My air freighted box has finally arrived. Got my shampoo which I unwisely packed in. For the past few days, I've been using my mom's which only seemed to add to the gunk in my hair. Other things that arrived include the candy from Perth which I wrapped with my socks to absorb the shock (pity my friends who will be getting those), CDs and tonnes of mess.

Room's in such a terribly messy unpacked state. Instead of unpacking my luggage first, I decided to take out all those things I stowed away in my cupboards before I left. Music never sounded sweeter on my Dynaudios Audience / MF A1s. The Altecs I suffered with in Perth are now relegated to where they belong - next to the PC.

Went back to AFS to do my clearance and dropped by AVN Wing to say hi. Initially I thought I'd just be in time for the AFS Swim Meet which is just 3 weeks away, but don't think I'd be able to swim this time. Hopefully I'll still be able to swim at the SAFSA meet next year.

Update: Watched The Incredibles yesterday. The show's so cool! Must say ElastiGirl's RT calls are pretty sharp. But my as instructor would say "That's not standard RT call".

Current State: nostalgic
Current Music: Kate Bush - Babooshka

I'm back. But it ain't for the right reasons. Been too distracted for the past 3 weeks to churn out anything productive. More on that and my final weeks at Pearce next time. Oh well.

I was out cold for the afternoon until I got interrupted by a call then an SMS from a coursemate (or should I say ex?) saying that one of our S211s crashed and flipped in Gin Gin during a first solo. Fortunately, no one was injured, but I can't imagine the trauma my friend suffered. Hope he's fine. After our SMS conversation ended, the tought occurred that it could've been me. I shuddered.

I think I should just take the weekend easy and acclimatise. From a 6^o C morning yesterday to the current 29^oC + humidity, I think I'll just stay still and not move. Had my seafood sang mee for dinner and promptly visted the toilet after that. Think my stomach isn't used to chinese food yet. Gimme. my. po.tay.toes.

Got this whole stack of letters to go through. And there's this particular one from the traffic police department in which the TP commander urges us reckless drivers to pull up our handbrakes at the right moment. But together in the same envelope is a giant advertising leaflet for Courts, Valueair, Redbull and what not. Since when did the TP have an advertising partnership? So much must have happened during my absence.

Current State: contemplative
Current Music: Beth Orton - Blood Red River

Nothing especially significant today except that I bought 5 CDs from JB Hifi and so this qualifies both as a Great Book Out and CD Sweep entry at the same time! (check memories if confused)

The haul this time:

1. 2 x Sigur Ros - Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do
2. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood To The Head
3. Suzanne Vega - Days of The Open Hand
4. Carole King - Tapestry

Had my first haircut in Perth City, a quick 10 minute job that's not too shabby. And I wonder why the mat barbers back home take so long. Must be the incessant hollering to each other between snips and answering phone calls between shaves.

And since our junior course is here and confined for 3 weeks, we had to be the nice seniors and do their grocery shopping for them. And guess that I found at Office Works. Windows XP SP2 CD sitting prettily on the shelves. And Microsoft has decided to undo their sins for free. Bill Gates sure knows how to spread the joy around. On the package it reads "Share This CD with a friend!" I had to confirm with the lady that I won't be arrested by the police for walking out with that in my hands.

Something that made me smile when I looked at the package: Made in Singapore.

After that we drove around Subiaco, UWA and we spotted a wedding and a stretch limousine. Now, limous are pretty common around Perth City, but this one's a long 'un. I wonder how it feels to drive a vehicle this long.



For dinner, we drove down to Freo and beside my usual fare of seafood and oysters, we tried the Yabbies. Coincidentally, just a few days back, they were showing how to catch these neat little freshwater lobsters on tv. Unfortunately, they're quite bland tasting and it's more of a novelty for us than a proper meal since it was our first time dismantling it. Not a lot of skill required, but 2 techniques are involved. Those who started with the body first say it's like a prawn, where the shell must be removed segment by segment. For the head, it's like a crab though the pincers are less rewarding. Quite like the blind men feeling up the elephant story. At the end, since there were 4 of us sharing 6 Yabbies, we had to or ah bei ah sohm to decide who has the body or claw of the last 2 Yabbies. Childishly fair way to enact fairness.

Current State: thirsty
Current Music: Carole King - Will You Love Me Tomorrow

So glad that it's finally the end of the week after flying every single day this week. I swear I can still feel the harness straps on my shoulders now. Terrible. back. ache.

It was supposed to be my Progress Check with the CO today, but the weather was bad enough to require an instrument departure to the area, punching through clouds after take off and all that. Very fun, since I'm not cleared for instrument flying, so the instructor behind me had the controls. When we were above the cloud tops, it was about 5 000ft and controls were handed over to me.

So maintaining the climb, I did my performance and instrument checks while commencing a turn to the training area. As I started levelling out at 11 800ft (200ft anticipation) for 12 000, while starting to reduce throttle to maintain airspeed, a quick glance at my tachometer (RPM guage) showed ZERO. The first thought in my mind was that I misread it due to the glare at that height. Then it occurred to me it could be the sign of an engine flameout.

