Forrest

I used to run. I used to run ALOT. At its peak I would cover over 100KM a week. And it was only that far because to run more it meant using time up I simply didn't have. So to make it more challenging some times I would make life harder as I ran. Like carry a backpack with bottles of water in em, or hold stuff in my hands, even sing songs that were in the charts out loud for the whole distance. Also made a point to run in the afternoons and never to drink anything during the run.

Reason I got into running ironically was because to get out of doing work. I loved life in the army. The whole covered in crap, running, jumping, climbing trees, shooting n blowing shit up part. But the attending meetings, planing unit family events, pushing papers bit, not so much. Sadly the latter is very much the mainstay for an officer in a modern army. Then one day I realised that if I went out for a run, a really insane run, like 20KM or more people would just let me go. And I could avoid all the shitty boring stuff I hated for half the day. Lunch hits at 12, chill out n digest till 2, hit the gym till 3 then zip out for a run n be back in time for the end of the day at 5.

It was great. It was like, "you going for the CO's weekly meeting this afternoon?"
"Nah, I'm doing a 25km run, you wanna come?"
"Umm ahh, nah, its fine you go ahead"

Plus to run that distance it meant I could get out of camp and the route I ran took me past 3 junior colleges and a very trendy part of town. Somewhere along the lines I got hooked. Even after I left the army I kept it up. Though the distance was never anywhere near as much due to time constraints I made up for it by carrying up to 10KG of weight as I ran. Also at the time I was training for my rescue diver and divemaster license, so this definitely helped with the physical tests involved.

Then one day I just stopped. I dunno why. Suppose I just found I no longer had the time to go running, or when I did have the time I sure as hell didn't have the energy.Guess its apt then that in light of my recent history, time is something I have alot of. As such I've started running again. only been going a month. Sure as hell wasn't easy or enjoyable, sure as hell isn't a very long run either. Just crossed a bridge today during my run. For the past few weeks it was a case of "OMG I am going to die. My heart is gonna explode, my lungs are on fire, STOPPPPP"
To " w-o-w, this is boring... "

I know many suggest listening to music to kill the boredom but I just hate the feeling of wires flapping about, n some rubbery bung stuffed in my ears n the incessant pounding of my feet amplified in my ears thanks to the earphones. Its just nice to think that maybe some time soon I might be half as fit as I used to be. The words of Bruce Lee push me on, it was somewhere along the lines of "if your can't afford 10minutes a day for a run then be prepaired to spend alot more time in hospital during your later years"

P.S. Still don't feel up to writing down the full events on that fatefully January day.

Prodigal Son

4 Months ago was when I was last on here. 4 months and alot has changed. For the better or the worse, who can say, at least till its conclusion is played out, that is. So for a recap, what happened in that time? For starters, at work I was placed up to take a fall and in doing so get fired. To be honest placed up for a fall makes it sound like some effort and planning was made to take me down. I wouldn't even think so much thought was put into it all.

What basically happened was managers at work fucked up an aircraft check, heads needed to roll, sure as hell wasn't gonna be theirs, so as the least liked member of the team (in the managers eyes) I was put up for it. Some shockingly poorly thought out excuses were given and with the scales heavily biased to the local managerial opinion, I was given the shove. Maybe one day when I feel like getting into it I'll put out a recap a-la Lost opening stylee.

Just prior to it all (and part of the firing excuse) I took some Christmas leave. Christmas in Taiwan. It was lovely. Stupidly, I didn't drag the stay out over the new year, which ironically would have seen me actually keeping my job! LOL. Strangely there was one evening in Taipei I had a strong feeling I was gonna lose my job come the new year. I was very undecided if it would be a good or a bad thing. I still am.

Post firing I've been to Brisbane for a few weeks, a mixture of business and pleasure. And a pleasure it was. The place is in some ways still very much caught up in the past, but in a very nice charming way. After that was a trip back home to the UK. 3 weeks, sounds a good while, sadly it was anything but. Now I'm back here, sweating it out in the S.E. Asian sun. Sitting about waiting for things to happen. How long will I be here? How long is a piece of string? Well to be honest I have been given the time line of 6-8 months. So if nothing happens by the end of this year I'll have to get a move on to plan B.

