Every journey of a thousand miles...

I've just returned from an enjoyable day in the Blue Mountains. It is the first walk of note i've had since finishing the Bibbulmun Track. The genesis of the idea to walk the track happened on a half/guts-morning watch sitting off Christmas Island (arr!). I was seeking ways to spend the two weeks leave I was to take when we returned to Western Australia. It would take longer than two weeks but after finding out that a 1000 km walking track existed between Perth and Albany, I thought, it would be nice to say, "I once walked one thousand kilometres." The seed didn't germinate until last year when I posted ashore and could take the time off.

I had no great objective for the trip accept to go 'walkabout'. As I started planning and the time came closer it was evident that I may not have a better period in my life than this to quit smoking.

I finished the walk and I quit smoking (with a relapse on an evening before New Years Eve but we won't talk about that.) Ironically, i've never been in worse shape. Of course I feel much better and my aerobic capacity is potentially much better, it's that now I don't feel the need to test it. When I was smoking I spent a lot of time counter balancing the ill effects with plenty of exercise. I was running flat out to stay in the same place.



One of the requirements to remain ready for deployment is to pass an annual fitness test. The test is not particularly demanding but it does require some preparation. I have this fitness test in the morning followed by an interview with the Commanding Officer of the Base to finalise my discharge. Then the wheel will stop.

This seat isn't taken.

I have an unerring ability to finish a trip on public transport sitting by myself. This is through no overt action on my part.

• I don't intentionally and audibly fart should someone take up a seat next to me.
  
• I don't cuss or make inappropriate comments when people approach.
  
• My appearance doesn't come under any category small minded folk would make a judgement on.
• It isn't a recent development that coincides with my decision, taken after finishing the Bibbulmun Track, to shun the use of deodorant. (If my scent has become a problem my colleagues have either been too kind or too scared to tell me.)
  
• I don't place items next to me or sit in the middle of the seat to make it appear as if it would be a great inconvenience for me to shift so it might be easier to go and sit next to the flatulent guy over there swearing his head off - yes, that's him, the one with the swastika tattooed on his forehead.

I've had children burst into tears when they realise their brothers and sisters have a seat and they're the one that has to sit next to the stranger. I have had people stand, in a packed peak hour bus, rather than come and sit next to me. In my defence, it only takes one stop for this behaviour to set a precedent. The passengers getting on at the next stop naturally assume that if those standing haven't taken up the seat something must be up. It's like reverse musical chairs. The music's stopped, there's a chair but no one wants it.

Statistically I'm at a disadvantage. All my trips are solo. Those travelling in company never have to face the prospect.

Don't take any of this as complaint. A brave soul once made an attempt to sit next to me and for a brief period I was just like everyone else, cramped and uncomfortable. At the very next stop a seat at the front of the bus became available and she made a dash for it just sliding in before an elderly gent was about to sit down.

For someone that uses public transport as much as I do this power I posses is welcome but I would like an explanation. I'm lost as to why. Next time you see me, come and sit down and we'll talk about it.

67 days until take off.

I booked my ticket sometime ago, primarily because I wanted to force my hand. Having booked and paid in full and not having taken insurance I am locked in. This has become my motivation to complete all the other minor tasks I have before leaving.

I am flying to Buenos Aires with the Argentine National carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas. Price was the dealmaker and after reading some reviews, it seems I will get what I paid i.e. very little. Some of the reviews seem petty and I think the reviewer's expectations may have been too high. I am easily pleased and fore warned is fore armed.

I’m fortifying myself with the assumption that whatever savings the airline makes providing a dismal service are spent on maintaining all the pieces of an airplane that allow it to take off, stay in the air for the required distance and land in the correct place, safely.

The owners of the Airline Review website are either struggling for revenue or have a sick sense of humour. The banner advertisement is for National Geographic Channel’s, Air Crash Investigation. I just checked seven other carriers on the website and the advertising was for foreign exchange, hotels, flight booking services etc then back to Aerolineas Argentinas and Air Crash Investigation.

Fingers crossed !