bluefingers

Go girl!

Thanks Wendy. Will pass the hello on. I dropped him off at my flat this morning, and had to get back to the office. Poor thing is probably bored already. Or sleeping.

He jumps at our club (Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club). Howsit Mike! Kerry

Guess what people! I am officially no longer a student. After a year of plodding through s/l progression, going uncurrent, going backwards and forwards between the rope and 3 sec delay, I realised that if I was going to be a skydiver, I would have to start showing a lot more commitment. One static line jump a month just wasn’t going to get me there. In January this year, I made the decision to go for it. My previous, very weak excuse, was that I never had any money. A plan can always be made. In my case, I’d transfer jump money across into my credit card before I spent my salary on anything else, not to be used for anything else other than skydives. Nothing. I picked up the pace, and surprise surprise, I progressed, and eventually got my A licence. I thought that was the happiest day of my life. It was, up until yesterday. Last weekend, we were discussing the boogie that is happening down the coast, and I was told the minimum requirement was A licence, Cat 1. Damn! Hauled out my trusty plastic, and manifested myself onto the AFF and tandem loads. I had to get to Cat 1! Yesterday afternoon, I did my spin test (the last test in the progression), landed in the pit, and walked back to the hangar with a huge grin. I had it! Then the jump master tells me I didn’t spin fast enough. Failed the test. WTF??? Not fast enough? The horison was a blur! The more I tried to get him to tell me how to go faster, the more he stalled, until I was on the verge of bursting into tears out of sheer frustration. At which point everyone in the hangar burst out laughing and congratulating …. Gotta love these guys! The best part is that I'm finally learning how to do stuff in the sky. And because I was getting onto the high loads, I'd get my tasks done, and then practice my turns. THey're definitely getting better! So far my favourite tasks have been the backloops and Deltas. Fun fun fun fun! I owe lots and lots of beer. Next weekend, I’m going to my first boogie, will be doing my first two way, first jump out of a King Air, first jump at another DZ ….. and my first jump with a DZ.commer. Ernokaikkonen is on his way down to Durban as we speak. This weekend is going to rock! Kerry

Hey ALex, know it was yesterday, but happy belated birthday anyway Kerry

aaah no need no need ..... I endure a fair amount of good natured teasing, but that's par for the course on a little dz like ours .... I get a lot of support and encouragement from everyone Kerry

ok .. In South Africa you have to do a minimum of 8 S/L jumps, 5 of which are DRCP's. The last DRCP and first H & P have to be on the same day. After that: 3sec, 5 sec, 10 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 15 sec with alti, 20 sec poised exit, 20 sec unpoised exit. My progression. Did my first H & P on jump 13. Did a back loop, repeated, did a side loop thingy, back on the rope. And then my woes began. I was back and forth like a yo yo. In total: 22 dope ropes 6 x 3 sec delays 3 x 10 sec 4 x 15 sec (had a spinning problem) 2 x 20 sec poised 1 x 20 sec unpoised (Best jump of my life!!!!) Now that I've fixed my turning problems, I'm now trying to figure out how to do 360s ... Had my pre-second unstable exit on sunday ... pretty freaky feeling I know my progression has been, at times painfully, slow, but I am not in the least bit embarrassed. It's not a race, I don't have a time limit, but most importantly I'm safe and I am having the time of my life. Kerry

contact lenses - I had one pop out for the THIRD time on Sunday. My eyesight is rather bad, so this is disconcerting. Second jump of the day I wore my glasses, under flexies, it was damn uncomfortable, but at least I could see!!! Kerry

Hmmm gotta love student jumpsuits. I did static line progression. Attached pic is the beaooooooootiful orange number I wore for about 30 jumps until I had saved up for my own suit. Also attached. It's got booties, but I am still tucking them away, until I can fly my legs properly. So far I've put six jumps in it, and haven't smeared it .... yet .... Kerry

Yuck Foo and Cookin Fat Kerry

Easy there Dave, still had to finish my morning cup of coffee before attempting to type ... ANimals are amazing ... Kerry

