They did it! Both fabulous, fearless (not so fearless at 12,000 feet - I am renting out the DVD for priceless glimpses of panic-stricken faces!) sky divers are tonight back on solid ground, no bones broken, no life insurance claims to be made... I have never seen such happy, relieved chaps striding off the landing strip with it all safely behind them!
Despite last night's awful gales and a familiar feeling that rain could stop play once again the boys set off before dawn with Simon at the wheel and the car apparently getting quieter and quieter as they got nearer and nearer Headcorn - nerves definitely setting in but the weather got better and better as it got light and by the time they had registered and settled in there was no doubt the jump was on. Gulp.
With a car full of friends Rose and I followed on a bit later but as we got nearer and with Simon in constant touch it became a race between car and plane - without having to run through their safety briefing again the boys were lined up for the first jump and Ally broke land speed records through country villages (our lives so much more in danger than theirs at this point). There was a definite risk that the event's main celebrity would miss the two dots and a thud but she didn't - we made it in time to watch them waft gently over the Kent countryside and land safely at Headcorn. Very emotional - with friends and family cheering them in and lots of pix and hugging all round.
Back in April last year in our very early, very dark days when my phone rang on the ward at UCH and Calvin put this whole crazy plan to us we barely knew these lovely men and nine months later they've done it and we've raised a fortune for a charity that is now a part of our lives forever. We've dragged all our friends and family into it one way or another but Calvin and Tayo were the stars of the show today. There is literally no way to thank them for what they have done but I hope the memories they will have of a sunny skydive over the beautiful English countryside with Rose waiting at the end to meet them are good ones and will make up for the ten minute climb in the plane - which didn't sound so fun! Thanks to everyone who came today, to everyone who has supported them this year and helped them raise the most amazing amount of money but mostly to them - thank you boys from us all.
