4 December. Happy Birthday.

December is such a wet month.

This evening, I sat by the porch watching the raindrops falling. Such is the fresh smell of the rain, and of the grass. I do enjoy sitting outside even if some of the droplets splatters on me from time to time.

I felt sad as I sat there by the porch. For prior to knocking off from the day's lessons, I saw a fellow trainee, a junior, sitting inside the Chief Instructor's office.

He is under review, his nervous coursemates hovering outside told us. Meaning - he could be terminated from the training anytime the CI deems him not fit to carry on. Hence the need to sit with the CI and undergo a 1-to-1 session.

I cannot imagine how terrible that poor chap feels right now. It's not something you would wish on a fellow trainee, even if you don't like him. And the thing is, this guy under review is not at all a detestable person. In fact, he is well liked by his friends. And from my personal interaction with him, he is extremely helpful and courteous albeit a little anxious to get things done (which is not a flaw at all actually).

I wish the best for him and hope he won't get the axe.

Our current situation now is such a perilous one, I reflected. Any day, any time, someone could axe you from your training and end your career right away. You cannot afford to screw up. You cannot afford to flunk tests or your flying, even if you have not done it before ever in your life. You are expected to perform from Day 1.

The pressure we are undergoing is not something external parties can relate to easily.

I resolve to work harder and do better to avoid being under the radar. Not that I am not performing or anything, but having a larger buffer between you and the Devil always helps.

Oh yes, I have not related to you the supernatural events that have happened to me this week, night after night. It will definitely be the subject of my next post.

Stay tuned...