Today is a bit of an odd day. It’s the tenth aniversary of my dad’s death. I decided therefore it was a good day to carry out a few changes, say goodbye to a few things and move on.

Started off with breakfast as normal, then I decided to do another vlog, so sat in bed and recorded another one off the cuff. It was back to virtualising my old PC. This was a machine running Windows 2000 and probably dated back well before that OS came out. I only ever used it to run Microsoft Money on. Last night I’d left it so it could boot, this morning I was trying to change the display resolution. After an hour or so I had to give up and take the dogs for a walk. Came back and had a light lunch, then it was off to Staverton.

It’s been about three weeks since I’d flown so was really looking forward to it. Today, really was all about circuits. Considering I’d hadn’t been up for a while and there was quite a strong wind I didn’t give a second thought to hovering, it just came completely naturally. I took off to the North West and we flew over the flood planes, this was a very different view to what I’ve seen before, it was really quite strange seeing a lot of Tewkesbury under water. We did an auto-rotation from 3,000ft and then returned to the airfield. It was then about a solid hour of circuits. So doing a 360 lookout, taking off to the North West, right turn, climbing to 700ft, levelling off, then turn again, carb heat full, down to 15 inches and start the descent. Keep it at 60 knots until 300ft then keep the landing spot in the middle of the windscreen with the collective and keep it coming towards you at a constant rate with the cyclic. Must of done about ten circuits, okay so a few were too quick, too high, too slow etc. But I need to get the hang of it. But every single one I landed unaided, I don’t think James had to touch the controls once. Really enjoyed that one, it was getting very dark towards the end so even got some night flying in. Really must sort my medical out now as it’s getting very close to solo time.

Came back and Sarah popped round to pick up some lights. It was then back on that PC virtualisation. I installed VMware tools using a later version of VMplayer and then everything was fine. I uninstalled a load of stuff that was no longer required and that was it, old pc working perfectly in a window on my big machine. It was time now to wave goodbye to the old PC. I disconnected it all and moved the monitor the bathroom. Nothing wrong with it at all, £400 worth if IIyama and it’s about to be escorted to the tip. I moved the iMac over to it’s position and gave everything a thorough clean. It was a shame to kill the old machine, but really anything running Windows 2000, it was really time to say goodbye. The iMac is now in a good position where I can actually use it. I had a play around with some paint shop type programs to try and do a back ground for my YouTube page, boy have I got a shit load of learning to do. I’ve ordered a book on iMovie, I may look at getting Photo Elements or something as well. I enjoy the playing around.

Had a good tidy up. Cleaned out the lizard tanks. Printed out all the stuff for New Years. I think that’s going to be good fun, tacky, but good fun.

And now here I am, typing this on the iMac. It’s quite nice. Early start tomorrow, think I’ll head to bed shortly and do a bit of reading.

Anyway, don’t forget, you can follow me on twitter @mannmansion or now you can go to my new YouTube channel MannMansion and watch video of my talking about my weird life with a bonus nipple shot.

There will probably be no update tomorrow as I’m in London, but certainly over the next few days I’ll be doing a bit of a review and a round up of the rather strange year.

So this morning started off with letting the dogs out, not that it did a great deal of good as Dillon shit on the floor later anyway. Had breakfast for three, coffee and emails and shit. Got up eventually. Thought about starting on the lounge, then thought sod it, I’ll have a play around instead. So I set up the CX2 extreme on the DX6i and got that all going. Then I disassembled the E-Sky 4-in-1 on one of the CP2’s and installed an AR6100, so that was compatible with the DX6i. That was actually really good fun. And it seems to fly okay. I’ll take that one outdoors over Christmas and give it a good blast.

Walked the dogs with Jamie. Then played on the arcade cabinet. Did a bit of re-wiring, so we have an extra player 2 coin slot, also fixed the exit game button. Played ‘Dragon’s Lair’ lots. Played with all it’s settings. Had a bath while Jamie wrapped presents. Will now get the tea on. Work for a couple of days, but I think it’s only me in, so I can just get on with it. The gym is closed. So may go for a walk or do some running or something.

