The Big Promise

30 couples gathered in St. Marys, Billericay to renew their wedding vows and take part in "The Big Promise", an attempt at the world record for the number of people renewing their wedding vows at a single time. On arrival at the church we were registered and had our identity checked, and also our marriage certificate. We were given a number, ours was 11. Then we were photographed. It's the first time I've ever had my picture taken holding a number. Tea was served, and we walked around, chatting, looking at the cake, and eating biscuits. We were interviewed by a reporter, and had our picture taken again. The constant picture taking certainly reminded me of the great day in 1983, it was the worst part of the day then. Today, though we were on a schedule and had to say the words at precisely 5:15. The service started at 5pm and in good wedding tradition we had practiced the words and knew what to do and say.
Renewing my vows is not something I need to do, a vow is a vow (Matthew 5:37), it does not wear out like a carpet or get old and tired, like the people who make it. It is there and remains. Nevertheless, it is a good thing to do to remind yourself and you spouse what started your life together and that you still love each other.
This was part of a world record attempt, I don't know when the results will be announced, but I do know that neither Jo nor I have ever taken part in any world record attemts before, so today will count towards our 25 Things.

The cake was delicious and someone also had put a wedding dress on display.

Here we are at the registration point, after we had completed the 'convict' photo, we still seem quite happy don't we?

Update 17 Feb.

We got the world record!!
Here we are on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcyLStYOfW8&feature=youtu.be 

A wedding and a visit to Killhope

For the August Bank Holiday we travelled north, further north than we've been for quite some time. On the Friday I drove the almost 7 hour journey to County Durham. The traffic was slow almost all the way. We arrived in time for an evening meal. The Foresters Guest House seems to be the village pub and restaurant as well as a B&B. I can definitely recommend this place, the food is good, the room was lovely and the views are outstanding. The wedding of our God son was a lovely service even if Brancepeth church, in the grounds of the castle, was quite hard to find. The church looks lovely, not just because of the wedding but because it has been partly re-built after a fire. The brides mother presided at the wedding service and the grooms father preached the sermon. The bride and groom assisted with the cups at communion - a lovely meaningful act demonstrating the service that they are both committed to in Christ. I had never seen that before, but would love to again. 

Jo ready to go underground

On Sunday we visited Killhope lead mine.  What a name!  Lead mining was undoubtedly difficult and this mine is certainly out of the way, but Killhope - surely not that bad.  Well not now anyway, we were shown round the mine - loaned wellies as the paths in the mine are under water. Its only enough to cover shoes in most places, but without wellington boots you'd get very wet feet. I won't tell you their little underground secret.  After the underground tour finished we spent some time watching the water wheel and looking at all the ancient machinery - most of it still working- well moving anyway.

What a shame they don't put the water wheel to good use and generate some electricity!

They have a woodland surrounding the mine where they are planting Juniper trees and turning the habitat back to a native English environment.  See the panel below for more details.  We set out for a walk through the woods, the paths are carefully marked because of the work that has been done in the hills to channel water down to the reservoirs. 

Killhope Site and Wildlife Information

There are also natural sink holes that exist because of the geology and have nothing to do with human mining activity.  You could easily be forgiven for thinking that the holes are caused by us and the channels are natural, as some of them are not very straight.

There are Red Surirrel in the wood also.  They have a hide set up, it is surrounded by all manner of nut dispensers, so the squirrels should never go hungry.  We were told in the shop that they had been active so were looking forward to seeing one.  I had never seen a red squirrel.  We sat in the hide watching various birds eat the nuts and a solitary rabbit pretend to be a statue.  It was warm and I was tired.  I began to doze.  Two or three times I woke and tried to pay attention, to keep the camera pointing at the most likely location for action. Then there it was my first red squirrel.  First I watched it, then I got my camera and it started to run.  I didn't know they were camera shy.  I snapped and hoped.  Here's the image, cropped and 'fixed' so that the animal is more visible:

There is just enough evidence to tell it is a squirrel - look at the ears.  My career as David Attenborough's successor has got off to a poor start, but we had a fantastic weekend and completed another of the 25 things project.

