by ·Comments Off on Ticking off a bucket list…

Well I just got back from an “Eventful” weekend. I had decided a while back to use up a few free nights I had in Melbourne and I decided it was time to try and tick something else off my bucket list. Firstly it was going to be flying down on a Friday which meant I could use Qantas’s lovely tag on flight from BNE-SYD on a 747-400. Of course they also added on the fact that you can upgrade from the cheapest air fares. HELLO bargain basement airfare to Sydney in Business Class! ($100 + 8000 points).

This could mean I could tick off my bucket list item of flying Upper Deck on a 747! YAY!! It was a very memorable flight (expect a proper trip report in the next few days/week) and a weekend that really was full of ups and downs.

Full of catching up with friends, lots of good food (Brasserie Bread’s new location in Melbourne, Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder with the most amazing breakfast!) and my highlight of the entire weekend. I got to meet a Childhood Idol. Iain Hewitson was someone as a child who was an idol to me. I remember watching him cook on TV when I was really young and saw the food he was making, he was jolly and funny and happy and the food just looked good.

That was the start of a love/passion for food (which still continues now even though i have to be different) and it was always a dream to go to his restaurant “Tolarno” in St Kilda. Sadly a few years ago it closed but now he has a new Bar in St Kilda being “Barney Allen’s” The food was damn good and plentiful and pretty cheap! No Mains over $20! But after a big meal of good food, as I was paying the bill I noticed someone sitting at the bar. I said to the waitress who was serving me “Is that who I think it is?” “It sure is!”

It was Heuy himself!!! I couldn’t believe it. So acting like a little school girl, I got to meet the man himself, get a photo and act like a little child again. It was the highlight of my entire weekend, a few seconds. The whole ticking off the bucket list got put back behind me, that paled in comparison! So if you check out the link below you will see all the photos but best of all, theres the photo of me with my Child Hood Idol…

O and after telling him that he was the reason I got to loving food his reply was “so its all my fault is it” which he said with his trademark grin!

Bucket List Weekend

by ·Comments Off on Book Review: A Cooks Tour

This book had set on my shelf all to long, but the temptation finally got to me.

A Cooks Tour

The book is A Cooks Tour by Anthony Bourdain. A TV chef who does no cooking but yet has several tv shows under his belt. All he seemingly does is travel and eat. God I wish I was him.

Bourdain started his career a chef. He worked, he drank, he smoked. All the time just getting the stories that would end up making him famous. His first foray into writing was the ever popular ‘Kitchen Confidential’ which pretty much described some realities of the real world that chefs lived in. What follows is this book.

With the success of his first book he managed to talk his way into a second book deal (this one). The concept was easy. Get paid to travel and eat his way round the world finding the perfect meal.

However after killing a pig in Portugal, eating a cobra heart in Vietnam or trying Fugu in Tokyo he finally realises that perfection is not something you can find but more and endless process. If you ever found perfection it would be the end of the search and a real failure.

This book is something that just resonates to me. To do the two things I have always loved doing (eating & travelling) just screams to me. Even now with my different life I still think that the journey is half the fun of something and working towards that new experience that one desire to find that perfect meal or that new taste is what life is all about.

Getting to experience new tastes, new sensations in far flung places will always be a goal for me so this book hit home perfectly. A great book for that holiday read you know you need.

by ·Comments Off on Book Review: Roger Ball!

Latest book has been finished, after a round of twitter polls the last book was really decided on by everyone else, The selection was a Modern Book, Non Fiction and the first one of those on my shelf that night was this one.

Roger Ball

The book is Roger Ball! Written by Donald E Auten. This book is decidedly deceptive. The title doesn’t really tell you what it is about, and the it’s a Biography not an autobiography (which is what I normally enjoy reading, but this time it wasn’t my choice really.

The term Roger Ball! is a unique naval aviation term. When a pilot is landing his aircraft onto the deck of an aircraft carrier he uses a optical device commonly referred to as the “Meatball” or simply the “Ball” to orientate himself to ensure he is landing correctly and safely. As they approach the ship the pilot replies to the ship that he is on track after the command “Call the Ball” the pilot would respond that he can see the ball and is on track, “Roger Ball.”

The book is actually about Hawk Monroe Smith. A former US Navy Pilot/Rio (Radar Intercept Officer) who was also a Commander of the famous Topgun. The book follows Hawk, pretty much from his process of learning to fly as a RIO, and then his time as a pilot and on through the process of becoming the Commander of Topgun. I really enjoyed this book. “Hawk” is the kind of person that you can see yourself liking instantly. Someone you would follow to the end of the earth, someone who is a natural leader, something I wish I was.

