virginflyer3

Hey Corey, I am actually doing my AFF right now and I have had one of the most amazing experiences of my life so far. I only have a few more days left and I am working on my consols now. All I can say is do it. If it is making you hungry for it go for it. I was just like you obsessing day in, day out after my tandem about skydiving. I also knew that I had to do something about it now before I was some old granny sat in a chair at 70 wishing I did the one thing that made me feel so alive.... SKYDIVING. I have had some real tough times on this course my sticker being just my turns (but that is another story altogether). Anyhows I have stuck at it and not let my thirst for being a skydiver be dampened by my own HEAD thinking too much about all the other shite that comes with this game. I have cracked it now because I had made my mind up that I am going to do this no matter what. Belive me I have just wanted to bawl my eyes out at times but then when I am back in freefall and the cobwebs are flying away it is soooo much better and I am so much stronger. On my level one I lost my radio (or had blocked ears) and had to land myself. My ground school was brilliant enough to make me just do what I had to do and that was land on my own under canopy (which I did with the perfect PLF and landing pattern) and I got up and got straight on the next load. COME ON!!!! I had crapped myself about the canopy flight more than the freefall like you and hell I puilled it off! That was not so bad after all. I am glad that I was alone for that first landing in some ways as it proved to me that I could cope and that I had taken everything in as you should. These guys will not let you in the air until they KNOW you can do it. It sounds like to me that you have the spirit in you. Go with it brother and enjoy! And no don't do another tandem and have another taxi ride. Crack on with the AFF. You know what freefall is about and now you can start working and put that money towards beng a real skydiver. This is expensive business and if you know you want to do it get on with it. Good luck Corey and trust yourself. x Edit to add:- And the unstable exit is THE BEST THING EVER - so far! I did a roll out the door and I was shitting myself before (like, oh my god can I do it?) and when I was doing it seeing plane, cloud, plane, cloud, plane cloud....ARCH!!! I was on top of the world. This is what it is all about! This is a head F*@K and that is why I am here!

What..Gordon "f$*k#ng" Ramsay? He is pretty much a national treasure for us with his "did he just say that?" put downs. He was destined to be a pro soccer player (apparently) before he got injured and hence ended up being a chef on the telly instead. A bit of useless trivia for you there. Anyways I'm off tommorrow to do my "f#*k@ng" AFF tossers!!! See you when I get back. The English do etiquette so well.

Phewee! But yes, I know what you mean about when the couples fall....it looks like a game of twister I played on a Friday night once, all legs and arms and no clue as to what the hell is going on. Spectacular! Yep, but the English guy "Kerr" looked well fit in his black glitzy attire. I would not kick him out of bed for eating biscuits. Grrrrr.

In my mind anything that requires such athletic skills and physical capabitlities as is demonstrated in Ice Dancers/figure skaters etc is definately up for the Olympics, period. Over here, when I was watching the half pipe, the more serious presenters were almost taking the piss out of it, like "oh it's such a new sport and what a strange bunch they all are, now here is some real sport - the downhill" and not really bigging it up for what it is, some really talented individuals being given a chance to shine. We all have our thing I guess. But to put even Ice Dancing in the same sentence as ballroom dancing (which is a very skilled thing and something I could never do), is a bit daft really. I think they should make skydiving an olympic sport. Oh I forgot it is only morons and bird shit that falls out of the sky.

Thanks for putting me straight there. I am one of life's simpletons and I just call people like her, "Ice skaters" normally, like I used to call skydivers "fruitjobs", before I realised there was more to it than that. Could'nt agree with you more there! WOW! I'm not too sure I go there, but Maybe if I watch a bit more of it in the future I might think "fall you bastard....Fall!!!!" whilst choking on my kitkat My husband really likes the ladies costumes. Can't think why. But yeh, I think whoever designed most of them could do with being taken around the back and shot.

"Enter Sandman" by Metallica.

