Oh goodness poor you and what a sorry state the business is in. You seriously need to take care. Just because you are in remission, it will take some time I am sure to regain your health fully. Good of you to volunteer, but don't do it at the cost of your health.
Glad your ears are being unbunged! It is horrible when you can't hear properly. I was scuba diving a few years back and to trauma to my ear and was quite deaf for about 4 months. It is horrid cos you can't always hear when people call you names 
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Gina
Well hopefully, they would only be nice names 
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Ha ha re the birds and as for the old folks home, hysterical!!
I did my Padi at dive centre near Peterborough and my daughter did hers in London. We then went to Sharm El Sheik to do our Open water part. I found it far too hard as I am only 5ft 1" and hauling round those large tanks down to the beach and off a floating pontoon knackered me. Once in the water, I kept getting nose bleeds, not fun in a mask, and also kept floating to the surface as my weights didn't seem to be holding me down. I hated the bit where you have to take your mask on and off as my hair kept getting in the way. However, the actually diving, once the tests were over I thoroughly enjoyed. The fish around that coast were amazing. Not doing it again now though, too old.
Gina
