21/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Yipee - Yak flying day today We were due to display at a private wedding (of a pilot!) near Trent VOR (TNT) and the plan was to drop into Derby Flying Club to drop Debs off first - only I can go with  Nigel on displays On the way out we had a couple of photographic jobs to do for Debs… but I can’t give too much away coz it will spoil her sisters birthday treat!! Then we headed off to Derby… good viz… good flying. We got 10 miles west of Cambridge when we hit low cloud and had to turn around… oooh it was weird - almost like a wall blocking our way. We diverted into Cambridge and picked up some fuel (another airport to add to the list of places visited :-)) We sat out in Cambridge hoping the weather would improve, but it didn’t - there was a huge band of “weather” across the country from SW to NE - with a sunny gap at East Midlands. So we took a quick trip up to say hi to Uncle Dale before heading for home - where we saw a huge thunderstorm to the west on the way home

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20/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Some summer this is turning out to be… typical when it’s my flying year! Went to Earls Colne again today - but didn’t get flights in (not that there were many!) as they forgot me! But then it did give me a chance to spend some time here with my girlbear… mind you she wasn’t talking to me when I first went in… too many hours flying yesterday and too little hours spent with her - oops! It took me all morning to win her around - my charm must be on the blink /anyway we made up and had a bit of a cuddle when Victoria and Carolyns backs were turned!! It’s Carolyns last day today coz she’s off on holiday - think she’s in search of some sun (remember - big yellow thing in the sky!!) Debs came down for a late lunch and coz the weather was so grot she took me back with her… and then the sun came out - typical! Nigel has downloaded Carolyn Grace’s interview from Radio Suffolk (we done that!!) so I had a listen to that

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19/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Whoop whoop – lots of flying today … Bradley must have felt guilty yesterday! 1st up was a trial lesson with Francesca Bradley in ET. Then we had a lesson with Peter Bloomfield – Ex 12 & 13 … ooh guess Debs will be at this point shortly Then this afternoon it was trial lessons all afternoon – hurray lots of new people We had Roy Saunders who went for 40 minutes, Abbey Connell who went for 35 minutes & Alan Reed for 1 hour 5 – goodie – lots more hours for me!! I think I am an asset on these lessons as everyone wants to fly with me now I’ve been on the radio … I’m really famous now! Bradley enjoyed the flying today … he thought the cloud formations were really good (what a girlie comment!!) Mind you I got the silent treatment from my girlfriend (with no name :-)) when I came back down … perhaps she isn’t the one for me after all – I need a girlfriend who loves flying & this one has kept her paws firmly on the ground! Weather is looking really bad for tomorrow … wonder if I’ll get a flight or will I spend the day cuddling my girl!!

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18/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Went to Earls Colne today and the weather was good - hurray, thought I’d get some flights in… but I was wrong I was left behind for every flight… but it was OK coz I spent the day with my new girl friend - ahhh she’s lovely Debs came down to lunch and was chatting to Carolyn… don’t these girlies gossip!! My new girlfriend is very shy and very quiet and just like me she’s raising money for a charity. Her charity is “Lennox Childrens Cancer Fund” and people have to guess her name to win her. She’s my princess coz she’s rather special so that’s the name I told Debs to pick… so she may come home with us!! Oooh we had a stressful evening tonight sorting out my photo’s for June and July - Well Debs and Nigel should have listened to me when  told them to do them as they were taken, not to let them build up!! Nigel has put our radio interview on CD now and will also put it on the website. Hee Hee he’s got such a Suffolk accent - Debs will laugh when she hears it

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17/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Off to the flying club today - Hello Guys! Oooh - surprise for me… a prospective girl friend sitting on the counter She wouldn’t tell me her name (it’s all part of a competition to win her) But she’s ever so nice… must persuade Nigel to buy lots of tickets so we have a chance… I’d like a nice girlfriend bear to keep me company Well it was the day I was dreading as Debs had a lesson to do stalls… Ooooh Noooo! I really thought we wouldn’t go as it was rather windy, but “Top Gun Bradley” had other ideas (I’m sure there’s a display pilot in there trying to get out!!) We took off and were into the wind immediately - ooooh!! I had to sit through 9 stalls - hmmm ! Actually Debs was OK and I didn’t even have to close my eyes once :-), but she did keep checking that her straps were tight! They also kept talking about HASELL… funny people these pilots All too soon it was time for the landing and “Top Gun Bradley”… Oooh it was windy - never thought we’d make the runway - but  “never fear - Bradley’s here” made a perfect touch down… sure he wants another go in the Yak