How can anyone question that Ice dancing is not a sport I do not know. They are athletes. I was watching it last night and Sasha Cohen of the USA's performance was outstanding. To be able to do that with your body, put that amount of dedicatation it requires into a sport and get to that level, deserves respect. I dare you to throw yourself around the ice like that and hold some of those body positions. As for curling I have'nt watched it, a bit too slow for me, but still these people are at the top of their game, unlike the rest of us mere mortals. RESPECT.

I relapsed and started again last year (after a 2 year break - duh!) when I did my tandem. Puffed like a steam train for months afterwards. Yuk. So I gave up New Years day and so far so good. First week is the hardest and going out socialising with other smokers can be tough, especially when slightly innebriated.

***Now, when I see anybody smoking, I just think they must not be too bright, if smoking is a decision they made for themselves. How smart can a person be if they actually choose to engage in a habit that: - stinks disgustingly - Like you do when it goes a bit tits up on a jump? Besides can't smell you in cyberspace, you might have a very pungent aroma that offends others. - costs a lot of money - Ummm, is'nt skydiving expensive unless you have a sexual favours deal going on with your CCI? - damages one's health? All those beer fines can't help one's liver can it? And I bet you are right up front of que bumming off the newbie!

Holy cow. Confess...confess. Where to start? A neighbour keeps letting their dog dump right outside of my drive and my very nice neighbours and it is getting me really pissed. So the other day I picked the offending turd up (with a trowel) and lobbed it in their drive only to hit their car with it and it just stayed there, stuck to the car. Did I move it? Nope. I hope it was sundried to the paint work, tossers. Hopefully my cat leaves it shit hidden in their garden.

How weird, I had exactly the same thing happen to me last week. A bruise the size of a small T plate on the top of my leg and arse. How on earth it got there, I do not know. I would like to say it was caused by athletic nasty sex but that would be a lie, besides my knees and elbows are fine. I nearly had to call in work and say I needed the day off as I had a sore bum and would'nt be able to sit on it all day long, but I don't think that would have washed as they are Nazi scum.

I guess you won't be doing it again then? I feel for you. Just keep your chin up as much as possible and party like you've never partied before. Go away with the guys, just do anything to remind you how great single life really is before doing something silly like "falling in love" all over again with mistake number 3.

I guess when you walk down the aisle still sedated from the "night before" shannigans is when you have to say STOP! I came round at the high alter MARRIED! Holy shit, I missed the whole lot. Apparently I did it. Reception was banging and I had a great time as I was just topping up on the night before, but my new husband would'nt talk to me all night, maybe not such a bad thing looking back on it. Drink can have it's purposes.

True, there are more serious things that an expectant mum could do to her unborn foetus than smoking. My mum smoked whilst carrying me and I weighed a healthy 8Lb 8oz. I was a healthy, bonny child too. I think certain people are predisposed to certain defects caused by certain habits like smoking. One person could smoke all their life 40 a day and not seem to have any real side effects on their general health, whereas a non-smoker who happened to work in a small smoky bar for 15 years ends up contracting lung cancer that is smoke related. The same could be applied to a growing foetus. One friend of mine smoked on and off throughout her pregancies and her children are very healthy and robust medically, have been ever since. Another friend who had a very anxious time with her pregancy, just could not find the resolve to quit. She subsequently had a prem labour and her midwives/doctors said it was because the baby was not getting enough oxygen due to her smoking. Her child is very unwell all year round and has asthma and sinus problems. She freely admits this is all down to her smoking whilst pregnant and she is deeply ashamed of this, she crucifies herself enough over this. She is a fantastic mum however and I have nothing but great admiration for her. Her choice was a bad one for her child and there is no getting away from this. No matter how anyone looks at it, smoking while carrying a child is a risky business and a gamble with their future health. I suppose I have been quick to judge in the past as maybe if I had not wanted to throw up every time I smelt cigarette smoke I might have found it harder to quit. Who knows. Fact is, it is a scary time becoming a mum or a dad.

It is when they've had the baby and then they go outside to have a ciggarette that really gets me. If you can't give up when you are pregnant then what is the point? The day I found out I was pregnant I stopped straight away and it was not difficult to do as my childs health meant more to me than having a puff. I did'nt even go near anyone who was smoking. Shameful and they deserve all the looks of contempt they get.