The dormant blog...

Hello... welcome to the dormant blog!
I know, I haven't updated my blog for more than 2 weeks! I have nearly forgotten this blog existed in the first place! These two weeks were like hell with tests and I was very busy.

I didn't even right something about my visit to Malta, something which I should have obviously done! Ye I was looking forward for that weekend! I arrived in Malta on Friday evening (that's 2 weeks ago) and was so happy to see my girlfriend and my parents again. The weather was brilliant, sunny and quite hot! Malta is so good for weather (ye Belgium, you wish the sun shines that much!) But the best part of Malta, was obviously the time with my girlfriend. I can't wait to go down again.

On the flight back to Belgium I also had the chance to go a bit to the cockpit and have a chat with the crew. They were very friendly and it was great to have a look at my "future office"!! I also witnessed the landing and it was so cool. Ye I can't wait to do it myself! :-)

During the past 2 weeks I had 2 tests as well, Electrics and Flight Planning, which is why I was really busy. I did well in both of them. Finally I have a week without any tests but May is going to be tough as well it seems. Today I also had another BFC session in which I did quite well. But I'll write about that tomorrow!!

Till later...

Basic Flying Session 3... and landing! 4 days to MALTA!!

Yoo!!
Once again I am late in writing something in this blog. I wanted to write this last Thursday but I was busy studying for tests; there's not much to do anyway!

Last Thursday I had my thirds BFC session and it was great. Things were pretty much the same as session 2 but more manoeuvres which need a bit more thinking were added, including taking time in consideration during combination of turns and climbs/descents. I did pretty well but I have to give more importance to the airspeed indicator. But really, there's a lot to do and think about when performing a simple climb or turn, and sometimes I miss something. So I have to practice more on that. Well, practice makes perfect ey! Session 3 was also cool because I made a full stop landing!!! I was given some instructions to descent and then "turn left heading..." until a runway popped up in front of me. It was then followed by "cleared to land..." WOHOOO!!! The approach was good but the landing was a bit bumpy. But ye, it was cool to bring the little bird down! I look forward to the fly the real bird of course! Below is a picture of the airport I "landed" in. Credit to the photographer and Airliners.net of course!!

Today I'm also very close to the day I'll visit Malta again for 2 days. That's next Friday and I can't wait for it. I'm looking forward to make the best of the little time I have with my girlfriend and my family. See you soon!! I miss you all! I'm sure it' going to be a great time over there. Tuesday... Wednesday... Thursday... Friday... soon soon...

Yesterday I also had the General Navigation test so yes I spent last weekend turning my flight computer around and working wind problems! I should have done well, just have to wait for the mark now. Next Thursday I have the physiology progress test, followed by AC Electrics on Tuesday. So, these 2 days are extremely busy because I have to study 2 subjects, since I'll be in Malta during the weekend and don't want to waste any time studying over there eh! So I'm off.
Till next time!!

Basic Flying Course Session 2! 10 days to Malta!!!

Hello...

Today I had my second BFC session. Obviously it got more complicated; several new instruments were introduced. I think my performance was much better than my first session. I was more focussed and I handled the controls pretty well. I performed some climbs, descends and turns and they were quite good. It's interesting of course, but I'm looking forward to when I start on the actual simulator and more than that, the actual flying in the real sky!! Flight Simulator is good, but now that I know I'll actually get in the air for real, I obviously want it more than Flight Simulator!! Below is a picture of the aircraft we're using; a Piper Archer. It is not the actual aircraft in our Flight Simulator but it is similar. That's also the first aircraft I will fly for real!!

The day when I'll be coming to Malta is soon arriving as well; 10 days more!! Note the word "coming" to Malta and not "going" to Malta. That simply says that Malta IS my home and there's nothing better than that... and I can't wait to be down there for good!! I miss my girlfriend, my family and all my my friends. Yes, 10 days, and counting...

As regards our internet, yesterday we had a guy from the ISP coming over to our house to check the signal (if there was a signal...). He said he found a bad connector out in the street and replaced it. Pity that didn't seem to solve the problem because one hour later, I didn't have any internet connection again... (bad connector... sure). It's incredible...

Anyway I'm off because I've got loads to do. I have two progress tests next week so... better study!!

See ya!!! (Malta... 10 days!!)

2 months out... 12 days to Malta!

Tomorrow, two months would have passed since I settled here in Belgium. Honestly, it's not the nicest country to live in (Sorry Belgians...) Weather is hopeless... but you Belgians cannot do anything about that (other than moving to Malta ;-) ) but hey, you can get your freaking internet service right, and you can get your freaking water supply right to0!!

Anyway enough of Belgium, there are nicer things to talk about after all! In twelve days, I'd be on my way to Malta!! It's another short visit of course, but at least I get to see my girlfriend, family, and my cute little nephew, who by now has discovered the art of walking!! I can't wait for these twelve days to pass.

Things are getting tougher here with more tests. I already have four planned tests in the coming weeks. In fact, today I spent most of the day reading about how my heart pumps blood all around me and all that physiology stuff (which is not quite interesting). Last Friday I had the Basic Radio test and I think I did well but I'm still waiting for the result.

Anyway, I'm going back to that boring physiology stuff.
Till next time...

Snow in Belgium...

Belgium, in my opinion, is not the nicest place to live in (nothing compares to Malta anyway). For example, there are three spoken languages, so it could be that you go and talk to your next door neighbour in one language, and his reply would be in some other sort of language. Unless you switch to his language, you're doomed to live next to an non-understandable guy. In Malta, measuring a few kilometres wide, we have our own ONE language. And if you want to piss off or tell off you next door neighbour, you can easily do it in one plain simple language (with a wide vocabulary available at hand as well).

