skytash

I jump with my cheststrap quite tight and also find that my slider often doesn't come all the way down. What I do now is after having made sure that I have clear airspace after opening and using my risers to turn towards where I want to go, I loosen my chest strap. My slider comes down as I'm loosening it. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

don't forget the dive to pin. Also needed to get the FS1 sign off with the 4pt 4 way. The other bits of WARP or skydive U are just to teach you the skills to be able to achieve the dive to pin and 4 pt 4 way. The order and method by which you learn them are irrelevant. Any USPA coach should be able to teach the skills, so you only need the BPA coach for two jumps. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

perhaps just another one of those differences between the UK and US, but here bed names from smaller to larger is: single, queen (a single and a half) double king (a double and a half) based on that, I decided to book doubles rather than queens 'cos I figured queens were smaller than doubles - should have asked here first shouldn't I tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

we'll have to see driver has confirmed lifts to the DZ in the morning will be no probs from Crystal. Evenings can be a bit ad hoc, so would rather not promise either way. But I'm sure you will find someone else who is staying there or other places in town and get a lift home in the evenings tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

have asked, waiting for the answer. And the peanut isn't so bad, I lived in it for 3 months. I'm just not sure whether you could fit more than one person in the bed! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

hey baz, be good to see you there! The Crystal Motel does skydiver's rates, I'm paying $47 per night from 4th to 10th and no, I don't have space in my room, but we may be able to give you lifts to the DZ both ways for the invitational, will have to check with my driver. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I'm not sure how many jumps you would need to add, but from memory of my tax training, for something to be 'used' a significant amount of usage is required. 50 jumps while on a 2 week holiday is unlikely to count. I also think you would need to prove that your main purpose for buying it was to use on that trip and NOT anywhere else, you just happen to have it left and thought you'd bring it back. As an average rig has a life of at least 500 jumps before you would need a re-line, and overall a life of over 1000 jumps is not unreasonable, you'd have to put a fair few hundreds of jumps on it to claim 'used' if you speak to customs. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

Problem with the EU is that anything inside the EU remains taxable, so no duty free on a flight from Germany to France. We'd have to go to a non-EU country to get any tax exemptions, if there are any (which I doubt!) tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I'd be tempted, but no! I've been vegetarian for the past 10 years!

That idea doesn't really bear out in fact though. Producing half as many or a quarter as many would reduce the cost by significantly less than the fraction as printing always gets cheaper per copy the more you print. I agree that the mag isn't all it could be, I'd personally like to see more text than at present, even if it meant losing some of the pictures. I think articles on safety, training, skill development, perhaps a more in-depth look at some of the incidents and so on would add to the mag (compare it to Parachutist or Skydiving) but as a concept I think it is a good tool and there are some parts that serve a good purpose in keeping the membership informed. Quote Just a comment in general (not to sweep or jumpmunki) about the content of the mag. If you write an article on anything; safety, a skydiving discipline or a boogie, there are pretty high chances that it will be printed. Lesley often has to go 'round asking people to write articles about things. If you know of someone whose knowledge you would like to see shared in the mag, try convincing them to write about it, or if they don't want to, interview them and submit it as an interview article. I'm pretty sure it will be considered! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

Is it at the usual place or has someone explored the Camden option? tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

It's there now thanks! I just need to set up a Paypal account then I can start ordering. I'm not sure which state to put in, as being outside the US doesn't seem to be an option. I'll see what happens when ordering once Paypal is sorted. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I know that I've been told this by someone already, but as an excuse to bump, how to I go about ordering calendars to sell on to all the blokes? tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

the regulars know each other well enough, even when drunk. I think we recognise the timers easily enough - they are the one's looking for the loos, the seminar rooms etc.... This time next week I'll be eating more nurofen than is allowed to be sold in one go. Need to make sure I buy some each day this week so I have enough for the hangover tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

