Flying solo

HeadAboveWater

LOVE reading your diary Robin! Feel like I'm actually there: hearing, seeing, smelling, touching!

*Robin* wrote: »

Cecil? Aha; have thought about this - will clomp about and jump up and down frequently. ..Vibrations, yes?
(Would rather appear to be a complete loon if any neighbours are wandering around, than risk accidentally cornering our unintended guest! :rotfl:).
Daft Dogs will be staying inside.

:rotfl::rotfl:

lindens

Well i got to the end - without invoking the wrath of my employer!
What a journey - so many ups and downs, not many "staying on the horizontal" for you Robin.

I love your writing style - I'm not a dog person (been bitten twice so its cats for me) but I love your dogs and would love to meet them, and visit you in your Nest, such is your wonderful descriptive style.

Some of your posts have gently reminded me about "invisible illnesses" although I am familiar as my OH has MH issues and I have 2 close relatives with Crohns.

Please please write that novel about the brave WW soldier in your family...... that post was so emotive i had held my breath all the way through until I got to the bit about the king when there was a large intake of breath not because of suffocation but because of wonderful surprise.

Even if you collected together all your posts in this diary and added a bit more fluff, there is a novel already there, much like "A life in provence" only better. Your life reminds me very much of "My family and other animals" by Gerald Durrell-a favourite of mine. (OOPs please take that the right way - I don't want you thinking you're all mad as a box of frogs!!)

please-let-me-be-lucky

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

LOVE reading your diary Robin! Feel like I'm actually there: hearing, seeing, smelling, touching!

Ditto.

I hope Cecil(ia) takes leave of absence sooner rather than later. Snakes don't bother me as such but I sure as heck wouldn't want one in my garden, especially when pets are involved.

Cuddles to the doggies Xx

missrlr

Could you borrow the JCB for a bit of "maintenance" a la Espagnol style? and rid yourself of Cecil(ia)? Might be a welcome bit of relief. Not sure about your floors, but would the vibrations be enough to seek to the required spot if the speakers were turned up LOUD?

Glad dogs are improving. Doglet has similar effects, he is on steroids .... works but blimey he is hungry and drinks a bit more too. Not a bad thing as he was verging on dehydrated-ness at one point.

*Robin*

Was just on my way back here to respond to a couple of earlier comments, when suddenly:

Aargh - PANIC! :eek:

missrlr wrote: »

Could you borrow the JCB for a bit of "maintenance" a la Espagnol style? and rid yourself of Cecil(ia)?

Missrlr that would have been an excellent suggestion - if difficult to execute due to the terrain - but Nasty Neighbour has just pre-empted it; may his manhood be afflicted with numerous pus-weeping boils! :mad:

Something very noisy - just out of sight below m' garden - has been shaking the ground relentlessly for the last couple of hours.
At first thought it was the JCBs along the road, until spotting a cloud of dust drifting up from NN's land..

If anything, this will drive Cecil up the hill closer to the Nest rather than onto the fallow land to the East. :mad:

So, what is NN doing? Am too much of a coward to go down and force a confrontation without back-up, so will sneak in to have a look when they've packed up for the night.
If it's what I think is going on, tomorrow morning's activities must include a trip to the town hall armed with appropriate paperwork, then make an official inspection accompanied by the local Policeman (and more paperwork).
After that all hell will break loose.

Am desperately hoping that I'm wrong; would be wonderful to discover NN is simply demolishing the old buildings he's got on that part of his land - in which case no problemo, I can just politely enquire what he is planning to put in their place (probably a new stable block)?
..Will stay with that comforting thought unless the spying mission reveals otherwise.

..............

Folks, sorry but just feel too jittery to continue with this post at the moment - am off out to find something to do in the garden (not hard, lol).
But worry not; there will be plenty of stompin' and jumpin' on approach to all overgrown areas. :rotfl:
Daft Dogs will accept the bribe of a sausage to stay inside again. :cool2:

brizzledfw

Robin...hope it all works out. Not entirely sure what you think may be going on..new housing? A swimming pool? But anyway it sounds stressful. Hope alls is OK and your spying mission is uncomplicated and uneventful!

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear MSE Friends, :hello:

Apologies for going quiet; am a somewhat bedraggled bird at the moment. Seriously wondering whether a visit to the two-legged-people's doctor must be my next excursion - let He who told me to be very wary of antibiotics, decide whether or not this lurgi is a candidate for risking future ineffectiveness?
..Because am rapidly running out of home remedies and lung function. Even the strongest inhalers [supplied for asthma emergencies] can't shift the unpleasant gunk - have almost stopped smoking but every so often need a few puffs in order to dislodge enough carp to breathe - which is ridiculous!

Managed to get CD and FD to their lovely vet a few days ago; despite the high quality diet and her steroid-induced appetite, CD has lost 1.5kg since our last visit [:(] so her treatment has been changed.
The plan had been to go on to the GP's clinic, but I was reeling by the time Dear Vet handed over a box of meds with long list of instructions detailing the required changes in dosage/drug every three days.
Got home safely but have been mostly horizontal since that trip; set alarms to alert me when it's time for CD's next dose.
Just realised; forgot to ask DV for anti-venom.. No idea whether Nasty Neighbour's noisy activities were successful in dissuading Cecil from making a home in the wall; haven't seen him since (but not spent much time outside ).
Daft Dogs are sticking very close to me anyway - my moral support.