Proper Saturday

Last weekend, on Saturday morning, we got up at a reasonable time and headed to Norsey woods with Brody. The aim was to get him exercised so that he would walk around peacefully. We walked around the made up paths, throwing the ball. He ran and ran, we met other dogs, but he was only interested in the ball. By the time we were ready for the guided walk through the woods to see what it is like in winter, Brody was ready for his next walk. He did not understand why he had to stay on the lead. A small boy was playing with a stick, Brody thought it was an invitation to play. He took the stick and the little boy cried, but it eventually leads to him being teased for the rest of the walk. After 3 hours in the woods, Jo and I were ready for lunch and a rest. Brody was just ready for lunch, dinner and tomorrow's breakfast.
With little to do until the evening, we took it easy for a few hours. By 6.30 we were ready to get on the coach. We had been given tickets to see the Mousetrap at the Cliffs Pavilion. No wonder it has been running since the 1950s, it is a very good play. I did not guess the murderer, but I did enjoy the show. The only downside was the seats at the cliffs that were very uncomfortable.
It was a proper Saturday, the sort of Saturday I can't do that often. It also added 1 to our count of 25 things -the Mousetrap is iconic enough to count as more than just a play.

American Christmas: Christmas day

The day started foggy and dull, the forecast said rain and thunderstorms.  Those were to come, but for now Christmas day in America is like Christmas day in England.  Presents are shared and unwrapped, there is wrapping paper everywhere and everyone is having a good time.  After presents at Robert and Karen’s we drove the 90 minute journey to Robert’s mother’s house where most of the family is gathering.  First though I needed fuel.  Filling up is not the same in America.  My credit card swipes just fine, but I don’t have a zip code, so I have to pay in the kiosk BEFORE I can put gas (petrol) in the card.  $40 was the suggested amount, but the car is full before we get to that.  I was told by the guy in the kiosk that it will only charge me for what I use - we will see.

90 minutes later we are at the family home.  There are loads of people there, some we met before, on our two day excursion, others are new faces.  Not for the first time I struggle with the accent, but nevertheless it is good to see people again.

Food is served buffet style and I hear the call ‘English people first’, so we get to have first choice of the food.  There are things I am not expecting to like, but do.  A jelly, almost trifle like, made with cranberries and marshmallows (cranberry salad).  We discuss the differences in the approaches to Christmas celebration.  They are not that great.  The only real difference is provided by the climate – people can go outside, which is rare in the extreme at home.

More presents are shared.

The TV – always on, it seems, has dire reports of approaching tornadoes, and maps of where they are most likely to occur.  There are stories of near misses with falling trees, damaged houses and wrecked cars, but no-one is really alarmed, or even that interested.

We all then move to another house for board games and video games.  The game of the night for Robert’s generation is ‘Clue’ (Cluedo).  Although common in the UK, I have never played it before.  We play in teams as there are too many people.  Jo knows and loves the game, and teaches me the strategy.  By luck, and luck only, we win the second game, at least 2 other teams are robbed.

I am offered a Sweet Water ale – a very interesting flavour and a very nice drink, proving that Americans do proper beer as well as their more famous brands (bud, etc).  I really must introduce some of them to Doombar.

We spend the night at Robert’s brother’s house, they are away.  Sleeping in strange places is rarely easy, but here we just fall asleep, and wake only slightly early.

Being away for Christmas is something that Jo has long wanted to do, so that should count to the 25-things total as well.

