Fight Back to School - GCE O Levels 2006

Kinda funny if people did not know the reason of me doing this.
I am retaking my O levels in 2006, might be quite tough for me as I am
taking up 3 subjects that I never took before during high school.

The reason that I am retaking the exams, like I mentioned in my previous blog was for the sake of CAAS cos I wanna be an airline pilot. I might be doing something that is totally not required by the organisation. But I really don't want to get penalized for not doing so. Thus as recommend by one of my flying instructors who used to be an Airline Pilot, I decided to go ahead with the plan.

I am enrolling for English, Elementary Maths, Additional Maths, Pure Physics and Pure Geography. The last 3 subjects mentioned are new to me.

But the worst thing is that the amount of money spent on preparation and retaking
this examinations. Wah... *sweat*. I already had plans to go back for private night classes to try and catch up what I had lost. Initially my plan was to carry on all my studying at ITE, they have classes at a very affordable price.

Only problem I faced there is ITE is not offering Pure Physics. I had no choice but to find another school which has the course. I finally found it and it was damn costly. It is going to cost me $80 per month and $685.00 for the whole duration of a year and did I forget to mention, it is for 1 subject only. While ITE's part time night class cost around $75 per subject for the whole duration.

Also the cost of the books and some stationary. Wah... Lastly the cost of the examination fees are also high. Check out part of my Exams receipt...








Total amount that is going to be spent:
1) Pure Physics Class - $685
2) ITE Night Class - $225 (3 subjects) - Self study E Maths
3) Examination Fees - $459
4) Text Books & Misc Cost - $200
Total : $1569 - Wah Piang!!!!

Its not cheap man... Now I think govt subsidized fees are really low and affordable for everyone. How fortunate... Have to re-manage my time and money liao.
Private Pilot License theory not yet completed, practical as well.

2006 is going to be a damn busy year for me! SIA - HERE I COME!

My Short Holiday in Senai & The Final Flight of the "Yellow Banana"

1st of Feb, right after Chinese New Year. The time where most of the people are returning back to work, early in the morning, I packed my flight bag, my overnight backpack, my trusty riding jacket, my helmet and headed down to my trusty bike.

I don't really wear my riding jacket if I am moving around in Singapore, and with my riding jacket on, it could only mean one thing. It means that I am riding into Malaysia, specifically - Senai to carry on my flying lessons.

The journey was very smooth, no jams during the custom which really surprised me. Maybe all the malaysian bikers have not returned back to Singapore for work. I cleared the customs in a jiffy and carry on my journey down the 2nd link highway. Nice breeze and very fresh air.


"The Yellow Banana"












Upon reaching the club, I found out that the plane which I usally flies has met up with an accident and it requires repairs. Kinda disappointed though, had to make do with the smaller size plane, the Cessna 150 aka Yellow Banana, due to its colour paintwork. The cockpit is small and cramp as compared to the Cessna 172 which I frequently flies. I also learned that the "Yellow Banana" had been sold by her owner and it maybe her last flight with the club. I was also glad that I managed to fly her before she is gone.
End of the day, after all the flying is over. Finally!! I get to check in to the resort hotel. Maybe even get a decent meal or something.

After getting the key, I went up to my room. I was awe by the size and the interior decor. It was much better than what I had expected. The room is damn nice and cosy. It had a very nice view to the pool and I really like it. Too bad I am sleeping alone. Hahahahaha.

"First View of the Room after I stepped in"

"The King Sized Bed - Power!!!"

"View of Pool from my Room"

"Well equipped Bathroom, with a tub and separated shower cubicle"

"My Riding Gear - Helmet & Jacket"











The resort is really a nice place to relax, its has a few restaurants inside, serving a variety of foods. It has a very pool with a bar attached, tennis courts, squash court, a poorly equipped gym, bowling alley, olympic size swimming pool and a spa. Last but not least a well equipped golf course, I don't know how many holes cos I don't play nor understand the game.

For sure, I will definitely return back to the resort for another stay!

First day of CNY

Well, the first day of CNY was not really a great success for me. For instance, my luck for gambling was not really that great, lost some money on soccer punting and on blackjack. Wow... I was really over my head, thus I decided to put off soccer punting for the time being, maybe till I get back on my feet with some studying for my Aviation theory exams. Which I neglected it over the obessesion of soccer.

I did make an effort to dress myself up for a new festive year. Took a long while to style my hair...HAHAHAHA... which I find I might be worst than some of the girls I know. As usual, bang my drums and try to wake everyone up. But by the time I did that, everyone is already woken.

Today is the 2nd day of CNY, weather doesnt seemed to be very good. Can't really ride my bike out. I promise myself to restrict my gambling, maybe just some small bets to past time. I just receive a call this morning from my flying instructor that the plane that I am learning in has met up with some minor accident with the thrust of some other big plane. Gotta fly in the smaller cc aircraft. Just have to make do with it. Hopefully the plane can be back and ready for flying for my navigation cum cross country.

Gotta go wash up now, going for another chinese new year visits again.

Chinese New Year Eve

Hmmm, kinda sad to think. Is chinese new year a festive time of celebrations? a time for all your relatives to meet up? who knows? your girl-fren might be your distant cousin which you might never met before till both your parents meet up and say, "oh! he/she is your children ah? aiyo..."

For me, its only another excuse to earn extra pocket money by collect ang pows and winning some blackjack games. Every year, you will have relatives asking, "eh Billy, aiyo, so big already, got pat tor or not?" When planning to get married or what so ever. Seemed like all the relatives do not have a common topic for a proper converation. I guess this is suppose to be if everyone only gets to meet up once a year.

Right now my thoughts are very depress and pessimistic, got nothing much to look forward to in life. Maybe its the lifestyle, maybe its the culture or most probably its myself. A change in the working environment might bring back some spirit... hopefully...

Its about time for the reunion dinner at my grandmother's place. I had an uncle which I never met before cos he escaped national service before I was born and migrated to Australia. He came back to visit my grandmother and his younger brother's wife who is currently still recovering from a very critical illness, some form of viral infection in the brain, just woke up a few days ago from a coma.

Really hope she recovers well.

As for the time being, my goals is to complete my private pilot license and perhaps retake my O levels papers just for the sake of CAAS. Stupid regulation that they have. Another 2 years more and hopefully I can leave my current job and join my dream passion as a commerial airliner pilot.

Feeling right now is really damn depress leh, maybe cos no enbough sleep, no mood to do anything. Hopefully it will turn out better tomorrow. Really glad I am still able to make some people happy.

Why is there Army Half Marathon?

Its been a while since I blog, gotta work and work. High tension OT workload is going to begin tomorrow. Hope everything will go smoothly, but I really doubt so.

AHM.... Sucks big time man! In my mind I already have plans not to run. Working everyday and almost having OT everynight is having a toll on my body. I have gain weight, due to improper eating habits, cos have to stuff myself with food cos the meals time is not fixed. Furthermore, getting more tired than before, probably due to the lack of sleep as well. Thus I already declared that I don't want to run the stupid 12km route.

Anyway, the day finally arrived. Reported there as per normal, already can see people completing the 21km run. The Thomson Jazz Band is setting up there, (really felt sorry for those guys, they are playing their music and I don't think anyone is appreciating them, but I do enjoy their performance as I am an enthusiast myself.)

Dark clouds are hovering over the sky but raindrops doesnt seem to be appearing. Just gathered my running buddies and move off to the start line. Organisers seemed to be kinda jia lat lah. move off point sucks big time man, so cramp but can get to see some babes jogging along, woooo... big turn on man. Hahahaha. My buddies and I went for a straight 3km jog till one of them say his excess growth of toenail is making him suffer and thus we decided to complete the rest of the 3km by walking. As you can see, we took the 6km route.

After we walked to the 4km route marker, a fella jog pass us and ask my gang to carry on jogging, he say "You are a disgrace to your unit..." WTF... I am definitely pissed off by that guy, what will you achieve from all this marathon? Loads of sweat? Fatigue limbs? Cramps? I seriously don't really like this loh. FUCK YOU MAN.

I really cant wait to leave the service, this is just a stepping stone for me. Just have to endure till my time comes. SHIT! Anyway, today my gang at work are meeting our mentor for a gathering, its like a farewell meal with him lah. So initially they decided to have it at Paris Seafood at Marina Sq. But unfortunately, not everyone like seafood, and that place only sells seafood.

Guys, if you are reading this, I am sorry man. Quite hot tempered today. Everyone is indecisive, cos Paris Seafood is out and no one wants to decide where to eat. I am tired and I also believe that everyone is, but it seemed like no one wants to care. Thus I had no choice but to voice out and have everyone go to the "Quali" at Suntec convention hall. At least that place sells variety of decent food buffet.

High tea lunch was great man, there are 16 of us present and as we are deciding to go Dutch, our Mentor insisted that he paid for our meal and he rejected our money. I mean he is our Mentor and we are suppose to give him a treat and not he treat us but I really appreciate his gesture. Hope he has a better future working outside after he leave the service this month.

Anyway, today everyone is tired, sticky due to sweating, don't expect padang to have shower facilities there hor. Thus after the meal, we move off to a warehouse sale and ended our gathering there.

Lastly. Guys, sorry if I have offended you all in this blog. Just damn "HOT" today lah. Worst is yet to come...

My 2nd SOLO!!!

Clear weather in Singapore, Heavy storm in Johor in the early morning.

Luckily for me, my lesson is the 12 – 2pm slottie. After grabbing a ¼ foot Turkey Breast/Ham Sub for breakfast, I had to rush down to Senai Airport in Johor cos I was running late.

Cleared the customs and almost reaching Senai, Guess what I saw in the sky? Its just like it has been splitted into half. On my left its dark clouds, on my right its clear white sunny sky. Regretted never stop by the road side to take a picture of it. Since time is really not a constraint today. You will know why later.

Not soon enough, I reached the club. The place is wet all over with big puddles of water. Parked my bike and went in. As I have expected, the morning slotties were delay due to bad weather, the other student who is in front of me had the earlier slot of 9am have not flew yet. Thus he went first and I waited for another 2 hours for my turn.

After he landed, he was saying that the crosswinds are strong and the weather does not look so good. I was discouraged by his information and felt like just returning back to Singapore without flying. But today might be my last day of flight before I leave for Australia as I might not be able to fork out time later to go for lessons. I Hesitated for a while. When I have decided to tell my instructors that I am planning to head back to Singapore, the bad weather and the heavy winds suddenly cleared up and the scenario is just perfect for flying!

Shaking my head, amused by my own silliness, I took my kneeboard and the flight bag and head towards the plane to carry on my lessons. I timed my pre-flight checks. Wah! 10 mins only leh! Cannot imagine my first pre-flight check I took more than 30 mins to complete. But it delayed to 30 mins in the end, Why? Cos the instructor took his own sweet time to walk from the club to the plane, think he is busy with some last min paper work.

Boarded the place, took off and perform 4 circuits of “touch & go” accompanied by my instructor and after that he left me alone to complete the rest of the 3 solo circuits flight.

My first solo was about 1 month back. Was shaky for a while, but told myself, “be steady, you can do it. Already done all the basic radio calls on your own, you can do it”. Radioed the ATC for lining up onto the runway, rev the throttle and here I go!

The feeling is great! I almost stalled on my first takeoff, the angle of elevation is too much and the speed is not enough. Shucks! Fortunately I recovered the speed and carry on the climb. Finished the 3 circuits, landed for a full stop and began a short flight de-brief by my instructor. Took down his advice and headed back to Singapore! I want to visit the Comex as I won’t want to go down on the family packed Sunday.

In the beginning, I took the flying course as a stepping stone for a career change in the airlines. But today, while I was alone in the skies, I really enjoyed flying. The feeling of so high up there, looking down onto the scenery, it’s just FABULOUS!

Dinner at JB!

Sunday – Clear weather throughout! Good for Flying Leh! But… didn’t fly.
Sudden woke up early today and went back to bed during noon time. Woke up a few moments later which was about 4pm. Pig leh, Oink~!

Remembered Desmond asking the gang to JB for dinner, hmmm. Took a shower and prepared myself. Still got some time and whack around the drumset for a few quick tempo songs, feet feeling light man, playing a lot of down beats.
“Maroon 5 – This love”, feet kept kicking, really light and maneuverable.
“Mayday – Zhi Ming Yi Chun Jiao” – Hokkien song, but I like the tune.
“Deep Purple – Smoke on the water”, classic man, 16 beats is hard to keep up. Maybe cannot concentrate, played too many drags on the hihat.

After 3 songs, I think my neighbours will hate me man. HAHAHAHA.
Finally, the call came and its time to move off. Later I found out the dinner is at Taman Sentosa, place looks kinda like 80s market in Singapore. Not very clean but its ok for me. Ordered a couple of dishes, Fried “Hei Po” in Malt, Chilli Kang Kong, Frog legs with Ginger & Spring Onion, Hotplate Egg Tofu and Sting Ray with Samba.

I must say that their large size drinks are even than the Super Big Glup that you find in 7-11 man. At first, I was thinking is the drink too big? But after the dinner, I realized that there is a need for such a big PITT. The dinner was great except for the Stingray, I suppose my uncle’s one taste better! Check him out at Changi Village, a good looking chef operating the only BBQ seafood stall in the half market hawker center.

Anyway, 6 of us had a filling dinner. The cost of all the food and drinks is about RM120, ok right? Heehee, went back to City square’s Levis Outlet. Tried on a few pairs of Jeans. I think my ass is too big, don’t look too good in them leh. Maybe need to loose some weight and tone my ass man, LOL!!! BTW, the Levis there is cheaper than SG. Do check them out.

On our back to Singapore, we were once again stopped by the corrupted policeman of Malaysia… Guess what is the offence? Fail to put on seat belts, NB! This kind of CB police, KNN dunno suay or what. Initially want to pay him RM20 and ask him to fuck off, well he didn’t budge on the first offer. Confirm wanted more. But I already see him copying Desmond’s IC number down, shit man. Then Desmond pass him RM50 and we left. I was thinking, if you want to take bribe, what the hell you copy details for? Pray that he don’t play us out. Take bribe liao and submit the summon. Bastard Malaysia TP. Sigh….