New look and a new name

Hi,

Just to let you know for all you faithful fans that tune in to this blog that I am still alive and kicking and likewise this blog will cont to exist... Just revamp this blog. Hope the makeover of this blog is good and will cont to entertain my fans... Cheers

Activities done so far,

Surfed Web, watched serial drama: Triumph in the sky, Good Luck, Engines, Lovers in Paris, Initial D (watched halfway on the network) movies and dvds, played tennis, basketball, cycled to city, airport, played guitar, composed two jingles on garageband, played computer game:diablo II, read book: Budget Carriers (not yet finished, lost interest), went to all the big shopping malls, Garden City, Carousel... went to cottoloe beach and played volley ball, went out to listen to jazz, going to church, attending caregroup, took photograph of interesting paranomic views. ran to a nearby highground to watch aircraft takeoff and land... Oh mine.. I am running out of things to do here... must find something to do that doesn't cost much... and I have like... another 6 months to go?? How I wish I can accelerate this part of my life..

Yileen's Birthday,

It was on a monday that our caregroup: the living waters, celebrated Yileen's birthday. It was great to enjoy a great meal at a chinese restaurant and catching up with caregroup members. It was her...th birthday, shan't reveal her age as age are secret esp when it comes to ladies... but u can tell by the candles on the cake right.. hee. Had tasted an interesting dish I had never tried in my life.. yam pasted duck... yam yam... Anyway, Happy Birthday to Yileen...

Mooncake Festive Celebration,

I thought it will do justice to all if I hold a mini celebration of mid autumn festival since my wife brought me mooncake and some lantens and candles to play with. It was a perfect night to celebrate as there was little wind and wasn't too cold. We had a great time just chill under the star and the bright full moon (as seen on the picture). I actually thought of carrying the lanten and walking around the compound but I think we were a little too old for that kind of game.

And finally the lanten dimmed as the last drop of candle wax burned away... And no, all the paper lantens were still intact and not destroyed by the fire caused by the toppled candle within as we usually witnessed. Hence, I shall reuse the lantens for hmm.. Christmas?? Maybe just using the red and green ones.. hee

Visit to Araluen park and Canning Dam,

A sunny day and it would have been a waste if we don't go out to breathe some fresh air. So here we are, simon, bong, godwin and me made our way to araluen park located east of perth. Guess the flowers were still blooming so we didn't get to see too many. Above picture is just one of the few impressive one we caught sight of. And the mini, I am a great fan of mini since I own a mini myself and I didn't know a mini can be put to so many good uses, not just a vehicle, can become a flower pot as well..

Finally, before the day turned dark, we made our way to canning dam. Its was impressive to see such a great concrete wall. Guess it will be more magnificient to see when the floodgate opens and water gushing down. Guess will have to wait for a long time for that to happen since the water level on the other side was so low... oh dear, must conserve water...

Meeting with Pastor Lawrence and Sis Pat,

Last wed, so glad to have meet up with pastor Lawrence and sis Pat. Familar faces from Singapore made me feel that I have never left home. Caught up with them... shared with them my conditions here and my church involvement and they shared with me things happening back at Hope Singapore. So glad they brought me some bulletins so I can keep up with what's happening back in Hope Singapore. Thru the conversation, I got to know them abit better, not so much of a church leader figure but more causal and friend like. I also noticed how loving they are to each other and understood what gel said about them being role model for married couple to follow. Later that evening, they brought me to king's park... Wow, I have stayed here for almost 3 months and I needed tour guides from Singapore to bring me around the park. Hopefully I'll be able to go to church and meet them another time before they head back to Singapore.

So far to date, i have made three cycling trips and covered a total distance of 150km. Unbelievable... Have never cycled so much in my life. The first trip was with Godwin and unfortunately when I asked him to ride with me, I have forgotten that he was much too fit for me. As a consequent, most of the time I was trying to catch up with him. The only time I met up with him was when he waited up for me and he paced me so that I don't get too far behind. We cycled a total of 50km for that journey cycling to the city via roe highway and back via kiwnana... I was so glad that I survived the journey and I learned a valuable lesson: make sure you know the person's fitness level before you ask him out for a ride.



