tilly

I meant to say beer not bear. Obviously.

errr - what either the whole world around me is going mad, or I'm O.D.ing on oxygen due to no skies for me, but no one seems to be making any sense anymore. And I'm now being attacked by a butterfly. Oh dear I need bear and cigarettes and bed - thats all I can afford and then I will wake up early tomorrow and plot my revenge on EGGNOG. The name makes me want to puke.

I'm really sorry for what I'm about to say but I really HATE Starbucks with a PASSION, a passion that is second only to the type of passion that I love skydiving with. I also hate Eggnog and had never heard of the stuff before a few weeks ago, because if it wasn't for Starbucks it wouldn't even exist in England, and that my friends could only be a good thing. I hate Starbucks, and the ridiculous thing - I'm a so called Starbucks partner. But what is wrong with a good old cuppa? Its patronising, it promotes a greed culture, and it pays crap, and every time I go to the dz for the weekend I get hauled in on my return by the Starbucks Skydiving Police. I really can't wait til I can pay back my overdraft and leave that hellhole. Sorry for the rant, I had a really bad day at work today (at Starbucks). P.S.What is that Nog thing all about?

Yeah I'd go for Sebastian. Arizona is cool and so is Sebastian, but its all about BPA certification. p.s. can I stow away in your suitcase?

Headcorn? Clicky? Well yeah sometimes - but only if your'e a paedophile, but then you'll still be accepted somewhere on the dz anyway! We like sheep here you know - we even get the odd kiwi taking the trouble to make the trip to see them. No seriously we are cool as long as you are not a complete goon, not knowingly anyway!!! HeHeHe! Headcorn seems to have a bad rep for being clicky - I always thought it was the opposite, but the only way is to come and find out for yourself - when it stops raining... The nearest station to Headcorn is Headcorn, I can't remember what the membership is - I only pay it every year but I don't think its as much as that anyway. May see you there one day - oh the shops great by the way, as are symbi suits but be careful of the sheep poo, and the lama poo - no I wasn't joking about that bit! Blue skies - the sun is definitely still shining for us above all that cloud...

Yeah- you're right. I did ASP - all that is different is the Acronym - Advanced Skydiving Program. Some places will be a bit miffed, some more than others. I went to Hinton and after they'd looked at my logbook they were happy. When I did it there was a programme that enabled me to do the basic 8 level course and the consoles and then 3 coach jumps on top of that. Unless the prices have since rocketed, it is probably a good idea finding out about something like that althought the coach jumps are not necessary for an A license. I have a feeling they do either no coachies or a whole load in a package now, but they might be more flexible then they seem on their website, so drop them a line. Also, in case times have changed if you do do something like that, it might be worth speaking to your home dz cci about beforehand. to make sure they'll have you back!!! - You got me dreaming about Arizona now...

Hello! Glad you saw that! Only because it's so worth the trip! Was foing to go with a few instructors from Weston, but they gave up on the idea at the time and we looked up the place ( I went with a mate which was great, but it would still be a giggle and a half going on your own - you wouldn't be short of mates..). I'm pretty sure the website is www.skydiveaz.com, I sent the school an email, and that was that. Booked my flight a few months in advance and got it for about £350. The course paid for it though as did the sun, the sky, the beer...oh and they have roadrunners there and coyotes, and tumbleweed!!! They are a bit strict on underage boozing though as I found out! I now jump at Headcorn although I am considering going to Hinton just because its about 100 miles closer! Whatever you decide, good luck, though I never regretted any aspect of Arizona - mmm perhaps one. Sorry didn't mean to give you my life story - its a Saturday and I feel like I should be at the dz but I'm not hence I'm bored and just happy to be talking to a skydiver, albeit in cyber-world. Blue skies - one day

My mate turned up in Spain, did a tandem and puked right in front of the hangar and in Babylon's path. She still got all the men after her, still loved it and is now saving up for AFF. But she always was a special whuffo!

stick to headcorn and you'll go far my lad - cool people, cool vibes.

Hi Purps, Empuriabrava is great, as is AFF in Britain (if not in the winter - doh!) but I ended up doing AFF in Eloy, Arizona in January (of 2000). It was great fun, no weather problems at all and was consequently able to get enough jumps in over 2 weeks to be welcomed at Hinton (although I had done a few at Weston to begin with - only about 10 though). It took a bit of saving up to pack the jumps in but oh how glad I was I did - I saw the Arizonan desert from the blue yonder, drank tequila for Britain, and met some fantastic people. And it was a bargain, it was a few years ago, but it would probably still be worth looking into the prices now! Happy jumping. Happy drinking Tilly xxx

Mmm - bit tricky then. You're probably closest to the North Pole - it only costs a few grand to jump there. Scotland will seem positively tropical after that! I'll be bringing myself and my rig up there in January - scary thought Keep warm and keep an eye out for the rich men with heart problems From one skint (and cold) skydiver saving for Empuria to another...

You should come down south - great planes down here...and no midges

Perforated eardrum

Damn right! You say it how it is Phonics. England is cool - its absolutely kicking for its diminuitive size - the new black I believe. And we could drink any of you guys in warmer climates under the table, which is the more useful pastime in the event of a nuclear attack. Oh and just for the record Headcorn is very special - its the people that makes it so - yes very special...