We are skydive virgins but it is something we have always fancied doing and the opportunity came up at work as Specsavers are promoting the charity Sound Seekers which is the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf and arranging for employees to participate in a charity tandem skydive to fund raise. So Clare Samuel and myself volunteered happily to jump and Sunday November 1st. is the day , weather permitting !!

The great day arrived along with gale force winds and rain although it was due to clear up by mid afternoon it was still too windy to jump. We decided to go to the airfield in Peterborough on the day, just in case the weather improved so although there was no chance of skydiving, we were given some basic training on safety and the key points we must remember when we jump.The trainer had a rather dark sense of humour and his initial advice was don't look down, don't panic and what to do if the parachute doesn't open!

He later explained all the routine which started with wearing an amazing jump suit, flying helmet and goggles. You are then allocated your tandem buddy who checks your harnesses and leads you by the hand to the small aircraft, only approaching at 45 degrees behind the plane. You then sit in a row between each others legs with your buddy behind you and he clips you on to his own harness. You have to be quite tightly strapped to each other as you have to fall as one in the 100mph. freefall. When your turn comes you grip two straps by your shoulders, dangle your lower legs out of the plane, arch your back,put your head and legs back and go .This is the freefall section when you are travelling very fast downwards, your buddy taps you on the shoulders and you spread out your arms so that you slow down a little until the parachute opens after about 2 minutes.The descent slows down at this stage so you can float down to the landing field in about 5 minutes. At this stage you can chat to your buddy, turn yourselves around by pulling some attachments to the parachute and generally watch the ground rush towards you. Near the landing you have to tuck your legs up so that your buddy can effect a smooth landing. Then you let someone else catch the parachute while you feel fantastic and receive admiring comments from all your family and friends who have come to watch you break a leg. Next a glass of champagne and home to watch the video

So Clare and I have rebooked for Sunday 29th. November at Peterborough.We are really looking forward to it

 Sound Seekers

We are a registered UK Charity working to improve the lives of deaf children and children suffering from ear disease in the developing countries of the Commonwealth.We provide specialist equipment, training and support in some of the poorest countries of the world, where people with the 'hidden disability' of deafness would otherwise not receive the help they so desperately need. Please support us by sponsoring Clare and Rosie

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