#13 Viscount Sustain

Robot synth drummer

The Drummer of this OTT Camp intergalactic Synth Group, The Sinth Lords.

My First Event

A few years ago, I reconnected with an old friend.  As you do in those situations you talk about all the things you’ve done since you last saw each other.  The conversation invariably fell to the topic of hobbies.  I confessed that I didn’t have many due to the time constraints of my very first radio job, but that I would love to hear about hers so that I might live vicariously through someone else.

“I’m a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, it’s really cool.”  She exclaimed with the kind of exuberance I normally reserve for those times when someone tells me we’re having cake for dessert.  My friend explained to me the concept of the SCA is to recreate the culture before the 17th century, as accurately as possible.  To be honest, I thought they were all a pack of nerds and told her I was glad she was having fun.

A few years later we found ourselves living an hour apart instead of separated by provinces (or a Kingdom!) and I got roped into going to Summer Siege to see what an event was like.  I was kind of nervous, because what in the world do I know about the Middle Ages?  I got to dress up in garb and gave myself a persona (Adelhayt Von Richter) and had a great deal of fun that day.  The Baroness even came over and grilled me like it was the Spanish Inquisition (well, maybe not that bad) about what kind of time I was having.  I was pretty nervous, I mean what do you say to a Baroness?  Somehow, ‘Nice coronet’ didn’t seem appropriate.  Later, I got to try some archery, and to my great success I didn’t hurt myself or anyone else.

My friend, who’s SCA name is Lady Aevia, told me that if I liked it I should attend another event and then think about joining.  I felt sort of silly thinking that I wouldn’t enjoy myself because the SCA calls out to my inner nerd in a voice so loud I thought God was speaking to me (but no, it was just my brain being loud and obnoxious).

* * * * *

“November 7th is Feast of the Hare.  You’re coming with us.”

I’m so glad that my friends boss me around and tell me what to do.  If I had said ‘no’ (sometimes I manage to do that) I daresay I would have missed one of the most interesting things I have ever bore witness to.  The Baroness (who’s not actually as scary as I remembered) asked me if I would like to be a lady in waiting.  This way I would get to meet all kinds of people, ask questions and hey, hang out with royalty (imaginary or not, still pretty cool).  I even let Lady Aevia put me in a dress, I was that jubilant about attending.

I think Lady in Waiting isn’t the right term for that job.  Oh sure, it’s all glitz and glamor what with the red sash and making her Excellency look important.  That having been said, it’s more like being a human shadow.  A human shadow that can carry stuff (whether it be tokens, monies, or the toys of a child).  I learned a lot of things, like what all the different coronets signify (which, as a newbie can be a little confusing.  I recommending bow/curtsy to anyone you’re not sure about).

I saw the King and a Queen, I met a Princess (who will one day be Queen), I saw knights and fighters and fencers.  There were dancers and singers and a very silly jester.  I met cooks and servers (and was a server too), I met Ladies and Lords and a small army of children in garb.  People were making merry, making food, making garb and making friends.  The feast was fantastic, everyone did such a magnificent job preparing a period meal.  I think I had more fun serving it than I would have to simply sit and eat.

Then there was court.  I am in awe of all the wonderful things that people do in the SCA.  The Baron and Baroness received their new Coronets which were beautifully handcrafted by Ælfwyn.  Everyone paid their taxes, except the Caton of Harrowgate Heath, who’s taxes were mistakenly sent off to the Crusades.  Their payment until the taxes arrive back?  Two words:  Bunny Flail.  There were many accolades, hearty shouts of  ’waes hael’, laughter and even some tears of joy.

It was a day I won’t ever forget.

Adelhayts Top 10 Reasons to Join the SCA:

10.  You get to wear garb and not feel silly because everyone else is wearing it too!

9.  If thou wishest, thou can speak forsoothly.

8.  You can learn to fight in armour, or fence, or become an archer!

7.  Maybe you’re not the aggressive type.  There’s singing, dancing, sewing, cooking, painting, illuminating, writing, researching, crafting and a whole list of things that don’t involve someone chasing you with a rattan sword.

6.  Site tokens.  Not every event has them, nor does every Kingdom/Barony/Canton do them.  They are really neat when they do.  A memento to take back with you into present day.

5.  One day you could be King or Queen!  You get to wear a crown (or coronet)!

4.  The SCA makes history come alive with each event you attend.  You always learn something.

3.  Say your parents were really cruel and gave you a name like “Pepsi Marijuana Smith” (she exists, not making that up) and you hate it.  Guess what?  You get to create a persona and pick your own period name.  Most of the time people will use it over your ‘mundane name’ even outside of events and out of garb!

