Drove up to Kamshet on Friday morning. A 5 day EP course was in progress and as it works at this time of the year it is early morning call so consequently the students crash out early, exhausted from the exertion of the ground handling and the scepter of having to wake up early the next morning.

Saturday saw Shinchan arrive. He came armed with a couple of bottles of wine and after the days training gathered the students and pilots on the terrace in the evening. Having done his EP and CP courses in the last summer he was still in that groove and told me that all the way up to Kamshet he was dreaming of the good life i.e. wake up late, hang about the house, meet like minded people whom you instantly relate to, chill in the hammock or some other cozy corner with a book. Enjoy a great lunch and a power nap and then head out to the Shelar Site for a great afternoon of flying where you enjoy spectacular sunsets from the air, at dusk as you drive back to Native Place you enjoy the cool scented breeze and look forward to a nice shower and a BBQ party on the terrace under the stars with a bunch of interesting happy people.

I recalled the last time he was here as he spoke – a bunch of these guys would gorge on the delicious chicken and keep up the refrain ‘this is life’

He was the catalyst that got us all in the mood and we were up on the terrace enjoying fine wine, chilled beer, super tandoori chicken and jacket potatoes.

Raj, Akshay and Steve, wanted to know why they had not indulged in similar revelries the previous nights but were happy to have discovered this facet of Nirvana. Prajakta, Deepika Ravi and Niles joined us shortly – and as they say the more the merrier.

Raj a painter was inspired, asked me for a wall and portrayed his feelings beautifully. We were all suitably impressed.  Raj had his guitar and soon the singing began. It was a marvelous Nirvana Saturday night and such going on’s will continue through the season.

The next morning we were at the training site early and everyone had great flights. That afternoon some of them headed off to Tower hill hoping for nice long flights but we were headed home to son and school fair. The Diwali holidays are coming up though and we have some idyllic flying to look forward to. Can’t wait to step into the Kamshet air.