In September 2017, I asked my newsletter subscribers to challenge me to do something which would get me out of my comfort zone.  From the many ideas submitted I chose two (quite different) challenges.

One was a day without words, the other was to fly in a helicopter.

Saturday was full of words (including a few choice ones) as I took up the challenge to fly in a helicopter.

It was quite an experience, and once I got over the initial fear of making the booking, I actually started to look forward to it.

That was until I arrived at a very windy and rainy Newcastle Airport.
‘It will be cancelled. They won’t take a helicopter up in this’, I convinced myself.
It wasn’t.  And they did.
My ‘co-pilots’ were a young lad, Sam, aged 7 and his Dad, Ben.  It’s amazing what you can learn from a 7-year-old. Saturday was no exception.
‘Dad, I’m feeling very nervous’, said Sam.
Dad replied, ‘Oh there’s nothing to worry about’.
‘How do you know?’ came the cool, calm, sage response.
Brilliant!
20 minutes later we’d flown over St James’ Park, buzzed the Angel of the North and figure eight-ed over Newcastle Racecourse waiting for our landing slot.
I don’t feel the need to do it again, but I can say I have conquered my fear of flying in a helicopter.
I’m now planning my day without words which is far more scary.