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