Organised by Arie & Beli Timmer

Sit back, close your eyes, and relax. Now, think deeply. Concentrate your grey cells on Europe. Focus in on the western shores of Europe. Is a picture of Holland coming into your scan? Can you focus in on a little grass airfield some 38 nm southwest of Rotterdam?

What image does that conjure up in your minds eye? Is it the glorious fields, full of colourful flowers, magnificent edifices of water management and civil engineering? Can you see visions of 24 Grummans sitting there on the green swathes of Midden Zeeland airfield? Are they basking in the sunshine?

Are their pilots and passengers lying back amongst the daisies quaffing gallons of Dutch and Belgian beer? Does a hurricane form any part of your imagery?

Just stay relaxed as I tell you a story. This year’s millennium gathering of the European AYA members took place over the weekend of the May 28 at the lovely grass airfield of Midden Zeeland. The event had been quietly but industriously organised by our illustrious Dutch member Arie Timmer and his lovely wife Beli.