Sunday, 2 July 2017 is a day which will be in my memory for a very long time or probably forever. Months of anxiety, apprehension, all came to an end.
As the North London Skydiving Centre was nearly two hours away, I got up at around 4.30am. Wide awake, as you can imagine, hoping the weather would not let me down this time — I would not be able to wait around for another time. My purpose was to raise funds for Learning for Life’s project to build the Dan Doherty Memorial School in Nepal. Dan was a very dear friend to me and many, but he sadly passed away last year.
We reached the centre at around 7.40am, and went straight to register. Guess what? I was 38th in the queue. The first batch of training had just started and I was put in batch B.
The cafeteria had still not opened and already there was a big crowd in line for teas and coffees. Well, as we decided to wait in the queue, I thought I would just take out my kindle and read. But, honestly, I could hardly concentrate as my stomach was already churning at the thought of my ‘plummet’.
As I was sipping my coffee on the sofa, I heard my name on the loud speaker. I thought, wow! that is quick as I’d expected to be waiting a long while yet. It was a call for my assessment. Glen, who took me in, was very good. He made me wear the belt etc., explained certain things and then literally hung me up on the wall as this is how I would be up in the air, removing the chairs underneath me and showing me how to position my legs. He was happy. The one thing that I was most worried about was my weight. He stood me on the scale and said you are fine. I nearly jumped with glee.
I’d spent months of worrying about two things on this dive: 1) My weight; and 2) the landing, as I just knew I would struggle and worried that I’d hurt myself in the bargain.
The first worry was over and now I awaited the training session. Which took place after nearly three trips to the reception desk, and short of my screaming as I realised that my name had been put aside. Quite upsetting but the same thing happened to our son Jamsheed when he did his jump a few months ago. Needless to say, a few words were exchanged!
Anyway, after nearly five hours of waiting, my training complete and the plane being refuelled twice, I was finally suited up and ready to go up into the air. I was going to be the first one out of this particular plane, and my instructor, Chris, was making small talk with the cameraman, Sean, both of them smiling and thinking she is probably scared to death.
Soon the plane started climbing, and after we had reached an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet, the door opened and the cameraman was out. He was fab, so agile…and then it was my turn.
With a silent prayer, I tried to remember all my instructions. Then, before I even knew it, I was out of the plane…in free fall!
Finally opening my eyes, I saw clouds and it was just the most beautiful feeling you could ever have. I could have gone free falling for a little bit longer; it was so beautiful.
Once the parachute opened, Chris made me rest my legs and encouraged me to take in the beauty, showing me various fields and more. He kept telling me how high we were. That we were twice the height of the Shard…and then the height of the Shard.
It was time to practise in air a bit of the landing, and that is where I think I froze as I found it so difficult to bend my knees. After that, I found it difficult to relax. While doing this he took a turn as well and my landing anxiety came to the fore. I felt dizzy…
We landed on my knees. But what an experience, and I realised that all my panic was totally unnecessary!
Would I do it again? I am not sure but it was definitely worth it for the cause. And I have to tell you a secret — I was the eldest in that group of tandem Sky Divers . Everyone around me was aged 25, or 27, or 22. Aaarghh!!
But the Sky Divers and the trainers do all try their best to make you relax and understand the fear. The first batch in the air had a girl who came back in the plane. I was determined that I was not going to be the second one. A lot of my friends thought I would not do it and might chicken out but, guys, I did it and for those few minutes I absolutely loved it.
But if I ever found the need to do this again, I would definitely lose a lot of my body weight first, and probably do some work to strengthen my leg muscles.
Please forget everything that anybody has told you about skydiving. Everybody and every body is different.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored me and believed in me. A special thanks to Neil & Ryan, Goolu, Mehtab & Ashraf who came all the way to cheer me on and of course, my husband who I know was worried even though he did not show it.
Dan Doherty, wherever you are, are you proud of me? I did this for you.