Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wimmera River

Days and nights are slowly getting cooler. The weather was just beautiful yesterday and I decided to go for a short push bike ride along the river.


You will never get these views in a big smoke just a minute ride from home and the smell of fresh cool air is unbelievable. 




"Beauty is not caused. It is." 
[Emily Dickinson]

Monday, March 28, 2011

Sunday at the airport

What a beautiful day we had here yesterday. Sun was shining all day long, the sky was as blue as it can get and the air was so clear that the visibility seemed unlimited. Not to warm and not to cool. Just perfect.
We drove down to the airport to finish the paperwork required for my licence and possibly get a few patterns in for Zig. Since the big Jabiru is bouncing uncontrollably (according to the student-pilot) he decided to try the small one to prove it's not him causing the "Jabiroo Jumps". Max checked the pressure in the front wheel and the decision was made to blow some more air in ... just in case I guess ;-)

Max & the "bounce-prevention-device" in action

So up they went and I stayed in the clubhouse filling out all the forms and going through some pretty old flying magazines and newspaper cut-outs that Max found at home not even knowing his wife was collecting. Believe me, women are collecting all kinds of stuff they might have to use against you one day ;-)
There was this one very cool pic in a paper from February 1971. A young, very interesting dressed and good looking girl washing the glider tail. Everybody started to wonder what happened to this girl and how does she look now. It's been 42 years and she's probably in her 20's on this pic so she has to be over 60 now. I wonder if Mrs Wendy Hurren is still flying or maybe married to a glider pilot ...

in the good old days

If she was a pilot back then or maybe a partner of one this might have happened to her later:

from Max's collection

So anyway, everybody (dogs included) was waiting for Zig to finish his lesson and share the experience with the "not bouncing" Jabiru with us.

There are no old & brave dogs at the airport. If they are brave they will never get old. This one does know better and was always approaching airplanes from the back not trying to bark and fight with the prop to show off. All the brave show off ones found in the meanwhile their way to dog's heaven.

"Open the door guys! I've been waiting long enough!"

finally

Apparently Zig did much better than before. I don't really think the plane makes a big difference. The student is just starting to feel what's going on. One way or the other he seemed pleased with himself and gave the Jabiru a nice treat - a full bubble bath.

"I did all right today"

He also made sure everybody was seated in front of the open hangar at beer o'clock and kept asking every new arrival if he or she can notice the huge difference between the two Jabiru's. Then he explained each and everyone of them the washing technique and the secret chemicals he used on the plane. They then had no other choice than to admit that one is much more shiny then the other. Not all of them were sure which one though. Just kidding of course ... everyone can see the difference!

well past 5 o'clock

And that's what I found on our porch last night. I wonder what this frog has been up to. The poor thing had all kinds of dirt, dust and leaves sticking to it. The frog itself was sticking to the big glass garden door and jumped down when I opened it to take a picture.

sticky frog