Tis the Season!

It is that time of year again when one reflects on what has passed, particularly after the hype of Christmas has died off a little and we are faced with the prospect of ringing in a new year.

It is hard to believe that over two and a half years ago I flew to Unionville, Missouri to see the crash site of Flight 11 first-hand and also to meet people like Duane Crawford and Ronnie Cook face to face. Where has that time gone!?

Since then I have journeyed back to the USA every year as more information has come to light about Flight 11. I have met more people, connected more families and "joined the dots" in a lot of different ways. And of course all this from a blog started WAY back in 2007.

This year I had the pleasure of meeting with Kathryn Hamilton of the Hamilton family whose father was board the ill-fated flight in 1962. While over in the United States and in fact walking around Hollywood in California I answered my mobile phone on a beautiful hot day to find my future employer eagerly on the phone offering me a job at the national carrier of New Zealand.

I accepted and signed the papers when I returned to Auckland in late June. I have not looked back since then and working in aviation is an absolute delight; like the icing on the cake, especially for someone so involved with aviation as I was in a personal manner.

With all that aside I wish all the Flight 11 "family" a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.