A touch on the throttle, a roar, and I taxied back to the waiting mechanics. “Good landing,” sang out one of them, and a moment later some half a dozen pupils were shaking me violently by all the hands they could find and all talking at once in loud voices. “Where’s my hat?” I asked, and a crumpled object was handed to me. Then up came Captain ----, very red in the face, and looking exceedingly happy. “Damn good, ‘Theta’!” and so it ended. Heaps of love to you both. * * * * * Went “solo” last Wednesday and shall be surprised if I do so again before Christmas. It is cold and misty, and when not misty it is windy; when it is neither it rains and so on, but mist from the marshes is the worst by far. So sometimes we sits and thinks and cusses and smokes; and sometimes we just sits. * * * * * Have been up again at last--the first time for a week. Four solo flights to-day. Went up 1,500 feet on the third and stayed up an hour on the fourth, between 900 feet and 1,000 feet. It was lovely flying this evening, but bumpy and airpockety this morning. * * * * * [Sidenote: Taking a Ticket.] “Theta,” C. Av. What! At last I am a certificated pilot. As soon as I arrived this morning they sent me up for my ticket, although (as I said) I had never done a right-hand turn alone! I took my ticket in fine style, landing right on the mark each time, while X, who went up first for his, was helping to extricate his machine from a ditch. He finished his tests, however, all right afterwards. When I landed after finishing my eights, my instructor said I could consider myself “some pilot” now. I went up to nearly 2,000 feet this evening for a joy-ride, and stayed up until I got bored and it got dark and began to rain. Well, I have got my ticket without “busting” a wire, so I hope I shall keep it up. Was overwhelmed with congrats, from pupils, etc. I expect I shall be transferred to “B” flight, and get taken up as a passenger so as to learn to fly another type. * * * * * Up this morning for a joy-ride with Sergeant ----, and got into a fog bank and lost sight of land and sky. Got out of it all right in the end. Rather interesting. * * * * * To-day was the first nice day for flying for a week, so the officers and men arranged a football match! All the same I did manage to get a flight; so cheer-o. I had my hair cut yesterday, and a new glass put in my watch. To-day I find my glass cracked, and my hair grown almost as long as before, in the night. * * * * * Whizzing through the azure blue In an aeroplane, say you. Must of sports the nicest be; So it is, but then, you see, The only part that can give pain Is the return to earth again.