The next trip, I found a more suitable cyclying buddy in terms of fitness... this buddy is simon... we went to the city and back using kiwnana freeway. And the journey is shorter and more managable. It was great to cycle at a pace I was comfortable and to be back before sunset. I had a great time fellowshiping with him at the same time keeping fit...





And the final trip I made was to Perth Airport. It was the longest ride I have ever done with this bike.. a total of close to 60km and within 4 hrs. it wasn't fun riding near the airport area as there were alot of trucks on the road and there was no dedicated bike track. It was dangerous to cycle out on the road as the vehicle came by very close. Guess I shan ride to the airport anymore. Nevertheless, that wouldn't stop me from making more bike trips around perth..

Joruney through 109, the solo check sortie:

26/08 - sortie 109, just a practice flight. Instructor had no intention to clear me solo

30/08 - sortie 109A, the circuit pattern flew had improved but instructor had no intention to clear me for solo. I just treat it as a good practice for my upcoming solo. My mood was high and I knew probably the next sortie I will clear.

31/08 - sortie 109B, the weather conditions were not favourable for solo, max crosswind 22 at one stage during landing. Instructor joking asked whether I wanted to do solo.

02/09 - sortie 109C, was expecting to clear this time, the weather conditions were perfect. However, instructor deemed I was not really for solo as I did some silly mistakes, i.e heels not on the floor during takeoff.. and the controlling was rough during flare...

09/09 - sortie 109D, was down to my last hour with instructor. was pretty sure I could nail it this time. However, i did a dangerous maneuver during touch and go that got my instructor angry. I increased the power too fast that aircraft skidded left and almost going off the runway. No solo for me, just wasn't my day.

13/09 - sortie 109E, my instructor managed to extend another hour for me. Thought I should be thru this time coz it was my birthday and I reckoned God had reserved this special day for me to clear. I made a minor error of not maintaing my heading during takeoff. I thought my instructor would still send me for solo despite of that. In the end, I didn't make it for solo. i was truely devestated. It was my lowest moment.

16/09 - sortie 109F, I had a change of instructor. This instructor was even tougher then the previous. My circuit was disatrous according to his standards. I knew I had a mountain to climb.

17/09 - sortie 109G, Second flight with my new instructor and I had no apparent improvement. What made matter worse, I realised how inadequate I was in terms of my aircraft knowledge. I really had to be serious with my work if I wanted to succeed as a piilot.

20/09 - sortie 109H, finally, some improvements as we discussed it over the debrief. First time I did glide approach. It was actually quite fun.

28/09 - sortie 109I, Instructor tested on my 'Engine Failure After T/O' drills and glide approach technique. I didn't perform up to his standard. But he didn't fault me on that becoz he knew I haven't got enough practice. He told me my standards were good enough to go on solo. i was sensing peace and hope.

29/09 -sortie 109J, i was that close to clearing... if not becoz of the traffic my instructor felt it was dangerous to fly. We witnessed the aircraft in front of us did a 60 degree AOB in the direction opposite the runway during the final approach followed by a 180 turn towards the runway.

29/09 - sortie 109K, on the same day, I gave it another try. But the wind picked up and I was landing at conditions of max crosswind 12kts. It was too difficult for me to handle.

05/10 - sortie 109L, the sequence was simply, we did two touch and go and he cleared my for solo. I was anticipating this moment to come. I did one circuit in which I think Ianded well but a little to the left. Hence that ends the chapter of sortie 109... Something interesting to note, the aircraft I cleared my solo was BZJ (pic on top)... the same aircraft that had an incident year a ago. Hope this is the turning point for the aircraft as well...