Hawk started off his Navy career as a RIO in the F4 Phantom, a Vietnam era aircraft that was my favourite from that era. The thing just looks menacing! Beautiful lines and fast as hell but it had one fatal flaw. After years as a RIO, Hawk was invited to train as a Pilot, something he had always wanted to do (me to actually… but not off the back of an Aircraft Carrier).

With a Career that spanned time as an F4 pilot, then as a “test” pilot in the F4, then working on the F14 project and then to work as the XO (Executive Officer) of Top Gun and then to become the Commanding Officer of TOPGUN it follows each step with great depth of the events that happen with each and every movement. The focus of the whole book is really on his time at Top Gun.

Hawk was the target of things that almost destroyed his career yet he showed the tenacity and the leadership to not let it affect him or his attitude towards his staff and his work. I don’t know how he did it, but I wish I could handle things the same.

The book is very thorough and very well written. It is an awesome read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had pictures in my head full of dog fighting phantoms (or tomcats) prancing around the sky battling Migs or other aircraft. It was like the movie TOPGUN battling out in my head (makes me want to watch that movie again so badly). Unfortunately HAWK was not at TOPGUN during the time of the movie era.

Anyone who is interested in Naval Aviation or even a keen like of the movie TOPGUN should read this book.

by ·Comments Off on Hassle Free Christmas…

So my plans for a hassle free christmas are fully underway right now. I am intending on making this christmas as hassle free as possible with minimal fuss on the shopping, card and food front.

At the moment I have already sent off all my christmas cards that needed to go out for overseas destinations so that has been done and they are winging their way off to foriegn lands that should arrive well in time for christmas.

On top of that I have just about finished my christmas shopping. I have one present left to buy (For my dad and he is the hardest person known to man to shop for) and then thats all done! I have pretty much been trying this year to follow in with a new hobby of mine which is chasing points. I have earned quite a haul of frequent flyer points (mainly with qantas) this last 18 months and this christmas I have been trying to make sure that I maximise the points earned as much as possible.

The biggest one for me this year was ditching the Visa i have with NAB. Even though its linked to my Amex it only earns me 1 point for every $3 i spend. This is crap! as the Amex is pretty much 1:1 where as 1:3 is just no deal! So after churning a nice pretty new Woolworths Mastercard which earns Qantas points at 1:1, this is now my backup card. So any time i spend over the shopping period where I can’t use an Amex, I use the mastercard and i don’t lose out.

Secondly I am trying to buy online where I can. Velocity Points (the FF Program for Virgin Australia) has a deal going with the Westfield website at the moment (right in time for christmas shopping) with 4 points for every one dollar spent with them. So i can double dip my way to christmas presents. So if I spend $100 on something on the westfield site (they only accept mastercard or visa) i earn 100 Qantas Points for using my Credit card and then earn another 400 velocity points! HERRO BONUS!

In total so far this christmas I have managed to rack up 2000 points combined across all the programs just by shopping. Bonus for me!! That ticket in Qantas First is looking all that more closer!

by ·Comments Off on 2 years……

On the 1st December 2009, at 6am, I made my way to Tenneriffe feeling like crap after a lack of sleep but with a whole day ahead of me. That day would be the start of an epic journey in my life. It was the day I had my first training session, the first day I had ever set foot in a gym in an effort to work towards a goal (well 4 goals really).

That day forever changed my life. Because two years later I am still at the gym pretty much every morning. I have not intentionally skipped a session in 2 years (breaks and trips not included) and now after 2 years I actually enjoy it!

I had set myself some goals and I smashed through them, so set myself some other goals, and smashed through them as well now! I have managed to complete each and every goal that I have set my mind to. I now feel that I can do anything at all in my life.

In the last two years I have done so many things I never thought i would be able to. When I started this I couldn’t ride a bike, I couldn’t run, I couldn’t walk long distances. Look at me now, I can run 5km in the morning and come out of it feeling happy as larry. I can ride a bike for 10km and all I feel is a little bit tired, but have loved it. I have climbed mountains, trekked across the PNG wilderness, I have travelled the world while doing some amazing things.

I have run around Central Park, Run along the Thames, Taken a run along the river in Kyoto all while watching the Sun Rise. I have done things I never thought I would ever be able to and all thanks to a decision I made just two years ago.

