skytash

I'm amazed CofG only came up once so far. From my perspective that is the biggest problem with the Grand Caravan. The standard one fits fewer people and the Grand doesn't allow a chunk out . Mind you, here in the UK where we haven't had an Otter flying skydivers in the last 10 years, Grand Caravans are the favoured plane. As for 4-way and 8-way, our 8-way teams manage just fine, although point is a fund spot with good upper body strength and an understanding of climbing principles! One girl who flies point on one of the 8-way teams showed me her way of climbing out on the front step and getting back behind the line, which is the way that 8-way plus camera need to launch. Works fine once you get the hang of it, and it makes front float on a Otter feel like a piece of cake. I'd have a skyvan any day, an Otter if necessary () and will drive to get to a Grand Caravan. My nearest DZ has a G92 (the one that only operates a day a week from a piston Islander doesn't count) but still tend to drive further to jump from the Grand Caravans at Langar or Nethers. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

like the third one

and I bought more last night - got my CF1!! For the non-brits its another one of those sticker things we collect in our licences and means I am no longer a CF novice. To do that, I had to spot and pilot a 4-stack and everyone had to land on the DZ we took off from as well as dock 4th on a 4-stack. On my 5th CRW jump ever PD docked fifth, turned 'round underneath and filmed us all while I was learning quite how hard (or not!) to pull toggles while steering a 4-stack. Thanks to Martin, Plastic, Karen & PD for a great day yesterday and then the offset docks this morning just to make sure I learn as much as I can while I'm still eager to! I had one of the best week-ends at the dropzone and most of the beer was drunk by others.

mine are a bit like that, only eating dry food and turning their noses up at treats. Cookie sometimes plays fetch, but only with one of his toys and Biscuit follows me around in the house and watches me on the loo if he gets the chance. They both get stoned on catnip though. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

sorry to hear you're hurt I helped out in manifest and looked after tandems and stuff while I was hurt - had to lie about how I'd done it until I was sure it wasn't going to put people off their first jump. At least you can honestly say it wasn't skydiving! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

a florist tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

isn't summer solstice the start of winter, because it actually marks the mid-point of the summer season? I know the weather doesn't really care about these things, but here in England we KNOW it can read calendars 'cos it always rains on a bank holiday! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

got me wondering - are all the rabbits here less bunnyer because whoever is singing that song isn't here? tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

You may want to ask whether you can do a climbing pass hop 'n' pop getting out low while the rest of the plane carried on upwards. I haven't jumped at Headcorn and it's been a long time since I've jumped at Hinton, so don't know about their local attitudes towards it, but I'd be surprised if they refuse to do it if you ask for a climbing pass. Good for you to keep an eye out for others and try to stay out of their way, but you need to be careful to be predictable at the same time. If you can see them, they are likely to see you (unless they are below you). If you do something different from the general landing pattern to get out of someone's way you risk getting others worried that they don't know what you are doing next. In my experience most instructors are happy to answer questions, so if at the beginning of the week-end, you speak to an instructor and say you would like to work on your accuracy but are encountering the problems you've just told us about, I'm sure they'll try to help you achieve your goal. tash edited 'cos I looked up what DZ you jump at and changed my answer accordingly from a more general one, which I could have done before posting in the first place Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

great pics - and well done on the record guys & gals! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

my sister keeps her cookie jar on top of her fridge, good thing my nephew hasn't seen this tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

ok chick, you should be home from work by now, could you strike so I can stop ducking? Or is this one of your week-ends off and you are at the DZ missing out on precious gloating time tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I think he either asking why night jumps don't happen every night or why when they do happen it's between certain hours. I'll try to answer these questions, and if it isn't what is being asked, perhaps FlyinDawg can explain his question better. Generally dropzones only do night jumps on full moon nights. This is because although it is a lot darker than during the day, there is some natural light. I don't think it is to do with airspace restrictions over night. When they do have night jumps, the time slot will be set to make sure it's late enough to count as a proper night jump (starting 1 hour after sundown I think) and early enough that it doesn't cut into drinking time too much. Hope that helps! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

oh and that defeat of the West Indies was even sweeter . tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

There's a great post somewhere here from a few years ago which describes perfectly how to spoon. Now I need to go use that search function within the next 6 hours so I can find it and post the link tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

very pretty - made me curious though, what were you researching and what do you do for work??? tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

It was her birthday on Sunday and there was a lot of crying at BritChicks as well as lots of remembering good times. We blamed her for the bad weather and told her to sort it - which she did on Sunday. Karen baked her a fantastic birthday cake with the trademark Tazmanian Devil on it. Her mum Hazel and sister Gail were also at Langar and both did a tandem. The chicks in red suits were about to debrief when they were on their call, so we all ran out to the plane to wave them off. We de-briefed while they were climbing to altitude and then greeted them when they landed. Having met some of her family it is clear how she turned out to be such a fantastic person and all of us who have had the honour of watching her make trouble miss her with a tear and remember her with a big smile. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

and without me knowing, the guys in the office this morning were running a sweepstake on the picture in Metro to pick me out - all the money to go to the Red Cross. Great idea I had no idea of until I was asked to point myself out and was duly handed the money (minus the pound back to the guy who had picked me out)

part of the fun of a scrambles is that the sky gods who participate don't really mind that and may try to help you and give you tips and things

not sure if this is what is meant, in the accountancy firm I used too work in there was a technical department who specialised in interpreting the laws and guidelines for individual cases. Some clients wanted to stay within the law but just right at the edge of it and the technical department would help with the interpretation. Some of them were people with law and accounting training/experience. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I have covered litter boxes, not so much for privacy or even odour control (they get scooped of their clumping litter daily) but so that the litter doesn't get thrown all over the kitchen and the bathroom while the boys are trying to bury their business! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

Biscuit also likes my nail file. Whenever I'm doing my nails I need to keep a very close eye on it while doing the clipping bit so he doesn't run off with it. I now do my nails in stages so that the nail file is only in reach when actually bein used . tash ps - for some reason I can only capture the evil eyes on camera, never see them for real must be invisible to the naked eye - true sign of the devil lurking Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

Shoulda gotten a Snowshoe. Siamese looks w/no whiny voice... :) Does he have the kink in his tail? I like hanging stuff (Xmas ornaments, etc) off it--friend has a Pedigree Wedgehead Siamese :) I have never lived with a Siamese, but Cookie is rather chatty for being a Snowshoe, which are apparently so quiet. Mind you he doesn't scream, just has a very expressive squeak letting me know that he isn't happy with somethings or that he is happy with other things when it sort of interfers with his purring. Biscuit is a proper neutered tom - lying around sleeping all day and night until there is more food in the bowl. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

...if you are an EU citizen and can prove you have insurance cover of your own that will cover you for 3rd party damage while skydiving in the UK up to a certain amount. So not all foreigners I'm afraid, only the ones next door! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

that's off topic and should be kept in the Bonfire. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe