Underwater Ireland
Dublin
Quite out of the blue, I received an invitation to be one of the speakers at an amazing event called UNDER WATER IRELAND. I was to be flown to Dublin on a Friday, put up in a hotel and the next day all the Dive Schools would arrive setting up their stands, with a mass of people pouring in. I was much in demand! By this time, I had been deeply involved with the Maldives, diving and moving around the islands.
There was enormous interest in the Maldives. I seemed to be the only person who had been there! That evening there was a truly fabulous dinner. I was guest of honour. The Irish are such fun, so amusing and friendly. I loved every moment!
The next day was very different. Looking at the Programme, the names and qualifications of the other Speakers was terrifying. I felt like the joker of the pack. 700 hundred people in this enormous room
There was enormous interest in the Maldives. I seemed to be the only person who had been there! That evening there was a truly fabulous dinner. I was guest of honour. The Irish are such fun, so amusing and friendly. I loved every moment!
The next day was very different. Looking at the Programme, the names and qualifications of the other Speakers was terrifying. I felt like the joker of the pack. 700 hundred people in this enormous room
|
|
I was almost the last to speak. I knew MY islands, having had dived there and had fabulous slides to show. My audience were amazing and I got a standing ovation. I flew back late on Sunday. The follow up was brilliant, a large number of dive clubs headed for the islands and they seemed to have enjoyed "the joker of the pack"!
Now just before I was in Dublin I was back in the Maldives. Up on Rashdu Atoll my picture above is of Chief Tutu Be. A very special friend in my life. Wildly intelligent and speaking excellent English. He would regale me with stories of the islands. He gave me a jaw of a tiger shark, it had only just been caught, Oh so smelly!
When saying goodbye he came to the jetty to see me off where my boat was waiting. I had three steps to the boat. The steps were like an ice rink and into the water I flew. My long dress billowed up, I was screaming with laughter and he the same!.
When saying goodbye he came to the jetty to see me off where my boat was waiting. I had three steps to the boat. The steps were like an ice rink and into the water I flew. My long dress billowed up, I was screaming with laughter and he the same!.
Coming through UK customs my head through the shark jaw, they could not get rid of me fast enough. I then went to Dublin with all my goodies. Every talk I gave, which were so so many, my shark jaws would come with me. The children loved touching them and if not careful the odd finger would bleed. To this day smell still lingers.