American Christmas: To Auburn, AL

The day started at 3 A.M. GMT.  We were up and preparing ourselves to leave.  Put the final things in the suitcases, weight them, to be sure it isn't over 23 kg (50lb). Load them into the car.  It is a horribly foggy meeting, so initial progress was slow.  Mike was driving us.  He swerved, "Can't see a thing!"
"Slow down then", I replied.
"Living on the edge"
"I don't want to live on the edge, I just want to live"
He slowed, but once we got on the main roads things were not so bad.  We arrived at Heathrow in plenty of time.  The check in process was straight forward enough, if slow, I even managed to use the automated check-in. Then it was through security and breakfast in the departures area.  We were in the last row at the back of the plane, which was over subscribed.
The fight had two retiring stewardesses on board, they all work very hard throughout the flight.  We were kept supplied with water, but by the end of the flight I was very dry and still suffering from a dry throat.
Last time we visited Atlanta the immigration queue was unbelievable, this time they opened the US Citizens desks to all us foreigners - which speeded thing greatly.  I sent Robert a SMS message to say we'd landed.  He couldn't read it - not sure why.  It didn't matter - @Karen Litton & her husband Robert were waiting for us at the exit, and drove us to their home in Auburn.
After a quick shower we all went to Walmart.  That can count as one of our 25 things, that we are still slowly getting through.  Then Karen cooked us a late tea. - very nice.  We went to bed about 21:30 CST, we had been awake about 24 hours.

St Pauls

The last time I was inside St Paul's cathedral I was less than 11 years old. I don't remember much of it, most of my memories are 'filled in' from TV programs. So when we were offered the chance to go to the ordination and consecration of our new bishop the Venerable John Wraw, it seemed like an excellent idea. It so happens that the service was also on St Paul's patronal festival. Even with the Occupy London tents the area around St Paul's is impressive from the outside.

(Picture from http://static-imgs-acf.hereisthecity.com/20110721//56/occupy_london_tents_by_st_pauls_8747.jpg) 
Even more so from inside.  I tried to compare it to Canterbury - much more ornate and larger I think, but my memory could be playing tricks.

We entered by the west door, - a side one, not the huge centre one - that was opened for the bishops to leave by and let all the heat out of the cathedral in an instant.  Chelmsford on the left, Winchester on the right - we took our seats about 10:20, with plenty of time to spare.  We had collected a service book from a wand bearer and I do mean book - it has 38 pages.  
The service started roughly on time.  The sound of the clock chimes reminding us that it was 11:00 am, just as they would later in the service (for noon, not 11am again!).  The sung Eucharist is an amazing service mainly because of the sound of 1000+ people singing.  The service book has helpful extracts of the music to help us all sing along.  Well those who can sing.  Stephen Cottrell preach a very entertaining sermon, like a wedding sermon, it was mainly addressed to the new bishops.  From where we were sitting he appeared about 0.5 inches high, and his voice came somewhere from the left.  Quite disconcerting for a while.
Then came the Eucharist.  Chaos very nearly reigned.  Are people distracted, unthinking, or simply uncaring?  Why can they not simply follow the person in front who has been directed back to their seat the correct way.  Then St Paul's would not have a traffic problem!
After the service some of us met in a Pizza Express for lunch.  Rather expensive, but very nice.
Then it was back on the train home.  A very enjoyable day.

