Dunking Helicopters and Duff Batteries

On the dunking helicopters front, I thought I'd tell you about some of the previous fundraising and awareness raising activities I've been involved in for World AIDS Day. (I thought it might be good to keep a theme running for this month).

Before I joined the public health training scheme, I was a Health Promotion Specialist for sexual health. So, for several years I've been involved in World AIDS Day events, in one form or another. One year, when I was working in Hull, we decided our sponsored fundraising event would be...being dunked in a helicopter.



There is, or used to be, a maritime rescue training centre in Hull for training coastguard staff to rescue people from the North Sea. This facility had a large pool and a helicopter shell.

Just for fun, several of us agreed to be strapped into the helicopter, submerged in the pool, and then swim out. Sounded straightforward enough. Well, we did it... but as soon as the helicopter started sinking, three of us decided that was it and swam out. Even if this is what you want to do, I think it's hard to override the brain and it's logical response to get the *£$!%" out of there right now!!

Second attempt... we coped with the fully submerged helicopter.

Then... the training crew said for the full experience... they would submerge, then rotate the helicopter so it was up-side-down... Uh-huh...right. I made my excuses and vacated the pool, rapidly.

On the knitting front (duff batteries)... I've actually finished the sleeves for "Matros" (my grumble piece AKA jumper for my nephew) and am sewing up tonight. Don't think I'll get the collar done until tomorrow night, but yippee!! I've attached the sleeves to body of "Saranac" (jumper for the BF), but it may take longer to finish than I thought. Tomorrow, I'll be knitting on the tram (socks for the BF). It's only three weeks until Christmas and I'm starting to panic.

:-)

Next World AIDS Day story... if people would like it...will feature Labi Siffre. (For anyone who is not sure who he is: "Something inside so strong").