So yesterday actually started early, well I say early, I dragged my ass out of bed by 10AM and got working. I had a lot to get into the day and not a great deal of time to do it, so just ploughed on. It was all multi-threading stuff again, but there were a few problems to overcome. There still are a few problems to overcome by the end of the day, but nothing too insurmountable, so pretty happy overall.

Went to the gym and did pump. Had a shower, came back and filled in the time sheets. Then went to the ‘Hollow Tree’ with Sarah and Shaun. We had a great time chatting. I drank about six pints of Amstel, all I find it does to me these days is make me piss a lot. We had a very average meal. We all polished our plates off, that was mainly because we were all starving rather than the food being any good. Sarah was a bit obsessed about weather her chicken was cooked, it was a bit pink, but was well past the clucking stage. Walked home, I watched the telly for a couple of hours and had a bite to eat.

Woke up this morning at 8AM, fresh as a daisy (I know you hate me), let the dogs out and fed them. Made myself breakfast. Then tootled over to the Willbrook centre to have by hair mown. It was done my a twelve year old. We were talking about computer consoles, she said “I bet you remember the first PlayStation”, “Yes dear, I was about 25.” Anyway, she did a decent enough job and it was only a tenner.

Came back and walked the dogs. Then jumped into the car and drove to Staverton. James was out doing a test flight, so hung around for a bit. Was talking to Candia, I was saying that all the pilots seemed to be about 12, she said they were. They all want to do their first solo on their 16th birthday so they are the youngest to hold a licence on that day…until the next day when someone else does it. They must have very rich parents.

I got my cushion and proceeded out to G-OJAN today, went through the check-list, James joined me and I cranked her up. I took the controls straight away and parked it at Heli-X while we waited for the runway to be clear. I then took off to the Northwest and up we went. Did a bit of upper airwork, some climbs and descents with turns. Then I did the radio call on the wrong frequency, whoops. Anyway, brought it back in piece and parked it. We then did some hovering practice, today, even with an eight knot wind I was pretty rock solid. We did a few take-offs and landings. James then said “Your ready, I’m going to show you a circuit”. So I just watched the way-points and off me went. He parked it and said it was my turn and he wasn’t going to say anything unless his life was suddenly in danger. So I brought her up into a hover, did a 360 lookout turn (which is bloody difficult keeping it on the spot), pushed the cyclic forward, kept it at about 10 feet and we started accelerating, up to 55 knots and then the transitional lift kicks in and up we go, sharp turn to the right in front of the houses and then towards the lake on the golf course. Still climbing, a right turn over the lake towards the hangers. Level out at 700 feet, 75 knots, 20 inches of manifold pressure. Bring it across to the forest and do another right, this time going into a descent, 15 inches, 60 knots, 500 ft a minute. Line up with the runway, hold it until 300 feet. Then pick a landing spot, keep it halfway up the windscreen, adjust the collective to keep that spot in the same place, adjust the cyclic so it’s coming at you at a constant speed. Bring it all the way down to about 20 feet. Flatten the disc, pull back on the cyclic, wait for the flap back. Up with the collective to 20 inches, loads of left peddle to stop it spinning, then bring it back into a hover, finally lower the collective and land it. I did a pretty good job. Did it two more times, then parked it back at Heli-flight. Fantastic. I need to sort my medical now, as the next step really will be my first solo, which is the same circuit, but without the backup of a pilot with 20,000 hours of experience sat next to you. That will be fun, but it’s coming sooner than I think. Was slightly gutted, they worked out I clock up an extra .2 hours on my night flight so had to pay for that as well. Oh, well, nice afternoons play, just shy of five hundred quid.

Came back and had lunch. Then went into town, wanted a nice shirt for the office party. Found a really nice Alexander McQueen one for £595, I resisted the temptation, however there was another one for £295 which was nice. Didn’t buy anything. Came home. Did the accounts. Then it was off to Pauline’s retirement do. Now this is the lady who runs Holly Hedge. So it’s a bit dutiful to go, even though I was on my own and didn’t know anybody. I gave her the card, exchanged pleasantries and had a very cheep pint. Helped myself to the buffet which was being served by butlers in the buff, which was a nice distraction then pretended I was popping out for a ciggie and then fucked off.

