The weekend tat pass me by..

*PS: NEW music! On ur speakers man! Its bossa nova (Brazil Jazz) kind of music!

Church was all right on Sat (29/10).. it seems tat every sermon in Youth service is like boring at first, but somehow, it gets interesting in the middle portion, and at the end of it, I juz realise tat God is actually speaking to me in more ways than one! This always never fails to amaze me! The following are some pointers of the sermon tat is being preached on Sat (23/10) Youth service:

----------------
Speaker: Pastor Patrick Chiow
Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:12-14
Sermon Topic: Winning The Race

1. Devotion (Philippians 3:12)

(a) Exodus 19:4 - "You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself."

(b) Set aside for God, so tat you wld devote yourself to Him.

2. Direction (Philippians 3:13)

(a) Live a life looking forward - my future, present & past

(b) Forget wat lies behind and press on.

(c) Forget our past = We cannot change our past, but God can change the meaning of the past.

(i) Genesis 45:3-8 - "Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt."

(d) Look forward

3. Discipline (Philippians 3:14)

(a) "Pressing on to win the prize"..

(b) Keep the flame burning for the Lord, walking, serving and loving the Lord.

(c) The eternal prize tat God has prepared for us, requires us to have discipline.

(d) Trials & temptations are inevitable, but if we have the discipline to juz press on, God will see us thru' it!

----------------

After church, we (Ryan, Catherine, Joshua & Jonathan Gouw, Li Ching, Peiqi & myself) went to Hotel Le Meridian Food Court to have our dinner. The rest of the youths were having the Youth Camp mtg and therefore they did not turn up. I had some real authentic Thai dish which I've always wanted to savour it in Singapore., and thenk goodness, I saw it in the foodcourt! The dish is actually "Pork Omelette served with Rice".. I had this dish when I was in Thailand for a mission trip with ForeRunners (which was abt a yr ago).. This dish in Thailand is so common.. Its like anywhere on the streets you can find this dish, and its super nice lah! In Thailand, it is usually served with ka pow (fried chicken/beef with basil leaves and chilli padis), and this is like a very common everyday dish for the Thais.. it so happen tat I saw a Thai national eating it, so I went round the whole foodcourt to find it, and I finally did after like 5 mins of walking round the foodcourt! However, I was a bit disappointed in the dish lah.. becos' one thing is tat it is quite salty and oily.. No doubt tat this omelette shld be oily in nature (as it is in Thailand), however, the one I ate in the foodcourt was more salty and lesser pork, compared to the version I ate back in Thailand! This is something which I dun understand; even though it's a Thai cook who cook this, but then how come the dish taste so different? Haiz.. oh well.. Cat & Ryan tried some of my omelette and they said tat its not bad.. but then I told them the difference and they was like 'ok' (can't blame them becos' they have not tried this dish before!).. so ya.. but anyway, I was quite happy with the dinner on Sat lah.. at least I get to reminiscence the nostalgic taste of Thailand (to be exact, its the food lah! hehe..) all over again! =)






Photo courtesy of Simon Seow, a member of ForeRunner. He took this when he was on a mission trip recently in Thailand! This is his fave dish too, and its also mine =).. anyway, this is the usual set dish in Thailand loh. =).. so this is the exact set of wat they usually serve in Thailand.. ka pow with pork omelette (in Thai, they call this dish/set, ka pow kai)













Then we were like dun want to wait for the rest of the ppl to join us, becos' believe it or not, at 2100, they were still mtg! They have started like an hr back and they said they've got lots of things to discuss and achieve at the end of the mtg! So ya.. so its like since we have no other planned activites after dinner, then we all leave our own separate ways after dinner, and therefore, I took a cab (which cost me $11.30 mind you!) frm Orchard to my camp.. so in other words, I booked in at abt 9.30pm and this is like the most early book-in I ever had since I enetered my unit! Anyway, I was like going back to bunk, bathe and brush my teeth, and by 2215, I was fast asleep on my bed! I was tat tired! I simply dun koe why I'm so tired..

So I slept like frm 2215-0630, and woke up for mounting duty yesterday. Yesterday duty was even though look quite slack on paper, but then, the timings for my duty was like real tiring lah! When I went into the restroom in the morning after my shift has taken over, I cld not sleep, becos' it was like 0900.. how u expect me to sleep? Anyway, did some fatigue duties (which are not actually assigned to me, but I help out lah, becos of short of manpower), and by the time my fatigue duties were done, its time for duty! So there I did duty, and in the end, I did NOT slept a wink in the morning.. then came nightfall! Repaired and fixed up the air-con unit at my duty location for this morning, and thank goodness the air-con unit worked or else, I wld be suffocated in there this morning. Then the duties juz start streaming in.. and wat a way to end the nite where my phone batt was dead! I went to sleep at abt 2100 (after staff parade) and set the alarm at 2240 and my duty was supposed to be 2300.. but becos' of the dead phone batt, my phone alarm did NOT ring! However, I woke up juz in time for duty (2300 lah!), and I took over the person abt 10 mins late in the end.. explained to him the situation and thank God he is understanding lah!.. man.. its not good to have ur phone dead at the crucial moment!

