All things ballooning

Maaike Bierma Sydney, Australia: Share

Blog Posts (3)
Discussions (41)
Photos (46)
Photo Albums
Videos (1)

Maaike Bierma's Friends

View All

Maaike Bierma's discussions

HeeBeeGeeBees = Hot Bunch of Girl Balloonists > the all-girl team

Profile Information

City, Country:: Sydney, Australia

About Me:: I got bitten by the bug in 1999 and I have been a private pilot since 2002.
I've been competition crew ever since my very first encounter with balloons, and I flew as a competition pilot in my own right at the last Australian National Championships in July 2007, with the one and only all-girl-crew: the HeeBeeGeeBees (Hot Bunch of Girl Balloonists).
Background photo, Inti Punku, Tiahuanacu, Bolivia.

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: "WOW - what a ride!"

Maaike Bierma's Photos

Loading…

View All

Maaike Bierma's Videos

Septopia

Added by Maaike Bierma

View All

Maaike Bierma's Blog

Go Team Gibbs

Well, the Worlds has finally started - or wait, they haven't yet, the weather is not cooperating. Anyhow, it gives everyone a chance to get into the swing of things. Team Gibbs is taking the time to calm down after celebrating hard when Paul won the lead-up event (the Primagaz week) the week before the Worlds. During which, as luck of course would have it, the weather was beautiful and balmy. To follow Team Gibbs and get regular updates with a solid dose of sense of humour from the crew, go to w… Continue

Posted on September 15th, 2008 at 1:05pm — 4 Comments

Ballooning in Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland

OK, you asked for it! Here's a short story of what it's like to go flying over the mountains in Switzerland in the middle of winter. Or maybe I should just post some photos.

Still not enough? Well, it was spectacular. No early mornings, nothing really happened until 9am, and take-off was at around 10:30. But then you could… Continue

Posted on February 12th, 2008 at 3:35pm — 1 Comment

What Aunty Monkey members get up to on NYE

A whole bunch of AM members, including of course the full complement of HeeBeeGeeBies (all in the photo) went to Adam and Robyn's Hawaiian party for New Year's Eve. Imagine Adam's disappointment when people came dressed in Hawaiian shirts and leis, but none of the girls present had taken up Ad…

Continue

Posted on January 3rd, 2008 at 6:55pm — 2 Comments

View All

Comment Wall (104 comments)

You need to be a member of Aunty Monkey to add comments!

Join this network

At 3:33am on September 17th, 2008, Linda McCall said…: hi chicka, your boy is throwing markers from the balcony as we speak at the balloon hotel, as yet another day goes by and no flying and shizer weather, but we managed to take advantage of ze crapen veazer and went to hungary and slovenia and much fun....oops I mean not fun was had at all!!
am looking after the smelly boys as much as poss they are good boy and I am force feeding them my cooking and they are forcing it down . missin you chicka!

At 10:36am on September 11th, 2008, Linda McCall said…: hi chicka oh my god missing you here! we keep saying "maaike would know that" but looking after three smelly boys is easier than I thought they are all very good boys and the schnaps is helping! team tonguekiss is in good form asper normal. paul is doing really well with all tasks so far. today less than a metre off the target! andhas been giving me some flight too after tasks sehr gut! missing you chicka!!

At 6:03am on September 4th, 2008, Werner Schrank said…: Hey!

Habe gute Neuigkeiten für (Dich) bzw. Paul Gipps.
Ein Ballonfreund (pilot) hat mich gerade angerufen das sein WM-Pilot aus Canada abgesagt hat weil er im Krankenhaus liegt. Sofort hat er mich angerufen und sich angeboten Paul die gesamte WM woche zu helfen. Vielleicht sogar bei der Primagas Woche.
Vielleicht kannst Du ihm das noch sagen.
Da ich und meine Freundin ja auch selber Ballonfahren müssen bei der WM währe das sicher eine tolle Sache.
Liebe Grüße aus Österreich,Werner

At 11:23pm on September 2nd, 2008, Linda McCall said…: yeh yeh had german on the mind because he speaks it! any way good stuff chick! wish you were coming, but you had a trip to switzerland with out me and took my duck! hey check out the photo's on face book of duck in afganistan! so funny!

At 1:35pm on September 2nd, 2008, Linda McCall said…: no prob, thought so spoke to deano last night he said he was flat strap, so I said I see them when I am looking at em! going to pick up my ticket now! wooohooo! thanks for organising the blog and the contact in germany thats very cool!

At 8:07pm on September 1st, 2008, Linda McCall said…: hi chick was in africa on safari...I mean working! hahah just packing for austria and how do I get motorcycling gear hiking gear and ballooning stuff all in the one backpack hmmmm! difficult. chicka have you guys got time wed night to go time to go over some stuff for austria?

At 2:51am on August 30th, 2008, Werner Schrank said…: Hey!

Wir werden auch bei der Primagas Woche da sein (Wochenende). Könnte am Samstag den 06. September helfen. Am Sonntag den 07. September habe ich Passagiere.

Wie schon gesagt bei der WM können wir "teilweise" helfen.
Da wir bei der Fiesta angemeldet sind und das Nenngeld schon bezahlt haben möchte ich gerne selber ein paar Fahrten machen.
Ich hoffe das ist okay.

Liebe Grüße, Werner

At 11:39pm on August 29th, 2008, Mark Phillips said…: Oh - i see the problem. The RSS feed is in the sidebar. I'll change the Blog posting to the upmarket version - thanks

At 6:32pm on August 25th, 2008, Steve campbell said…: Hi Maaike,
Sorry it has taken ages to reply! Been a bit busy! The new job is cabin crew on the 737 for Virgin Blue! Also my wifee was accepted in the same ground school! We are even operating on 8 sectors together to Cairns this month! Roster is so sweet just doing Sydney- Cairns rtns all month which is a fun one! yay! We have time off for the nationals next year already which is the important part! No lake this year but hopefully next year!

At 9:17pm on August 24th, 2008, Werner Schrank said…: Hallo Maaike!
Zuerst einmal vielen Dank für Dein Angebot, fühle mich sehr geehrt.
Habe mich für die WM leider nicht qualifizieren können und mich deshalb mit einem Freund zusammen für die FIESTA angemeldet. Da mich der Wettbewerb mehr interressiert werde ich sowieso nicht die ganze Woche bei der Fiesta fahren.
Meine Freundin und ich könnten Euch auf alle Fälle teilweise zur Verfügung stehen. Wenn Ihr irgendwelche Iformationen oder Hilfe braucht meldet Euch einfach bei mir. Meine E-Mail Adresse lautet wernerschrank@gmx.at.
Werde Euch Helfen wo ich kann.
Kannst meine Adresse allen Piloten weitergeben die kommen werden. Ihr könnt Euch auch melden wenn Ihr in Österreich seit. Meine Telefonnummer lautet: 0664/1400069
Wünsche meinen Australischen Freunden eine gute Anreise nach Österreich, wir tun alles Euch gutes Wetter zu machen.

Liebe Grüße, Werner

Maaike Bierma's Friends

Maaike Bierma's discussions

Worst ballooning photo of yourself

Meeting Your Mate?

The long awaited Aunty Monkey T-shirt