We’re having a wonderful time, but we’ve had some nervous moments. We had a memorable flight just before Christmas. This is what happened.

We _______ (spend)three weeks on the beautiful island of Boracay where we ___________(rent)a bamboo hut on the beach for HK$20 a night. Paradise ! However, we _________(must/be) back in Manila by Christmas so we ________(book) a flight in a private plane.

It was a typical tropical morning, hot and humid. We _______(walk) along the beach to meet Roger, who __________(organize) the flight, and the other passengers. Roger __________(introduce) everybody and then we _______(take) the small boat across to Caticlan on the island of Panay.

After a short time the pilot________(arrive). We _______(introduce)  to him as well - the service was very friendly - and quite soon afterwards we ________(get into) the plane. At first I was a bit worried about flying in such a small aircraft. However, after we ________(take off) I _________(forget) my worries. I just enjoyed the views as we flew over some of the most spectacular scenery in South-East Asia.

Finally, at about 12 o’clock we _________(begin/descend) towards Manila airport. The pilot ________(talk) on the radio to the control tower while he __________(bring) the plane down gently towards the runway. Suddenly, he _________ (announce) that the transmission _______(fail). I looked around for a parachute but there wasn’t one. However, nothing terrible seemed to happen and the pilot didn’t seem worried. Eventually, I ___________(realise) that he______(mean) the radio transmission  and not something to do with the engine. We landed safely a few minutes later. I must admit I’m not very happy about flying in big planes, as for little ones - never again.

* transmission (1) mechanical device connecting an engine
		   (2) sending radio/TV signals

Answers

We’re having a wonderful time, but we’ve had some nervous moments. We had a memorable flight just before Christmas. This is what happened.

 We had spent three weeks on the beautiful island of Boracay where we rented / had rented a bamboo hut on the beach for HK$20 a night. Paradise ! However, we had to  be back in Manila by Christmas so we had booked a flight in a private plane.

 It was a typical tropical morning, hot and humid. We walked along the beach to meet Roger, who had organized the flight, and the other passengers. Roger introduced everybody and then we took the small boat across to Caticlan on the island of Panay.

 After a short time the pilot  arrived . We were introduced to him as well - the service was very friendly - and quite soon afterwards we got into the plane. At first I was a bit worried about flying in such a small aircraft. However, after we took off /had taken off I forgot my worries. I just enjoyed the views as we flew over some of the most spectacular scenery in South-East Asia.

 Finally, at about 12 o’clock we began to descend towards Manila airport. The pilot talked / was talking on the radio to the control tower while he brought / was bringing the plane down gently towards the runway. Suddenly, he announced that the transmission had failed. I looked around for a parachute but there wasn’t one. However, nothing terrible seemed to happen and the pilot didn’t seem worried. Eventually, I realized  that he had meant the radio transmission  and not something to do with the engine. We landed safely a few minutes later. I must admit I’m not very happy about flying in big planes, as for little ones - never again.