2.  You make new friends and do something out of the ordinary that always feels extraordinary.

1.  Because all the cool Lords and Ladies are doing it.

Adelyhayt Von Richter

Take a chance, do something different.  Learn something.  Feed your mind and meet like minded people.  I promise you, it will be an experience you won’t soon forget.

Emma

It was a pity that I didn’t have the chance to finish watching a Cinderella-like story of Emma: A Victorian Romance in Animax.  It was first aired on the channel when I was still in high school, and because the evening schedule wasn’t just fit for my schedule, I didn’t have the chance to watch the later episodes.  The storyline was great though, very heartwarming but still, it’s no good to think that still I haven’t had the chance to watch it.  I only watched a few good earlier episodes.  I also watched the continuation of the anime via YouTube but I was too broke at that time.  In short, I just don’t have the chance.

Now that I’m starting downloading a few manga copies of my own choice I stumbled upon the manga version of Emma and I was perfectly happy to download and finally finished the whole story! I was so delighted, it was a very good story, mind you, and sometimes I think about the romantic story in my serious, so-called reflection moments.  Ha! I just like the character of William Jounes and I also like Hakim too! I think Hakim is much more appealing to me, though his ‘girls’ are kind of disturbing.  Then again, I think I’ll prefer Will.

The story was about the maid Emma, who came to work with the retired live-in governess and widowed Kelly Stowner. One day, William Jounes, who was Kelly Stowner’s former student, visited her.  There he bumped into Emma, and fell in love with her.  But William is the oldest son of the noble family of Jounes, and her father Richard already decided that his son would marry Eleanor Campbell, who was a daughter of a viscount.  And then, the conflict starts here.

But I’m not spilling out the whole story here though, I would like you to read it yourself because it’s a very nice manga.

Probably by far, the most dramatic page in the manga.

The manga series was written by Kaoru Mori.  I would like to thank Iihan Translation Group for coming up with a good manga release such as this and Stoptazmo as well for the distribution.  I’m so happy and would like to thank personally the people who were involved with this manga project especially to

the translators whispers and mogura;

to by_request for a good editing job;

to squeeks and jedi_vader20 for the distribution;

to the quality checker boke;

to !waha.06×36 for providing the raw volumes;

and to the scanners winny and anonymous!  I saw your names in the manga copy that I have.  Thanks a lot guys, you rock!

The manga has a total of 52 chapters in 7 volumes, so its not really painstaking to read it.  Besides, it’s all worth it.

A recent press article postulated that, however unwittingly, it was possible to determine the social status of a child from the name its parents had bestowed upon it. For fear of creating unnecessary tumult amongst the gentle reader I won’t quote any examples however the thought crossed my mind that a similar prejudice could be experienced by the consumers of biscuits. Do we perceive that there are “chav” biscuits which should never disgrace the shelves at Fortnum’s and hence never fill the biscuit tins of the “upper classes”;   are there confections so superior that their very appearance in a forecourt 24/7 would be as unlikely as hen’s teeth. Do our pre-conceptions mean that we aspire to different biscuits as our socio-economic circumstances change ? A few unanswered questions but for starters – and a peek into my own prejudices.

Upper class – Bath Olivers

Upper middle class – Duchy Originals

Middle Class – Chocolate Digestives (not supermarket own brand)

Lower middle class – Viscount (obviously with aspirations to be something they aren’t)

Working Class – Supermarket own brand chocolate biscuits (cocoa content below 5%)

Classless – the much discussed Malted Milk and the omnipresent digestive (uncoated of course)

I can feel a thesis coming on . “Proletarianism and Biscuits in 21^st century Europe”, “Are Rich Tea biscuits and Marxism compatible ?”

Simon Suter

A Twitter post from @Archispeak asking “Who coined the term “stately home” and when?” prompts the Times to delves into it’s archives to try and find an answer.

The earliest mention in their archives is from February 1847 in a story relating the terrible destruction by fire of Easton Lodge in Essex.  A gallery of images of the house can also be found on the ‘Lost Heritage’ website: Easton Lodge

As to whether 1847 is really the earliest use of the term it seems unlikely – I’m sure with a bit of research something earlier can be found.

Blog post: ”Who invented the “stately home”?’‘ [The Times]

I had no idea, until somebody told me at lunch yesterday, that Pierre Deligne had been granted a viscounty by the Queen of Belgium; and that, as part of his ennoblement, he had to devise for himself a coat of arms.  And here it is:

Why three chickens?  Read here.