I really want today to be the start of another new journey and new challenge but that will just have to wait till I release anything about that yet, but guaranteed when the time comes, I will be letting you all know. But I have made a big change. With what is now a New Mal, comes a new Bigmal.net As you can see the site has had a bit of a change with a whole new look and hopefully I can keep blogging a bit more constantly. I will be trying to post more with a whole range of topics covering all my usuals! and all the stuff that keeps me going every day.

Before I get into the thank yous I do wanna just let you all know that i still have my bigmal365 going at the moment and for this week (since I am 3 days behind in photos anyway) I will be posting photos of my transformation over the last 2 years including some epic moments.

Now a lot of people have asked me over the last 12 months or so to get rid of the “big mal” name. To be honest I have answered the same thing each and every time. No. But I am going to clarify. Big Mal is not a description of who I am or what I was. It was a name that just was me. It described my personality more than anything. I may have been large but i was also larger than life. That still describes the way I try to be now as well. So the name stays because it as much a part of me now, than it ever was.

Over the last 2 years I have had a wealth of support but I have a few big names to thank first. First and foremost I must thank Andrew Burnes. Without his little kick in the pants, this change never would of happened so to Andrew, I have a massive debt to pass back but I can tell you that it was much appreciated and the fact you cared enough to help shows just how generous a person you really are.

To Andy my trainer and all the staff at Adventure 1000 who helped me during that process. I have a big thank you to you guys. You stuck by me all through it, encouraging me and keeping me going at each and every hurdle along the way. Your determination to keep me motivated was astounding and I wouldn’t of made it this far without you. Also a big thanks to Julie Gilbert, my nutritionist. Without your guidance each and every fortnight I would not of been able to achieve the fact that I have changed the entire way I look at food and at life.

To my family, I love each and every one of you and I thank you for the support you have given me each and every day and that you not only got behind me to help me change, but have changed your ways a little bit as well (yes mum i have seen the tiny little changes you have made but its obviously not as big as it could be).

To my friends. The close friends who have stood by me each and every step of the way, through the ups and downs, dealing with my mood swings and my propensity to just go all wierd at random times during the process thank you. Some big shout outs go to Alisha, Trenton, Bianca, Adrian, Shannan, Cat & so many more. You have been there by my side the whole way through, some of you have been there to help out and keep me on track. Trenton was always there in the mornings to walk with me (and Bianca on occasions) or hit the gym, Adrian running the 10k at the Gold Coast for the hell of it to run it with me, Alisha & Shannan always there with a kind word and with a propensity to help me shop and get new clothes during all the changes.

Last but not least I wanna thank all of those who have offered me lots of well wishing and support after ACA went to air. My life changed so much over the last 2 years it was so good to be able to pass on and hopefully return the favour of people putting that message out there in life. I wish that those who are trying to do something similar to me the best of luck and that if you can get the support you need, you can do anything! Just look at what i did!

by ·Comments Off on Thankful

Well today is Thanksgiving (in the USA anyway) and it makes you look back and think. What am I truly thankful for.

I am thankful for a lot of things in life. The ease with which I can travel, the safety and security I have in life. I am thankful for that cup of coffee I can have in the morning to help me make it through the day.

But the biggest thing I am thankful for in my life is my friends and family. Without these people I would not be able to get through even the slightest day. Each and every day is a new adventure and each time I think about how much love and admiration if have for these people, it is a good thing.

So to all my friends and family out there, thank you. Thank you for being my support, thank you for making me happy when I am down, Thank you for making me laugh when I need it. Thank you for just being there to listen to me when I have problems. But most of all. Thank you for being there for me!

To all my friends and family out there… happy thanksgiving!

by ·Comments Off on Book Review: With the Old Breed

Still going on the books that I purchased almost a year ago at the moment so here is the latest book review:

With the Old Breed

The Book is With the Old Breed by E.B. Sledge. This a book described as one of the best books about the Pacific Theatre of World War 2. They are not wrong. Those of you who have seen “The Pacific” will find this book very very familiar. That is because it is pretty much about one of the men followed in the book/tv series.

Eugene Sledge, also known as “Sledgehammer”, was a Marine with the United States Marines 1st Marine Division. He belonged to K/3/5 (Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment) during the battles on Pelilu and Okinawa. This book follows his time during these two campaigns. This is not a detailed book about the battles themselves but more an account of life as a marine during these battles.

It is a personal account of his time and nothing more than that. It looks at the humanity, the ferocity and the savageness of war. It takes a personal look at all of these things and it looks at the way the battles felt to a young man who volunteered to fight for his country in what was a very bloody and vicious portion of the war and how it has been described as the futility of some events.

