Back from Empuriabrava

Got back from Empuria on Monday. Learnt a lot while I was out there and met some great people. I have attached some photographs from the trip. The group picture is the people on the course with Brian Vacher who took the course in the middle on the back row. There is also a photo of Kim the lady I mentioned in the last blog. The picture was taken by Mel, Kim's husband and is just after our last jump to-gether. Mel is a big Man U fan, he should be at least very happy to-night after beating Barcelona last night. I hope Angie likes the single photo (recognise the jump suit).Whilst I was in Empuria I made some valuable contacts for the trip ahead and was given a generous donation for NACC for which I am very grateful.

I am now working like mad to get everything ready before I leave next Thursday. I think there will still be some things, accommodation wise to sort out, I will have to work them out as I go. I have been contacting the various Parachuting Federations in the counties I am going to to get licences etc. The Parachute Association of South Africa have very kindly given me free 90 day membership of their association. I have found everyone I have been dealing with extremely helpful. I have been warned about visiting certain parts of South Africa, but I must say the people I have been dealing with have bent over backwards to help me, answering numerous e-mails and never letting me feel that I was being a pest.

There still seems to be a lot of interest in the trip and I hope that will increase even more after the first Radio 5 Live interview -I think that's on the 7th May. However I did discover while I was in Empuria that I was going to miss not being able to check my e-mails and up date my blog as much. I did not intend to take a laptop with me, for one I don't have one and it is one more thing to carry or get stolen. However I am re-thinking this now. I do need to keep in touch with my e-mails and be able to update my blog, I would like to put pictures on whenever I can, I found I could not do this in Empuria even though I was able to get on a PC some of the time. I am going to try and find out if I can borrow a lap top and have put a couple of feelers out - will see what happens.

That's all for now, will update again at least once before I leave. j 30/4