Richie’s Rants!

19 Feb 2005. Departing Singapore for my very own flying license in Sydney. How time have flown when we’re doing something which we enjoyed.

Was flipping through my Facebook account when I saw many familiar faces and when searching for my old instructors/classmates who became instructors, they are no longer in the aviation industry. Where did they go? A major pity is that people move on to other things in life. When we try to look for them, they’re gone. 

God, I miss Sydney so much when it’s the most carefree year of my life. Having no worries about expenses and doing a course of study which I love. On the contrary, flying in an airline can no longer be a fun hobby as there’s no fancy flying and you can’t fly slowly to take in the sights offered to you by Mother Nature. Gone were the days when flight plans can be planned from scratch and completed within an hour and ready to take off. No joy rides either! But I guess I made this choice when I elected to take up an airline job. Sigh. I don’t regret taking this job because it’s something I love doing, but… how I wish life would be much more simpler. 

Ayukie: Hey… I’m sorry. I’ve forgotten to congratulate you on your marriage on the 14th Sep 2008. Congratulations! I’m in Singapore but I’m very shy, that’s why I didn’t attend your wedding dinner. Anyway, I wish you all the best and may you live happily ever after!

To the complainer who complain I didn’t blog, I blogged…

Anyway, an ex-gf of mine called and chatted for a bit. Realise that this seems to be a prevalent problem for a lot of my female friends in that a lot of guys out there are players. Unfortunately for them… I’ve always told them the same advice and that is to find someone whom she’s happy with, BUT don’t plunge so quickly into a relationship. Must always test the water and work it out from a friend’s perspective first before jumping into the water.

Current courtship methods normally bypass the friendship level. Is it due to Generation X methods? I’m not sure but I do believe that being friends, and understanding each other before moving on is really important.

In the end, she came to the conclusion as some of my other friends and that is to distrust love. Is simple love really so hard to find? Unfortunately, I guess it’s much harder for girls, especially as they get older. It’s a sad and practical fact of life that as the girl ages, it’s harder to get a good partner, so having high standards in finding a bf is also a must, I guess.

Advise to girls: Even though the guy seems perfect at first sight, spend some time to know him as a friend. Only as a friend, would you be able to see how he is like. He might be able to hide his feelings well but if you insult him or make fun of him… Test his response! If he really likes you, he would endure the insults because he’s willing to endure it because he really likes you. If he can’t take it… have second thoughts because he might not like you enough to be able to overcome his own ego. Normally at loggerheads, guys won’t give in because of their ego. They feel that they’re superior to the ladies and would you want a guy like that? Food for thought.

There are times when I wish that life is a much more simpler place. Living in a nice farmland in New Zealand, without much shopping or people to piss the hell out of you.

As of now, whenever I’m in a bad mood, I always feel like flying a small plane once again just to enjoy. You can go where you want to without people telling you what to do or where to go. It’s a beautiful life and one in which I misses dearly, especially when in Sydney at 2005. Best year of my life, even though it passes very quickly.

What a reverie. Do animals think of their past or experience, I wonder. And if they do, what would they think of? Hmm… Probably to lazy to look it up on the ‘Net but will probably do so when I’m more alert. Just had an extremely horrible drinking session where I puked from 0400 to 1315. Yes, it’s the pits… Chivas + Beer is downright stupid!

It’s 8am and I am a zombie. Didn’t sleep too late, in fact, I slept earlier than usual at 2am but still, I manage to get up at 7am. Heck, why am I torturing myself so? I’ll probably crawl back into bed somewhere in the late morning/early afternoon before I go to work again tonight. Unusually enough, I’m wide awake as if expecting action and is rearing to go. Maybe, my old light-sleeper trait is coming back again, Heaven forbids! That means a little movement anywhere near me is sufficient to keep me awake and make me alert. I HATED that. Can’t sleep like a pig anymore. Maybe it’s good too cause I’m getting fat.

Ok, time to go back to my martial training though with my hectic work schedule, I doubt it’s possible.   =(   Sigh, how I wish life is so much more simpler without any additional worries. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my job but, still… there seems to be something missing from it. I can’t figure it out yet…

Come to think of it, I seem to be blogging slightly more now. I think it’s in part thanks to a friend of mine, who recommended blogging instead of clubbing to vent my frustrations. Like I mentioned in my previous post, am too old to club! Not really frustrated or feel like ranting now, but guess I’ll try to make it a habit here so that I can cut down on my drinking!

After drinking very very regularly for the past 2 weeks, I come to realise that I’m no longer the person that I was. My notion of self has changed quite a bit. I thought that my drinking, and socialising, my social circle would widen, but I guess not. All too often, the people whom I socialise with are there just for the appearance. I would feel better drinking with strangers! If that’s the case, why am I invited? Maybe, I’m being critical cause I thought that as friends, they invited me along but I realise that nah, it’s not true at all.

Thankfully, nothing can take my confidence down anymore. I have everything around me. Friends, family, an excellent career, what more do I need? Hmm… Come to think of it, yes… I need someone to complete me. Could she be the one? I’m not sure. I guess that is always an old problem of mine. When I do fall in, I fall in so hard and quickly that getting out is almost out of the question. Richard, Richard, when would you ever learn? I doubt I’ll ever learn because… I don’t want to close myself in my shell again.

