Travel Archives - Page 3 of 4

light from below my feet – 22.03.10

I started today.

I am going to be working 6 days a week. On average I will be having Sunday off making an average of 2 dives per day. Pretty hard core I reckon, and brilliant.

The morning was spent, completing paperwork and disclaimers in duplicate (Elf and Safety!!). Then putting kit together in a box and being shown around the centre by Mr D., the Dive Centre Manager.

Mr D. is a really nice guy who is married to a German woman. They both have a little baby. I met another instructor Babs, known as the 'Diving Diva'. She is a typical instructor, jumping around, engaging, and motivating the white and blue collar workers to enjoy the diving and giving them a real experience. She presents as really fun, but works really hard moving tanks around, making everything safe and sorting gear.
Today was an orientation dive. If you don't know this means getting into the water in the way the instructor advises… achieving a neutral buoyancy and then doing some basic exercises. We rolled over, went upside down as a handstand and stayed there floating after pushing off from the sea bed. Swimming backwards and doing a roly-poly

It all sounds pretty easy, but it isn't. Underwater is like being on an alien planet. Concepts we take for granted, even basic functions are profoundly altered, obviously including the idea of breathing and that is just the start.

Whilst under the water I saw:

Several wrasse (multi coloured)
Three large grey/brown parrot fish (different from in the pet shop)
A cuttle fish (hiding in the sand which swam off backwards as I approached it)
Some goatfish (using their moustaches to dig in the sand and sea bed)

and a whole host of others I do not know the names of.

When we finished the dive and everyone was feeling a bit tired, Babs played a practical joke by placing a dried 'sticky' date, into a colleagues shoe to see if he would notice.

The whole group was aware, the guy walked back toward the minibus and got dressed. As he put his shoe on, the tension and excitement within the group was palpable. The put his foot on the floor and took his foot half out a few times before replacing it, as if there was just something about the shoe he could not get comfortable. In the end the shoe was rammed on.

He did it up and proceeded to get everything and everyone into the minibus. No one said a word. It was one of those school boy pranks which are so simple, yet so funny, and quite mean. How will he get her back I wonder?

My best bit of the dive: I hung suspended upside down and got all confused as a mirrored heaving shimmering film shone with rays of light from below my feet, whilst above my head fish swum past inverted below a sandy ceiling.

March 23, 2010/2 Comments/by LloydHM

Scuba, Travel

ropes trailing upwards toward the light – 23 03 10 – Morning

Got up early following dreamless heavy sleep. I took the time to make a few cheese and salad sandwiches for packed lunch before I heard my 7:30am 'wake-up' alarm go off.

I was dressed and outside the gate for 8:30 and Laurence, the dive centre manager, pulled up just before twenty to providing me a lift to work.

I was briefed in the morning and it was explained to me that from now on I am to assist in greeting customers as they arrive and help them to relax. (My first tranche of responsibility).

It was made clear that I would be diving with Babs in the morning on a wreck dive. Customers included in the mornings dive were two guys, Colin and Andrew; Colin works in the armed services, married 25 years and has a 21 year old daughter, whilst Andrew is a white Zimbabwean living in the UK, working in London.

All the kit (BCU, fins, mask, wetsuit, boots, regulator and weight belt) was taken from the individual hangers and placed into white stacking boxes, the boxes were in turn stacked into the mini-bus and we set off from Costa Teguise (base) South West toward Puerto del Carmen where some time ago three Spanish fishing boats were sunk explicitly to provide wreck sites for divers.

However intentional, wrecks are haunting places.

With large surge-swaying seaweed-festooned ropes trailing upwards toward the light; and abstract lines of sun cutting down from the surface, one can only reflect on the serene battle between industry and nature. A battle we can rest assured, in the long run, nature will always win.

During the dive we saw:

•   Three barracuda
•   Cuttlefish
•   Damselfish
•   Ornate wrasse
•   Starfish (with a missing and re-growing leg)
•   Urchins
•   and a skeleton of a dolphin.

Best bit of the dive: I went into a small cave, the walls covered in yellow lichen-like coral. As I turned and looked up, my eyes followed the ascending bubbles exhaled on every breath. The bubbles, some small and some large, floated towards the roof of the little cave. When they could go up no further, the bubbles travelled sideways, moving like quick-silver to find the highest point; before becoming trapped as miniature mercury lagoons where they could travel no more – all silver and wonderfully reflective. Inside the cave I floated for a moment watching the nature of bubbles under rock and there for a moment, I think I found peace.

