That's it my 40th year done and my #40@40 list filled up.
Thanks to everyone that helped and joined in. Here's the full list. Hopefully It's made me a much more interesting person to have at dinner parties :)
1. Go power-boating down the Thames
2. Walk over the Millennium Dome
3. Set up my own company
4. Try eating insects
5. Meet the Parents
6. Try life-logging with a Fitbit
7. Have a 'Chariots of Fire' moment
8. Be a bee keeper
9. Get my DNA analysed
10. Visit Croatia and Dubrovnik
11. Take part in a triathlon
12. Get a wet shave
13. Take part in a tomato fight!
14. See the Northern lights
15. Swim in Iceland's hot pools
16. Get soaked by a geysir
17. Try circus skills
18. Spend Christmas away from home
19. Go indoor sky diving
20. Be a zoo-keeper for a day
21. Have a Michelin star meal
22. Visit Florence and see the statue of David
23. Climb the leaning tower of Pisa
24. Experience a floatation tank
25. Knit a Scarf
26. Tour the Houses of Parliament
27. Have a suit made
28. Try a Graffiti master class
29. Have a yoga lesson
30. Go rally driving at Brands Hatch
31. Attend film school
32. Go ice climbing in Covent Garden
33. Get printed in 3D (Mini Me)
34. Home Brew course (Double D ale)
35. Try miracle berries and lemons
36. Make my own Muppet
37. Have a manhattan in Manhattan
38. Go up the Empire States Building
39. Go air-boating in the Everglades
40. Go power-boating along Miami Beach like the start of Miami Vice
No plans for a #41@41
D
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
#40@40 Mini Me
So I had this idea. Another case of trying something out which is uncommon now but in the future nobody will even think around, getting something printed on a 3D printer.
As luck would have it I happen to find out that ASDA was running a trial touring printing service at its different branches where you could go and get yourself scanned and they would print out a small model of you for 60 quid.
A trip out to ASDA in Dagenham had me standing in a large white tent by a cigarette kiosk watching a technician scanning one of the security guards. After filling out some forms it was my turn. The trick with getting a good scan was get a comfortable stance and then don't move and you don't have to fix your smile before the end as they come back and do that bit last.
So the technician was slowing walking around me with a white box which took a thousand or so digital photographs. All the while the scanner knew its position and orientation so afterwards software can compile all the pictures into one complete scan. Apparently it all gets built up on a wired frame and then they tidied up a bit before the thing is printed. The technician backed up the scans with some ordinary digital pictures of my face at the end so they could get the details right. He also took pictures of areas which had more detail such as my hands. He said it all gets sent away for alot of preprocessing and then a file is sent to the printers.
The print process is a bit of mystery but I think its to do with heating a points in a bath of ceramic powder which is then cleaned off to give the finished colour model with the colour details printed straight onto the surface.
So two weeks later I was back in the store and a had in my hands a little statue of me. The detailing is really quite good and when the thing is standing on my windowsill its really quite spooky from across the room. It's definitely me!
As luck would have it I happen to find out that ASDA was running a trial touring printing service at its different branches where you could go and get yourself scanned and they would print out a small model of you for 60 quid.
A trip out to ASDA in Dagenham had me standing in a large white tent by a cigarette kiosk watching a technician scanning one of the security guards. After filling out some forms it was my turn. The trick with getting a good scan was get a comfortable stance and then don't move and you don't have to fix your smile before the end as they come back and do that bit last.
So the technician was slowing walking around me with a white box which took a thousand or so digital photographs. All the while the scanner knew its position and orientation so afterwards software can compile all the pictures into one complete scan. Apparently it all gets built up on a wired frame and then they tidied up a bit before the thing is printed. The technician backed up the scans with some ordinary digital pictures of my face at the end so they could get the details right. He also took pictures of areas which had more detail such as my hands. He said it all gets sent away for alot of preprocessing and then a file is sent to the printers.
The print process is a bit of mystery but I think its to do with heating a points in a bath of ceramic powder which is then cleaned off to give the finished colour model with the colour details printed straight onto the surface.
