A Happy New Year

Well here's wishing everybody a happy new year!

As seems to be becoming tradition Rosie and I spent the new year at a gliding club on a hill in Shropshire called the Long Mynd. This time was special though because, in a break with every time we've done this in the past, I didn't become horribly ill at any point by catching the dreaded man flu.

The weather was also very gentle with us, and we experienced what I would describe as the most spectacular weather phenomenon I have ever seen. There was practically no wind at all and everywhere was covered by a standing mist except the hilltops and this made for some absolutely stunning views.

(View of the mist filling the valley from the club house)
Of course as the Midland Gliding Club is on the top of the Long Mynd we were able to do some winch launching on new years eve and get some absolutely stunning views flying above the clouds, which of course is quite a rare experience in gliders anyway, but this time was spectacular.

(Rosie flying in the front seat of the K-21)
Rosie and I haven't been flying much recently but thankfully Dave, a friend of ours and a qualified instructor, was happy to sit in the back seat for each of us so we could go up, take in the view, and try to remember what all the dials and levers do.

(Possibly the most amazing view I've ever had from a glider!)
The scene from 1,000ft above the airfield was absolutely breathtaking and I could have stayed up there all evening. As it was we only had 5 minutes or so before Sir Issac Newton and his stupid laws demanded that we returned to the airfield.

(Preparing to land on the Long Mynd)
I was also pleasantly surprise that each time I go back to flying after a few months I seem to feel less out of practice, and I was very satisfied with my landing. Long Mynd is an interesting airfield to land on because, as someone once put it "If you had to pick a field for a forced landing, it's not the one you'd choose!". There's a video of my landing somewhere, which I will get around to uploading sometime soon.

(The sun setting on the last day of 2008)
So yes, some fun flying, but also a visit to the RAF museum at Cosford, a trip into Shrewsbury and lots of socialising with friends in the club bar. Quite an enjoyable little holiday!

Here's wishing everyone a happy new year and all the best for 2009!