Then I swam out again toward the group to look at more rusting wrecks, like an old elephant’s graveyard.

March 23, 2010/0 Comments/by LloydHM

Meanderings, Travel

The day I bought a bike

Today i bought a bike from Babs.

She had offered to rent it to me for €12 per week. I said I would think about it. I already knew that the bike was for sale for €100, I ate my sandwiches for lunch and when I had nearly finished, agreed to buy it from her.

We went down the road to a cycle hire shop, where I met Bab’s partner (who is a tri-athlete and takes part in Iron Man competitions), his sister and her boyfriend, who agreed to pump the tyres up.

The place is cool and new bikes are being built to add to the hire stock.

Whilst there I drank a cup of cold tea from Babs' best Denby pottery mug (which she was most put out about). There too good for the bike store. My sister uses Denby and so I can see why if she saw her mugs being used at the Castle she works in, she too would blow a gasket.

Later in the day, it was presumed that I would no longer need my lift to and from work.

I thought about it, and not really knowing where I am or where I live in relation to anywhere else, I asked if I might continue with the pick-ups until I get my bearing. The bike after all was simply to buy emancipation from either the feeling of living under house arrest (which happens whenever I can't drive somewhere) or the idea that my actions have to comply to another persons timetable.

It was agreed that I should drop the bike in the van and get a lift.

After I got back home, I ate, had a bath (falling asleep for about 15 minutes) and got dressed for cycling.

Aside from an afternoon jaunt in 2005 in Paris, following Fni's brother in law around some beautiful chateau filled suburbs, I have not ridden a push bike since 1997.

I bought a bike once after thinking that cycling from Bromley to Stockwell in London would be quicker that driving or 'queuing' in the rush hour traffic. I remember I got as far as Lewisham before I actually died.

That bike was never ridden again.

Anyway back to the story.

I got the bike out of the front gate faced the town, and if I tell you that I peddled twenty times, I would be exaggerating. It was all down hill and takes about 10 minutes, door to door. Good news for getting to work then!

I cycled all around the town in all directions for about 45 minutes, before getting a bit bored.

Whilst receiving a call on my new Lanzmob, I tried to cycle down some stairs and speak with one hand at the same time, which if you have not cycled for some time is a bad idea.

I stopped for a bear at the Beach Bar, a nice place overlooking the beach, where the bar staff were friendly enough.

Then I cycled home. My bicycle has 27 gears. I know this because I think I used all of them at varying times to get home. I confess that I walked up the slip road adjoining the by-pass, but am pleased to say that the rest of the way, I proceeded under peddle power.

So, lift to work tomorrow, and probably from then on I will cycle on my own.

Hoorah for the feeling of liberation!

March 23, 2010/0 Comments/by LloydHM

Meanderings, Travel

Today I got off the merry-go-round

Today I got off the Merry-go-round.

It was pretty tense in the morning and time just flew away with itself. A zillion little loose ends, just not done.

My late Dad's wife who from now I will refer to as 'Fni' has been so supportive; being the primary enabler of change, helping, encouraging with advice and guidance. Although Susan and my sister broke the back of the house sorting, without the help of Fni since I went a bit bonkers following a family wedding last September, it is difficult to concieve where I would be.

Anyhow, no more of this sicophantic credit giving, I hear you cry!!

Gatwick South was an experience with a lighter I carried, causing much constenation and resulting in my being searched and ion tested.

Flight was good and I was sandwiched between two really charming people 'Jenny' and 'Julia'.

Jenny had been to other Canary Islands before and Julia has been coming to Lanzarote for 20 years. I got on with them both and the 4-hour flight went very fast.

Lanzarote airport is a reasonable size, somewhere between Stanstead and Manston.

I wandered through the airport and called my new boss, Patrick. It was agreed that he would pick me up from the front of the airport.

And so I waited for 5-minutes.

March 21, 2010/1 Comment/by LloydHM

Meanderings, Music, Scuba, Travel

I wrote to razor but he did not write back

I sent a letter to Razor care of the Sheppy Prison Cluster the week before last. I enclosed his glasses and asked if he could complete a visitor order, which I now know is the protocol. To date I have heard nothing back anf my time here in the UK is running out.

I fly to Lanzarote on Sunday morning to start my Scuba internship with Calypso Diving.

I don't think I am to get my guitar or hat back which is a shame.

