Monday 31st August 2009

Well after all the fun and excitement of yesterday it was back to Earls Colne today … this time with mum & Uncle Paul in the car – and guess who was working again ….. Debs!!!! It was a bank holiday today – so was better than a normal Monday! Was a good day as a few of yesterday’s ‘fan club’ came in for a chat and also a look at the pictures on Facebook!! I love being a little superstar flying bear!!

Sunday 30th August 2009

Another air show – and this time it’s one run by another bear … Pudsey Bear – we are off to the Little Gransden Air Show!! Quite a few of our friends are going so it should be a good day. I flew in with Uncle Vernon and friends in CV – call sign ‘Pudsey 33’!!! We met up with Debs and she took me around the show introducing me to people and we gave out loads of flyers. It was such a squash when we went to the pilots’s brief and there was so much to sort out …. Grandad & Uncle Dave were planning their escape after their slot! I flew with Uncle Nigel today & we started off in formation (of sorts) with a Yak 18 – unusual looking machine – had a really funny looking nose cowl! Then Nigel ‘strutted his stuff’ including one of those lomcevak things … I still don’t know how he knows which way is up??!! I was supposed to go flying with Uncle Dale in a Cornell … but unfortunately it went tech – so didn’t get a go in that. Finally after a busy day I hitched a lift back to Hardwick with Debs & Uncle Nigel – as mum also managed to beat an early escape from the show! Phew - was tired and glad to get to my bed after the fun of today.

Saturday 29th August 2009

Cor – Debs was working again … I can’t get rid of her!!! Uncle Nigel was busy cleaning the Yak for tomorrow and I expect the Hardwick Crew are doing the same to the aircraft up there … shame I can’t help coz this cleaning stuff really plays havoc with my fur … and let’s face it – a little superstar bear like me shouldn’t be cleaning aircraft!!!!

Friday 28th August 2009

Debs was working at Earls Colne today – as Firewoman Victoria has been on holiday all week – well it is the end of the holidays …. nearly time for all the kiddies to go back to school!! I helped on the desk today – and promoted our charity – loads of visitors were asking me about it – so I was able to give out some flyers!

Thursday 27th August 2009

Poor mum was really stressed today – she’s having trouble with the printers for the calendar. She wants them for the air show this weekend, but they’re still not ready – even though they have been promised. Mum really wants to see the finished article – and then get selling them!!!! Come on peeps – buy one of our fab calendars – orders placed on line!!!

Wednesday 26th August 2009

Yippee – Uncle Paul remembered to take me flying today – at last, I LOVE being in the air! We had to take GBZET across to Andrewsfield for maintenance – I was pleased how good my nav was on this flight – I found the airfield before Uncle Paul!! We then had to fly GBNRL back to Earls Colne as it had just come out of maintenance … Uncle Paul used me as a guinea pig to practice his instructor skills on …. Cor he’s a hard task master!!

Tuesday 25th August 2009

Well I’m still enjoying my time at Earls Colne – but they STILL keep forgetting to take me flying … booo!! But I think perhaps I should be at home helping mum – she’s got so much to do with organising the Air Show; the calendar; the raffle – didn’t realise how much there was to do to raise some money for charity!

Monday 24th August 2009

Hee hee air show fever seems to have caught the imagination of EGSR pilots and friends as there’s lots of planning about attending the Little Gransden show – at which I am starring I’d just like to say!! Mum & Uncle Paul are going of course (!) & they have drummed up support from Vernon (who’s flying in with a couple of friends); Andy & Lisa are driving; Uncle Tim is coming with a crew from Seething and of course Debs & Nigel will be there! Mmm me thinks I have a mobile fan club – LOL!!

Sunday 23rd August 2009

Yippee – I went flying today – in a new aircraft to me – a TB10, G-TZEE. I went with Andy, a friend of Uncle Pauls and we went on a local bimble. It was a nice day for it with great viz … I could see Canary Wharf when we took off and also see the coast. This was quite a comfortable aircraft – a good one to tour in says Uncle Paul – quite a change from the Mustang … but I know which one I would chose!!!

Saturday 22nd August 2009

Cor Earls Colne was busy today – they were holding a ‘Formation School Day’ & the clubhouse was packed at 09:00 with the eager pilots ready to listen to Uncle Nigels brief! Crumbs I didn’t realise there was so much to formation flying – my head was spinning after listening to that lot, Grandad & Uncle Dave make it look so easy! I’m going to watch what they do next time I fly with them …. see if they follow the rules correctly – hee hee!! Richard Grace was here helping Uncle Nigel with the training – it was fun watching them do the take offs and landings … good day.

