April 2015 – BigMal's World

Lest We Forget

April 24, 2015 by Mal·0 Comments

It is that time of the year again. As the sun breaks over the Horizon on the east coast of Australia, we look back and think about those who have given their lives in service of our country. ANZAC day is a special day for many, especially my mothers side of the family. My american friends may not really understand what ANZAC Day is, but think of it as similar to Memorial Day.

My mothers’s side of the family has a history of service with the army in World War 2. My Grandfather (my mothers father) served in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) as a Machine Gunner in the 2/2nd MG Btln. He served in that same unit with a few of his brothers, all of them came home safe and sound. So as the Veterans of WW2 start to pass away, it is definitely time to remember them.

Although I wish I could be home with the family, in Sydney to march with the rest of the family, I can’t. On this historic day on the 100th Anniversary of the landings in the Gallipoli, we look back and think of those who have given their lives and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Tomorrow morning before Dawn, American time, I will be out in the park near Lake Union, paying my respects in the traditional fashion. Though I don’t think there will be any Two Up, sadly.

At the Going Down of the sun, and in the morning. We Will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

F.N.G

April 17, 2015 by Mal·0 Comments

It sure has been an interesting week. Last week was a walk in the park. Got to fuck around with planes all day up at Coupeville (what a blast) and spent the weekend with my lovely wife.

Now though it is back to the real world and back to work. Now that my training is complete I am the FNG at work. What does that mean? I am the F’ing New Guy. The butt of all jokes and the one stuck with all the shit. Could be worse though, I might not be working at all.

Right now I am doing ok, my body only hates me a little & I haven’t done anything too stupid. Although I did screw up in training I have been on the job 2 hours & so far so good.

The good thing about clearing training on a Thursday is that I work my Friday night shift & I have a normal weekend. Score!

Just so you all know, I still won’t be saying who u work for or what I do, it’s just for safety sake. That and I don’t want to lose my job.

Bouncing

April 11, 2015 by Mal·4 Comments

I have been so slack the last week (well kind of) and have not updated. I wanted to make this post earlier but it has taken me a number of days to work through it. On Wednesday there was forecast of good weather and I wasn’t working. A Friend of mine was also free and we decided to head up to Whidbey Island. Why? Well because the US Navy was sending some of their jet’s for Field Carrier Landing practice. What is that? Well to put it simply the jets from the local Naval Air Station head to a small local runway (called an Operational Landing Field or OLF for short) at Coupeville and spend time doing touch and go’s practicing for when they head out to sea and have to land on a carrier. They practice pattern work and approaches etc.

So my friend and I headed out there and had a blast, albeit leaving early in the morning

From Seattle Life 2015

This is what OLF Coupeville looks like:

From Seattle Life 2015

Doesn’t look like much right? Correct! Pretty much it is just a runway right beside the road and there isn’t even a real fence. Just a line of concrete blocks the whole way around. It means you can have a great time getting photos. We went out there expecting maybe 1 or 2 jets to do 5 or so circuits total and that was it. The Navy had released they were doing Mid Morning to Mid Afternoon. Thinking that there might be time for a lunch break in the middle we got there early and just waited. What we got though was a whole different event.

The Navy brought out the jets around 1030ish and they stuck around till about 2pm. A total of 6 different aircraft did approximately 50 touch and go’s and to be honest, it was a BLAST! I took around 1700 photos and a few videos and had some fun in the process as well:

From Seattle Life 2015

If you don’t know what a touch and go looks like, it is this (PS volume UP if you like jet noise)

A few of my favorite photos (If you want to see the whole set click the link below):

From OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn

I had a blast on Wednesday, took 1700 photos, got sun burnt, didn’t eat, barely drank, probably lost some of my hearing, but damn was it FUN!

OLF Coupeville Avgeek Porn

Fun in the Tulips

April 6, 2015 by Mal·0 Comments

Last year Heidi & I headed up to the tulips with a couple of my friends and we had a great day out and about. Since we didn’t end up going to LA for the weekend (both of us are feeling like crap) we decided to head up to the Tulips instead. We also decided to grab another rental for the day as well (and ended up with a fully loaded, brand new 2015 Tahoe). It was a fantastic day with lots of pretty sights, yummy food (I introduced Heidi to Snow Goose Produce and their massive icecreams). I even got to experience Cabelas for the first time. But this is what you really want to see… pictures!

From Seattle Life 2015

Heidi & Moby, the White 2015 Tahoe (with 440 miles on it!)

From Seattle Life 2015

Ugh Selfie Sticks!

From Seattle Life 2015

Heidi in the mud

From Seattle Life 2015

Me & Heidi

From Seattle Life 2015

The Droids in the Tulips

Time for some more professional looking Tulip photos

From Seattle Life 2015

This photo is for shits & giggles:

From Seattle Life 2015

There is tulips in the background. I love Snow Goose produce for their ice cream. That my friends is a single!

Pictures!!!

April 4, 2015 by Mal·3 Comments

Well, I have been busy all week training (and adjusting to getting up at 4am in the morning, and that is better than what i will have soon trust me) so here are some more plane pictures!