Coz that's how we roll...

This past weekend I had my second ever outdoor climbing adventure in the UK and I can say without a doubt that this one went a lot better than the previous one. I was a lot more confident on the wall and wasn't really scared by the outdoor aspect as much although there were times when I was very aware that my brain was compartmentalising in order to keep me sane. You simply have to not think about the fact that you're 15m up a piece of rock with some shitty little hold and whole hill falling away beneath you.

Possibly my favourite sequence of photos are these two of Steve. Before is an oh-so-typical "aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh, where's the hold?!" and the after is the "aaaah, there's the hold" look of joy.


Despite being a girl who does like her amenities, I coped very well with no shower all weekend and having to run off and pee behind bushes (a tricky thing to do when you're camping in a paddock). We had brilliant weather and it was great to get out of London and do something with my weekend. I think we'll be cramming in a fair few more trips before the summer is out.

slumming it

So this weekend I'm going climbing and camping. I was quite excited about the whole thing when I heard the word 'camping'. I have fond memories of family camping trips when I was growing up and was looking forward to sitting around a fire making damper, toasting marshmallows and singing anything but Kumbaya. I know some people don't like camping but as long as I'm warm and dry, it's all good. Except for one thing- I also like to be clean and non-sweaty/stinky and I found out that we are not staying at a camping ground, we are staying in a field in the middle of nowhere with only a port-a-loo (and you know that's gonna be scary) for amenities. I must admit that the lack of running water took a slight bit of shine off my rose-tinted camping glasses but I can pack baby wipes and, as my friend Kerri pointed out, we'll be near the ocean, we can always just run in to clean off. And then be all salty.... Aaah well, it's all fun and games really. I just had to laugh at myself because I really want to be Little Miss Outdoors, I really do. I love nature (just not bugs) and I like being outside (mostly) and I like being active (as a general rule) but when it comes down to the crunch, I'm afraid that I think I'm quite fond of my mod-cons, top of the list being good cooking facilities and a nice bathroom. I'm almost ashamed of myself.

Where's Wally?

I'm internationally famous!

I was sent to Gran Canaria for work as they were having a photo competition there and I got snapped by the press when we were in the submarine looking at the divers on their warm-up test day. Can you see me?



Gran Canaria was gorgeous. I feel slightly bad that I saw nothing of the island and spent all of my time in Peurto Morgan where the competition was but once you've woken up, had breakfast, gone for a dive, come back and had a late lunch, well it's 3pm which isn't really the time to be heading out in the blazing heat. It makes much more sense to grab a book, have a read, hop in the ocean when it gets too hot, come out to dry off, hop back in when it gets too hot, come out and have an icecream, hop back in the water... I think you all get the idea. I had an absolutely brilliant time. The Spanish people are so lovely and I think there is some genetic component in me that starts pumping out endorphins as soon as it sees marinas packed with boats.


I'll post some more pics later...

we're all muppets

One of my friends posted this picture on Facebook and managed to tag just about everyone in the pic from our group of friends. The two grumpy old men are their flat's landlord(s). Some are remarkably apt and seeing it, I haven't laughed so long in a very long time.

So who am I? Well I must admit that I had to google it as I didn't know the name but had some vague recollection of a suitably insane character and it turns out that Phil couldn't have labeled me more aptly if he tried. I am Lew Zealand, renouned for my boomerang fish act. Yeah, you heard me, boomerang fish.

And since I'm off to Egypt tomorrow for a week of sun, sand and fishies, this entry will have to tide you over. Peace out. Oh yeah- and it's my birthday on the 10th so send some love my way. ;-)

new kit glory

My new BCD and boots arrived today and as my sister might say- oh lordy lordy, they are beautiful. Sure, this is mainly because they are new and they are mine but still... And they match my wetsuit, oh the colour-coordinated glory. I am going to be buoyant as all hell but I will be looking goooooooooooood. Actually, to be perfectly honest, I might, just possibly, be looking just a little bit new-matching-bit-geeky (and not in a good-geeky way) but I'm sure I'll get over that. In fact everything will be new except for my fins and reg. Hmm.... I think I shall ask for a nice first intro dive to test them all out.