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So I know I promised one post ever day, I have been way to busy.

But I thought I would post up about a trip I just did over the weekend. Most of you know that I love planes. I have always wanted to fly a plane (and I should still be able to do this), but one thing I have also wanted to do is fly a flight sim. Not one of those pansy ass no movement flight sims. I can get that any time on my own pc by plugging in my joystick and throttle quadrant and firing up FSX. No what i wanted was to fly a proper commerical grade flight sim.

A few years ago I saw a post on one of the plane spotting websites I go to advertising a package in Melbourne with the Hilton Melbourne Airport in conjunction with Ansett Aviation Training for a 1 night stay at the Hilton and an hour in a real flight sim. Back then though they had a choice of a 767-200 or a 737-300. However the 767 sim is gone and its only the 737 sim. I had to think about this for a few days because it’s a really old sim, so wont be that fantastic graphics wise, but then the rest of me thinks, why am I judging this. It’s a chance of a life time. With credit card in hand, I booked it.

Saturday rolls around and I am as giddy as a little school girl. After getting dropped off at the Sim Centre by the Hilton I was in awe. While watching all the real pilots filing in and out of the sims I was jealous. To be able to do this on a regular basis. Then the Captain who was taking me for my session came in and took me up to the old girl. Almost as old as I am the 737-300 sim is 1980s vintage so it shows. This thing is MASSIVE! But its so authentic. It looks like a real cockpit. Feels like a real cockpit inside as well. It is so crazy sitting in there.

Then the flights start. First time around, no movement, just to get me used to the controls etc. It was amazing. The takeoff was smooth and good the cruise was fine. Then the landing. This has to be the most difficult time for the pilots as there is so much to think about and do. I didn’t exactly land all that well. Half on the runway, half off…. WOOPS!

then the movement came on. It felt so different. You can feel it respond to all your movements. You can feel the gear retract (not that there is any). You can hear movements etc It is so surreal. After about an hour and 15 mins it was all over. I was so wanting to just keep going.

It is something I will cherish forever. Now to see if i can do it again sometime!

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So been pretty busy lately so you will be getting one blog post every night for the next few days.

The big one each year as my site goes offline for 24-48 hours is pretty much looking at what has happened to me over the last 12 months since I am now a year older.

This time last year, it was coming up to my massively epic trip to North America. Things were counting down quickly and I was struggling to get a new credit card ready to go, deal with birthday stuff, hit up the ekka, and then get last minute trips and planning done with Weddings and stuff happening in the precluding weeks.

Then my big trip. 2 months, in the USA & Canada with a quick stop (23 hours & 5 hours) in Narita. What can i say. One of the big parts of my life was that trip. I had a fantastic time and met some amazing people who I still speak to EVERY day (you guys know who you are). Saw so many new things, so many new experiences, so many new airports and airlines and planes, so many phootos (i think it worked out about 8000 photos all up).

Then I came back from that trip, I was lost, I didn’t know what I was going to do, do i stay at work, do I travel, do I look for a new job, confusion abounded. Then the owner of the company I work for made an offer I couldnt refuse. He would pay for my training if i could lose down to 100kg and if i could do all that, he would send me to Kokoda (if i was ready).

Well now look at me. I am a changed person. I look different, feal different, Have run 10km, can box (although if andy reads this he will probably tell me I still suck), I can run, I can walk long distances, I can hike to! I have met some awesome new people through this as well, and they just keep suprising me each day with the way they help to support me!

I have done a bit of traveling domestically in the last 12 months. Cairns x 2, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Norfolk Island (work), Numerous trips to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast. Lots of points earned and burned and loving every minute of it all!

Now to see what this next year will bring!

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ok well ive been so busy the last few weeks I havent really had a chance to update everyone. But Kokoda is a go. I have had my medical clearance, my trainers are keeping me going and they believe I can do it, the only hurdle left now is for me to believe I can do it.

