Alone at 3000ft in LA

Folks

I sit here in my flight academy half naked after my first ever solo flight in my wee plane.

Now that I've got your attention, I'll explain properly from the beginning.

Millar and I head to go and see John Mayer and Maroon 5 live at the Verizon Wireless amphitheatre in Irvine, LA. Absolutely fizin. If you want to see some crap videos from the concert they are here and here...



Better than them was Mandy Moore who was sitting in front of us - she is absolutely fiz!

Millardo and I head down to San Diego the next day, and decide to head over the border into Mexico for a couple of Coronas. Some greasy spic then pours Tequila down our throats a few times, picks us up and spins us round the bar...



The name of the place will ring-a-ding-ding a few bells of some folks back home, prompting Millar and I to put on 'weegie accents and shout "Haaaaaaawwwww ah've seen yer frog!"...



Universal Studios was the next stop, quality quality fiz-style quality! The usual Universal chat, went on all the rides, saw all the usual film sets, had an amazing time. Even managed to meet Susan Quinn! On the way out we also met...GREAT SCOTT...Dr Emmett Brown...



Brilliant.

After that, Disneyland had to be done. The highlight? Has to be the rollercoaster we went on about 35 times. A video of my ugly mug chewing vigorously under high g-forces is here.

And so Millar left on the 21st July, 2004. A good 8 and a half months travelling together every hour of every day was absolutely magic - if there's someone this post is dedicated to, it's got to be that Scottish bint Millar! Laura heads onto her flight as I head east, back into the heart of LA - home of the bodybag.

I arrive at El Monte airport an hour later, my home for the next month or so...



The place looks pretty sweet, even though some 8 year old girl was gunned down here about an hour before I arrived.

Am lucky enough to grab a room at one of the other student's - a quality english bloke called Peter - flat for pretty cheap. When I got there I couldn't believe it - pool, jacuzzi, volleyball court etc. Meh. Have managed to blag a car of one of the instructors here for a wee while, too - Mintit!

And so how am I sitting here half naked?

Well, I've been learning to fly now for a week. Managed to amass about 18 hours of time up in the air with my instructor, yet another Peter. Have been practicing emergency procedures, stalls, steep turns, the whole syllabus. Today he told me to taxi to a different bit of the airport, jumped out and said "you're on your own!"

3 takeoffs and landings later, I get back to the academy, congratulated by a few of the guys, who proceeds to cut the back out of my shirt - some pilot thing apparently. Pity, coz I bought that shirt in Disneyland and it cost me a few bucks! A quick photo next to my plane, N33LJ aka "wee laura"...



And so to the next step, cross country flying. It's damn hard work - by the time I've finished here I'll have read at least 8 boring books about why cockpit isn't a funny word.

Later,

Captain Mick Foxtrot Tango Papa

M + P - Ok so no video, but hope you like the pics

V + B - Email received, see what I can do.

Rod - Meh you drunken bum

BC - Towel being brought in yet?

Nick, Michelle, Steph and Louis - How you guys doing? Hopefully meet up with you next weekend!

Phil + Ross - Ooooh saucy! Have a good time at the wedding boss? Phil you tramp!! See you soon my little cherubs!

Emma - Brings a new meaning to being en-piste! Blotto the whole time doll, played x

Peek, Ronnie, Colin, + Bob - Bombay Mix, snooks, beer and..... SHACK?!!?

Loy and Steve - Loyyydd, I owe you - congrats on the champagne Steve!

Andy - Handy stop changing your number, ya druggy.

Caz - Onions? Website with onions? Mail me.

Faisal - Fais, can you teach me Urdu when I get back?

Kimmy G, Kimmy G Jr and Kimmy G Jr Jr - Madness, sheer madness.

Richie, Glen - Looking good for mid-late aug lads!

Layla, Mary, Alan, Toby, Tom - Mothe, alam menal alponi?

Louise - Got yer email doll, cheers for the mention! See you for a few shandies soon.

Sabs - Mwwwaaaahahahahaha. Liver Damage = complete.

Mike D - Immense pics matey, fiz!

Nat and J - Got yer emails - shoe shop eh? Millar will be hounding you for staff discounts!

Craig - You sick sick voyeur asian sicko! Brilliant.

Adamski - The C word. That doesn't end in unt.

Peter R - Cheers for getting me to solo - a good pal and instructor!