...so I have bought myself a new pair of fins and boots for diving!
I had a bit of bad news (well a big bit to be honest) as I was about to leave the Maldives. The Foreign Office issued a No Travel alert for Bali, and there was some trouble with planes going out to Flores also, so I am not actually in Flores with Beth and Dom for Christmas after all. They both know how sad I am that I am not seeing them for a while yet, but all is not lost, as I was warmly welcomed back at Palm Beach, Koh Lanta Thailand. I have spent this week doing my Rescue Diver course in which I learn how to save people who are panicking, tired, unconscious, stupid etc from the bottom of the ocean and on the surface. I AM EXHAUSTED! Plus, so far, everyone has "died" which is a bit dispiriting, but they do that to everyone so that you learn the hard way and remember it all - so at least I am not alone in feeling like a numptie - no idea if that is how you spell that.
I nearly saved someone at one point and then got so excited at my cleverness that I let all the air out of their jacket and they sank and "drowned" First of all, this is actually quite hard to do, and of course is not something I would ever have done until I went on a course on how not to do it. Anyway, tomorrow is our final test, when we sit on a boat and wait for something horrific to happen which we then have to save. Or in our case, kill. Joking aside, it has been really helpful and interesting, and I can do CPR and stuff now too.
Christmas should be a drunken affair with a meal at the beach. We all bought flashing Santa hats last night - I get drunk very quickly when I am tired I have learned - so we are all set for the Festive Spirit (s). I bought a bottle of pink Champagne at Singapore airport which I cannot WAIT to drink as the wine here is absolutely crap, but we are ploughing on.
The 26th is a Public Holiday in memory of the Tsunami, of course, and as I can see PhiPhi from the Beach here, it will make it all the more poignant. All the guys here were on Phi Phi the day it happened, and all lived through it and helped other people that day and the next. I imagine there will be some difficult times for them that day. I will be taking some time alone to commemorate Aidrian, and I know that some of you have asked for various prayers etc for him. I will do as you have requested.
Anyway, have a marvellous Christmas, get drunk and think of me, as I will be thinking of you all.
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