I’m feeling lazy today and do not feel like writing a long political rant again, so I will treat you to a somewhat political cartoon, courtesy of David Malki of Wondermark!.

Enjoy. Be sure to check out Wondermark! and have good Tuesday. Be sure to check out the alt text, too.  If you can’t read the cartoon here, click on the image to see a larger version on Wondermark! itself.

Edit:  Due to WordPress’s current crappy media system and my own negligence, I accidentally deleted yesterday’s post.  Ugh.

HEXADECAGONAL

By VISCOUNT (1998, by Quest For Fame – Antwerp by Sir Tristram). Stakes winner of 6 races from 17 starts, Sires Produce Stakes [Aus-I], Champagne Stakes [Aus-I], George Main Stakes [Aus-I], Bill Stutt Stakes [Aus-II], Skyline Stakes [Aus-III], Randwick 2-year-old Stakes [Aus].

Out of a mare by OCTAGONAL (1992, by Zabeel – Eight Carat by Pieces Of Eight). Stakes winner of 14 races from 28 starts, Australian Derby [Aus-I], W. S. Cox Plate [Aus-I], Australian Cup [Aus-I], Mercedes Classic [Aus-I] (twice), Rosehill Guineas [Aus-I], Canterbury Guineas [Aus-I], Sires’ Produce Stakes [Aus-I], Underwood Stakes [Aus-I], Chipping Norton Stakes [Aus-I], Todman Slipper Trial Stakes [Aus-II], Stan Fox Stakes [Aus-III], Heritage Stakes [Aus], Ansett Frequent Flyer Handicap [Aus].

Granddam by SHECKY GREENE (1970, by Noholme – Lester’s Pride by Model Cadet). Stakes winner of 15 races from 29 starts, Fountain of Youth Stakes [G3], Hutcheson Stakes [G3], Select Handicap [G3], Kelso Handicap [G3], Florida Breeders’ Handicap, Midwest Handicap, Patuxent Stakes, Arlington-Washington Futurity, Arch Ward Stakes.

Lots of Australian blood here! I love tough Aussie racehorses. With Australia’s ban on most medications for racers, you know just know that a horse that runs 20-plus times has some soundness going for them. Even if turf is easier on the legs than American dirt surfaces.

Here we see a cross between the close relatives Viscount and Octagonal. Viscount was champion 2-year-old of his year and racked up three Group 1 victories. He’s a son of top European runner and good sire Quest For Fame, by the even better sire Rainbow Quest. Octagonal was one of the best Australian racers of recent years, champion at two and three, and the victor in ten (ten!) Group 1 stakes. He’s also the only Australian Horse of the Year to sire another Australian Horse of the Year (Lonhro). Viscount’s second dam is a half-sister to Octagonal by classic Down Under sire Sir Tristram, who is also Octagonal’s grandsire through his son Zabeel. This results in 3×4 inbreeding to Sir Tristram and the blue hen Eight Carat. This is a little more closely than I generally try to inbreed, but as both Viscount and Octagonal were quite sound, I’m not too worried about Hexadecagonal holding together.

Great-grandsire Shecky Greene brings some classy speed to the mix. A champion American sprinter, he also set the early fractions for Secretariat’s record-breaking Derby run. And still held on to finish sixth. When you consider Hall of Famer Forego was fourth after closing into those swift fractions, sixth is pretty darn impressive.

My guess is that Hexadecagonal will be a middle- to classic-distance turf horse. Don’t see many winners of the 2-mile Melbourne Cup in his ancestry and I don’t think anyone here is too sprinty. He might even round into shape early enough to be a good two-year-old. Maybe he can even be the next in the line to take the Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Hexadecagonal refers to any figure with sixteen sides. In heraldry, viscounts have sixteen balls on their coronets and crests. Seemed extra appropriate with the doubling of Eight Carat and how closely related Viscount is to Octagonal.

