Underwater Love

I've not been very active on the blogging front for a bit cause I've been learning how to dive.

Hubby and I decided to give ourselves a PADI open water diver course for Christmas and we booked it for early February. 

Two weekends worth of classroom time, confined water dives in a pool and finally the qualifying open water dives which took place at Wraysbury lake last weekend.

I am very proud to declare that both hubby and I are now qualified PADI open water divers, which means that next time we go on holiday we can hook up with all those cool peeps in wetsuits and go diving...HUZZAH!

We fell in love with the underwater world during our snorkelling excursions in Thailand the year before last and have been talking about progressing to diving ever since, it just felt like the natural thing to do.

I've already scored a "new" wetsuit, fins & mask on eBay, the actual SCUBA diving gear is rather expensive so that will have to be hired until we can afford to splash out.

 I can't wait until our next magical mystery tour i.e. holiday abroad...

This is what started it all off, snorkelling in Thailand 2010...

This was me last weekend at a rather chilly Wraysbury lake doing the 

'tired diver tow'...

I think that I was probably more tired  than Sergey ;)

All the peeps at Dive Wimbledon were fantastic, especially Anton our brilliant instructor...

If it wasn't for AWESOME Anton's patience of a saint and steadfast encouragement I don't think I would have managed it through last weekend. 

You really couldn't ask for a better instructor, the dude deserves a medal.

You only really notice the sheer weight of your SCUBA kit when you get back up on "dry" land.

I was loaded up with a ten kilo weight belt plus all the other kit, my knees weren't loving it to put it politely.

To willingly descend into +4°C English lake water in the middle of winter certainly isn't everybody's idea of fun but if I was asked to do it again (as crazy as it may sound) I'd do it at the drop of a laden weight belt!

However I have a sneaky suspicion that I'll like diving in tropical waters even more.

Hope eveyone has had a splendid Saturday!

I'm off to the car boot sale later, first one in weeks ;)

Lot's of love,

Jennie

xXx

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I woke up early this morning to go for a walk with my camera.

I wanted to take a few pics of the beautiful winter wonderland that we've been treated to before the park got mobbed with pissing dogs & kiddies intent on scraping the ground bare making snowmen.

I love snow, it's magical!

It feels like you've just stepped out of the back of the wardrobe and straight into Narnia...

When I returned back home I was greeted by a snowman outside our house...

I was also wildly excited to spot a pretty little robin on the balcony, yay!

I wore my lovely Afghan dress for the first time today...

Traditional Afghani dress (eBay), Traditional Afghani hat (market), Tecnica furry boots (eBay)

By the way if you happen to like my boots I spotted two pairs going for a song on eBay.

There's a small catch though, the seller is offering 'pick up only ' in the Manchester area but if you happen to live there and take a size 4 or 4,5 in boots then you could be bagging yourself a bargain tomorrow afternoon.

Clicking here & here will take you to the auctions.

I bought my pair on eBay a few years ago, they are supremely comfy & warm.

Hope everyone has had a fun filled weekend :)

Lot's of love,

Jennie

xXx