bluefingers

my gran used to call that "popping bunnies". Apparently dead bunnies are smelly Kerry

ever heard of a rhinohippocrocoduck? When driving through a game reserve with a bunch of tourists, and they see a giraffe, and ask "what's that?" D'oh. It's a rhinohippocrocoduck! or if someone asks you a stupid question you tell them you're carving whiphandles for a goose' bridle oh and the dingesmalarywhatsit buggalugs, for when you forget someone's name ... aaaaai, I can start a new language Kerry

he actually does, quite a lot. But I think he had to sit in the corner and think about his sins this weekend. Kerry

Bad weather weekends …. Well, here in not-so-sunny South Africa, we have had a run of them. There is something about bad weather that encourages skydivers to throw name. In a big way. And of course, somebody always gets hurt! Fortunately (or unfortunately), there was a lack of cameras on previous bad weather weekends, or else the said camera owners are sitting tight on their pics … perhaps for future blackmail purposes … On Saturday the wind howled, so someone found an old round in the kitroom …. (windy days pic) and decided to have some fun. Injuries? Well, one guy (on the right in the vest) wound up with no skin on his butt. He was brave (stupid?) enough to accept the ministrations of fellow skydivers in the pub, who thought that Jack Daniels would make a fantastic anti-septic. The rest of the pics are around our pub. Blake (aka Hangarman got a little too friendly with a sosatie. Some of you may recognise him, he did hang around a few florida dzs a while back. As for the skirt? Your guess is as good as mine …… Never a dull moment at PPC Kerry

and they started at a humble one cessna dz Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club - still going strong 50 years later. (shameless punt for the PPC boogie in easter next year) edit: to say WELL DONE! Kerry

and I got tickets hope the PPC display into kings park stadium happens - weather isn't looking good .... Kerry

good on ya nac! Pssssst! Castle is for girls! Kerry

farm stealers? he he in true talkback fashion are we going from rugby to politics? Kerry

As promised ... here are a few more details Celebrating our 50th anniversary, running from Thursday 8 April to Monday 12 April 2004. We are wanting to put together a big way for this occasion, a 50 way to celebrate 50 years. If you are keen to do this, please watch this space and we will give further details shortly. The load organiser will be Chris Dales who, as you know, is a very experienced skydiver with much large fs experience. If you have at least 300 jumps, a few larger formations under the belt and are keen to be part of this awesome event, please join us. Confirmed aircraft - Porter, King Air, and the larger aircraft for the big way will be tailgate, exact details TBA. Also watch out for the possibility of a few novelty aircraft. Camping and Bunkhouse available, Hotels and B+B's within 10 minutes of airfield. Awesome parties, good music, great pub, nice grub. Minimum requirements - A licence and own gear. Start preparing for this now! More details to follow.... Kerry

should have jumpships confirmed by monday - believe me, as soon as I know for definite, I'll be broadcasting it very loudly all over the place Kerry

Hey, you're a local - why don't you join us? Kerry

*bump* Kerry

I see you're local, so I guess we'll see you there? Kerry

Hi all Well, the PPC 50th anniversary boogie is definitely on from the 8th to the 12th of April 2004, and it has been sanctioned by PASA, so will definitely be happening. I'm not going to jump the gun and advertise aircraft, events etc, until they have been absolutely confirmed, but if you have any questions at all, please feel free to PM me. It would be fantastic to have ex-PPC members from around the world at the boogie. Kerry

I heard that this had been cancelled? Beer talk, so I could be wrong. Linuxguy? Kerry

I've got an Alti 2 as well, given to my by a fellow dz.commer (thanks Matt!!!!!) It works well, and has been looked after. One of the riggers on the dz made a mount for me, it sits on the back of my hand, and it's quite comfy! I borrowed a wrist mounted one once, but my wrists are really skinny, and I found that it hurt that little bone that sticks out of your wrist. Kerry

Found On Rubbish Dump Fix or Repair Daily I feel your pain ... i've got a fiesta and the damn thing gives me endless uphill. Ok, the last bit of damage (blew my engine) was because I managed to ramp a truckwheel travelling at 140km/hour and put a hole in my radiator, but that's all fixed now. Then it started jerking, the mechanic tells me it's a "flat spot". "That's nice, please fix it" (i was getting whiplash every time I accelerated). Get a call telling me that I need to replace my oxygen sensor. To the tune of ZAR2000. My what?????????? apparently it's some goodjit on the exhaust manifold. Of course, I don't have that money sitting around, so I tell them to leave it, I'll buy myself a neckbrace instead. So they disconnect the goodjit and now my car is running just fine . Probably polluting the atmosphere, but hey, this is Africa. There are far worse on the road ... Kerry

hey! I happen to be quite attached to our little cessna. There's something to be said for squashing in there - when you leave the door, you REALLY feel like you are bursting free!!! Kerry

thanks all, this pretty much confirms things ... it's all good. Bit of a misunderstanding on the harness. It's big, but not TOO big. It's just a mission to stow the legstraps cos I have them tightened all the way. That's what I meant by uncomfy. First time I jumped it, I was on the trolley for ages doing practice touches with an instructor shifting the rig around on my back to make sure I could get the handle every time. He was satisfied. So was I. I wouldn't be jumping it if I wasn't. Kerry

Hey get it right! That's 112 pounds! sheesh! You are right about safety, I wouldn't be jumping that harness if I hadn't had the full check out and go ahead. I trust our CI implicitly. Kerry

ta, I've seen lots of tiny students come and go, including girls smaller than me, and they've all been fine under the SM 285. I never had a problem, just took me forever to get down. Was just curious. Kerry

Just a question, mostly out of curiosity. I weigh 112 lb, so prob 132lb out the door, and am currently jumping a Hornet 210 (club gear). For the profile clickers, yeah I know 63 jumps and still on a big canopy! (I was on static line for a looooong time, under a skymaster 285). I'm comfortable under the 210, but am not comfy in the harness, it's too big for me, and I have to really haul on the legstraps to get them tight enough. I'm very conservative under canopy, despite some good natured ragging about "being a girl". Anyway, my current wingloading is around 0.6. Which is fine to me, but I got a comment that underloading a canopy can be just as dangerous as overloading, and that I should focus on downsizing. (Our DZ is pretty strict regarding safety issues, downsizing etc. I've done 10 jumps under the 210, but am thinking of asking our CI if I can go down to the 190. My first few landing were, um, interesting as I didn't finish the flare, but I seem to be doing ok now, staying on my feet). I'd appreciate thoughts on underloading ... thanks all! Kerry

Hi all Just a bit of a teaser. Our club Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club will be turning 50 next year! We've been operating continuously, off the same property since 1953, but the first jump was in 1954, so we will be celebrating throughout 2004. If there are any old PPC members out there reading this, please keep Easter 2004 free - we'll be having a kick-ass boogie. Details to follow, but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Blue ones Kerry

T.A.B the ironic thing is, those pics hardly surprise me .... take a trip off the beaten track, you see all kinds of interesting things .... Kerry

Hi Dave! another south african! 100th jump huh .... hmmmm chilly time of year to do it! Kerry