This is a big big thing for me. This will be the ultimate conclusion to everything I have done. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are going to be other experiences in my life that will be mindblowing. But to come so far and now have a real chance at actually doing this. Will be fantastic! It will be this crazy experience where I can just soak in the atmosphere and take the challenge and run with it. Surely I will be able to do anything by the time I get back from this.

Training for Kokoda is not easy though. I have 3 sessions a week specific to Kokoda. Tuesday nights is hiking around the gym area in Bowen Hills & Teneriffe (Dunkenfeld & Down Sts if you know them) and then Friday morning (530am mind you…ewwwww) is a gym session with lots of cardio and leg work. And then Sundays is the big session. Hiking at Mt Cootha. Not just one journey up the hill. at the moment it is 3 hours worth and the sessions will increase a LOT apparently. But if i can keep the falling over to a minimum, I will be very happy (two stacks at Mt Cootha so far).

In other news, My warddrobe has been emptied and some new clothes purchased. It has been crazy just buying clothes at normal stores. I can’t believe that i never thought i would do that. The one thing is though, I still find it hard to shop on my own. Places like target etc don’t phase me as I have shopped in their before. But other stores, I can’t do it on my own. That may sound really stupid but I get to overwhelmed and if I don’t know I just have to run out.

To give you an example yesterday I went to this Jeans store down the road from me which had 2 pairs of Levi’s for $40 which is a total bargain. Figured i could get rid of the old jeans that are way way way to big for me (and i only bought them in april so havent had much wear either). But i didn’t have any clue what size i was meant to be and so I go in and since its a factory outlet their was no real staff around, and after just looking and thinking to myself “what size am i” i just ran out of the store. I am so chicken. But after talking to Kat this morning at training she told me to just suck it up, put on the first pair and if they fit, they fit.

So i grabbed the biggest size (38) and I just put them on, and they fit. It felt wierd trying on a pair of jeans. I was like ummm but soon enough the fear went away and I managed to shop on my own. It’s not as bad if I have someone else with me though as I can usually just look at them for guidance/help/support.

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Well with the 10k all completed and behind me, its now time to knuckle down and focus. I had hoped i could have some more time to train for this but it looks like its been moved up. If it all gets approved (leave etc) i should be heading to Kokoda on September 1st.

Thats right, only 2 months away. Im scared again! Jesus what am i doing. I am going to put everything i can into this. I will do this and i will try not to kill myself in the process. It is going to be one of those amazing experiences that will stay with me forever but I have to make sure that i can do it.

For that it means getting serious about my training and focusing and knuckling down. Lots of hiking and lots of steps i guess. Sunday morning is going to be my first ever hike at Mt Cootha. Will probably need to get some decent hiking boots or shoes soon as well.

This is just a wierd feeling right now. Everyone keep your fingers crossed it all goes ok!

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The weekend is finally over. I can sit back and just think about what has happened over the last few days.

I will give a brief run down of how my day went yesterday:

6am – Phone alarm goes off, get up, grab a juice, get changed.
6:20am – Voicemail from Trainer, “You better be awake”
6:21am – Ring back, yes im awake, are you?
6:30am – Tracey Parks Car on other side of Nerang River bridge and our warm up walk begins
6:45am – Arrive at the Race Precinct, Run into Meg, Scare Meg & Vinnie with how different I look
7:00am – Wander round the race precinct
7:20am – Hear the gun go off for First Wave as Andy & Tracey have a coffee
7:30am – Find a Spot in the line up
7:31am – What the hell am i doing this for again?
7:35am – Lots of people around, am i gonna get trampled wtf!
7:40am – Everyone else has their ipods in, stuff this no need to hide it
7:44am – WHY THE HELL AM I DOING THIS!
7:45am – BANG!
7:46am – WHY DID I SIGN UP FOR THIS!
7:55am – Ummm was that the leaders running past… what the hell i just left!
8:00am – In a Rhythm so far, Cadence is helping well

I dont really have any times to put now as i really don’t know what times i passed certain things but i will use km marks instead

