Longford Lament.

The "getting back in the grove" plan worked well enough.  I got some upper air-work done to remind myself of one, what it's like to fly an aeroplane and, two, why I love it so much.  Two days later I did a local cross country flight to Abbeyshrule.  I didn't get lost and I got back safely.

Abbeyshrule was an experience.  Abbeyshrule is a quiet PPR field - PPR is Prior Permission Required.  Trying to be the courteous aviator I rang the number for Abbeyshrule to check if it was okay to arrive. The response I got at the other end of the phone was a rather brusque - "the weather's been good and there's a lot of training in the circuit".  Okay. "Do you know the procedures?"  Again, being the conscientious airman, I'd checked the AIP but there was no published procedures. "Well you need to know the procedures and it's not up to me to tell you".  Charming

We found Abbeyshrule's arrival procedure in the Pooley's guide - which isn't an official document.  It won't come as a surprise when I tell you that when we arrived at Abbeyshrule there wasn't a training flight in sight.  Is it any wonder that General Aviation in this country is the way it is.   With service that who'd want to visit anywhere.