I’d answer your question but that would be suspiciously like ” chat “.What the hell – no particular connection ,I’ve just always been fascinated by aeroplanes that can operate from water.I love ’em all,particularly the Sunderland.Getting inside the MkV being restored in Auckland last year was my idea of heaven.

The dear old soul’s going back to Australia soon,to the place where everything is better and even the Cheezy Puffs taste cheesier.Thanks for all the suggestions,we actually did get him a folding umbrella and I hope he enjoys using it in the rare event that rain replaces the sunshine Down Under.

And not only governments – common sense seems to have become as rare as hen’s teeth these days. Or am I the only person who thinks that ?

Like I kept smiling when I was unblocking the downstairs bog earlier this week. It’s all part of life’s rich pageant .

Reading my new book about the flying boat factory at Windermere ( written by a chap on here ) , whilst listening to Pink Floyd’s Keep Talking on my MP3 player and eating a fairy cake my daughter had just made . Bliss !!

You may be terrified now,but I bet you’ll want to go back and do it again the minute your feet touch the ground !My daughter’s the same age as you and a couple of years ago she did a skydive from 1O,OOO feet onto a beach in Australia.She won’t let us hear the sound on the DVD of her doing it because the first few minutes she’s swearing very badly indeed,but the sense of exhilaration and achievement more than made up for the nerves beforehand.Good on you for being so brave.

Shakespeare couldn’t have put it better !