Unsere Ankunft in Dover verlief problemlos. Es ging vom Schiff, ohne weitere Zoll- und Passkontrolle, direkt auf einen “Dual carriageway” (vierspurig ausgebaute Autobahn-ähnliche Straße), deren Bezeichnung und Nummerierung in England mit einem A beginnt und hinter Folkestone dann auf den Motorway M20 Richtung London. Viele Autofahrer, die das erste Mal nach England kommen, haben die Befürchtung mit dem Linksverkehr ihre Probleme zu haben. Aus eigener Erfahrung kann ich sagen, dass sie unbegründet sind. Man gewöhnt sich sehr schnell an die andere Fahrweise, ein rechter Außenspiegel ist aber unbedingt empfehlenswert.
Als Gastgeber fühlt man sich immer in der Pflicht, den Gast zu unterhalten, ihm Abwechslung zu bieten. Mir geht es so und auch unserem Gastgeber. Gleich am ersten Tag nach unserer Ankunft, besuchte er mit uns und seiner Frau das Brooklands Museum. Das Technik Museum ist, ohne es abwerten zu wollen. denn es hat auch seinen besonderen Reiz, eine Kleinausgabe der deutschen Technik-Museen in Sinsheim und Speyer. Bei den deutschen Museen sind die Ausstellungsstücke mehr europaweit gefasst, das englische Gegenstück mit Exponaten hauptsächlich aus England und aus den letzen 100 Jahren.
Das Museumsgelände war früher die weltweit erste Motor-Rennstrecke. Eröffnet wurde sie am 17. Juni 1907, das erste Rennen fand am 06. Juli 1907 statt. Über drei Jahrzehnte war es das “Motor-Ascot“. 1908 wurden an der Rennstrecke die ersten Flugzeuge gebaut und innerhalb der Rennstrecke eine Start- und Landebahn angelegt. Im Weltkrieg wurden hier die Hawker Hurricane-Jäger und der Vickers Wellington- Bomber gebaut. Vickers produzierte hier nach dem Krieg eine sehr erfolgreiche Luftflotte, unter ihnen die berühmte Viscount und die VC10. Das Design und Teile der Concorde Konstruktion wurden ebenfalls hier entwickelt und gebaut. Die letzte Concorde, stillgelegt im November 2003 von Britisch Airways, ist das Highlight des Museums. Man kann sie von innen besichtigen und erhält dort eine Menge an Informationen über diesen Flugzeugtyp. Viele nationale, internationale und Welt-Rekorde wurden in Brooklands gefahren und geflogen.

Soyluluk (Peerage), İngiliz soylu sınıfı tarafından kullanılan asalet ünvanları sistemi ve İngiliz soylularının genel ismidir.. .

Bu sistem çeşitli dönemler ve oluşturdukları asalet unvanları itibariyle 5 ana grupta incelenir..

- İngiltere Soyluluğu ( the Peerage of England) –1707’deki Birlik Yasası’ndan önce İngiltere Kral ve Kraliçeleri tarafından yaratılan tüm unvanlar
- İskoçya Soyluluğu ( the Peerage of Scotland) –1707’deki Birlik Yasası’ndan önce İskoçya Kral ve Kraliçeleri tarafından yaratılan tüm unvanlar
- İrlanda Soyluluğu ( the Peerage of Ireland) – 1801’deki Birlik Yasası’ndan önce İrlanda Kral ve Kraliçeleri tarafından yaratılan unvanlar ve daha sonra yaratılan bazı unvanlar
- Büyük Britanya Soyluluğu ( the Peerage of Great Britain) – 1707 ve 1801 yılları arasında Büyük Britanya Krallığı için yaratılan unvanlar
- Birleşik Krallık Soyluluğu ( the Peerage of United Kingdom) – 1801’den bu yana yaratılan çoğu unvanlar.
Soylular 5 dereceye ayrılırlar; Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount ve Baron.. İskoçya’da beşinci derece Meclis Lordu ( Lord of Parliament) olarak adlandırılır, zira Baronlar feodal saygınlık taşımaktadırlar ve soylu değildirler.. (Sayılan terimler hakkında geniş bilgiyi İngiliz Soyluluğu’nda 5 Derece adlı makalemde bulabilirsiniz.. )

- Duke, Latince’de lider anlamına gelen dux kelimesinden gelmektedir..
- Marquess, Fransızca’daki sınır anlamına gelen marche kelimesinden türeyen marquis kelimesinden gelmektedir..
- Earl, Eski İngilizce’de askeri lider anlamına gelen eorl kelimesinden gelmiştir.. İskandinavya’da konuşulan Eski Norse dilindeki özgür-doğan savaşçı ve asil anlamına gelen jarl kelimesinde gelmiş olabileceği de düşünülmektedir.. Earl’ün Kıta Avrupası’ndaki karşılığı Kont asalet sıfatıdır..
- Viscount, Latince’de Kont’un astı anlamına gelen vicecomes kelimesinden gelmektedir..
- Baron, Eski Cermen dilindeki özgür adam anlamına gelen baro kelimesinden gelmektedir..