Friday 21st August 2009

Another Earls Colne day … think I’m going to have to learn to do the radio or something – need to earn my keep here!!! It was American Air Day at Duxford today & we were hoping for some transiting traffic to come through our zone – but no such luck. Ho hum ….. need to fly!!!!!

Thursday 20th August 2009

Still no flying today – they keep forgetting me – boo!!! Think I need to go and stand by the door so I am right in their faces – then they won’t forget!! Think mum & Uncle Paul are having a competition to see who can sell the most raffle tickets …. Hate to tell Uncle Paul that he has NO chance …. Mum has sold LOADS!!!! Yippee!

Wednesday 19th August 2009

Think I’m doing too good a job of customer service as they keep forgetting to take me flying … oi!!!! I want to fly!! Mind you I think Firewoman Victoria was glad of my company as you can only have so much of mens club in one day – hee hee!! Anyway we enjoyed ourselves on Facebook …. Looking at all the pics from the weekend!

Tuesday 18th August 2009

Spent the day at Earls Colne with Uncle Paul – well as a new instructor I thought I’d give him some support … and mum asked me to look after him!! We made sure we chatted to the students all about the calendar and the charity …. And of course we asked them to buy some tickets to win little ole me!!

Monday 17th August 2009

Well after that busy flying weekend it was nice to have a bit of a break on Monday!! Mind you saying that mum is still busy with the Shipdham Air Show, the calendar & my raffle … while Debs & Uncle Nigel are sorting out the Seething show …. hee hee there’s still lots of flying to be done & air shows to attend. I LOVE being a little flying superstar bear!!

Sunday 16th August 2009

More flying today as mum & me were off to Rougham. It’s their main air show today and mum is flying the Auster as part of the ‘Breakout Scenario’ during the display. It was a fantastic show – lots of aircraft – pyrotechnics – and sunshine!!! Uncle Nigel had been busy and had arranged for all the programmes to have flyers about our air show & charity in them … so everyone at Rougham knew all about little ole me & what I’m up to!! I’m hope after the raffle my new family are aviation buffs and still take me to air shows … coz I’d miss these if I couldn’t go any more.

Saturday 15th August 2009

The big day at last!! Lots of preparation going on at Hardwick to get everything ready for today – all the aircraft were gleaming. Mum & I went in the Harvard as mum was flying it as a cameraship to photograph the 3 Mustangs going into Fowlmere … wow – it was awesome!! Grandad was flying the star of the show – Marinell; while Uncle Dave was flying Janie & Uncle Rob was flying The Doll – fantastic sight … brilliantly supervised by a superstar little bear!!! We spent a lovely day at Fowlmere – and mum made sure she told everyone about me and the charity – and sold more tickets / calendars. To top off a brilliant day I flew home with Uncle Dave in my namesake …. Cor I was a tired little bear when we got back to Hardwick.

Friday 14th August 2009

Well after my fun week with all the helicopters it was time to stop whirring around and come back down to earth! Auntie Janet came to pick me up to take me back to see mum – oooh I have missed her and Grandad & all those aircraft. Mum was so pleased to see me and made such a fuss of me! Then we had to spend some time cleaning the little Auster ready for our display at Rougham on Sunday and most importantly we had to get the Mustangs ready for Saturday’s adventure. We’re off to Fowlmere for the 65th anniversary since Marinell took off on her last mission before being shot down – ooohh it’s going to be emotional. Mum is flying the camera ship to take photos of Marinell with Janie & Big Beautiful Doll …. Wonder where I’m flying??

Thursday 13th August 2009

Well no chance to sit down and relax today ... busy busy day ... I had 3 flights to do today and managed to clock up 2hrs 10 mins in 3 different helicopters!!! My 1st job was with the 'Boys in Blue' in their helicopter - and WOW!!! I've never seen so many different gadgets and buttons on it - that machine could do everything bar make a cup of tea!! It really was a case of so many buttons so little time ... my paws were itching to have a go! After that we went in a big Sterling machine to go and do a Pipeline Survey ... cameras to play with this time. Finally I got to go on a local bimble in Sterling's baby helicopter - that was great fun!

Wednesday 12th August 2009

Well after all my excitment of yesterday I had a day of rest at Sterling today - and they looked after me very well, well I am a little superstar bear after all!! I was kept in tea and biscuits and had the most comfy chair to relax in!! The guys at Sterling were all very interested in what we're getting up to, so I was able to show them our website - they liked the calendar - hey mum ... we should have asked these guys to do it!!!! They said our airshow sounded really good - I keep trying to talk them into coming in ... wonder if they will??