I haven’t read much about the pacific campaign before and this was a fantastic read looking into this side of the war. It was so well written that I felt that I was with him during these events and I wondered to myself just how I would cope had I been put into the same situation. If you read this, I would be surprised if you didn’t have similar thoughts.

I have to agree that this is a must read if you are at all interested in the war such as I am.

by ·Comments Off on A Forgotten Goal….

So when i started to learn to ride my bike I remember I set a goal with my trainer Andy. I had said that the ultimate outcome of me learning to ride was doing a 20km ride along the brisbane river. Obviously it wont be as easy now that the floating walk way is gone, but to be honest I still need to complete this.

I cant believe I have left it till now to remember this. I am going to do it to. I will not let a goal slip by undone. Damn sure I wanna get it done by the end of the year to. So with that in mind i dont care if I havent trained or anything like that, I am just gonna do it! the Weekend before christmas (since that way I am getting my body nice and ready for what is sure to be an onslaught of goodies!) I am going to hit the riverside bike paths and just keep going!! Not sure how I am gonna do this but to be honest I don’t care.

Anyone will to join me on my ride of what I am sure will end up being painful is welcome to join me (looking at the sunday prior to christmas) as the company would be good. Starting somewhere around the city (probably wherever I can find a park early in the morning with easy access to the bike paths) and from there just setting off and seeing where the paths take me till I have done 20km (hopefully around an hour or so) and then probably go find somewhere to curl up into a ball and cry as my ass would probably need a bit of a break.

Nah to be serious I really don’t want to let a goal like this slip past without me even trying this. So as I will never give up trying, I will do this!!!

by ·Comments Off on Book Review: Dumb but Lucky

Well it is that time again, just finished another book (a real one this time, gotta finish off all these books I bought).

The book is Dumb but Lucky by Richard K Curtis. Another wartime tale but this time about a P51 Mustang pilot flying in Italy.

The 15th Air Force flew a whole myriad of planes during WW2 in Italy. The two big name aircraft though being the B24 Liberator (bomber) and the P51 Mustang (fighter). This book follows the life of a Mustang pilot through training and his tour of duty in Italy.

During the war pilots in the USAAF had to fly 50 combat missions before being eligible for rotation home. How the hell this guy did it is beyond me. He talks of how he constantly was doing stupid stupid things, yet coming out totally unharmed. This guy had the luck of the irish so to speak because he got away with so many things. Threatened with countless Court Martials, escaped from certain death on numerous accounts, how he managed to do all this and still think live was beyond me!

It’s a good book with a definite lighter side look at life as an Air Corp pilot during the war period. It is not your usual book talking of all that dry stuff about the plane etc, hell the plane is barely mentioned most of the time but it is a great read if you just want a different aspect of the war.

Kinda makes me wish I was a pilot at times, hearing of his stunts etc back in a time when it was “stick and rudder” style flying. O the good old days!

by ·Comments Off on Worlds Largest Game of Chicken

So it seems that since I am a bit of an avgeek its time for me to weigh in on this lovely Qantas drama. After getting home from work yesterday I was bumming around on the net when all of a sudden my twitter feed started going crazy. Thanks to @winglets747 and his coverage of the drama as it all unfolded in Sydney I was able to keep up to date on everything. But thankfully I was not at work! God damn I was lucky with that i swear.

For those who don’t know or have been living under a rock the last 12-18 hours, Qantas has grounded its entire fleet in preparation of a lock out that goes into effect Tommorrow morning. So in essence, Qantas has shutdown all mainline and international services. The only ones still operating are Qantaslink, Trans tasman Jetconnect and Jetstar services (in other words stuff not run by Qantas themselves). This is the world’s biggest game of chicken with the Unions on one side and Alan Joyce (ceo of Qantas) on the other.

While we wait to see who flinches first, this is going to be a rough week I think. I hope it won’t last that long but seriously, anything more than that and we are going to have mass problems here. I think it is a ballsy move to do what Qantas management are doing but I just don’t know if it’s going to work. The pilots union have caused problems in the past and the Transport workers union I am sure won’t flinch easily, but who knows what is going to happen.

I see this getting majorly messy if it lasts more than a week with total and utter choas and confusion. Work is going to be a crazy mix of hell this week I can guarantee that. Thankfully I have tuesday off! So who will know what is going to happen. I hope it just dissapears off the radar within a few days, but i doubt it. I really do!