Secondly, plumbing over here is hopeless. I still have to understand why two people cannot use two different showers at the same time, or why you can't wash your clothes while brushing your teeth, or even, why upstairs you have to get to smell what someone filled up the drains with a couple of hours before, downstairs!! Oh, and is it so difficult to put up a curtain on a circular window?! And is it so difficult to put up a curtain on a rectangular window, without it falling off every now and then?! Yes, welcome to Belgium!

Weather... I think over here the word "sun" is hardly found in any vocabulary dictionary. I don't think they actually teach the meaning of the word in primary school... (it's useless anyway). I have been told that Summer over here starts in April, and ends in April. Rain and gloomy grey weather is common in August, a month which in Malta is commonly referred to as Summer!!

Anyway at least over the past two days, I had some "cool" weather experience. It snowed!! Yes, obviously not the nicest of snow (it's Belgium remember) but at least it was something "different". It snowed most on Friday evening. The car was covered in snow, so being Maltese, we took some time to throw a few snowballs at each other. Below are some photos I took yesterday.

Anyway, snow was probably the only good thing which happened last week. I also had the progress test of Radio Navigation and I did great. Next Friday I have another progress test, Basic Radio. So I have things to work on again this week.

I also would like to say a "Happy Easter to all"... miss you all...

Basic Flying Course... 1st session

Hello...
Last Monday I had my first 'Basic Flying Course' session. It consists of a couple of lessons on basic flying, on MS Flight Simulator. It's quite good to get the basics of flying. The first session consisted of straight and level flight, turns, climbs and descents, focusing only on the attitude indicator and the power indicator (RPM). My first session wasn't so good but it wasn't so bad either. I have to adjust the throttle lever "blindly", without looking, in order to keep focused on the attitude indicator and that is where I was getting stuck. I have get the power adjusted to the correct position immediately. Hopefully it would get better with every session. I also have to be more careful on the attitude indicator, keeping the pitch at the right level.

That was probably the only 'new' thing which happened in the last few days as regards the course. I have a test on Friday, 'Radio Navigation', so I'm busy studying for it. Anyway, back to studying...

Well done...

I would like to congratulate and say a big WELL DONE to my girlfriend on passing all her first semester exams! Congratulations ging!! Keep it up and you'll make it. It's tough but hey... no pain no gain ;-) Congratulations!!!

As for me, well over here it gets more busy by the minute. Next week I have a Radio Navigation test so I'm quite busy working on it. I also had the Communications test and I did very well. We also had our first Basic Flying Course briefing and next Monday I have my first "flight" on Flight Simulator (on PC, the real fun on real simulators will come later ;-))

Anyway I'm off to study...
Take care all

Back in Belgium :-(

So, yet another late post...

On Saturday I left for Brussels again and here I am once again. I didn't post anything before because I was very busy during the weekend. I had a test this morning and I had to spend all Sunday studying for it (coupled with the long awaited wait for the election results, about which I will try to write something later).

Anyway something about my short stay in Malta; it was nothing more than EXCELLENT. I spent all the time with my girlfriend... unforgettable memories, which I dearly miss... and also together with my family, parents, sister & her husband and my growing cute little nephew. It was a great time and I can't wait till I go down again. That's my home... not here!!

The time I spent with my girlfriend was simply great, right from the moment I arrived in the arrivals lounge, till the sad moments at the departures lounge. And here I'll address her directly... I miss you a lot, and can't wait to be back with you. Thanks a lot for spending such a short but splendid time with me. XXXX

I would also like to thank a couple of friends who made it to the airport to say hello!! Thanks dudes, I really appreciated that. I hope to see you soon again!!

Anyway, I'm off. Later on I'll try to post something about yesterday's elections count as it merits some discussion.

Till later people....

Miss you all...

Johnny in Malta...

So... I'm back in Malta, and as I currently speak (or rather type) someone very special is by my side :-) (N.B. for anyone who read my previous blog... I had a misprint and corrections were duly made for the benefit of all parties involved :-))

Joking apart... coming back to Malta was something I was really looking forward to. It's been a month since I've seen my girlfriend (1...) so yes, we've been counting down the hours till my arrival in Malta. It was also great to see my family as well as friends. Thanks to all who came to greet me at the airport, despite two huge crowd gatherings commonly known as "mass-meetings"!! Thanks a lot. Today I also saw my cute little nephew. He grew taller and more naughty!

Anyway, I don't want to waste any more time here... because I have obviously better ways to use my little time in Malta rather than blogging. One last thing... tomorrow there are elections. To all fanatic die-hards who don't have anything useful to do other than calling people asking "Inti mort tivvota?", I will go and vote when I feel like it, so please do not bug me with calls "Int mort tivvota?" My answer would simply be... "get a life dude..."

Anyway, I'm off... aaaa Malta...

The Big Day!!

The big day is with us!! Yes, today 6th March 2008, I'm flying back to Malta for a short time only unfortunately. Yet still, I'm obviously looking forward to it and can't wait for the moment to step my feet on Malta again, and then see my girlfriend, my parents and a couple of friends at the airport.

Life here is still busy. I have a test next monday, Radio communications. It shouldn't be difficult though I'm not quite convinced about it. We'll see.

There has also been another update this week which I didn't have time to mention. Johnny had a haircut... with yet another change of style... I shaved my hair. Yes so after the trauma of having to cut my long hair, I went to the other extreme and shaved my hair. I like the new look but ;-)

Anyway I'm off to bed because obviously, this blog is being updated at 1am.

Good night and... SEE YOU SOON MALTA!!!!!