Nataly

Oh, I forgot... A mask, but nakid otherwise. Remi, you know damn well I can't ride through my village on my bike - the stairs, the stairs!!!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I'm not getting out of bed 3 times per night to walk through the streets laughing and yelling with a bunch of strangers... That would just be weird!!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I bet. I dont live in Key West, but I live in the "trendy" nightlife area in a downtown city. I get the shouting and screaming at all hours every day regardless of the day or time of year. I knew it would be that way when I moved in though. There are advantages and disadvantages to every location. If you want to live in a "cool" spot you're going to have to put up with other people wanting to come to that spot. Of course there are worse places... But I didn't choose one of those places. I expect things will naturally die down after the school holidays, however, so I don't think it will last beyond August.

I live in an isolated little village not far from Monaco/Nice. The French Riviera is a hot spot for tourism, but some areas are a little out of the way, are not well connected by public transport and thus attract a lot less people. Like I said, this village has been dead for years due to the fact that 90% of the places are owned by people who live abroad. These owners left their places vacant for sometimes years on end... This winter, however, one of the villagers decided to start a little side business in real-estate. So she got in touch with a bunch of the people who own a vacation home here and let them know they could make some easy money... Perhaps this wouldn't have interested them before the financial crisis, but there you go. Hence the sudden influx. And the village is TEENY, so it's all the more noticeable. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

It's more like the other way around... The lady is complaining because she moved to a dead town and then an airport was built right next to it... This village has been quiet for years - it was one of my reasons for picking it. Full of empty apartments only visited 1 week per 3 years by their owners... What has changed in the meantime is that suddenly one of my neighbours decided to get in touch with all of the non-residents to offer them short-term letting services... So now most of those empty apartments are getting new people in every week... I like the crazed woman idea, but selling retarded souvenirs will only encourage MORE people to come!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Although this area lives off of tourism to a great extent, the down side for the locals is that ALL the prices go up (without any increase in wages)... Traffic increases, noise increases, pollution increases (people litter when they are on holiday but they wouldn't litter in their OWN backyard)... If you don't work in the tourism industry, it's hard to see the upside of the summertime invasions... I *do* live in a GORGEOUS area... So OBVIOUSLY people are going to come and visit. But some people's behaviour is just baffling... PS: your answer is BORING - my work colleagues suggested pouring maple syrup on them and ripping open a pillow to cover them in feathers!!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Ok, so it's tourist season again... For two months out of the year, we grit our teeth and ignore the noisy bastards as they flood our streets at all hours, laughing, yelling and generally having a good time (those BASTARDS!!!)... Every night, these morons party like it's New Year's Eve, totally oblivious to the fact that NOT EVERYONE IS ON BLOODY HOLIDAYS... So instead of getting mad every time they wake me up, I have decided to take action. No, it won't change anything, because those people who "learn their lesson" will promptly be replaced by a fresh batch of bastards... But at least *I* will have the last laugh!!! I was thinking of throwing eggs at them, but too messy. My work colleague suggested I spit at them, but my range is limited. I was thinking a bucket of ice-cold water... But I'm CERTAIN if we put our heads together we can come up with something BETTER!!!

I know nothing about it, but am sending you good vibes for tomorrow. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

YES. Seriously, the rig looks "odd" enough to anyone who has never seen one before on a scanner. I would put nothing else in the bag - not your helmet, alti, jumpsuit - nothing. But that's just me. So far I have never had to check in my rig. I have had some minor issues with my rig only once in Nimes (France), when they did a random swab for explosives and they detected something they didn't like (because of the AAD)... I was calm and handed over the X-Ray card and tried to explain and the guy would have none of it. Told me to shut up, sit down over there whilst his superior was called. I politely asked that he not handle the rig until his boss came. Again, the guy was very rude and wouldn't listen, picked up the thing from my legstrap and tossed it aside (glad it wasn't the silver handle!) His boss came, immediately recognised it as a rig and there was no problem after that. He even took the time to show the newbie the x-ray screen, pointing out what was normal and what would NOT have looked normal. So I got lucky but I could just have easily been shit out of luck Come to think of it, I had a problem with my motorcycle helmet at the same airport once (they insisted I check it in "since it could be used as a weapon"... Yeah, really... Talk about random made-up rules!!! ) Expect that they will not necessarily follow protocol... Do go on each airport's website that you will be travelling to and print their own policies - sometimes it comes in handy (sometimes not). Personally, I would not draw any unnecessary attention to your bag - just write a note inside like people have said. Leave your full name and phone number. Whatever happens, always try to be calm and speak politely... Things are more likely to work in your favour that way.

