Thursday, 19 January 2012

Bird Woman

An account of one Saturday in October 2011... What a day!

I dragged Alex along to the Black Knights Parachute Centre. We had to get up very early, that was not a good thing but I was booked in to do a very good thing so I tried not to moan. We arrived at Black Knights at 10:00 am and were told that it was too windy for me to throw myself out of a plane so we had to wait. 
Waiting...
Pops arrived to offer some support, he was in the middle of a Grim Rider escapade, needed to get a shot of a castle for the latest certificate; think I might have to sign us up for that venture next year.
Men talking about bikes
At two o'clock, they started asking people if they wanted to re-book, I chose not to. Pops decided that there wasn't a chance that I would get to do it and headed off with his photographers head on. 

A couple of hours later we got the green light and the smallest plane I have seen in my life was towed down a field by a quad bike (!) and men in flying suits climbed on board. These suits increased surface area so the chaps could fly across the sky - they were the 'Bird Men'. Anyway, as the plane took off and flew over our heads, the reality of what I had signed up for hit home, I am not ashamed to tell you that my eyes leaked slightly (might have been a bit of dirt getting in there). 
Ten bodies and it was full...
Next thing I know, there are several parachutes floating from the sky, all very surreal to be honest. My name was called (they couldn't say Syrichas!) and I went to get kitted up, a rather fetching ensemble if I do say so myself. I was particularly attracted to the head wear, a lovely baby blue, think it set off the shape of my head very well. 
There really is nothing to say.
I had trouble getting my legs in the jumpsuit, had to sit down and really concentrate on legs going in leg holes, I blame the nerves. I then waddled out and had my photo taken for the Hall of Fame, at this point I pondered exactly which hall I would enter, those who successfully opened the parachute or those that didn't!?! 
Second into the plane meaning last one out
The ascent was alarming, nine of us plus the pilot were in that little plane and it was very cosy. At 5000 feet they told me that this was the height the parachute would be opened, it was very high and I couldn't believe that we had to go up to 14000 feet. Anyway, we reached that height in less that fifteen minutes, which was nice, and I saw Blackpool Tower. 

I was the last to jump. Watching the others leave the plane was odd, slow motion. When it was my turn I had to hang out of the plane with my legs curled underneath it, held there by four clamps and a bit of material - I was bricking it! Next thing I know we were falling, it was awesome; we reached 124mph and experienced free fall for 9000 feet, it was over so quickly. Needless to say I had a stupid grin on my face by this point. My landing was pretty impressive, just walked, no falling over, no landing on my arse... 
One of those dots is me...

Legs up to allow for heroic landing...

And I'm done!
So, made it without any nasty accident and raised £700 for cancer research. Alex says that next time I should forget the parachute and do a Mary Poppins, not sure what to make of that...

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Poddington Peas

The highs of two degrees has turned my attention to the garden once again, make of that what you will. I am indeed a fair weather gardener, however I think that I should put a little more effort into it. There was a radical transformation this summer, trees went, borders were taken back and stones were recycled; even the hedges saw some hardcore pruning action. It now sits there, looking a little bit barren. So, I have decided that I am going to search for some garden ornaments to brighten the place up, which will be nice...

Down at the bottom of the garden...


Sunday, 15 January 2012

Assessment

Marking is a pain but we are told that if done effectively formative assessment can raise the overall outcomes by at least half a grade. Quite often professional judgment has to be applied, Alex is finding this difficult to come to terms with. I don't think that I am much help, fail them all I say...

Alex has gone off to make a brew.

Thai Signage

Advertising 'night climbing' at Ya Ya Bar; the band 'Clim Bing' was formed...

Diamond Cave Resort facilities, struggling with the full translation and the toilets came with their own bucket of water to assist in the flushing process...

Day trips provided, Jame Boand Island is a personal favourite...
 

Escalator was out of order, in my head I pictured a little old lady desperately trying to find 'Cafefully' to assist with her passage to the lower level...

Travelling Tales, Travelling Tales...

Not a shoddy job but we couldn't decide if this was 'private' or reserved for 'pirates'...

Following the Tsumani of 2004, signs to show the evacuation routes are in place, this directed us straight to the sea...

Wat Arun, a glorious place to spend an hour, lessons in directions are included in the entrance fee...

Monks are big, they can ask for anything and often do...

Including your seat on the BTS...



Hard Work

Yet again I am experiencing that overwhelming feeling of loss which generally follows the national lottery draw. Tonight I was convinced I held the winning numbers, alas I did not. It is a stupid thing really, I only play when I am in 'money worry mode' and I know that it wasn't written in my life plan that I should win mega cash; the only way is to work hard and don't expect anything for nothing.

Still bloody annoying though, could right do with a few million right now!

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Nibbling on a Placenta

I would like to think that I would give this a go, it is after all full of nutrients and will boost the iron levels. I wouldn't eat the placenta of another mind you, the thought of it makes me gip. As for the woman who has made a business out of printing the placenta, drying out the placenta and making a smoothie out of the placenta, clearly she saw the gap in the market and grabbed it with both hands. I wonder if there is much money to be made with such an enterprise...?