Hi everybody!
This next posts finds me back home in the UK after 6 months absence! I'm currently in a rather cloudy Somerset at my Nana's house, ticking over until I meet up with mum back in Portsmouth on Saturday. More on that later though as my last month in Oman was great!
I joined Matthew and Dad on a dive at Fahal island a week after my last post. It was great to be back diving again with them after so long away. We saw plenty of Moray eels en route along with loads of fish and amazing coral. The water was bathtub temperature for most of the dive, although thermoclines caused a few shivers form me in my short 3mm wetsuit! Nevertheless I had a great day out!
Me taking the plunge off Fahal Island on my second dive of the day
Me and Dad check out a "leopard print" Moray eel
To stave off the boredom I arranged to help out at the Euro Divers centre where Matthew is working. I mainly helped out with the office work but there was plenty to do with helping load the boats and assist the guests with getting their equipment before their dives. I had great fun working there and made great friends with the team! There wasn't a day that went by without plenty of laughs!
Taking a break from work at Euro Divers on the Marina
Back home with Dad I managed to get back into my running and even joined dad for a few spinning sessions at the Intercontinental Hotel. Their cooled training pool was a great place to spend the afternoon! Alongside the exercise I joined the monthly poker night with some of the guys from the compound and happily came fourth out of ten players!
But my time in Oman was soon to come to an end. And two days before I came back to the UK I managed to head out with the guys and girls from Euro Divers for a few drinks on the beach at the Oman Dive Centre. Aswell as this being my leaving party Matthew had received his PADI instructor's certification and could now begin taking courses! Needless to say it was a great night and the best way to end my time in Oman.
Me and Matthew enjoy the party on the beach at Oman Dive Centre.
I flew back to the UK a few days later, although every stage of my journey was delayed by an hour. To make my connecting flight in Abu-Dhabi I had to run about a kilometre to catch my flight to Heathrow! Back on UK soil it was a three hour bus ride to Somerset where mum picked me up to bring me back to Nana's.
Two nights ago I managed a reunion with Sophie and Laura in Bristol! I was happy to see them again and catch up with them after our 3 month adventure in Nepal. I'll admit it was a bit strange seeing them in the calm of Bristol. The last time I'd seen them was when we waved goodbye on the corner outside the Utse Hotel in Kathmandu! Needless to say we had a great night and we'll be seeing each other again I'm sure.
The gang's back together again! Me, Sophie and Laura just after dinner in Bristol
So what's the plan for me now? Me and Mum start a bit of a road trip down to our house in France on Monday along with her friend Sophie and Oscar the dog. And that is where I'll be staying until late August when it'll be time to return to the UK and get ready for Uni! My "year to remember" is coming to an end but it seems like only a few months ago that I was on my plane to Israel. That was almost a year ago now! I've still got some time in France to make the most of before Uni starts in September so I'll keep you all updated as and when things happen.
Thanks for reading guy! See you next time!
