Wednesday 30th September 2009

Still on the calendar sponsor hunt today … & we are out to dinner tonight with a potential new sponsor … such a tough job but someone’s got to do it!! **smiley face**
If I hadn’t been so busy with these calendars I could have gone to RAF Wittering today with Uncle Nigel & Debs as they’d gone in for a GA day. Cor – sounded like fun – I could have had a sit in the Harrier … and also a go on the simulator – sure that all would have been a piece of cake for a superstar little bear like me!! **smiley face**

Tuesday 29th September 2009

Well it’s non-stop for us ‘charity people’ – so much to do!! Today mum & me were getting a collecting box ready to take with us on Saturday – as we’re off to Shoreham! Looking forward to that as I haven’t been there before and it’s supposed to be really good … and of course – it’s another excuse to go flying in a Mustang ** smiley face **!! Mum & I are going to be busy promoting Bearfacedcheek and hoping to sell lots of calendars and lots of raffle tickets for little ol me … hey(!) the Shoreham area could become my new home ** smiley face **!
Mum & I are also busy trying to find a new printer to do the calendar reprint – coz this one is selling so well we want to do another 500 print run!! But that also means we need to find another 12 sponsors (groan!) so that we have the money to print it again (oooh there is sooo much to do to print a calendar!!) … but mum has been working miracles and we already have 4 new sponsors … only 8 to go – LOL!!! **smiley face**

Monday 28th September 2009

Ahhh – the day after the day before!! Relaxing day today – no planning – no preparation – no stressing … just a day of counting money!! Well after counting – recounting – and counting again (!!) – our grand total for the airshow has come to £4124.56 …. WOW!!! Thank you everyone who supported the event!!
Mum has been busy reading all the reviews on the airshow forums – there are some nice pictures of the event and some nice photos of mum & me! Well actually there is something wrong there as there are more pictures of mum than me … and I am the Superstar Bear!!!
Finished the day off at Earls Colne to see Uncle Paul … nice to see him working while we relaxed – hee hee!! Mum is now turning her attention to ‘Party in Pink’ on 16-01-10 at Earsham Hall- I’m looking forward to this as it’s mums birthday and a chance to party – BUT – it’s also the raffle for people to win me – so it’s going to be when I find out who my new family are. So on one hand it’s quite exciting; but on another it’s going to be sad saying good bye to mum **sniffle** ….

Sunday 27th September 2009

Yay!!! At last – our big day – the bearfacedcheek2010 Airshow!!!! It started off misty & a bit foggy in places this morning and therefore held people up for a while – but then the weather broke and it was the most glorious day – just the sort of day you pray for – fantastic!! The day was great – mum & me were kept busy on our stall … Nannie Diane came & helped us, as did Uncle Paul. We sold loads of calendars – mum has less than 100 left now! Loads of raffle tickets to win me (who can refuse that!!) were also sold, as well as raffle tickets for prises on the day – cor we were busy!
Then it was time for the air display – I wanted to fly, but mum wouldn’t let me – said I had to help promote the calendar & tickets … boo!! Well the guys (& gel!) were brilliant and put on a fantastic display – saw a new formation grouping of the Harvard & the Yak – hey they looked good together … wonder if we’ll see them again?? Debs was kept busy doing her FDD bit – have to keep these display pilots in order you know!! She also had to keep the public away from their aircraft during the display – good job she’s bossy – hee hee!! Well all in all a fantastic day & we were all shattered at the end – have to see how much we’ve raised now …

Saturday 26th September 2009

Final preparations for the show today – and we really really hope the weather tomorrow is as good as today … everything is crossed!! The runway and the parking area has been swept – TWICE – so should be ok for all our display aircraft. Can’t wait to see them all here – what a wonderful collection we have … P40 Kittyhawk; Spitfire; 2 x P51 Mustangs; Extra 300; Harvard; Yak 52; Dukes of Cassutt …. wow!! Mum has enlisted her army of helpers to bring everything over – cor these boxes of calendars are heavy!!
Uncle Phil has also been busy with the organisation of the Shipdham crew – we have some nice men who are marshalling our aircraft; we also have 2 other nice men – Duncan & Glen – who are going to do the radio for us; and we have the RAF helicopter coming in to fly the ATC cadets … wonder if I can hitch a ride in it??! I have been helping mum bag up the sweeties to sell & I was doing a very good quality control check … until she stopped me – ooops!! Can’t wait for tomorrow – going to get an early night so that it comes quickly …!!