Do you really need more septic tanks over yonder?! Can't suggest France, either... One of the most beautiful places on earth, spoiled only by its inhabitants "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

If yours is such a big rig, have you considered renting the same or a similar rig whilst abroad? Call the DZ and find out what your options are - it might be cheaper than getting yours insured, plus the added cost of checking in luggage, et cetera. It would also lighten your load... Just a thought. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I've also heard a rumor that one of the perps was seen fleeing Westbound on a Kawasaki Ninja 250R. I swear I just inherited some money... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I WISH!! I will for sure return those items - they are crap... Just wondering if it's worth making an official complaint (ie: to the guys who make/apply the regulations/penalties). ETA - And also wondering whether it's worth pestering them to get what I actually paid for (as opposed to just a refund). But I suppose boycotting them makes just as much sense as a matter of principle... I don't really *need* these items... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Just socks. I like sleeping nekkid, but I always seem to be too cold without something on my feet. Shame, because they so yearn to breathe like the rest of me!!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I ordered a bunch of stuff on www.Kipling.com... I have previously bought their products in shops and I love them... I had my eye on a few little things in the shops and when they had an online sale, I decided to treat myself for once. Trouble is, the items they shipped to me are quite a bit different to the pictures / descriptions online... Different (cheaper) fabric, finish, colours, quality... I am quite surprised, because what I received is noticeably crappy in comparison to what I ordered (and what I have seen in their shops). I am even more surprised by their response, in which they fully acknowledged these differences in style/fabric/quality, but claim this is no problem since I am entitled to a full refund (no questions asked) within 14 days of receipt... They were perfectly nice about it, but seriously? They think that it's ok to promise one thing and deliver another, and hope the consumer just won't notice/care?? I'm a little annoyed... I suspect the best possible outcome is that I will get a refund. I mean, at least they are not refusing this most fundamental consumer right... But to me this is not really ok. I actually *wanted* the products I bought (the real ones). And I don't think misleading consumers is acceptable. And the law confirms I'm correct in this belief... But how often are these laws/penalties applied??? No idea. I know in the grand scheme of things, I should probably just let it go... There are bigger/worse problems in life and my guess is I would just waste a lot of time and energy for nothing. Still... Just wonder if doing nothing just encourages more of this kind of behaviour??? Would you bother??? "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

When my Cypres expired, I asked myself whether it was "worth" getting a new one... Then I thought: it's not a frivolous purchase that I will regret later on - especially if it ends up saving my life... Would seem silly to invest so much in equipment only to not use it when I go on a 3 week jumping holiday... Especially at the rate I've been jumping lately! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I came to France on my Ninja 250R... It was about 13 hours non-stop highway (750 miles) in pouring rain in October... My bum and back were killing me, but I don't regret doing it. What I *do* regret is not taking the time to enjoy the trip. Stopping, discovering places along the way, taking smaller roads. France is a beautiful country and I missed a real opportunity there because I was impatient to get to my final destination. People have said it already - enjoy the journey. Allow plenty of time, afford yourself treats along the way (comfy bed, massage, good food, visiting friends)... Road trips make for great memories, even though you almost always end up "suffering" along the way. Heck, the suffering is part of the fun!! DO IT!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Yes. My options would have included: - renting an AAD (if available) - renting gear (canopies range from 170 to 240 - I jump a 135, and I'm relatively small...) If neither was possible (size/availability): - Tunnel time Either way, it would have been anoying, to say the least. Or...find a different DZ that doesn't require them. This is true as well, but kind of a pain when you've flown to one place only to realise you need to figure out a way to get somewhere else... Do-able, but annoying. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Yes. My options would have included: - renting an AAD (if available) - renting gear (canopies range from 170 to 240 - I jump a 135, and I'm relatively small...) If neither was possible (size/availability): - Tunnel time Either way, it would have been anoying, to say the least. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

