Friday 27th May 2011 - Day 102 - One week away from home [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Hi Friends,

Well, we're now off the coast of Australia (and thankfully can see the fantastic Australian coast), and should be in Cairns tomorrow.  I'm pretty excited about the whole affair as our physical trainer has organised a bus tour of some of the sights of Cairns, and I've secured myself a seat on said bus (or at least I hope I have!!!!).  What better way to spend a Sunday than visiting beautiful lakes and waterfalls and so forth.  (pictures to be added to blog afterward)

Meanwhile, it also gives me something else to add to my list which is ever vastly shy of the 100 items that I was hoping to have on it.  I've also just realised that I'm going to have to reduce the list of everything that was meant to be done in Singapore (and didn't get done) before we sailed.  Off the top of my head I can only think of the item where I was going to ride across the causeway to Malaysia....but we'll have to see when I get alongside to an internet cafe. (I'm blogging by email at the moment - hence the "sec: unclas" of my work email in the subject)

Well, in other news, we have evicted our tenant and Mumsy is planning her move down to Toogoom to the house that we bought in Feb, so I think I'll have to fly myself up there for a visit once she's moved in.  Though I haven't seen the property, I'm still ridiculously excited about it being on a lake, and about 400m from the beach in a sleepy little town.

I also like the idea of it being close to where I spent a number of years growing up, as it will hopefully mean that Mumsy can re-establish some old friendships from when we lived in Childers.

Ok, I think that's a long enough diary entry for today.  I hope that the world is treating you all well, and let me through in another reminder that if you have a couple of dollars spare, please sponsor me in the 2011 MS Walk and Fun Run (Sydney) on-line at http://register.ms.walk.org.au/MS-2011-Walk-and-Fun-Run-Sydney/Howie

Take care Friends.

Tuesday 26th May 2011 - Day 101 [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Hi Friends,

Well, we're back in Australian waters, although still a fair bit away from home yet.  Nonetheless it's only a week and one day to go until we get home!  I've got to admit that I'm a bit excited about the whole affair.  It will only be a little under 4 months away by the time I get home, but I feel like a child on Christmas morning.

I'm still going strong with the no drinking or smoking, and have managed to get back into a bit of a fitness routine each day now that we're back at sea.  I've even managed to up my fitness routine a little.  Where I used to run 10 laps of the area that we can run, and then walk laps for the rest of my hour or so of exercise, I'm up to running 15 laps, walking 5, running 5, walking 5, running 5 and walking the remainder.  I feel like such a little fitness fanatic, and I've even managed to get rid of a bit of the paunch I'd developed :)

News from my world?  Well, I was thinking last night about the delicate mental state one of the people I work with.  While I don't judge this person for that, it got me thinking about why I think my life has been so charmed, and even though bad things have happened in my life, why I seem to be able to pick myself up, dust myself off and carry on with a positive outlook?

At first I thought that it was the fact that I've never really been able to hold a grudge and that would, by extension, mean that I tend to forget the negative things that happen in my life, and remember the positives.  While that is true, I worked out that this is actually just an extension of one other attitude that I have.  Acceptance.  By and large (with exceptions, obviously) I tend to accept almost any situation that I'm in through my life, and I think that this acceptance of my situation means that I'm not constantly questioning how much better someone else's life is, or de-valuing my own experience or life at any point.

This epiphany also came about from watching another of my work-mates who seems to me to be desperately trying to be seen.  He is at the core of (what I believe to be) himself a decent person, but he is constantly trying to be the funny guy, and always needs to be right.  His way of challenging the people around him is by putting himself above them and drawing attention to that fact.  It seems to me that these are the actions of someone who is not happy with their lot, and will therefore be constantly trying to convince themselves and others that they are better and better off.  This then led to the idea that if you just accept your current station, you will be a lot happier, and I have been called, by a number of people, the happiest guy in the ship, lately.

