Reef inspection!

Last night, a few of us were meant to be going sea fishing, but that fell through and we ended up on a little resort island call Young Island which is just opposite mainland St Vincent. Lets just say the cocktails were wicked, the rum kicked me hard!! Its an awesome place, typical idyllic Caribbean style!

Today I had the pleasure of going out with my cousins dive master from the indigo dive center on a glass bottomed boat to check out a few of the local reefs. I've had a bad experience with scuba in the past, so just snorkel now..but hey, it was cool out there today. I saw loads of weird n wonderful shizzel, squirrel fish, trumpet fish and loads of others, wish I know their names!! We also saw an iguana perching in a tree and a few crazy big birds swooping in and catching fish, it was breaths taking.

Its been a long day, I think the constant buzzin around in the heat is catching up with me as I passed out for a long while this arvo and am feeling totally wacked! Early night in for me!

Peace out peeps. X

La Soufrier.

The early bird catches the worm!! It was a 7am-er this morn, total shock to the system let me tell you!! I met up with Ozzy from Sailors Tours and to hike the only active Volcano on the island; La Soufrier. (The french word for sulphur). The weather was pretty bad when we set out, overcast and wet, but this was a bonus as it meant the air was fresh which made exercising easy. It was an hours drive to the north end of the island, thanks to Ozzys PhD (Pot hole dodging) the ride was smooth. He told us all about the local history, info on the plantations, coconut and banana, and loads of other really cool bites of local knowledge. For those who know me, you know I ain't so hot on the old walking shizzel. As my Grandfather said the other night...'Hiking a mount-in, why you wan' go do dat? Walkin'z fa donkeees!!' .







Us Brits know already, lucozade is available in all good shops in general! I didn't expect to see it in the supermarket in St Vincent!! Or at 4048ft upto the top of a Volcano!! Bob on!

Lunch was a massive finger licking portion of kingfish with loads of crazy Caribbean salad, as soon as it was done, we skooted along the coast a little further to the salt pond. We passed loads of crazy villages on the way, life there is basic I tell you, most of the land in the north is inhabited by the Caribs. Almost shanty townish, a total extreme from town living. The salt pond was breathtaking, it's surrounded by lava rock which traps in the sea water, creating shallow, salt dense ponds for swimming.

So, I saw 2 football games where half the players didn't have shoes, a woman with a bleached afro, and a bleached afro beard to match!! There are humming birds everywhere and I got myself a lovely bunch of juicy coconuts!!

SGV Island life.

I landed here in SVG (St Vincent and the Grenadines) late on Saturday night after a long ass flight. I flew from Manchester to Barbados, 24 hours late as my first flight was cancelled. When I touched down in Barbados I jumped onto an island plane for a quick 35 minute flight west to the small islands of SVG in the West Indies (Caribbean). If you have seen the pirates of the Caribbean, you will have seen SVG, as it was shot on location here. The island is small, beautiful beaches, constant 28-32 degrees, and food to die for.

I was met from the plane by my two hunky cousins, Chester and Grant. They are like celebrities on the island, everyone, and I mean everyone knows who they are, Ches has his own T.V. show and Grant is one of the best Lawyers on the island. I had to fill in an emigration form before passing thru emigration, but I didn’t know the address of Chester’s place, so confused, n blonde, I just said, oh, I’m staying with my cousin. ’Who you cousin’ said the emigration officer, I told him, n he shouted across the room to his colleague..where ‘Chester stay now-a-dayz na?’ The address was fired straight back, my form completed and I was sent on my way! Bonza!

We cruised back to Chester’s place and within 30 mins of being on the island, we were overtaken by a total foot to the floor boy, 5 minutes later, we passed him again, car sideways, squashing another car against the wall, and police on site. Pile up!! Chester leans out of the window n shouts. ‘Officer, dat man, he been speeding all night lang, ha ha!!’ There is one road on the island, it goes up to the top n down to the bottom, no lines in the middle and millions of pot holes!! It is a total free for all! There are few rules and it is just wicked.