Panicked slightly for a while before realising that the engine was still running. Fortunately, the CO's indications were reading fine, so he flew us back for the recovery as I thought to myself, "my very first emergency!" Well, sort of. Sortie wasn't completed and I get to fly it again.

Could be a blessing in disguise since the sortie wasn't going all that great. But all I need now is sleep. And perhaps a nice massage.

Current State: exhausted
Current Music: Tori Amos - Spring Haze

Went to Scarboro Beach with my mates on Saturday during our bookout. The weather was finally warm enough to head for the beach without freezing a toe off. Before that, we stopped by an ice-cream cafe and lunch at Hog's Breath Cafe. The Hog's Breath here is identical to the one at Tamworth right down to the decor and layout. We all had an upsize of steak, all 400g worth, and it was all CPT Wong Tee Liang's treat for his promotion.



When we arrived at our beach, the first thing we noticed was that the winds were so strong, even the seagulls couldn't fly straight (they were flying in one direction but heading the other). Then we realised that we were shivering 'cause it was really cold because of the wind chill factor. And if the air was cold, the water was even colder. But we braved the icy water nonetheless because the surf was so great. We had these body boards that we rode on and from 20m out, one big wave can bring us all the way to shore. Way cool.

After we drank enough salt water and turned red from the abrasions from beaching with the boards, we came back up and shivered for the next 10 minutes while we took pictures and went back for dinner and caught Resident Evil 2. Almost convinced the cashier that we were students but she wanted to see our passes. Damn!


( Scarboro Beach )
After dinner, back to North Bridge where the road was closed due to another Pride Parade. Didn't they just had one the other day? They must be damn free. But I reckon that if you want freedom and equality, marching every alternate week isn't going to get you that.

* Flying GH Chase tomorrow. Weather forecasts bad weather tomorrow; but right now it's crazy outside. Hope they finish all that rain for tomorrow today.

Current State: blank
Current Music: Sinead O'Connor - Thank You For Hearing Me

Flew 2 consecutive sorties today, both just 30 minutes apart. Took off at 0929, landed about 1040. Effectively, I only had time for a pee break and a drink before kitting up, anti-G suit et al, and rush to the OFT at 1110 for a sim sortie with the previous flight still playing in my head.

So there I was trying to set up for my stall and recovery, all these while fighting the playback of 130kts glide and base turn in my head. Then when I was trying to do circuits, I was too tired and maxed out to think of anything anymore. Oh, did I say the weather sucked too.

Can't imagine having 2 flights in a day; even the thought of that is tiring. And watching the seniors graduate, the end still seems so far away. Many more 2 sorties a day days to come.

Current State: tired
Current Music: Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

There's this show on channel 7, Thursday nights called Playing It Straight. Essentially, it's about this girl, Rebecca, who has to pick the man of her dreams from a pool of 12 guys. However, 6 out of the 12 are gay, and the other half straight. Here's the catch, if she picks a gay guy, he walks away with $200 000 and she's left with nothing. However, if she picks the straight guy, they both share the prize money. Ultimately, it's a test of how good her gaydar is and how good seductive the 12 guys are.

But at the end of the day, I think the losers are the gay guys. No matter what, they'll either be eliminated or branded as the lowly, cunning, conniving bastard who'll do whatever it takes to win, while either way, the girl and the straight guys will be winners or the poor things, albeit the losers.

Pearce RADAR is down today, and because of that my flight today was zziirrh. Don't know whether to be thankful; but at least I get to fly again tomorrow.

Current State: sick
Current Music: Sigur Ros - Svefn-G-Englar

My work time for today and tomorrow is at 1:30pm. Not flying today, but I was on light party duty. What we do is, during an emergency, they'll radio us and we'll flick a switch to turn on a gigantic spotlight. Simple as that.

The moonset time was early today, so there wasn't much light to begin with. It was dark. The only light available were the taxyway and runway lights like those at Changi Airport. Very pretty. So there I was in the car in the middle of nowhere, (next to the tower and a giant, yellow giraffe-like spotlight) watching Gladiator on my laptop while the planes did their night flying circuits a few hundred metres away. A bit loud, but just wind up the windows and it's barely an annoyance. We even had drinks (a bottle of orange-mango juice) and food (I made bread with kaya and marmalade) for the trip. It was a night picnic!

Bur towards the end, my laptop ran out of battery and our movie was ended prematurely. However, the timing was just right, Ops called and told us we can RTB. Another uneventful night.

And because of that, I only have to report for work at 1330 tomorrow. Don't I love this job.

Current State: thankful
Current Music: Tori Amos - Finn

The weather today is simply lovely. Never have I seen winds 30kts gusting to 40kts before. At 10 000ft it's almost 100kts! Trees were flapping in the wind and birds were flying backwards. Needless to say, flying was cancelled. But this week's night flying week, so more cancellations, means extended late in times. We go to word at 0900 now. What a life!