Everything has now arrived, including the light, which looks really nice. So just have to finish everything now. I think I’ll have a bath and relax a bit, it’s going to be a busy few days ahead.

Oh, I did get a bit of strange news this evening, I need to investigate it a bit more first before I comment, but I’m not overly pleased. (I doesn’t effect me directly, just someone who I was very close to).

Today work wise was fairly dull, lots of changing thread priorities and analysing profiles. It’s all looking quite tight though which is good.

Had a sandwich and then vanished off to Staverton late afternoon. No traffic problems so got there a bit before my time slot. There were the usual assortment of old pilot type people, didn’t really chat to anyone to start off with. James was there, so we put the wheels on G-OJAN and did all the checks. Opened the hanger door and dragged her out. James booked out, I went through the check list and fired her up. Did the checks, then I took her off into the hover. As it was only us operating at the airport we had clearance straight-away, so I took off to the north. It was a magnificent sight, we flew around in a big circle over Gloucester and Cheltenham. It’s really nice seeing it all lit-up. It’s quite eerie over pitch black bits, you have no idea where the ground is, it’s disorientating. We got to the east of Gloucester and got a direct landing path to the west runway R27. This is unusual as it’s normally occupied by aircraft. But I got to do a glideslope landing on the main run-way and flew right over GCHQ. I then taxied back and parked it badly back at Heliflight. Was a good flight. I then went back and had a couple of burgers and chatted to some people. I ended up having a long chat with a grandma, who brought her 17 year old grandson in for the night flight, he already has his PPL(H) but is still learning to drive a car. She was a lovely lady ‘Irene’. Also while I was there, this blond bean-pole boy of about 18 (yes I would) turned up with his parents and block booked ten lessons, good to see he had a spare four grand. Anyway, fun evening.

Came back and did some more work. Bath time.

Today started late. Working mainly on physics stuff, that is profiling it and doing some optimisations. Made a nice change from render stuff, which no doubt I’ll be back on tomorrow.

Walked the dogs, well walked Sasha, Dillon refused to even have his coat on.

Went to spin, gave it all. Did more work. Installed R22 SP1 on the iMac, will give that a good blast tomorrow. I have a night flight tomorrow which I’m looking forward to. It will be cold. Talking of cold, it’s bloody freezing. I’ve turned the heating down as gas is far too expensive. Paint sample arrived, it’s kind of a dark chocolate, put it on the skirting board, looks fine, so I’ll get a pot made up.

It’s interesting that mother requires a TV aerial which will cost about £100, which she doesn’t have. Yet, she’s still managed to order a rather ugly dress she doesn’t need from QVC for half that amount. This is why I won’t do anything about it.

Christmas is coming, which I haven’t really thought about. New year is coming which I haven’t really thought about. All the kennels are booked up anyway, so doubt we will be going anywhere.

Woke up at 6:20AM. Took Sasha to daycare. Dillon howled. Went back to bed.

Still working on multi-threading rendering type stuff. Almost coming to an end on it now, will start looking at another aspect next week I expect.

Picked up Sasha. Went to Pump, it was very busy. Did more work.

Transferred white to a new bucket. Will order up another couple of white kits tomorrow I think. Flew the msrx, managed to get it hovering fairly well, then whacked it into a wardrobe and the rotors fell off.

Oh the arcade cabinet is finished, it looks awesome.

So yesterday started with breakfast for three, well me and two dogs. Cruised a little porn, read the paper etc. Then got up and flew some heli’s around the kitchen, great fun. Had a text from Captain James asking if I could turn up earlier. So I walked the dogs, wolfed down a sausage roll and then drove to Staverton.

I went through the check-list while James booked out. He jumped in and I fired her up. In Charlie Delta this week. The airport was really really busy, everyone was taking advantage of the good conditions. We had to take off to the Southwest for once, normally we had to the North. This was pretty cool as for the first time I did a circuit over buildings, I flew right over Cheltenham racecourse and over Tweksbury Cathedral. Did a complete circuit including some climbs and descents also did an auto-rotation. Then returned to the airfield for some hovering. Much better this time, did some take offs and landings. Even parked it back at heli-flight, good enjoyable lesson. Hopefully night flight will go ahead as planned next Friday.

