tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25301105070354954682024-03-14T06:17:26.080+00:00Liv Above The CloudsLiv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530110507035495468.post-34759101728860074542018-10-10T17:39:00.000+01:002018-10-10T17:46:34.220+01:00PILOT SELECTION DAY TIPS - BRITISH AIRWAYS CADET PROGRAMME/ L3 AIRLINE ACADEMY<div class="MsoNormal">
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If you’re reading this blog post then there’s a strong
possibility that you’re either interested in applying to a pilot training
scheme or already have an upcoming selection day at a training school such as
L3. In this post I hope to give you a brief overview of what to expect at the selection
day and interview(s) and how best to prepare for these tasks (or at least what
I found useful when I sat them). Each training school runs different programmes
for their assessment days so the information I will be discussing here is
purely based on my experience with L3 Airline Academy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first stage of application is completed online and in the
case of the British Airways Cadet Programme was made up of three (short) essay
questions, a basic maths test and a psychometric test. To prepare for this
stage of assessment I’d recommend building your CV with industry related
experience in order to give you interesting examples to draw upon within your
answers – this will also be useful during the interview stage where you can call upon your experience to answer the tricky questions. If you’d like some
more information about the steps I took to enhance my CV you can read my
previous <a href="http://www.livabovetheclouds.com/2018/09/what-inspired-me-to-become-pilot-my.html">blog
post</a>.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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L3 host their Technical and Non-Technical selection days at
Dibden Manor near Southampton. The day starts very early so if you live far
away I would suggest booking a room somewhere nearby so you don’t have to get
up at the crack of dawn and be tired for the assessments. I stayed at <a href="https://www.dalefarmhouse.co.uk/">Dale Farm House</a> and would highly
recommend it! The people that run it are very kind and accommodating and even
have a special book of emails, written by other cadets that have stayed there,
filled with hints of what to expect at the selection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When you first arrive at Dibden there will be a short presentation
shown to you about how the day will run and what to expect if you do progress
further. If you have applied to an airline specific scheme there will also be a
short talk from a representative of the airline about what they are looking for
in their applicants and any extra requirements they have during the selection
and training process. I would suggest taking a notepad and pen into the
presentation with you so you can write down any important information they give
you. I’d also recommend thinking about any questions that you have so you can
ask the right people when given the opportunity. Make sure you converse with
the other applicants when you are sat in the waiting room; you’re all just as
nervous as each other so chatting will really help calm the nerves. Be
yourself, smile, and relax!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">STAGE 1 – MATHS TEST & PILAPT <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">(NOTE: L3 AIRLINE
ACADEMY NO LONGER RUN PILAPT TESTING AND INSTEAD RUN A PROGRAMME CALLED CUT-E.
AN INDEPTH POST ABOUT CUT-E TESTING CAN BE FOUND ON PILOT GEORGE’S <a href="https://www.pilotgeorge.co.uk/blog/post/l3-airline-academy-ctc-aviation-selection-day-technical-tests-cute/"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">BLOG</span></a>. I SUGGEST
READING THIS BEFORE SITTING A SELECTION DAY AT L3.)</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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Once the talk is finished you will be split into two groups
to go and sit the assessments. Each group will alternate as there is not enough
space to accommodate everyone at one time in the technical assessment room. The
assessment room looks a lot like the room where you sit your theory-driving
test; each individual booth contains a pen and some paper to complete your
rough working out during the maths test, a keyboard, a joystick, a headset and
a computer screen which will be displaying your name (although some of this may
have changed slightly with the new testing). You will be given a short briefing
then you’ll be free to start the assessment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The maths test consists of 15 multi-choice GCSE level maths
questions that need to be completed in 15 minutes. There’s really nothing to worry
about with this test; if you have a good understanding of maths you will be
completely fine. You will probably be presented with some speed=distance/time
questions as well as a few conversions and some basic multiplication. I’d
suggest practicing your mental maths to the point where you feel confident that
you will be able to complete the questions within the allotted time (the
YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb7w5aTnt7YeXBcVCY0mgFw">tecmath</a> has
some very helpful videos on quick multiplication and division tricks that I
found very useful when practising for the assessment day). <o:p></o:p></div>
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After you finish the maths test you will be able to move
onto the aptitude testing. As I’ve already mentioned, I did not sit the new
cut-e testing when I did my selection day, however I still have a few tips on
how to prepare for general aptitude testing. SkyTest and latestpilotjobs.com
both provide excellent mock tests, which I would definitely recommend
purchasing as well as your own joystick to use at home to practice.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">** STAGE 2 – BRITISH AIRWAYS SPECIFIC NUMERICAL & VERBAL REASONING TESTS**<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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These extra tests assigned by British Airways on the
selection for the Cadet Pilot Programme further test your maths knowledge and
verbal reasoning capabilities. The Numerical Reasoning test requires you to
answer 25 advanced maths questions in 12 minutes, but don’t panic! I know it
sounds like a lot but what they’re really looking for with this test is someone
who won’t rush something just to get the job done. Don’t feel like you have to
answer every question, the test is not designed to be finished within the
allotted time. I only answered 14 of the 25 questions but I was confident that
all my answers were correct. Having sat several of these types of tests before
whilst I was at school I found the best approach is to go through and answer
all the questions you can do first and then spend the rest of your time having
a go at solving the slightly more advanced questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Verbal Reasoning test is fairly straightforward. The
only thing I can compare this test to is the Key Stage 2 SATS Reading test but
slightly more advanced. In this assessment you are given a piece of text to
read through and then given several multi-choice questions based on the text in
which you have to infer the answer. This test is less time pressured than the
Numerical Reasoning but still requires you to work quickly but accurately. The
best advice I can give here is RTFQ (Read The ‘Flipping’ Question)! Some of the
wording on the test can be tricky and can catch you out if you don’t read and
reread the question properly.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">STAGE 3 – GROUP INTERVIEW & ONE-TO-ONE INTERVIEW<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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For the group interview I can’t go into too much detail
about the task itself due to the fact that I signed a privacy waiver; however,
I can give you a few tips on how best to approach a group interview. Most group
interviews are usually structured in the same way: you all sit at a table with
sheets of information in front of you and your assessors will allow you time to
read through this material and then discuss it with the group. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Group interviews test how well you communicate with your
peers and judge you as a team leader and team player. To be successful within a
group interview you need to speak up! This doesn’t mean you have to take over,
but you should contribute your opinions where relevant and also use the
information you are given (as well as any outside knowledge) to attempt to come
to a conclusion within the group. If ever you feel like bigger personalities in
the group are taking over, don’t worry. Firstly, the company doesn’t want you
taking control as this shows an inability to work well in a team, which is an
undesirable trait in a pilot (or any job really). When you find yourself not
being able to get a word in then it’s best to listen to whoever’s talking and
either agree or disagree with their point and develop your reasons why. Don’t
interrupt them but try to find a break in the natural flow where you can get
your point across.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Usually group interviews
involve some form of budgeting and require you to do some sums based on the
figures given. It’s best to discuss with the group if anyone has any particular
strengths/experience when it comes to working out finances and see if they’d be
comfortable keeping track of the figures. It is also vital for the group to
have a time keeper; however, don’t be fooled by the common misconception that
speaking up and offering to keep track of time gets you off the hook with
contributing during the task as this will just mean you fail the assessment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The assessors during a group interview are looking for
people who engage well with their colleagues and can demonstrate the qualities
that are looked for in a pilot. They are looking for someone with ability to
respectfully question someone’s decision when you don’t agree with their
suggestion and give reasons as to why you disagree as well as offer an
alternative. Good CRM (Crew Resource Management) skills are vital in a potential