I just spent the last few days catching up with family. I have loads of family here, Grandparents, and uncle and aunt, great uncles and aunts and loads of fab cousins, hence my link to the Caribbean! So, on Sunday I rocked up at our family home to surprise my grandparents who I haven’t seen for 21 years!! Life on the islands is very colonial, and my grandparents, are the epitamy of the colonial islanders, native to the Caribbean, they sit down for high-T at 4 every afternoon and tune into BBC world service daily! It’s a simple life, with few complications, and they just love it!!

The food is just awesome, heads up nutritionists, this island life is clean n fresh, no 'ready mades', no convenience, no MSG, no ‘high in SFA labels’. Its all straight from the land. I’ve eaten fresh fish straight form the sea everyday, its day 3 and barracuda, red snappa, shark n shrimp have flown down da hatch so far! Fruit grows everywhere. Chester has a banana and coconut tree, lime and cherry trees in his garden. Grandma an Grandpa have a few including a mango, bread fruit and guava tree! They add loads of sugar to everything, and you are never far away from a bottle o rum, but hey, that ain't a bad thing?! I spent the night before last on my cousins friends yaught, sippin down da rum punch and watching the sun set! We watched it go right down n were lucky enough to see the green flash of the sun disappearing for the night. A rare sight!

Ok, so a download on the funny stuff. I learned that when I was 6, I went to church in my nightie and interrupted my Grandpas sermon, telling him to hush I because I was the lady bishop and it was my turn to talk...Can you imagine? In my nightie in front of a whole congregation! It is not uncommon for the door to the cockpit in the island planes to remain open!! They have just enforced a seat belt law, but the country-town taxi service consists of guys piled into the back of pick ups!!

Its early here, 8am. I’m off for a run before it gets too hot, then its off to the beach to test out my new snorkel stuff!! See how the reefs here compare to the Red Sea. Ola.

K kids...

The adventure has started. I signed the contract for my new job yesterday which doesn't start until the end of Feb....so..... at the mo, I'm in Manchester airport and I've been here ALL DAY waiting for my flight to Barbados, which was meant to depart at 11.15 this morning!! I got the cheapest flight in the world £179 return (which was spotted by the well trained eyes of Gregs Mama). Unfortunately tho, the nose wheel fell off our plane!!! BIG BUMMER!!

Apparently, they spent all day getting the cherubs already on the plane in Gatwick to chew enough chewing gum to be able to stick the nose wheel back on!!! A combi of running out of chewing gum AND the fact that the majority of the planes occupants are OAP's with denture problems, led to a shortage in the chewing gum production!! Needless to say, the wheel is still rolling around on the runway in Gatwick....and the plane has been grounded!

The bad news is I'm stuck here in Manchester, they have shoved us in a hotel for the night, fed us a buffet T and pushed me into no other than room 101...GREAT, YEA, THANKS FOR THAT!! I'll-ah remember not to fly with this airline again!!
The good news is, it has given me plenty of time to stock up factor squidgy-million x64 sun cream to prevent another bad case of sun burn. It also gave me time to hook with Hels Mortimer and Elke and have a cheeky bevoir and a bit of a catch up!!

Round two of the Mission to the motherland will commence tomorrow...same time, same place!! Wish me luck!!

In da Schmoke!

I have lost my download cable for my camera…no surprise there, so haven’t been able to update for a wee while…anyway, last week, I had a bit of an adventure. I choo-chooed it down to Londonia for a job interview and pimped around for a few days village visiting, culture vulture-in it up and hanging out in my bro and future sister in-laws oober cosy new London town house which is yum!

On Thursday I cruised around the Embankment, soaked up Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Threw a tomato onto Downing Street, blew a kiss at the stiffly cladded guards on horseback, chilled in Covent Garden, gazed at St Pauls Cathedral, admired the art in the Tate Modern and winked at Prince Phil outside the Palace!!

After my interview on Friday I hooked up with my brothers flat mate Ant and cruised round Covent Garden again. We met up with Miss K Rowsell for coffee and cake, she is still suffering from a problematic shoulder and killer cold, but as usual was on magic form since she got a pair of oven gloves and a scart cable from her Pa, Vere, for Christmas.! Good job!!

