Flying friends

Originally I was going to go back to Florida to build the remaining hours I needed before my commercial course in January. With the far cheaper rates out there, just flying for 6 hours would have covered the air fares and I needed something like 30 hours.













Jack and Jill



Now however, I am glad that I didn't as it has been great taking friends flying and seeing their joy(though occasionally fear) of the sensation and views that flying brings. Ahhhh, reading that last sentence I have just realised that it sounds a bit wanky(sp? - not that you'll find it in the dictionary). Never the less, I have really enjoyed it and am conscious that this may have been the only chance I will get to do it as without a reason, it is a dead expensive hobby.












Tim + Ed




So far, I have been flying with Adas, Albi, Dave, Flash, Sharon, Tim, James, Andy, Jo, Mum and Pam. Not bad though I have offered loads more people most of which haven't been able to take me up on it. Probably scared. The chance may almost be over however as I only need less than 3 hours to take me to the 150 total I require to start my commercial training.

Wood Shed

I have been doing alot of things for my mum recently. Mainly fixing, mending type of things: repairing gutters, replacing roof slates and tiles; re-wiring electrics; un-blocking drains and so on. It is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge except without so much sense of completion.

I have however been getting on top of a few things. Repairing things 'in time' in order to save a bigger job later. Bitumining tin roofs, cutting down old trees, etc. The most satisfying of which however was stocking the woodshed for winter.


cold winter = roaring log fire.













It is probably a man thing but there is something that feels soooo good about knowing that you are prepared for the winter months. I guess it is probably a base human need, woven into our genetic make-up. In times gone by if you didn't have a fire over winter, you didn't survive. Hence anybody who didn't have the desire to collect fire-wood or indeed couldn't be bothered didn't bother renewing their annual subscriptions. At some point one of my ancestors mutated a gene that made him(i'm sure it was a him and not a her) especially pleased to cut and chop wood. It lives on strong. It certainly gives me a deep feeling of satisfaction.

As an aside, Tim said to me that wood fires warm you three times. When you chop the logs, when you split them and finally when you build a fire.