Sunday 26 February 2012

Underwater Love

I've not been very active on the blogging front for a bit cause I've been learning how to dive.
Hubby and I decided to give ourselves a PADI open water diver course for Christmas and we booked it for early February. 
Two weekends worth of classroom time, confined water dives in a pool and finally the qualifying open water dives which took place at Wraysbury lake last weekend.
I am very proud to declare that both hubby and I are now qualified PADI open water divers, which means that next time we go on holiday we can hook up with all those cool peeps in wetsuits and go diving...HUZZAH!
We fell in love with the underwater world during our snorkelling excursions in Thailand the year before last and have been talking about progressing to diving ever since, it just felt like the natural thing to do.
I've already scored a "new" wetsuit, fins & mask on eBay, the actual SCUBA diving gear is rather expensive so that will have to be hired until we can afford to splash out.
 I can't wait until our next magical mystery tour i.e. holiday abroad...
This is what started it all off, snorkelling in Thailand 2010...
This was me last weekend at a rather chilly Wraysbury lake doing the 
'tired diver tow'...
I think that I was probably more tired  than Sergey ;)
All the peeps at Dive Wimbledon were fantastic, especially Anton our brilliant instructor...
If it wasn't for AWESOME Anton's patience of a saint and steadfast encouragement I don't think I would have managed it through last weekend. 
You really couldn't ask for a better instructor, the dude deserves a medal.
You only really notice the sheer weight of your SCUBA kit when you get back up on "dry" land.
I was loaded up with a ten kilo weight belt plus all the other kit, my knees weren't loving it to put it politely.
To willingly descend into +4°C English lake water in the middle of winter certainly isn't everybody's idea of fun but if I was asked to do it again (as crazy as it may sound) I'd do it at the drop of a laden weight belt!
However I have a sneaky suspicion that I'll like diving in tropical waters even more.
Hope eveyone has had a splendid Saturday!
I'm off to the car boot sale later, first one in weeks ;)
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx



Sunday 5 February 2012

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I woke up early this morning to go for a walk with my camera.
I wanted to take a few pics of the beautiful winter wonderland that we've been treated to before the park got mobbed with pissing dogs & kiddies intent on scraping the ground bare making snowmen.
I love snow, it's magical!
It feels like you've just stepped out of the back of the wardrobe and straight into Narnia...
When I returned back home I was greeted by a snowman outside our house...
I was also wildly excited to spot a pretty little robin on the balcony, yay!
I wore my lovely Afghan dress for the first time today...
Traditional Afghani dress (eBay), Traditional Afghani hat (market), Tecnica furry boots (eBay)
By the way if you happen to like my boots I spotted two pairs going for a song on eBay.
There's a small catch though, the seller is offering 'pick up only ' in the Manchester area but if you happen to live there and take a size 4 or 4,5 in boots then you could be bagging yourself a bargain tomorrow afternoon.
Clicking here & here will take you to the auctions.
I bought my pair on eBay a few years ago, they are supremely comfy & warm.
Hope everyone has had a fun filled weekend :)
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx


Sunday 15 January 2012

Frocktasia by the sea

Yesterday hubby and I took a trip to the seaside...
Eastbourne to be more precise :)
The sea air was bracing to say the least so a few people stopped and had a good old gawp whilst these pics were taken ;)
I'm Swedish so I'm used to sub zero temperatures...
I'm a hard-ass viking bint!
Vintage 50s Margot Paynton lurex flocked dress, Indian silk choli top, block & lace layered tights, vintage 80s boots, jet sugarbead hipster belt worn as necklace, DIYed earrings, PAK cosmetics wig and a plethora of bangles.
We had a quick stroll on the pier, when I spotted this...
STRICTLY FORBIDDEN...FORSMIDDEN!
I just had to jump off the pier after seeing that ;)
Thankfully I had a very soft landing...I landed on my arse!
After my impromtu parkour off the pier escapade we went for chips & pickled onions.
I only ever eat chips when I'm by the seaside.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that chips taste far better when your by the sea?!
This winged chip predator was scoping us out as we munched away...
 It was obvious that he meant business so we shared our feast with him to avoid being covered in bird rump spillage.
 
A fabulously frolicksome evening followed a wonderful day...
...we celebrated our friend & X-bandmates big birthday.
Huzzah, he's an old frood now...I'm next ;)
Hope all you fabulous peeps have had an awesome weekend too ;)
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx



Sunday 1 January 2012

LETS MAKE 2012 THE YEAR OF LOVE!

Last night I had the most wonderful dream.
I dreamt that my husband and I took a trip up to the very north of Sweden.
It was wintertime and we were staying with Sami family in a traditional lavvu.
One evening the two of us went out to see the northern lights and walked out onto a frozen lake.
Above us the sky was like a velvet cloak pierced with a million points of pale light.
The soft glow from the stars illuminated the ice but when I looked down I realized that there was also a faint light coming up from deep beneath it.
The glow suddenly became more intense and seemed to be rising upwards.
All of a sudden we were lifted up and gently spun around like feathers caught by a twist of warm air.
We remained weightless, floating above the ice as it started breaking underneath us.
Through the ice an intense strobe of luminescent light broke free like a missile of energy rocketing straight out into the night sky.
From this extraordinary column of light a being released itself and came towards us.
It looked like the dancing flame of a candle & it radiated positive energy, warmth, love, hope, health & happiness.
The being came up close, spread out and entirely enveloped us; it felt like being immersed in healing warm water, like momentarily being back in the wombs of our mothers, safe and complete.
For a moment we felt the pulse of all creation & witnessed time without end.
Then all of a sudden the being came away and we found ourselves standing by the side of the lake.
The beam of light was still flowing up towards the sky but now we could see that it was a stream of souls coming from deep within the earth, travelling out into space.
Then the beam of light ceased but in the place where it had been pointing towards in the sky was now a bright star.
The hole in the lake rapidly closed over & when we walked out and stood where we had previously been standing, all was as it had been before.
The only evidence of what had taken place was the bright new star shining above us.
A star made from everlasting life energy.
Needless to say after such a beautiful dream I couldn't help awaking feeling tremendously joyful with a heart brimming of hope that 2012 will be the year of compassionate and positive changes in the world.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx