That proverbial blue screen of death happened to me during shut down minutes ago. Much to my annoyance, I had actually reformatted my VAIO just days ago… so these hang ups shouldn’t happen. But it did and so far, I am pretty satisfied with my Sony. A couple close shaves with crashes in the past year but somehow this laptop has this canny ability to resurrect itself. I’m playing safe now… regular back ups. I am somehow amused by Microsoft’s acknowledgement of this particular way operating systems go to computer heaven.

What struck me about most was the way I folded it this time round. For the many years I have used this chart, I have always folded them along the original seams, so that its nice, prim and proper. But not this time round. I think this reflects a subtle change in me. About there can la. No need to be anal about little things like that in life. Gotta live unbuttoned like that Levi’s ad says.

Here’s something about the coin from the Royal Dutch Mint’s website.

The Architecture five-euro coin was designed by artist Stani Michiels (b. 1973). The design on the obverse of the coin pays tribute to the history of Dutch architecture, with the portrait of Queen Beatrix being distinctively constructed using the names of important architects from Dutch history. The artist used the internet as a popularity-meter to determine the names’ order of appearance.

The reverse of the Architecture five-euro coin draws attention to the striking fact that many Dutch architects have also included publishing books on architecture in their professional activities. To illustrate this phenomenon, recent books on architecture rise up from the sides of the coin like buildings. Through their careful placement they combine to outline the Netherlands, while birds’ silhouettes suggest the capitals of all the provinces.

The detailing on the coin is superb. Cool huh.

The ‘Orchard Road’ of Port Blair. Blairbucks where you can get a tea for 4 Rupees. Intrepid me taking a shot in the middle of the road… notice how Jimmy is shying away from me. Traffic there is horrendous. People drive and ride on the wrong side of the road, expecting the on-coming vehicles who have the right of way… to give way. Not for the faint hearted! Charms… what do you have in store I wonder?

Provision shop with prices of all the commodities listed on a chalk board. Me with an nonchalant looking evil green kangaroo.

Port Blair’s runway. Airlifted donuts!

1. Resume blogging - Tick in the boooooox
2. Walk under the swords, down the aisle with my baby!
3. Gain weight!
4. Pimp my bestie. Bro always on the look out for ya. It ain’t hard to spot ‘em!
5. Embark on my ATPL Examinations!
6. Enjoy life. Live it like the 10 of Hearts.
7. Do a Meme… & a couple Meme with my baby.
8. Be disciplined to wear my retainers after my braces are removed (in a few months time. Yeaaaaaaah!)
9. Gym and get outdoors more.
10. Transfer my flying kungfu to the juniors without (edit insert: too much) bloodshed in the briefing room or flight deck.
11. Go for 2 holidays. One long and one short.
12. Learn more about my new hobby; coin-collecting
13. Do at least 6 things I have not done before in my life
14. Do some good; pay it forward.
15. Read… anything and whatever.

Thats all for now I think.

Edit: One more one more. Buy a Birkin for my fairlady. The mother of all handbags… to end faith’s long handbag lineage. Just so that I don’t have to say, “you what another bag?” (what; synonym in this case for saw, like, bought, want or the likes of these verbs) But this particular resolution is lifetime kind hor. They say that there is an ‘impenetrable waiting list.’ for this coveted mama. Members only. MEnkind is safe…for now. Alleluja.

On the left we now see Bukit Timah and on the right Pierce Reservoir. If you look to the front, you will see my beautiful girlfriend of 2-and-a-half years. Today I am going to ask her to marry me.”

Sleepyhead: Pirot! when’s the big day?
sky kapten says: Yes ma’am!
sky kapten says: we have not decided!
sky kapten says: i am wondering why everybody is asking this
Sleepyhead says: must pick supiciosu day right?
Sleepyhead says: auspicious
sky kapten says: is it because singapoleans… all set date, buy flat then plopose?
sky kapten says: haha
Sleepyhead says: everybody’s asking coz…everybody knows you’ve been thinking about this ALL your life
sky kapten says: I see!
Sleepyhead says: OK, maybe not all your life, but at least since the time I knew you
Sleepyhead says: don’t need to shy hor
sky kapten says: Hahaha. Truth is we really need to check it out and then decide when’s a good time to do it!
Sleepyhead says: I sgree, chope the bride first, details can wait
Sleepyhead says: agree. my typing’s really bad - can’t multitask
sky kapten says: Correct!
Sleepyhead says: so u got a giant round diamond?
sky kapten says: Dates aplenty (pun intended) but must grab the best one
Sleepyhead says: *rolls eyes*
sky kapten says: round brilliant - Standard… u know la
Sleepyhead says: u had corn soup for dinner ah?
sky kapten says: I meant dates (auspicious dates) many la
sky kapten says: Hahaha
Sleepyhead says: rrrrriiiiight
Sleepyhead says: I’m very sure that’s EXACTLY what u meant
sky kapten says:

Last Friday on the 29th of Aug, I proposed to Faith in the flightdeck whilst she was onboard my aircraft on a joyride. Total surprise was acheived. And she said YES!. YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.

All with the help of Peter and several other Sqn mates who help set this up for me.

Dearest Faith, I love you more than I can ever say.

Last week, I went to Port Blair for an exercise. Stayed there for 2 nights. I must say its still kinda backward… maybe about 10 years behind most asian cities. But its coming to such places that I really take a deep breath and consciously slow down the hectic life I am used to back home. Therapeutic experience.

Anyway most of the pictures I took were with Peter’s new G9. But I did take a few using my own cam.
L to R: At first I wondered what the 2 blocks were meant for. When I looked to the left, EUREKA! The Hero Honda… nice ring to it. The Ambassador! Think its a really retro car. They still have new ones in Port Blair. When I have the money, I’d import one. More another day!

Earlier this month over 2 weekends, I rode with Ed, Lewin and Zak. The rides were shortened by technical problems… for the ubin ride, we stopped to help some bloke who got serious chain suck. For the later ride, Ed got a flat tire and we spent a freaking lot of time pumping the spare tire… only to find out after much fruitless pumping that the tire had deteriorated so badly that there were multiple holes on it! Ended up goofing around.

Decided to throw a buffet lunch at my place this year. Lou Hei is always a messy affair. The junior table got fragged major….

Nothing beats having the energy and noise of a lion troupe to liven up the CNY spirit. Everybody, especially the kids enjoyed the performance.