vt1977

Congratulations... save me a !!!

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Empuriabrava!!!!! Completely stunning views over the bay and mountains (snow capped in winter) with the most crisp light that somehow makes all the colours bright and sharp. I love that place!

Bumping a really old thread I know... Visited Langar this weekend and I am pleased to report that the long promised new showers are finished and they are absolutely excellent - almost certainly the nicest DZ showers anywhere in the UK. The new roof on the clubhouse etc is nice too - lots of little improvements since I was last there and all in all I was very impressed. Nice one Langar! Vicki

:7:0 Slightly dubious weather, but all in all a good time had at Langar with 5 formation loads on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. SUPER IMPRESSED with the new showers!

First reserve ride - 1156 jumps Total ~ 1180 jumps Vicki

Post pics!!!!! Please!!!!!

Happy Birthday Jeanne! Vicki

Greyhounds are awesome - my greyhound lived to 17 and she was the loveliest, sweetest natured dog! Get well soon Omar!!!

Map showing DZs in the UK If you want any info or advice about the UK skydiving scene either post here or drop me a PM - happy to help! Also see the London Skydivers thread - we have monthly drinks in London.

My experiences here. I specifically asked the consultant and was advised not to skydive for a month. Vicki

I use skype with a USB phone which I bought on ebay for around £10 ($17) - call quality is amazingly good. Vicki

Me! LOVE it!

You need to be signed off for whatever rig you are packing - if it is your own gear and you are jumping it, you can get away with a log book endorsement. My suggestion to you would be to get your own rig added to the list of rigs on your existing packing certificate. hth Vicki

A BPA packing certificate will be valid for whatever rigs it is endorsed for at any BPA DZ. If you only want to pack your own gear that only you are jumping, a log book endorsement should suffice and that should also be valid at any BPA DZ. However, my understanding is that if you change gear, you have to get yoru logbook endorsed for that new gear. Easiest thing is simply to get a packing certificate!

My question still hasn't been answered... Why was the whole issue not discussed and clarified with the insurance company well in advance of the AGM? (The motion did, afterall have to be submitted 40 days prior to the meeting) To my mind, when the motion arrived at the BPA offices the FIRST course of action should have been to make contact with the insurance company so that all the implications, facts and hard figures could be presented to the membership at the AGM. No figures were given with regard to this vote at the AGM. Why not? We are being told NOW that there is not enough time to implement the changes to the policy required by the decision of the members and that a years consultation is neccesary. What I want to know: When were the insurance company contacted with regard to Ludwig's motion? Were quotes obtained? Was the possibility of an amended policy discussed? If not why not? When did the BPA agree (i.e. sign) the current policy with the insurers? I can appreciate that a one year consultation period on the matter is a definite step in the right direction. However it concerns me in this case that a consultation period is neccessary at all, given that the vote on this matter cannot have come as a surprise to anyone at the BPA. Vicki

Gordy and I will be there wearing every freebie piece of World Team merchandise we received (including helmet) regaling people with stories about how awesome we were in Thailand in exchange for Singhas! But you should still come anyway! ;-) SKYDIVING GEAR IN THE BAR!!!!!!!!! In that case you'll be buying a lot of: Vicki

Yep likewise to all of that. Still undecided... C'mon people... give me some good reasons why I should venture out in the freezing cold nasty damp weather tonight! Vicki

Who's going? Trying to decide whether or not to venture into London tonight in this horrible weather! Vicki

I'm just south of London, it's nearly 10.30am. It's snowing outside (not settling though!) and I'm in my office wearing work stuff. Vicki

Nic - you'd be very welcome to crash on my sofa... however I live 30 odd miles south west of London, even further from Luton than Vampire Girl. I am actually quite close to Heathrow and a LONG way from Luton. Sorry I can't help. I reckon your best bet is the bunkrooms at the tunnel. Vicki

Er, yeah, um, thanks for that Regan! Still keeping away from the evil cigarettes? Vicki

I believe the Spanish membership includes medical cover for parachuting injuries sustained in Spain as well as a decent level of 3rd party only cover in other countries. The Swedish one possibly does too? But less certain of that. Last time I looked, the Spanish one cost about the same as BPA membership (according to Empuria’s website, the cost is E165 pa) – but clearly you get a LOT more for your money. Vicki Edited for clarity.

I freely admit that I was not in possession of all the facts which is why early in my reply to the original poster I stated, "But - assuming what you post is factually correct" making it clear that I was basing my post on what had originally been posted and had no factual basis for my comments apart from the original post. But either way Buzz, mine's a pint when you're ringing that bell! As I said above (and should have been clear from my original post), this is new info to me - so thanks for clarifying. A couple of points/questions do arise from it though... 1) When was this term agreed between the BPA and the BPA insurers? Before or after the vote at the AGM? I'm assuming it was before, but I would quite like that clarified (general question - not addressed just to you Buzz!) 2) Assuming it was agreed before, why were the membership not informed of this clause at the AGM? It was clear that many BPA officials were keen to see the vote go against the German proposal, and surely this would have been an excellent argument in their favour. I have to conclude from this that either the insurance comany representative didn't know of this clause or for some reason withheld it from the membership during the debate. Neither is acceptable IMHO. Furthermore, since (I assume) a representative of the BPA must have signed a contract containing this clause with the insurance company, why did they not see fit to inform the membership at the AGM? Since this would have been a good argument against the German proposal, I'm assuming that no BPA official was aware of this clause. I hope I am safe to assume that several people from the BPA read the insurance contract thoroughly prior to signing us up to it????? In which case why was this clause not not picked up and noted? Worrying. Thanks for this info Buzz - for me it raises more questions than it answers. Vicki

Well done Regan – keep it up.

The whole insurance issue pisses me off royally. But - assuming what you post is factually correct - this part does more than most. We are forever being told in the most patronising way possible that it is "our BPA" and that we, the membership are the BPA. Well, we, the membership made our view on the issue pretty clear when it was voted on at the AGM last month. Do BPA Council hold the membership in such utter contempt that they will give DZs discretion to go against our (the membership's) decision??? Vicki