Our first Family Wedding

Our first family wedding took place last Wednesday.  All very sudden. I can explain that (sort of) - here's what happened.
On Thursday during the afternoon tea break, while I was on my SQL 2000 to 2008 upgrade course, I received a phone call from Karen. Robert's fiancée visa had been turned down, so they were going to get married in Georgia next Tuesday.  This led to a few frantic phone calls and a few frantic people.  Could I get time off work? Could Jo get to the show she had tickets for on Monday evening. Could we get flights and visa approval?
More discussions on Friday moved the big day back to Wednesday.
Work said I could go - indeed they were very good about it. Jo could get to her show.
I set about buying tickets.  Booking late is a bad idea.  Ticket prices are not only very expensive but they change every few minutes.  After a number of attempts on Opodo.co.uk I gave up - I could not get as far as the payment screen before it timed out.  I tried Expedia, but by the time I got there the return flight had sold out.  Even there I could not get through the web screens.  I phoned them on different flights to the ones I wanted. I was finally able to book flights, but the return trip was over night.  I've done over night's west to east before, they are the worst for jet lag. The ESTAs went OK, I bought train tickets at work on Monday - something I hate doing.
Early Tuesday morning we set out for Atlanta.  I still hadn't managed to get to the 'check-in' site for the flight so I was not expecting that we would be able to sit together.  We arrived at Heathrow almost four hours before departure, only to be told I was too early for baggage-drop (is baggage drop a prediction or a promise?) .  We again tried check-in, and needed help to complete it.  It had to be on the Delta flight number (which Expedia didn't give me), not on the KLM flight number I had booked. Anyway we got the last two seats together on the plane.  Then it timed out while I tried to find the address or the hotel where we would stay (Robert had booked it for us).  Back to the desk, where they seemed oblivious of the ESTA requirement to log the first nights address with the airline.  Delta check-in at Heathrow is a mess.  Still the flight was uneventful, and the extra hour to get out of Atlanta Airport was similarly uneventful.  You get your bags from baggage claim, go through customs, give up your bags to security, go all the way to the opposite side of the airport to pick the up again.  We walked because the signage is unclear - its a loooong way.  We had also arrived 20 minutes early after boarding 45 minutes late, so we had to phone Robert - who came and picked us up and took us for a meal.

Wednesday morning I found that the nice white shirt I had picked up belonged to my son and was 2 sizes too small.  That was the only problem with the day.  The rest of it went very well.  We travelled to Lithia Springs Baptist Church via Robert's mother's house, where we picked her up. The service at the church was attended by Robert's family and friends. We then went to a local restaurant for lunch.  After lunch we went to the Douglasville Court House where the registration of the wedding was completed and they were legally married.
After returning to the hotel to change into less formal cloths we visited Robert's Aunt Pat for an evening reception where more of the family arrived to wish the happy couple well. They had a proper wedding cake, which was amazing given the short time there was to make it.

The following day we had a quiet morning - I was trying to prepare a sermon for Sunday, and in the afternoon Robert took us into Atlanta to visit a mall and later to the Aquarium.  Unfortunately it had closed early because of some special event happening in the evening, so we visited the World of Coca-Cola instead.  It was an interesting exhibition but they could have done so much more - where were all the TV adverts?
After a meal in the CNN centre - which reminded me of a Bond film - it was time to return to the UK.

We again arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare.  The security leaving is nothing like the security coming and we soon found ourselves bored at the gate waiting for the plane. It was the most uncomfortable Atlantic crossing I had ever experienced.  The seat belt signs were on the whole way.  There were children being sick.  Serving of food was stopped as the flight crew had to strap themselves in.  I was very glad that we were all in one piece when we landed at Heathrow.

A big thank you to Robert and his family for looking after us while we were there.

Best wishes to Karen and Robert for a long and happy life together.
There will be a number of things to add to the 25-things list from our little adventure, I'll work those out later.

BTCC @ Silverstone

Sunday I got up even earlier than Saturday, and unusually it had nothing to do with church.  This was my first Sunday this year not attending church.  We travelled for two hours in a roughly northerly direction to get to Silverstone.  This is my birthday present, and it's going to be a fantastic day. There are three rounds of the BTCC at each race day, and a number of other supporting races and events.  It took a while to get our bearings at Silverstone.  There is a lot for them to do to improve the visitor's experience.  Jo had her radio with her, so we tuned into the circuit radio to listen to the commentary.

2010_0822 BTCC 19,20,21

BTCC is a complicated sport and I don't pretend to understand it - not like I do F1 for example.  However, it is enjoyable, and the day as a whole was very good.  I'm learning more about it, too. 

