Speeches, little planes, and shipwrecks - stranded on the Isle of Man

My goodness, is it that long since I wrote anything for the blog? I must I must start writing regularly before my non-existent readers get bored.

Last Friday was fun. Up to Blackpool, a place I'm fond of, to climb aboard a tiny little plane for a flight to IoM. It was wet and very windy. Helimed 8 was parked up and would not be doing many jobs today, I thought. It's the new shiny one - complete with fancy enclosed tail rotor. Just a week before I'd had a long phone conversation with one of the Helimed paramedics about medical issues in mountain rescue, but I digress, and that's another story.

Off to IoM, the sea was choppy and as we approached the island the waves hitting the sea cliffs were spectacular. It was a scary landing, with the little plane being thrown all over the place, which I love.

For what, I hear you ask? For to be a VIP at the college! For to award teaching certificates to students who followed my University's course, which I designed nearly ten years ago. For to give a speech, with the IoM Minister of Education listening and all. Smashing ceremony, students in gowns, mums and dads proud, the odd baby dotted about quite well behaved but not quiet. I (in my "Spanish inquisition" gown) was a bit nervous as my time approached, but the speech went ok, and I enjoyed all the hand-shaking. Someone came up to me afterwards and said it was obviously from the heart, which pleased me cos it was.

Meanwhile, the winds got stronger and stronger. After an island-brewed fine pint, I was at the airport being told little planes and severe gales don't mix. I was stuck and would have to crash in a hotel for the night with no bar, no restaurant, one of these stupid "express hotels" next to the airport. So I walked to a pub and got utterly soaked. More of that island beer - I soon forgot the soaking.

A flight next morning, lovely and sunny, but very windy. We flew over a gas rig and then the wrecked ship recently beeched at Blackpool, a fantastic sight in more ways than one, then an even more scary landing.

Hard work, but somebody's got to do it!

I took the video clip below on a similar trip. It's a pilot's eye view (almost!) of the final approach into Blackpool Airport.