This is not to say that you shouldn't bother striving to be better or do more, but to be demanding about the desire to achieve more or be seen to achieve more is not a positive way to progress, and if you're not happy with your current station, chances are you won't be happy with any higher status that you achieve, but if you're happy with your current lot, you're going to be happy with whatever lot you finish up with, be it higher or lower than you currently are, and therein your life with have more value to you in the end.

I also found a great quote while looking for the definition of acceptance, which was:

"If i could define enlightenment briefly I would say it is "the quiet acceptance of what is." - Wayne Dyer.

I'm not sure who Wayne Dyer is, but I couldn't agree more with this sentiment.  Don't mistake me for thinking myself enlightened though.  That would be the ultimate in comic assumptions.  Maybe one day I'll be enlightened enough to accept everything, but for now, I'm happy with the majority of things that I'm able to accept, which make my life seem (to me) so much more enjoyable than others.

Have a great day Friends.

Thursday 19th May 2011 - Day 94 - Fighting Multiple Sclerosis [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Hi Friends,

Well, another day is coming to an end, and thankfully we sailed from Sembawang yesterday for the sea component of our Mariner Skills Evaluation (essentially an assessment of our ability to go to sea safely) and it appears that we are indeed a safe ship.  For my department, our assessor seemed quite happy with what he saw of us, which is always a good thing, and quite gratifying given that much of the work was done by myself and my friend Freya before the rest (of this half) of our department returned to Singapore.  There were a few things picked up that I'd missed, but not enough to complain about, so Happy is Howie!

Sadly we're not a cool ship.  There has been an issue with our airconditioning to part of the ship, which has meant that the people living in the messes in the aft (back) half of the ship are dealing with almost uninhabitable heat when we sleep.  I'd take a guess that it's not getting below 27 degrees celcius during the night, and we're having to sleep in that heat.

Thankfully the command of the ship are looking at moving as many of us around as they can to give us cooler accommodation.  Even more importantly, if they can't, it's only 15 days til we return home and get to indulge in the joys of an Aussie winter :)

Meanwhile, I received an email from my friend Casey back home, who is participating in the 2011 MS Walk and Fun Run, which inspired me to register myself, so (shameless promotion.....) if you have a couple of dollars spare, feel free to donate online (and securely) at http://register.mswalk.org.au/2011-MS-Walk-and-Fun-Run-Sydney/Howie (where you'll need to click on the donate button).

I think it will be a fun walk, and raising money for a good cause is always worthwhile.  Hopefully I'll raise $250, which is a reasonable amount I think, and if not, I'm certain that each and every dollar can have some affect on helping people living with MS.

OK, I think I've prattled on enough for one afternoon.  I hope that everything is going well for you all.  Take  care Friends :)

Monday 16th May 2011 - Day 91 - The Fourth Month Begins [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Hey Friends,

Well, we're finally starting the final task before we head back home to Australia.  Our Sea Training Group staff are here in Singapore with us, and today we've begun our mariner skills evaluation (which roughly translates to an assessment on whether or not we're able to go to sea safely).  It seems pretty good so far, and I'm starting to feel a little bit excited about heading home shortly.

Despite getting up at around 1am this morning to start my watch on the gangway, and working steadily through the day, I'm still in a rather fine mood at the thought of arriving home in Sydney in a couple of short weeks (or so).

What have I been up to I hear you wonder.  Well, not a great deal.  I had great plans of going to see Krafty Kuts at Zirca on Saturday night, but sadly a bit of a head cold started to set in on Friday and by the time I'd spent Saturday walking around the abundance of shopping centres on Orchard Road with a couple of the boys from the ship, I decided that my sickly head would be much better having a quiet night in before my duty on Sunday.

While a couple of the boys from my mess said that the gig was pretty good, I'm glad I stayed in.  At least I got a decent sleep and my cold hasn't become any worse (although we'll revisit that idea when I wake up tomorrow.  I'm certain that my immune system may have taken a bit of a beating with today).