After a cruise down Portobello and a cheeky few Magners we sniffed out the bookshop from Nottinghill…spot the tourists!! Ant and I plodded back to the tube and managed to be convinced by Chicka Slim Joey, former fellow old skool deener-diva, surf club alumni and all round class act to bypass home and hang with her for a few in a cool wee bar in Sloan Square. Gowd knows how, but Jo and I set a toilet roll trap in the ladies and I ended up with a pair of glasses and a moustache drawn on my face in eyeliner, singing Summer of 69 with a German accent to the entire bar accompanied by the two guitarists who had performed earlier in the night. On Saturday, I woke with a sore head and kebab stuffed belly.

That afternoon, my stepsister Rach and her fiancé Pat popped round for high T!! I learned that spreadsheets make wedding planning easier and that there are wedding specific horoscopes in wedding magazines. OMG!!

On Saturday I headed over to Bristol for a few days with Sam the man, Mansfield. We frequented a bar called the Dukes, sat outside, had a good ole catch up, listened to some wicked live jazz and drank cider. We headed across town to check out a live hip hop night in a wee bar called cosies which was an awesome underground gaff littered with cool, chilled out funky Bristolites. On Sunday, we strolled in the SUNSHINE to a cool Moroccan café for brunch! The rest of the afternoon was spent laying down stupid tracks in Sams wee music lab!!

After a session at the driving range tonight with my flat mate, I decided it was time to quosh my kebeb addiction and attended a K.A meeting (Kebabs annonymous). Seriously, the hardest part is admitting you have a problem!! I think I am over my kebab fettish....for now!

Day at the Dowgs!

Mush Mush...

6.00am my alarm went off this morning!! Far too early for me, but since we were heading over to the Wes-side to spectate in a round of the British Siberian Husky Racing Series I leaped out of my cozy warm bed and hopped straight into pack lunch prep.

As the sun rose over Fife, we approached Kinshandy Forest just outside of Leuchers near St Andrews. Multiple teams of dogs and owners were nestled deep in the forest, all prepared for a swift mornings racing. The dogs race in packs of 6, 4, 3, 2 or 1 and pull a rig with a driver. The rigs are crazy little numbers adapted for the job with a surprising amount of bits and bobs from mountain bikes (stems/forks/brakes).

I was stoked to see how well the dogs behaved and worked as a team in order to tow the rig round the various courses. I have never seen such an abundance of obedient dogs in one area. I have also never smelt such a pungent whiff!! The downfall of dog racing I guess!

Am off wid a few of ma pals on the the neighbours bams trikes, we-a skippin rope ta roond up some ferrel strays n-ave an urban dowg race. If yer up for it...meetchas at mine. 9pm...Game on!! Cheers Aldo for the splendid idea.

Mush mush....

HNY!

Its the twelfth day of Christmas, look around you, it's pandemonium, the partridge has keeled over, fallen out of its tree and taking with it two random turtle doves. The french hens are still hiding from the pervy calling birds. The six geese have layed 5 gold rings (6 geese, 5 rings..mmm problem). The seven swans are swimming in circles away from the 8 maids who are milking the last drops of what ever they milk, sympathy probably!! The 9 ladies are dancing away from the 10 leaping lords...and, while all this is going on, the 12 Drummers have almost finished beating the watsits out of their drums...this folks is a sign....the festive period is wrapping itself up!!


So....this Christmas break I've eaten my body weight TWICE; attended more family days out and yummy meals than I have ever attended in my life; lost control of a mini bike bruising my shin from knee to ankle (actually, it was much worse, it was nearly put into traction and I nearly neede a skin graft....but they found a magic potion and now its fixed! I've been introduced to Still Game (amazing Scottish Comedy), experienced the maddest accommodation in Aviemore EVER; got told off for throwing snowballs 'indoors' (woooops)!! Mastered the hoola-hoop; learned that Christmas present shopping with a limit of £10/person makes you buy cooler more thoughtful, fun pressies; learned the hard way that low fat cream doesn't whip up well! Nearly split my sides at 2 of my friends home videos, one rein-acting a scene from Vietnam with the aid of a little camera trickery and two bags of offal from the butchers which were used to resemble war guts, and the other was of him and an old friend rolling a car off a home made ramp. I lost another 2 games of Bowling (gracefully); strolled alongside the homely beach waters of Aberdeen with Fronkie-bean wishing we'd brought our wetties and boards, then sat and reminisced over a few cheeky bottles of red in our old haunt (Cafe 52) whilst mauning the loss of another old stomping ground, Estaminet. That's right fellow Deeners...Estaminet is no more. Touch forelock!!