For Ali G fans ... Ali G went to his mate's fancy dress costume party wearing nothing but a girl on his back. "So what are you supposed to be?" the host asked indignantly. "I Iz a snail," Ali replied. The exasperated host asked, "How can you be a snail when all you've got is that naked girl on your back?" Ali replied. "Dat Iz Michelle." Kerry

mine gets jealous when I'm on the phone too! Except he doesn't jump on me, he goes and finds something to break. Seriously. Then he gives me a filthy look and stalks off. He's also got a habit of running off with my glasses. I'm really blind ok, and the other morning I reached out to put them on. Gone. Searched my bed. Not there. Felt around behind and underneath. Not there. I eventually found them in the depths of my beanbag. He carries them around by the arm. Damn cat! Ooooh and did I mention my two bundles of joy, brought a snake, yes a live snake, into my bed the other morning? It was still alive when I managed to scoop it into a bucket, but don't know how long it lasted ..... Kerry

Zenister, the temptation to correct all the spelling and grammatical errors in your last post is great ..... lied - he told an untruth laid - past tense of lay - the page was nicely laid out, the hen laid an egg.... lain - she was lain to rest .. lain and laid - tricky one! As is lie and lay ... Kerry

ok, you got me .... *hands Zenister a beer* Kerry

ok, but then you could just call them Its. What would the purpose of the apostrophe after the 's' be? Kerry

It's = it is, the apostrophe replaces the 'i' in is Its = possessive. Its' ..... um .... no such thing .... Kerry

I like my chest strap and leg straps done up nice and snug. Student rigs are on the large side, and slip off my shoulders when on the ground, so I prefer to have that strap done up nice and snug. I've had JM's tell me to loosen it a bit, but when I explain my reservation they are fine with it .... Mind you, I'm jumping a slightly smaller rig now, which fits a lot better .... Kerry

I got mine a month and a half ago, and I'm in South Africa .... Kerry

I'm quite sure there are ..... which is why I am only going to be borrowing the Invader and Cruiselite, until that blissful day when I can buy my own gear Kerry

Ok, I'm a newbie. I have 42 jumps, mostly on a skymaster 285, but the last 4 have been on the 230, which I am thoroughly enjoying after being flown by the 285!! My current wingloading on the 230 is 0.59. In a few jumps I will be converting from ripcord to BOC. And from that moment on, I'll have to pay gear hire, seeing as I can't afford to get anything of my own just yet. (slot R140 + R50 gear hire per jump) An instructor has told me he has an old Invader with a Cruiselite 220 main that I can use until I can sort my own gear out. He says it's fine, I must obviously get the reserve repacked. Obviously, I will 1) get reserve repacked 2) ask a rigger to have a close look at everything on that rig 3) get clearance from my CI. But, even if/when all these checks have been done, I don't know if it's a good idea. THis rig is old. It looks like a square floppy sack. (Note, I'm still trying to learn how to fly on my belly, so freeflying isn't an option anyway). I'm a small person, so it will more than likely be too big for me. (although all the student gear is too big for me at the moment). ALso, I've been told that the Cruiselite is really unresponsive, and I battle enough on the skymaster, and that I'm likely "to pound in, until I figure out that I need to flare higher, and pull the toggles down really fast". Also been told I'm not going to learn much flying this. My other question: If I bought a second hand main to replace the Cruiselight, what would you recommend? A 210? Would a 190 be too small? I honestly don't know what the reserve is yet. Thirdly, could I have an AAD fitted into the invader? I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, and I'm not too phased if I don't look "cool". (Well I won't with that on my back), but I do want to be safe. I'd appreciate any and all comments Kerry

If a man comes to your front door and says he is conducting a survey and asks you to show him your boobs, do not show him your boobs. THIS IS A SCAM. HE ONLY WANTS TO SEE YOUR BOOBS. I wish I'd gotten this yesterday. I feel so stupid. Kerry

*cough* the new skool kalindir for next yer *cough* see attached, please take note of the typo Kerry

your chest strap is loose you will lose your ripcord handle if you don't hang onto it I agree with speedy ....... pet peeve pet peeve Kerry

thank you thank you thank you for posting a funny and making me smile .....