The Lap and Water Dog

The small dog has a tendency of gravitating onto people's laps, making of herself a squirmy licky nuisance, and general couch potato-ing.  I have hundreds of photos in my library to describe this.

 Lily asleep

Lily snuggling new friends

Lily curled up in blankets or sun baking by the window.  

And yet when you take her anywhere near water or birds, she goes completely feral.  It's like a switch flicks in her tiny little brain and she remembers that she isn't just Cavalier, but also half-poodle.  Those birds are for the TAKING, and the lake is MINE.  

https://youtu.be/gcmZpQoGsxQ

Spot the dog?

No really, there's a dog in this one too - the picture is because I didn't know what the rows of canvas were for, but there is also a dog.

A little easier to see

I'm not cold, Mum, even if I'm shaking so hard it's difficult to get a focused photo.

Oh the filth.

This is all well and good except that she ends up wet, filthy and shivering, and I have to donate my hoodie and carry her half of the way home because her tiny skinny frame is shaking so hard I'm afraid she might implode.

Just a disclaimer: I did not make her do it.  In fact I encouraged her away from the water several times previously and then just sighed, and thought I'd film her investigating... and it all went downhill from there.  We ended up rambling all through the back of Capestone as the building site is no longer fenced behind the newly opened lake/puddle.  Lily had a blast of a time, I managed to keep track of her almost all of the time and only slightly panicked once, and no ducks were actually harmed.

Due a blog

Apparently I am due a blog.

Last night I had "British fish and chips" on the Jetty in Redcliffe.

It was good fish, but I could have done better chips myself.  Not a bad price though!

I only had fish and chips because I came out of my tax appointment and realised I was right next to the chippy.  What else could I do?

I had a moment's panic while I was eating my F&C, as I saw an aeroplane approaching over the bay and had a mini freak-out thinking "I could never be a pilot!!!" And then remembered that I was, and wasn't doing too badly either.  It's amazing what my stupid brain says to me sometimes!

On the subject of flying, eight sectors down - just over 12 hours - of the 50 total.  My first four landings were lovely, and they've deteriorated from there.  Hopefully they will start improving again... after my last two I am unsure of whether the trainer will particularly want me to land into Middlemount today! (Short runway, no slope guidance). Watch this space...

Then after today I have no more flying until next Wednesday or Thursday, I presume because of a lack of a trainer: I will have to try to be diligent and do some study instead of watching YouTube ALL the time! 

Due a blog

Apparently I am due a blog.

Last night I had "British fish and chips" on the Jetty in Redcliffe.

It was good fish, but I could have done better chips myself.  Not a bad price though!

I only had fish and chips because I came out of my tax appointment and realised I was right next to the chippy.  What else could I do?

I had a moment's panic while I was eating my F&C, as I saw an aeroplane approaching over the bay and had a mini freak-out thinking "I could never be a pilot!!!" And then remembered that I was, and wasn't doing too badly either.  It's amazing what my stupid brain says to me sometimes!

On the subject of flying, eight sectors down - just over 12 hours - of the 50 total.  My first four landings were lovely, and they've deteriorated from there.  Hopefully they will start improving again... after my last two I am unsure of whether the trainer will particularly want me to land into Middlemount today! (Short runway, no slope guidance). Watch this space...

Then after today I have no more flying until next Wednesday or Thursday, I presume because of a lack of a trainer: I will have to try to be diligent and do some study instead of watching YouTube ALL the time! 

I flew an airplane

I flew an airplane today.  All the way to Wagga Wagga and back.  I landed it twice.  We didn't crash.  Nobody died, and nobody was significantly injured.  Hurrah for me.  It was fun.  I get to do it all over again tomorrow

The End.

Flying

 

They let me sit in it, technically for four flights, but I left after two because that jumpseat is no good for my back, butt, or my sanity.  Also the headset was heavy and made my neck hurt.  Also I wanted leftover tacos for dinner and staying at work until 2200 wasn't in the game plan.

Annoyingly we were limited to FL250 (or 25,000' for the uninitiated) because of an equipment failure, which was annoying because the ATR is also limited to FL250 and I really wanted to go higher.

AND, it climbs beautifully beautifully well, through FL200 we were climbing at 4500fpm and it made my heart glad.  Yay for performance.

Now I have three days to study before my first actual training day on Thursday - and three days to ponder whether I really really really need to spend $1395 on a headset.  I'd be foolish to not look after my neck though 😑

Chocolate Drama

An eventful 24hours with Lily, a welcome home present, perhaps?  Retaliation for my leaving her again so soon?  Either way, while I was at work she did this:

It was in my suitcase, unopened.  125g of milk chocolate (minus the 16% caramel chips).  I didn't even get a taste.

Anyway, a trip to Emergency ensued and she spent the last 20h there.  Induced vomiting, activated charcoal, an IV and heart medication to slow down her racing heart.  Now she is just fine, but with strict instructions for NO boisterous activities due to the heart thing.

