It's summer already! Very happy with our choice, as we walked up to the block to view i had a gut feeling that this was the apartment for us. I was right. I was also mega shocked to find out that El Gouna has broadband... Yes, fibre broadband. So now Dan and I can work from home, Skype the whole lot! Go us! 

The first few nights we got bitten to death by mosquitos though. I swear if I ever get a chance to be reincarnated I'll come back as a mozzie; they have such happy little bloodsucking lives around here! RAID and OFF! Have become my new best friends. We're slowly getting them under control, they're crafty little buggers, they get through anywhere!

El Gouna itself is quite simply stunning. It's vastly different to everywhere else that I've visited in Egypt, it's like driving into a completely different country bar the sand.. You can never get rid of the sand.

The marinas and downtown remind me of being somewhere in the med. Coffee houses and meetings take place around the edge of the marina. There's supermarkets and shops amongst tonnes of different restaurants. I had the most awesome Chinese last night. Yes, Chinese takeaway in Egypt.. It's weird, I know!

 

So yeah, first week down. Tonnes of meetings, moving into our house, meeting new people, a day trip to Hurghada... Which is a bit different to here to say the least. It's been a busy one! I haven't even managed to get into the swimming pool yet. Jenfail.

Hoping to get back in the water this week. I've got my eye on some kitesurfing and paddle boarding too.. Just because I can, and well.. It's Egypt why work with no play?!

Jen.  

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

My friend Jim

A year ago I lost one of my closest friends. He was my adopted Granddad and I loved him very much.

I always knew Jim played an integral part of my life over the last five years, but I didn’t quite realise just how much until he wasn’t there anymore.

He’s the man who gave me my office role at the Conservatives. Former Council leader himself and a very well known, likeable person with a Black Country sense of humour that never went away. Within weeks of working in the office we’d become firm friends. He knew how low my self-confidence had been from being out of full time work for a year, and also being crushed by a former bully of a boss. He mentored me and showed me how to adapt to a very random office job; taking every challenge in my stride.

 

He also suffered from Lupus, which again gave us both a mutual understanding as he knew how I suffered with my M.E. We’d forever be discussing how many “spoons” we had left, chat about the world and politics… he’d come out with silly sayings like “She’s all fur coat and no knickers” and tell me stories about his life and experiences and how much he loved his wife, Joy.

 We came to a quick understanding of my weak points; my dyslexia and my passionate loathing of minuting meetings. To the point he’d specifically make sure he’d come in the office a day after to write them up with me. . (I still bloody hate taking minutes now, and I make sure everyone knows about it!)   I used to tease him and call him the Grammar Nazi, which is hilarious as I’ve seemed to have adopted the nickname at my own work now. I think he’d be proud of me for that. I’m the one people come to proof read their work. Never once did I dream that this would happen! It was all down to him.

 

He taught me to trust my instincts and to not take any hassle. We dealt with some difficult people over the years and he showed me how to work with and not against anything that came in my path.

He threw me in at the deep end at election time.. from Office Secretary to Agent in the space of a few days. However, I’m quite sure he did it knowing that I could swim. He gave me back a confidence that at the time was very much needed. He was always there to support and give advice so long as I’d had a big hug and made him his cup of tea in his over-sized Wolves Mug first. (I would say I learned something about Football. Unfortunately the only thing Jim managed to teach me is that the Wolves are orange and black. I like orange, and I love Wolves therefore I remember.)

 

I think of him every day, and regularly come across decisions in work, or home and think to myself “what would Jim say or do?”. Normally I sit and grin afterward, knowing full too well he’d be telling me off, or teasing me. But no matter what, he was always there to support me.

 

He’s still a constant influence in my life and I’m very sure he always will be. The most loveliest part is that I find that whenever I meet someone who knew him, they say the same thing

You're missed Jim. x

 

Contemplating Life and Politics.

Sitting on the decking with my coffee this morning, relaxing and contemplating the world that I live in. There's a sea mist that is making everything damp but it's quite therapeutic and fresh. It's making me very thoughtful as I hear the birds tweet, and watch a spider making it's web right next to me. Such a creation should never be destroyed. Such an amazing creature.