So two weeks later I was back in the store and a had in my hands a little statue of me. The detailing is really quite good and when the thing is standing on my windowsill its really quite spooky from across the room. It's definitely me!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
#40@40: Attend film school
An odd one this. It just sort of popped up and I thought it looked interesting. A day in a lecture theatre near Somerset House learning about what its like to be in the film business.
We started with writing the screenplay and a talk from Elliot Grove, the director of Raindance. He covered the basic principles of writing screenplays, and what storytelling tools. you can use, for example, types of characters and what their journey might be in a good story. He also covered some of the copyright and legal ins and outs and how movies are bought and sold.
Next up it was a talk and the mechanics of actually making a movie. Budgets, equipment, dealing with locations and the general public. Also the importance of planning before you start both timetables and shots.
After lunch was a great talk from Director, Patrick Tucker, on how you actually direct a movie. Dealing with actor and framing and the weird things you have to do to get the action looking right on the screen. Getting the voice levels right and getting the actor to think about acting to the screen.
The last talk it was Elliot Grove again talking about how to make your big breaking into the film industry. Getting all the promo stuff sorted and what if any money you might be able to earn.
If you would like paid work in the film industry, this is the session for you. Elliot’s back and teaches how to prepare yourself for work as a writer, producer, director, technician, editor or art director.
Some interesting stuff and a few odd things to check out the next time I'm watching a block buster.
We started with writing the screenplay and a talk from Elliot Grove, the director of Raindance. He covered the basic principles of writing screenplays, and what storytelling tools. you can use, for example, types of characters and what their journey might be in a good story. He also covered some of the copyright and legal ins and outs and how movies are bought and sold.
Next up it was a talk and the mechanics of actually making a movie. Budgets, equipment, dealing with locations and the general public. Also the importance of planning before you start both timetables and shots.
After lunch was a great talk from Director, Patrick Tucker, on how you actually direct a movie. Dealing with actor and framing and the weird things you have to do to get the action looking right on the screen. Getting the voice levels right and getting the actor to think about acting to the screen.
The last talk it was Elliot Grove again talking about how to make your big breaking into the film industry. Getting all the promo stuff sorted and what if any money you might be able to earn.
If you would like paid work in the film industry, this is the session for you. Elliot’s back and teaches how to prepare yourself for work as a writer, producer, director, technician, editor or art director.
Some interesting stuff and a few odd things to check out the next time I'm watching a block buster.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
#40@40 Yoga-ing
I went to my first yoga class.
Yes its another very common thing that I've managed for forty years to have nothing to do with. It's one of that list of things in our modern western culture like wearing pink and OK, Knitting, that men leave to women to do for no real good reason. It's a popular pastime with some of my friends. Female friends that is, the reaction from the blokes tends to makes it sound like a course of medieval torture and to be fair I think some of the poses the military would describe as 'stress positions'. But the girls report it giving one a 'sense of well being' and feeling 'a bit stressed' if they don't go regularly. So hoping that I can avoid the 'additive' part of the experience, I asked my good friend Suli if she would take me to the lesson she goes to.
So before we even started there was a decision to make: hot or cold. There is a version called Bikram which is done in a hot room so you get very sweaty and is a bit more hardcore. The word Bikram and the idea of heat gets mixed up in my head and the phrase Biryani Yoga has come out a few times.
We decided to start with the normal cool lesson at the local gym. Suli manage to get me a day pass for her local gym and we met up on a bright Sunday morning.
In the gym once I managed to work out how the locker works (some sort of magnetic card sensor thingy). I joined Suli in the dance studio where they were getting set up. The room was already full of people sitting on mats, spread out all over the room, about 25 or so people with the lady instructor at the front.
Suli had set up a mat for me (just like a camping carry mat) next to her, it was however right in the middle of the room so I did feel a little bit like everyone is looking at me. That hasn't helped when we all stood up and I discovered I as also 6 inches or so taller than those around me and Id quash flat anyone if I fell over.
The class progress with a set system of moves, so most people knew what to do and what was coming. I was copying those around me and trying not to laugh and giggle too much at the strangeness of it all as everyone was taking it quite serious. I caught Suli's eye a couple of times which nearly set me off and some of the balance poses must have quite comic as I was super wobbly.