If it all sounds a bit vague what exactly I am supposed to be doing right now, its supposed to be, vague that is. But sure enough a plan is in place, just not a very quick one. But one that if it works, should be a very long term one. The reason for not really going into it is purely one due to superstition. So while I wait around, jobless, I have time, time to plan, time to take stock, time for blogging, XBOX, Dollhouse, Caprica, Hitchhikers Guide, BBQs, Android and all of the other things that make up my geeky and unstable life.

Slowly

Past day or so been feeling pretty down. The reason why is pretty clear to me. Its here. I'm sick of this place. Sick of being at work all the time, sick of dealing with some of the people at work, sick of the country I am in. But looking at things compared to a year ago, I do admit things were much worse then. Work for a start has actually become more bearable and at times not too bad. So why the long face so to speak?

Best analogy I can think of is smoking. 1 stick wont kill ya, hell, suckin on a lite cig would do even less, but keep it going day after day after day and slowly but surely it'll catch up with you.

The fact of being here for over a year. And no clear signal as to when I will be able to take some time out away from this place. Not talking days or weeks here. Months. It will take at least a month if not 2 for me to get over all this. Home sickness I guess some call it. Only thing I really miss about "home" is my car. I miss driving it, I miss being in it, listening to it, I just miss it. Vast majority of my tiredness is just work. simply can't stand jobs in which you do few hours but many days. Personally I'd go all out to make the effort to spend a straight 48hrs at work if it meant I got 5 full days off. Mainly I simply need time away from here. By here I don't necessarily mean this country. Just maybe this state. See more of this planet before I pass on. Rather than wasting all these precious hours of my life at work.

12herue du Sepang

A lil late in the posting or rather blogging but sorting thru the 6 gig of pics is something I really had trouble facing. But now tis done.

Went to a 12hr endurance race at Sepang circuit in early August. Wasn't really expecting to do much other than snap a few pics as the lame ass website never detailed what teams or drivers would be racing... Really gripes me when websites don't put essential/useful info on their pages but instead stack it with a ton of FLASH and useless filler. Anyway turned up a treat as some of my fave drivers would be racing as well as some well known Jap teams. Namely "Spoon" and "J's Racing"

Watching the Z4s of the Petronas team (M. Orido & N.Taniguchi) was excellent. Mainly due to the demonstration of real team play. 2 of them always staying together thru most of the race. Drafting thru the straights and on the turns whoever was trailing blocked for the lead so he could concentrate on the fastest line. Amazing they managed to stay relatively together thru the whole 12hours, claiming a 1,2 spot at the end of it all. Orido getting the top spot. Props go to the 3rd placers thou. The 911 GT3 from the Singapore Porsche owners club! Just amazed an owners club can get a podium finish in an international event.

In the 3rd class leader board, sadly the Spoon S2K suffered a DNF. They died half way thru the race. Thou "J's Racing" S2K fared better with K. Tsuchiya behind the wheel. Placing 2nd. Not bad for the JGTC retired drift king.

Only regret was not being able to stick around till the end. At about the half way mark the wife was getting a lil bored/cheezed off. Can't blame her really. Would have been cool to get some night shots as well as watch the checkerd flag come down. Well enough of the blabbing here are the pics.

Use it or lose it

I should have blogged a helluva long time ago but didn't, laziness probably a prime factor. Well in that time my boss at work has changed and he's actually a nice easy going kinda guy. So life has been good. But as with karma, you can't have life too comfortable. Was told few days back that someone i don't really like working around will be on my shift. So back to putting on a front...

Just swapped ISP as the previous ISP started enforcing their 3gb (pathetic I know) per mth limit. So they throttle it back from the previous 256K-ish speed to something single digits... like maybe 5K or such. Even the Google landing page had problems loading!!! Big thanks to "L" for helping us make the switch.

On another note, thinking of taking up a perm contract here. I mean hey if I'm gonna be out here for about a year more I might as well go perm, seeing as the pay is a bit less than contract, but then factor in free/ discount flights plus leave and it probably ain't too different. Main factor for the consideration is the currency of my license. Having 3 types and 1 more on the way plus another in the near future. At the mo this lot have only decided to give me currency on 1/2 of 1 type. So if I don't get all the rest of em made current in the next year I will stand to lose em... That if anything will be the main consideration when it comes to signing.

Longtemps

Been simply ages since I've been on here. Mainly because life has been somewhat hectic. For good or bad, I can't decide.