pilot as they are desirable in the cockpit to avoid any incidents occurring. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The best advice I can give you for a group interview is do
not forget the aim of the task. It is very easy to get side tracked when you
have so much information in front of you so I would recommend using a DODAR:</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>D- Diagnose
(the problem)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O- Options
(discuss the options you have available to you)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>D- Decide
(which option you wish to take)</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> A- Act (carry out the task using
the option you have chosen)</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 48px;"> R- Review (discuss the outcome
and amend the task if necessary)</span></div>
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DODARs are used in everyday aviation to make important operational decisions, so
the assessors will be impressed with you taking this approach. This will get
everyone on the same page and establish any weak points you still have in your plan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Interviews are the one constant in every job application. No
one particularly enjoys doing interviews but it is the best way for a potential
employer to see what you’re like in person and decided whether you’re the right
fit for the company. The interview at L3 was heavily competency based so I’d
recommend thinking of real life examples where you have demonstrated the skills
that are looked for in a pilot. Potential questions include:</div>
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<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Give an example of a time when you have worked
as part of a team.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">How do
you cope with failure?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Tell me
about a time where you have lead a team.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Give an
example of a time when you’ve had to make a decision under pressure.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Tell me about a time when you’ve had to work to
a timescale when completing an important task.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Give an example of a time when you’ve had to
break the rules.</span> </li>
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When answering these questions I would recommend using the
STAR method to structure your responses. The STAR model allows you to answer
the questions efficiently without waffling and forgetting your point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>S-
Situation: Set the scene.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>T- Task:
Establish the end goal.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> A- Action: What did you do?</span></div>
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R- Result: What was the outcome
of your actions?</div>
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I would also suggest relating your answers back to becoming
a pilot and how these skills will help you in a flying career, as this is
ultimately what the interviewers are looking for. I would also recommend
familiarising yourself with any current affairs in the industry and some basic
information about L3 so that should they ask you any of these type of questions
you don’t look under prepared. And don’t forget to prepare some questions to
ask the interviewer at the end!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">**STAGE 4 – BRITISH AIRWAYS SPECIFIC INTERVIEWS AND APTITUDE TESTING**<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If you have applied to an airline scheme then you will need
to complete some extra interviews after passing the L3 selection process;
however, should you be unsuccessful with the final airline assessment, you
still have a place as a ‘whitetail’ at L3. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The final assessment day for the British Airways Cadet Pilot
Programme was held at Waterside (British Airways HQ) and ran in three parts: an
aptitude test, a group interview, and a two-to-one interview. British Airways
run a programme called ‘Eagle’ for their aptitude testing. Unfortunately there
is no way to practice for this test prior to the day so the best advice I can
give here is don’t rush and make sure you pay attention to the instructions as
this test requires a lot of multitasking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The group interview at British Airways ran much the same as
the group interview at L3; however, the two-to-one interview was structured slightly
differently to the one-to-one interview at L3. The interview is usually run by
one pilot and one member of HR (although I had two members of HR questioning
me) and questions will be much more industry focused. Some questions I remember
being asked include:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">How does a wing generate lift?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What causes turbulence?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">How would you explain turbulence to a passenger?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What would you do if the Captain wanted to go
against SOPs?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">How do you stay up to date with the industry?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What challenges do you think you will face as a
pilot?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What do you know about British Airways’ plan for
the future? (Plan4)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Why do you want to be a pilot?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Why do you want to work for British Airways?</span></li>
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To ensure you are prepared enough to competently answer
these questions I would recommend reading through some aviation websites that
report on up to date information in the industry and learning some basic
principles of flight (just enough to give you a brief overview into the four
forces of flight). Research the airline you are applying to and find out
information such as any new business announcements (i.e. new routes, new
aircraft, new services), what aircraft the airline have in their fleet and who
the CEO of the company is. You will also be asked a few more competency
questions by the HR interviewer so I would suggest thinking of some different
examples to questions similar to those that you were asked in the L3 interview
to ensure variety in your answers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So that’s just about everything I can think of to help you through your
assessments. I hope this post has been of use to you and if you do have an
upcoming selection day... congratulations and good luck! If you have any more
questions feel free to leave a comment on this post and I’ll do my best to
answer them. Olivia x<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
Liv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530110507035495468.post-14170756187781769882018-09-17T21:56:00.000+01:002018-09-17T22:26:42.620+01:00WHAT INSPIRED ME TO BECOME A PILOT?<div class="MsoNormal">
The first question people ask me when they find out that I’m
about to start my pilot training is “Have you always wanted to be a pilot?” and
the honest answer to that is “No”. I’ve spent so much time attempting to convince
myself that flying has been a lifelong passion of mine, feeling guilty that I
didn’t attend air shows every weekend as a kid or visit the cockpit after every
flight I went on, but truthfully it wasn’t a career I even considered until I
was about 15. As a child I always thought I’d be a vet or an actress or (God
forbid) a singer and being a pilot wasn’t even really on my radar. We had a few
family friends that were pilots but none that were women, so I naïvely
perceived it to be a male profession and wrote it off as a potential career for
myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I
remember going to Dubai on holiday when I was about 12 and staying with a friend whose dad is a captain
for Emirates. At dinner I would sit listening to his stories in awe and imagine
how amazing his job must be; astounded that it was a job normal people,
including women, could do (somewhere in my brain I think I’d always thought of
it a bit like being an astronaut – a job that everyone dreams of but few
actually achieve)! Those visits to Dubai were the first time I became aware of
flying planes for a career and that’s probably where my initial interest was
sparked. Of course I’d had my fair share of contact with the industry before
this; most of my family has worked in aviation in some aspect and growing up,
my best friend and I would play with my cabin crew Sindy dolls and pretend that
we worked at the airport together (something that’s about to become reality
because she too has just got a job in the industry as ground staff for the same
airline as me); I’d just never considered becoming a pilot!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRKDsHWlBDZb5iN9GzfJHGLDyo1HHvTDuSlajcKRHysbbE-_YefgUNXgpxKsZfV37gi5moyZolYx_4bI4kJF9tKtnBqwhtefbpaTcsNGKrJr_1W9S5tDuR1CATB32NzkRC6zvU2jtOQgz/s1600/IMG_4610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRKDsHWlBDZb5iN9GzfJHGLDyo1HHvTDuSlajcKRHysbbE-_YefgUNXgpxKsZfV37gi5moyZolYx_4bI4kJF9tKtnBqwhtefbpaTcsNGKrJr_1W9S5tDuR1CATB32NzkRC6zvU2jtOQgz/s640/IMG_4610.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I was about 15 I attended a careers event at my school,
aimed at inspiring students to think about what we wanted to do with our
futures. I was very fortunate to go to a school that gave us these amazing
opportunities to shape our career paths from a young age and supported us with
mock job interviews and contacts within the career fields that we wanted to go
into. It was at this careers fair where I met the father of one of my peers,
who worked as a British Airways Captain. I spent about an hour grilling him on
every aspect of his job – why he became a pilot, how he trained for the role,
what his job involved – and left at the end of the night feeling so so excited,
rushing home to tell my mum all about the career that I had decided to pursue.
