FlyBabeAU

I did two Tandems before deciding on AFF. I was hit so hard with sensory overload on the initial tandem my brain was basically non functional for about 90% of freefall, and I don't remember most of freefall, had a breathing issue I needed to get sorted out. Loved the canopy flight with a passion. Wanted to learn to fly. The DZ owner explained to me how the sensory overload I had would pass and said one more tandem was all I would need to know if I'd function enough to enrol as a student in AFF. The owner set me up on a jump with the AFFI to help me understand a bit of what I could expect on AFF L1 and sort out my breathing. I was introduced to an alti, circle of awareness, a practice pull, was assisted to deploy and enjoyed a fair bit of canopy flight time. Loved it. Got my funds together and enrolled. Best decision ever. If I had not had heavy sensory overload on jump 1, I think I might have just enrolled straight into AFF and skipped the second tandem entirely. The second tandem in my case was very useful but not everyone might need it. When I did AFF1 a few weeks later it was with a clear head, right out the door. But more tandems would not have made me function any better than the second tandem allowed me to, or be any more ready for AFF ground training or L1 jump or make it easier mentally. It is different in what you do and what you think whilst you do it, to doing a tandem jump. What prepared me for it was AFF ground training. I'd say if you are aware what's going on up there and you want to learn, even if you are nervous, just have at it! Ask some questions of the DZ AFFI if you need to, but then just start and enjoy it if you want to skydive. More $ spent on tandems is less $ you have for gear, coaching, jumps and ongoing education.

Never said skydiving was without risk or that people don't die from it.

OK so I'm new to my DZ and skydiving, but from talking to people there who have had or are currently sporting injuries ranging from minor problems to major ones, I know an awful lot more people who have died from cancer or lost their partner to it, or who are currently undergoing treatment right now. l also know of several who continue to kick cancer's ass on a daily basis. Even just considering common cancers that affect only women, something like 1 in 3 will get breast cancer in their life and approximately 1 in 10 will get ovarian cancer. Least in my country. If there was a rate of death of women (who probably make up a fairly small percentage of the skydivers out there) anywhere near as high as these figures from skydiving, surely the sport would be closed down by governing bodies if it claimed so many lives? Guessing there would be a similar story there for cancers common to men. We know the rate of fatalities from skydiving is something like 1 in 100, 000 jumps and possibly much lower in very well regulated DZs from what I've read. Some are claiming 1 in 600, 000 jumps. Had to look into it because I had family asking about the rate of fatalities. I do know of a few who have sadly lost friends to skydiving elsewhere or lost friends to plane accidents, not at my DZ though. I know of a lot of families who have been torn apart by cancer.

ROTFLMAO…too funny!

Perspective of a noob Aussie AFF student: His "presidency" is almost amusing to me since I also read an Aussie skydive forum where his behaviour is highly visible. Its not that hard to track his history and his behaviour, despite user name changes. Reading other people's responses to his posts, and at many times the lack thereof, has been telling. Recognised him here from some of the content of his profile and background story in both places. Was all too familiar... Some of the comments here have me chuckling. That said, as to concerns over how newbies coming across posts from that username go, personally I prefer to learn from my AFFI and oh, actual skydivers, to verify what they say in forums or books, with my AFFI before taking anything onboard. Aside from having that preference, my AFFI told me that's how its gonna work with me being his student, and he was really clear on that. I hope other newbies and AFFIs take a similar view, doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude it might save all kinds of confusion and potentially students ending up on the incidents board as a result of acting on bad or inappropriate information. Just my two cents worth, as a student...

You need to remove food sources from access (i.e. mouseproofing). It did work for us. See if you can find where the mice are nesting though, if they are in the back of a cupboard where the cat can't access and they do not feel threatened, where they are not exposed to smells of cat, they're less likely to move on. We had a mice invasion from outside coming into the lower level of our home that was not the kitchen. I had mouse droppings over my sewing table with a commission piece for a customer about 20 cm away from where I found a puddle and other nasty deposits. And more on a bookcase. They seemed to like books. Not cool. So lucky they did not chew on that commission piece... Mice have receptors for rat and cat hormones and smells as a defence mechanism, as both rats and cats predate on them Rats have receptors for cats. Good luck de-mousing.

Just saw the vid linked to from another section of the forum here, and all I can say is that was frickin EPIC. Badassery on a whole other level. The UFO believers thing on the side is amusing, but what can you do when people have their minds set like that? Facts are such an inconvenient thing when they get in the way of a good story...

