The last few years have been tremendously difficult for most, and it is no secret, at least now, that it has been a dreadfully terrible time for me personally.
When things are bad, we are told to focus on the good.
Gratitude brings us back to what is going well in our lives.
It reminds us that whatever else is happening, it is not all bad.
Sometimes it’s really hard to find something to be grateful or positive about, but looking back at this year, I have so much to be thankful for.
Here are a few memories that I want to keep forever..
As you know, I love to travel.
Unfortunately, COVID and lockdowns and all that jazz made travelling abroad far harder than it has ever been.
Did we let that stop us?
Oh no it didn’t!
Some trips were arranged in advance. Others were a pretty much last-minute deal. Thankfully, booking a reservation for accommodation is quick and easy online so even when we just packed up and took off, we knew we would have somewhere to stay.
Here are some of my highlights from this year.
Becoming a Qualified Diver in Chepstow
Okay, so this isn’t officially a 2021 memory, but from December 2020 instead.
Here is the story:
Last summer I decided to step right out of my comfort zone and learn to scuba dive. It was one of the two things I swore I would never, ever do in my life, the other being bungee jumping.
This was my first weekend visit to the National Diving and Activity Centre (known as NDAC) in Chepstow, where I would qualify as a PADI Open Water diver on 19th December 2020.
One year on and I have approximately 150 dives under my belt so far. I have progressed through to Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver and now undertaking my Divemaster training, preparing for my Tec and Instructor training in 2022.
I walked into Blue Ocean Diving wanting to learn to scuba dive, not realising how that act would change my entire life.
Diving wasn’t the only thing I fell in love with, having now been with my partner for over a year.
A year and a half after walking into the dive centre to do something I thought I never would, I am the happiest I have ever been.
Breaking down in Bath
So, we decided to get on the bike and take off for a road trip.
We had a date to leave and a date to return. When it came to leaving, the heavens opened and the rain fell like stair rods.
Not the best start to the trip!
We visited friends and had a wonderful time. We got back on the bike, not knowing the route we would be taking and decided to stop when we found somewhere we liked the look of.
Bath looked lovely.
Bath was lovely.
The restaurant was absolutely fantastic – it’s a shame I can’t remember the name of it really.
Getting back to the bike and discovering the headlights were left on wasn’t so lovely.
At least it wasn’t raining!
And we were waiting for the breakdown service for several hours by the beautiful river.
So that’s something, hey?!
Our UK Dive Tour with Harry and Sid
The children have also benefitted from the opportunity to learn to scuba dive.
Watching Harry and Sid turn into fine young men is one thing. Seeing them learn, progress and excel with their scuba diving is something else altogether.
The privilege of being able to tour and dive around various sites in the UK with my family is just incredible.
What are your favourite memories of 2021? Please do share!