Jumping back to the shopping on Orchard Road.  I managed to find a jacket in a little store that stunned me with it's awesomeness.  Picture if you will a black and white checked jacket (checkes about 5mm by 5mm), with the lapels and pocket flaps made of black velour (spelling???)....it makes me feel like I should be smoking a pipe in Hugh Heffner's pool room!  A fine celebratory gift to myself for completing the first three months of my year off booze, and my first 3 months of quitting smoking!

Well, that's about all I have to tell for the moment Friends, I hope you all had a great weekend..





LSCIS4 Aaron James Howearth      
HMAS Success

Thursday 12th May 2011 - Day 87

G'day Friends.  There's (yet again) not a great deal to tell today.  We had a slightly longer than normal day at work today, securing the ship for sea, and then I managed to drag my sorry backside out onto the street for a run (wonders will never cease!), which was great.

Sadly the remainder of my night has consisted of having a quick dinner and then spending far too much time downloading video clips.....ahh music is so much more entertaining when you can watch a trashy pop video clip and laugh at the artists.  Unfortunately I find myself actually liking the pop-rubbish that I initially downlaoded to laugh at......a small form of karmic retribution methinks :)

Well, as I'm currently taking up space in a friends office (so that my laptop can get some internet reception), I should probably sign off and get out of the way.

Here's raising an imaginary alcohol free glass to you all Friends.  Have a great Friday..

Wednesday 11 June 2011 - Day 86

G'day Friends (for the second time today).

Well after a riveting day at work in which I achieved a standard amount, I decided to compensate for being so lazy this week and not getting up early once so far to go for a run, and I walked from Sembawang to Yishun today, which was about an hour each way, so I guess it was perhaps an 8-10km walk.  Add an hour of wandering around a shopping centre to the tally and I had three sweet hours of exercise before coming back to the ship and failing to achieve anything else.

Not being at home and wandering around the city, park and botanic gardens, I'd forgotten how much I love walking.....even in the somewhat less than appealing humidity of Singapore.  That joy was doubled on my walk back by a shower while I was in the shopping centre, and a light drizzle for the most part of the walk back.....you can imagine the state of my clothes after that particularly joyous walk......mmmmmm sweaty!

On the up side, I managed to pass this awesome colourful Chinese building just as the sun was setting behind it.  I got a couple of pictures on my phone of it, but I'm not sure they do any justice to how it looked in reality :) Will post them next time I'm online.

Ok Friends, have a great week, and take care :)

Random Thought

Here's an odd thought.  I was just thinking that I'd really like to have a few drinks before we leave Singapore in a week, which led to a bit of a desire to drink....not a craving per se, but just a feeling of "I want...".

In thinking about not allowing myself to drink again for another 9 months, it felt like it would be forever, but then I remembered all the quit smoking propaganda that tells you to take it one day at a time.  I realised then that it doesn't matter how long away it is til I have a drink or two, as the timeframe is only important if you give it importance.  It's still a given amount of time to not do (or do) something, and the only reason longer timeframes seem impossible is because we look at it from the perspective that it's a difficult thing.  When changing our perspective to a positive one, it seems all to easily accomplished......well to me at least.

Food for thought.

Take care Friends..

Friday 6th May 2011 - Day 81

Good Day Good Friends.

Well, after a pleasant evening at the Terror Club last night, I managed to get a good nights sleep before a frustrating day at work in which almost everything that I did wound up being a bit of a waste of time.  Thankfully, that led to the end of work being even more satisfying.  I have now returned to the ever-fantastic Terror Club and have been indulging in it's sweet sweet pool.

Since I'm really just posting for the sake of posting now, I'll keep this nice and short.  Not much planned for my weekend, apart from avoiding wasting any more money.  I keep convincing myself that because the exchange rate is so good for the aust dollar, I can justify spending cash that I wouldn't normally spend.......perhaps this is why I'm not yet rich.

Well I should sign off.  Have a great weekend Friends..

Thursday 05th May 2011 - Day 80

Hello World,

Well, I (as usual lately) don't have too much to tell.  I'm currently indulging in some sweet sweet poolside time at the Terror Club, downing some sweet cool beverages (lemonade), and smelling other peoples cigarette smoke.

