Well she finally did it!
Last Christmas I bought Ros (my wife) a trial flying lesson. After one disappointment in May (near her birthday) because of the weather she re-arranged it for last Saturday.
We looked at the weather, phoned the night before, and were told to take a chance and come. When we got there cloud base was about 3,500ft with a few minor showers and we thought maybe the whole thing would be called off again. But the instructress said we would fly!
We went through all the preliminaries in the office and went out to the aircraft, a small, four-seat Piper. We did all the pre-flight checks and we were on our way.
Ros took to it like she had been flying all her life!
She got the hang of level flight in no time and was soon doing turns, ascent, descent as if she had been practising for years. Far better than I ever did on my first lesson.
Just like me when we finished she could not help the grin of sheer exhilaration and pleasure on her face.
Soon I hope to add some photos of the event but for now all I can say is that she can't wait to go up again!
Probably the best present I have ever given her.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Dilemma
The leader of the MDC in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, has said he may pull out of the Presidential elections because he fears for the lives of his supporters.
President Mugabe, once looked upon by the world as the steadying influence on African politics, has shown a lust for power which has turned him into a dictator. If the truth be known - which it never will - he probably lost the previous round in the presidential election. But he contested the result and, after a lot of wrangling and behind-the-scenes arm twisting of the judiciary, a second round of voting was called. Mr Mugabe has the military behind him, probably because they want to retain power.
So Mr Tsvangirai has a dilemma. Does he continue to contest the election and risk further killings of his supporters or does he withdraw? The trouble is that if he withdraws then Mugabe can continue with his corrupt regime and the killings will probably still continue. But can he ask his MDC supporters to continue risking their lives?
Even if Mugabe loses the election there is no guarantee that he will relinquish power. He still has the military behind him and would probably use force to keep the presidency. He has stated that God put him in power and only God can remove him.
I cannot advise Mr Tsvangirai. He and his party are between a rock and a hard place. Lives are at stake.
So is the future of a whole nation.
President Mugabe, once looked upon by the world as the steadying influence on African politics, has shown a lust for power which has turned him into a dictator. If the truth be known - which it never will - he probably lost the previous round in the presidential election. But he contested the result and, after a lot of wrangling and behind-the-scenes arm twisting of the judiciary, a second round of voting was called. Mr Mugabe has the military behind him, probably because they want to retain power.
So Mr Tsvangirai has a dilemma. Does he continue to contest the election and risk further killings of his supporters or does he withdraw? The trouble is that if he withdraws then Mugabe can continue with his corrupt regime and the killings will probably still continue. But can he ask his MDC supporters to continue risking their lives?
Even if Mugabe loses the election there is no guarantee that he will relinquish power. He still has the military behind him and would probably use force to keep the presidency. He has stated that God put him in power and only God can remove him.
I cannot advise Mr Tsvangirai. He and his party are between a rock and a hard place. Lives are at stake.
So is the future of a whole nation.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
At last . . .
Hillary has finally thrown in the towel - long after it was obvious that she had lost the contest to become the Democratic Party's Presidential candidate. Was it that she could not see she had lost? Or was it that she wanted to keep in the limelight so that Mr Obama would have no choice but to choose her as his running mate and thus potential Vice-President. She would definitely not be a sleeping partner as many Vice-Presidents have been in the past. She would be outspoken and use more than the power she really had to steer the US government along her way of thinking.
It could be a winning ticket. A black president with a woman vice-president. But seeing the power-hungry attitude of Mrs Clinton it may be best if Barak keeps well away from her.
I wonder if Mrs Clinton would have chosen Mr Obama as her running mate if the tables had been reversed?
I think not. She would have seen him as too much of a threat from within.
Steer clear of the lady Mr Obama. If you get to be President I hope you govern with a sense of justice for all - both inside and outside of your own country. At least, unlike the present incumbent, you realise that there is a world outside the USA and have even lived in other parts of the world.
I have seen statements from "ordinary" voters in various states that they were Democrats but would prefer to vote Republican rather than have a black president.
I hope those bigots are in a small minority.
I suppose a similar scenario would have occurred about a potential female president.
Never mind the policies, we have to have the right gender and colour.
Nuff said.
It could be a winning ticket. A black president with a woman vice-president. But seeing the power-hungry attitude of Mrs Clinton it may be best if Barak keeps well away from her.
I wonder if Mrs Clinton would have chosen Mr Obama as her running mate if the tables had been reversed?
I think not. She would have seen him as too much of a threat from within.
Steer clear of the lady Mr Obama. If you get to be President I hope you govern with a sense of justice for all - both inside and outside of your own country. At least, unlike the present incumbent, you realise that there is a world outside the USA and have even lived in other parts of the world.
I have seen statements from "ordinary" voters in various states that they were Democrats but would prefer to vote Republican rather than have a black president.
I hope those bigots are in a small minority.
