Akey

Sweet, thanks scoop

Well, my first jump was a tandem jump, to confirm that i wanted to do it. Some of the people at the DZ appeared a little stand offish to me which i thought was bull considering i was planning to go into the sport anyway, so next time you see a tandem passenger just think, they could be a future jump buddy.

Hi there Just wondering what people thought of these. http://www.dzsports.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=34 Do they impeed on your peripheral vision? I've not that many jumps and have just lost my flexvision goggles and am looking for a new pair. I quite like the idea of a slightly smaller style which is why i found these.

You stop buying drinks or snacks when your shopping or at work as you will get 1 extra jump that week You've got £1000 on your credit card already but its still better to buy a block of 10 jumps then just one.

Why when click on mamba does it take me to the aerodyne site and show the mamba canopy? And i can't find a helmet called a mamba either...

Go through the jump in your mind if your ever nervous. I did this, often several times during the flight up of my first few jumps. I think it really helps 2 fold, 1. it takes your mind off of the fear, and 2, when your out there, you've really drilled it into your head so its almost 2nd nature. My intructor always told me to take a BIG long breath before beggining the exit count, this really helped me focus.

Don't know if it helps, but easy jet has does not have a weight limit on hand luggage... V. useful seeing how much the average rig weighs

Squires can be a decent guitar, and i would say they can be excellent value for money. Indeed a good squire is not hugly disimilar to a bad mexican IMHO, you are paying quite a bit for the name. But an american strat is in a different ball game really. Also keep in mind if cost is an issue that you get a half decent amp if you are going to be playing gigs. Side note, when you get your guitar, make sure you get it set up by a pro, makes a HUGE difference.

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Tamiflu is an antiviral and is the best treatment for flu. failing that, i would dose up on paracetamol, don't underestimate that drug! Helps with pain, brings down a temperature, it is really good), get some rest, and keep your fluids up with some sugery drink.

Yer, it would be british poinds. I did suspect that i would be pushing it a bit!! What kind of region of price do you think that i should be starting at? would 1.5k be the start for the purchase of a reasonable rig or should i be looking more around 2k. I would like to say that i realise that skydiving is not a 'budget' sport, and am fully willing to pay the price. I won't compromise my safety for the sake of a few hundred pounds (or fun in the sky for that matter!)

Just a quick question, is £1k really pushing it in terms of price for a 1st rig? I'm 10-11 stone (67-70kg, 147-154 lbs) so i guess i would be jumping around a 200 when i start? I could afford £1.5k but i would prefer the jump tickets!!

65 on average. Could be 77.5 some weeks. Nurse-night shifts, they kill you!

Wow, you guys are from north london DZ. I'm off to do my aff in spain in 1.5 weeks, but after that north london will be my nearest DZ! Did my first tandem there in november. By the way, can i rent gear there for a few weeks at north london whilst i save for my first rig?

In your experience is it possible to live off the money earned?

Hi there, i was just wondering how much experience you would need packing rigs to become a packer to earn money? I am considering the idea of going abroad next year and working as one to pay for my keep (and jumps), would this be possible? I am only just starting out, but i would expect to have 200+ jumps by the time i go out there as i have alot of money saved for jump tickets

What is gun control?

I thought the jokes were great, made the atmosphere more friendly and put a smile on everyones faces. Especially 'just rememeber, if something goes wrong, you will be the last thing going through my head'. Must have done somehthing right as i'm doing my AFF in 5 weeks!

Not a doctor (yet), i'm a nurse, but for what its worth... Assuming you are a fairly normal healthy patient who probably has quite good veins, the idea that someone took 3 attempts getting one in says alot. I.E- they are either completly retarded or it never happened, either way it is something that you should bring up. (Random side note, good way to check if you've got 'good' veins, hold your arm and open and close your hand, if your veins plump up and are straight they are good, i.e easy to get a cannula into). As fot setting up an IV, that woud have to be documented by the person setting it up, so make sure the person that 'gave' you the IV has actually sighned for it, otherwise they have no proof that it was put up. Also talk about your condition, did you need an IV? I.E- Would there be a reason for you loosing fluid in your system (loss of blood etc.) if not, i do not see why they would give you one, and giving 2 in the space of 6 hours sounds a little excessive... something else you should point out. To be honest if you want to fight for the principal, fair enough, but 3 venflons, 2 IV's and some drugs... it is comming out of the insurence companies pocket, if they are bothered about it, fine, its their problem. I don't know much about insurance companies (come on NHS!) but if you have to pay an excess, i would expect that the MRI would mean you would have to pay it anyway...

Probably not... probably just big headed

I don't think i could ever not tell my family about something like this, just feel like i owe it to them or something, i don't know. I have my own job so whilst i am no 'dependant' on them, i still live at home before i'm off to med school next this september, so i would not say i cam entirly independant quite yet. But anyway, i sat my mum down and talked her through exactly what i would be taught and what would happen in levels 1-8 as well as comparing the sport to things like horse riding (really dangerous actually, never realised) etc. and i think she is a little more accepting, although obviosuly not happy about it. Don't think my dad is having any of it, but hey, i guess i'll just give it time. Thanks alot for all your advice guys, it is really helpful.

I'm doing my AFF abroad so when i return i won't have had an instructor in the UK... Should i still take them down my local DZ (obviously after i have got to know people there) and ask one of the instructors etc.

Too late, i already told them. I feel like i could have broken my Dads heart, he looked really upset. He was in a push bike accident 2 years ago, ended up in ICU and can't walk like he used to. I think this makes the whole thing alot worse. I guess i'll have to keep trying to explain things etc. Hopefully they will grow to accept it, although i don't think they'll ever be happy bout it...

I first thought about skydiving around 2 years ago. I did a tandem in november (family knew about it), however i have only just booked my aff (for mid june, it is an accelerated course doing all levels in one week). Anyway, the thing is, although my family have always known i was interested, when i told them i was going they didn't seem too keen. Infact phases such as 'is there anything we can do to make you reconsider' came out. I was just wondering if you have any advice about how to deal with these kinda situations. I have completly made up my mind, i did several months ago, but i do wish they could chill a bit. No matter what i say about how far the safty of the sport has developed over the years they still appear to view it as a sport for people with a death wish.

So who gets this beer? And what do you mean by first time?