Troy and I were in agreement that I had to go next before my nerve deserted me entirely, so I stepped up to the bottom of the steps. My harness (all three buckles), my gloves and my helmet were checked. The brake and the rope were attached, and I held the rope loosely (possibly…).

Troy checked the previous person was out of the way and then it was time for me to walk up the stairs.

I did that kind of mindlessly, and then when I got to the top I realised I was not going to be able to proceed.

There was no way I was going to be able to even sit on the edge, and go over? No chance!

I told Troy I was sorry, but I could not proceed. He told me to take my time, and I think I tried to explain that I didn’t need time, I was not able to do it. What I actually said may or may not have resembled that! Troy was the epitome of patience. I had time.

Then he deployed his masterstroke (he told us later that he had studied neuroscience) and asked me what story I wanted to be telling in an hour – that I walked down the wall or that I didn’t walk down the wall. Troy was unaware that I had written a blog committing to jumping, that I was going to have to tell a public story one way or the other, but that question apparently made me think about the future and took my brain out of its hijacked state.

I decided that I did want to proceed after all. So slowly I put my left leg over the wall, sat down and then (with Troy’s help) put my right leg over.

At this stage terror was again my main emotion. I was sitting on a wall 7 stories above the ground, attached to a rope and Troy’s hand on my harness. And I was going forward, not back to the safety of the roof.

And forward I went. As I went off the wall Troy made sure I was in control and I was off. Walking down the wall!

That felt amazing!! I was walking down a 7 story building, loosely holding a rope. I thought (and possibly yelled) “I am so glad I did this”. I could feel my grin.

Near the bottom I stopped on instruction and tried to jump towards my catcher (Troy’s son). He helped me the final few metres and unhooked the rope.

Then I sat down, quite suddenly I think. I was pleasantly surprised how easily the cross legged position was to get into!

Those who had gone before me were full of compliments and reassurance. They were unaware of the delay at the top as they could only see once I sat on the wall!

Apparently, my technique was pretty good.

This story does not end here! Come back tomorrow for jumps 2 and 3 where they upped the ante…