Over the last week my house has had a makeover, with assistance being provided by dad's wife, my sister and a new vagabond pal, who has made her way around Africa and South America over the last seven years. All have worked really hard to clear out my gaff.

Ultimately six boxes of precious things made their way into the attic, whilst 22 black bags of belongings (from downstairs alone) were taken to the tip.

I loved the hat for all it and its feather symbolized which I have already described to you in previous articles. I also loved the guitar, remembering Loz, Christina and others playing it in the Petts Wood House after mum died when I got drunk for a week, following Loz's dad's wedding.

The guitar also brings memories of Dave singing 'the Duck song' and the only song anyone has ever written about me, 'Lloyd stole my midget' – brilliant!

It is concluded by all and agreed by me (the rational side of my personality anyhow) that I do have some 'letting go issues'. "What's wrong with that?" my alter ego screams inside my head?

Maybe the hat and guitar are just two examples of this and maybe its karma that 'Razor the hat thief' does not write back, maybe without the prompts I my memories need to be relied upon more for what they are – glorious memories, whilst life moves on.

March 18, 2010/0 Comments/by LloydHM

Meanderings, Travel

Expedition Advisory Centre (GO)

I parked in the underground car park, not two minutes walk away. I had not thought to check if parking was available outside the Kensington Gore entrance, but from now on, I will.

I wandered past the Tunisian Embassy before crossing Exhibition Road to the new front door of the RGS. I visited once before the 'unlocking the archive' scheme was complete but did not get too far into the building.

This time I had an appointment with Shane Winser at "Geography Outdoors". As I am sure most of you are still on the edge of your seats from last weeks post about the importance I had placed on the visit, the office occupied by Go which was formally the Expedition Advisory Centre is not only the same space, but also looks, feels and smells the same. If this can be used as a bench mark, then all in the world of the RGS is fine!

Shane listened to my 'no-plan plan' over a cup of coffee and when we parted provided me with two pieces of advice:

1) Look at the digital explorer book of 'Geoblogging for Travellers' (www.digitalexplorer.co.uk) – check!

2) get in touch with Rob from Escape the City (www.escapethecity.org) – who I telephoned on my way home – check!

Hoorah for the RGS!! Hoorah for the EAC and for its new incarnation – GO!!

February 22, 2010/0 Comments/by LloydHM

Scuba, Travel

Wow! so the game is on

Having been given the email contact details of a dive school in Lanzarote, I tried getting in touch last week. No reply.

This
week I was informed that the interface between Hotmail and Terra is
often having an argument so emails are delayed or lost. Ridiculous as
it sounds, it's true.

I telephoned one of the contacts last
night who explained that the principle of me doing the courses I need
to go forth into the wide world and procure gainful employment from
diving is not a problem. That it would take about 6-weeks and that I
would need to talk to the boss about an intern placement in the
morning. He seemed a really nice chap who was very keen to explain all
the considerations ahead of me.

This morning I phoned the boss.

He
seemed really switched on. The telephone call was short and sweet. Yes, the
intern placement is a goer. Yes, it will take a month and a half to
complete 60 dives necessary to qualify. I would need to undertake a
first aid course and that I would not need to bring any of my own
equipment, everything will be supplied including the encyclopedia and
manual.

Wow! so the game is on.

This evening I followed up
with a call to the house of the guy I spoke to last night. His wife
was very accommodation and explained that accommodation would be
available at least in principle for the first two weeks. If it does
not work out, then they would help me find some else on the island that
is reasonable.

So this is good news and demonstrates that the
no-plan plan is good so long as every opportunity is followed up and
one is flexible. It also demonstrates once again that network-based
leads are good leads to follow.

Now I just need to pack up some more of my books and throw away even more of the repulsiveness which fills my house.

February 19, 2010/4 Comments/by LloydHM

Meanderings, Travel

What this Wednesday is all about

Wednesday is day
filled with potential. I remember learning about supporters and
resisters, enablers and constraints. This Wednesday I have two
appointments with people who can provide information which will support
and enable or resist and constrain.

I have an
appointment first thing with the Chartered Institute of Journalists and
I have confirmed a meeting with what is now known as 'Geography
Outdoors' with the Royal Geographical Society at 2pm.

'Go' as it
is now known used to be called the Expedition Advisory Centre (EAC).
It looks to me like the branding guys have come in and in order that an
acronym can be created encouraging people to 'Go!', the whole
department was renamed. Even in its 'New Labour' – 21st century guise,
I still need to seek information, advice and guidance for my no plan
plan.

