Me, Ben and Rae

Rae was in the country these last couple of weeks; busy studying for some important aviation medicine tests (UK DAvMed). The opportunity to meet up again was too good to miss. Ben dropped me an email about some flying opportunities and the meet up and a few days later (Mon 29th) I was on the train heading towards London; when I realised that it was exactly 1 year and 1 day since Ben, Paul, Steve and I were on the 747 speeding towards Johannesburg.

After negotiating the tube I ended up in Holland Park and intensely confused by the park map which bore no indication of true north, yet was orientated in a way that suggested I was at a Southern entrance; but of course turned out to be Eastern. This was particularly hilarious as I was trying to tell Rae and Ben on the phone where I was! Thought it ironic that I could navigate in the air but seemingly met my match with a park!

Anyway, when we finally did manage to meet up. We piled into Ben's wagon and went looking for somewhere to eat and drink. After a spell of sightseeing and working out parking rules we settled for "The Spaniards" Inn, on Hampstead Heath. Spent a good couple of hours eating, drinking and laughing about the good old days in good surroundings.

Soon enough, it was time to hit the road again and get back to our respective homes. We all vowed to try and make our meeting up an annual event - hopefully with Steve and Paul in the future.

The day after we found out that Rae had passed her test, which was unsurprising considering how intelligent and studious she is, but a brilliant achievement none the less for which Rae is (or should be) proud.

The Royal International Air Tattoo is the next big aviation-related event on the calendar. I will see Ben, Steve and Paul at the airshow and FSD's annual presentation ceremony. We weren't able to attend the last one as we were already out in SA. I'm really looking forward to it; particularly meeting with more of the friends made at the Cranwell selection courses as well as fellow scholarship winners.