After the initial questioning as to where this sudden epiphany had come from,
my mum and I started to look into what it really took to become a pilot and if
it would even be possible for me to follow this newly discovered dream of mine.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the start of sixth form we began to discuss UCAS, uni and
future careers, which is when I first mentioned my desire to become a
commercial pilot to my head of year, Mr Budd, who I owe so much to; it was him who
recommended that I attend my first open day at CTC Aviation (now known as L3
Airline Academy – the school I’ll be doing my training with!). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4IooI1ZH5dgR5WwQWxy6xM8ZXWUiv3cwp7nMAhuIpoFqpbs0FLWyuWPlmwC6j8oiBSWmUk0AiKV5VyV1Ny8yP9xJfau-N8hGYNzCYTuonvRossUU9zXNk7ofOqGIE1n_5XaParoMgHuA/s1600/IMG_4861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4IooI1ZH5dgR5WwQWxy6xM8ZXWUiv3cwp7nMAhuIpoFqpbs0FLWyuWPlmwC6j8oiBSWmUk0AiKV5VyV1Ny8yP9xJfau-N8hGYNzCYTuonvRossUU9zXNk7ofOqGIE1n_5XaParoMgHuA/s640/IMG_4861.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The open day was
in March 2016 at CTC’s Bournemouth training school and was a drop in session
where we could have one on one chats with some of the trainers and cadets about
the training. I left very enthusiastic but with a huge long list of suggestions
of things to do in order to make my application stand out amongst the crowd,
which included getting some work experience in the industry before I was old
enough to apply for the course. So, in the summer of 2016 I went to my local
airfield, Fairoaks, for a week and worked with Synergy Aviation (one of the
companies based out of the airport) in their ops department and up in the ATC
tower. It was such an interesting week and on the last day I was even lucky
enough to sit in the right hand seat of a King Air B200 on a flight to Southend
on Sea where it was going in for some engineering work.</div>
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Later that same year I attended another open day at CTC,
this time at their base in Nursling, Southampton. This day was more formal than
the previous one I had attended and included a PowerPoint presentation about
training costs and a guest speaker from Virgin Atlantic who talked about the
Virgin MPL scheme that was due to open up; I later applied for this scheme but
was unsuccessful with my application, failing to even get past the online stage
(not surprising considering I was still only 17 and had very little industry
experience). Even though I was very disappointed, I was determined not to see
this as a setback and instead used it as a learning tool for future
applications. I visited CTC another three times in total after that (eager I
know but I wanted to attend the open days for the easyJet and British Airways
schemes) and made as many contacts as possible – literally taking anyone and
everyone’s email addresses so that I could gather any information that would
help me in my future applications.</div>
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In December 2016 I was lucky enough to get some work
experience in the Virgin Atlantic traffic department at Heathrow thanks to my
step-mum who works for Virgin. I spent the entire night shift watching how the
aircraft are assigned to particular routes and how things such as the weather
affect a pilot’s flight plan. I was allowed onto the apron, clad in my hi-vis,
to take a look around some of the aircraft and was even granted a couple of
flight deck visits where I got to watch the pilots go through their pre-flight
checks. It was the best day of work experience and I loved getting to see how
the whole process works; I was so glad to have something so unique and exciting
to add to my applications in the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For Christmas that year I was gifted the most amazing
present ever – my first flying lesson! I cried with happiness when I opened the
card and read the voucher and I spent the next few weeks dreaming about my
first time flying a plane. When the day in February finally arrived I couldn’t
control my excitement; I bought my first ever logbook, met with my instructor
and then went on my first ever walk around. Getting into that PA28 I was a
bundle of nerves but as soon as I started going through the pre-flight
checklist with my instructor I started to relax slightly. Before long I was
ready to go; I contacted ATC, taxied out, and before I knew it I was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">above the clouds </i>(see what I did there?)