I suppose a similar scenario would have occurred about a potential female president.
Never mind the policies, we have to have the right gender and colour.
Nuff said.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Offspring Junior B.Sc.(Hons)
Well the provisional results have been published. Offspring Junior goes on line and is presented with an array of numbers which represent his results. With a few phone calls to his fellow students he is able to work out his result - possibly.
It seems he has gained at least a 2.1! And the result is so close to a first that he is hopeful that it may even be rounded up. Suggestions that he phone his tutors and finds out the situation in that regard have already been thought of by him.
Hopefully that will have a positive outcome but even if it is a 2.1 it is a real achievement.
He makes me proud to be his dad.
He has shown he can work hard and he can hold his head up and feel a real sense of achievement.
Well done, Offspring Junior B.Sc.(Hons)
It seems he has gained at least a 2.1! And the result is so close to a first that he is hopeful that it may even be rounded up. Suggestions that he phone his tutors and finds out the situation in that regard have already been thought of by him.
Hopefully that will have a positive outcome but even if it is a 2.1 it is a real achievement.
He makes me proud to be his dad.
He has shown he can work hard and he can hold his head up and feel a real sense of achievement.
Well done, Offspring Junior B.Sc.(Hons)
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Food or Fuel?
The UN summit in Rome on food production has pledged to halve the number of malnourished people in the world by 2015.
Delegates looked at various aspects including the production of bio-fuels.
Brazil claimed that because its bio-ethanol was produced from sugars it was not affecting the food chain. The US strongly defended its use of corn in the production of bio-fuels. Other countries undoubtedly defended their own stance on the use of bio-fuels, each claiming that it was in the interests of reducing global warming.
Many of the countries involved in the talks produce foods for export while their own citizens have to buy imported staple foods. Several African states produce tea and coffee for export but do not produce enough maize or rice to feed their own people.
Consumers in the developed countries - US, Europe, etc - import exotic, out-of-season foods to fuel the growing consumer demand for year-round supplies. Strawberries - once a totally seasonal fruit - come to the UK from as far afield as Spain, Turkey and even New Zealand just to fuel our growing consumerism. All of this adds to the carbon footprint of world-wide food production.
I have to admit that I am as guilty as the next man. I enjoy year-round oranges, tomatoes, peppers and other produce. All of these incur a price in carbon emissions and many of them mean that the farmers growing them have stopped growing the staple foods needed in their locality in favour of the export trade.
But I, along with the rest of the world, am going to have to change my ways. If we are to re-establish a sustainable world we will have to go back to eating the foods which are seasonally available.
For example: in the UK strawberries are a fruit which ripen in the summer. Oranges don't grow at all. When I was a lad bananas were a rarity and expensive - and because of this were much appreciated when they were available.
Food was much more home-grown.
Although this will make our diets less interesting it may also have some beneficial side-effects. Perhaps there will be less acutely obese people because food will be less abundant and therefore more carefully managed.
I'm rambling now, perhaps I should stop before I lose the whole meaning of this blog.
The meaning really is this. Eat to live - don't live to eat.
Delegates looked at various aspects including the production of bio-fuels.
Brazil claimed that because its bio-ethanol was produced from sugars it was not affecting the food chain. The US strongly defended its use of corn in the production of bio-fuels. Other countries undoubtedly defended their own stance on the use of bio-fuels, each claiming that it was in the interests of reducing global warming.
Many of the countries involved in the talks produce foods for export while their own citizens have to buy imported staple foods. Several African states produce tea and coffee for export but do not produce enough maize or rice to feed their own people.
Consumers in the developed countries - US, Europe, etc - import exotic, out-of-season foods to fuel the growing consumer demand for year-round supplies. Strawberries - once a totally seasonal fruit - come to the UK from as far afield as Spain, Turkey and even New Zealand just to fuel our growing consumerism. All of this adds to the carbon footprint of world-wide food production.
I have to admit that I am as guilty as the next man. I enjoy year-round oranges, tomatoes, peppers and other produce. All of these incur a price in carbon emissions and many of them mean that the farmers growing them have stopped growing the staple foods needed in their locality in favour of the export trade.
But I, along with the rest of the world, am going to have to change my ways. If we are to re-establish a sustainable world we will have to go back to eating the foods which are seasonally available.
For example: in the UK strawberries are a fruit which ripen in the summer. Oranges don't grow at all. When I was a lad bananas were a rarity and expensive - and because of this were much appreciated when they were available.
Food was much more home-grown.
Although this will make our diets less interesting it may also have some beneficial side-effects. Perhaps there will be less acutely obese people because food will be less abundant and therefore more carefully managed.
I'm rambling now, perhaps I should stop before I lose the whole meaning of this blog.
The meaning really is this. Eat to live - don't live to eat.
