So we've played this game before, and you may have a small clue as to where this might be leading, but here it goes anyway....

So yes, it's been a while since my last blog post, but in my defence I've been a tad busy with studying which very quickly saps any spare brain capacity I normally have.  As our days here reduce rapidly in number, the pressure, intensity and schedule have ramped up immensely. It's fair to say that over the past week if I haven't been flying, I've been in class, studying, eating or sleeping but today all the book work and silly questions to Scott or Ryan paid off. I passed my FAA written exam........with 90%.

Don't worry, I'm not trying to inundate you with blogs to read, it's just that tonight was so magical, so spectacular, I felt the need to commit it to text while it was still fresh in my memory and the adrenalin was still coursing through my veins. Well, that and I had so much coffee to keep me awake until this un-Godly hour long past my bed-time, that it would be impossible for me to sleep right now anyway!

So there's already a lot that you'll know about me and my life from reading my blogs and the information pages on this site, but there are a few more things I would like to share with you and, for reasons that will become apparent, I want to share them with you now.

OK, not so much blood as lots and lots of bruises, but it's almost the same thing; a visual indicator of just how physical this flying malarky is! (Well, that and I bruise like a peach!) I'm not ashamed to say that this week was a difficult one for me both physically and emotionally and in all honesty, in the darkest moments, I felt like giving up...

So we've already established that my first foray into aviation was a bit shabby (to say the least!) and that, despite some brief colly-wobbles, I was determined to stick at it. My second flight was in stark contrast to my first, with me performing the take-off (well, I'm sure I had some assistance from Ryan) and then carrying out some climbs and descents, level turns and straight and level flight. By the time I landed I was well and truly hooked on flying, though the idea of flying solo and achieving my PPL inside 6 weeks seemed impossible!

So I'm here, landed, in situ, the good ol' US of A and I can report that it is brilliant! It's hot, very hot, they talk funny, drive big cars and say 'you're welcome' whenever you thank them for something.  It's awesome and everything I could have hoped for and more. Then you factor in the flying and wow........my mind is well and truly blown!

As every pilot will tell you, a good wing-man is essential (reference 1986 film Top Gun). He will support you, steer you clear from trouble, watch your back and never leave you....

It's recently come to my attention that I may be teensy tiny bit OCD.  I don't say this lightly though, and while I appreciate this can be a debilitating condition for some, it has reared its head in my life in some rather irritating, freakish and peculiar ways!

I've had so many fantastic compliments about the site and my 1st blog it's been truly overwhelming! But of course it also means I have a lot to live up to and this is the difficult 2nd blog.  Unfortunately though, it's difficult for more than just having to live up to people's expectations.  It's difficult because, just as people are celebrating their achievements or wedding in Vegas, booking their holidays or writing lists to organise their summer of fun and flying, life comes along and reminds you that you can make all the plans in the world, but you're still not the one in charge....

So I guess it's time I finally got this thing off the ground (if you'll pardon the pun) as I've been talking about it for long enough now!  This is my inaugural blog and I thought I'd use it to tell you how I got here and how I came to be preparing myself for this epic adventure!