Beat this...

[pieater]

...for a report on the worst trip ever. Brightened only by the actions of a few YDers.

Shortly into this year (think like January the 4th) Up4it tells me that BSAC are organising "the big REDS bash", which consists of a weekend of concerted diving around Anglesey, mapping wrecks and recording the marine life. As I'm interested in both of these topics I readily sign up. Getting weekend passes from SWMBO is (due to my domestic circumstances) tricky, so this is it, my only chance for the year.

In the build up to the weekend I decided that I needed a new twinset, otherwise I wouldn't be guaranteed a fill for the diving - depending on other's needs at the weekend. I contacted Phill Nackers about some Heisers with Agir gear. Unfortunately, Agir would appear to operate on "manyana" time and Phill doesn't have any manifolds. HOWEVER, on Wednesday night, this gem sends me a PM offering to effectively lend me a set with v4tec equipment, so off I go to Brum on Thursday morning, while I should have been at work.

I met Phill and family at chez Nackers without too much strife. I leave with a semi-loaned twinset and other stuff that was simply too gorgeous not to buy. the phrase "above and beyond" suit Phill very well...

The M6 was closed at Stafford, so off I head up the A5/A49 - along with every bugger else. FOUR hours later I stagger through the door.

The Friday I had planned for some practice dives for the weekend, getting used to the new gear etc. I had even arranged to meet people at Capernwray, then the childminder rings in sick - which scuppers that. Nevertheless, I had arranged to meet Phil Ennis to take delivery of a stage cylinder, so I load two whining offspring into the car and head up there anyway. I wait for my wife to get back home before I can load the car for the trip to Angelsey. Just coming over the Thelwall I get a flat. Nice. I change that (I'm now responsible for a flashing 40MPH sign on the M6 according to the traffic geezer who watches me change the wheel - note the use of the word "watch", not "help.") and I'm off to the REDS bash.

Two hours with paranoid checking of the tyre conditions and I arrive at the Sea & Surf centre to be warmly greeted by Steve. I put up my tent in the gathering gloom. I walk to the meeting room for the briefing. It's raining. A lot. 10 minutes later I receive a phone call to say that my Dad's been taken seriously ill, so it's pack up the tent and drive for 2.5 hours back home where he's in hospital. Arse.

Last night I had a few kind offers for the-practice-dive-that-never-was, and so went along today. I had a quality time, even though I met up with someone else for the dives. Thanks to JohnK, Sean0801 and Sparky. All I can say is that the heisers did wonders for my trim (once I'd remembered to turn the air on at 6M). They're well worth the money. I now have some 12l fabers for sale to fund the back-up heiser set if anyone's interested.

In terms of poo weekends, bar anyone I know actually dying, this was a belter.

Beat that!