Oops! Hints of my inferior complex creeping up! Drats, guess I love to talk to myself. A way of staying sane in this insane world?  Only time can tell.

About time that I re-emerge from the shell that I’ve been hiding in for the past year. On this day, I just realise that I’ve been starting to drink quite a bit. What gives? I don’t know. Maybe life is too short to pass by too quickly without enjoying and treasuring every minute of it. Will drinking make me treasure it? Hmm… At least, it makes me lose my inhibitions and natural shyness. Am I shy? Heck, yes! What makes you think not?

Oh, another point. I’ve been looking up and down around my blog and just realise that this is the main point of my frustrations, that mostly, it’s my personal ranting space! Jeez…

Been listening to a bit of latin music and I absolutely love it. Been trying to find a way to add music in since a few years ago, but I think Friendster is not privy to that? Not sure, but anyway, I’ll see what I can do. Ok, my language skills are definitely going down the drain. Will work on it as my sentences are downright weird… Until then…

4th of July, USA’s Independence Day. Reminded me of the movie. Been 2 months since I started writing on the blog. Guess what? I’m still in Perth! Sigh. Resignation, I say. I’ll just do what I can to pass my time happily here. No desires to force/stress myself out in regards to where or when I should get out.

I remember when I talked to one of my friends who are in Perth for longer. He was here for 1 year and 2 months and he said that having been here for so long, it doesn’t make a difference whether its a day or a week extra. I think I’m starting to get this mentality as well too.

How’s my flying progress? Hmm… 112 flights in 45 weeks. Average of 2.5 flights/week! That will leave about… say… 4 weeks to go! Wow! I reckon? 1st week of August. Sounding pretty optimistic I am. Having always been pessimistic, I guess my turning to optimism now is good. People wouldn’t have much confidence in a pilot if the pilot upon seeing a little trouble, is gonna say: Die la! Die la!

Hehe… Anyway, JD, if you’re reading this, would love to get back to SG asap! Did I tell you I’ll be wanting to play LOTR Online? I know that everybody’s waiting for Warhammer Online. Better go back and upgrade my PC cause its getting a little dated…

Mayday - A distress call sent out by an aircraft when its in danger of crashing. Only once did I have to make that call as my aircraft engine suffered a partial engine failure when I was flying down the Williamtown access lane when I was flying for Basair. Anyway, the aircraft I’m flying now in Perth is extremely well maintained & for that, I’m very grateful.

I’m finally flying the Beechcraft Baron!

Able to travel about 185kts, its much faster than even the Duchess! Hmm… Faster single engine aircraft I’ve flown is the 182 which only travels at 135kts. Oh well… I didn’t know a Baron costs $1.2 million since 2006. Pretty expensive aircraft I’m flying! Haha.

Anyway, did I mention that it was great to fly? Until I’ve tried the assymetric flying that is. Assymetric flying? That means you fly with one engine down. Too lazy to explain much.

Flight time for me? 37 weeks here and flown about 103 flights. Averaging at 2.784 flights a week. ETD from Perth is about last week of Jun if progress is as per normal. Chances of that happening? Soon, I hope.

Its already April! Time just flashes by in the blink of an eye. I’ve been here for 32 weeks & I still have about 25 flights to go! Estimated arrival time back in SG? First week of Jun. Sigh. I hate it. I really do. Why is there all the waiting involved? What are we waiting for??? Grr… That pisses me off.

What’ve I been up to in Mar? Nothing. Really nothing significant at all besides completing Baldur’s Gate. A long-ish RPG but completed nevertheless due to the amount of time I have. Oh well, enough with the frustrations. Guess I should just kick back & learn to appreciate the slowness of it all. Honestly! Maybe slowing down isn’t such a bad idea after all, what with a LOT of people clamouring for 4 Barons. Maybe I’ll insert a picture of the Baron sometime when I’m free. Maybe. Just maybe… Ok, fine. I admit that I’m lazy to do it now.

There are so many things I want to do when I get back. Ok, been getting a little homesick. Wish they can sponsor air ticket to go back home once in a while! Nah, I know. Just dreaming but hey, doesn’t hurt to dream, aye? Ok. Enough nonsense for now. I got games to play!

One month just flashes by in an instant. The month of Feb passed by really rapidly. I can’t even recall the time passing by that quickly. For instance, in the past, I can count the days passing by extremely slowly. Now, it just flashed by! Weird. Does that mean I’m enjoying myself? I don’t feel it so.

My sentence structuring has been extremely short. My primary day is if flying, go flying, but everyday, I have at least one game of DotA and a movie along with one can of soft drink. Lol. Highly regimental lifestyle, god dammit. Not much to go on as well. Just been plain bored. Went for some kicking and punching training yesterday. Its been ages since I last kicked and this morning, I woke up with my hips feeling sore. Just means I gotta get back into shape if I want to train more often.

Flying wise: Can’t wait to get to this part. How have I progressed? Let me see… 89 flights in 27 weeks. Average of 3.2 flights/wk. In theory, 10 more weeks to go! Yay! ETD 2nd week of May! Haha. Can’t wait to get out. Why the rapid jump? I’ve been slogging my ass off in Feb, thats why! Hope I can keep this momentum up. Alright, nothing to write or whinge about. Will be back in a month!