More oil to burn
They've announced that there is much more oil in the North Sea fields than was originally thought. New technology and higher prices have made it viable to more or less double what was originally thought to be the capacity of the oil fields. This could give us as much as thirty years more supply of the "black gold".
That's all right then.
We can all sit back in our cars in the knowledge that we can now pass on the problem of lack of oil to future generations.
But . . . does that mean we can continue to poison the atmosphere to the point where future generations' existence is put in jeopardy?
We still have to look to other ways of life which do not poison our planet.
If we continue with our present way of life it could lead to the extinction of many endangered species on this planet - perhaps including mankind.
That's all right then.
We can all sit back in our cars in the knowledge that we can now pass on the problem of lack of oil to future generations.
But . . . does that mean we can continue to poison the atmosphere to the point where future generations' existence is put in jeopardy?
We still have to look to other ways of life which do not poison our planet.
If we continue with our present way of life it could lead to the extinction of many endangered species on this planet - perhaps including mankind.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
A Breakdown of Politics
Listening to Radio 4 this morning I heard an interview with Jimmy Cliff - one of the guys who helped popularise reggae music in the 60s and 70s.
Asked if he had any political views he said that he looked at the word "politics" and broke it down into two parts: "poly" - meaning many, and "ticks" - blood-sucking insects.
Nuff said.
Asked if he had any political views he said that he looked at the word "politics" and broke it down into two parts: "poly" - meaning many, and "ticks" - blood-sucking insects.
Nuff said.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Achievement!
So - it's just a fence.
I'll give you that. But built to my own design. In spite of all the adverse weather, tree-roots and my own lack of ability!
It may not be perfect but it has come out the way I designed it and imagined it to look - although the mechanics of it changed regularly as I went through the job.
And I did it! Not some cowboy "landscape gardener" Not to anyone else's specifications.
And a neighbour even commented how good it looked.
I feel a sense of achievement - justifiably.
They're all here
So we went to hear Offspring Senior's final recital.
The Missus, Offspring Junior and me that is.
Senior did his best and we now await the results from the adjudicators.
Then we had to do the rounds of the local hostelries with various of Senior's friends wishing him fond farewells and getting him more and more drunk.
Finally the drive home - which was lengthened considerably by the fact that a section of the motorway was closed because of a major fatal accident.
So now we are four.
A family once again.
Offspring Senior has offered - under pressure - to help me finish the fence tomorrow.
Yeah, right!
Once again I wait with bated breath . . .
The Missus, Offspring Junior and me that is.
Senior did his best and we now await the results from the adjudicators.
Then we had to do the rounds of the local hostelries with various of Senior's friends wishing him fond farewells and getting him more and more drunk.
Finally the drive home - which was lengthened considerably by the fact that a section of the motorway was closed because of a major fatal accident.
So now we are four.
A family once again.
Offspring Senior has offered - under pressure - to help me finish the fence tomorrow.
Yeah, right!
Once again I wait with bated breath . . .
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Continuing Saga
Thursday has unexpectedly turned into a good day.
The sun was out and the temperature was quite reasonable. So, it was with a fresh spring in my step that I tackled the dreaded fence once again.
The post went in - no problem.
The main cross-spars were duly screwed in place. Yes screwed - with non-rust screws so that I could dismantle parts if necessary and replace when the wood goes rotten (now that's forward planning not normally associated with Mac!).
Time is now getting on but I consider all the options and then decided that it would be a good idea to screw the feather edge boards instead of using nails for the same reason as above. Off I go to purchase non-rust screws of the correct size.
Then . . .
Just as I got back the heavens opened.
Really.
Heavy rain, a few flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder.
I thought it would pass over - as many sudden thunderstorms do. But no, it just turned into incessant heavy rain.
Oh well, tomorrow we go to Birmingham to watch Offspring Senior's final recital and bring him home so I'll just have to finish the fence on Saturday.
I'll be bloody glad when it's finished. I'll probably post a photo of it in this blog and you will all wonder what all the fuss was about.
The sun was out and the temperature was quite reasonable. So, it was with a fresh spring in my step that I tackled the dreaded fence once again.
The post went in - no problem.
The main cross-spars were duly screwed in place. Yes screwed - with non-rust screws so that I could dismantle parts if necessary and replace when the wood goes rotten (now that's forward planning not normally associated with Mac!).
Time is now getting on but I consider all the options and then decided that it would be a good idea to screw the feather edge boards instead of using nails for the same reason as above. Off I go to purchase non-rust screws of the correct size.
Then . . .
Just as I got back the heavens opened.
Really.
Heavy rain, a few flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder.
I thought it would pass over - as many sudden thunderstorms do. But no, it just turned into incessant heavy rain.
Oh well, tomorrow we go to Birmingham to watch Offspring Senior's final recital and bring him home so I'll just have to finish the fence on Saturday.
I'll be bloody glad when it's finished. I'll probably post a photo of it in this blog and you will all wonder what all the fuss was about.
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