Neway, to complete my epic stay out week; we thought our fun would end when we returned our 2 additional rented cars in the morning. But at that place we found this shop selling so many factory direct goods. So many Paul Frank stuff, so I immediately called my sister back home. I bet she's still beaming from that thought.

We didn't have much time so we had to head home soon and grab lunch along the way. But we had enough time to visit:


( Charlie and the Chocolate Factory )

Current State: loved
Current Music: Tori Amos - Professional Widow (live)

What's bigger and better than a book out, comes with twice the fun, and a bonus day of thrills so there's no Monday blues to speak of.


( OUR STAY OUT WEEKEND! )

Current State: high
Current Music: Tori Amos - Thank You

Zooming down the freeway in Perth is one great feeling. Pity it's only a Daewoo Kalos, it was straining to keep up. My friends were in the rented 2 litre Hyundai Elantras with the (comparatively) wonderous pick up. Oh well.

Dinner was at Midlands after we returned the cars. We found this chinese takeaway joint with serves pretty good food in the takeaway containers like those in western tv shows. How quaint. And they had something I haven't seen for the past 10 000 years. Pokka Green Tea!



This afternoon, we were driving around in our little car when we chanced onto this funfair like event going on in the park in North Bridge. Curious, we went to check it out. After parking the car, (I scrapped the paint off the green car next to me) we strolled into the park and found the place rather queer. It was "Fair Day" of some sort. And then rainbow flags and banners were everywhere. The exact words from my friends mouth "Something here's not right. How come all the girls here have short hair and are hugging each other." Then a woman's voice bellowed, "I'm proud to close this event on the high note knowing we have the freedom to do... yadda yadda." Then we realised it was a Pride Day of some sort.

World University Games 2004 opens today in Perth. There were so many of the atheletes at the train station. I always though the concept like this was quite cool. Almost like a mini-Olympics, albeit in a smaller scale. Then walking around North Bridge later, I bumped into a friend who's volunteering for the games. We stopped and chatted for a while about the games and after she left I realised that I can't even remember her name. This happens to me all so frequently it's embarrassing.

---

Bit About The Week

Finally the week's over along with Orientation, which was a little prosaic. The reception to our performance was great tho. Now we're officially part of the squadron and will be treated better. Supposedly. But what made this week special is the sheer number of emergencies occuring. First was the mayday call from a PC-9. The next day, an aircraft sent out another mayday call and crashed just 20nm North of Pearce. All flying was cancelled and a SAR helo was dispatched. On Friday, after I strapped in and started the engine, another mayday call was broadcasted. We all had to shut down to clear for the emergency, those in the air had to RTB ASAP. Very drama. But my sortie was resurrected later. Makes for one very drama week.

I now have internet shared on my side of the corridor. 56k shared amongst 6 people using the power of centrino technology. I wonder which one fries the brain more, the handphone on GPRS or the wireless lan.

Current State: bouncy
Current Music: Coldplay - Yellow

Mooncake Festival, otherwise known as Mid-Autumn Festival (not vice-versa), celebration by 130 SQN overseas detachment was held at the Mullaloo Beach today. I wonder who chose that location 'cause it was so cold we were practically running around to keep ourselves warm.

The Overseas Mooncake (yeah, that's the brand) wasn't that bad. I miss the snow skin variety though. The BBQ wasn't that bad too. A lot of semi-cooked chicken wings and drumlets because our Brewerks experiment didn't really work. Cold Beer (yeah, that's the brand also) makes the cooking time for the chicken increase till it was time to go home. Still a lot of fun though.

Towards the end, this group of semi-drunk Aussie teens came to talk to us. In Singapore, the typical reaction would be to think they're "siao" (crazy), but it's perfectly normal here, despite the alcohol. So the talk went to who we were and where we're from and this person started lying about us. I don't know why they had to lie, saying we're students and come up with this cock and bull story. It's not as if they don't know we use their land for training, why the need to be so secretive. If they find out we're lying, then all the more we'll be labelled as bastards. Weird how some people get so paranoid. It's not as if they're gonna declare war on us anytime soon.*

* I have 9 1 litre packs of soymilk in my bunk as a stockpile in case they declare war on us. My friends are duly impressed.

Current State: busy
Current Music: Tori Amos - Datura

Staying in the bunk all day is no fun. I'm bored shit and I don't know what to do. Changed my razor blades 'cause it's giving me nicks - the Mach 3 Turbo pack is a pain to tear open. Tried sleeping and unpacking (I still have stuff left unpacked in my luggage). I made imaginary RT calls (to Pearce Departure & Approach), flew to the training area in my head, checked my ejection seat 3 times and now I'm just waiting for dinnertime to come.

It may be my imagination, but I keep hearing doors opening and closing when there's isn't supposed to be anyone around. And when I rush out of my room to confront my suspision, there isn't a single soul around. I must be too bored.

I know it's dumb, but, I can't wait to fly again.

Current State: bored
Current Music: Bjork - Triumph of a Heart