and experiencing a feeling like no other. I will never forget my first flight
for as long as I live; it’s a huge day in any pilot’s life and no matter how
many I do in my career, that flight will always be one of my most memorable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With some work experience in the industry, several open day
visits and a couple of flying hours under my belt, in May 2017 I finally felt
ready to reapply to CTC (who by this point were now known as L3). Applications
for the Generation easyJet programme were open and I took my chance and sent in
my application – I was keen on applying to airline schemes rather than L3’s whitetail
programme as I wanted the security of having a guaranteed job at the end of
training. It was also around this time that I applied for my job as British
Airways cabin crew; I was due to finish my A Levels at the end of June and
because I’d decided not to go to university, I wanted to find a job to do whilst
I waited to start a pilot training course (and what better job than being a
flight attendant!). After passing all my interviews for cabin crew I centred my
focus onto my application for the pilot programme. </div>
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To my amazement I was successful with the initial
application stage and was invited to attend an assessment day on June 1<sup>st</sup>
at L3’s selection centre at Dibden Manor in Southampton. The day was made up of
two parts: a multi-choice maths test and PILAPT (Pilot Aptitude) testing. The
testing was difficult but I enjoyed it nonetheless and left the assessment
centre wishing I could fast forward time until I knew the outcome. I found out
the following day that I had been unsuccessful and had failed part of the
PILAPT testing and would not be continuing the process. I was absolutely
devastated but had expected a knock back due to it being my first time attempting
the assessment day. I was happy to have at least been given the opportunity to
do the testing so that I would know what to expect for my next assessment day
when I next applied.</div>
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4 months later, in October 2017, training was in full swing
for my job as cabin crew when L3 announced that the British Airways Cadet Pilot
Programme would be opening for applications. British Airways was my dream
airline to work for as a pilot and was ultimately where I’d always intended to
end up. I was so excited that they’d finally opened up their cadet scheme again
after not opening it for a couple of years. Even better news was that they’d
changed the scheme slightly (from the previously named Future Pilots Programme)
to also offer an ATPL, which didn’t require A Levels like the MPL did (good
news for me as my A Level grades wouldn’t have been high enough to apply). For
the online stage we were asked to answer three questions in an essay format and
then had to undertake some psychometric testing and maths testing; I didn’t
really expect to get through the online application stage as I knew it would be
an immensely popular scheme and there would be lots of very tough competition. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fast forward a week or two and I was left in utter shock
when I opened an email telling me that I’d passed the first stage of assessment
and I was to once again attend an assessment day at Dibden Manor. Of course the
nerves from last time resurfaced but at least I knew what to expect this time
around, although BA required us to sit two additional assessments to the ones I
did at the easyJet assessment day. Because of this, the day ran in four parts:
numerical reasoning testing and verbal reasoning testing, followed but the
multi-choice maths test and PILAPT testing. After failing the PILAPT testing
the first time around I was very nervous to re-sit them but I’d put in a lot of
practice and felt ready for the challenge. (I’ll go into greater detail about
the whole assessment process in another post and give some useful hints/tips
for preparing yourself for the various different tests).</div>
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I left the room where I sat the PILAPT test feeling
extremely deflated as I thought I hadn’t performed well enough to progress my
application and was gutted that I’d messed up my big chance; however, in the
car on the way home I was sat checking my emails when the email that I thought
I’d never get appeared in my inbox. L3 had emailed me to inform me that I had
met the required standard and would be progressing through to the next stage of
assessment! I was in complete shock but so happy that I’d actually passed the
PILAPT testing and all my hard work and practising had clearly paid off. I
didn’t have much time to sit and celebrate though as stage 2 was scheduled for
two days after stage 1 - no pressure! I had one day to madly plan answers to a
multitude of different interview questions before I was back at Dibden and
ready for my next stage of assessment – a group interview and a 1-to-1
interview! Once again, to my amazement, I received another letter congratulating
me on successfully passing that selection stage and before I knew it, January
2018 had rolled around and I was about to attend my final assessment day for
the British Airways Cadet Pilot Programme – I couldn’t believe it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The final assessment day for the programme was held at
Waterside (BA’s Headquarters) on January 22<sup>nd</sup> 2018 and consisted of:
another group interview, a 2-to-1 interview, and some more PILAPT testing.
Weirdly enough, this was the first stage of the entire process where I actually
felt confident with how I had performed, which I found rather unsettling! </div>
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After
a week of waiting to hear back I was getting extremely anxious. I arrived home
from work on the morning of January 31<sup>st</sup> and went straight to bed to
sleep off the jet lag; when I woke up at midday I had a missed call and a text
message from one of the pilot recruiters at BA asking me to call her as soon as
possible. As I pressed call I could feel my heart in my throat – this could
potentially be the most important call of my life. She picked up and
immediately told me not to panic and that she just wanted to let me know that
I’d been successful and I had achieved a place on the British Airways Cadet
Pilot Programme! I had done it. After years of work experience and gaining
industry knowledge, months of interviews and weeks of nervously waiting for the
outcome I finally heard the words that I so desperately wanted to hear but
never in a million years would have allowed myself to believe they’d be true. I
felt like I could finally breathe a sigh of relief that I didn’t even know I’d
been holding onto. After hanging up from the best phone call of my life I
immediately punched in my mum’s number and waited to tell her the incredible
news.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So since January I’ve been filling out an endless stream of
paperwork and organising class one medicals, insurances, visas and about a
million other things. As of today (17/09/18) it’s exactly one month until I fly
out to New Zealand for 14 months for my ground school and flying phases of
training. I couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter and I’m so proud to
share my story with you.</div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.2pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thank you for taking the time to read this
extremely lengthy post! I feel so privileged to finally be starting my dream
career and I know that I 100% would not be here without the help of my amazing
family. I can’t wait to share the rest of this wild journey with you and
hopefully inspire other young women to find their wings and fly high! Olivia x<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 14.2pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"><b>To my Mum and Jim, Daddy and Anne, Grandma
and Grandad, and Nana, you are the most amazingly supportive family I could ask
for and the sacrifices you’ve made for me are completely mind blowing. I love
you all so much and can’t wait to fly you all around the world in a few years time!</b></i></div>
Liv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530110507035495468.post-72262570608319504892018-08-27T16:50:00.000+01:002018-10-09T15:56:33.682+01:00A SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARI<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’ve been gone for a while now due to some pretty big
changes that are happening in my life (more on that in a future post) but I HAD to take
some time to tell you guys about my recent trip to Johannesburg. This was my
second time visiting Joburg as crew and after falling in love with it the first
