"Welcome to my office"

I did it! I did my skydive in Taupo!
After the embarrassment at the Canyon Swing in Queenstown, I feel I have finally regained some dignity and maybe even an edge of cool... Although cool can hardly be used to describe my composure after the jump. I was actually buzzing!
On the way drive from Napier in the morning, Ciaran had asked me how I was feeling, and gave me some solid advice in "try not to leave any small rocks behind you". Charming. Was he trying to spook me? Maybe. But I knew that I was going to do it- I've always wanted to and whenever people said to me "you HAVE to do a bungee in New Zealand", the answer was "well, not reeeally, but I'm definitely doing a skydive!" And today was the day!
I tried not to think on it too much - that was definitely the mistake I made with the Canyon Swing (oh, and signing up for it in the first place!) So after they gave us the options I was first to jump up and sign myself up for 15000 feet. When everyone in the group has decided, they take you into the main part of the hangar and get you kitted out with your jumpsuit. At this point I met my skydive buddy Fred. He's a dude. I knew it anyway, but afterwards one of the other guys who'd done the jump said "your guy seemed really cool", and Ciaran concurred that he was the coolest one, lucky me! He's a bit of a skydiving legend, with 22000 jumps under his belt, and about 19000 of those have been in tandem.
As he helped me get my gear on, he explained what would happen, though he didn't go into much detail and really emphasised on "just make sure you keep your eyes open and enjoy the ride". I was expecting some safety briefing about what I should do if he passed out in the air and it was therefore left to me, but that was pretty much the most advice he gave me. And it was good advice!
It all started really well with me cracking my head on the door of the plane. After that though, it just got better and better. I was still trying not too think about the jump too much, so on the way up I just checked out the view from the plane, as it was brilliant, it was such a clear day. There was so much to take in! Fred was talking about Lake Taupo and pointing out various things - we could clearly see Mount Tarananki, which is 300 miles away (it was that clear!), in between general chit chat- I asked him his favourite place to skydive (he doesn't have one as each one is unique but he does love Taupo as it's so beautiful) and he asked me if I would marry Ciaran! Woah now!!
We got to 12000 feet and the first two jumpers went. It was all starting to get a bit more real at that point. Fred had tightened the harness (I was sat right in his lap, funny how you get so up close and personal with someone you don't know) and had given me oxygen, and l would be the second person to jump when we got to 15000 feet. My cameraman was hanging out the door first and Fred had told me that he would lift me to the edge of the door. Then it was a quick smile for the exit camera, I leaned my head back, Fred counted to two and we were gone! He had warned me that he would take us into a back flip, as apparently it's more comfortable than just going body forward into the air. The free fall lasted just a second before the air caught us and then... It was just amazing. The photos will tell you the rest but it was just INCREDIBLE. I didn't feel at all scared, just totally taken aback by the mind-blowing view and the air in my face. The cameraman was floating around and I didn't really know what to do when he was there and all I really wanted to do was just look down at the view. But we had a bit of a twirl and a swim, did a few peace signs and I don't think I've ever smiled so much. My face was aching but I couldn't stop! When Fred pulled the cord we went flying upwards and then he put me into a sitting position in the harness, as it's a bit more comfortable that way, and then said "Welcome to my office". I wish I could be that cool! I felt immensely jealous of his office!

As we started to float gently downwards... I have never felt so, at peace and full of wonder for how amazing the earth looks. It is so cheesy but that is truly how I felt, because it just looked amazing. My eyes actually filled up. Oh well, crying for a good reason this time as opposed to being a big scared loser at the Canyon Swing, and I got myself together a lot more quickly!
We neared the ground and I got a second rush of adrenaline, was shouting to Ciaran, and as we landed I was so excited- see video!! And I think it will be a few days before I can wipe the smile off my face. Skydives are the rush for me, you can keep your bungys!!

Sky dive video here (5 mins in if you can't be bothered to watch the whole thing).