I went to visit her this morning and she was cute but pitiful.

It's ever so nice to have her home - howbeit $958 later!  Thankfully I should get 80% back with pet insurance.

Oh, and mere minutes after we get home I find her licking the carpet in my bedroom where she ate the chocolate!  What a brat!

Finally asleep in the comfort of my bed. 

Be still my heart

Every time she sighs so hard that her whole body moves in sympathy my heart breaks just a little more.

24h home and I'm about to head out for a day's groundschool.  She is sitting immovable on my lap, immovable except for the whole-body-sighs.

She was so cute yesterday morning, just a little wiggly, licky ball of squeaks.  She clung and licked and oh it was so nice to see she hadn't forgotten me.

Her new bandana - a gift from Alaska - suits her too.

And now?  Now I must work out how to pry her out of my arms to leave her again.

I think I'm having as many abandonment issues as she is.

Guernsey

Waking up this morning to see the weather in Guernsey was 200m visbility, overcast at one hundred feet, light drizzle and fog, I was worried that our day might be ruined, but for once in its life the forecast improvement late morning was actually right.

I drove to Dunkeswell slightly early as I was afraid of being late - and popped in to the WWII remembrance centre to have a look around.  Unfortunately it needed a lot more time than the 15 minutes I had, so I shall return another day.

This is an airfield that the USAF flew out of (mainly B24s) from 1942 onwards to do raids on U-boats in the Atlantic.  Pretty cool little centre.

On to the real reason for my early arrival, I then hurried back to the flying club to sort out the aircraft's in/out paperwork and landing fee, by which time Terry had landed and we headed out to the Bonanza.

Terry and I, complete with life jackets.

An obligatory V-tail photo.

For the way out, I sat in the back and Mike, Terry's friend and the owner of the airplane, flew, and on the way back Terry flew and I sat RHS and did a few not particularly useful things like write down the atis (wrong QNH, tsk tsk) and change radio frequencies - and of course take lots of pictures.

Approach to EGJB

Departure from EGJB (we may or may not have had the appropriate plate on board and fudged the departure, I can't rightly say)

Approaching Exeter: this is Sidmouth, where my new chief pilot is from.

Dunkeswell aerodrome

Standing under the Swiss tail of the BE35 in Guernsey - sorry this photo is out of chronological order.

A rather useless photo to prove that Terry was flying... as the photos I got of his face over-exposed and didn't work out! 

Final approach into Dunkeswell.

The day was so amazing, including going for lunch in Guernsey with Terry, Mike, Len(?) and John in the café whose name we discussed at length and which I have forgotten how to spell.

I got the opportunity to talk about aviation all day which was great, with aviation people, which is greater, as there's nothing worse than trying to explain things to People Who Don't Understand.

It was ever so kind of Mike to let me come in his aircraft, and of Terry to invite me - well I sort of invited myself but he helped - and just an all out Great Day Out.

I think I should make this small-aircraft-flying a habit. That would however mean that I would need to become proficient and would require some effort on my part!  Not to mention 💰💰💰

Guernsey

Waking up this morning to see the weather in Guernsey was 200m visbility, overcast at one hundred feet, light drizzle and fog, I was worried that our day might be ruined, but for once in its life the forecast improvement late morning was actually right.

I drove to Dunkeswell slightly early as I was afraid of being late - and popped in to the WWII remembrance centre to have a look around.  Unfortunately it needed a lot more time than the 15 minutes I had, so I shall return another day.

This is an airfield that the USAF flew out of (mainly B24s) from 1942 onwards to do raids on U-boats in the Atlantic.  Pretty cool little centre.

On to the real reason for my early arrival, I then hurried back to the flying club to sort out the aircraft's in/out paperwork and landing fee, by which time Terry had landed and we headed out to the Bonanza.

Terry and I, complete with life jackets.

An obligatory V-tail photo.

Here I must pause as the Bristol Airport Wifi is unlikely to support a multiple-photo post.

All the relations

So nice to see everyone today, although there was a lot of activity in a very small space!

My two favourite 'Napthine' aunts.

One of my very favourite cousins, Tom, with JC - not quite sure what the conversation was about: note the phone wielding grandparents (my parents) in the very back.

We had to get some obligatory group shots with 'Great Grandma' - my grandma, with the Alaskan tribe.  I thankfully got a couple of nice shots before the boys deteriorated into the inevitable face pulling!

Meghan's masterpiece at the café.

Everyone watching the girls sing: the grandparents complete with mobile devices to record.

The singing duo (my nieces), bro & nephew on the right.  Cousin Milo, another favourite, on the left.

Priscila, Tom's wife, making Jude's acquaintance.  Jude even solo sang for everyone! 

I think that is sufficient for tonight: tomorrow shall be a flying blog - but may not be posted straight away - watch this space! 

