The Boeing 737 is an old plane first being built in the 1960s but a very popular plane with 8,385 of them built as of January 2015. This was when my brother took us on a flight from Maroochydore to Brisbane.
My husband and mother sat in the rear whilst I as the photographer was given a prime seat up in the cockpit. A bird’s eye view so to speak. Before we left we went with my brother to the briefing room. To our horror we discovered this was his first flight in the captain’s seat. As well as route instruction he was given flying instruction.
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ve been trying to work out how to do it since 3rd January and just worked it out. I gave it to my brother for his Xmas /birthday presents for the last zillion years (I’m a bit slack in that dept) thinking he flies so much if ever there is a problem he will be able to save the plane. The briefing gave me a headache. No way could I take in the instructions. He did pretty well but the landing scared the living daylights out of me as he couldn’t manage to keep it in the line it should have been. Hard not to use the steering wheel when you land having used it all through the flight.The wheel controls the flaps and you have to pedal like a kiddies car to control the wheels.
Thanks. You’d love it. This one was a pilot training one and it was superb. You can pick which airports you want to take off and land at and the scenery along the way is spot on.
I’m laughing so much too, Irene, you have found your true vocation as a film maker, no doubt about it! I give this a 5 star review, it had everything: excitement, tension, action, great music, narrative and a plane full of terrified – oops, meant happy – passengers 🙂 We share another coincidence too..my brother is a pilot, used to fly Harriers in the RAF and then flew for Virgin. Now he trains pilots for a company in Bournemouth. Only once did he captain the same flight that I was on with the kids between LA and Heathrow. It was the best flight I ever had – purely psycological of course – and the free glass of bubbly didn’t hurt either 😉 LOVE this post my friend, what a blast 😀
At least with your flight Sherri you took off the ground – I only felt as though I did and your brother is a REAL pilot. I’m in awe of him having seen what you have to do to fly these things. The film making was fun. Now I have worked it out there will be no stopping me. Cannes here I come. XD
He does so much of it for work and he had just flown from Switzerland a few days before he probably would have been happy not to do it. Once he had done it though I think he was thrilled at the experience.
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
I am howling with laughter! You are a filmmaker! I love your sense of humor. It must have been a fun adventure. 😀
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ve been trying to work out how to do it since 3rd January and just worked it out. I gave it to my brother for his Xmas /birthday presents for the last zillion years (I’m a bit slack in that dept) thinking he flies so much if ever there is a problem he will be able to save the plane. The briefing gave me a headache. No way could I take in the instructions. He did pretty well but the landing scared the living daylights out of me as he couldn’t manage to keep it in the line it should have been. Hard not to use the steering wheel when you land having used it all through the flight.The wheel controls the flaps and you have to pedal like a kiddies car to control the wheels.
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Reblogged this on Fran's World of Wonder.
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Thanks Jan.
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And to think I believed him…even though these fleeting thoughts were wandering around my brain…..he is in so much trouble…loved it..
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You have to watch him. XD
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Loved it. Well done Colin, Mrs Movie-Maker-Lady, and passengers. John was ace too, very calm and professional. Would love to try that….
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Thanks. You’d love it. This one was a pilot training one and it was superb. You can pick which airports you want to take off and land at and the scenery along the way is spot on.
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Wow… I had one of those one hour pilot training sessions in a two seater when I was 30. Great fun; just too costly to pursue.
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Likewise here. It is a one off though my husbands 70th is about to happen….
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That’s how to live life for sure 😀
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Fantastic! Love a lady with a spirit of adventure 🙂 And great movie-making skills!
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Thanks Jo. A lot of fun.
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I’m laughing so much too, Irene, you have found your true vocation as a film maker, no doubt about it! I give this a 5 star review, it had everything: excitement, tension, action, great music, narrative and a plane full of terrified – oops, meant happy – passengers 🙂 We share another coincidence too..my brother is a pilot, used to fly Harriers in the RAF and then flew for Virgin. Now he trains pilots for a company in Bournemouth. Only once did he captain the same flight that I was on with the kids between LA and Heathrow. It was the best flight I ever had – purely psycological of course – and the free glass of bubbly didn’t hurt either 😉 LOVE this post my friend, what a blast 😀
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At least with your flight Sherri you took off the ground – I only felt as though I did and your brother is a REAL pilot. I’m in awe of him having seen what you have to do to fly these things. The film making was fun. Now I have worked it out there will be no stopping me. Cannes here I come. XD
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Haha…well, I will get the red carpet out in readiness and ask to be first in line to interview you 😀
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Oh what fun. 🙂
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What fun! And your brother looks supremely happy – he obviously loves flying, as do I!
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He does so much of it for work and he had just flown from Switzerland a few days before he probably would have been happy not to do it. Once he had done it though I think he was thrilled at the experience.
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