Lainey

Happy Birthday Jafa! Hope you have a most wonderful day my friend. Thanks for all the kind words, laughs and stories... keep on shining.

Welcome back

Love a guy who can cook! if you do it well, I say go for it.

I'm at work and I have no interest at the moment in American Football, I mean come on, you guys throw the ball forward, how hard could that game be? If the sport is boring the players better be hot and in those get-ups I'm just not feeling it. And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Cool, another Aussie! Welcome dude, glad you got through that one okay.

Hmm... Although I haven't been in contact with anyone in such a long time I'd still like to meet a few... Jafa for his cheeseyness (cocheese)

From the website: Seriously though, who the hell would want that? I'm completely baffled by the world sometimes. I guess in this instance the bidder's wealth is inversely proportional to their brain capacity. We have an ebay listing in Australia where 4 guys have offered to essentially 'hang out' with the winner for a weekend. Go to a bar, drink beers, have a BBQ, share some laughs... you get the drift. The bidding is apparently up to about $13,000 and they're going to be on the Today show on Friday morning. Who would pay that kind of money to hang out with 4 strangers for the weekend? And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Congrats Nik! Happy to hear it mate. I'll see you on Monday! I told Jase if I can't work out my tent i'm just crashing yours! haha And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Hey no worries, i'll take some credit in advance, don't think we've met yet but i'm sure i'll be friendly when we do. Good to hear you're enjoying things, we need more chicks around so stick with it! And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

I so didn't know this... Anyway, to whomever was asking: emo is the best type of music that's all you need to know Joking aside though, it has nothing to do with the makeup, the dress, the attitude, whatever... It's just a genre of music and it can be thoroughly enjoyed without all the stupid baggage that people usually lump with it. I love emo music, i've loved it for years and although I seem to be frequently defending it against people who like to stereotype anything they don't understand (ie: almost everyone in some way, shape or form), it's just something you either like or you don't. I'm not suicidal, I don't cry myself to sleep at night, I don't dress in black with black eyeliner and a floppy black fringe. I don't call myself emo or 'an emo' (how ridiculous) becuase it's just a genre of music haha. How could anyone be a pop or a rap, it's the same thing... stupid stereotypes. The music is just something I really enjoy, the same way I appreciate and enjoy classical music, rock, indie, aussie hip hop, funk, soul and even an Italian Tenor giving voice to something magical I may not understand the words to but the music just moves me... Not eveyone who listens to emo, just listens to emo... and it can be happy and sweet also, doesn't just have to be sad, contrary to popular belief. Anyway if you're interested in some really mainstream bands that would be easy to find in your local store look up: (and please no controversy on what is or isn't emo, this is just my opinion) Brand New (their new stuff), Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Midtown, Planes Mistaken for Stars, The Used, Dashboard Confessional, Coheed and Cambria, The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World etc. Then come back and tell me how much you love it And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Did my mum punch you then last night? I hope so, piklet eater. i'm not jumping this weekend. if you want your rig you'll need to pick it up at some point. And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Congrats Nik! And thanks for the beer And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Yeah I haven't been out that often lately. I'll be jumping this Saturday though so we'll catch up then

Agh! That just made me cringe. I can't stand reading English when it's so bastardised. I have friends who write messages like that, it makes me so angry. Although, I'd say I'm far more a grammar Nazi than a spelling one. My spelling isn't as good as it probably should be. I have a habit, whenever my good mate (good enough to be open with these things) and I are playfully arguing, and he uses a word or term that is incorrect, I kindly correct it. This makes him so angry, then I sweetly say, "Honey, i'm helping you grow." You should see the reaction I get from that! And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

sent you a PM

Hey Oli! Awe she should have said something last week, i had no idea she wasn't going to be around for a while, I would have said a more fitting goodbye. Well you'll simply have to learn all you can about ears in the mean time and fill Dr. Claire's shoes... it's the only course of action. AND make sure you get me a team cupcake! Anybody would think i do nothing in the team! first you guys leave me out of the jumpsuit buying thing, then i'm missing out on the treats... sheesh boy. And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Yo Nik, Try Dr. Kate, Dr. John or Dr. Claire if any of them around. you'll probably have more luck finding Dr. Claire than anyone else. I haven't seen Dr. John or Dr. Kate in months but Claire was there last week. She freeflys, has an english accent, ask around... I dunno if she'll be able to help much, she's a surgeon not a GP, but she might have a clear idea of where to go for help.

haha, welcome to the sport and the site dude.

Well it's amazing to hear you sound so positive even when you've suffered the loss of amost everything you own. What a cool person you must be to still look on the bright side of things. I really hope things work out for you in the future.

