Easter found us back in the Philippines. Flying weather was fine and lots of flying was done. Couldn't stay at the hangar so it was off to the Oasis again...much to Gracie's joy.

First thing on the agenda was a flight up to San Fernando with a stop overnight at Spider's place.

Was strange flying up alone without my wingman Stef leading or in trail in his Cessna. Arrived in SF just before its legendary sunset and taxied in in a stinking heat. Shut down and joged across the runway and over the wall to Spiders where I got my usual warm welcome.

I had just settled back with a well deserved cold one when Les Staples walked in...my neighbour from Lantau....we were both taken aback....SF isnt the most accessable place in the Philippines....it took me 54 minutes from Angeles to SF.....tok les 11 hours by road (hehe) and he was knackered. 20 minutes later another Mark from HK staggered in after an equally exhausting road journey...ah the joys of flying.

Had an uneventful flight back to Omni and sat down to calculate the remaining hours I needed to put in this trip to complete my training. Stef joined a few days later and we did some good hour building flights including another overnight to SF the following Sat.

So thats it. Needed 20 hours solo for my licence, ended up with 23.5 so made it comfortably.

Flying over for the trip, could relax a little...though I'm always sad when the flying is done.

Did I mention that 1051 had a landing accident and was badly damaged...appears the Omni students are trying to kill all our planes..poor little bugger. Get well soon RPC 1051!

Sad to leave the Philippines but glad to get back as weather had improved in HK in my absense. Had a school inspection which seemed to go ok and have a busy month ahead. Im off to do my exams in Manila 22nd, 23rd and 24th May. Then off to Beijing for a week on the 27th, then well be into June and UK bound on the evening of the 29th for a month.

Mum, If you are reading this, I'll be arriving in LHR at 0630 0n Sat the 30th June...pls arrange transport!!!!

Grace is looking forward to her trip to the Uk and I'm looking forward to catching up with the folks, the Carson clam etc...might even hook up with Shitey Whitey to hone my car handling and "roundabout attack" skills.

Anyway, finished off the trip to Phils with some great golf courtesy of Frans and Jacky who took me to a few courses including the beautiful course at the Taal volcano. Taal is spectacular, a volcano within a saltwater lake...Frans and Jacky (and Lilaine) are pictured with grace and I below.

Looking forward to getting back to Skye for a while, puking in various bars, the odd scrap and smashing up the toilet in the Caley...great stuff.