Ouch!

I hurt... everywhere... in fact it would be quicker to point out where I don't hurt... my nose?

It was my brothers inquest on Friday (it went as well as you can expect these things to go and I won't go in to it here) but you can imagine that this has brought our loss to the forefront of our minds again. The last time I saw Matt he gave me something. He gave me one of his kites.

He'd always loved kites and it was one of his 'things' so on Saturday I suggested that we go up to Barbury Castle and fly it. Up until now we hadn't taken it out of the bag he gave it to me in! Mum and my step-dad Richard are also staying with us and it just felt like a good thing to do. Go blow away the cobwebs. Boy, did I blow away the cobwebs!

Now, I have no idea about wind speeds and all that, I'm just thinking "hey, it would great to fly Matt's kite!!". No thoughts beyond that really. Once we get it all untangled, which was a feat in itself, I take the handles and Richard let's it go.... OH MY GOSH!!!!! Terrified would be a drastic understatement!

Normal kites you just sort of gently tug the lines, it slowly, and majestically climbs up in to the sky. Not this one... this one yanks the sockets out of my arms and rapidly starts pulling me across the field... to keep up I am running, yes running, my feet moving so fast that I look like something out of a cartoon. Apparently, when they could stop laughing, laughing so much they were crying, my loving family told me that my face was a picture, a cross between trying to laugh and put on a 'nothing happening here' face and one of sheer and utter 'I'm going to die!' terror!!! Richard describes it as a tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, whumpf!

Whilst this is only taking seconds, I felt my life flash before my eyes and everything felt like it was happening in slow motion. Over the howling, cackling of my beloved ones I heard a voice in my head shout "DROP THE HANDLES!!!!" I did... but my body was already in a forward motion and the only thing I could do was bodily throw myself to the ground. I don't remember much what happened next, it's a bit of a blur, but according to Katarina I skimmed the ground like a flat pebble skimming across a pond. Let me just say - that ground was hard. Very, very hard.

After some time... my darling family decided to 'rush' over and between uncontrollable laughter and comments of 'that was sooooo funny' ask me if was I alright? Was I? Yes I am - just, LOL. I'm bruised, with a swollen knee and my dignity shattered in to a million little pieces but I'm ok.

And the kite? It's fine too and turns out it's a POWER stunt kite. No, before anyone asks they did not get it on video (thank the Lord) but I did find this which will give you a vague idea of what happened, except for the bit at the beginning when she is being dragged, insert me with legs moving like Road Runner. But the bit at the end? The flying leap? That bit is JUST like me!



My name is Jools, I'm 41 and I like extreme sports.