Up bright and early Bev and I left Bournemouth at 6.45 am on a foggy and dark Saturday morning.

We were the first to arrive at Old Sarum airfield on the outskirts of Salisbury.

The airfield was quiet and cloaked in grey mist, not the sort of weather suited for skydiving!

By 8pm the place was buzzing and Bev and I were full of anticipation and very excited.

Very soon things were happening, paperwork was done and a twenty minute training session was conducted with the use of a DVD. This is when I had the first hint of trepidation and thoughts of ‘am I really going to do that’! I was visibly shaking yet consciously I wasn’t scared. I had expected to visit the toilet several times, even feel or be sick, but nothing. thankfully.

We were booked to go on the second jump so we didn’t have long to wait (or worry). By 9.45 we were in a Land Rover and driven to the ‘landing area’. There we were given jumpsuits and had our harnesses fastened. At this point I took my pump off and noted my blood glucose level was 13.2. Normally I would correct but I had PROMISED my doctor - no hypos!!

At this stage Bev and I were remarkably relaxed and laughed and joked with our instructors who made us feel so much at ease. They were full of encouragement and full of good humour and banter.

We climbed on board the plane, there was 7 of us in total, 3 jumpers including Bev and myself, 3 instructors and a photographer. By this time as if by magic the air was still, the sky clear and blue, we were ready to go.

Once seated on the floor, we were harnessed to our instructors, all very cosy, and taught how to land. It was crucial that we landed with legs up!

It took 20 minutes for the ascent. Usually a small plane flies at around 2,000 feet, we were going to be jumping from 10,000 feet, two and a half miles up!

Strangely as we climbed further and flew above the clouds we had no nerves at all. Earlier I had said jokingly that ‘we would probably need valium and nappies!

Finally we were ready, hats on, goggles on, harnesses checked and tightened. The photographer went first, he stepped calmly out as if just stepping out of a train onto the platform. The only difference was - he disappeared.

The girl went next, then Bev and her instructor Nick shuffled to the door and were gone. Then my instructor Nigel and I shuffled to the door, no time to think, we were going…..

The force of the wind hit me, the speed we were travelling was phenomenal - 120 miles per hour. It was so noisy I couldn’t hear my instructor or speak and wondered why he was tapping me hard on the shoulder, oh yes arms out. I knew then what a bird feels like. I loved it immediately, no fear only a pounding in my ears. Why I had my mouth open, I don’t know but the cold air grated on my throat. Then in an instance the first parachute was deployed, a slight jolt, then the next parachute and SILENCE………. A surreal magical amazing feeling. No sounds at all and the view from 5,000 feet was awesome. I never once felt insecure flying in the sky, it felt totally natural, I felt like a puppet and loved every second. Nigel pointed out various landmarks including Salisbury Cathedral. I seriously could have hovered like that for hours, it was so peaceful, so tranquil. I was grinning from ear to ear.

Naturally all good things come to an end and we had to land. Legs out and up, slide on your bottom and down - FANTASTIC.

I hugged my instructor and told him I wanted to do it again. My friend Bev loved it too and I am so grateful she did it with me, an experience we both shared that we will never ever forget and we raised over £1,000 between us for Diabetes UK.

It just leaves one question, what’s next?

For the record my blood glucose had soared to 27.9!!!!