Friday 25th September 2009

Ooooh what an exciting day mum & I have had today!!! We have been very busy at Shipdham Airfield setting up our gazebo – cor it was big and needed a lot of people to put it up – I supervised of course!! Mum was so excited putting our banner up – it looked great on top – and will attract the punters I’m sure . Mum has got all her tables organised – we’ve got one selling the sweeties (if Uncle Paul leaves them alone!); one selling calendars (it would be great if we could sell out!!) & the final one selling raffle tickets to win me … oooh I might get to meet my new family!!
Then came the exciting bit of the day – mum & I were whisked off to Radio Wayland to be interviewed live on air … WOW!! Mum was sooooo nervous – but she was brilliant – so much so I couldn’t get a word in edgeways – LOL!! She explained all about what we were doing and took a calendar too – oooh it made me blush to look at all those bums again!! The man on the radio was ever so nice and treated us like celebrities – ooooh I could get used to this!! Uncle Tim managed to put the interview on Facebook … so there is no excuse not to listen to it!!!

Thursday 24th September 2009

Ooooh we've had a fun day today ... sorting out the sweeties for our sweet stall at the airshhow ... but we had to be careful that Uncle Paul didn't nick them all!!!
Mum got her camera out & took some pictures of him with all the sweets and she then posted them on facebook - guess I had better be careful what I get up to around her & her camera - LOL!!!

Wednesday 23rd September 2009

Hope we have some calendars left for our Airshow ... they are going like hot cakes!! Poor mum is now stressing & worrying about them - should we have printed more in the 1st place?? Ooooh this charity work is so stressful!

Tuesday 22nd September 2009

Mum has been so busy with the organisation for our Airshow ... good job I'm here to help her - such a considerate bear I am!!! Never realised there was soooooo much to do ....

Monday 21st September 2009

Day spent with mum today - really good to catch up as I have missed her these last few weeks. We've spent a happy day today doing lots of girlie stuff - lovely! We did spend some time looking at the Airshow Reviews on the Forums - oooh mum - lots of pictures of you - & some of little ol me!! We also updated my Facebook page - hey I've got lots of friends!!!

Sunday 20th September 2009

Wow – it was a lovely flying day today – the weather was perfect ... only problem was I didn’t get to fly. But it was all in a good cause as I was sales girl again for the calendar & raffle tickets – and we sold lots again – and some calendars ... wow they’re going quick! Hardwick was very busy today as it was the open day – a few people flew in – Uncle Nigel & Debs amongst them ... & some of last night’s party people were still there too! Grandad & Uncle Dave were kept busy in the Mustangs ... well that’s what people come to see fly! The Harvard was also kept busy – but as Chris was away in the USA the Stearman didn’t fly today. After another busy day promoting next weeks airshow & selling tickets & calendars Grandad got the BBQ out ... mmmm yummy!
Mum & I have had some fun looking at our pictures on the forums on-line ... there’s a really nice one of both of us before our display & another one of us in the air – hee hee you can see me helping mum with her display! What a great weekend we’ve had ... wonder what next week holds??

