Late on Sunday.
Not my fault – the computer elves were working on what they call ‘the back end’. Not only was I asked not to make ribald comment during their labours; but asked to stay out of the way. Happy to oblige; there is some deuced tricky stuff involved and the thick, clumsy fingers of dunderheads are not required. Aunt Pru has had a make over and the old girl looks pretty good. Big thank you to our ‘guru’ who keeps things ticking over; despite the bloody ‘spammers’ and their mates. Good job and thank you.
Indications are that just a tick over 500,000 ‘unique reads’ have been made this year; which is folk who have opened a post and spent more than 30 seconds reading it; we don’t count ‘hits’ – which are off the charts. The Blog has racked up another impressive score; this is measured from zero at the start of the new year. Seems like the effort, hard work (and money) has been worth the trouble. Thanks to everyone, wherever you are, for your support – it is appreciated. My favourite page is still the statistics map which shows where our readers are; impressive list, except the Kiwi’s seem not to bother, rare event to see NZ highlighted on my map.
I’m not going to bang on too much today for it is a day of great sadness. The mad world of Australian aviation can take a back seat while we mourn the passing of a young pilot in Tasmania. It is always a terrible day when we loose an aircraft and a young life. There is little – if anything – we can do to assuage the grief of family, friends or even co-workers. Personally, I have been through this more times than I care to count and know; very well, how once the initial shock ware’s off, true grief sets in. It is not in the first days; reality is a strange beast; it is in the months to come where the going gets really, truly tough for those closest to those no longer with us. It is then that our unstinted, genuine, quiet support will be needed most.
We count Shannon Wells and all who fly with him amongst our friends; FWIW the entire crew at Aunt Pru are there, 24/7. Call/ email anytime.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew –
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. (John Gillespie Magee, Jr).
We all wish the pilot Godspeed and tailwinds; and, extend to the family our sincere and deepest sympathies.
That’s all. "K".
Not my fault – the computer elves were working on what they call ‘the back end’. Not only was I asked not to make ribald comment during their labours; but asked to stay out of the way. Happy to oblige; there is some deuced tricky stuff involved and the thick, clumsy fingers of dunderheads are not required. Aunt Pru has had a make over and the old girl looks pretty good. Big thank you to our ‘guru’ who keeps things ticking over; despite the bloody ‘spammers’ and their mates. Good job and thank you.
Indications are that just a tick over 500,000 ‘unique reads’ have been made this year; which is folk who have opened a post and spent more than 30 seconds reading it; we don’t count ‘hits’ – which are off the charts. The Blog has racked up another impressive score; this is measured from zero at the start of the new year. Seems like the effort, hard work (and money) has been worth the trouble. Thanks to everyone, wherever you are, for your support – it is appreciated. My favourite page is still the statistics map which shows where our readers are; impressive list, except the Kiwi’s seem not to bother, rare event to see NZ highlighted on my map.
I’m not going to bang on too much today for it is a day of great sadness. The mad world of Australian aviation can take a back seat while we mourn the passing of a young pilot in Tasmania. It is always a terrible day when we loose an aircraft and a young life. There is little – if anything – we can do to assuage the grief of family, friends or even co-workers. Personally, I have been through this more times than I care to count and know; very well, how once the initial shock ware’s off, true grief sets in. It is not in the first days; reality is a strange beast; it is in the months to come where the going gets really, truly tough for those closest to those no longer with us. It is then that our unstinted, genuine, quiet support will be needed most.
We count Shannon Wells and all who fly with him amongst our friends; FWIW the entire crew at Aunt Pru are there, 24/7. Call/ email anytime.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew –
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. (John Gillespie Magee, Jr).
We all wish the pilot Godspeed and tailwinds; and, extend to the family our sincere and deepest sympathies.
That’s all. "K".