Where do I begin with today’s letter? I think I’ll turn the sequence around… I’ll begin with helicopters. Why helicopters? Because there’s an old saying… if you have jet-fuel in your veins it never leaves. Yes, I spent years in the South African Air Force. The last few years as a chopper flight engineer. (I’ve written about here and here.)
Chopper flying is addictive. You get a buzz from it that you can’t get off fixed wing flying. Especially operational military flying. Imagine mountain frying* sorry, flying in the snow or sea rescue in a storm or flood relief in the aftermath of a subtropical deluge. You get to earn your keep in those kinds of situations.
OK… enough about flying. Now… for a little help, if you may! Any literary agents or publishers out there… I’d like to make contact, please.
Then, since this April A to Z has begun I’ve made a good few new virtual friends! Hello and welcome to you all… I hope you’ll keep visiting, even after the month goes by. As per usual… thanks to all the regulars as well! Knowing I may be spreading a smile or two every day makes my day somewhat brighter! Thanks!
The photos are copies of originals… authentic, from my flying days. I’m in both photos…
*PS – Thanks to Susan for pointing out my slip of the finger… do read her comments below!! Also, it’s actually quite justified as I pointed out a little error on one of her posts just days ago… justice!!
Ouch!! My back hurts!! 
Fantastic pictures and a great insight into a world most know little of except what is bandied in the press, I suspect with little accuracy. Email me if you would like – I was a literary agent in a previous life and I may have some suggestions.
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WoW!! Thanks… I will most certainly take your advice!! I need a few breaks!! That I do!! 😉
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Beautiful pics. Thank you for sharing them with us.
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Love the pictures! Kudos to you for flying the chopper in a storm and rescuing/ helping people 🙂
I would surely follow your blog even after this challenge is over! I really enjoy reading your posts 🙂
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Oh, thanks!! You’re so kind… I’ll do likewise as I enjoy your posts as well! 😀
On 11 April 2016 at 17:02, Ouch!! My back hurts!! wrote:
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Like everyone said: spectacular flying formation. I’ve only had the privilege of flying in a helicopter once as a passenger and only for about 10 minutes but I was hooked after that.
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Thanks! Low level flying along a coastline is terrific! The coast where you live should be some place to see from a chopper. Make friends with a chopper pilot or two in the area. I’m sure they’ll be at iron-man events!! 😉 😉
On 10 April 2016 at 00:17, Ouch!! My back hurts!! wrote:
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They are, but spare seats aren’t easy to come by!
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The key is to invite them to a real Saffer braai or three… they’ll be your buddies for life! Then you’ll never be short of a seat!! 😉 Promise!! 😀
On 10 April 2016 at 10:16, Ouch!! My back hurts!! wrote:
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I’ll keep that in mind, thanks!
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Beautiful photos! My fear of heights will keep me out of any voluntary helicopter rides but I can enjoy photos such as yours. I am forever grateful for helicopters and their pilots. A helicopter pilot and the medical team he carried saved the life of our daughter-in-law and youngest grandson. Even though the hospital was nearby, going by ambulance would have been too late. You people rock!
I browsed through your archives and I do plan to stick around after the challenge is over, so Hello to you.
Sorry, can’t help you on the middle H. Not an agent
http://floridamom-nature.blogspot.com/
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Thanks for your comment! It gives me goose flesh when I hear of life saving rescues carried out by chopper crews!!
Yep… I reckon the most positive part of this A to Z has been meeting so many great folk! Thanks and welcome! 😉
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What a fabulous post – and that photo of the stacked helicopters is incredible! As for your comments regarding meeting new people through the A-Z Challenge – I intend to continue to follow your entertaining blog. 🙂
Susan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you! I most definitely intend following yours as well!! I really enjoy the way you entice us to follow along! 😉
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‘…frying in the snow’? Freudian slip or something? Vrek those are nice photos! Which mountains/berge are you in? And which sea? Just curious. You have surely earned your keep. Bringing a smile to the reader on your pages is also earning your keep, so thank you:) Lovely post AJ dankie!
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Oh gosh… my time for a slip! Oh well, Freudians don’t change their spots… do they??
Southern Drakensberg, Elliot way, mountain flying camp in about 1987… I think
Cape Recife Lighthouse, Port Elizabeth. I was based at 16 SQN.
Thanks to you too… your correction and comment made me smile!! 😉
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P.E. came to mind – perhaps because I was born there so this is nice for me thank you 🙂
No, I don’t think Freudians change their spots – what do you think? Frying in the snow – I’ll never forget that … a twist on Dante or something …
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Hot stuff… flying in the snow! Look back to my “Brothers” Post… a bit more history and a few more photos of PE and surrounds… from longggggg ago! 😉 (maybe I’m giving away too much of my past… )
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Don’t worry be happy. Will definitely investigate past posts when A-Z is finished and klaar. And after recovery of it …
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Just by the way… I’ve braaied in the snow here in Ireland! I still do the Christmas roasts on the braai every year… FUN!! 😉
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Beer braai and biltong what more could anyone want no matter where – hard to beat snow though for extra flavor …
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Daardie formasievlug is ‘n fantastiese skouspel, maar o hemel, my senuwees sal dit nie hou as ek so baie lugverkeer om my het nie. Dit moet erger wees as die N3 tussen Durban en Johannesburg oor ‘n paasnaweek. Ek is bly die A-Z het veroorsaak dat ons mekaar raakgeloop het – jy is die enigste persoon op aarde wat my kan voorstel aan ‘n leprechaun.
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Nou het jy my gaande… “L” is baie naby. Ek dink daar kan dalk net ‘n ou leprechaun possie gebeur! Dankie…
BTW… my senuwees was ook gedaan… ek was glad nie lief vir bergvlieg nie… veral nie mey jong, onervare student vlieëniers nie!! (At that stage the squadron did advanced heli training for already qualified pilots but when it came to the mountains it was usually a nervy affair!!)
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Die formasie in die berge is skouspelagtig!
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Dit was nogal ‘n ervaaring… my senuwees was dikwils ge… stukkend!! 😉
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Incredible helicopter photos. Love them. Hello to you to, glad I’ve found your blog through this alphabet challenge. Thanks for sharing a bit about your life in this post.
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The A to Z is really working – meeting new folk is great! Chopper flying was great… it was a life not understood by many but we tried to be of service! 😀
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Spectacular images! Amazing story. Thank you.
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Thanks you… glad you enjoyed it! 😉
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