My 65th Birthday Cake with a Helicopter Gunship - by Donna Darkwolf

One can only imagine the cake company dealing with Donna. She in her beautiful swirling robes, Nefertiti nose, dramatic Egyptian make-up and confident voice:
requesting a chocolate cake decorated with military camouflage icing and a Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter she had bought at a Hamley's Toy Store in the
V&A Water Front. "The only toy helicopter gun-ship in all of Cape Town!", she proudly proclaimed.
She had to get a cab from Claremont to the Waterfront, to get the helicopter. Deliver the helicopter to the cake shop, and have the cake shop deliver the cake to Jonkershuis Restaurant in Constantia

Huey Gunship Friday. Time for Gunship Calypso!

How did this Happen?

Donna wanted a place where she could cast the Black Pearl from her wedding ring into the ocean. Symbolically returning the pearl to its home. Where she would one day be.
I thought we might go to the end of the harbour jetty. Where the water is deep, and there is no way that the pearl could ever wash ashore.
When we got there the entire area was fenced off, and instead there was a complex of helicopter sheds.
I pointed out the Huey: "That used to be my Office in the Sky" (When I was in the Army I flew in both Allouette's and Huey's)
I wanted to take some pictures. While I was doing that -Donna was insaide talking to the Operations Manager. SETTING UP THIS!
After this we ended up driving out to Kalk Bay for lunch, and walking out to the red light beacon at the end of the pier, where she herself eventually became Foam on the Sea.

Discovering the Huey

The Mysterious Silver Box

Amogst the gifts Donna had left me was this Silver Box in side of which was a whole seres of unimaginable goodies!

A Favorite Picture of Donna's

I was surprised to see it inside my card. It was a copy of a picture she had hanging on her wall, after we had moved apart: Me coming to Fetch her in the Morning.

Two Flights for Me!

She would have figured I needed two tickets... One to do a recce with, like WE used to do - visit a restaurant for a drink and check it out, before booking a table... Second ticket for ME, to "Do Our Job".

Another Mysterious Envelope?

I took this enevelope with me on the first flight, so that I could open it on my return landing. So exciting to see what HAS Donna done next?

My Fellow Travellers Boarding

Flight II.  The operator called me to say thay had space on a flight booked by a group. I took it. It was Friday afternoon. I left work... what the hell.

Pilot Francois and I

Just a bloody coincidence again.The Pilot is an old drinking buddy of mine. Francois and Franco. Both ex-Rhodesian military. Keep your eye on the ship's cavity behind Francois. It's Important.

Pilot - Capt. Francois

Francois served as Captain in the Rhodesian Air Force 7th Squadron at about the same time I was serving as Flight Lieutenant In the Army's 3 Air Platoon.
- 7th...Theres Donna's Seven Again - you'll see.

My Saudi Flight Crew

A group from Saudi Arabia. Their husbands were here on business, so they were doing touristy stuff. They were blown away by being accompanied on their flight by two ex soldiers.

It's Gunship Friday

This is the story of how I come to be on this flight? About how my Shiny Wife did what she loved doing - even while she was punching out...
Surprising me "With Something Beautiful"

Door-Gunner Position

This cavity at the rear of the cabin accommodated the Door Gunner. To distribute Donna's ashes, this is where I will be seated on this second trip. Where the others passengers cannot not see me. Perfect.

Donna's Ashes for Sea Drop

After my first recce, I came home and did a ritual for Donna with her ashes, and her Little Mermaid. Her ashes have to be in this small tight bottle so that the down-wash from the blades do not rip the bottle out of my hand.

Flight of Angels is Airborne

Check out my recce of Donna's voyage to the sea, accompanied by the Breath of Angels, Everywhere. For One Thousand Yards.

My 65th Birthday Blast

After being blown away with the restaurant staff presenting Donna's wild birthday cake, and singing Happy Birthday