Alphen aan den Rijn february 24 2008
In this “in-between-soaring-period “, not a lot of gliding is happening. Of course you can still enjoy gliding in Oz and in the beginning of Februar still some nice flights were flown in Africa, but in Europe we can see on a few places, the same nice flights though in a little colder circumstances. Waiting is a nice practise for patience! Spring will be early this season, I just hear on the radio, so let it be!
The first “green ” flight will be made today from Londen to Amsterdam with a Virgin 747 which flies with 80% kerosine ans 20% bio-“fuel”. At this stage it is not sure if this “fuel” is made from palm oil or from algae. I am sure there will be a news-item about this somewhere on internet.
Something totally different.
This week I had 2 very unexpected meetings with 2 “guy’s ” I have not seen for 45 years. This was really interesting. It had nothing to do with my “soaring-life” but with my highschool time. One young blond highschool kid, you could not really oversee, specially while he had such blue eyes, did not change at all when I met him again after 45 years. He was only grey now.
I visited a storing place for art to select paintings for our next exhibition. The president of the foundation keeping an eye on this art, looked familiar, but not more then that.In the end when we were leaving he wrote his name on a card and that triggered it all. He was that highschool boy. He took us for lunch and we got all memories on the table. That was very nice and it was 45 years ago that I saw him last and since never even thought of him.
In the same week, I had to visit an opening of a exhibition from our TOP artist Armando in Amersfoort. The director of the the theater was ALSO a high school mate and good friend of my brother. Never saw him since 1968!!!
Well in Luesse and Rieti they work very hard to make life perfect for the pilots and crews visiting the World comps. In Africa and OZ they clean and repair and make improvements for next season, for sure another busy one!
In Tocumwal they will be ready next season too. The hangar and a brand new caravan park will be finished during this winterperiod. It pleases me highly that Toc will be back on the soaring map. I spend a lot of very good years there and a lot of you too. For sure I will be back there .
In Corowa they are preparing their bid for the 2012 World comps for open ,18 and 15m class, another very interesting devellopment. It would be great to see another world competition in Australia. The last one was in 1987 …….TOO long ago!!!
Well, that’s it for now. Will keep my eyes and ears open for you.
cheers Ritz