Thankfully I've noticed that after nearly 3 months, I can finally sit comfortably beside people smoking, and while I find myself automatically trying to turn my head away from the smoke, I'm not craving a smoke! In the immortal words of Lauren Hill (and a thousand singers past).... Oh Happy Day.

I'm also (while being anti-social to post), enjoying sitting around with people drinking and having a chat.  I realise how much I avoid this in case I'm tempted, but how much I actually still enjoy the social interaction.  I really can't wait to get home to my own social world and test my limits with my normal world friends.  I think I should do pretty well, but you never know.

Meanwhile, a quick moment in remembrance of my friend Touchy's Mum who passed on 6 years ago today.  In the absence of booze, I chose to join Touchy for a red bull in memory this afternoon.

Well, the simple pleasures of my life were sated again last night, as I found a junk shop in the shopping centre closest to where we are berthed.  I spent $8.50 (SGD) and came out with a bag full of completely unnecessary rubbish, including notebooks, metal rulers, toothpaste and a plastic coffee mug.....all the necessities of life.  I can guarantee that I shall be returning to that purveyor of wondrous junk.

Well friends, I should probably stop being anti-social and chat to my friends.  I hope you're all having a great week.  I know I am (and a week that I only just realised is almost over......you've got to love the weeks that fly by so quickly).

Take care Friends..

Monday 02 May 2011 - Day 77 - Sim Lim

Hello Friends, after another grand day of work, I took myself to Sim Lim square in Little India to buy the ultimate toy present for myself and a couple of friends as late birthday presents.  Unfortunately as those friends read this blog, I find myself unable to write what the crap-tastic gifts are, but rest assured they are a gift that I think will make said friends pee their pants with joy.  (at least I hope so!)

Well, there isn't much to tell these days.  I managed to spend my weekend without leaving the ship for more than a cumulative 3hrs, and watched a whole lot of movies.  I also managed to get lost in Little India tonight trying to find Sim Lim square.  Apparently if I'd just gone left instead of right when I came out of the train station.......or then kept walking another 200m after I got back to the train station the first time, I would have made it there in 5 minutes rather than an hour or so.  At least I have the privelige of laughing at myself and my inability to navigate myself 500m from a train station......and I also go to see a little bit of road with a lot of restaurants (of which I did not avail myself), that I would otherwise not have seen.

Well, I'm still managing to go strong on the not drinking or smoking.  I'm still finding myself thinking about smoking each day, but it is less and less like craving, and more like fleeting thoughts, which tend to pass within a couple of minutes.

Drinking on the other hand is something that I actively find myself looking forward to next February.  I've considered the option of remaining a non-drinker after the year, but at this stage (though I know it's still early in the piece) I still feel as though I'll go back to drinking after the year.

Well, that's about as interesting as my posting is going to get tonight, so I hope you're all having a great start to your working week, and to those of you in Sydney, I'll see you all in a little over a month.

See you Friends..

Saturday Night - a quiet night in front of the telly

Hey Friends,

Well, there's not much more to report since my last note.  Braz and I wandered down to the Terror Club for dinner where I had some chicken fried rice and some lemonade, and then came back to the ship for a nice relaxed night that consisted predominantly of copying a heap of movies from my friend Jesse's hard drive. 

What to tell of the last week.  I went for a walk onto HMAS Ballarat today to visit my friend Amanda, which was interesting.  It was great to see Manda, but interesting because the last time I set foot on that particular ship was the day in 2006 that I was removed for incompetence.  Granted it was completely justified, but it was still a bit of a flash to realise that this was the case, as I was stepping into the Commcen of that ship.

Tomorrow should be a good day.  Amanda has invited me along to Sentosa Island.  I think she wants to go to Universal Studios, which is something I've been planning to do, as when I went there last year, many of the rides weren't open.  It will be good to see what the new rides are like.

Well, I should sign off for the evening, as we're watching Angels and Demons.

I hope you're all enjoying the weekend Friends..