Parallel lives

I just got news that a good friend of mine just became a Captain this afternoon. Nowadays this kind of news is kind of a regular thing since most of us arrived at the flying scene at the same time and has reached the point in our careers to progress to the next step. But this news was a bit different.
It was different because I've known this particular guy a good 21 years. We first crossed paths when we were 12. We were classmates in form one (St. John's, KL). We found out we lived nearby too. We became friends quickly. We were different but similar enough to be best friends. One thing that I remember about this early relationship was how this guy got me hooked on aeroplanes.
He couldn't stop talking about it. Being twelve, we made models too. We didn't have much money so we pooled those little paint bottles! It worked because we virtually saw each other everyday. We were classmates all the way till form three. After the SRP results we planned to go to boarding school. A whole bunch of us did. We ended up in the same school up in Perlis.
We were roommates when we were in form five and spent most of the holidays travelling back home together. We both had the same ambition - to become an airline pilot. We eventually split paths when he joined MAS and I ended up getting my own flying license. I didn't get the job I wanted in MAS so I ended up in SIA. I had to do almost the whole license again so I wasted a good year doing that. On his side, he spent a year being a cabin crew in MAS as they had too many cadets.
So when I started flying commercially he did too. Him on the 737s in MAS and me on the A310s in SIA. He moved on to a bigger aeroplane and so did I. He flew the 777s and I went up to the 747s.
When I tendered my resignation in SIA to join Emirates the first few people I told was my best friend. He had something to tell me too. He would remain my neighbour, living in Abu Dhabi, flying for Etihad. We came to join the UAE on the same day.
Three years and a bit on we came to another parallel crossroad (if there is such a thing). He passed his Final Line Check on the same month I did. We have both realised our dreams. The twelve year old boys putting together aircraft models are now airline Captains.

Four wheel feelings

Something has been playing in my mind since earlier today.  It was a question about soul.  A question about the heart.  "How can I feel like this about a car?"

Here, let me lead you into what I'm thinking about now.

I watched Top gear this morning and Clarkson drove the Alfa Romeo 8c in it's opening bit.

Why, after watching that bit, do I want an Alfa Romeo?

I now own a VW Golf R32.  Sweet ride.  It looks like a small box but it drives like a dream.  The 3.2 V6 torques it from idle.  The DSG takes it seamlessly to 6th.  The AWD sticks it to the road even when sand mixes with water.  And my balls shrink well before the tires squeal in this car.

What more can I ask for then?

It's been said (by Clarkson) that you can't call yourself a true petrol-head unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo.  I've owned two.  If you listened carefully in that video, Clarkson described an Alfa as the heart & soul.  And if you've watched that series enough, you learn that whatever car comes up against an Alfa, that car will be better to in every aspect and probably cheaper too.  But Clarkson never fails to say that he'll buy the Alfa.

I suppose it's a bit like falling in love.  You just can't explain it.

Anybody has an old Alfa for sale in Malaysia?