It has been a while...

.....since my last post. A lot has happened to me, but not on the flying front. I think this blog needs to take a change in direction, so from now on it won't be limited to flying. Sorry about that.
Life has been a bit hard of late. My mum died of pancreatic cancer on 5th Nov. She had been unwell for a while but we didn't know what with until about 3 months ago. Since knowing, she went downhill quite fast - particularly the last week. For a cancer that can be incredibly painful, she was spared all of that and died peacefully at home with my dad by her side. The funeral is on Thursday.
OK, I still have my father with me, but someone described loosing a parent as like "loosing the lead in a convoy" - there was no-one at the front anymore. I feel a bit like that at times. Someone said that I was now to be the organiser of the family but I don't know whether I should accept that label. My father is still around and I have a brother nearby. We are all capable of organising our own lives. I think my father might object to me taking over, and I don't think I should do that. Maybe as he gets older, but not just now.

Feeling More Positive

I think I needed time to get over my disappointment and to work things through. I have received encouragement from family, friends, and others who have responded to this blog. So, it looks like it could be motion sickness tablets, or wrist bracelets that work on acupuncture points. I need to keep trying.

Attitude helps too. I am not an advocate of "think positive and everything will work out OK", but you do have to have the right attitude. Sometimes, that takes an effort to change. I'm sure that you have heard the phrase "Choose your Attitude" and you really do have to do that - everyday. It does affect how your day plays out. I am an optimist by nature, but even I have to be real. And that is where I am right now, trying to keep in touch with reality.

On a more fun note - the Red Bull Air Race competition was in Longleat, UK, this weekend. Wow!! Some of those pilots were pulling nearly 12G!!!! How do they do it? AND NOT BE SICK!!! I wasn't able to go myself, but watched the TV coverage.

Disappointment

OK. So I did go flying on 6th August but again I was unwell. So, if anyone has any tips on how to get over this, then I would be grateful.

To be honest, at this moment in time, I don't know whether I want to continue, if I cam going to be ill each time. I'm spending a lot of money, and I am wondering if it is worth it.

Flying again tomorrow

Going to Blackbushe tomorrow for another flight in the Cessna. I will remember to eat something this time so that I don't have the misfortune of feeling unwell at any time. I do not want to find out that I get sick up there.

Riat 2006

Wow - what a day. Started driving at 5.30am and parked at 7.10am. Had to wait in the cold for the gates to open at 7.30am and then wandered in to our seated area and "set up camp". It was freezing but the clouds parted just as the flying started at 10am and we had blue sky all the way.

They call this the best Airshow in the world. I am sure that the Americans would disagree but no-one could doubt that the best of the best had turned up. There were trainer planes, World War II planes, Helicopters, and modern day airpower from F16 to F18 to Mig 29. And an Osprey flew in. Is it a plane? Is it a helicopter? You can call it what you like. It was pretty impressive.


What was the best display? It would be unfair to compare them but I was very impressed with the F18 and the Mig 29. Those pilots threw those birds around.

This really was an exceptional day and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.