[Charles Hunt]

...or the smooth burble of a V12.

Catching my odometer on 111,111 this morning, coincidentally two sets of the racing number of my favourite 60s powerboat Surfury!

[T6Harvard]

Picking up on a few of the above...

Simple pleasures such as a beautiful sunset or a starlit night are priceless.

We have also found that small gestures have suddenly become magnified this last year. Back in May 2020 a friend posted a gift to me for no other reason than she knew I'd love it. It didn't cost much but the absolute kindness brought tears to my eyes. BTW the gift was a small tin with a beautiful picture of a Spitfire

It raised my awareness of small gestures being great things.

The knock on effect has been more thoughtfulness from our household. MrT6 bought some IWM postcards and carefully chose appropriate ones for friends and relatives (one about knitting for soldiers to a knitter, war recipes to a cook, etc, etc) , writing a short note before posting them far and wide. They were so well received.

[TheKentishFledgling]

Just heard a light aircraft fly overhead for the first time in eons. Raised a smile, even if it was a PA28

[akg1486]

A V8 burbling away as it warms up.

Indeed nice to hear, but a Spitfire doing a low pass sounds even better. And then I don't have the emotional connection that you Brits have.

As for the original question, I think that the times I've been flying these last twelve months have not only made me feel good: they've been instrumental for my sanity. I live alone and work from home, so even lacking the UK-style lockdown I feel like I've been in prison. Sartre wrote "Hell is other people." I used to believe that, but not anymore.

[akg1486]

Just heard a light aircraft fly overhead for the first time in eons. Raised a smile, even if it was a PA28

"even if"???

[TheKentishFledgling]

[T6Harvard]

A V8 burbling away as it warms up.

Indeed nice to hear, but a Spitfire doing a low pass sounds even better. And then I don't have the emotional connection that you Brits have.

As for the original question, I think that the times I've been flying these last twelve months have not only made me feel good: they've been instrumental for my sanity. I live alone and work from home, so even lacking the UK-style lockdown I feel like I've been in prison. Sartre wrote "Hell is other people." I used to believe that, but not anymore.

I can fully understand that working from home adds a whole new dimension to the need for a change of scene and face to face human interaction. Enjoy the flying and let's hope your proposed trip to Scotland is allowed in the near future.

[Rob P]

Indeed nice to hear, but a Spitfire doing a low pass sounds even better.

Not from inside I understand.

Rob P

[akg1486]

Indeed nice to hear, but a Spitfire doing a low pass sounds even better.

Not from inside I understand.

Rob P

Sadly no. I have to be content with the roar of a 160hp Lycoming.

Mind you: my car has no V8 either. I drive a Ford Fiesta diesel.

[Charles Hunt]

Some things are best kept private.

[Charles Hunt]

Right at this moment. Sainsbury's Taste the difference Traditional Kentish Ale.

[CloudHound]

Your the first person to ever mention Surfury - also my fav powerboat.

[Paultheparaglider]

Right at this moment. Sainsbury's Taste the difference Traditional Kentish Ale.

Just be careful, Charles. That one is apparently highly infectious. Your neighbours will be knocking on the door as we speak.

[TheKentishFledgling]

Right at this moment. Sainsbury's Taste the difference Traditional Kentish Ale.

The fact this is good surprises no one

[Bill McCarthy]

When this is over I’m heading south (on my own) to rediscover my old haunts of Chatham and Portsmouth.
I was standing by our submarine in refit in Chatham Dockyard. I want to see Rochester airport where I got my PPl in ‘76 - it was non radio then and I did a lot of bimbling round Kent. Country pubs I used to frequent were the “Yew Tree” near Lenham and the “Duke of Wellington” (Duke of Boot) out in the sticks. They’ve probably been swallowed up in some development or torn down for a motorway.