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16/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Todays the day for the radio show… Nigel and I were to be guests “on the sofa” with Lesley Dolphin. It was great - Nigel talked about all his flying exploits and chose a couple of songs… and then it was my turn It’s now on the radio Suffolk web site as a pod cast so Nigel is working on burning it to CD Lesley wanted her photo taken… with me - well she has taste In the evening we went to Elmsett for a debrief on the Open Day. After some discussion it was agreed to have another one next year - but we’ll probably have it in September and the emphasis will be on the flying side of things - rather like the old fashioned barn storming - to give pilots a chance to take part in flour bombing and spot landing etc. Hope my new family will come to Elmsett and bring me otherwise I’ll not be here Oooh don;t get sad - I’ve still got this year to enjoy first!

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15/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Off to Happy Landings today to run the bar and we were busy today - Debs and Janet were run off their feet! I made some new friends today when I went on some trial lessons… and it was fun to fly into Norwich again After we’d finished at Norwich we flew off to Hardwick again to see Maurice and “Janie” ! Weather had been good all day but by the time we left it was quite murky and Nigel struggled to find the airfield! Good job I was on board to be his eyes then! I spotted the field and also the Mustang and the Cub on the runway… Maurice soon got them moved We had a cuppa-tea and a chat… he wants to do some air to air photo’s when the weather’s better. We also got an invite to his and Dianes 50th birthday party in May next year… oooh hang on a minute, I won’t be with Debs and Nigel next year and I won’t be able to go - hey Maurice - quick - buy some tickets so I’m in with a chance to live with you

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14/07/2007 by Pudsey.

Hurray - flying today… but only a hop over the hedge to Wattisham for SAR’s families day Gave me a chance to say “hi” to my old mates… and I also got a trip in the sea king along with some of the families Mind you I only got one flight - trouble with our gear box and the remaining flights were done in the other aircraft… but they weren’t keen on taking me… well it wasn’t me - I didn’t break the sea king… I’ve flown it before and I know touching that little switch wouldn’t have broken it.. Nigel also displayed for everyone - but he forgot to take me with him Oh well at least I got to watch the display - but oooh he’s mad… do I really do that?? We had a good Barbie with them all though - the food was great - thanks guys. Got chatting with Sam - wife of the man on the winch… ooh he’s brave - I wouldn’t do that Anyway, Sam’s really nice and she’s just bought a hair dressing business “Beyond the Fringe”… hmmmm, might pop in for a fur trim

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13/07/2007 by Pudsey.

I hoped to get a flight today but the weather looked “iffy” first thing so Debs didn’t take me to Earls Colne but promised to take me at lunch time… then she was so busy she didn’t even have lunch so I haven’t seen my Earls Colne buddies for ages… Bradley please take me flying again I’ve been having a go at the exam questions on the forum… oooh they’re hard… Debs will never pass them! Now where’s mher book? think I need to do some swotting Found another good site on the net - well if I can’t fly the closest I can get is to surf the web! Been reading “go Flying” (July/August) - Nigel tells me the picture on the front cover was taken over hardwick and we were at Seething when we took off to do it (with Mr Rotor flying the camera ship - his helicopter !) I remember now - it was the day of my first chipmunk flight. Nigel updated his calendar today online… we’re on standby to do Lowestoft airshow - wow! We’re going to be based at Seething ready to fly…

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12/07/2007 by Pudsey.

I’m getting withdrawal symptoms now - I haven’t flown since Sunday!! I need to have a nag at Debs and Nigel coz they’ve taken all these pictures of me (and what great pics they are too !! ) but haven’t got round to printing them out yet. I need to have a sort through Debs PC and select the best ones for my album. Had a go on the forum today… oooh it’s great to seem my Mustang picture (oh all right - Debs Mustang pic :-)) up there… Come on Nigel - get it on the web site! Well my nagging must have worked coz Nigel has had a look at the pics and put two together (an inside cockpit view and an outside cockpit view) - wow - it’s good… bet Debs wants one printed!! Weather is looking promising for the weekend so hopefully lots of flying Debs has had her lesson for Friday cancelled - that’s good, it was Friday the 13th ! Bradley has an all day job so we’ve rebooked for Tuesday - so stalls on Tuesday here we come - great It’s ages since I’ve flown with Bradley - must get down to Earls Colne soon.

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