Of military flying

I just got news that my young brother got the honour of top trainee in his Basic Wings Course at the Pearce Airbase in Bullsbrook, Western Australia. Ineveitably, he will be streamed to become a fighter pilot. This means he will have to go to Salon-de-Provence in Southern France for further training.

Altogether, it adds up to a total of 2+ years. Certainly, I had not been away from home for more than a month at a time. I have friends who were away for further studies in Europe, and I understand how lonely and difficult it could get, especially when there aren't many friends around to lend emotional and psychological support. Fortunately, my brother has many good friends and buddies who prop each other up during the most difficult of times. It's clear from the photos he posts on Facebook that there's a strong sense of camaraderie, esprit-de-corps amongst the boys.

I believe there is a sense of competition amongst the boys in the course; after all, who wouldn't want to do better than the rest? But I think it does not affect that camaraderie. This leads me to ponder about team spirit. How does one create that?

I sure hope my trip to Perth with my Dad and brother's girlfriend in July helped boost his morale. Gosh. I hadn't blogged about it yet. Terrible of me. I got to find time for that. But let me just post a few of the more memorable photos taken there.


I cut short my shopping at HarborTown to take a look at the Harold Doas park nearby. It was just gorgeous.


The very thought-provoking exhibit at the Western Australia Museum, of Pompeii. This was a cast of a young girl in the last moments of life. She was attempting to cover her face with her clothes.


This was one of my favourite places in Fremantle. The garden and art exhibits was very uplifting.


Lovely green field near the Round House, Fremantle