My parents had mice when they lived in a rural area, from time to time. Fresh cut apple with peanut butter spread on it often did the trick, but it also is in the placement of traps. Put the traps where the mice have been seen running. Its also possible they might have moved on if you don't see fresh evidence appearing (i.e. droppings) especially if you've removed the source of their previous food. They are opportunistic creatures and will move to where the food is. The other thing to try is biological warfare. This is gonna sound crazy but we did it, and it does work. Find someone with a cat if you don't have one and gather some of the fur from brushing it. Handfuls is good if you have a lot of potential entry points. Place clumps along entry points into the home, like under the door to outside and inside close to access points. We had an invasion of rodents one summer where we used to live, discovered them entering our home in an area we did not normally permit our cats to access. Rodents are born hardwired to avoid felines as a matter of survival, they will generally flee rather than confront a predator. Worked so well for us that family living nearby who did not have cats came and begged for kitty fur, when they continued to have a rodent issue and we did not. Worked for them too. Worth a try if you can't install a cat into your lives.

I was in Paris in 1997, a really beautiful city with warm, peace loving people, so I found it hard especially to learn what occurred there. I hope there will soon be many more like you refusing to cower in fear to militant extremists. I saw on Facebook a few weeks back a photo of some armed terrorists with text overlaid over the image saying something along the lines of "If you are prepared to kill for your religion, start with yourself." There's a thought… I think no matter what religion you consider, when people become fundamentalist extremists in their beliefs, they become dangerous, but when they are intolerant to those who think differently to their own agenda, and when most especially they use religion as a justification for unspeakable acts and start ingraining that into their culture across generations, its deeply disturbing. Peace to everyone.

Nataly, Sure, its not good to judge someone on one act, but you did say it wasn't working, and then he just walked away. I am glad for you he didn't get nasty. For the length of time you were with him, it makes me wonder where his priorities were to be able to just do that. It takes strength of character and basic respect for the person you break up with face to face, precisely because there are easier options available. This may well be more about him than it is about you. Anyway, hugs, and I hope you have a bunch of good friends at your DZ and your life to spend time with, be awesome single. Enjoy their company and have fun together. Willing to bet there will be someone far more amazing in your future that you need to be free for, and in a good emotional place when you meet them, than you might imagine at the moment.

Sorry he did such a spineless thing, that really sucks. Perhaps the way he did it also shows you truly just what he was- what he lacked in character regardless of why he ended it. Better to know that now than later, better to not compromise by continuing to live in something that wasn't working. And whilst it always hurts when there's a break up, now you're free to live as you like, spend time with people who will treat you well, and accept nothing less in a relationship down the track than you deserve.

Woah, that's not cool. So the anti fog treatment already on your helmet doesn't work so well? Did it when it was new? Is it possible to ask the manufacturer to re-apply whatever they used originally on your helmet, if its worn off over time? Or replace the visor section if its lost effectiveness for anti-fog, though that might be too costly. Have you tried other full face helmets to see if they are any different for you? Maybe slightly different shape or materials/ finishes might be better? Maybe a friend with a similar sized head would let you use theirs for a jump and see if its any different?

So the anti fog product on my wrap scripted glasses for skydiving my optometrist recommends and applied is called "fog-off stick" http://www.avivaoptical.com.au/products/os-mp-fog-off/ Small tube retailed for $16 AU at my optometrist, so here's hoping it works well! Packaging says its anti mist and anti static, its a wax like product you rub sparingly onto one or both sides of the lens, then polish with a micro fibre cloth (one comes in the pack). It says to avoid build up on the lens to wash lens occasionally with gentle detergent. Pack states its designed to minimise misting on a range of surfaces including glasses, goggles, visors, scuba masks, gas masks etc, so it may be worth looking at. I'm told one tube lasts a very long time and I should not have to reapply for months. Out of curiosity, since its over 32 degrees C and a little humid here, I put my new glasses on, (poly carb lens) tightened up the elastic strap- walked around for a while with them on my face- no fog. Just so you know, my glasses have a foam facial cavity seal on the inside of the sports sunnies frame, are a pretty snug fit to my face, and have some small vents built into the frame. How much of that was frame design or the fog off stick working, I don't know. They'll get jumped in about 3 weeks time.

This may or may not be helpful for your helmet, but my optometrist is putting some sort of anti fogging stuff onto my prescription Wiley sports glasses he's hand cutting the lenses for, for my skydiving. He said he'll give me some of it to reapply every few months. Said its a product that gets rubbed onto the polycarbonate lens so it might work well on a helmet visor. I should have it in about a week from now, if you're interested to know what it is. He didn't mention it by product name when he told me about it. Probably others here have specific products they can recommend if you're in a hurry to anti-fog.