The new year kicked off at 6pm on New Years Day (after an extended recovery period) on the banks of the gently rippling Loch Morlich, overlooking the snow blanketed Cairngorms under a nearly full moon, just outside Aviemore. A good start I say!! I have just finished sorting out my 2007 schedule and writing up my training programme.

Happy New Year to one and all, 2007 is looking like it's gonna be the SHIZZEL...I can't wait.

While Santa is guzzling the last of the buckie and his elf's are waxing down runners on his sled with Mr Zoggs sex wax, surf wax in prep for the biggest pressie drop of the year...I hope y'all are heading home loaded up with fun and in good spirits for the festive period. I'm a sucker for Christmas. Its the best time, a time to spend having fun with the family and unleash with all the people that have seen you grow up, throw up, trip up and jump up, still smiling and laughing out loud!!

I migrate home to the lakes for Christmas. On Christmas eve, my mum and I collaborate in the kitchen and run off a few million mince pies to cater for the regular village visitors. Naturally, at some pont, the rum comes out, the calypso gets turned up and the hips get a little work out!! Later on,my brother and I usually go for a sly one in town and stumble back, sometimes via the church for mid night mass.....we're good eggs like that. Last time I ventured into Church in that state, I spilt candle wax all over myself and had to leave to find a bathroom!

Christmas day is spent at family friends and has been for nearly 20 years on and off! Its MAGIC. Dot and Cliff make the best food in the world!! We break after lunch to let out tummies settle and Mum gets the whistles out! She has this game, 8 whistles, 8 people and one conductor. Each whistle has a different pitch (all together, the whistles make an octave!). My brother, the music maestro takes a hold of us whistle blowing nutters and conducts the debauchery. If we are lucky, we can bust a fine Christmas tune, if not, well, it just sounds like a bunch of fully growns making a horrendous messy noise! On boxing Day I usually play in an annual hockey match between two villages before heading into town to celebrate one of my best friends Birthdays. Unfortunatly, I learned today that the match this year as been cancelled! BOOO HOOO!

I'll post some photos up when I can! In the mean time. Thanks to everyone who have been there for me this year. I am so lucky to have such a wicked family, so many awesome friends, the coolest boyfriend and the most amazing sponsors. I just wish you could all be a little closer!!
Love and lots of it. 2007 is gonna ROCK!! BRING IT ON!!
Jme XXXXXX

Lost in transit...don'tcha just love British public transport? NOT!

13.26 at Glasgow Central train station. Remembering that Taras mobile was out of action, I stood on my toes wondering how I was going to spot the wee Mexican in a swarm of pale Glaswegians buzzing towards the bustling city in a last ditch attempt to squander their hard earned on Christmas tat...when it dawned on me that Tara would actually stick out like a sore thumb! I scoured over to the right, no sign...so glanced over to my left only to see Tara, less than a meter away, camera in hand snapping away at the timing board! BINGO! Good job!

First stop, was the bar for a log luncheon and catch up....4 large glasses of wine later (3 of them too many!!) and we were in full swing! We ventured out into down town Glasgow, browsed a few shops, took a few photos, met my friend Hema and dashed back up to the flat with a little help from Glasgows famous clockwork orange tube network. MIND THE GAP!

At home we had a girlie night in with a Thai green curry medally and yet more wine! The next day we woke up to glorious sunshine and a bad head! We packed up and jumped on the train to Edinburgh for a day of tourist sizzle in Scotlands capital. I figured the best way to see as much as possible was by a sight seeing bus tour! They are brill, you can hop on and off when you like and your ticket is valid for 24 hours...highly recommended! We seemed to hop off more than we hopped on, but we got round! We hung out in the German market, did a wee bit of shopping and jumped on a bus to Innerleithen for a night with Emma, Tracy and the crew! Emma whipped up another magic spread of curry dishes which were swilled down with beer and wine. Teenie provided most of the entertainment for the evening and had us all in stitches!