 As new reports come in on Princess Diana’s inquest, one has to ask what all the fuss is about. Surely, Princess Diana was a highly influential person, whose support for charities was legendary (and continues on), and whose spat with the “Establishment“ in the United Kingdom fractured her marriage to Prince Charles. Here then we gain a clue as to her popularity. Being the “People’s Princess”, Princess Diana’s rise to royalty from civilian life was the driving force that gained her her following, her clout in the public eye, with all the attendant consequences. Needless to say, it was this worship of Diana (as well as a drunk chauffeur/security chief) that led to her death.

What is the need for royalty in modern times? Let us discuss one important aspect of the royalty, and that is its political power.

There is a spectrum of the political involvement of royalty in the world. Absolute monarchies still exist in Brunei, Saudi Arabia and the Vatican City. In these places, they are considered infallible and their word is carried out as law. Other countries impose legal limitations on royal power in the form of constitutional monarchies, as observed in many European States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. A similarity in these monarchies is their succession by primogeniture, a mechanism that caused the Japanese Imperial Family a recent headache. Because tracing bloodlines is important, a certain status is given to members of the royal family by society in recognition of their closeness in succession to the reigning monarch. Through this, and given the absence of any meaningful opposition to their rule (enough to overthrow them from power), a monarchy is able to perpetuate itself in eternity. Exceptions to this are elected monarchs, such as the Pope, who is elected by the College of Cardinals in the Vatican, in a highly anticipated ceremony, and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Paramount ruler (elected by and from the hereditary sultans of each state in Malaysia).

Based on the process of succession, and the resulting longer terms of a monarchy, some argue that this system of rule confers an immunity from politicking and corruption that prevail in more temporary arrangements (such as in elections). As a lasting symbol of the state, there is allegedly less tendency for others to attack the monarchy, avoiding the scandals that tarnish the reputation of a country. As a power beyond the political realm and not requiring political support, the monarchy becomes a neutral and independent arbiter of the people’s interests. It is provides stability during times of political upheaval as permanent holders of power. Being born and trained to rule, monarchs are allegedly reliable and dependable.

Most of the benefits mentioned above do not seem to be applicable in the here and now. For one, most monarchies today are constitutional, a situation that binds the monarchy (in various ways, in different countries) from any meaningful political involvement. In fact, monarchs are largely ceremonial figureheads rather than actual rulers. And when constitutional monarchs do become rulers, they have to embroil themselves in the politics of the day, favoring or disfavoring their prime ministers, and seeking to gain popular support. The arguments above apply more to absolute monarchies. One single but weighty question  for absolute rule is: can we always have an enlightened despot? History argues otherwise. Enlightened despots are rare, and rulers have always been fallible. It is even arguable that with so much subjectivity vested into one person, despite the possible existence of advisers and all, an environment is created that breeds nepotism, cronyism and corruption. (consider case studies in Tonga, and Saudi Arabia) It is no surprise that royal families are extremely rich and decadent, whose funances are even propped up by taxpayer money.

Politically, then, monarchies haven’t proven themselves to be particularly effective. How about their social aspect?

Monarchies retain so much social attraction even today because of their socioeconomic disparity with the public. Going around in “elite” social circles, protected by their gilded walls and their towering castles and boasting of a bloodline that goes back hundreds of years, royals enjoy an elevated social status that begets itself. That is, royal families are popular because they are royal. The public seems embroiled in cheap entertainment based on gossip and rumors, and fueled by raunchy intrusions into the royal private life. Sometimes though, that popularity extends beyond the tabloids and the paparazzi. In places that elevate a monarch’s status to that of a deity, monarchs can wield a great deal of influence on social norms and political policies by virtue of their strong public support. Thailand’s multiple coups, such as the one in 2006, have been dependent on royalty for their mandate. Recently, the King of Spain rallied his country against an attack by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on a former Spanish prime minister (his “Shut up” statement is now a huge ringtone hit)

On the other hand, and here even some royals may agree with me, the constant presence of the public eye on their every move gets to be more annoying. Royals are pressured to conform to what the public view as “royal behavior”, deviance from which is punished severely by the press (remember Prince Harry and his costume?). Scandal after scandal is published on what would otherwise be ordinary news if it weren’t for the regal factor. Social pressure may not even be tolerated by members of the royal family, causing them to cast away their title in favor of a more private life, free from the constraints that burden a prince or a princess.