Perhaps Paulipod or someone else with more technical knowledge will correct me, but I was under the impression that the re-circulating type which is likely to be used in colder climates shouldn't be affected as the air stays enclosed in the structure. The open type, like Orlando's Skyventure does get misty, but if it is windy and the rain isn't falling straight down it is better. tash edited to note that Dawn got there with more technical knowledge, but thanks for confirming my suspicion that it depends on the design! Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I always respond to wuffos who say 'Isn't it risky?' that it is actually a low risk, high hazard sport. The chances of something going wrong are quite low, but if it does, it is usually quite serious. You can reduce or increase the risk element by making choices on gear, landing pattern and people you jump with. There will always be some risk, and it doesn't hurt to remember that it does translate into high hazard. In my view, those who are most scared are actually those who have the lowest risk of hurting themselves as they are careful to take all steps to reduce their fear - always stay a bit scared as it will sharpen your concentration and make you more careful. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

To find an IFA in the UK, call IFA promotions on 0800 095 3250. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

CAVEAT - I work for the Pru so it could be argued that I'm posting this in my own interest, but this is not a post in my professional capacity (I work in life assurance not pensions) I would agree with others that having a pension is a good thing. The UK state pension doesn't pay much more than Income Support. I think you have various options in your case: - you can join the council scheme, chances are that you will have the option of two providers, compare them see who you feel more comfortable with. Also find out what happens if you leave the job. Some allow you to take the money out and put it into a pension plan from another employer, others make you leave it with them until you retire. - if you earn less than £30,000 (I think - check with an expert like a sales person from a pension company or an IFA) you can also invest in a personal pension with any provider you want - I think in any case you can get a stakeholder pension, but not many providers offer these on a regular payment basis as they often don't make enough money to cover the cost of administering them When I get back into the office I'll send you the details of the Independent Financial Advisor Association. You can call them and they will let you have details of IFAs in your area. There are two types of IFA - those which are free for you and are paid by commission, even if not the individual advisor, the company will. From what I've seen at my end of the deal they can be influenced by commission rates, so you may want to speak to two or more before making a decision - those who you pay for their time. They also get what is called trail commission which pays them a small amount after the sale, but this is significantly lower than the upfront commission the other type get. They actually make their money from the fee you pay. They are less likely try to encourage you towards a provider who pays high commission. Most providers also sell direct. I personally would meet an IFA or two, then make my choice and buy direct. But I work in the industry and understand how many of these things work. That way you may get the commission which would be paid to the IFA put into your pension. Beware though, if you choose this route you will never be able to make a claim for any form of misselling as you made your own choice. You didn't enter into a contract with an advisor and hence can't claim for bad advice. The other thing about IFAs is, they can be quite scary about how much you need to invest to have a good retirement. I personally put 18% of my gross income into my pension which according to my IFA is just enough as long as I pay off my mortgage before I retire. Have a look at what is available to you. If you want anything explained, PM me. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I managed to fly over from Germany for the AGM when I was living there and it looks like I'll be able to do the same from India! It'll be good to see everyone again - even if through a veil of alcohol! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

That was my first thought as well - a bit like being 'girl on the side'. How could you be sure there wasn't another? tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I don't know about fatalities per se, but I remember being hearing while I was a student that accidents are most likely to happen to people between 200 and 500 jumps. The reason given was that at 200 jumps you feel like you know everything and by the time you reach 500 jumps you realise you don't and are lucky not to have had an accident. I have not stats to back this up and it may be that it is complete claptrap, but the reasoning does make sense to me from my own experiences. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I saw that last night by accident in TV - what a great accident to see it when I hadn't decided on a new year's resolution yet. Now I have one. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

well Val - I'll see you in September! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

I hadn't wanted to steal Val's excitement and hadn't posted myself, but it seems Kate was handing out one of the best Christmas presents a girl can get this year! tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

a few threads down in 'Bodyflight Bedford Progress' there are details of that tunnel, there are other details on the Skyventure tunnel in Milton Keynes in other threads in this forum. A quick scan of thread subjects and you may have seen them, no real need even for a forum search. tash Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe