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Gliding over New Delhi Safdarjung

Runway at Safdarjung, (photo ?)

The kids are busy slaughtering each other in the kitchen, making, supposedly, welsh rarebit - in a thoroughly cowardly way, I've left them and Shanti to sort each other out; it's too exhausting to do anything else. I'm hoping this catches you just before you set off on Tuesday - though it probably won't....but want to tell you all about this afernoon and how we all went gliding!! Even pissed-scared me!

I saw in the Patriot yesterday about a special reduced-fee gliding month, to raise funds for flood relief -5/- a time; and told the boys in an unwise moment. The twins and I chickened out at lunch deciding that we would wait for you, but Phil insisted and we yielded, finally. We waited for ages before our turn; there is this little hanger at Safdarjung airport, a sort of Wilson airport; and it's full of gliders, even a hang glider; and quite a few people, though not as many as you'd expect. Finally, after a lot of hanging around at the hanger, they drove us in a jeep to the runway, and we hung around there for another hour or so, watching the glider land and take off, and each time it seemed the odds were mounting that it would collapse when I was in it!

Like a coward, I made all three of the boys go first, one after the other. It's a two seater, side by side and open. You get strapped in. It's an incredible experience. You rush up, it's a much steeper climb than in any plane, and the wind seems to roar past you; then suddenly there is a short and sickening nose dive and the pilot drops the tow rope, and you seem to go miles on nothing, it's an amazing experience...we flew over the embassies in Chanyakapuri, over the Ashoka hotel. saw Palam in the distance, and you really are gliding, you feel you are; I only really felt giddy once - when I looked at the wing of the glider above me, and had to shut my eyes quickly , even while the pilot was pointing things out and I was ooing and aahing enthusiastically.

The stuff that dreams and nightmares are made of...You'd have loved it. The boys all did, Andy and Chris came off with eyes shining; Phil has discovered that lessons are 20/- an hour and you can start when you are 16, so guess what he wants for his birthday? Anyway, my love, the special rate will be on when you come back - and you must try it., the terror tingling in your toes is something you mustn't miss! To say nothing of the ticks that abound and bit Phil in the navel...not on the glider of course, but in yer actual flying field....

Eve Hall

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