Taupo...we jumped out of a plane!!!

Wow! Well after 2 days trying to get a chance to do a skydive, but it being cancelled due to cloud...we finally did it yesterday! (I have to say the cloud wasn't really bothering me that much, i wouldn't have minded missing it!!!!) But i am glad we did it! Everyone had said Lake Taupo was the best place to skydive and it was amazing.....the lake is formed from a huge volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, and it is awesome in size, you cannot imagine how big it is.....the only way to see it all is from the sky! So, once dressed in our oh so fetching jump suits, strapped to our 'pilots' and squeezed into the smallest plane in the world....we were off! Nervous is an understatement! Although, i have to say....once in the plane and flying it was actually better! I elected to go out first, so, once at 15,000 feet, the side of the plane rolled open, and i felt the first rush of cold air! I had to lean back on Mike (my pilot), tuck my feet under and hold on....we then rolled out of the plane! 60seconds freefall took us straight down to 5,000 feet.....wow! It was exactly like those comedy cartoons where cheeks and jaws are pushed back into funny fluid movements and you can't move because of the wind! And, i have the dvd to prove it!!! oh yes, we went for full tourist package and got a dvd, and Mike just so happened to capture my oh so attractive wobbly lips and cheeks all the way down!!!! Mark looks a little better in his! Damm it! The freefall was an adrenalin rush, but the best bit for me was once the parachute opened and we could look around....from 5,000ft it took another 5 minutes with the parachute to reach the ground, and what an amazing 5 minutes, the view was beautiful.....definitely the highlight for me! I just love hanging in the air like that, so peaceful! Landing for me was, however, not quite so peaceful.....Mark was already down, and thought we looked as if we were coming in a bit fast....basically we landed with a thud....hard....on our bottoms!!!!! i have the bruise to prove it! Sitting is now a little delicate!!!! Mike was very apologetic...apparently that isn't the normal landing - a treat for me - why thank you!!!!!! Anyway, it was amazing, i'm glad we did it, and we were exhausted afterwards!!!! As well as a DVD (which you can all watch at one of numerous showings next year!), we also got some pictures taken for us, so those will be on here soon!!!!! We did it!!!! Lots of festive love xxxxx