Yesterday we convened at the hub. The Tweed valley is a funny wee spot, it seems to have its own micro climate, when the whole of Scotland is on a flood warning, it can easily be glorious sunshine over the forest! Yesterday was cold there tho. Tara raged war against the cold and layered up to the max!! It was glorious tho, blazing sunshine, the views and weather were magic! We rode in a bitch train laughing all the way round. The pace was pretty quick, I rode out of my comfort zone in a few places on the way up, which is good. An ace days riding, even though all the girls are friends, I feel privileged to be able to ride with such experienced talented riders. I find myself watching there style and lines and experimenting with my own riding...its ace!

Tara headed back to Manchester last night......This morning I woke up to an answering machine messege from Hels Motimer telling me that Taras train had been cancelled and she was lost in Cumbria somewhere...without a mobile. Nightmare! Anyway, if you see a wee Mexican, big smiles and spiky hair answering to the name of Tara....please wrap her up and post her back...

T's in Town!!

The last week has flown by! I've been a busy bumble bee...still on the search for the infamous 'propa job!!' I have an interview next week for a really cool job, so, alongside preparing a mulititude of different CV's, I'm doing my research to 'wow' the interviewers!! Wish me luck!!

So, the weekend started early for me with a meal out in my fav Spanish Restaurant, Cafe Andaluz (Glasgow) with Greg and his parents. We ate and drank until we nearly popped! Gregs Ma and I chit chatted all night, poor Greg and his Pa struggled to get a word in!! 2 women and a bottle of wine...mmm, I can see why!!

On Saturday, Evil G, Greg and I met up with my fav crew from the Hub, Emma, Tracy, Mel, Carla, Dick, Ben Cathro, Tracy Mosley and her friend James for a spin on the red route. The day couldn't have been more perfect, we had sunshine all the way around, the trails were great, we rode this new seaction called the magic carpet which was wicked fun. Everything was polished off with a jam in the jump park and a slab of millionaires shortbread! Big smiles!

Greg and I were going to hit the motoX track yesterday, but, he was full of cold and the weather was terrible, so we slumped in bed, did some chores, hit Starbucks and then thrashed it out in the bowling alley. For the first time ever, I LOST, not one game, but all three. Greg, of late has been spending his time perched on the end of his pew, remote in hand, finger on the 'frame-by-frame' button studying the spin bowl actions of none other than 'Jesus' from the Big Lebowski, he has this CRAZY spin-bowl shot off to a T. I DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE. I'm still drying my eyes!! What is more worrying, is that yesterday, there was a whisper of him investing in not only a ball, but a pair of shoes. I have the fear. It won't be long before he grows his hair, invests in a one piece purple skin suit and hair net. I have searched the net, and there is no help. Nothing comes up when you type 'what happens when your boyfriend takes the first steps to morphing into Jesus?' into google....eeeeeeeek!

Anyway, Tara just flew into the UK today, she'll be hanging here for a week or so....The plan was to hit Amsterdam, but that doesn't look like it'll happen.....hopefully, she'll come up to Scotland for a few days n sample some of the Scottish delights, Whiskey, Edinburgh, Hairy cooows, Glasgow, the Highlands, Glentress and the millionaires shortbread!!!! Mmmm...thats a good enough reason for anyone to venture north!!

Okay, fix up look sharp. Marty Mart. XX

Graduation day!!

That's it, can you believe it? I have offically been spat out into the big wild world!! After 5 years of parties, surf, mountain biking, drinking, more parties, the occasional academic venture. I don't know how I managed, but I havemore letters after my name than I know what to do with!!

No more study for me, no more exams, lie-ins or truenting to watch neighbours! I'm done!! Graduation was ace, my Mum and one of our families dearest family friends came up for the day!

We all got glammed up...sexy lace hold ups and all! The ceremony was wicked, we sang along to the organ in latin, got wacked on the head by the Dean with a crazy purple velvet hat, handed a red tube, and processed out of the grand hall to the fine tune of the Scottish bag pipes....all whilst dressed as extras for a Harry Potter movie!!

I'm just kicking back, absorbing the calm before the storm. We've got our entire class homing in on our flat tonight for a 'civilised post graduate gathering'!! We'll see!!

Later potata!

Jaymie Mart. BSc (Hons) MSc (Med Sci) Human Nutritionist. Sports Specialist (ANutr)!!

Bring on the party!