Hi guys Hope you are doing ok - havent heard from some of you since I got back so please keep in touch. I miss your emails....
Life here is still good and of course, busy. Work wise I have been trying to get to grips with a new travel order system - they impliment the new system but dont train you - so I have been messing around trying to teach myself all week!! Been sorting out lots of cats and kittens - it is kitten season and I have loads to re-home... Went to see some out on camp yesterday which we eventually need to try and catch once they are a bit older.. been busy organising social events. There is a comedy night coming up so I am co-ordinating tickets for that and I am also organising a trip to Dubai during a long weekend in July...
Been doing the usual classes - only been to the gym once so far this week - I was shattered after the dive trip on Saturday so didnt go..
Anyways, the weekend was wonderful. We flew from Dammam to Jeddah. The men in towels are the men who are doing their pilgrimage to Mekkah - they have to do this once in their life - there were just a lot of them around wearing towels (something to do with them being clean!) but seeing men wandering around in airports in towels is a weird concept - it looked like they were getting ready to line up for a shower or bath! Anyway, the journey went smoothly really - 3 hour bus trip after Jeddah to the port - that was not great - but smooth all the same. Got their around 10pm and then boarded the boat and got all the dive gear ready for the following day.
Met Captain Erik - a star in his own right and entertainment for the trip. He was born in the UK, but bought up in Nigeria but has a Welsh accent! He has lived in Jeddah for 37 years and works for a Prince - hence the fact he is allowed to run his own tour company as the Prince allows it and wants to encourage tourism... He has 5 guys working for him on the boat and they did everything for you - cooked, cleaned and helped you on with all your gear and re-filled the tanks, etc.
I did my first dive on Weds. I have always had an issue with jumping into the water - but got over this eventually. Did 2 dives the first day - I was ok but a bit freeked out at first with the depth as I am used to being able to see the bottom of the sea but in the Red Sea - once you go down past the wall of coral it just goes down and down forever! Anyway, I was ok - managed about 20 mins down there both times - had the usual issues with my ears as I always do.
After each dive we have a break and some food - diving makes you feel knackered and hungry! In the evening we had tea and watched some House DVDs! Early night as we were all tired...
Next day I did a dive with Captain Erik whilst Darron went off with the more advanced folk. This was my best dive and I was much more confident - we even went down to 84ft without realising it - we were only supposed to go to 60! Erik had to fetch us back up!! Saw loads of fish, a manta ray, a turtle. It was great. I did another dive later but developed a headache so only stayed down around 20 mins again.
Later that day we went over to an island and made a fire and cooked fish that the guys had caught - we had a really nice evening. Also rescued a seagull that had got caught in fishing wire but unfortunately it died later. We tried our best though...
The next day I just snorkelled - it was still good and you could get right over the coral. Then the journey back and we just about made the flight by the skin of our teeth with an hour before take off!!
So, loved diving and cannot wait to see if Erik has a cancellation in October for us to go again!
Didnt do much Saturday as was so shattered and spaced out and when I was sitting down I kept swaying from the boat movement! Did my class yesterday and got boot camp today.
This weekend we have a murder mystery night to go to on Weds. Going dress shopping Thurs (ready for the Aussie ball next weekend) and then Thurs night there is a 60's/70s night... it never stops does it!
I think thats about all anyway.
Here is the link for the rest of the photos.
I dont take credit for the underwater snaps - they were taken by Sheryl - we need to get a decent camera!
PLEASE WRITE SOON....
JB
xxx
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