Not getting the fuel for the rocket!

MadDog · Post by **MadDog** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:40 pm

How many flying members does this club have?.....Forty….Fifty? they can’t all of had a bad year, or am I wrong?....Please tell me what kind of year you have had….I promise to listen to you, providing that I can also listen to my I pod at the same time.
For me, the year has been an unmitigated disaster….If this year had had a sell by date; it would have been binned long ago….
Year 2008……..Best before December 2007….what could a good man do with odds against him like that?

After winning the paragliding club comp, closely followed by the hang gliding comp. then the Nobel prize for literature, everything seemed to go downhill……
No…..Hang on….this never happened, what am I talking about!.......
After a while even the delusion seems illusory….
Ask Brian about this, He might even give one of his little lectures about it, before the next club meeting…..
For many years after coming a cropper on his surfboard he firmly believed that he was an Obergruppenfuhrer in the SS…….I’ve seen him in the trousers with the exaggerated top parts, he still wears them for work
And then he became chairman of this club…..I suppose there is a link there somewhere
Where was I?
This year….I’ve put no flights in the XC league….In fact I’ve not even looked there…Does it still exist?
Its so hard to come to terms with the reality that as far as results go then I am a complete and utter airborne failure….do they have an unmarked grave one can retire to somewhere?.....
Somewhere you could lay a wreath by, marked by two minutes of silence…..on the eleventh minute, of the eleventh hour,..of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
On the tomb of the unknown airborne loser…..
I’ve even had to burn the airmap holder with the words PILOT written on the back, I feel so ashamed
How many weeks are left of the year now….Six?....a good man could make use of those six weeks and pull some really good flights out of them…
Back to the airmaps then……Now that looks like the way to go….
You would think that for my one hundredth post I could have done better than this..Wouldn’t you?

Post by **colin keightley** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:51 pm

But Jon those one hundred posts are a much better read than most of the posts on here. If only more people put as much thought and creativity into their words.

And for flying theres always next year.

RonDon · Post by **RonDon** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:31 pm

I wish to echo Collins thoughts.

RonDon

RonDon · Post by **RonDon** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:56 pm

PS.
Just sitting here thinking I was having a good chat with John when we where in Alicante Oct 2008.And he was telling me this was one of the BEST! Holidays he has had--???
RonDon.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:42 pm

2008 hasn't been a bad year for some members but I know where you're coming from John in general it's been piss poor.

Well roll on 2009 and I've NO DOUBT the Mad Dog will return!

Post by **colin keightley** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:04 pm

Cant wait for some good weather so I can whip out my new glider (well new to me anyhow)

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:20 am

well with only 70 + this year and almost 30 of which has been on a hg then i would say it has been disastrous. moor weekends abroad may be the answer as i just cant keep up the momentum of 3-400 miles every weekend to fly. i mean i have even got a paramotor in order to get my hours up. i have had more quality flights by far on the hg this year yet nearly all flights were done over a few daysflying. however i need to sole search for inspiration and to stay hungry.

the days of the happy bus are only memories of 2006-2007 this is where the jinx lies we need a new happy bus?

Fingers · Post by **Fingers** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:10 am

PS.
Just sitting here thinking I was having a good chat with John when we where in Alicante Oct 2008.And he was telling me this was one of the BEST! Holidays he has had--???
RonDon.

The torchered artists lot.

One fleeting moment of ecstasy, very nice as it is, in no way goes to replace perpetual mystery. It is only from this struggle to release oneself from darkness that truly great things are born.

"Happiness" ? Highly over rated if you ask me.

RonDon · Post by **RonDon** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:55 pm

Dave.

You could take up Pot--Hole--ing and not know what day it is???

RonDon

Davehorne · Post by **Davehorne** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:19 pm

No Dave, that's the wrong interpretation, the correct attitude is: There's ONLY 42 days left (nearly down to 41 already) - it'll soon start getting lighter again

There's nearly always some flying to be done in December OK OK I know it's boring old ridge soaring but what the hell anything's better than nothing in the winter. Only last Monday there was some beautiful soaring to be had on Carrock with (even) some gentle little thermals around for a while

What I did notice this year is that 1/3rd of my hours have been done outside the UK, which is all well and good but I actually love flying in the Lakes, Pennines and Cheviots and there's no doubt that the UK weather has been pretty poor

It can only get better. Maybe this Wednesday will deliver the goods, so get ready for a swift skive

Post by **chrisfozz** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:31 pm

For quite a few years it was my flying ambition to get to cloudbase, I suppose that was a few years ago and nowadays I seem to want to focus on flying XC kilometres. Having checked the XC league for the umpteenth time my total for this year remains a long way short of what I’d hoped for. But on a cold damp November night, there are still a few jems from the summer that make it seem worthwhile.
First off, touch wood, we’ve flown safely this year; I’m not aware of any serious accidents for our pilots home or abroad, which has to be a good thing. (I’ve also seen some constructive discussion on safety issues elsewhere on the board which is positive.)
Highlights for me have been the trips, both in the UK and abroad. I suppose I was disappointed with my result in BPC this time and we just got piped in the BCC final but the two journeys to the Mynd were worth it – it was good to be with a group of Northumbria pilots at both comps.
The last trip to Alicante was one of my best flying trips to date, no XC’s but flying almost every day in all sorts of conditions. On all these trips I’ve enjoyed the company of the top pilots and the people just coming into the sport.
I agree with John that this year could have been better weather wise in the northeast especially and while I’ve not flow as far as I wanted to, I still think there is something special about getting high on just a bag of cloth.
chris
ps thanks for the photo Ron
and Brian sorry your not on this one, perhaps you should have taken my place!