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Clear skies, a good turnout – the day looked set to be a good one. Then the pre-halloween spell kicked in. Pajero had to be helped out of the container with a push and then a tow start. The prime mover engine on the bus winch refused to start – left for a quiet 10 minutes it then co-operated. When removing the filler hose from the gas tank clouds of LPG erupted and there was nothing we could do until the tank emptied itself and froze everything nearby (including Chris K’s thumb). Over tea and bacon butties the theory was formulated that a ladybird had got lodged in the valve preventing it from shutting and tha pumping some gas in should clear it (there was a reason for suspecting a ladybird!). The theory proved to be sound (the blockage was cleared (but unproven if the culprit was a ladybird). Naturally, the bus engine refused to start (this time there was access to hook on jumper leads). Winch put in position, glider and caravan in position – we were raring to go. Towing out the cable, just short of the launch point, loud ping as the weak link broke on one cable – yup, drum overrun and a snarl-up.
So, we finally got to fly and Steve B flew the K8 to set the standard with a 15 minute flight and Peter E and myself were kept busy flying our keen new members. Just over an hour later Graham T showed me his soaring skills in a 38 minute flight along the sunny side of a cloud street. I sat in the back seat and enjoyed the autumn colours and the view of the showers to the south and east of us. To confirm we had broken the spell we also picked up a new member – Andrew Farrow had a trial lesson at the begining of the month and came back to sample some more and decided to join us.
Thanks to the C team, especially Chris K who fixed each problem encountered and then drove the winch for 20 of the 22 launches.

…in spite of the hour change, it still wasn’t fully light…..the field was so quiet it was spooky…but wait… what are those shadowy figures I see waiting at at the gate as I arrive?

Are they the ghosts of trial lessons past?

The undead (now then, now then!) waiting tirelessly for soarable weather?

Zombie ab initios marching inexorably towards the duty instructor baying for blood?

Souls of long departed glider pilots who roam the world restlessly howling for the days before the malign god EASA ruled the skies, sucking the heart out of our thermals?

Or have the committee just let the grass get a little too long?

Thanks to Chris for making me laugh out loud when I arrived in the gloom of this morning to see the lights flickering in their eyes.

Again a lovely autumn weekend day with thermals and a light northerly wind. A quiet start suggested sunday lie-ins but the launch point got progressively busier. 185 was the only private glider to rig but the club gliders were kept busy with soaring, annual checks and beginner lessons. Colin repaired the “new” Pajero so we are back to a full compliment of vehicles.

Another splendid day for October. No private owners rigged, but the four club aircraft were kept busy, amassing over 11hrs between them off their 24 launches, reaching over 4000ft again.