My marriage broke down – and I embraced journey in my 70s

The solar shone and the wind rushed round me so loudly, it blocked out all sound. 

As I gazed down on the rolling hills and delightful countryside beneath, it was so picture-perfect, the earth regarded like a postcard.

I noticed my household too, getting smaller and smaller, and I attempted to wave however the strain was so nice, I may barely elevate my arm.

‘Who would have thought it,’ I marvelled. ‘Me, doing a wing walk at the age of 75.’

Back once I was younger, I’d by no means have dreamt of doing something like this. Of course, the alternatives weren’t there again then however even when they’d been, I wouldn’t have seized them.

Back then, I wouldn’t have stated boo to a goose. I even prevented the massive dipper on the funfair. Instead, I busied myself working our household’s development business, taking care of my two sons and volunteering at Cats Protection’s Bournemouth & District Branch.

I’d all the time had cats, ever since I used to be baby, and I completely adored them. Unlike what some folks assume, they are often as devoted as dogs. But solely on their very own phrases.

We all the time had two, generally, three at a time once I was married, and even now,  as I’m maybe too old to tackle a full of life kitten, I’ve a 19-year-old moggie, who I adopted when her 101-year-old proprietor handed away final yr.   

So when, in 1988, I found there was a neighborhood Bournemouth department of the Cats Protection charity,  it was solely pure for me to get entangled serving to the cats, arranging neutering, serving to at fundraising occasions after which changing into a Committee Member.  

That hasn’t spelled the top of my adventurous antics – in truth, it was simply the beginning!

I most well-liked to be behind the scenes again then, letting different folks take the lead and instructing me how greatest to assist out.

But then, 15 years in the past, my marriage broke down and I fully modified. I went… properly, a bit daft, I suppose. Suddenly crammed with a way of freedom, I used to be determined to attempt new issues.

The yr after, in 2009, I travelled to Australia and climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was simply unimaginable – and I wished to do extra issues prefer it.  

So in 2016, when the pinnacle workplace of Cats Protection requested for volunteers to participate in a fundraising sky-dive they have been organising and no-one else stepped up, I made a decision to place my title ahead.

My age by no means got here into it. It was merely the concept of doing one thing a bit adventurous, a bit wacky, that appealed to me.

I feel my household and buddies all thought I had gone a bit mad once I informed them what I’d signed up for however as soon as they’d received over the shock, they have been totally supportive.  

Back in August 2016, on a vibrant, sunny day, I stepped right into a small airplane and flew as much as 13,000ft. You’d assume I’d have been nervous however I actually wasn’t. Especially not once I noticed the hunky man from the Red Devil workforce I used to be going to be strapped to!

‘Ready?’ he shouted in my ear, after we’d gone by the security procedures and the harness was safe. ‘Ready!’ I yelled again.

The minute he jumped out and we have been falling by the sky, I abruptly thought, ‘What on earth have I done? Freefalling for 50 seconds at 120 mph!’

But as soon as the parachute got here up, I relaxed, ingesting within the beautiful views and admiring how tiny the whole lot regarded from so excessive up. Mike, my Red Devil, identified locations of curiosity as we soared over Salisbury and sensing how a lot I used to be having fun with it, stored me up a bit longer!

The minute I floated gently again to the bottom, I wished to go straight again up once more. It didn’t even matter that I went deaf for 3 days due to the air strain. It was unimaginable!

And I’d managed to boost greater than £1,200 for Cats Protection – it was win-win!

I raved about it a lot that my then-partner did the identical factor the yr after – after which he went on a wing walk in 2019!

As I watched him fly off on high of the airplane, I used to be full of pleasure – and a bit little bit of jealousy!  ‘I wish I was up there with him,’ I assumed, my eyes shining as I adopted him up, up into the air.

‘You would love that!’ he gasped as quickly as he landed once more.

It almost appeared like destiny, subsequently, when the Head Office received in contact once more in 2021, asking for volunteers to do a sponsored wing walk. The funds have been wanted greater than ever since lockdown had prevented us from face-to-face fundraising. 

I referred to as up a volunteer from one other Weymouth department who I knew had finished it earlier than and requested her what she thought.

‘It was brilliant,’ she enthused. ‘I loved it so much, I’ve signed up once more!’

Spurred on, I signed up – and in August, I used to be being strapped right into a body on high of a airplane. ‘Just make sure you don’t press this!’ they instructed, pointing to the discharge button, which might have loosened me from the body.

I can’t clarify simply how great it felt to be crusing by the sky, seeing the world from above – and elevating £2,700 for the charity in addition! 

And that hasn’t spelled the top of my adventurous antics – in truth, it was simply the beginning!

Since then, I’ve abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and, once I went to South America in September, I wished to attempt my hand at paragliding over Rio. ‘Don’t you dare!’ my insurance coverage firm warned once I rang as much as verify with them.

‘Can that be it now?’ my younger son requested not too long ago. ‘Can you finally start acting your age?’

But I’m having a lot enjoyable, I’m undecided I need to! 

As far as I can inform, the sky’s the restrict – regardless of how old you’re! 

For extra data, go to www.cats.org.uk

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