But in general I think I was getting more or less in the same positions as the others and I kept up pretty well I think, managing to grab onto my feet with fairly straight legs despite some interference from my tummy getting in the way. I didn't fancy some of the more advance stuff they did like trying the headstand part or the one were you had to twist your knees which I also skipped. One move did a lot of was called the downward dog where you make a big arch with your body with your hands on the floor trying to get your feet flat on the floor. This was OK for a bit but my t shirt kept siding down and covering my face so I couldn't see what was going on. A small wardrobe malfunction.
We ended after about an hour with a relaxation section which made me think again of the floatation tank experience, Suli said afterwards that bit makes her very sleepy but I was very awake.
Afterwards I was bit sweaty and thirsty but not sore or tired. I returned our mats to the store while Suli asked the instructor about the finer points of doing head stands right.
Suli asked did I enjoy it and said I looked like I was doing OK but said I should try and remember to breath through my nose. I think I did enjoy it and it will have done me good.
We then got changed and went for a nice lunch. All part of the full experience.
Two days later as I write this the muscles are in a sore sore state and I can't currently easily pick some thing off the floor and I'm shuffling around like an old man. So yes it has done me some good, I just can't feel it yet.
Would I go again, yes I think so, although I'll wait until I can move normally again.
Yes its another very common thing that I've managed for forty years to have nothing to do with. It's one of that list of things in our modern western culture like wearing pink and OK, Knitting, that men leave to women to do for no real good reason. It's a popular pastime with some of my friends. Female friends that is, the reaction from the blokes tends to makes it sound like a course of medieval torture and to be fair I think some of the poses the military would describe as 'stress positions'. But the girls report it giving one a 'sense of well being' and feeling 'a bit stressed' if they don't go regularly. So hoping that I can avoid the 'additive' part of the experience, I asked my good friend Suli if she would take me to the lesson she goes to.
So before we even started there was a decision to make: hot or cold. There is a version called Bikram which is done in a hot room so you get very sweaty and is a bit more hardcore. The word Bikram and the idea of heat gets mixed up in my head and the phrase Biryani Yoga has come out a few times.
We decided to start with the normal cool lesson at the local gym. Suli manage to get me a day pass for her local gym and we met up on a bright Sunday morning.
In the gym once I managed to work out how the locker works (some sort of magnetic card sensor thingy). I joined Suli in the dance studio where they were getting set up. The room was already full of people sitting on mats, spread out all over the room, about 25 or so people with the lady instructor at the front.
Suli had set up a mat for me (just like a camping carry mat) next to her, it was however right in the middle of the room so I did feel a little bit like everyone is looking at me. That hasn't helped when we all stood up and I discovered I as also 6 inches or so taller than those around me and Id quash flat anyone if I fell over.
The class progress with a set system of moves, so most people knew what to do and what was coming. I was copying those around me and trying not to laugh and giggle too much at the strangeness of it all as everyone was taking it quite serious. I caught Suli's eye a couple of times which nearly set me off and some of the balance poses must have quite comic as I was super wobbly.
But in general I think I was getting more or less in the same positions as the others and I kept up pretty well I think, managing to grab onto my feet with fairly straight legs despite some interference from my tummy getting in the way. I didn't fancy some of the more advance stuff they did like trying the headstand part or the one were you had to twist your knees which I also skipped. One move did a lot of was called the downward dog where you make a big arch with your body with your hands on the floor trying to get your feet flat on the floor. This was OK for a bit but my t shirt kept siding down and covering my face so I couldn't see what was going on. A small wardrobe malfunction.
We ended after about an hour with a relaxation section which made me think again of the floatation tank experience, Suli said afterwards that bit makes her very sleepy but I was very awake.
Afterwards I was bit sweaty and thirsty but not sore or tired. I returned our mats to the store while Suli asked the instructor about the finer points of doing head stands right.
Suli asked did I enjoy it and said I looked like I was doing OK but said I should try and remember to breath through my nose. I think I did enjoy it and it will have done me good.
We then got changed and went for a nice lunch. All part of the full experience.