1km – Looking good
2km – Rhythm set lets kick this shit
3km – Umm was that a black bib going the other direction… what the hell (black big is my wave)
4km – laughing at girls in capes running along side
5km – TURN POINT! thank god… now to go back over this bridge
6km – Wow… still seeing people running the other way, 4km to go, just a run from the gym to the powerhouse and back
7km – Theres the end of the line running past now, fighting with andy about how far 3km to go would be back at the gym (its the boats btw :P)
8km – Digging Deep now, focus on breathing, 15 mins to go
9km – HOLY CRAP I AM REALLY DOING THIS
9.5km – End coming in sight
9.7km – Tracey yelling me on
9.8km – Meg & Vinnie, Then Ross, Suz & Brendan
9.9km – Mum & Dad and Marcia & Richie
9.95km – the end shute, Dig Deep, hammer it home, dont run into the ladies
10km – Hear the words “get your arms up for the photo”, so raise my arms and hope that i get a good photo
10.1km – Feel a tap on my back and its Andy wishing me well, try not to vomit or fall over, stumble towards the cool off area, grab a water and an orange. Drink down a sports drink (bad idea i think this is what stuffed up my stomach later on), and try to recover, congratulations from a few other people. Walk towards the exit and grab my medal and tshirt….

What a feeling it was to come out of the exit of the recovery area, to my friends, beaming smiles, hugs, cheers and photos…. what an experience. I will definatley try to do it next year if I am around, but I am gonna help out Yena and help her with the 5k at Bridge to Brisbane (although i will see what others are doing with the Bridge to Brisbane, i may walk it instead).

I would really like to thank everyone who gave up their morning to come and support me. Marcia & Richie, thx for the sign and for suprising me on the start line! To meg & vinnie, guys thanks so much for coming down and staying for the race, it was great to see you both again. Ross, Suzanne & Brendan, you guys are always there for me and for coming down and putting up with me all weekend, I thank you! Jeremy & Yena, thanks for trying to make it there in time for me to cross the line, but i know you guys will always be good friends. (ps thx for the shirt, i love it). To Tracey, thx for the lift and for being there to take photos for me. To Adrian, dude, thank you for running with me, in bad shoes and not your running clothes. But most of all, a big thank you to Andy. Thank you for being there every step of this journey so far mate, your the best trainer ive ever had 😀

As for what else happened over the weekend other than the race. It was good times with friends and family. Friday was pretty relaxed, wandered around Robina and did some shopping (mainly food for the BBQ). Found 2 new awesome hoodies at Footlocker for University of Texas & Duke so that was cool. Then just relaxed and chilled out at Q1 on Friday night. After the race on Saturday i went back to the Apartment, and just tried to recover for a bit, Ate some breakfast and felt really sick. Then people started arriving for the BBQ and i slowly started to get food ready to go. We all moved down to the pool area and had an awesome feast.

Sat night after a good afternoon of just really doing nothing but having fun I felt fantastic. Went out for dinner in Surfers Paradise and had some Teppanyaki Kangaroo (yeah yeah i know, not very authentic), played some Uno and just had some fun with my friends.

This morning after waking up late and missing the Half Marathon and Marathon Starts (i did watch the Marathon runners go through Surfers though) i cooked breakfast and had a pancake for the first time in 8 months. Then after checking out and dropping some stuff off to the parents, Suzanne, Brendan & I went shopping at Harbour Town. What a haul I had today. You can see the photos of the haul in the picasa link but I am really happy to have clothes that fit now!

Anyway Masterchef is about to start and I need to have some dinner!

GC Marathon 2010

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So apparently I had my affirmations wrong so lets try this again:

* I have put in the efflort and I am reaping the rewards
* I have achieved what I have set my mind to
* I have put in the hard work and i have seen the results
* I have thought positively and i have had positive outcomes

I am still gonna leave the ones below to help enspire everyone else.

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So my trainer Andy told me to write these affirmations down before the race on saturday:

* Hard work gets results
* If i put in the effort I can reap the rewards
* I can do whatever it is i put my mind to
* Positive thinking leads to positive outcomes

and one that i cant even think about without saying it like I am He-Man

* I have the power

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So you all know that i had 4 goals when i started this new part of my life.