Like others have said, generally it's a phase you'll go through where all you want to talk about is jumping. I had that for the first few months, then you realise that your friends really don't care about skydiving like you do and they'll get annoyed pretty quickly with your one-track mind. When I stared jumping everyone told me to prepare for losing all my whuffo friends but I honestly haven't lost any of the really close ones in the long run. Life is about balance, although you've found a new and fun hobby it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy all the things you used to enjoy previously. I think i'd be really disapointed if I lost all my good friends because my passtime was getting in the way. Sure at the beginning it's tough to make time for everything and I had a few fights with my mates because I was always at the dz, but if these people have been in your life for a while there is a reason you're still friends and that should be motivation for you to hold onto their friendship... if you make no effort they'll probably think you've replaced them with a sport and that wouldn't wash with even the nicest person if they really care about you. You'll make heaps of new friends and no doubt you will drift from a few of your old friends but the ones that you care about should stick around if you curb your addiction slightly in front of them. Don't bother trying to convert them, ask them once and then if they don't have an interest then don't push it. It's not for everyone and some people will never understand why you'd want to do it, it doesn't make them any less important or any less valuable a friend just because they don't 'get' skydiving. Skydiving is your life and although you like to share things with people you have to realise that skydiving isn't 'their' life. As much as you want to talk about you and your hobby, they might want to share with you their life and their passions, and when communication is only one way the other party can get really tired really quickly. Anyway, in my opinion just give it time, try to hold onto your old friends through your first year if they are good friends, as much as you 'have no interest in talking to them' now, you may find you've lost something later that you can't get back when you realise skydiving isn't everything in life. Then again, I do know people who have given up everything and everyone they knew before jumping and they're completely happy that way... I guess it depends on the kind of person you (and your friends) are and how often you want to jump. I'm merely saying it's definately possible to have a balance in life, have whuffo friends and jumper friends and still be happy.

Hey Oli, I climb at climb fit in St Leonards or the indoor centre at St Peters. Yo do much? I haven’t been in a few week, probably next week though. I try to go at least once a week. And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

That picture is absolutely stunning… I love it. One of my dreams is to climb a mountain in Nepal, I’m no where near fit or skilled enough to do it within the next year but maybe after that. I have a mate who has done one and I’m dying to join her on another. There are definitely instances like that in skydiving, it’s so much more than just ‘falling’ as you might imagine. The different disciplines take skill, a lot of work and focus. I don’t do much rel work but I know when people get that last perfect point before break off how much of a rush it is for them. When the swoopers get that perfect glide across the pond, when freeflyers make that big way head down in the afternoon. When you do a full load, summer, sunset, cross country, hop and pop and chase each-other around the sky at 10K and you try to squeeze as much lift as you can out of it because it’s so beautiful up there you just don’t want to land. The Crew dogs who pull off amazing feats thousands of feet up without wrapping themselves, the skysurfers pulling out of a spin that would make you sick with dizziness. Or just doing a simple jump with a mate, watching the back door open up to an amazing azure sky with puffy white clouds, holding hands and running out the back of the van, doing flips, and just enjoying the view. It’s not like you start jumping and all of a sudden you’re flying head down, or turning 20 points and hooking your landings. It’s a long road to get to the point, and you’ve only got 60 seconds in which to do it each time. When you finally get that move you’ve been working on, it’s the same kind of satisfaction as you get when you finally make the hold. It might not be as physically straining but it’s still a triumph over the physical and mental limitations you were bound by previously. They’re both beautiful sports. And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Rockclimbers have bigger balls. I only started climbing this year and to be honest everything i've done has been indoors, primarily because i'm so damn scared of heights like that. I was scared before I ever made a jump. After that the fear has been minimal... but with climbing, i'm scared, i'm tired, i'm dizzy, i'm hanging off a freaking wall only meters up but still re-chalking every two seconds thanks to my sweaty palms. (and my sorry excuse for muscles)... they're both satisfying in different ways... skydiving is beautiful, (like i'm sure big wall climbing could also be) sureal, calming, breathtaking, a damn lot of fun. Climbing for me is satisfying when i finally make some overhung hold that i just didn't have the guts to jump for before... My opinion is that climbing is a lot more scary. (also climbers have better bodies, generally speaking.) And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Fixed it for ya Good work Nik! And you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need 'Cause you knew you were finally free - Death Cab For Cutie

Regardless of ambition, all I know of BASE is theory, what i've read, seen or been told. I wouldn't, for a second, presume I know enough to agree that someone who jumps doesn't understand BASE... that is a stance you'll have to defend on your own my friend.