In the summertime...

Not too much news this week, but thought I would post anyway just for good practice.

Went flying. Loved it.

This is the plane I flew. Its really small, and probably lighter than - certainly not heavier than a car. We took off from Wellington airport facing south and were airborne almost immediately after going full-throtle. Climbed to about 1500ft and headed for Turakarau Head. Here the controlled airspace around the airport ended and I was free to climb higher and dork around over Lake Ferry and South Wairarapa. Flew over a really swanky looking $4000/night lodge and looked down at a helicopter flying tourists there way below us. Then turned around and went back around Turakarau, then up the Eastbourne coast past Somes Island to the Petone Esplanade, then rejoined the airport traffic pattern and headed for Mirimar Peninsula before completing final turns to a perfect touchdown at the airport (handled beautifuly by my instructor). We cleared the runway pretty quick as there was a 767 coming in right behind us. I'm doing another lesson on Wednesday, this time logging my first flying-time towards getting a pilots licence.

Went to a couple of Christmas parties, which i enjoyed probably a bit too much. At one I was grabbed by four women and thrown into a spa pool fully clothed. It seems they were unhappy about an incident involving me and a high-powered water gun moments earlier.

Also had a good day on Tuesday, ending with a couple of beers out in the sun on the street at the Dog and Bone, where there was standing room only and we shared our table with a couple of friendly tourists who were in town to see Elton John.