time around I decided to bring my Mum along with me for a little girls trip
before I leave BA. I’ve never taken a cling on with me on one of my trips
before so I was of course extremely stressed about her getting on the flight
but standby came through for us and before I knew it my mum was on the plane on
her way to South Africa with me!</div>
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When you think of Johannesburg you think of safaris, which
is why I decided to give my Mum the authentic South African experience and
booked ‘<a href="http://leopardsong.com/">Leopardsong Game Lodge</a>’ for the
night. As crew we get a special rate for lots of places and Leopardsong is one
of those – originally bought to my attention by fellow a crew member, Leopardsong
is a 4 star luxury resort situated in <span lang="EN-US">18,500 hectares of
land in the middle of the Pride of Africa. It</span> offers the incredible
experience of an evening game drive, a night’s stay in an ensuite room in the lodge,
and a sunrise game drive (which only costs an additional R200pp), as well as
dinner and breakfast included in the price.</div>
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We arrived at the crew hotel in Johannesburg at around 11am
on the Sunday morning and had a quick shower before getting picked up at 1pm
and heading to the lodge.<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span>The evening game drive was scheduled to leave at 4pm so when we arrived
at Leopardsong we dumped our things, got changed, and headed out to the safari jeep.</div>
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Within minutes of being out in the bush we’d already
encountered two Vervet monkeys, a herd of impalas and a group of zebras (which
FYI is actually called a dazzle of zebras – amazing) but had yet to come across
any of The Big Five – Lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and leopards. The Big
Five were originally named for being the five most dangerous animals to hunt on
foot; however, safari tour operators now use the term for marketing purposes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After driving around for a little while Keal our game ranger received some information from another game ranger over the radio and within minutes we were driving down a little road and being greeted by a huge herd of buffalo! Finally we had found our first of The Big Five; unfortunately for us, the buffalo
decided this would be an excellent time to cross the road en route to their
watering hole, which meant we had to wait for them all (about 75 of them) to cross before
continuing our journey (something that was made even more thrilling by the
constant threat of a sudden charge by one of these beasts). Turns out a large herd of buffalo delaying
our journey wasn’t the biggest problem we had, because thanks to the uneven
track we’d managed to pick up a slow puncture in one of the wheels, which by
this point was completely flat and in desperate need of a change. Unable to
continue due to the flat tyre and crossing buffalo, Keal had to reverse the
jeep far enough away from the buffalo into a spot suitable enough to change the
tyre and we all had to hop out (great!). As I stood pondering my life choices
and wondering whether this would be how I died (and taking a few pics for insta), Keal got to work changing the
tyre and before long we were back on the road and ready to find some more
fascinating animals – thankfully all in one piece!</div>
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We drove around for a while in search of the elusive cheetah
but came across nothing other than a few warthogs (which set me off singing
Lion King for the rest of the trip, sorry everyone – “When I was a young
warthoggggg..”), so Keal decided to find us a secluded spot to get out and
enjoy the surroundings with a drink in hand. After snapping a few pics perched
on the jeep we hopped back in and set off to the lodge where dinner was
waiting. The sun was setting as we made our way back and we were all keeping
our eyes peeled just in case anything decided to make a sudden appearance; we’d
almost reached the gates to the lodge when Keal stopped the jeep and shone his
torch into some bushes. To my amazement, lying asleep under a tree was a
massive black rhino! Slightly perturbed by the bright light that had awoken him
from his slumber, the rhino didn’t stick around for long but that didn’t matter
to us because we’d just ticked off number 2 of The Big Five and couldn’t quite
believe how lucky we were to have spotted this critically endangered creature.</div>
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Back at the lodge the cook had started a braai (South
African slang for BBQ) and was cooking our steaks next to a huge fire pit that
the staff had lit for us. We all huddled around the fire discussing the
incredible safari we had just experienced and before we knew it, it was time to
eat. The food that the chef prepared for us was amazing and the South African
steak certainly didn’t disappoint. Once we’d all finished eating we decided it
would be best to get an early night as we still hadn’t slept since our 11 hour
flight over and if we wanted to catch the sunrise safari we had to be out by
6:30 the next morning!<o:p></o:p></div>
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After an early start we ventured out on another game drive
in the hope of catching sight of some more spectacular animals. It was
absolutely freezing so early in the morning but we were well wrapped up in our
blankets and ready for the safari that awaited us. Watching the sunrise over
the South African bush was one of the most unforgettable moments I’ve
experienced in this job and the prospect of stumbling upon some elephants,
lions or leopards at any moment only enhanced the experience; however, it appeared
to be too early even for the wildlife and we drove around for a couple of hours
with no sightings. We resigned ourselves to the fact that our luck had run out
and we weren’t going to spot any more of The Big Five so decided instead to
search for a secluded area to enjoy some tea and biscuits as we were all
getting quite peckish. Little did we know, Keal had been following some tracks
in the dirt as we drove, and seconds after declaring to my Mum “Oh I wish we’d
seen some elephants” we turned a corner and came face to face with just that! I
was completely awestruck seeing these beautiful beasts in their natural habitat
so up close and personal – it was a real pinch yourself moment!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The entire herd were making their morning commute to their
usual spot by the lake, so we let them all to cross the road (with “Hot Stuff”,
the biggest male, bringing up the rear) then drove off to another dirt track
and waited for them once more. As we sat there watching the herd, one of the
smaller females popped out of a bush right next to our jeep and waved her trunk
as if she were saying hello – Keal, however seemed less enthusiastic about this
greeting and kept a firm hand on the key in the ignition just in case the
female decided to charge (apparently this was quite a regular occurrence with
this herd – that’s reassuring!). Soon all the elephants had gone and we were
all left reeling from the incredible experience, empty stomachs long forgotten.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next stop on our tour of the bush was
to a huge lake that the animals frequented as their watering hole. Here we all
got out of the jeep and drank our tea and ate our rusk whilst admiring the
beautiful view. Across the lake from us we could see dozens of wildebeest and
zebras all enjoying their morning drink; never have I felt so peaceful at 8 in
the morning! Drinks finished, we hopped back into the jeep and set off for the
lodge for breakfast but before we’d even passed the lake, we’d already spotted
another huge group of animals – HIPPOS. Now I’ve watched enough Planet Earth to
know that you don’t mess with a hippopotamus but sat at a safe distance away
from these creatures they were pretty impressive and definitely not something
you see everyday!</div>
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Breakfast back at the lodge was absolutely delicious - exactly
what we needed after such a busy, early morning! After breakfast we packed up
and headed back to the hotel for around 1pm where I’d booked for my Mum and I
to enjoy a full body massage by the pool (best daughter ever or what?!). Once
we were sufficiently relaxed we decided to go back to the room and nap for a
few hours before the flight home - this was for my benefit more than my Mum’s
but we both appreciated the comfy beds after such an early start that morning.
