I took my Dad for his ‘flight simulator’ experience this week at Coventry airport – and jolly good it was too.
I was allowed to sit in the back, as he flew the 747 to and from Salzburg airport! Eek!
I also sat in on the ‘briefing’ beforehand (which is not as James Bond-esque as it sounds – we basically had to watch a video and go through some slides) BUT, it did strike me, as the ‘non-participant’ and someone who’s never really given much thought to how all those tons of metal actually get up into the air and stay there – I’m now really worried!
It was like the reverse of a ‘Fear of Flying’ course, in that it has, quite possibly, made me worry now about gravity, air pressure and ailerons! By the time I next get on a plane (in a week, when I’m off to sunny Spain), I just hope it’s all a distant blur, or a stiff G&T (perhaps without the ‘T’), will be called for.
Those lovely people on the Novelicious site (which I’ve referred you to before, just in case you want to procrastinate for an hour or so), have introduced a new monthly writing competition. Every third Wednesday of the month (so precise!) they will be posting a new photo, as a writing ‘prompt’.
You have to use the photo as your inspiration for 200-400 words of fiction which you then post in the comments section on the site and one writer will win £20 of Amazon vouchers. It’s free to enter, so what’s stopping you?
August’s prompt is open for entries until 12pm on 16th September and you can enter from anywhere in the world!
Poetry Workshops
And finally, if you live in the Midlands, you might be interested in some free poetry workshops, which Malcolm Dewhirst, Staffordshire’s Poet Laureate, is running at Lichfield and Tamworth libraries later this month.
Lichfield Library: Saturday 14th Sept 2013 – 10:30 – 14:30
Telephone: 01543 510700
Two Poetry Workshops at Tamworth Library
Saturdays 21st and 28th Sept 2013 – 10:30 – 14:30
Telephone: 01827 475646
Phone the libraries to book your place! There’s more information on Malcolm’s blog.
That’s all from me folks! Got a busy weekend ahead. Guests arriving SOON (and I have to cook!) and we’re all going up to Macclesfield tomorrow for a birthday party. I hate to be smug but we are so glad we booked a bed at our hosts’ house. The other guests have all opted to camp…! (I don’t camp unless it’s the South of France, dah-ling).
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I have a fear of flying (along with a fear of everything else) so the flight simulator would not be good for me!
I’m with Wendy. I hate flying, but it’s not really fear. I’m not scared that the plane will crash (although I hope it won’t, of course), I just find the whole thing deeply unpleasant. If I could fly first class with no one either side of me and be able to keep my eyes closed and my fingers in my ears it might be better.
I like the idea of a flight simulator but I certainly wouldn’t want to try the real thing. I love flying if I can get a window seat where I can enjoy the view without thinking too much about how I got up there – or how I’m going to get down!
Hello Helen. I’m sending you a Sunshine Award. You can find it here:
http://dawsonlesley.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/a-little-ray-of-sunshine/
Thanks Lesley! Not sure that I’ll have time to formally ‘accept’ it but I do appreciate it! Thank you
Excellent present for your Dad, I hope he enjoyed it. It sounds like you should have blocked your ears tho’ rather than hearing all the scary stuff – sometimes it’s best not to know! I highly recommend the large (double?) G&no-T – the first time I flew to Australia I had a major attack of nerves and found stiff bloody Marys just the thing…I love camping, but yes, it does have to be hot (I just went camping on a Mediterreanean cliffside, border of France and Spain).
Ta for the new info, and I hope the guests/cooking/party weekend went well.