Mike's Blog

    • About
    • Flying
      • Learning to Fly, part 1
      • Running a teeny tiny YouTube Channel
    • Links
    • Craft Beer Brewing
      • The road to my first all grain brew
    • Motorbike
      • Lochinver Bike trip June/July 2013
      • IAM – why?
      • IAM – The Test
      • HID headlamp
      • LED strips as instrument backlights
      • Tayvallich Bike Trip
      • Lochinver Bike Trip, late August 2012

Mike Calvert: microlight pilot, BMAA aircraft inspector, motorcyclist, home brewer and all round tinkerer!

  • Where has the time gone?

    Just as I settled down today with my sunday morning coffe, Facebook chucked up a memory from five years ago: That was me on my first formal flying lesson! 11 months later I’d passed all the ground school exams, passed the GST (General Skills Test), completed the solo navigation flights, and had my shiny new…

    August 31, 2025
  • I’m a qualified Microlight Pilot!

    Where did the time go?? Last blog I wrote was about training for this, and that feels like an age ago, although granted, December IS a while ago! What followed then was of course a 3 month lock down that meant no flying. Once the restrictions were lifted enough for flying to start again in…

    August 9, 2021
  • Still working towards my NPPL(M)

    After a 3 week break from flying thanks to poor weather I finally got back up at the weekend, twice in fact. Saturday the weather was glorious – as the pic above shows. Sunday was murky and cloudy and we were restricted to 500ft max to keep below the cloud base – sometimes just 400ft.…

    December 2, 2020
  • Aviation – weather forecasting..

    While writing my thoughts on Learning to Fly, it did occur to me that this is more of a new world than I’d ever really anticipated, possibly naively. Anyway, that’s not a moan, just an observation – but there are some things that persist in that world despite the world moving on. Take the world…

    November 19, 2020
  • Costco – take a bow of shame

    Sexual Discrimination should be long gone from business, but let’s consider a major and rather unfair problem facing a newly married woman.. Identification. That is to say, changing your surname. Just under 2 months ago we got married, so Sharon has spent much of her time since we got back from honeymoon jumping through all…

    July 11, 2017
  • VUK 2016

    You meet the nicest people on a Honda… It may be a line from an old Honda advert, but this weekend at least, it was true. Step in the UK Varadero forum having a get-together in North Yorkshire. I’ve been a member on the forum for a few years – mainly for the occasional question…

    September 26, 2016
  • Ireland, October 2015

    Ireland – land of Guinness and Leprachauns? Yes, and, well, I’m not superstitious! Home of the Dunlop motorbike road racing dynasty? Absolutely. AirBnB – Bed and breakfast without the breakfast? Not this time. Accommodation on the cheap? Nope, well, certainly good value, but definitely didn’t feel cheap! Luxury? Yep, well, certainly felt like it! Going…

    October 27, 2015
  • Rua Reidh

    The one thing about planning trips in Scotland is that you simply can’t rely on the weather. That’s not a moan, it’s just a fact of life. For a weekend that involves mainly outdoor activities this means you need the right clothing, or it’s highly likely to be a miserable experience… Back in Feb/March this…

    September 1, 2015
  • Building a Keggerator/Keezer – Part 1 – Temperature Control

    For a while now I’ve wanted to convert a chest freezer into what is basically a fridge for kegs – a ‘Keggerator’, or ‘Keezer’. Having the nice flat, sturdy bottom makes the chest freezer ideal for beer kegs, but they can’t be left as a freezer since frozen beer is no good. To get around…

    August 7, 2015
  • Motorbike tour, France 2015

    I’ve rented cars and driven in France quite a few times, where I often rapped my knuckles against the window as my left hand automatically sought the gear lever which of course was on the, er, wrong side… but I’ve never taken my own vehicle abroad, and certainly not a motorbike – at least with…

    July 11, 2015
1 2 3 … 6
Next Page→

Mike's Blog

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
 

Loading Comments...
 

    • Subscribe Subscribed
      • Mike's Blog
      • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
      • Mike's Blog
      • Subscribe Subscribed
      • Sign up
      • Log in
      • Report this content
      • View site in Reader
      • Manage subscriptions
      • Collapse this bar