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Linda A | all galleries >> Galleries >> Dance me through the panic, 'til I'm safely gathered in - 2007 diary > 1st November 2007 - blades
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01-NOV-2007

1st November 2007 - blades

OK this story isn’t in any sense about this sort of blade – it’s about helicopter blades…..er well whole helicopters actually……er make that one helicopter in particular actually.

The helicopter in question has been acting scarily all day. It has been shining a spotlight on our field for most of the morning, then later on the house and all around our property. It wasn’t the police as far as we could see, but they were obviously looking for something and we were worried that:

a. we’d end up with a troop of paratroopers in the garden – see Colin, you’re right – it wasn’t a balmy idea!
b. We’d find ourselves the subject of a drugs bust – they might have been looking for dope in the greenhouse
c. There was a suspected criminal living in a disused mine tunnel under our field
d. They suspected that the camouflage tarp in the field was hiding missiles or something.

So, we were steeling ourselves for a raid then we thought “what if it’s like in James Bond – what if they open fire on us?”

Now we were scared. I grabbed my camera – the shots btw were so cack, I had to improvise for my story and DM grabbed binoculars. He got the licence plate and I shot a few pics with my camera.

Then the wonders of modern technology kicked in – we got onto the Civil Aviation Authority site, looked up the number of the helicopter, found the owner’s details then googled them, emailed them and asked what they were playing at. Pretty cool when you think about it.

The bloke emailed straight back (from his blackberry) telling us that the BBC had hired his ‘copter to do a mast survey. Ah now that explains it – he was only hovering over us to get a better look at the mast.

Or was he????!!!!!!

Last year, it was gorgeous gills!

Canon EOS 5D
1/2s f/16.0 at 100.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Rene Hales03-Nov-2007 21:55
Great story and great use of technology. It is truely amazing what you can look up in a flash.--Rene
Nicki Thurgar02-Nov-2007 09:44
Modern technology is really... scarey actually! But amazingly helpful in these situations! I would have been locked in my house for sure! ;o)
Guest 02-Nov-2007 03:35
OMG! Too funny. Emailed from the blackberry in the chopper. What's the world coming to? V
exzim02-Nov-2007 02:23
Its going to be a really useful survey if he's shining the light into your field while he's inspecting the mast. Google Earth shows the nearest houses about 3/4 mile from the mast so I'm guessing you don't live next to the mast. But then, it is the BBC and its only taxpayers money being spent so what does it matter. Next time you have to pay - what is it - £170 - just think what a great experience it bought you.
Guest 02-Nov-2007 02:10
My first thought would be that a mast survey would be done over a harbor not a field. Oh well pass the mast; I'm hungry.

Nice texture and light.
joanteno02-Nov-2007 01:55
It's a google world..
Colin 01-Nov-2007 23:40
Lies, all lies. They WERE going to parachute in......until they saw Archie on guard!
Gail Davison01-Nov-2007 23:10
LoL at the comments. Great story.
Rose Atkinson01-Nov-2007 22:48
Scary story ! Funny way to come trick or treating....
Eric Hewis01-Nov-2007 20:16
Linda - This is not the weather for nude sunbathing!