The
decision makers probably listened to facts and arguments that 'Go' is a
brand that will take the work of the department into the future or some
such. Maybe I am just a sentimentalist but the Expedition Advisory
Centre did its job in an unfussy way for decades and was well
respected.

Having not
been up therefore some time, I expect it is now lit with full spectrum
fluorescent strips and having lost the old school wooden furniture,
thread bare carpets and cluttered common-room feel in its
modernizing. I certainly hope not. It was always strange knowing that
so many great explorers had been in the rooms and sat at the same old
desks gave inspiration.

Maybe so long as the job fulfilled is done in the same manner and to
the same excellent standard, even if it is a sanitized un-cluttered
office, what does it matter? We'll see if the 'spirit' has been lost
with the old name.

I will of course update you with how I get on.

February 19, 2010/0 Comments/by LloydHM

Background, Meanderings, Travel

New Year and Snakes Blood Soup

I have never seen in the New Year in Scotland. I have been there
for the period between Christmas and New Year lots of times, but
generally drove back down for the night itself to be spent in Calais
Gate with chums.

Last year was spent in with the lost
love. So soon after Dad going, it was not really a happy occasion. In
fact I recall I went to bed early despite there being an Elton concert
televised.

This time my sister telephoned me in
early December. She said that a charity swim was being organised at
Inellan down the road from where she lives. She asked "would I join in?"

"Of course!", without thinking, I confirmed that I would do it.

As
the weeks went by and the day approached I became a little hesitant. As
I drove from home to Scotland through the snow I watched the outside
temperature fall from a balmy 0°C to -6°C.

The
days wore on and my trepidation increased. As I have explained before,
2nd Christmas was great, but between Christmas and the dip, only time.
Even that's not entirely true, since we went for walks, and played Lego
so diversionary activities were plentiful.

My
sister confirmed a few days before that Old Years Night (as our Nan
calls it) would be spent at a dance organized by a local dairy farm in
the Toward community hall. It turned out to be great and ranked as
highly by me as a barn dance wedding I once attended near Brighton. The
best ever wedding of a friend I have ever been to, but that's another
story.

The New Year dance was great. A bloke with a
synth and a mic, sang a range of songs including some traditional
Scottish dances (which is always a good laugh so long as you can follow
the people in front) including 'stripping the willow, the dashing
something and something else'. It was a real laugh.

New Year came, balloons fell from the ceiling, my sister and brother-in-law danced.

2010 was here! Hoorah! Gone was the back-end of the worst period in my life.

Then came morning.

For
Christmas my sister had bought me a "Keep calm and carry on" t-shirt
and we decided to wear the same as a uniform. I had found my sun hat
from a few years ago and we both had blue shorts on.

It
should at this point be explained that we knew a few people who had
borrowed wet suits for the dip, but for some reason, we decided that if
you are going to swim in the freezing cold, you might as well do it.
"Wet suits are for wimps", we chanted!!

The support
crew (brother in law and nephew) were both carrying the cameras and
'snakes blood soup' (which tasted remarkably like tomato?) was poured
into the Thermos flask.

My sister and I ran next door
to gather some more troops (successfully getting swimming agreement
from two with the rest of the family in support – G looked particularly
fragile but was in fine spirits).

Then the time came.
A hundred or so strangers lined the beach at Inellan and a few other
people were in fancy dress with wings like 'arctic fairies' ready to
take the plunge. In all I estimate that 25, or so, of us were there for
the swim.

Having duly signed the obligatory health and
safety disclaimer and paid our £5.00 entry fee, a wonderful fancy
statue of liberty started the countdown.

We were off.

My
sister and I had already agreed to swim further out than any others and
that swimming was not confirmed unless total immersion had been
achieved.

I was proud to say that my sun hat floated at least twice straight from my bobbing head.

We
gained our footing and both stood up. Shaking hands to the sounds of
shrieks and screams of the natives running for the shore we calmly
chatted for a bit and agreed to go in again one more time. This time it
hurt!

We got out and waded in as controlled a fashion as we could into shore.

Warmed by towel and snakes blood soup, a shot of whiskey was passed to each of the swimmers by the organisers.

We all congratulated each other and having got dressed, proceeded to get back into the car and return home, triumphant!

January 25, 2010/0 Comments/by LloydHM