Dear Brizzled, and anyone else who is wondering about NN's devious plans; am still thinking about possible ramifications so don't want to say more on this subject until I've decided how to react (didn't go to the town hall - too enervated ).

Lindens, Mara and everyone who has been so complimentary, encouraging me to write a 'proper' book; I'd love to find out more about the WW1 soldier and turn his story into a fitting memorial - it's definitely on my bucket list.
Greyfox has very kindly offered to help with research but it must wait until I can get my hands on the records (accidentally put into storage :cool:). In fact finding these papers is Item One on my "Pro-UK-Summer" list (although am fast running out of time to make a choice ).

Have been meaning to respond to a comment Fudgie posted last week:

Fudgefund wrote: »

Your trip sounds absolutely terrifying!! I remember you mentioning you were booking a surprise for someone a while ago, you picked a good one. Funnily enough we bought something similar for my Dad for his 65th, but no one wants to go up with him. I have a feeling it'll fall to me, even though I feel sick in tall buildings.

Fudgie, I share your disquiet. Watching TV footage of the newly opened observation lounge at the Shard had me cringing. Five steps up a ladder is enough to set butterflies tumbling in my stomach, and fading gymkhana 'photos testify that [many many moons ago] my eyes were always shut when the pony took off over jumps..

But. Flying is - different.
To re-cap:

*Robin* wrote:

Four took the controls with more confidence than one would expect* and we taxied smoothly to the end. Now this was already more than any of us had bargained for; we'd signed up for a jaunt not a lesson.
But the pilot motioned Four to carry on, so following his instructions - Four sent us soaring into the air!
* One grabbed me at that point, shouting into my ear over the roar of the engine:
"Wonder what our pilot would say if he knew that Four has never ever driven a powered vehicle before!"

The horizon tilted sharply as our little 'plane's nose pointed towards eleven o'clock; acceleration pinning us into the vibrating seats. Holding tight onto Divo One, watching the ground fall away through the window behind him, I wondered if this was how our lives were destined to end..

Thirty seconds passed, then a minute. Still alive; One and I found ourselves grinning insanely at each other.
The altimeter needle had circled round to 1,000ft before Pilot told Divo Four to level off and cut back the engine revs - prompting a few heart-stopping moments while Four got to grips with the sensitivity of the controls. :eek:

By the time I remembered to breathe, Four had mastered changing direction and we were flying serenely above the coast. It was fascinating to see the detail - paths, valleys, beaches and caves - which are normally hidden from view when travelling at ground level.

"This is brilliant!" One said, as he started taking photographs. Looking around the basic, functional cabin, I realised that I felt incredibly safe and was really enjoying myself.
Pilot took over when we turned inland to fly alongside the range of mountains which guard our homes here. Just as well, because the thermals did make it a bit bumpy at times.

The altimeter read 4,500ft when we cleared the peak to the East of the Nest. It was a sobering thought to remember that once - many years ago - I stood on that rocky knoll, looking across the sea at the hazy blue mountains of North Africa. Will never stand on that pinnacle again [in this life]; it is a very long, difficult foot-slog across steep, wild country to get there from the closest road. :cool2:

Flying on towards a local archaeological site we had asked to see, Pilot obviously decided we were ready for a little more excitement; he sent the 'plane in tight swooping loops, just clearing the rocks to give us the best views as we circled. Pilot hadn't seen the site himself before, so was also interested - extending our trip [gratis] for his own pleasure.

Must say; think that's the most fun I've ever had for £60..
Afterwards, I told Four what One had said at take-off; Four laughed, reminding me about a piece of kit PC bought when he had a tenant who was a commercial pilot: A pricey flight simulator programme, designed for flying schools rather than as a game. Divo Four may never have driven anything other than a bicycle in real life before, but during inclement weather he has spent a good few hours piloting PC's desk-top computer. :rotfl:

Both Divos are now talking about all three of us taking proper flying lessons, and dropping little snippets into the conversation which suggest they are researching the costs involved in [family] ownership of a light aircraft..
Can see where this is heading; time to get started on m'best-seller? :rotfl:

Fudgie, to conclude; Go for it! Climb into that 'plane with your Dad, squash your nerves - and enjoy!

grannyx2

It is as though I was up in that plane with you. You know the saying 'a picture paints a thousand words'? Well your words paint the most amazing picture

I hope you are feeling better today

Grannyx2 (still but hoping it changes today) ×

Piquant_2

The flying sounds amazing, flying lessons would certainly add some zing to your days. Selfishly, I'd love to you take lessons as I could then enjoy reading about them

A trip to the doctor if something is not clearing up is a good idea, perhaps then you can wave goodbye to the lurgy!

Please take flying lessons.....

HeadAboveWater

Ditto what granny said

Thinking about you Hope CD is ok. Hugs to you all