Here are my impressions of the races.
There's a lot of overtaking and quite a lot of pushing and shoving to achieve it.  They have the advantage of covered wheels, so contact is not so serious.  The races are enjoyable because there's a lot happening and because of the crowd's reaction - and they're not that long!
We support Team Aon, but I'm not sure why, probably because Liz's boyfriend does.  They were a good team to support today, they won all three races. 

In the first race, Tom Onslow-Cole was leading when he pulled off-line and let Tom Chilton past.  Chilton went on to win the race.  Onslow-Cole said he missed a gear, but that doesn't explain it - he was well off the racing line when the pass occurred.
In the second race, Onslow-Cole was leading again and again gave way to Chilton.  Team orders are allowed in the BTCC.  I still don't like them.  Onslow-Cole did not recover from the slow-down and ended third.
Onslow-Cole won the third race because Chiltern was never higher than third.
Almost the perfect day for the team. Congratulations to Tom Onslow-Cole, driver of the day and the real winner.

We watched the first race from a Woodcote stand with a good view of the pit straight and Luffield.  All the action took place at Maggots.  We walked round to Maggots to watch the second race, and the best action took place at Luffield.  We watched the final race at Luffield and had a good view of lots of the action.

Of the supporting races the Ginetta (GT50's) was the most interesting with lots of action, and the last of them was red flagged!  (Race abandoned is what a red flag means, in case you don't know).  The Formula Renault (open wheeled) was also good, as were Clios, which we watched from Maggots - a good place to be if you like to see cars struggling to slow down.  This race also included the cleanest overtake I saw as one car ran wide and the following braked later and passed on the inside.
The Porsche races were the least interesting - nothing much seemed to happen.

The red arrows did a display, which we mostly missed and a Lancaster bomber did a fly past, you can just about see it in one of the pictures.

After the final race came the long and patient wait to get out of the car park.  The stewards had blocked part of the road.

It was a brilliant day, but quite long and tiring.  - Thanks Liz.

P.S.  This also counts as one of our '25-things' as we have never been to a motor race together before.

Long and Varied Weekend

On Friday morning we set off to Cranbrook, Kent for our 'Red Letter Day' - we had chosen The George, a hotel we had seen but not stayed in when we visited Cranbrook last December.  We chose it for two reasons, firstly we like Cranbrook, and secondly it's not too far away so we don't waste time travelling.  The journey was uneventful until close to the end, when we ended up nowhere near Cranbrook High Street.  The sat nav had us on Maytham Road, Rolvenden, some 4.5 miles from where we should have been!  We arrived in Cranbrook in time for lunch, and visited the Co-op for sandwiches, salad and fruit.  We walked into a green area with a skateboard park and some swings and ate our lunch.  Then wandered around Cranbrook and checked the opening time of the Windmill.  By now it was time to book in.  The George gave a very friendly welcome.  The room was big enough for us and the en-suite was up three steps.  After a few minutes of settling in and sampling the champagne we set off for Sissinghurst Castle Gardens. It's a National Trust property now. In common with many of the National Trust properties we have visited, it is well looked after but the presentation is poor and the prices rather too high.  The most recent occupants were Vita Sackville-West and Sir Harold Nicolson, both writers.  Vita designed the gardens and wrote a lot about gardening.  The gardens are impressive and the tower gives a good view over that part of Kent.  The National Trust have kept the gardens well and employ five gardeners - one who grew up in Falmouth where we have just holidayed.
We had dinner at the George in their very nice restaurant, where they kept food coming even while we waited for starters.  It was an excellent meal.  We were worried that the noise from the pub below would keep us awake but we both fell asleep watching the TV!
Breakfast on Saturday morning was a slow affair, even by hotel standards.  I'm not sure the young lady serving us really knew what she was doing, although she was polite and attentive.  We checked out and made our way to Merriments  - another formal garden and a very different style.  For lunch, we went back to The Woodcock, where I had rabbit for the first time on our last visit.  The food is still excellent, the parking is still difficult.
Finally, we visited Cranbrook Union Windmill.  We had seen it on our last visit and were glad to have an opportunity to go inside.  The trust did a marvellous job of presenting the mill, with guides on every floor enthusiastically explaining any and every aspect of the mill's history and workings.  We were there for 90 minutes!
A very enjoyable short break.
Saturday night I paid a quick visit to the Vicar to get the following days service finalized as it was the start of our summer series, which makes up part of the series on Jesus the Storyteller.  Four of the congregation had created a scrap book (although that title really undervalues what they have done - it's brilliant!) which includes activities for both children and adults.  A very good addition to the service it made too, along with the reading being given from memory from a platform in the centre of church with props for the children to demonstrate the stories.  Sunday morning was a very good service, which is not at all down to my leading but to the contribution of the congregation.  This is how church should be! 
Sunday afternoon saw the birthday celebrations for Liz and Karen.  We played 'Top Golf'.  Each ball must be registered as it is collected and must be registered as 'in play' before it is hit.  Then the computer works out your score.  On one ball I scored 26 points (for most I scored 3 or none) because it was on a double, it was the bonus shot, and it was my best shot of the day.  Karen had posted the picture on Facebook!
 I think I'm going to claim 2 of the '25 things' (follow the theme link if you're confused):
1) Going back to somewhere we've holidayed before.
2) Playing Top Golf.