Two days later as I write this the muscles are in a sore sore state and I can't currently easily pick some thing off the floor and I'm shuffling around like an old man. So yes it has done me some good, I just can't feel it yet.
Would I go again, yes I think so, although I'll wait until I can move normally again.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
#40@40 A tour of Houses of Parliament
I live in London, and as is traditional for Londoner, I've done hardly any of the typical tourist activities that this great city has to offer. Well today to re-address the balance some what, I did one of the big ones and went on a tour of the Houses of Parliament, the home of our government.
It's not the easiest place to get into that's for sure. OK its easy to find but then finding the place to collect the tickets from and then finding the place to enter are another matter entirely. With very few signs its hard to find the box office (which is on the other side of the road behind a anonymous white building) and then the actual tour entrance is by way of a tent (yeap very regal) about half way down. It's all a bit disorganised and without asking a couple of policemen and the ticket collector you've got no chance.
Anyway once past the tent the whole thing improves remarkably. A very professional airport style security room is down a little walkway. Where you are scanned and checked for all sorts of weapons and I assume bags of flour. Next its out and around to the HUGE Westminster hall where the tour proper begins.
It was a fully escorted 'blue badge' tour which starts by following the route the Queen takes on the opening of Parliament. There were many impressive things about the tour not less of which was the tour guide being able to pour out details about the pictures and architecture and day-to-day workings of the rooms for a whole 75 minutes. We travelled from the Royal robing room round to the House of Lords chamber to where the Queen gives her speech. The levels of decoration in this area are quite breathtaking and mostly in gold.
Then it was on following the route the Black Rod takes to the House of Commons via the Central Lobby that most people would recognise from political TV reports. A quick diversion into a voting lobby (we voted No) and then it was into the main chamber itself entering around the speakers chair.
I picked the time and day of the tour so I would be in the chamber at the time PMQs (Prime Ministers Questions) would normally be on if the houses were sitting. We just managed to get in the chamber before half twelve.
The Chambers, just like the whole place are quite small and with a dozen or so tours groups of around 25 people it was quite busy. Standing in the opposition back benches I couldn't imagine what it would be like full of 1400 odd MPs and Lords.
On the way out I paused at the Bar of the House (the white line at the entrance way) a took a look back across the floor to the front benches. Then touching the mark the Black Rod has made in the door I headed back to the group and we returned to the Westminster hall and the end of the tour.
All that was left for me to do was buy a portcullis fridge magnet in the gift shop and of course have a cup of tea in the cafe.
It's not the easiest place to get into that's for sure. OK its easy to find but then finding the place to collect the tickets from and then finding the place to enter are another matter entirely. With very few signs its hard to find the box office (which is on the other side of the road behind a anonymous white building) and then the actual tour entrance is by way of a tent (yeap very regal) about half way down. It's all a bit disorganised and without asking a couple of policemen and the ticket collector you've got no chance.
Anyway once past the tent the whole thing improves remarkably. A very professional airport style security room is down a little walkway. Where you are scanned and checked for all sorts of weapons and I assume bags of flour. Next its out and around to the HUGE Westminster hall where the tour proper begins.
It was a fully escorted 'blue badge' tour which starts by following the route the Queen takes on the opening of Parliament. There were many impressive things about the tour not less of which was the tour guide being able to pour out details about the pictures and architecture and day-to-day workings of the rooms for a whole 75 minutes. We travelled from the Royal robing room round to the House of Lords chamber to where the Queen gives her speech. The levels of decoration in this area are quite breathtaking and mostly in gold.
Then it was on following the route the Black Rod takes to the House of Commons via the Central Lobby that most people would recognise from political TV reports. A quick diversion into a voting lobby (we voted No) and then it was into the main chamber itself entering around the speakers chair.
I picked the time and day of the tour so I would be in the chamber at the time PMQs (Prime Ministers Questions) would normally be on if the houses were sitting. We just managed to get in the chamber before half twelve.
The Chambers, just like the whole place are quite small and with a dozen or so tours groups of around 25 people it was quite busy. Standing in the opposition back benches I couldn't imagine what it would be like full of 1400 odd MPs and Lords.
On the way out I paused at the Bar of the House (the white line at the entrance way) a took a look back across the floor to the front benches. Then touching the mark the Black Rod has made in the door I headed back to the group and we returned to the Westminster hall and the end of the tour.
All that was left for me to do was buy a portcullis fridge magnet in the gift shop and of course have a cup of tea in the cafe.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
#40@40: Keeper for a Day
A simple little day out at the zoo. But rather than just seeing the animals you get to be a junior keeper and get behind the scenes for a day. London Zoo run the scheme for the general public and you can get a ticket off their website. Its pretty popular so I had to book well in advance. I actually got the day on an offer via Living Social.
We were told to report to the staff entrance at Monday at 8:45am. where we were met by Karen a keeper with 18 years experience. She gave us a quick introduction and a uniform to wear (OK it was a green boiler suit) and then it was off to work.
First up was cleaning out the Giraffes' sleeping area. A big room full of smelly straw which we shovelled away and replaced with fresh. Then we got to feed the giraffes themselves from high platform with carrots and leaves. There tongues are black and very rough feeling. Some of the zebras came over to see what was happening with caused a bit of a fight as the giraffes are territorial and chased them off.
Next it was a trip around the aquarium. Both the front and behind scenes with me asking loads of questions (like where do they get their sea water from (as its not all the same!)). We got to feed the piranhas which involved drop defrosted small fish into the tank from a good few feet above!
Next it was off to the food prep area to make the Bearded pigs food. An interesting round room covered with recipes on the blackboard walls for all the different types of animals. Apparently Gordon Ramsey had also visited this bit of the zoo for one of his programmes. We left the food in buckets for the keepers to give them at lunchtime and we went out to visit the pigs. To give the pigs and bit of a treat on the way out we threw hazelnuts into the enclosure. They make quite a noise crunching the shells and the pig had a bit of excitement routing around for the nuts.
After that it was on to the Penguins to scrub the poo off the pool, which we did with plastic brooms. We got to meet rocky the rock hopper, who was to be fair more interested in woo-ing one of the other penguins. I got opportunity to touch him and stroke him, which felt very unusual as under the feathers he is very solidly built penguin, all muscle. Not what I had imagined they would feel like.
After lunch, in the staff canteen, it was off to meet the Koatis. It was raining slightly but fortunately they were inside. We joined them in their inside room and sat down on a bench and they could run backwards and forwards across our laps looking for food. They didn't seem to be worried about us at all and I think were probably a bit annoyed in the end that we didn't have any food.
The Anteaters came next after a quick journey around the monkey walk. The little yellow monkeys don't like the rain very much and they peered at us from under the broad leaves.
The zoo has two Anteaters, we got to feed them and clean their snouts. You take a handful of meal worms and make a fist. The anteaters then lick them right out of your fist with their long (20cm) tongue which flicks out at the bottom of your fist. A very strange feeling that one. While they are feeding you can clean their snout with a damp sponge. amazing creature they are so large and solid. At the end of our time with them they got a treat of an avocado each. while their mouth isn't really design for fruit there large claws ripped them to little bits which could be licked up.
Next to the anteater is the large bug house and we got a bit side tract looking at all the creepy crawlies. Made me think how I really need to come back as a member of public to go around the place again.
And so on to meet the Meerkats. Now they got proper excited when they saw us coming as they knew one of their favourite treats as on the way, live food. We had a bag full of crickets and meal worms. I took and handful of the bugs (some of the ones weren't keen on this bit) and emptied into the crowd of Meerkats below us. Actually the meal worms dropped down but the crickets tried to hang on until I shook them off.
The bug caused a bit of a fight as the Meerkats dashed around after the crickets. In fact they seem to ganging up on one of their number and the Meerkat keeper said that it wasn't that unusual with groups of animals but he would have to keep an eye on them so that none of them got hurt.
After that chaos we finished with something a bit more calm, feeding the Lemurs. On the way there with our buckets of food the Otters looked eager but they were out of luck. We got to sit in the Lemur cage with a handful each of the food and the Lemurs came right up and took it out of our hands. I had one sitting on my knee sorting through the food it turns out he only wanted the carrots and just picked up and tossed the swede onto the floor.
We exited out of the Lemurs area oddly enough straight into the Bat house. Then it was back down to the staff area. A quick change, souvenir t-shirt, tote bag and magazine later and it was off to the canteen for a cup of tea and cake, finishing around 4ish.
Another good day out, pretending to be keepers. Someone even ask me directions to something at one point. So I must have looked the part.
We were told to report to the staff entrance at Monday at 8:45am. where we were met by Karen a keeper with 18 years experience. She gave us a quick introduction and a uniform to wear (OK it was a green boiler suit) and then it was off to work.
First up was cleaning out the Giraffes' sleeping area. A big room full of smelly straw which we shovelled away and replaced with fresh. Then we got to feed the giraffes themselves from high platform with carrots and leaves. There tongues are black and very rough feeling. Some of the zebras came over to see what was happening with caused a bit of a fight as the giraffes are territorial and chased them off.
Next it was a trip around the aquarium. Both the front and behind scenes with me asking loads of questions (like where do they get their sea water from (as its not all the same!)). We got to feed the piranhas which involved drop defrosted small fish into the tank from a good few feet above!
Next it was off to the food prep area to make the Bearded pigs food. An interesting round room covered with recipes on the blackboard walls for all the different types of animals. Apparently Gordon Ramsey had also visited this bit of the zoo for one of his programmes. We left the food in buckets for the keepers to give them at lunchtime and we went out to visit the pigs. To give the pigs and bit of a treat on the way out we threw hazelnuts into the enclosure. They make quite a noise crunching the shells and the pig had a bit of excitement routing around for the nuts.
After that it was on to the Penguins to scrub the poo off the pool, which we did with plastic brooms. We got to meet rocky the rock hopper, who was to be fair more interested in woo-ing one of the other penguins. I got opportunity to touch him and stroke him, which felt very unusual as under the feathers he is very solidly built penguin, all muscle. Not what I had imagined they would feel like.
After lunch, in the staff canteen, it was off to meet the Koatis. It was raining slightly but fortunately they were inside. We joined them in their inside room and sat down on a bench and they could run backwards and forwards across our laps looking for food. They didn't seem to be worried about us at all and I think were probably a bit annoyed in the end that we didn't have any food.
The Anteaters came next after a quick journey around the monkey walk. The little yellow monkeys don't like the rain very much and they peered at us from under the broad leaves.
The zoo has two Anteaters, we got to feed them and clean their snouts. You take a handful of meal worms and make a fist. The anteaters then lick them right out of your fist with their long (20cm) tongue which flicks out at the bottom of your fist. A very strange feeling that one. While they are feeding you can clean their snout with a damp sponge. amazing creature they are so large and solid. At the end of our time with them they got a treat of an avocado each. while their mouth isn't really design for fruit there large claws ripped them to little bits which could be licked up.
Next to the anteater is the large bug house and we got a bit side tract looking at all the creepy crawlies. Made me think how I really need to come back as a member of public to go around the place again.
And so on to meet the Meerkats. Now they got proper excited when they saw us coming as they knew one of their favourite treats as on the way, live food. We had a bag full of crickets and meal worms. I took and handful of the bugs (some of the ones weren't keen on this bit) and emptied into the crowd of Meerkats below us. Actually the meal worms dropped down but the crickets tried to hang on until I shook them off.
The bug caused a bit of a fight as the Meerkats dashed around after the crickets. In fact they seem to ganging up on one of their number and the Meerkat keeper said that it wasn't that unusual with groups of animals but he would have to keep an eye on them so that none of them got hurt.
After that chaos we finished with something a bit more calm, feeding the Lemurs. On the way there with our buckets of food the Otters looked eager but they were out of luck. We got to sit in the Lemur cage with a handful each of the food and the Lemurs came right up and took it out of our hands. I had one sitting on my knee sorting through the food it turns out he only wanted the carrots and just picked up and tossed the swede onto the floor.
We exited out of the Lemurs area oddly enough straight into the Bat house. Then it was back down to the staff area. A quick change, souvenir t-shirt, tote bag and magazine later and it was off to the canteen for a cup of tea and cake, finishing around 4ish.
Another good day out, pretending to be keepers. Someone even ask me directions to something at one point. So I must have looked the part.
#40@40: Indoor sky diving
This one was a present from my Mum and Dad. Getting fully into the spirit of the list and making me do something very out of the ordinary. Indoor sky diving is the pastime of trying to balance on a column of air inside a specially built room. The column of air is provided by a huge wind turbine blasting up through the mesh floor and the room is a 15 foot circle with a roof about 40 foot up (there's a good reason for the high roof that as I found out later!).
So one Saturday I drove over to Airkix at Milton Keynes with the folks to try it out.
A huge structure on the end of the ski centre greets you as you drive up to park. It looks like something industrial for maybe mixing concrete. Eek!
At reception I had the usual signing of your life away and this time had to read some very stern warnings about shoulders and injuries to them.
Once nothing is the operators fault its off to the briefing and to get kitted out like a real sky diver.
We started with a briefing video with mainly went through the correct neutral body position to be in and the different hand signals we would be needing. Of course due to the wind we won't be able to hear anything. In fact they later gave us ear plugs too so this would be pretty much all the communicating we could do.
In all there were five hand signals to learn: two legs (bend or straighten), chin up, relax and OK.
Next it was off to get our flight suits, helmet, goggles and ear plugs. The only unusual thing about these, apart from looking like a cartoon character in it all, was the two handle sewn into the back of the suits. These really were so the instructor could 'man-handle' us later on.
The flight room itself is a perspex box with netting floor and a very high ceiling. On one side is an anti-chamber with a bench for waiting your go and a control room. The rest of the outside is the Spectator area were Mum and Dad go themselves a front row seat. Actually the brightly lit area around the perspex box for spectators made me think the whole thing was looking a little too much like an execution booth.
So through the air lock we went into the waiting area and lined up on the benches. leaning back I could feel the padded bars of the handles.
My fellow jumpers were a mixed group of about eight people, all shapes and sizes. It turn out sizes was important as the guy in the control room turned the fans up or down so nobody zipped straight up or got stuck on the ground.
One at a time we went to the doorway to the room for our one minute with the instructor.
The first guy was all over the place I think he didn't really get into the neutral position and was kicking and flailing around a lot. The next ones did OK with control turning it up for the really big guys. Then the lady before me decided she doesn't want to go and she had to be led into the room by the instructor. She did fine in the end and looked like she enjoyed it.
Then is was my turn.
So I was standing in the doorway with my arms in. The instruction was to just fall forward into the room and the wind and the instructor would catch you. Whoa! the instructor grabs you by an arm and a leg then gets you into the right position. I get a flurry of hand signals: relax,arms forward chin up, push down with your pelvis. Mostly pulling me into the right position it takes some sorting out but in the end I'm floating around ok
My instructor is telling me to get my arms out more and at this point I become aware that I'm yelling my lungs out with excitement. I float over to visit mum and dad and get eye to eye before I head butt the screen and slide away.
Then the one minute is up and I'm guided back to the waiting room. it feels both like its been no time at all and quite a long time. I'm pretty excited and pretty tired for just an minute activity.
So its back to the bench to watch the others and wait for my next go
My next time I have the option to go for height. The instructor lets you do this if you were OK the first time
round. Some decide against it and some like the first guy he does offer the option.
So my next and last turn I get the signal go up and yes yes I give the thumbs up.
He gets me flying as before in the neutral position, partly I think so they can take the official photos. He has to check I can balance which I must have done pretty well. And then signals to control for three trips up.
He grabs a leg and an arm and spins me around faster and faster to I guess maybe once a second and then up goes the power and we both swoosh up spinning around and around. I think it was about three stories up or 30 feet. Up down, up down, up down with me yelling my head off with happiness. Finally back out through the door and as I landed I did a little dance which apparently got a little cheer from the people in the spectator area.
After everyone's last go at the end the instructor did a turn, swooping and spinning around with a bit of precision landing through the doorway. Then it was back down to get changed and collect our certificates and DVDs.
The pressure in the ears had me blowing my nose afterwards and I felt tried like I'd done a lot more that just two minutes of flying. It was great fun and very intense. I can vividly recall the all sensations.
Another results of all that wind was a very dry mouth so we went for a drink before heading home.
Thank you Mum and Dad it was bonkersly brilliant.
So one Saturday I drove over to Airkix at Milton Keynes with the folks to try it out.
A huge structure on the end of the ski centre greets you as you drive up to park. It looks like something industrial for maybe mixing concrete. Eek!
At reception I had the usual signing of your life away and this time had to read some very stern warnings about shoulders and injuries to them.
Once nothing is the operators fault its off to the briefing and to get kitted out like a real sky diver.
We started with a briefing video with mainly went through the correct neutral body position to be in and the different hand signals we would be needing. Of course due to the wind we won't be able to hear anything. In fact they later gave us ear plugs too so this would be pretty much all the communicating we could do.
In all there were five hand signals to learn: two legs (bend or straighten), chin up, relax and OK.
Next it was off to get our flight suits, helmet, goggles and ear plugs. The only unusual thing about these, apart from looking like a cartoon character in it all, was the two handle sewn into the back of the suits. These really were so the instructor could 'man-handle' us later on.
The flight room itself is a perspex box with netting floor and a very high ceiling. On one side is an anti-chamber with a bench for waiting your go and a control room. The rest of the outside is the Spectator area were Mum and Dad go themselves a front row seat. Actually the brightly lit area around the perspex box for spectators made me think the whole thing was looking a little too much like an execution booth.
So through the air lock we went into the waiting area and lined up on the benches. leaning back I could feel the padded bars of the handles.
My fellow jumpers were a mixed group of about eight people, all shapes and sizes. It turn out sizes was important as the guy in the control room turned the fans up or down so nobody zipped straight up or got stuck on the ground.
One at a time we went to the doorway to the room for our one minute with the instructor.
The first guy was all over the place I think he didn't really get into the neutral position and was kicking and flailing around a lot. The next ones did OK with control turning it up for the really big guys. Then the lady before me decided she doesn't want to go and she had to be led into the room by the instructor. She did fine in the end and looked like she enjoyed it.
Then is was my turn.
So I was standing in the doorway with my arms in. The instruction was to just fall forward into the room and the wind and the instructor would catch you. Whoa! the instructor grabs you by an arm and a leg then gets you into the right position. I get a flurry of hand signals: relax,arms forward chin up, push down with your pelvis. Mostly pulling me into the right position it takes some sorting out but in the end I'm floating around ok
My instructor is telling me to get my arms out more and at this point I become aware that I'm yelling my lungs out with excitement. I float over to visit mum and dad and get eye to eye before I head butt the screen and slide away.
Then the one minute is up and I'm guided back to the waiting room. it feels both like its been no time at all and quite a long time. I'm pretty excited and pretty tired for just an minute activity.
So its back to the bench to watch the others and wait for my next go
My next time I have the option to go for height. The instructor lets you do this if you were OK the first time
round. Some decide against it and some like the first guy he does offer the option.
So my next and last turn I get the signal go up and yes yes I give the thumbs up.
He gets me flying as before in the neutral position, partly I think so they can take the official photos. He has to check I can balance which I must have done pretty well. And then signals to control for three trips up.
He grabs a leg and an arm and spins me around faster and faster to I guess maybe once a second and then up goes the power and we both swoosh up spinning around and around. I think it was about three stories up or 30 feet. Up down, up down, up down with me yelling my head off with happiness. Finally back out through the door and as I landed I did a little dance which apparently got a little cheer from the people in the spectator area.
After everyone's last go at the end the instructor did a turn, swooping and spinning around with a bit of precision landing through the doorway. Then it was back down to get changed and collect our certificates and DVDs.
The pressure in the ears had me blowing my nose afterwards and I felt tried like I'd done a lot more that just two minutes of flying. It was great fun and very intense. I can vividly recall the all sensations.
Another results of all that wind was a very dry mouth so we went for a drink before heading home.
Thank you Mum and Dad it was bonkersly brilliant.
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