DIRx weekend and Me

[Fiona]

It's the 29th August and after a couple of emails with Lou we sign up for the weekend, at this time Lou and Caroline will probably dive and I will do my usual Stoney and stand around a look "what's going on". I am not a member of the DIRx forum so Lou signs us up as Lou + 2 so as not to cause alarm

I had recently dived with Mal on a Cornwall weekend and anyone who has dived with him will know what his skills are like and I started to re-evaluate my own skills and more importantly that bloody torch of his really annoyed me, much torch envy was displayed this weekend and it didn't take me long to want one. The week after I had ordered a new canister torch, this was just the beginning.

The next trip was to the Farnes and I have already written about that so there is no point in repeating it here, as a brief summary I changed just about all my kit in one dive.

I think I am showing just a little more interest in the subject than I ever thought I would and then had a trip to Capernwray to sit in on a fundies course and of course my dive with Clare which left me feeling somewhat inadequate, this seems to be constant feeling over the next few weeks.

Then a slight problem Lou has hurt her knee and she asked if I will dive with Caroline, obviously I hadn't intended to get in the water but now I had to commit I am heading for a weekend in Stoney. Over the next few weeks I am looking forward to the weekend more and more, not sure if I should now be worried

A couple of dives in October with Mal to sort out my weighting and I feel quite happy and even thinking of spending some time in the water this winter just to do some practice, which seem to raise more than a few eyebrows.

I have now taken delivery of a new Agir BP and harness which together with the Agir wing means I won't be too embarrassing amongst all that black

Right now down to the weekend, I arrive at Stoney at about 4.45 having not been to bed, if I had been to bed I don't think I would have slept much anyway, I have a stinking cold and feeling like shit. There are already cars in the queue but I am able to join the few cars nearest the gate, so I know I will be where I want to be. It is so cold in the car how do people do this week in week out. There seems to be a lot of staff around and eventually just after 7am the gates open and I park up, Mal must have been a few cars behind and so I move my car next to his making kitting up easier. I greet Mal with no voice which for some might be a blessing. We start off with Mal adjusting my harness and after a quick phone call to Lou to find out what time they will be there we decide to go for our first dive and then will catch up with Caroline for the second.

I have borrowed a set of Faber 12's from Mal so I could try them for weight, we get in from the jetty and the place is packed, we descend on to the 6m shelf and I am instantly struck by the difference between this dive and the last ones on my 10's, I spend the whole dive ploughing the bottom of Stoney with my nose. I haven't felt this dejected since my very first open water dive in 1995, we surfaced and it was all I could do not to cry, if I wasn't diving with Mal then I probably would have.

We get out of the water and as we are dekitting Lou and Caroline arrive so we have a bit of a chat and head off for something to eat and a hot chocolate, team Foxturd arrive with their less than healthy mid morning snack. I wasn't sure I wanted to get back in the water but Mal convinced me to, we changed my weighting around and Mal let me borrow his tail weight and he used my weight belt, the dive went much better we took a camera in Mal took a few shots to show me what I looked like, it wasn't pretty We stayed on the 6m shelf because my ears probably wouldn't have let me go any deeper,

Out of the water and more hot chocolate and some banana cake and the whole world looks better, there is a lot of people buzzing around and everyone looks like they are enjoying themselves, I have never seen so many people with wide grins because they have been playing on the scooters. We sort out our kit and head off to the pub for a drink, my head is pounding and I am very cold. So I leave them to chat and I head off to the Mill on the Soar for a bit of a nap and a hot bath. Then it was time to head off for the evening meal and presentations, I met up with Lou and Caroline, Jamie and opps I have forgotten the other chaps name - apologies for that. We are joined by Mal, Dianne, Little Pete and Team Foxturd who seem to know more about the food than they let on as they are munching on bags of crisps.

We head off upstairs for the meal and I think most people have gone up before they let us up so there was a table of outcasts at the back of the room I am afraid if we were a little noisy then please blame Dianne, it was all her fault but the answer to the question is NO The less said about the food the better. I still have a very bad headache so I have to make my apologies and leave to go to bed, sorry to walk out on you Rich it wasn't your presentation, it was a shame because I was looking forward to the whole weekend and I suspect I missed out on quite a bit.

I get some sleep and get set the alarm for 4.50, it takes a bit of time to defrost the car at which point I am really wondering if I am still sane. I arrive at Stoney to see Mal in the queue near the gates and I have to turn left under the bridge into the other car park, I join a line of cars and I am quickly told I have joined the wrong line I move the car. Dianne and Pete are two cars in front and have seen my parking discretion but don't know it's me.