Before we knew it, it was time for pickup and we were leaving behind the beautiful bliss of the South African bush and the standby stress was back.
Worry not though because not only did my Mum get on the plane, she got a seat
IN BUSINESS CLASS being served by yours truly. Overall the trip was one that neither of us will ever
forget - it's not every day that you go on safari and see 3/5 of The Big Five! Being able to bring my Mum on such an amazing
trip really proves to me how lucky I am to have such a great job that allows me
to create these incredible memories.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thanks for sticking with me during my hiatus and for reading this post about my latest expedition. See you soon for the next (and possibly last) instalment in my jet set life! Olivia x<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<br /></div>
Liv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530110507035495468.post-5795039101646581372018-05-29T18:05:00.001+01:002018-09-13T02:52:24.693+01:00CALIFORNIA DREAMING - 48 HOUR GUIDE TO SAN DIEGO<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m finally back with another blog post and this time
it’s about my new favourite American City – San Diego! I haven’t uploaded in a
while so bare with me as this might be a long one. Firstly, I'm sorry I’ve been MIA
for so long, I was sunning myself on holiday then took some time to ease
myself back into my ‘normal’ work routine; I promise I’ll try to keep to a more
regular schedule now that I’m back (and the next post is set to be a good one
so don’t miss it!)</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This was my first time visiting San Diego and I was so SO
excited when I finally saw it on my roster as I’d been bidding for it since I
joined. San Diego is a four day trip for us which means we get two nights and
almost two full days down route to explore the city – I’d never done a long
haul trip with more than one night in a hotel before this so I was really
looking forward to being able to visit places without having to worry about
rushing back to get ready for pick up. We land quite late in the evening on the
first day so I went straight to my room, ordered room service, and watched some
Netflix (dream night tbh) before bedding down for the night to get some sleep
ahead of a day of fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BALBOA PARK:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the first morning I woke up early and headed to Balboa
Park with one of the other crew; the park is quite a long walk from the hotel
where we stay so we decided to try out the bikes that you can find parked
around the city instead. For someone who hasn’t ridden a bike in a while this
proved… interesting, however we still somehow managed to get there in one
piece. Balboa Park is a massive plot of land that not only contains gardens
full of beautiful, multi-coloured flowers but also plays host to a botanical
building, a multitude of museums and the world famous San Diego Zoo. I decided
against visiting the zoo as I knew it would likely take up a large chunk of the
day and I wanted to stop by other places too, so instead we just wandered
around the park taking in the greenery and stunning views (and doing a touch of
plane spotting as they flew overhead). Highlights from the park included the
botanical building which was full of tropical flowers and the Japanese Garden
which was home to an array of unique plants such as Bonsai trees and cherry
blossom as well as a Koi pond and a Japanese teahouse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CORONADO BEACH:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our second stop of the day was to Coronado Beach. The West
Coast (in particular California) is famous for its beaches so we of course had
to make that a priority on our tour of San Diego, and where better than Coronado
Beach! We spent the afternoon catching some rays whilst lying on the sand then
went and got some drinks from the iconic Hotel de Coronado, which is the hotel
that provided inspiration for Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GASLAMP QUARTER:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For dinner that evening we visited the lively downtown
neighbourhood known as the Gaslamp Quarter. The Gaslamp Quarter is known for
its nightlife and excellent restaurants and bars; keen to experience all San
Diego had to offer it’s no surprise that’s where we chose to
eat (and the food was delicious!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">USS
MIDWAY/UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The start of day two saw us head out early to go to the
harbour and see the Unconditional Surrender Statue, more commonly referred to
by tourists as ‘The Kissing Statue’. Standing at 25 meters tall this sculpture recreates
the iconic photo of an embrace between a nurse and US Navy Soldier on V-J Day
in Times Square. Along the harbour right next to the statue you’ll also find
the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum moored at the Navy Pier. Once the United
States’ longest serving aircraft carrier, the USS Midway is now open to the
public as the largest museum dedicated to carriers and naval aviation. Although
I didn’t have the opportunity to go inside the museum due to lack of time, it’s
definitely something I want to cross off my list should I return to San Diego.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OLD TOWN:</b></div>
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In the afternoon of the second day we took a trip to Old
Town San Diego. The Old Town is the site of the first European settlement in
present-day California and contains dozens of historic buildings and sites,
remaining true to its heritage. The main square looks like something straight
out of a Wild West film and the shops offer a variety of different goods to
buy. We of course headed straight for the sweet shop, which had just about
every type of candy you could imagine and smelt rather nauseating; put off by
the aroma, I decided to head to the ice cream parlour instead whilst the others
purchased their goodies and tried out a couple of scoops of birthday cake ice
cream – yum!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">KANSAS CITY BARBEQUE:</b></div>
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Perhaps better know as ‘The Top Gun Bar’, Kansas City
Barbeque is a small bar/restaurant located in San Diego’s harbour district, famous for being the filming location for the iconic Great Balls of Fire scene
in Top Gun (as well as the jukebox scene at the end of the film). Me being a
HUGE Top Gun fan and aspiring pilot I absolutely could not visit San Diego
without taking a trip to this bar. Inside you can still find the piano Goose
played during the film as well as hundreds of license plates and caps that
adorn the walls and ceiling. If you, like me, are a massive nerd I would 100%
recommend visiting this bar as it’s an iconic spot for all things Top Gun and
the staff there are so welcoming - and they're happy to discuss every little detail of
the film with you.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So that concludes my
San Diego blog! Sorry it was such a long one but I absolutely LOVED the city
and had so much to rave about. I can’t wait to go back and I've got my
fingers crossed it appears somewhere on my future rosters. I hope you enjoyed
this post and thanks for reading! Olivia x<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
Liv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530110507035495468.post-42964568413429235002018-04-30T14:41:00.000+01:002018-04-30T14:41:50.293+01:00WELCOME TO MIAMI<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve recently returned from a double dose of Florida sun, so
with my tan topped up it’s time for a blog update. This was my first time in
Miami and (as usual) I intended to make the most of what little time I had
there. Both of these Miami trips were buddy bids with my flying bestie Sam so I
had my partner in crime with me to explore this city for the first time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWKWEUa3Ya4YtbmvYtrcPVoZnUAyy30iumYlfqbbcN0VpgQWNTWHxq6shgYIb0YUkOClmqEJ5JZUh_BxED-5BO-oKA-L13rsj3AZPq2kSaxwT9TJFugcT5S4zQEFc7qWGr3UjcHfAT8_9/s1600/IMG_8002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWKWEUa3Ya4YtbmvYtrcPVoZnUAyy30iumYlfqbbcN0VpgQWNTWHxq6shgYIb0YUkOClmqEJ5JZUh_BxED-5BO-oKA-L13rsj3AZPq2kSaxwT9TJFugcT5S4zQEFc7qWGr3UjcHfAT8_9/s640/IMG_8002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When you think of Miami you of course think of South Beach
so it goes without saying that was our first stop on trip no.1! We were out of the
hotel pretty early – partly due to confused body clocks, partly due to limited
time down route (why oh why are Miami trips so short) – so we arrived at South