What a brilliant weekend I've had.

Thanks to The boys and the girlfriends at Christmas for the 'Red Letter Day', to the contributors at Christ Church and to Liz and Karen for inviting us to their birthday celebrations.

 

Ipswich & Luton

It's been a busy weekend. On Saturday we went to watch Ipswich play Cardiff at Portman Road, that's one of the '25 things' project, and there is a report here. Jo was not quite so loud as she is at Billericay, but then it's not her team.
On Sunday afternoon we visited Luton, spent a while in a very empty Pizza Express, and then on to the main event - St. Mary's for the 7pm service. Karen was the speaker, and we had gone to see how she did. The evening service is based on film clips - this one from Disney's 'Enchanted' (which I haven't seen). Karen's talk is here. It is a very good talk and progresses from the 'love' expressed in the film, to the love that Go has for us. This is a difficult route due to the different natures of the two types of love, but it was navigated expertly - with them common elements being used to make the link. Then on to the pass it on phase, also related neatly back to the clip. I've asked for the DVD. Please go and read it now.

Office Christmas Party with a difference

Our office Christmas party was at a casino, and though I'm no gambler, it was a very enjoyable night. Read more here.

Dancing

What an interesting evening? It started with Tony, the leader for the evening, assuming people knew some of the dances. Most of us didn't. I was surprised that so few did.
We tried to follow the steps, but for someone who doesn't dance, and never really has it was very difficult. There was a turn that I just couldn't get. Jo was struggling as well. So after a while, a few difficult attempts she lead us off the dance floor, before we got in anyone else's way. That was the first dance.

The second we did not try. Then the evening moved on to line dancing - not real dancing (but probably still to difficult for me) , and ended with the birdy song. That is the sort of dancing I really DON'T DO.

Oh well ...

Gibraltar 25-28 September 2008

Gibraltar

Please read the blog entry on the title link, or view the pictures of our trip.

On the Day

Today we opened the cards and presents that we had been given on Saturday. Many thank you letters will be required, because much thanks is due. There were loads of cards too, some you can see in the background hanging between the lights. Its just like Christmas.

We went to Paper Mill Lock near Little Baddow for lunch. Andy took us. We picked up Mum on the way. I was expecting something a little more like a restaurant, but they are really only a tea shop, doing sandwiches, cakes and tea and coffee. We had a sandwich, and wandered along the canal.

Perhaps that can count as #4 - visiting an Essex canal - certainly something I hadn't done before.