Saturday 19th September 2009

I've been looking forward to today - as I get to see mum again after my 2 week holiday ... I have missed her. I flew with Uncle Dale in G-BOTH to Elmsett for their Open Day. I was ‘guest of honour’ on the ‘Ted-Devils’ stall ... these are the dare-devil teddies that go parachuting from the Yak!!! Well rather them than me – why would you want to leave a perfectly serviceable aircraft??!! So instead of parachuting I made sure we were plugging the calendar – I quite enjoyed being the sales girl! Mum also took me flying on her display – we had our photo taken 1st & it was for the UK Airshow Forum (ooooh – POSH) - & he also got some pictures of our display (oh ok ... mum’s display!!). The SAR Seaking was in from Wattisham & I wanted to go & say hello to my old mates – but I was kept busy on the stall ... but I did make sure I told EVERYONE about the display next week!
Well after our fun-filled day I headed home with mum in the Stearman – she was a bit nervous as it has been a while since she’s flown it – but she was fine. We finished off the day with a BBQ at Hardwick – glad to be back!!

Friday 18th September 2009

Last day at Norwich today & no flying again – but also no more airlaw study or exam ... I was a bit worried about that!! Instead I had a lovely day playing with Scarlett ... I shall miss her when I’ve gone back to mum (wonder if she’ll have a little baby for me to play with??!!). Uncle Dale was busy today putting the finishing touches for the display routine tomorrow ... it’s looking good!!

Thursday 17th September 2009

Uncle Dale has been looking at Auntie Andrea’s pictures she took of BBMF aircraft last week. They really are very good – some lovely shots there. They had been deciding which ones to print out & the choice was really huge!! Well done Auntie Andrea ... “Andrea Snapper-Flash”!!

Wednesday 16th September 2009

Managed to escape airlaw today – phew! Instead I played with Scarlett and we were reading stories about ‘In the Night Garden’ – much much more enjoyable!! Don’t want to read an airlaw book ever again ... can’t believe mum had to learn this stuff!!

Tuesday 15th September 2009

Uncle Dale has got some good training cds he uses for ground school with his students & he thought it would be a good idea for me to learn about airlaw ... oooh I’ve got a headache now – it’s sooo boring!! Ooops – don’t think I’m supposed to say that but the subject is just so huge & there is just so much to learn ... I hope he doesn’t make me sit the exam!!

Monday 14th September 2009

Day off again – can’t believe I’ve been here over a week now – really enjoying myself here in Norwich. Hope mum isn’t too busy without me to help her!! Bet Debs & Nigel are busy with planning the Elmsett show too – Uncle Dale has been planning his routine for that show!

Sunday 13th September 2009

Had some more internet time today & went looking at the aviation forums – cor there’s lots of photos on those sites!! Found lots of Grandad’s aircraft - & especially my namesake – Janie! Was pleased to see some of mum too & Nigel & the Yak!

Saturday 12th September 2009

Thought I’d help Debs out & update the website with my diary exploits ... oooh there’s lots of catching up to do!! Also managed to post some pictures from airshows in the summer!

Friday 11th September 2009

Quiet day today with no flying – but that’s ok coz it meant more time to play with Scarlett’s toys!! Wonder how mum is getting on with planning the airshow??

Thursday 10th September 2009

More circuits at Norwich in the C150 G-BABD ... this was the little aircraft that Debs had her 1st lesson in **smiley face**.
Then it was time for a special flight as it was a 1st solo for one of Dales students – J Dimarco. Good job I was there to keep the nerves calm - & it worked as it was a brilliant 1st solo – yippee another pilot is born!!
CONGRATS **smiley face**

Wednesday 9th September 2009

Ooooh look at the date today – 09-09-09 & clever Uncle Dale took us flying & we were airborne at 09:09 ... spooky!!! We went to RAF Conningsby in G-BOTH for a very special assignment. Auntie Andrea is going to do some air-to-air photos of BBMF Spitfire, Hurricane & Dakota – wow, that was fun!! There’s a lot more to aerial photography than I realised & Auntie Andrea is really good - & patient to put up with Uncle Dale’s nagging!!
When we got back to Norwich I went on a skills test with uncle Dale in another C150 ... I feel so sorry for those poor students!!