Devon

I feel like I have so much to say and so little oomph with which to say it.  So many potential highlights to choose, and not sure whether to pick the Finding of the Red Hoodie, Lunch with Terry, or seeing Grandma again... 

We got up horrifically early to leave at 0345 but I am forever thankful as we made it to Lynholme by 0930 and the Ferry Crew were travelling from 0800-1700 or thereabouts.  No thank you!  Although I dislike being an aeroplane passenger I completely despise boats.  Also, Dublin Airport provided me with a perfect red hoodie which I have been searching for for months!

England let me down and rained all day but despite this, Terry managed to sneak 'his' Bonanza into Dunkeswell to meet me for lunch.  He did admit afterwards that if I had done the same he would have told me off... but all the same it was lovely to catch up.  He even managed to procure some company in the form of Brian and Tony, who I haven't seen in a very long time.  It was a pity not to have good enough weather to fly - but such is life in England - and in fact I think it made me want to fly more - outside of work that is.  Maybe it's my enforced grounded-ness these last few weeks that is making me nostalgic about flying.  Before I left Australia, I was wondering if I even liked aviation at all!  I did get to go up as a passenger over the Alps - which was amazing - but I also found it frustrating that I wasn't even close to the controls.

I have tried to persuade Terry that he needs to come to Australia for a visit, and now he needs to convince his wife that it's a good idea!  (I know you're reading this, Terry, so get on to it!)

It's hard to believe that Brian is in his 80s now (and yet still talking about setting up another flying school!) that means when I went to AFT ten years ago he was already in his 70s.  Wow.  Maybe I have a few more years of flying in me...  I don't like people getting older though, it makes life feel so temporary.  Especially when you're the one that gets left behind.

On that subject, Grandma is 92 now, and is ever so much frailer each time I see her.  She is so tiny and bird-like it is hard to remember 'back in the day' when she was younger.  I mean, I do, but I think I remember Grandpa more when he was younger as I've seen a lot more of Grandma since she's been old.  What is old, anyway?  I don't think I'm old - I don't feel old - but this is my last month of the 20s.  That in itself is annoying as I still get ID'd and in pictures everyone thinks I'm a teenager!  #airlinepilot mwuahaha.

I'm rambling.

You're welcome.

I'm not even drinking.  There are just sooooooooo many thoughts today.  I thought I had less staying power to write them all down, but I am more powerful than ever...  

I didn't take a single photograph of any of this.  I took a photo with Mum in Dublin Airport on the OCS special needs wagon.  Another first.  

Slightly embarrassing.  At least I got to wear the red hoodie.

It was good to catch up with some of my old colleagues on Friday night.  I say old as in they're not my colleagues any more, but take it as you will!  It feels strange to have gone so far from five years ago, but yet life goes on seemingly exactly the same from when I was there.  Most of the faces have changed, yet it is the same old same old, and one wonders what one is missing.  Would I ever go back?  Is it too late?

Yesterday was a beach trip with seventeen children, six of whom were related to me, and yes it was as chaotic as it sounds, if not worse.  If you do not have oodles and oodles and oodles of energy, I would not recommend it.  I think the ones who were related to me were probably the highest maintenance: the others could even have been described as relatively pleasant.  I can say that as I am their Aunt, and am forced to love them all by default.

I've now got to page 246 of 640 in the JG procedures manual... and am losing the will to live.  Hence the blog update...

Zurich Flughaven

Having laughed at B for his flight being delayed an hour only to find that mine was also delayed an hour is, I suppose, karma.  I am so ready to be away from this place!  I actually enjoyed Zurich, and Switzerland in general but I am oh so happy to be done with simulators - and training for the next ten days at least!

I also feel sorry for my dear brothers who now have to pick me up at midnight.  Sorry, boys!  

Four weeks is all it took, start to finish, for the type rating.  Simon told us yesterday that they had the option for the full seven week course and requested the condensed one!  I am quite relieved that I didn't have to stay here for seven weeks but it was incredibly intense over just four.  

Add on to that the JG company sims, and I am truly exhausted.  We finished our TR on Monday and then JG sims were Tues & today.  I got up at 0600 on Tuesday after my 2300 finish (so 0100 sleep) on Monday and studied for five hours to prep for the Instrument Proficiency Check.  My lovely sim partner chose not to prepare at all.  It showed.  It is impossible to use company procedures when only one person has learnt any!

We finished up today a little early and made it back to the apartment at 1430, only to find that we were locked out as the door code had expired - a long story. We ended up buying lunch at the Coop and beer and spending the next hour hanging out in the stairwell.  

I am now sitting in Zurich Flughaven, as mentioned previously, which of course means Zurich Airport, and am waiting to board the Aer Fungus flight to Dublin.  I only even allowed myself to get excited today.  Initially it just felt so far away and there was so much to do in Swiss Land, that I couldn't even think about it.  The last few days have been so incredibly busy that I haven't had the chance to think about it!  And now, the flight is delayed!  GAHHH!!!

Anyway that's the latest update... and all I have to say...