At least the 737 training is behind me. resulting in a pass. Just gotta wait a month or so for the certs to reach me. Also on a work note, 2 long time work buds (A & J) have finally packed it in here. Moving to pastures anew. Been a good long stint with the 2 of ya. All the best for the future n I'm sure we'll cross paths again. Working here without ya both is gonna be less smooth to say the least.

Gonna be headed to a 12hr endurance race this weekend. Not really expecting too much. Also not sure exactly how long to stay for... the full 12hrs is defo out of the question. Tried to get a list of the teams & drivers for this years event off the host venue website but true to the nature of this place only last years was available... At least the days itinerary was there... small wins.

Looking to the near future, life seems pretty packed out. Just thinking about it makes me wish I could lay in and waste away the day. I really miss days of not doing anything in particular.

Also sadly due to the shitty way work is now treating people I will be unable to go from my trip to Tokyo. As happened to another guy. Work can approve your leave and then with just a day or so notice cancel it and you will be expected to cancel everything and be at work. Lest you be found guilty of breach of working agreement and made to pay a hefty fine as well as get the sack.

Either way I'm gonna try to get on and blog out a bunch of stuff a lil more often. Real bugger not blogging much lately as there defo was good stuff to note down.

Simply Su-Pah!

Don't really follow any sports, or any teams for that matter but if pressed, there is 1 team I would turn out to cheer for. And that's the RX7 team in Super GT, formally JGTC (Japanese GT series). Fortunately weekend gone I got to do just that.

Bought my tickets a month in advance, probably a lil enthusiastic, seeing as this race is held outside Japan, it doesn't really draw much of a crowd. Mainly cos no one here knows WTF its all about or what is going on. And that was certainly true. As on qualifying day, we drove up to the circuit and no one bothered manning the car park ticketing post.. free parking :D Not to mentioned parked directly opposite the track entrance gate as well as overlooking the live drift event in the front car park! Lack of enthusiasm from the local populous was an added bonus too come pit walk time. Enabling me to nip over he barrier and pose next to the RE Amiyama RX7. Also allowing me to fulfil my sordid fantasy of laying my grubby mitts all over that sleek rotary powered body.

Qualifying was very undecided in the weather dept. Opening with burning sunshine, then torrential rain. Later back to sun, then rain, etc. Snapped up a stack load of pics. Foolishly I decided to leave my Laptop at home. Believing my 6 gigs of card space sufficient. Meaning that by lunch time I had to hop in the car and speed home to grab the laptop & dump those pics before qualifying round 2 started. Sadly that detour to home n back meant we missed out on the 2nd pit walk. Which annoyingly was the pit walk with the race queens posing all over the cars... DOH! Oh, well. Not too bothered as earlier I had managed to get my Option2 mag signed by both the RX7 drivers as well as the god father of rotary tuning, Mr Amiyama himself. Again the lack of interest in the sport out here played to my advantage as all 3 of them were relatively unmolested. Seen footage of them at Fuji race track getting swamped! Best of all nobody even noticed Amiyama-san. Wasn't till I zoomed up to ask for an autograph that people looked over, even then they just thought it weird that I was getting so over the moon by having some old dude sign a magazine. As for the result of qualifying of team RE Amiyama? 11th, sorta to be expected with the 74KG of weight penalty they had to run with.

Race day. My God could it be any different! Place was jammed packed. Again the heavens opened up come morning practice. There was a nice touch to the days events. Something called the "circuit safari" Basically you get on a tour bus and get driven around the track as the GT cars zip about all around you. Some coach load of lucky buggers had the team ARTA Project NSX tailgate their bus. Some prime piccys there I expect. By lunch time I had had enough of fighting thru crowds of guys armed with cameras as they charged about jostling for prime shots of cars n scantily clad babes. So we retired to the car, for some air-con and refreshments till an hour before race start. The race itself was instantly heart stopping as I watched my beloved team spin out at the last turn even before their 1st lap. Landing them 15th, or 3rd last on the grid. Thou that only served to make it a more exciting race. Watching as the RX7 pushed its way up the grid to eventually finish in 3rd. Was initially dreaming of catching that checkered flag shot but I had to give up that hope when my final camera battery died at lap 43 of 54. Luckily thou 1 of the spent batteries managed to have enough dredges left in it to allow me a few podium shots before it gave up the ghost for good.

Really hoping I'll have the chance to be about for next years race. Especially as it will be the 20th anniversary of the Super GT and the organisers promised "something extra special for the fans"