Mother san in Hungary

BERYL'S SZEGED BLOG:
I am a happy member of the Japanese team at the world gliding championships for the flapped classes in Szeged, Hungary. My friend Makoto Ichikawa kindly invites me to assist him in his international endeavours and his small team is always an interesting mix of nationalities and skills.

The glider crew man Mirek is from Poland and is a professional glider repair man. He is young, strong, stoic, competent and friendly. The team captain is Toshi from Japan and he is a new member of the team. He is an experienced glider pilot, instructor, aerobatic pilot and obviously a very fit person who participates in numerous other activities on water, bikes and in the air. Toshi is gentle and kind. Our local content is Arpie who is a young Hungarian pilot from this district. He comes from a flying family and his father is flying in this championships in the open class. Arpie is familiar with the local conditions and terrain, he is Mac's Sherpa as every time I see him he is carrying the packs for Mac who is suffering from a sore back. I am the mother of the team and look after all.


In planning for the event I requested to stay on the airport in a caravan as I had heard that most of the teams would be camping and I have seen this before in European championships. The airport is usually very social and I like to catch up with gliding friends who gather at the international events. In the 12 world championships I have attended I am starting to be one of the regulars. I was delighted to find my caravan set up in the most pleasant place in the park when I arrived. Air conditioned and all facilities within a short distance. Basic facilities but quite adequate. Ah! but that was before 600 other people turned up to stay in the parking ground at the airport.


It was very hot and humid when I arrived and I found that I had forgotten what it is like in some of these newly opening eastern countries. When all the airconditioners where turned on in the camp ground the power system had a meltdown. The water system not used to supplying filling for 146 gliders and 600 people taking numerous showers a day decided enough was enough and slowed to a trickle. Hot water became a distant dream.  I was still enjoying the camping and it was a real release to have a comfortable spot under the trees during the day's crewing activities but I did have the occasional distant thought of a hot shower.


For the last week I have moved into town a few minutes away to a palatial apartment in the same building as the rest of the crew. This will work out well as I am nearer to assist as we get busier each day and we can still use the caravan during the day when we are at the airport.


So my daily tasks are now easy and pleasant. Up early around 6.30 as it starts to warm up, take my long hot shower and head up the street to the small local bakery for the morning and lunch rolls, the greengrocer for the fresh fruit and salad, the corner store for the milk and yogurt, cheese and ham.

We all take breakfast together and then I head out to the airport for the team captains meeting. The boys get on with their numerous tasks and we are at briefing for all the news of the competition.


The time between the end of briefing and start time for me is time to tidy the van, put on the washing, do the emails, talk with my family in Australia by video or messenger and generally sit and cool down under the trees getting ready for the days task.


Gridding is usually finished by 11.00am and first launch around 11.30 to 12.00noon. I am the lucky one who gets to stay in the cool spot with the radio while the others sweat it out on the grid. Soon they are all away, all 146 gliders and our job as crew starts. When our pilot is safely on final glide or in a paddock as is the case here where some days finished as mass outlandings, I am off to the supermarket to shop for dinner.


We eat together in the evening, discuss the days events, this is our own social time so we either go to gym, pool, the bistro at the airport, or sit in our garden and relax.

The days are rushing by and of all of the competitions I have been to this one is unique. I will send you some of the more interesting stories.