I've decided to step down at the next election, May 2015. I've known this for a while but it's taken me quite some time to come to terms with it. I've had an ongoing fight for about the last year on whether to attempt to stand again, as I do love my town and what I stand for so much. My opinions may not always follow the crowd, and can cause inner turmoil but at least I know I can stand by what I say.

My old boss, Jim who came to be known affectionately as my Granddad passed away recently. I miss him every day and he was my inspiration for choosing my path into politics. Such a powerful and great presence cannot be replaced and his advice and intuition is sorely missed. Not to mention I just miss not being able to get one of the best hugs I've ever had off someone, or the silly sense of humour that kept me laughing for days on end. I hope to think I've made him proud. (I miss you Jimbo x)

I'm proud of things that I have achieved, there's also things I am not so proud of. However, I feel it's my time to take a step back and actually figure out what I want in life. I've never been the sitting at home, settled kind. I've always been flitting away to find my next adventure. I'm not entirely sure what the plan is yet but I know that standing for re selection would be committing myself to another four years that I'm not entirely sure I could give. That wouldn't be fair on me, or the electorate. On the brighter side, that doesn't mean I'm quitting politics for good come next May. I'm far too opinionated for that. I'll be around, normally manic and doing something silly for charity and the local people.

Right, time to get inside. The sea mist has ensured I have a very wet bottom and my coffee has gone.

Over and out. 

The only thing you have to fear....

I'm feeling empowered! Yes, actually I am. I know that's very preppy for a Sunday night but just hear me out....

Today marks the start of something new in my life. I may well have just cracked my biggest fear: Claustrophobia. In the last few weeks I've hit my issues head on by tackling each one:

The main fact being that I'm a scuba diver who hates being in enclosed spaces. Don't laugh!

I've always felt comfortable diving as I'm in control of my equipment. Safety and control make a massive difference to fear. I've never fancied caves, going through small passages, low visibility, inside wrecks etc. My irrational fear sweeps through my body and freezes me on the spot.

It all started back when I was little. There were a few moments that encouraged the fear to grow. One being when I managed to get my neck stuck in a sunroof and nearly decaptiated myself (impressive, eh?) Another when we went to the HMS Warrior on a school trip and I managed to have a panic attack in the engine room. Obviously I was ridiculously popular with the other kids in my group when they had to cancel the tour. To this day I'd take the stairs over a lift. I don't like walk-in cupboards and if anyone tries to hold me down, well, just don't please. :)

A few years ago in Gran Canaria, my Guide took my into a small hole cave at about 29m. I was so proud of myself for completing this really trival task. It was a start for me to realise that actually it wasn't so bad; in fact I'd found it very interesting.

I started my route into technical diving a few weeks ago in Egypt. With this I had to up my game with safety and getting used to my equipment; especially in emergencies. Going past 40 meters on a dive is when it becomes far more serious. You have decompression to deal with amongst other things. It's not as simple as what I've been used to doing for years. 

One of my main problems was that I hadn't taken my mask off underwater since I'd passed my open water back in 2004. Suddenly realising I had to do it again gave me nightmares and stressed me out. Now writing about it a few weeks later I actually laugh at myself, how pathetic! I soon got over it. Mostly because I didn't want to fail. But I guess we've all been there whilst doing something you don't like at somepoint in your life.

I've been plucking up courage to start UK diving for years. Low visibility really scared me but I promised myself I'd at least try. I was very lucky on the fact the one day I jumped in the lake back in May the visibility was fine! However, I've been back a few times in the last few weeks and I'm now quite familiar with not even being able to see my own hands through the silty water, what joy!

I was diving with others, whom I knew were next to me but not a clue where. It was actually very comforting when floating through the silt on your own. Therapeutic almost. I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed pace. It was only when I suddenly had this tap on my mask and then a thumb appear in front of my nose did I realised it was time to go up!

So yes. There you have it. Mask skills. Low visibility. Being a bit more self sufficient and aware. Maybe I might even attempt a few more lifts in the oncoming months. You never know but at least it's a start. We all have to start somewhere.