The staff member takes me by surprise as I am watching a couple of them in the line to my left, when a lady knocks on the car. I don't know who she was but very friendly and ever uses my name when she returns my Stoney card. I am not sure I would be that cheerful in the freezing cold.

I had arranged to dive with Garf today but something had come up and had to go home, I hope it wasn't the prospect of diving with me, so I am not sure who I am going to dive with, although as Mal needs his tail weight for his dive I would be back to my weight belt so who ever I dives with wasn't going to enjoy it. I actually didn't mind if I didn't dive as I still wasn't convinced what I had embarked on was what I was going to continue with. After a few hours of standing round chatting while watching people come and go Mal said Clare would be my buddy and to be ready in an hour. Luckily Mal had been for his dive and I was able to use his tail weight, so at least I was a bit happier with that. I headed down to the jetty and waited for Clare to return from her dive just when I was thinking about jumping in and waiting in the water Clare arrived back and we were set to go, we had a quick chat on the surface what I wanted to do and off we went. It could have been better, it could have been prettier but I was a little happier, we finned along the 6m shelf and then Clare gave the thumbsup where we had a little chat and I was told "it is supposed to be fun" believe me I wasn't having fun. Back down and back along the shelf, where Clare was mugged from behind by naughty Janos, I think he thought she was diving with someone who knew what they were doing

Back on the surface we have a quick chat and I tell Clare the most important thing is me reaching the valves, I think we establish with some practice this won't be a problem.

Mal comes back from his scootering with Digger and asks how it went, I suggest he talks to Clare, in the pub we have a bit of a debrief and Clare and Mal agree on my issues. I need some more in water practice and have to decide on some cylinders, hopefully I can get to try some other makes before I buy something I am not totally happy with.

I think I have said enough so if you have got this far, then you haven't got anything better to do

I had been looking forward to the weekend for the last couple of months and it exceeded my expectations, everyone was extremely friendly and I didn't feel like an outsider which I was a little concerned about.

Am I looking forward to my next trip to Stoney - don't know but I won't be spending every weekend there as the thought of leaving home about 3am to get parked up is not something I want to think about. I still have a lot to think about but I do know I want to learn a bit more before I give up on the idea.

[Miss Roxy Chablis]

Glad you had a good time

[Digger]

Well done chick. You must have been determined to dive - when I saw you I thought you'd been out on the booze the night before (not unheard of!) from your hoarse voice and wrapped up warm look!

Oh, and don't worry about crying on Mal's shoulder. If he's going to be so reasonable and likeable then it seems only fair that women should cy on his shoulders. At least I don't have to tolerate that!

Digs.

[onthetrain]

Glad you enjoyed the weekend fiona.

I just can't get my head round why people queue at 5am to get a parking space so you can jump in a puddle.

I went up to Vobster on Sat & Sun arrived both days at 9.30 ish drove straight in and parked right by the water. had to carry my kit nearly 10 yards. It helps if you book a parking space which you can if you become a member

[divingniknaks]

Fiona, glad you enjoyed it despite your stinking cold.

If you want to try some of the Heiser type cyls then you only have to ask.

I can meet up with you at the Cape as tbh I prefer it, I can stay in bed longer and still get there at a reasonable time.

I'll be up there fairly soon I think (hope) as I have a serious need for Trim Boot Camp with my mentor Mr Willo, who would also be happy I'm sure to go through stuff with you.

Let me know if that appeals.

Thanks for the entertainment at dinner btw

Cheers

[Lou]

So who are the other six??

Guess you will want a shot on my Beavers then? Maybe a dive with C and a meal after?

[Mal Bridgeman]

The weekend was a lot of fun .... with the odd bit of serious sprinkled in there.

I was pleased Clare and I had the same thoughts....hopefully you'll believe it now

Looking forward to doing it again soon....hopefully with greater health!!

Thanks Buddy
Mal

[divingniknaks]

Originally Posted by Lou

Guess you will want a shot on my Beavers then?

I'll get me own coat .............

[Fiona]

Cheers Phil and Lou, a try with some different ones would be good.

Lou - you are a cheeky B**ch


I hope work don't read this, I didn't tell them I have spent two days in the cold before I was sent home

[Narked@50]

Good effort Fiona.

I'm still coming to terms with your actions, it's not that I don't think DIR has something to offer, it's just still a shock having you doing it!

Good luck on the next dive.

James