Tuesday 8th September 2009

Relaxing day today – well a little superstar bear needs to get her beauty sleep & keep her energy levels up!! It was really nice relaxing at Andrea & Dale’s cottage – they have a fab picture in their lounge of them in another Yak – G-YAKO ... nice picture but shame about the Yak colour scheme lol!! (Think that’s a running joke between the Featherbys & Nigel & Debs)!!

Monday 7th September 2009

Mondays are Dale & Andrea’s day off so it was a ‘no-fly day’ – but it was an exciting day for me – Scarlett was busy showing me all her toys – wow!! We had great fun playing with them all – I hope Andrea & Dale have bought some raffle tickets – I’d like to live here!!

Sunday 6th September 2009

Different little aircraft to fly in today – a C150 ... bit of a squeeze with me, a student & Uncle Dale!! Ooops – hope he doesn’t read my diary – hee hee!! We done some circuits ... ooh they feel different at a big airport & the ATC was so posh – had to behave my self!!
Norwich City looks good from the air – the cathedral stands out really well. Good 1st day me thinks!!

Saturday 5th September 2009

Early start for us today as we had to get to Seething by 08:30 for the airshow briefing ... yawn - I was sleepy!! Debs was very nervous as she was FDD and had lots to do & worry about - I did tell her not to worry as I was there to help her .... but she didn't look too relaxed about that!!! Well her brief was ok and all the pilots behaved! Poor mum was a bit stuck coz of the wind and couldn't actually land at Seething (boo - I missed her & wanted to see her!) But she based out of Hardwick & done a lovely routine with John Dodds in a cub... need to find her some music to display to then that will look perfect! Uncle Dave & Grandad made it in in the Mustangs and done a good paired display ... after Grandad 'shot' down a ME108 ... wish i was with him - I'd have got him Grandad!! Then Nigel & Debs started chucking Teddy Bears out of the Yak for a 'Ted Devil Parachute Display' .... oooohhh not sure I want to fly with them again - I don't want to be chucked out!! Anyway after the display I got a treat - I went to spend some time with Uncle Dale at Anglia Flight at Norwich INTERNATIONAL (wooo!!!) Airport. We had a nice flight back in a C182 with his daughter Scarlett - ahhh she's a sweetie ... wonder what fun we'll get up to on my little holiday ....

Friday 4th September 2009

Another Earls Colne day – and it was rather windy today so I didn’t manage to get a flight – boo. Debs was hoping to move the Yak from Earls Colne to Elmsett ready for an early start Saturday morning to Seething and Victoria & I were going with her. But the wind was too strong and Uncle Nigel had to come and do it – well Victoria got to fly in it still – but in her excitement she forgot me so I didn’t go – grrrr!!!!

Thursday 3rd September 2009

Went to a meeting at another airfield tonight, about another air show!!! I went with Debs to the Elmsett meeting for the air show on 19th September (the week before ours!). There’s a load to do and talk about when arranging an air show – I didn’t realise! Mum & Grandad are displaying at this show as well as Uncle Nigel …. wonder what I’ll get to display in …. Hope it’s the Mustang with Grandad again! I met all the Elmsett people and they were all interested in the charity and said that I can go on the ‘Ted-Devils’ stall to sell raffle tickets and also calendars. Hmmmm – Ted-Devils – hope I don’t end up doing a parachute jump like those others bears!!

Wednesday 2nd September 2009

Mum has been working hard on arrangements for our air show – and it all seems to be coming together now with all the acts confirmed and the ground side coming together as well! We’ve got a bouncy castle; food stalls (yum!); motorbikes and old cars coming on static display; as well as all the aircraft – fab!! Can’t wait – hope we sell loads of tickets and loads of calendars!!!

Tuesday 1st September 2009

Yippee more flying today … this time with Graham ‘TopGun’ Parker! Think Firewoman Vic was due to go up with him, but it got too busy in the club & she was needed and couldn’t get away – so I went instead. We went in GECAC and had a nice little bimble around the local area. Graham was busy showing me all the sights and pointing things out to me – bless him! I think he thought that this was my 1st look around the local area …. didn’t like to tell him that I now know my way around with my eyes shut lol!!!