So I have 3 weeks off in September and I was going to rock up to Empuria to dust off my parachute... Already contacted their rigger, et cetera... Then yesterday I thought perhaps best to get the reserve re-pack before going, then I don't have to suffer any down time when I get there... So I called the only rigger in my area and he asked a very good question: how old is your Cypres? Ummm... Errrr... Dunno - 2010??? WRONG... Turns out the latest deadline for my 4-year inspection is August 2013... So after work I spent 5 hours on my bike getting the rig to him (my bum hurts!) and today my Cypres is heading off to Germany... It *might* just be back in time for my holidays. In any case, the rigger can give me a loaner AAD if mine doesn't arrive in time. Fiew!! What a bummer it would have been to realise this once I was already at the DZ... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I don't want to add steps to the process, but to answer your first questions, yes, yes and no... She is afraid of the reports and she is afraid of getting them wrong, but (thankfully!) she is most certainly not afraid of me!!! In fact, she relies on me a lot to "hold her hand" through the process. That is what I want to get *away* from. I would like her to produce coherent reports *without* feeling the need to call me each time. I'm certain her fear of the reports DO hinder her... I'm not sure how to address this problem as I have done a great deal to make the reports more user-friendly and easier to fill-in. adagen: No, other people have not tried to explain to her. Perhaps that is a good idea. Perhaps it's TOO obvious to me, and therefore hard to put myself in her shoes and explain in a way that makes sense to her. Also, the reports are supposed to be produced monthly, but the investors only require them 4 times per year. It does happen that some months get skipped because no one is asking for the reports... So forgetting between each reporting period could be part of the problem. However, this information is CONSTANTLY changing, so updating in "real time" is not viable. Perhaps we should insist more that they are at least done/correct once per month, though. My boss thinks it's not a massive issue, because it's only 3 days of her time, 4 times per year. However, I think it's worse than that... I think it's more like 4-5 days 4 times per year, but you have to double that figure because it's not just her time - it's mine as well. That is one entire month of salary for her and one entire month of salary for me. Seems like a big waste in my books, especially for a report that should take something like an half an hour to an hour per month (1-2 days per year total - 3 if we run into issues)... "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

I had read up on it so I knew not to inhale the smoke. Did have a big headache the next day but overall I thought I qould feel worse from all the horror stories I read. Mostly it was the lingering after taste that stayed for hours that was unpleasant. Still, glad I tried it once anyway. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Mistrust and resentment are big relationship killers... I've tried mending a broken relationship where there was a lot of resentment... Didn't work. The resentment lingered long after it was clear there was nothing to be resentful about. Sometimes the hurt you feel can't be "rationalised away"... It's like trying to glue back a broken vase... You will never find all the little pieces or hide all the little cracks, or make it as solid as it once was... Adding more glue only makes the thing uglier and highlights its flaws... Not saying you can't get over it, but that not getting over it will almost certainly kill your relationship for good. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

If you want to work legitimately, each country has its own rules. Actually, that's also true if you want to work "under the table"!! There is no European visa or common agreement with regards to expats. Perhaps best to check directly at a few dropzones you were thinking of working at. They will know more about how it works and whether your qualifications/licences will be recognised. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss

Went to the website and laughed at all the petty comments... Hillarious!!! Ahhh, the internet... Hours of fun!! "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss