Weekend Mamoomahs

[Gareth]

A meal at Paula McEwen's tonight.

Some work and some MTB tomorrow.

First tandem skydive on Sunday at Strathallan

Let me know how that goes.
Will be doing that at some point.

[Lazydonkey]

i will be mainly sitting on my arse enjoying the sunshine, wine and cheese in a gorgeous part of Normany.

Have you seen the forcast for NormanDy? Hope you have a brolly.

You mean the forecast that says mid 20's all week?

[Sanjøy]

Irn-Bru factory tour
Once again, the popular Irn-Bru Factory is opening up for tours. The telephone booking line will be launched on 4th July at 10am. For more details visit the North Lanarkshire pages at www.doorsopendays.org.uk / Search by area or click http://bit.ly/baL5pL

[jen]

Tea with the folks tonight,

Farmers' Market at Westhill tmrw during the day, Eat on the Green for supper at night (win!)

No plans for Sunday - yet. What's on at Boyndie, Scotty?

It says Abz district motor club, have it booked for two days (i presume?) : http://www.grampiankartclub.com/Calendar%202011.pdf
Kart racing I guess?

Good to watch tut?

It's not karting! It's a sprint, we'll be there too-Alan is competing in the frog!

Jen

[scottishselise]

Thanks Jen, figured that out eventually! Fairly long drive, but I am sure it's good to watch.
You getting a shot? There was at least 1 couple that did the hillclimb together on single seaters

[jen]

He was desperate to get out in it and couldn't wait until Aug for Fintray!

Na, I won't be competing this time, I don't have a race suit or gloves or the proper Fia helmet or a race licence. Prob in the future though as I would like to try it.

[hendeg]

First tandem skydive on Sunday at Strathallan

Let me know how that goes.
Will be doing that at some point.

Wasn't really excited about it in the build up or on the day. Nothing really on the way up in the wee plane with no door looking out below. Pauline was jumping as well and we were both being filmed so we had to go in different drops.

I shared the plane with another tandem. She went out first and as she left I started to get the butterflies. Then we shimmied over to the door. I was hanging out and was doing some calm breathing and thinking 'here we go' and trying to focus on getting the technique right. Boom - I'm a screamer! Wow - I wasn't expecting to feel like that. The initial sensation was just phenominal. Once the cameraman came alongside us I was fine and enjoyed the freefall. Once the chute opened it was all over for me. That's just a nice we float down with some nice scenery.

Pauline and I both agreed that everyone we've spoken to that's done one has said it's amazing but they just don't put across what it really feels like.

I don't know that the other places are like but I was a bit disappointed with the setup at Strathallan. I wasn't aware of this beforehand bit it's a club and it's run by volunteers from the club. What goes along with that is a feeling that it isn't particularly well organised. Actually, it just isn't well organised from a commercial sense. Right from when you arrive - the entrance is really badly signposted. There's no 'reception' as such that's signposted. Everyone that arrived looked a bit lost until they asked someone what was happening. There was a strong message of 'don't moan at us - we're just volunteers' during the briefing which means that it obviously happens a lot. There's no indication of a rough time that you're likely to jump which I'm sure they could do. It's obviously weather dependent but there were 8 of us doing tandems on the day and I'm sure that they could have told us that we wouldn't be jumping until at least a certain time. We arrived at 8:30 and didn't jump until 2:30 and 3:00. We could have gone off and done something else. I wasn't particularly impressed with the guy that I jumped with either as he was a bit of an @rse after we landed. I thanked him straight away and he just ignored me. He got a bit @rsy when he wanted to pick up part of his chute and help him carry it back but he didn't actually tell me that was what he wanted and I was asking him what he actually wanted me to do.

That is a bit negative but it didn't take away from the jump at all. I don't think it would have bothered me if I being doing it for charity but I'd paid for it myself and it's not cheap.

I'm looking forward to getting the video and pictures now

[Shug]

Bit of a shame, but you tend to find a lot of these ventures are a way of a club making ends meet. Doesn't exactly breed the best experience as they try to manage it for zero outlay and the volunteers end up looking on it as a chore to allow them to continue doing their hobby.

No simple answer to it, sadly.

[ryallm]

The simple answer to it that I and most experienced skydivers I know have adopted is just to avoid Strathallan. It is just a club, not an efficient commercial venture. And any DZ can only be as good as its aircraft. At Strath you get a max of 5 people in a wee Cesna 206 which takes half an hour to crawl up to 10k. Compare that to 14k in 12 minutes at BKPC

Don't let the experience put you off skydiving. I did my 500th jump in Spain a couple of weeks ago, and it remains by far the most amazing, fun, and exciting thing I have ever done. I mostly jump abroad now - better weather, better aircraft, great scenery, efficient and professionally run DZs. Did 10 jumps in one day on the last trip and could easily have done more if I wasn't so knackered - try doing that anywhere in the UK.

Good excuse for a photo from my recent trip (me 3rd from top)

[Dominic]

Thread resurrection time!

So, what's everyone up to then?

For me, quite a quiet one;

Out for some drinks tonight;

Sat; Cycle in the morning, out again in the evening

Sun; LEGS meet at Powmill, then dinner with my parents in the evening.

[Shug]

Pour moi, dinner with the outlaws, followed by a trip out for some shandies with old mates tonight.

Try to get to the bottom of a warped disc on the Audi tomorrow, with possibly some Motorcyclage if its dry - House party at Elaine's mates for fireworks PM

Sunday - Taking a run though to Edinburgh with Elaine.

[Rich H]

Packing, packing, council tip, mortgage appointment, packing, packing, looking at the Esprit wondering when I'll get a chance to drive it again, packing, buying lights, measuring up for curtains, packing, making said curtains (domesticated man here), packing, tip agian, then I might do some more packing.

I also intend to get dog boilingly drunk* not sure when, might start in a bit.

Moving in 2 weeks...!



*(c) sniff petrol

[woody]

I'll be in London mostly.

[BiggestNizzy]

Dragon i for dinner tonight the going to see Ed Byrne, working tommorow and Ann is Nightshift so pizza and PS3 for me, working on Sunday.

[tut]

Family birthday gathering on Sunday and christening my new massage chair.

tut