![Grounded but FLYING HIGH Grounded but FLYING HIGH](https://cdn.magzter.com/1633535887/1733902338/articles/_llLOJREy1734063036413/GROUNDED-BUT-FLYING-HIGH.jpg)
I have had a few pinch-me moments in my life, but landing my dream job as an airline pilot in 2009 topped the list. I’d had my first flying lesson aged 18 and juggled flight training with life as a military wife, raising three young children, to get to that point. Then I became a captain in November 2015. Every time I flew a multimillion-pound passenger jet across Europe as one of fewer than 500 female airline captains in the world, I felt a huge sense of pride. I flew celebrities and royalty as well as the most precious passengers – my own children – watching sunrises and sunsets from the best seat on the plane. But it all came to an abrupt halt when the COVID-19 pandemic grounded flights in March 2020. Being furloughed left me feeling hollow.
My husband James, then 51, was working from home for his job in the Royal Air Force and our daughters, Sophie, 21, and Megan, 19, were at home. One on a gap year and the other was supposed to be at university, while our son, Thomas, then 22, was living in Lewisham with his girlfriend. As talk of tough challenges ahead for the NHS spread, I knew our overworked and undersupported doctors and nurses on the frontline needed safe spaces to decompress and unwind. I rallied grounded airline staff to help provide tea and empathy. All we needed from the NHS was a room big enough to socially distance while offering tea, a biscuit, and a friendly face. A psychologist would call it distraction therapy, but to us it was a small way of helping those who were saving lives in the toughest conditions.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 305 من Woman One Shot UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 305 من Woman One Shot UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![Grounded but FLYING HIGH Grounded but FLYING HIGH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/_llLOJREy1734063036413/GROUNDED-BUT-FLYING-HIGH.jpg)
Grounded but FLYING HIGH
There was an unlikely royal repayment for how much Emma Henderson, 51, did for NHS workers during their toughest challenge
![A very MIDDLETON CHRISTMAS A very MIDDLETON CHRISTMAS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/16qTfWO7K1734062889276/A-VERY-MIDDLETON-CHRISTMAS.jpg)
A very MIDDLETON CHRISTMAS
We take a look at the Princess of Wales’ family’s festive traditions
![The siege of ROYAL LODGE The siege of ROYAL LODGE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/DuIBVbrO51734062676115/THE-SIEGE-OF-ROYAL-LODGE.jpg)
The siege of ROYAL LODGE
King Charles seems determined to evict his younger brother, but Prince Andrew wont go down without a fight
![ROYALLY big birthdays 2025 ROYALLY big birthdays 2025](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/4lapekyDK1734062283614/ROYALLY-BIG-BIRTHDAYS-2025.jpg)
ROYALLY big birthdays 2025
After a tough 2024 for the house of Windsor, 2025 promises to have much more for the royals to celebrate, with milestone birthdays all round
![Indulge like a QUEEN Indulge like a QUEEN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/nJx3Z5ugm1734061663850/INDULGE-LIKE-A-QUEEN.jpg)
Indulge like a QUEEN
It's said the royals like to round off their dinner with a selection of desserts; why not make your own?
![More bad news for Meghan... More bad news for Meghan...](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/iGXj_9KC81734061361642/MORE-BAD-NEWS-FOR-MEGHAN.jpg)
More bad news for Meghan...
Hot on the heels of stories in the US press about the Sussexes being difficult to work for, comes another body blow. Veteran journalist Tina Brown, a close friend of Princess Diana, didn’t hold back her views on podcast The Ankler.
![TRUMP: BAD NEWS FOR HARRY AND MEGHAN? TRUMP: BAD NEWS FOR HARRY AND MEGHAN?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/3jOwuxTj81734061273543/TRUMP-BAD-NEWS-FOR-HARRY-AND-MEGHAN.jpg)
TRUMP: BAD NEWS FOR HARRY AND MEGHAN?
Donald Trump winning the US presidential election may have left the Duke and Duchess of Sussex feeling uncomfortable.
![Get the ROYAL GOSS! Get the ROYAL GOSS!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/ShtxVsmyJ1734060903404/GET-THE-ROYAL-GOSS.jpg)
Get the ROYAL GOSS!
From festive shake-ups to TikTok debuts, we bring you the latest from the palace
![The King's PAIN The King's PAIN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/pDPfJ_79F1734060684668/THE-KINGS-PAIN.jpg)
The King's PAIN
It's impossible for him to see Harry's family
![Princess of Wales: AN EXTRA SPECIAL TIME Princess of Wales: AN EXTRA SPECIAL TIME](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/25929/1925207/5t1hpJddS1734060490557/PRINCESS-OF-WALES-AN-EXTRA-SPECIAL-TIME.jpg)
Princess of Wales: AN EXTRA SPECIAL TIME
After getting through a year from hell, how will the Prince and Princess of Wales celebrate this Christmas and New Year?