Tuesday 11th August 2009

Big day for me today .... my training flight on the Air Ambulance Helicopter! Cor it was a HUGE yellow machine (you'd never miss this!!). I went in G-RESC (cool reg!!) and I was surprised how manoeuvrable it was - we were whizzing everywhere!! Captain Barton was a very nice man & he let me have a fly .... it was great fun!! They are really good helicopters completely kitted out for any emergency - hope we don't have to use it for real.

Monday 10th August 2009

Ooooh I thought I was in trouble today when Auntie Janet said she was taking me to the Police - eek!! But it was ok coz they are friendly policemen that fly around in the police helicopter (now I know who makes all that noise at night!!)- men in uniform - must remember to tell Firewoman Victoria!! Anyway the people from Sterling Helicopters are going to look after me for the rest of the week - and take me up in the helicopters as they operate the Police heli; Air Ambulance; & their own fleet - wow!!! Looks like I'm in for a fun week.

Sunday 9th August 2009

Back to Shipdham today for some more gliding – I’m getting to like this lark! I went in the Faulke motor glider with Bruce Owen & Geoff Draycott and we had a special little job to do – well they needed a special bear to oversee this special job you see! We had to fly over a little fete so that the people could guess the height of us …. Hee hee that was fun!

Saturday 8th August 2009

Mum & I went off on a little fly out to Shipdham today to have a meeting about the Open Day in September – we met up with Nigel & Debs again, and I got to meet Uncle Phil for the 1st time (heard he was a very nice ‘Uncle’ to Pudsey when Nigel & Debs had a flying year with him). It was a good meeting and it almost seems we're there – just got a few last minute issues – like toilets & banners, but we’re working on it!!! Mum had arranged for me to have a little holiday with Auntie Janet (the wife of one of the naked glider pilots) … ooooh hope he doesn’t want to do another photoshoot!! So she left me in the care of Auntie Janet as she wanted to get home & celebrate Paul passing his test to become a flying instructor – yay well done Paul!! Auntie Janet arranged for me to go for lots of glider flights … I was rather worried at first as there is NO ENGINE!!!!! But Lauren was fab & showed me exactly what to do and how to come safely back to earth – wow – these glider pilots are quite skilful! We had to stop our gliding for a little while as Debs went solo in the Yak for the 1st time (but it was ok coz we went again as soon as she was down!!) – and then it was time for a little celebration – yippee!!

Friday 7th August 2009

Mum & I had to get organised tonight with regard to the airshow ... want to be prepared for our meeting.

Thursday 6th August 2009

Nearly the weekend – yippee – coz the weekend means flying!

Wednesday 5th August 2009

Airfield night tonight – these Wednesday evenings come around so quickly! Still trying to keep away from those mucky engines – that oil messes my fur up!!

Tuesday 4th August 2009

More airshow planning
More ticket selling
More calendar plugging
Gosh we’re sooo busy!!

Monday 3rd August

Monday – no flying – back to work ….. the weekends just go soooooo quickly! We chased printers for proofs today – as we’re just longing to see this calendar in all its glory!! Mum has been busy again trying to arrange to get 500 envelopes and carrier bags for calendars when we sell them at airshows but with no luck – poor mum – she’s going to try again tomorrow. But on a positive note we did sell 15 more raffle tickets and some more calendars (& they’re sold unseen!!). Later I went to airfield to do some paperwork with mum – no rest for the wicked!!!

Sunday 2nd August

Well after yesterday’s disappointing flying/weather Mum & I decided to cheer ourselves up with a flight in the T6, when it started – we’re jinxed!! We had a fly around Framlingham and Southwold – I really like it round there. We saw the castle at Framlingham & it’s surprising how small it looks from the air … looked like there were plenty of visitors enjoying a lovely day out! Then at Southwold we spotted the lighthouse – I’m told there is a very nice pub there … wonder if mum will take me there for lunch?? Well it won’t be today as we had more visitors to see to and we handed out loads more flyers!!

Saturday 1st August

British Weather strikes again – NOT happy :-{ Weather was pants so mum & me couldn’t go to East Kirkby as Auster wouldn't beat the weather back and Uncle Chris & the Stearman didn’t go either. But I did manage to get there with Grandad in Marinell as we opened the show with Uncle Dave in Janie – but we based out of 104 so didn’t get to land and see Debs & Nigel again – but Debs did get some pictures! In the end it turned out that the weather wasn’t as bad as predicted so we could have all gone …. Grrrrrrrrr!! Well for some positive news – we sold 20 more raffle tickets!