After coming to a bridge that was part of a bridle way, and stated that it was built in 1951, we turned back, because the black clouds were threatening yet more rain. It arrived, but was not that heavy. So cake and more coffee back at the Old Stables Tea Rooms, and watch the canal boat go through the lock. Then back to Stock Brook for a pint, and home.

More pictures here

25 years

On Wednesday I will have been married for 25 years. We had been told to keep Saturday 20th September clear - so we did. Karen arrived mid-afternoon, and there was lots of talk of going to Stock Brook (where Andy works). I was a little skeptical that even he could have pulled off a cheap deal, and that we really could go to Stock Brook. We didn't. We went to Christ Church Hall. The venue is not important because there were SO MANY people there. Some had come from the North of England, others were friends who live in the town and attend the same church. I was very please to see them all. Jo and I spent almost all of our time going round talking to people. We didn't even manage to have a proper go at the buffet! Some people we hadn't seen for about 10 years, but they don't change.

Does this count as #2 in the list of 25 things. I think so, we have never been to our 25th wedding anniversary party before!

I must say a big thank you to the co-conspirators - Liz and Karen. Here they are in the car as we arrived at church, with me playing with the camera - as usual.



After that there are 100's (literally) of pictures, but none on my camera - because the ruse that was used to get us into the hall meant I left it in the car, and then forgot about it.

An amazing evening - We even did karaoke - badly, but to a live band. So that can be #3 of the 25 things -we have never sung together (just us two) before.

So I did say some thank yous at the event, but its worth writing it here also.

Thanks to all who came, especially to those who came from far and wide

Thanks for all the presents, most of which we will open on Wednesday.

Thanks Karen for all the organising, and the truly brilliant speech.

Thanks Liz for keeping a straight face while organising things at home, and not letting on.

Thanks are also due to the boys and their friends, who helped with the food, and the clearing up - and some other stuff, I expect.

Thanks to Jo, of course, without whom none of it would have been possible.

4300 feet

On Saturday morning we were picked up and chauffeured to Southend Airport. We helped uncover the aeroplane. It appeared very small - it is only a four seater. Our pilot explained the procedures. We will have headphones so we can chat, but must be quiet when he's on the radio. There is only one exit, and because I'm sitting next to it I will have to open it in an emergency. We are going over water for a bit, and need to know how quickly the plane will sink. I will also have to get Jo out of the back, and must learn how to move the seat. If the engine should fail, the plane will glide easily, until be can find somewhere to land. Then the good news - there has never been an engine problem on the plane. John goes and fills the plane up with fuel. We get in - and make our selves comfortable. Then down the runway and into the air.

We cruised across the Thames and over Kent, spotting motorways, railways, and particular roundabouts. It is a very comfortable flight. We are enjoying ourselves, and getting an introduction to flying. We can see forts of various ages in the Solent and along the south coast. Most of them have never been used. We took a curcuit of the island and passed over the Needles. We landed at Bembridge and were guided to a parking place by the tower.

It was a relief to get out of the plane, on a day like Saturday, when its hot, the inside of the plane heats up very quickly when we stop moving. It had been a perfect day for a flight, and a very comfortable and enjoyable ride.

A short walk (2 miles?) along the coastal path was the "Crab & Lobster", where we were booked to eat lunch - and a very nice lunch it was too. Suitable fed, we walked back to the areodrome and got back in the plane.

We flew back along the south coast, and higher than we had on the way out. The ships and yatchs were just spots on the sea, and southern England can be seen for miles - it is a beautiful country. France though we did not see - it was too hazy for that. I was allowed to take the controls briefly and found out how sensitive the plane is to the slightest movement. With the pilot back in control we turned inland, and passed over some important landmarks for our pilot, and were still 'town' spotting as we travelled. Despite a little rain on the way home, we had a good flight and a very enjoyable day.

The point of the day was to mark the start of our 25 year of marriage (a little early, but my redundancy meant that the plans we had have changed). Jo would like to do 25 things that we have never done before, and this was the first. If the others are half as good as this we're in for a stunning year.