LIDS

It's that time of the year again when every one seems to head for the London International Dive show rather than go diving..........ah well.

I raced up to Excel after seeing the rugby team I coach at under 12 level taking a thumping to find Kirstie, Gill, Colin, Graham and Jamie-Lee already propping up the bar and quickly made up for the fact that I had missed out on a beer after the match.

It seemed like a good show this year despite the economic gloom and as always there were lots of people with newly acquired gear. I of course did the opposite in so far as I took my existing gear to O Three by pre-agreement so that they can take it away and repair tie leaks. Meanwhile Kirstie ordered new dry suit and wet suits so she can look grand on the trip to the Red Sea this week. I am so jealous they are all going to have such a great time while I am stuck in the UK working my socks off.

Arriving late I sadly missed a couple of the lectures that I would actually liked to have caught but in reality the thing I really wanted to see was the presentation made to Lauren following her outstanding efforts in recent buoyancy competition. I am told that nobody knows quite what prize she has won for her performance as it is in the post. Once again though I am bound to say how thrilled I was to see her do so well and beat so many more qualified and experienced divers.

Wandering around the show it seems very difficult not to bump into a series of people that you know and it is always good to catch up and find out what people are up to. Overall though I managed to resist buying anything including a new strobe but there is now a growing shopping list and I really do feel the urge to go back to the Caribbean.