We do not seem to have had such a busy month or perhaps it just seems to be so. When we went to the Kimbolton Rally last year one of the runs was to the Shuttleworth Museum and as it was so interesting and we did not have sufficient time to view everything, we said at the time we would return there. This we did and what a wonderful day we had. The twists and turns of going across country are ideal on bikes and the journey each way was very enjoyable and we must thank John Swann for leading us again.
We were able to wander around the hangars and take in so much that was on show. The exhibits are truly remarkable and so varied and has man ever developed any machine so quickly and thoroughly as the “Flying Machine”. The flimsy contraptions from early in the last century have developed into safe speedy transport that the early pioneers could never have envisaged. Indeed I have been fortunate to recently read about the life of Sir Harry Ricardo and other early aircraft designers who only thought of planes as weapons of war. They have all types of engines on show: rotary, radial, sleeve-valve, vee, straight, H section, flat, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, petrol, diesel, turbocharged, supercharged and it goes on and on. But this was all to change with the jet engine, and there is an early model at the Shuttleworth.
While we were having lunch an Australian visitor interrogated Colin about his Suzuki (whatever that is) as to its suitability for covering long distances in the outback. Obviously they come from all over the world to visit the museum, and I understand why. Dot and Chris, as usual, had organised a very good ladies lunch at the end of the month at East Mersea and fourteen sat down to enjoy themselves. We did have a room to ourselves, which was just as well with the banter and laughter going on. I do not know what it is that brings out the worst in the ladies but I hope it continues for the future.