Came back and then had a bit of a model evening. Repaired my CX3. Also added the gyro to the CX2, that’s still crap. Had a good couple of hours fun anyway. Did the accounts. We then went to the Italian and had a nice meal. Came back and played on the XBone. Went to bed.

Woke up far too early this morning. A bit dehydrated. Had a bit of a lazy morning, made the mistake of going back to sleep. So I had a dream. I was changing a fireplace for a radiator. I was there trying to work the bloody thing out. My dad was there, my mother, Tom, other people, lots of dust sheets. The conversation got on to weather the gas was tapped off before the fire for the boiler. So various test were done, and it wasn’t which meant that I had to block it after the boiler tap. Plus the fire didn’t have a return supply for the water. Okay, I could have had a really horny dream banging the Harries Twins, but oh know, I have to dream about radiator installations.

I got up after failing to turn Jamie on. Mind you he does remind me somewhat of a Turkey, fattening himself up for Christmas. Put the third coat on the walls, all good. Had lunch. Second coat on the door frame. Then got on to paint the coving and the arch. Looking good. Long day though, didn’t finish until gone nine. Had a bath, drank far too much wine. Jamie is still pissing about so can’t even get the dinner on yet. Fun week of work ahead, but should be a cool flight at the end of the week. The dining room is progressing, another few weeks should finish it. That’s about two years.

This morning started off with a couple of deliveries. A Blade MSRX and a Blade CX2. The MSRX is a micro fly-bar less single rotor heli. It’s an awesome little beast. It was a bugger to control until I got it fairly well dialled on the Dx6i. I can now hover it fairly well. It really is fun to fly and a step up from the co-axials. Talking of which the CX2 has all the extreme upgrades and all the metal upgrades. This means it weighs a ton and lumbers into the air like a tree. It is however fairly stable. The gyro’s off a bit as it rotates. Again, need to set this up and bind it to the Dx6i. Will see then if it has the same gyro problem as the other one. I do have a new head-lock gyro to fit the that one.

Work was lots of profiling. Very dull, but needs to be done at this stage.

Went to Pump. That completes four weeks of every weekday at the gym. I’m still pretty much the same weight, but I’m getting a lot of definition back. I’ve lost a hell of a lot of fat off my legs and the top half is more defined. The middle bit is still somewhat lard like.

Anyway, bath time after I empty the dish washer. Flying the R22 tomorrow. See how my hovering is.

So this morning I had a bit of a lie-in followed by breakfast for all. I then got into adding the new alloy bits to the CX2. Stripped it all down a rebuilt it. Bound it to the Dx6i. Took it for a test flight. The gyro had to be backed off to a point it was off, so it’s giving me serious tail drift. This is apparently a common problem. I’ve ordered a head lock gyro to see if that works better. I managed to chip a blade, bust the battery holder and a skid, not too bad. I did really enjoy the rebuild, it’s sort of like maintaining a kart again, but without the freezing cold and slightly less industrial.

Had lunch, then went to Tesco’s. Had to queue half hour to park. Picked up pills. Drove over to mothers and picked her up. We went to Gardiner Haskins which I don’t think I’ve been to since I bought carpet tiles. Managed to get the exact paint I wanted. Then we looked at curtains, managed to get two pairs and a nice pole for a good price. They are going to be slightly too long though.

She moaned about not being able to access my blog any more. She said she didn’t mind though as she didn’t read it much anyway. Then she moaned some more and asked how I did it. I said if she read the blog I go into the exact detail…..oh, never mind.

So woke up this morning without any ill effects, so must just of overdone it slightly at spin. Did get a headache late afternoon though, but that’s nothing unusual.

Got a letter from the doctor to say they need to review my prescription before the next repeat, although I should have enough now to last through Christmas.

Played around with the MCX2 quite a bit. This is a co-axial heli, so fairly stable. I’ve programmed up some new settings on the Spektrum Dx6i and it flies really nicely now. It also has the advantage that I can fly it pretty easily indoors. So I’m going to get some good practice in on this. Also I have all the alloy parts to rebuild the CX2, so I’ll probably give that a blast tomorrow.

Went to pump. Did more work. Quiet kind of week really. Nothing wrong with that.