It appears that I missed the whole of April so really sorry about that. Nowadays I just seem to have very little time on my hands. Once I have done the "required of me" things we seem to be at about nine in the evening. That gives me an hour to settle in front of the telly and catch up on programmes we have V+ 'd. Val normally heads for bed and book at about nine so we pass each other like ships in the night!! We do try and catch some time together, mostly in front of said telly!!
Most times it goes like tonight. Al around to sleep as Ches started work at 11 this morning and doesn't finish until 8 tomorrow morning. Al has had sleepovers the last two nights so she has been very late to sleep. Tonight, therefore was a 8.30 to bed night. Val went up as well, she is hooked an Agatha Christie at the moment. I got her a 35 book set with two stories in each book for Christmas. Since then she has taken every opportunity for an early night!!
But back to tonight. I got back from walking Disney at about 7 ish. Banged on the news to see if we have a Government yet, Val had a spare 45 minutes so we put on "Defying Gravity" a BBC Sci Fi series recorded some time ago that we wanted to watch but haven't found the time!!!!
We V+'d "Lewis" and hopefully will get around to watching that during the week. We try to watch "Ashes to Ashes", "Midsommer" and "Lewis" together, it's more fun trying to work out the guilty one when there are two of you doing it. And I get a cuppa made by my wife's fair hand if I am lucky.
I am now up in the study doing my thing on the PC. I am lucky as Al has been on Facebook for the last couple of hours so I get to use my own machine late evening! Got to get a shower in the next half hour then head to bed. Work on the morrow. Good news is I have stopped the get up at 06.15 routine and only have to rise at 07.00 this week - hopefully.
The main news you missed in April was Alice's 12th birthday. She had a lovely weekend and got pressies from all over the world!! Unfortunately her PC picked up a virus at home and as we don't know where it came from the "Thank you" e-mails have not been sent. If it came in via an e-mail we do not wish to pass it on as it is a pain. "Windows security XP 2010". I think we may have got rid but I need to get out there and make sure before the e-mails start flowing again.
Things are going fine here in sunny Plymouth, the mighty Greens may win a few games next season as we will be playing weaker opposition. Yes, if you didn't already know, we got relegated. Kicked out of the Championship and into league one!! The board have a bit of a cheek as the price for next seasons season ticket appears to be remarkably similar to what I paid last year!! Must be my memory playing tricks as they wouldn't charge the same price for lower league soccer would they???
Talking about Argyle, I am now a shareholder. Shares in the Club are like the proverbial rocking horse doodah. Chap in Cornwall had them handed down from his Grandad via his Dad but decided he couldn't get to meetings anymore so was happy to sell. I was top of the waiting list so bingo. I now have 10 Plymouth Argyle shares!! I think I have been on the waiting list for 15 - 20 odd years!!
To change the subject. You know that cute little puppy that hijacked this blog to bemoan his situation. The cutie. Well he found either a bloody great big mouse or a rat up the park today. After a bit of a chase the little creature decided to fight back. That was an error because Disney switched from "oh look something to play with" to "Dinner!!". My puppy is a murderer. I caught up with him after the foul deed had been committed. Got him on his lead and pulled him away, but too late for the rodent. Got Disney to the other end of the park, played ball with him then I started walking home. He waited till I got halfway down the hill then took off back to the scene of the crime. Luckily birds beat him to it so I didn't have the pleasure of removing a rodent carcass from his jaws.
Well, 'tis nearly shower time. Before I go just a quick mention of a mate from the late sixties that we have tied up with again thanks to the wonders of the Internet and Facebook in particular. Mike Smith is now living in that land of strange people with a strange view on the English language, if indeed it is actually English they are speaking. I think they may even wear clogs up there. I am, of course, speaking of Barnsley. Flat cap capital of the UK. Mike, put something together for the blog mate. I don't censor at all.
Talking of putting something together for the blog. You will be pleased to know that HR is back. The plane picture probably gave you the clue!! Go to it HR........
Hiya , I just read the blog entry for march and felt guilty as heck !!
You can bung any of this is the blog if you wish.
I am sorry to have been so quiet and wish everyone well.
Life has been busy and not terribly positive,but overall it is OK.
I made a bid to get back my Group 2 medical that would allow me to fly with passengers and it worked !! I now have renewed faith in that part of the system !!
I then went back to Western Air Training at Thruxton to get "refreshed" and tested and flew two refresher trips (which blew out the cobwebs and honed my emergency skills) and then a General Flying Test.
I flew with Bob Cole who was the CAA test pilot and prior to that was a Lightning Pilot !!
I also flew with a mad Welshman called Steve Davis who was brilliant ! He covered up the instrument panel with a hi-viz jacket just as we commenced a forced landing (PFL) overhead at 5000`.
It really gives you confidence when you can land with no power,no instruments and just the attitude as a speed reference.
My gliding background proved its worth there.
Now I can fly the Pa 28 Archer II again but am anxious to get back in "TZ" the T67M Firefly.
She is without doubt the most beautiful aircraft I have flown and is fully aerobatic.
I am hoping to get airborne on Sunday if the weather lets me; then after some time in the seat i will ask to continue my aerobatic training.
I was cleared to fly loops solo and want to perfect rolls.
At the moment I "wander" once I have her inverted and coming up the other side !
I am right-handed but fly with my left and I think I need more power to complete the manoeuvre tidily ! So I may try using my right hand because that is more strong (!!!).
I have attached a picture of "G-SFTZ".
One day I will try to get one of the aircraft down to Plymouth for you to come up with me if you like?
I had better trot but I will write again soon.
Have fun.
My friends keep wanting to get me off the ground. One of my bosses in the RAF, Chris Rowntree, super bloke a really nice guy, mad as a hatter - he wanted to fly me in a Hawk.
The wonderful and sadly departed Chris Thorn aka Blueskies, I will be nice and say a little eccentric at times - he wanted to go one better. Get me up in the air and then jump out of an aeroplane that was very high and still working fine.
Now that nice chap but still a bloody nutter HR wants me up in his tiny little, has it enough power to get tubby me in the air, aircraft!!!!
What is it with people. Gravity is God's way of saying STAY ON THE GROUND!!!!!!
One sensible friend I have talked about here. The recently found Mike Smith. He wants me to walk over bloody mountains with him. For crying out loud people - what's wrong with going to a football match or walking the dog eh!!!!!!!
Just looked at the clock. 22.00 hrs. Val has brought me a cuppa so I will be up halfway through the night for a pee now!!!!
Ah well - goodnight folks.
