Snakes, IE's and a Premiere for Chrisinkohtao!!!

Big news today, I almost bitch-slapped a snake. Seriously. And it scared the living shit out of me (sorry, Stone, but it did). I came down the back stairs below the “student housing” (the strip of rooms where the poorer Sunshiners live … ohhhhh, ain’t I just snobby) and there was a big dead palm frond hanging down from a palm tree and blocking the path. So, naturally, I reach up with a hand to push the palm frond out of the way, when just as I am about to swat it, I notice a bright green strip across the top of it where I am set to smack it. It’s a friggin’ three foot bright green bloody snake. I literally jumped four feet backwards. And squealed like a little girl.

You don’t understand, I have walked down these steps a hundred times. I heard that my former house occupant, Regina, wouldn’t use these stairs because she saw a snake. I always thought she was a wuss because I hadn’t seen one….now, I admit it, I am a big girl’s blouse….I’ve taken to coming up and down the main steps even though it is an extra 30 seconds of my precious time. I should have taken a picture of the thing so you could all pack a load too, but I was rushing to make the open water portion of the IE’s when I came down the steps! So you’ll just have to trust me, it was scary.

Bloody snake…..visions of the missus in Mexico a few years ago springing to mind….

So, second big news today…..I aced the academic presentation, as did my fellow Ban’s IDC’ers. We also all waltzed through the open water demonstrations and watching of the “students” demonstrate the skill. We rocked. And we all smoked the rescue assessment. Seriously, you can now trust me with your kids…..ok, maybe not, but you can trust me with your girlfriends/wives…..ok maybe not (kidding honey, kidding)…..but you …nah, I’ll probably drown you, but hey, according to PADI, I rock.

The only crappy aspect of the day was that it started raining when we had finished but were heading back to Mae Haad and it has consistently rained for the remainder of the day. What the f**k. Goddamn weather. It is supposed to be sunny and warm. But I got drenched instead. The worst part was that we did our briefings first and were thus first in the water. We also did our rescue presentations first and set-up the dive site for everybody else. Which meant we had to sit there in the water and wait for the examiner for about 30 minutes. And, accordingly, we were the first out of the water and got to sit in the rain the longest as the debriefs of all the other groups followed ours (and from listening in, there were a lot of dickheads in the water…no wonder they took so bloody long…one girl couldn’t even do a fin pivot!!! How the hell she got to this stage, God only knows).

And now, we’re all through day two of the IE. Just the confined session in the morning at 9:00 a.m. Fingers crossed, but so far, we have been smashing this thing. As you can see from the pictures of us about to take the exams yesterday….

….look……ready for the exams:

…..after the exams:

...inside the IE exam room:

Oh, some more pics. Two nights ago we met up before the IE started at Farango’s for a last minute relaxation session (after an enjoyable round of beach cricket…oh and dinner was followed by a relaxing Thai massage at Royal Massage…something I think I am going to partake in before the IE party tomorrow night):

Noé showing some love:

Jon, looking too smooth for words:

Yes, the usual…..

And then there are a couple of pictures from the academic presentation this morning (at 8’o’bloody’clock)…..Célia using my regs for a non-PADI teaching aide…..

And Noé showing absolute respect and professionalism in front of the PADI instructor examiner, seated next to Pierre:

Lunch before setting off for the boat for the open water exam:

And finally, getting ready on the boat itself (we used the Ban’s boat):

HEY!!! And a Chrisinkohtao premiere.........accidental footage of us on the Bans boat because the helpful camera assistant didn't know how to use the camera!!

Third big news, by the way, my friend, business partner, diving inspiration and brother-in-arms became a Canadian citizen a few days ago…..everybody please congratulate Peter or welcome him as a fully-fledged member of my adopted homeland. Well done, mate, now please don’t rape our country like you might have mentioned to a certain friend in common that we both now have…… Oh, and Peter, stop promising to meet up with the missus and Heather and then bailing the night of….I know it is almost anticipated, but come on, sunshine, bad form, bad form….and because of snow and boxing?? You live in CANADA and you are now a CANADIAN….snow is a fact of life my man (i.e. grow a pair). And tape the damn boxing.

But I will not be too harsh, I know things are stressful for you right now….a lot to do before you pop off….and what do you wear with a bride in white on a beach in the Caymans????…..my metro-side says you absolutely can’t wear white, the two shades may clash….I’d recommend something dark to offset, although that’s going to be a sweaty affair methinks.

Ok, well, Kids, off to have a beer at Chez Chris and read over my confined slate one more time…..and then kip kip kip……a demain, mon amies, provided I have time between the end of
the IE and the IE party!!