But here is where Republicans become a little myopic: No one else is listened to more than Royalty. In a modern era where people have become exasperated, even fed up with the reckless and unbounded ghost statements of their political leaders, a monarchy provides the strong voice that unifies everyone. As a bastion of conservatism, the monarchy functions as a barometer by which the public can gauge their actions. As a symbol of the status quo, the monarchy is able to show people where progress is needed and galvanize them into action.

As archaic, fanciful, peculiar and old as it may seem, the concept of monarchy is still relevant today. Acting as a powerful catalyst for social change, having a king may not seem so bad at all.

I loved this wonderful double entendre from the Sun’s coverage of the “mystery” Royal who is allegedly the target of blackmail:

“These socialites demanded $100,000 not to release a video which they claimed showed that ******** engaged in oral sex … This is absolute nonsense. ***** would never be involved in anything like this. It is a con trick which exploded in their faces.”

Pardon me for my puerile sense of humour but that’s got to be deliberate.

But farce enters into the humour with the use of  ******** for the name of the member of the Royal Family. The reason for this is that a court order prevents their identification in the UK.

Of course, if you have access to the internet you can find out who it is by checking Google News or most foreign news sites, such as The Sydney Morning Herald.

Some 61% of UK households have internet access, which makes the court order utterly ineffective and, therefore,  farcical.

Why do the courts bother trying to enforce the unenforceable?

In letzter Zeit häuften sich bei mir Aufträge mit Reisethemen, sowie über Reise- und Fluggesellschaften, als auch Flugzeuge. Natürlich bzw. glücklicher Weise stolperte ich dabei auch mal wieder über die Viscount 814. Mal wieder? Oh ja; dazu aber später mehr. Eine ausgesprochen hübsche, alte Lady. Und ich bin überzeugt, dass sie kein Problem damit hat, wenn man sie „alte“ nennt. Das höflichere „ältere“, „gereifte“ oder „erfahrene“ wäre zwar nicht ganz falsch, hier jedoch nun wirklich unpassend gewählt. Denn gerade das Alter macht ja ihren unnachahmlichen Charme aus.

Der Erstflug einer Viscount erfolgte am 16. Juni 1948. Zu jener Zeit bewegte sich die alte Dame mit einer Höchstgeschwindigkeit von gut 500 km/h am Himmel. Zum Vergleich: Der Airbus A380 erreicht heutzutage fast einfache Schallgeschwindigkeit mit weit über Eintausend km/h. Er fliegt also mit mehr als der doppelten Geschwindigkeit. Da liegt im Nachhinein fast die Vermutung nahe, mit der Viscount gerade so eben noch am Himmel geblieben zu sein. Wenn man diese Geschwindigkeiten allerdings zu Fuß erreichen müsste, sähe die Relation schon wieder anders aus.

Als erstes Verkehrs-Flugzeug mit Turboprop-Antrieb verdankte ihr die Luftfahrt eine neue Epoche. Sie bot gut 70 Passagieren Platz und wurde von vier Rolls-Royce-Triebwerken in die Luft gebracht, dort gehalten und sicher zurück auf die Erde geleitet. Ihre großen Augen, von mir aus auch Fenster, imponierten damals schon den Fluggästen und machten die Lady schnell zu einem der beliebtesten Fluggeräte überhaupt. Leider musste die Viscount größeren, schnelleren und moderner ausgestatten Maschinen weichen, so dass heutzutage nur noch sehr wenige Exemplare existieren. Ein paar fliegen aber sogar noch.

Und warum nun „mal wieder“? Ganz einfach: Es ist mir vergönnt, dieses alte Mädchen immer mal wieder, sozusagen hautnah, zu bewundern. Dass die Viscount, der ich ab und zu Besuche abstatte, nicht mehr fliegt, begrüße ich sehr. Sie steht in Hannover und nennt sich heutzutage „Silbervogel“. In ihr ist ein Restaurant eingerichtet, das gemütlicher kaum sein könnte. Die großen Fenster imponieren noch heute und dort zu essen, vermittelt ein ziemlich angenehmes Gefühl. ;o) Die Crew ist nicht nur kompetent, sondern auch sehr nett und aufmerksam. Davon abgesehen ist das Essen eine glatte Wucht. Im „Garten“ zu sitzen, der sich unter dem linken Flügel befindet, ist bei gutem Wetter natürlich auch möglich. Das besondere Ambiente eines solchen Essens ist einfach unschlagbar!

Da sage nochmal jemand, in Flugzeugen gäbe es heutzutage, sofern überhaupt noch, kein vernünftiges Essen mehr … *tse

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