Beach just after 9am ready for a day of beach fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miami beach is unique for its plethora of
multi-coloured beach huts, which of course made for an excellent instagram
post!<o:p></o:p><br />
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After spending a few hours in the sun we decided that we
couldn’t ignore our stomachs any longer and set out to get some breakfast. We
took a walk down Ocean Drive to see what the beach front restaurants had to
offer and they all had one thing in common – super-sized breakfast cocktails
and a proper American pancake feast. Eventually we found somewhere that managed
to lure us in with the offer of pancakes, bacon and eggs all for the steal price of $6. After we were
sufficiently stuffed we set out again to explore a bit more of the area (and
maybe indulge in an ice cream) before it was time to head back to the hotel for
pick up (told you the trip was short!).<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Worry not, less than a week later I was jetting off once
again to the Sunshine State. This time around we were keen to experience a bit
more of the culture that Miami had to offer so we decided to take a trip to the
Wynwood Art District. Of course, me being me I didn’t look at the opening times
before heading out and ended up being almost 2 hours too early to get in to see
the Wynwood Walls. Alas, every cloud has a silver lining and we decided to use
our spare time to visit Little Havana, which was only a short journey from
where we were. If you too are in Miami and decide you’d like to take a trip to
Little Havana, I’d recommend getting dropped off at the point where Calle Ocho
and SW 16 meet - here you’ll find plenty of authentic restaurants and souvenir
shops (and a colourful cockerel or two).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVKhPO7GgOY4cTTX8XcccrclYpifHlEqf_MQkv-QHHQMqbkK7bKFMpBwADFJqKgECIP-gcvSFN3_BX5U9EA0aY8J-Tc8cxy92VLcdXXZ_kIBrLPEt0ahLlWwNLjGYTX486UYpLO_adstQ/s1600/IMG_8055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVKhPO7GgOY4cTTX8XcccrclYpifHlEqf_MQkv-QHHQMqbkK7bKFMpBwADFJqKgECIP-gcvSFN3_BX5U9EA0aY8J-Tc8cxy92VLcdXXZ_kIBrLPEt0ahLlWwNLjGYTX486UYpLO_adstQ/s640/IMG_8055.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A couple of hours later (after our little detour) we finally
wound up back at the Wynwood Walls – and they were open this time! I would
recommend to anyone to visit the Art District (and the walls in particular),
the place is absolutely alive with colour and the artwork is breath taking. All
in all it makes for a pretty great day out.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>So that was my whirlwind tour of what I got up to in the Sunshine State. Thanks for reading everyone, hope you found some inspiration
for things to do should you ever find yourself in Miami! Olivia x</i><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
Liv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530110507035495468.post-80890533906283975472018-04-21T14:34:00.000+01:002018-04-21T15:14:37.200+01:00A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my most asked questions from friends, family and
strangers alike is “What do you actually do as cabin crew?” so today I thought
I’d give you a little insight into the average working day for a flight
attendant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0szT76zx1my6DSCDPaCJ6hVCCKTPwfqsT7nON8aJf2_aLtupTrlb0klvJUJPmtZQECqajVxbzOFm5wAdmi-dvfbVXp12IFPqfz35_Vuo51obEjdNdjyaOJ7O8F23zV2PgDFOU3cX5m4E/s1600/WINGS+BLOG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1074" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0szT76zx1my6DSCDPaCJ6hVCCKTPwfqsT7nON8aJf2_aLtupTrlb0klvJUJPmtZQECqajVxbzOFm5wAdmi-dvfbVXp12IFPqfz35_Vuo51obEjdNdjyaOJ7O8F23zV2PgDFOU3cX5m4E/s640/WINGS+BLOG.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GET UP AND GO:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The part of the day everyone dreads – getting out of bed! As
crew we’re used to having to be up and ready for work at all times of the day, so yes that does mean the occasional 3am alarm (eurgh) but fear not, they tend
to be few and far between. Our report times span from as early as 6am to as
late as 9pm. Fortunately for me I only live 25 minutes away from Heathrow where
I’m based; however, I have friends that commute for hours to get into work
(dedication!!). I usually make sure I’m awake 2 hours before I leave to give
myself enough time to get washed, dressed, and dolled up and then I’m out the
door on my way to the crew car park. Next comes the dreaded task of trying to
find a parking space, which ultimately leads to me driving down a row thinking
I’ve found a space only to be greeted by yet another Fiat 500 (although I too
am guilty of doing this to other people- sorry!). Once I’ve eventually managed to
park my car it’s onto the staff bus I go – so long as it doesn’t drive away the
second you get to it!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEmOfySLcJlt9-26mpRksl0QJKEAPOGtcjntnbBeVhT89FzTYPXiM_Qf-W1tcunqh6xES5eZh4FGkIjOlZuOekjLhwCWur-w8ESEqUP48ZO3fQaBPZn-eE2-6xs943_quDj0RD83bCaLF/s1600/IMG_3086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1012" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEmOfySLcJlt9-26mpRksl0QJKEAPOGtcjntnbBeVhT89FzTYPXiM_Qf-W1tcunqh6xES5eZh4FGkIjOlZuOekjLhwCWur-w8ESEqUP48ZO3fQaBPZn-eE2-6xs943_quDj0RD83bCaLF/s640/IMG_3086.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">REPORTING FOR DUTY
AND A BRIEF CHAT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As soon as I arrive at the airport I head up to the report
centre. I’ll clock in and check any updated OMNs (Operations Manual Notices)
then I’m given a briefing room number and off I go – with maybe a quick pit
stop at the costa along the way. Walking into the briefing room I’ll awkwardly
mutter my destination of the day to the crew already waiting, in the hope that
I haven’t just mortifyingly walked into the wrong briefing room. Then take my
seat and skim through my manuals before the CSM (Customer Service Manager)
arrives. The first time you meet the crew you’ll be flying with is in the
briefing room (yes really!) - occasionally you’ll be lucky enough to be flying
with some familiar faces – so if you’re early, time is spent chatting and
getting to know each other as you discuss any plans you’ve made for the trip.
Once the CSM arrives they’ll assign working positions (i.e. what cabin you’ll
be working in and what door you’ll be responsible for) and then ask a series of
individual safety and AvMed questions to check everyone is fit/legal to fly.
We’ll discuss any other important information such as passenger loads and flight
times and then we all head to security.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">SECURITY CHECKS
GALORE:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just like passengers us crew also have to undergo the
excruciating process that is airport security, which usually involves removing
your entire uniform and a security officer emptying out the entire contents of
your bag, before we’re finally getting redressed and heading for the gate. Once
we reach the aircraft we locate our assigned seats and carry out checks on our
safety equipment and security checks in the cabin then it’s smiles in the
aisles as boarding commences.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">READY FOR LIFT OFF:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After what seems like a decade eventually doors are closed
and everyone is in their seats with bags away and boarding drinks drunk and
it’s time for the safety briefing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passengers laugh along to the likes of Rowan
Atkinson and Gordon Ramsay then we perform our well rehearsed routine of
pointing out your nearest exit before we’re scanning through the cabin looking
for any reclined seats or closed window blinds. Once the cabin and galley are
secure it’s finally time for us to take our seats and head for the skies.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2brKBylCmTC82d0AxhvC1sslYv5r9UZ7qBwqByOnDLmPK0LPly5uRJ-_NZEeXhG7CCfbkHAjbUG6GdCtyFytQPllyFn-a0RSKMW3jGTfO7buYI5FJg-7vC04EAwD9MX8B3Mlj4UNz6sTj/s1600/IMG_8846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2brKBylCmTC82d0AxhvC1sslYv5r9UZ7qBwqByOnDLmPK0LPly5uRJ-_NZEeXhG7CCfbkHAjbUG6GdCtyFytQPllyFn-a0RSKMW3jGTfO7buYI5FJg-7vC04EAwD9MX8B3Mlj4UNz6sTj/s640/IMG_8846.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">UP, UP AND AWAY:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once we’re in the air and it’s safe for us to leave our
seats it’s time for us to spring into action and start setting up the service.
Drinks orders are taken and meals are distributed and eventually it’s time for
us to take a second to ourselves to have some food before we go on break.