1. Run 10km
2. Get my weight down to 100kg
3. Get some strength in my arms
4. Trek Kokoda

Well its official. I have run 10km. On wednesday i was out with Andy (my trainer) only going to run 9k as part of my training for the GC Marathon. We got to the turn point for 9k and Andy says to me “what time do you start work?, lets keep going and do 10k” I was so fired up I just kept going. It was a little dumb considering it started raining on the way back but I sucked it up.

I managed to do the 10k in 1 hour 20 mins. Now I still need to run the 10k at the GC Marathon and that will still be my official completion of the goal in my head (cause thats always what i wanted to do) but its good to know that I can at least keep at this.

The biggest thing that has been helping me other than Andy is what i have been listening to during the run. I have a small ipod shuffle with just one type of music on it called “Cadence” It really helped keep me at a certain pace for the whole run and kept me going. I just hope that i can get away with using it at the Gold Coast. Might have to sneak it into my stuff 😉

So here is hoping. This time next week I will be coming to the end of my run!

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The geek in me has been creeping out this last week. I have been reading more and more of the usual nerd stuff (wired is getting back into my life) like games, tech etc. And then after merely going to buy an Ipod shuffle for running I walked out carrying a 2TB (thats Terabyte) external hard drive, 500GB portable hard drive and had my eyes set on a little thing to make my life easier with all those *cough*downloaded*cough* shows.

So then i looked at it. Why hide this part of me? I like being a geek. I am happy being a geek. So why hide it from people, I am all about lately changing the old Mal and showing a new side. But why hide what is essentially a big portion of who I am. Why change that. I love my games, i love planes & travelling. I love technology. Learning about it, living with it. I am still someone who loves to be connected and I am an utter media junkie. One of the websites I go to at work when I am not doing anything or stuck or just want a few minutes of switch off time, is straight to Brisbane Times. It’s the local online news media (no way would I ever use news.com.au).

But today it took the cake for me. I purchased this. It’s essentially a mini media pc about the size of a Wallet. Into the side you plug your USB hard drive (either a nice big chunky external or a nice little portable drive) and instant media pc. It won’t play Hi Def but then I don’t have a lot of stuff that is in Hi Def. The old portable hard drive I had is now serving its place plugged into the side and can easily be topped up now. What an awesome purchase.

Also i picked up a copy of Battlefield Bad Company 2 in the hopes that I can get myself back into gaming. I used to love all the games and the last one I really played was TF2. But Bad Company 2 looks good and I used to love playing Battlefield way back when. Back into it i go!

Anyway i best do some stuff before Steam finishes updating… yay!

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Saturday night made me think a little. After getting a late notice invite to come out and then crashing someone elses drinks for the hell of it. It was good. I proved to myself i can go out, not drink and still have a good time (been a long time). But I have noticed that the Bar Culture in Brisbane is slowly evolving.

I mean when I first started going out way back in the days of the dinosaurs, it was all big ass pubs like The Victory etc. Now on Saturday night I headed out to the valley. And look at all the new bars etc there. I mean yeah you do have the Mega Clubs/Venues like Family & Cloudland but then you have tiny itty bitty bars like Mana.

Mana is like my favourite place. It may be tiny, but its awesome. Where else can you play video games on a night out with a drink in your hand. AWESOME. And you don’t have to hide being a geek. Even Better!

Then if like me, you dont mind a good well made cocktail, then somewhere like Bowery would be the place. A very small bar, long and thin, you could walk past it and not even know it was there. The windows are covered with curtins so you cant really see it from outside, but once your in. You don’t want to leave. A good well made cocktail, made with passion and finesse is a wonderful thing. The kind of thing your not really worried about paying $15 or so for.

But now I have a problem. I need to go out with my friends and scout out where to have my birthday this year. I want somewhere good that I can go and enjoy myself thats not some more than usual blah blah pub.

any ideas?