Vaike Õiglane

“Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.”

I am not a lamb and definitely I am not a lion either, but there is one thing I know how to do - rise and rise again. If all else fails, at least I don’t give up. I have battled my hopeless fight agains Estonia for … hmmm … is it really 7 years already by this fall? So, 7 years of legal battles. One won, all others lost till now. The last and final decision about Estonia’s liability is about to be given in near future.

I know I will lose this quarrel. There is no chance they would admit the mistakes. State is always right. At least in Estonia. Still I am happy.

I am happy that I managed to stir things up to the level of Supreme Court en banc. The Supreme Court en banc, comprised of all justices of the Supreme Court, is the highest body of the Court and my case will be heard by it. Not easy to get to there.

This last battle has not been about money. It has been about justice. Justice for me, because what was done to me is not supposed to happen in Rechtsstaat. Even if I lose, I would consider it a win if they change the legislation because of what I provoked. Win or lose - I am still going out with a bang. As a precedent.

It has been almost 5 months since I got myself iPhone. Yesterday was the day when I finally figured out how to write “õ” and “ü”.

It was too simple …

Hanko DZ. Yesterday afternoon. I’ve put on my suit and I am ready to jump.

J:”You have a free-fly suit?”
CV:”Yes.”
J:”I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in one.”

10 minutes later.
J:”Could you please jump with me? I need to practice for AFF instructor course.”
CV:”OK.”
Change of suit.

No wonder people are surprised to find out that I have a free-fly suit …

When you cross the line - you learn.

For two and a half moths I have been living in an illusion that the heartache was over and I am on my way to heal.

Reality came as a shock.

I am moved. I am speechless. Wonderfully deep and well played out. Kielletty hedelmä* by Demo Karukoski.

I will go and get the other movie tomorrow from the same director.

* forbidden fruit

Packing a totally new parachute can be a really hard job. This is how my first pack-job with my Crossfire 2 went.

First I needed to adjust the loop. A bit bigger canopy and I thought it needed a bit longer loop. Wrong! After first jump I shortened it back to where it was before.

Those risers are no good! Javelin risers are not meant for pulling your slider behind your head. No way! If you go for the options - “easy dive loops” - then you get nice dive loops that you can get your hands on really easily, but they are unusable as the slider never comes over that stitching. At least I got it fixed. Few trips to Collin (I dread that man, but I keep visiting him).

Now we can start packing finally. First - fix the brakes.

Then toss your canopy over your shoulder and start packing.

Sort the fabric out and make a nice cocoon.

Lay your canopy down and get that air out of it.

Now will come the hardest part. You have to keep fighting to keep the air out and same time fold your canopy into a tiny bag. That part was like a mystery, when you were a student and all experienced skydivers, who were getting over that part pretty fast, seemed like wizards to you. This is definitely the part of packing where you can state “practice makes perfect”. I consider myself wizard by now.

Still a bit to fight, but the light at the end of the tunnel is clearly visible - canopy looks good in the bag already.

I like it nice and neat. New or old canopy.

Yesh! On a first attempt the first tubestoe is securely around lines. I did it! From now on the packing is only getting easier.

Lines to their places.

I was afraid my canopy will not fit to my rig. It isn’t supposed to. So this is the moment of truth - will it fit?

Yesh! I am good. It is in, it is packed. I am one happy girl.

Lets turn Argus AAD on and I am ready to jump.

UPDATE: Prof. mentioned that I forgot to write about one important detail - how did this canopy opened after this packing. GOOD! Soft & on heading. Perfecto!

I don’t want to be me. Not today.

A while back (has it really been only 2 months?) I made an offer. Now it would be good time to make the first present because Mann is in Estonia and I am about to be there for the whole weekend. Can one even imagine how hard it is to come up with an idea for a present to Mann? Huhh. First idea was book, but then I thought about all those weight limits when she goes back home. Something skydive related? I wish I had even an inkling of what that could be. My head seems to be totally empty.

Ou, it isn’t even a bit easier with Pirts and Telc …

Sweet. Suddenly everything felt sweet. Life tasted sweet.

Ahh! Linden are in full blossom.