Skydive Sunday 14th September 2014

At 11.40 a.m. I received a text from Go Skydive which said that the weather was not ideal for skydiving.  They were not cancelling our booking but we could reschedule our skydive if we wanted to.  If we did go we could have a bit of a wait.  We decided to go anyway.

I went with Dave, Amy and my grandaughter, Teagan.  Jay, Bridget and Kieron were going to meet us there.  We arrived early at 1.00 p.m, so I went and registered.

Despite the earlier warning of bad weather, it all seemed fine, planes were going up and although it was quite cloudy it was a warm and pleasant afternoon.

We went to the cafe and got coffees and biscuits.  I sat down with my coffee thinking “Well, we’ve got a long wait ahead of us so lets just soak up the atmosphere, do some people watching and watch the planes ….”  Dave’s brother phoned to say they’d be along, Dave told them it would be ages before we went up so they had plenty of time.

But, no sooner had I finished my coffee than my name was called… Jay and Bridget hadn’t even arrived, and I was off.  I went and got kitted out, then walked over to the plane with my instructor.  He explained that he was in charge so we would be the last to get on – and one of the first to get off!  The plane went up and up and up – above the clouds – that was amazing.  Having only ever been in a plane once before when we skydived from 10,000 ft, I’ve never been ABOVE THE CLOUDS.  It was beautiful.  The views were stunning.  Then it was hat on, goggles down, doors open and one, two we were the third couple to go.  AND WE WENT THROUGH THE CLOUDS. For just a few seconds it’s like you’re in nothing, just a big soft ball of cottonwool.  Then we came through the clouds and could see land below, fields, houses, streets. …….

 

Then whoosh out comes the parachute and the whole pace slows down.  Last time I did this we just drifted down, but this time we did twists and turns and spun around, literally putting a whole new spin on the experience.  Then all too soon it was time to land (I could have stayed up there all day).  I did as I’d been told – grabbed hold of my legs and lifted them up, not the most ladylike image as you’ll see from the photos!  Then as we got close to the ground I was told right stand up AND I DID – AND I LANDED ON MY FEET!!  Incredible.

Then we all got into the mini bus for the trip back across the field – all comparing notes on this amazing experience.

When I got back Jay and Bridget had arrived, and before long it was their turn to go up up up and away!  We all had the best day.

Amy’s H.O.P.E. 20 – September 2014 update

Well it’s been a while since my last update – but I have news that I need to share. Many of you will remember that on Sunday 6th October2013 Jay and Bridget Macleod and I did a skydive to raise funds for Amy’s H.O.P.E. 20. We raised £1,398.00 which went towards the donations made to the Myasthenia Gravis Association (Hampshire Branch) and Stanley Graveson Ward.

Well, we are doing it again – this Sunday 14th September at 2.00 p.m. with Go Skydive South Coast. And this time, we’re not jumping from 10,000 ft, we’re jumping from 15,000 ft.

You may remember that when we did this last year it was the first time any of us had been in a plane. Well this time we can all say that we’ve gone up in a plane – but we haven’t landed, so after Sunday we’ll have been up in a plane twice but not experienced landing – weird or what!

I have to say this time the build up is entirely different. Last year my nerves were all over the place as we were going to experience something which was totally unknown. This time I’m more excited than nervous. The main difference will be the extra height that the plane goes to and we’ll have a longer free fall. I can’t wait!

Many of you sponsored us last year, but if you didn’t and would like to sponsor us this year please do. Butterflies Community Store, Rumbridge Street Totton have sponsor forms or you can pay via our PayPal account Skydive for Amy’s H.O.P.E. 20 (2014).https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NF7B6VHMK75ZL

Amy’s H.O.P.E. 20 was set up by Amy Guy as the 20 anniversary of her diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis approached. She wanted to be able to raise money to give back to some of the organisations who had helped her over the years. After the anniversary, 15th February 2014, when we held an Afternoon Tea, and all the funds were in Amy was able to present the Myasthenia Gravis Association (Hampshire Branch) with a cheque for £2,000.00 and Stanley Graveson Ward, Wessex Neurological Unit, Southampton General Hospital with a cheque for £500 plus two personal DVD players, one for the women’s ward and one for the men’s ward. Amy knows only too well that it’s good to have something which helps pass the time when spending long days in a hospital bed.

As well as the Myasthenia Gravis Association and Stanley Graveson Ward there are other organisations that have helped Amy over the years and she would like to be able to give something back to them as well. Some of these are:

Ward G2, Southampton General Hospital (where Amy spent a lot of her time as a teenager)
Action for Children
Young Carers
Society St. James

Any donations we receive for this Skydive will go to one or more of these organisations.

As a result of the fundraising that we did last year Amy took a look at her working life and decided she wanted something more, something different ….

So,

Butterflies Community Store was born.

I mentioned this in my last update and the shop is still going strong. Amy works in the shop most days and is helped by an army of volunteers – although there is always room for a few more! They sell a wide range of items, such as clothes, DVDs, books, puzzles, bric a brac, children’s toys, small items of furniture, and much more. Most of the items are donated, although in the spring and summer months they sold numerous bedding and other plants plus hanging baskets. There is always something new to see.

At the rear of the shop there is the Ten Bob Tearoom and Library (there were so many books in the shop they were taking over so had to be moved to a room of their own). It’s called the Ten Bob Tearoom because a cup of tea or coffee will cost just 50p as will a slice of cake or a biscuit or two. Beyond the tearoom is a lovely little garden with tables and chairs. An ideal place to sit and relax over a cuppa!

The tearoom has a number of regular events, Fish & Chip and Bingo lunch on a Friday lunchtime (to be booked in advance), Tuesday Cards and Board Games and Wednesdays Knit and Natter. Psychic Suppers are also held regularly with Medium Rachel Squires, these have proved very popular.

The tearoom can also be hired out for meetings, parties etc. For more information please contact Amy at butterfliesbbs@outlook.com or go to Butterflies Community Store on Facebook.

There will be another update shortly – after the Skydive on Sunday. Wish us luck.