November 2009
Monthly Archive
Thursday, 5th November 2009
The forecast was for terrible weather, but we woke up to clear blue skies. We got a little optimistic, but the updated forecast said it would cloud over by lunch time. It did. In a nearly unprecedented move, they actually updated it again to let us know about the thunderstorms that had already arrived, and which they had failed to mention in the morning.
More good working weather and I have completed the podcast, which is now available in the podcast section and Geoff had a load of meetings to do with the conference. Amazing what you can achieve if you don’t go out flying much.
Wednesday, 4th November 2009
It rained a lot so we did a day’s work. I have finally managed to get round to editing the long overdue guiding podcast with Toby Colombe, Adam Hill and Kelly Farina. Should be available tomorrow.
Tuesday, 3rd November 2009
Geoff 03 Nov 2009 | : Trying, but failing, to fly, Work
Geoff writes: Judith said yesterday that we had a lot to do and we should leave the flying “for a better day. Like tomorrow.” Wrong again! Actually, it was a nice, sunny, warm day, but there were loads of lenticulars, and the wind was forecast north, but not tramuntana. Anyway, we still went to Santa Brigida, meeting up there with Roger, who decided to have a quick flight there on his way to Turin then Paris. It was not to be though, it was, for once, very west, and very windy – though only at Santa Brigida, all the way there it was quite light winds.
So instead, we went for lunch with Roger, gossiped a lot, drank not very much (given the vast numbers of police checkpoints there seem to be this year, and the fact that I’ve already been breathlysed once this trip); then came home and carried on working.
Roger is probably at 25000 feet, on his way back from Paris as I write this. At least he got to pilot something today, even if it is a bit of a bus.
Monday, 2nd November 2009
The tail end of the front which was over the UK yesterday came to us last night and it was grey and drizzly this morning. Which was fine, given that we had a co-ordination meeting about the conference at 11am. It was possibly flyable this afternoon, but we didn’t bother even thinking about it – we’ve got so much to do that it’s better to save it for a better day. Like tomorrow.
Sunday, 1st November 2009
The forecast was inconclusive today with lots of cloud and southerly (or easterly or north westerly, depending on where you looked) winds forecast. However, by 10am the cloud hadn’t increased, but we wrote off Berga because it was far from guaranteed that we would get a flight. Instead we agreed to meet Nicky at Santa Brigida. On the way we could see clear skies and cumulus over the pass towards Belmunt, but we were committed, so we carried on. Nicky was already there and it was so nice to catch up with her.
Geoff launched first, as usual, then Nicky and I followed. Lluis turned up with a friend, Celine from Switzerland, and for once the women pilots outnumbered the blokes (at least until Roger, Xiliu and Joan turned up). It’s very rare I am not the only woman at a site round here, so to have three of us was something of an event – so rare Lluis got us to pose for photos.
It was hazy sunshine all day at Santa Brigida and we all had a jolly nice time flying around in the lazy thermals and then landed for a chat and picnic. It finally switched off around 4.00, first going very light, then swinging North, as often happens at this time of year. You need to be out early to get in some good flying.