Breaks are split into two groups, which means half the crew will go up to the
bunks and have a sleep whilst the other half keep an eye out in the cabin,
doing regular juice rounds to make sure everyone is hydrated and completing any
paperwork that needs to be done. In the skies not only is it our duty to serve
the customers but we are also relied upon to act as first aiders, midwives, fire
fighters and police officers in case any incidents do occur, so we’re always on
high alert to make sure everything is running smoothly. When the first breakers
get back from the bunks (hopefully nice and rested), it’s time for the second
breakers to go to sleep. Whilst the passengers are sitting in their seats
enjoying their films or trying to get some rest we’re hidden away in a secret
compartment above the cabin where we have a nap to ensure we’re well rested
enough to be able to carry out any duties that may be expected of us
(especially in an emergency). Once breaks are over we spring into action once
again with a second meal service before landing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TOUCHDOWN:</b><br />
After hours in the air being at the beck and call of every
customer we finally touch down in our destination – YAY! We all get a bus from
the airport to the hotel where we normally have a quick nap then, depending of
the time of day, go sightseeing or go to get some food. Usually we only have
one or two days down route but that still gives us just enough time to explore the
destination and get some epic pictures for the insta feed. Then it’s back to
the airport to do the flight all over again a couple of days later!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Thanks for reading! Olivia x</i></div>
</div>
Liv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530110507035495468.post-22228504929980502002018-04-15T16:57:00.000+01:002018-04-15T17:29:13.338+01:00A WEEKEND IN CAPE TOWN<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I love my job for many reasons and spending
weekends in the breathtakingly beautiful South African city of Cape Town is
definitely high up on that list! Despite the two 12 hour night flights it takes
to get to and from this dreamy destination, Cape Town is one of my favourite
trips and I give a little squeal of excitement every time it appears on my
roster.</span><!--EndFragment--><br />
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uFjaod2-bKfMpZUnjdbP3DX5vZItqZXIe_dU2byHQvEq_ngk7C58YF9g5gDIhwYhr0Ypqp-2Jr9E3Zem5znTSC58Ha1mNcNHR0S9g_rgUytIk-mCHobaqm1y9h-zRzrEplW_G08nhAVY/s1600/CAPE+TOWN+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uFjaod2-bKfMpZUnjdbP3DX5vZItqZXIe_dU2byHQvEq_ngk7C58YF9g5gDIhwYhr0Ypqp-2Jr9E3Zem5znTSC58Ha1mNcNHR0S9g_rgUytIk-mCHobaqm1y9h-zRzrEplW_G08nhAVY/s1600/CAPE+TOWN+1.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a>At the end of March I was lucky enough to have two
back-to-back trips to Cape Town, which meant I was able to make the most out of
every second. Of course, I dedicated some of my time to eating steak, drinking
wine and soaking up the sun; however, I also made sure to spend some of my trip
to exploring the sights Cape Town had to offer - and even managed to take a
trip to see Happy Feet IRL!<br />
<br />
On both trips I made the (questionable) decision to go on a
hike up Lion’s Head Mountain as soon as we arrived. Although I was exhausted
from a long flight I knew it was important for me to get out of the hotel
otherwise I would have slept the day away and with so little time there (less
than 48 hours until we returned home!) I
wanted to see what Cape Town had to offer.<br />
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<b>WALLY’S CAVE, LION’S
HEAD:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Firstly, I’d like to thank Rachel in my crew for
suggesting we try to locate this hidden gem because if it weren’t for you I’d
never have known about it! We may have had to do some serious rock climbing to
find Wally’s cave but MY GOODNESS was it worth the trek.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl6v-2-JWFB5jXzv7uXvTTpr7o9xkFvvO0wUG1pDHxZyQ11meyv8SMC8GQEqkjydgB0mCIcaQRYZnbo5lt1ZC0TrF9uCRt_o1WsO4-NOVJ-giiSPKKKy9WthpBOHeYzUvuz-6R_7PBdRM/s1600/CAPE+TOWN+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="864" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl6v-2-JWFB5jXzv7uXvTTpr7o9xkFvvO0wUG1pDHxZyQ11meyv8SMC8GQEqkjydgB0mCIcaQRYZnbo5lt1ZC0TrF9uCRt_o1WsO4-NOVJ-giiSPKKKy9WthpBOHeYzUvuz-6R_7PBdRM/s640/CAPE+TOWN+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you have time to kill and fancy a challenge I’d 100%
recommend trying to find Wally’s Cave. Finding it can be a bit tricky but as
long as you follow the instructions posted <a href="https://www.thewholeworldisaplayground.com/capetown-hiking-lions-head-how-to-find-wallys-cave/">here</a>
you should have no trouble. The cave offers incredible views of Table Mountain
and Camps Bay - and you can get some great pictures for the gram!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>LION’S HEAD SUMMIT:</b><br />
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Hiking a mountain may seem like a daunting process but Lion’s
Head really isn’t too difficult and the scenery more than makes up for the
burning in your thighs. The hike from the car park to the summit only takes
around 2 hours (that’s 1 hour up and 1 hour down, not 2 each way) and isn’t too
physically demanding – the hardest part of the hike is the beginning so don’t
be disheartened if you feel exhausted after only 5 minutes, it will get easier!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy5F3ZroOxCjw4hft9wvHkhG7Uwl7anTv-JXIpygZVPkvCqfW8tLj_h0QPr1SGerdqzfdQ6l2aBQoRzqI-_xA9vNUCCAkjtp7bXcaJQrEOvGedWyhZ1UkHCRpNHQryrWVUBYDZyMHv2ak/s1600/CAPE+TOWN+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="732" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy5F3ZroOxCjw4hft9wvHkhG7Uwl7anTv-JXIpygZVPkvCqfW8tLj_h0QPr1SGerdqzfdQ6l2aBQoRzqI-_xA9vNUCCAkjtp7bXcaJQrEOvGedWyhZ1UkHCRpNHQryrWVUBYDZyMHv2ak/s640/CAPE+TOWN+3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>BOULDERS BEACH:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you fancy spending the day with some cute
(slightly fishy smelling) penguins Boulders Beach is the place to go. About an
hours drive away from the Camps Bay area, Boulders Beach is a unique tourist
attraction that allows you to get within inches of wild African penguins for
only a small entrance fee. When you get to the site I’d recommend walking down
the wooden footpath past the first ticket stop until you get to the second. The
first entrance lets you onto a wooden viewing platform where you are kept
several meters away from the penguin action; however, the second entrance lets
you down onto the beach, then you’re just a quick rock climb away from swimming
with actual real life Mumble from Happy Feet – yes, I said swimming! Boulders
Beach is a beautiful beach for swimming in the sea and sunbathing with the sand
between your toes.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9noVd4Onx2j09I9nRRWQIllDPedR5mTBTe1cAEwRnxe-i21oJI9lazv-7U5OBGHTY3NT-I6Fkpb2E_CSoRd94jgjPjJZNJUpuVaLMjSseAqJNIBmLLt-FsidQET_4Wom-1Q1qhiKtWx8I/s1600/CAPE+TOWN+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="890" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9noVd4Onx2j09I9nRRWQIllDPedR5mTBTe1cAEwRnxe-i21oJI9lazv-7U5OBGHTY3NT-I6Fkpb2E_CSoRd94jgjPjJZNJUpuVaLMjSseAqJNIBmLLt-FsidQET_4Wom-1Q1qhiKtWx8I/s640/CAPE+TOWN+6.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Thanks for reading my first post on this blog and I hope this has given you some inspiration for your next trip to Cape Town! Olivia x</i></div>
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Liv Above The Cloudshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03695642400705785247noreply@blogger.com1