Then came the wee hrs duty loh.. my duty schedule was such tat I did my duty frm 2300-0300 (but kenna 'jia' for close to 15 mins, so by the time I sleep, its like 0330 liaoz), slept till 0545 and woke up to do flag raising at 0600, and followed by my dismounting duty which is frm 0600-0900. After the last duty at 0900, then I can dismount.. this is so 'shiong' lah!.. so actually for the 24 hrs duty, I juz slept for 5 hrs! and tats really not a lot of sleep! Haiz.. =(

Then went with KC to go and buy stuff for our private dinner event at my bunk tml, becos' tml my grp P1 mah.. so by the time I'm back, I went to eat my lunch, and then, slept all the way frm 1300-1700! Fwah! Such a good sleep I have sia! but then, as I type this post, I think I'm still quite sleepy lah! see.. told ya I'm seriously lacking of sleep!

So its me bking in tml to camp loh.. and bking out on Hari Raya! then I have my so call long public holiday leave.. but the bad thing is tat the wkend (Sat to be exact) have to mount duty.. sianz.. =(.. I tired liaoz.. *Yawnz*.. goodbye ppl!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 352 DAYS to ORD!!

0815. Sembawang Air Base.

Fatigue after duty,
<<< abriel >>>

Busy Bumble Bee

Whew! After 1 wk, finally I took a breather and now in front of my computer, typing my blogpost!

Well.. then you may ask how come for a week I didn't update my blogpost?

Here is my string of activities:

Sun (22/10) - Bk in camp 2359.
Mon (23/10) - Mounting duty.
Tue (24/10) - Dismount duty, but went for IMT. 2200 need to be back at camp, becos 0700, we are setting off for our combat shoot on 25/10 (Wed), and therefore never bk out for 2 reasons! One is to save money and another, lazy lah.. not much time to stay at home, so why book out?
Wed (25/10) - Suppose to be my off day, but went for combat shoot (aka ORD shoot).
Thu (26/10) - Mounting duty (with more garang-ness becos' of a mini-exercise happening, so extra things have to be done!)
Fri (27/10) - Dismount duty. Went To Tjow's house and bake cookies for Youth Camp 2005 Fund-raising activity for Sat (28/10)
Sat (28/10) - Going to church. Bking in camp 2359.
Sun (29/10) - Mounting Duty.

You see my activites above loh.. I dun even have to time to take a rest! Its like everything all cramped together in a few days! My fatigue level has been taken to the max sia! I also never bk out for close to a wk! Man.. I felt so detached frm home during tat period!!

Anyway, speaking of the combat shoot (aka ORD shoot), its real embarassing lah.. its like 10 grps of 5-6 person each is shooting, and only 3 groups actually pass (WITHOUT marksmanship of course)!! So I guess we are all "bobo" shooters.. The IMT instructors and my upper management officiers make it sound so easy to get marksmanship and thus the $200 eahc reward.. but then, NO one got the status of marksmanship! Haiz.. this is so bad! =(..

It was like one of the few sessions left, before my current OC left his position and being posted to another camp for his duties.. well.. it may seem a "blessing in disguise" (you koe wat I mean ah.. I dun koe to elaborate!), but then again, its sad lah.. even though our OC scolds us for no reason and we does not see things with him eye to eye, but then again, the somewhat farewell speech actually has struck some of my heartstrings, which makes me feel quite sad to see him leave SBAB FDS.. well yes.. he is not the optimum OC tat we always wanted, but then juz to hear him said his words of farewell, juz dwells up much feelings in my heart.. well.. I told this to a few friends of mine, and they scold me siao, but then I wld think I'm quite a sentimental guy.. of course not to the extent of crying lah, but its juz like feel for him loh.. aiya.. dun koe how to put it across.. hope you get the picture? =)

Then Thurs (26/10) came and it was the mini-exercise.. I was so stressed tat day, tat I was like praying all day tat nothing wld happen.. even if I was questioned, I wld still koe how to answer.. Thank God all things went well and even though there were a few mistakes committed by other ppl, but I think my upper management were very happy, judging frm the smiles they've put on their faces when they left the base! So I wld think tat we have done fairly well in our mini-exercise? oh well..

So we mounted duty till like yesterday (Fri - 27/10).. we dismounted.. and we returned our No. 1 stuff to the place where they do the logistics of all these stuff, and after tat, we bk out.. Share cab with one of my friends.. paid $5 for the cab fare.. quite usual for cab sharing.. at least can save $3.. ha.. anyway, then came back home.. had a quick lunch and then, its me rushing off to meet Alvin at Boon Lay MRT to go to Tjow's place to bake cookies for the fund-raising activity at church today (Sat - 28/10).. But never did I expect the journey to be an hour long even though I took the MRT!

I was late of course and I think Alvin cld not wait liaoz.. becos he want to do his most b4 leaving for his driving lesson the same afternoon! so I dun blame him lah.. instead, he got Jeslyn to meet me (along with Maween & Joshua Tan).. Followed them to Mac as Maween had not had her lunch.. Joshua and me was juz toking whilst waiting for Jeslyn (she went to NTUC to get stuff).. soon, Samuel Tan (Joshus elder bro) came and met us.. and soon, we left off frm Mac and proceeded to Tjow's hse.. Sam, Josh and myself were juz toking abt stuff, and Maween & Jeslyn were juz walking upfront.. wat Sam, Josh & myself chatted were simply our sch work lah.. and I told them abt my attachment in Firmenich (which is in Tuas btw) abt wat I did and stuff.. and before we know it, we reached Tjow's hse..

When we reached there, I saw Claudia, Esther, Alvin, Jeremy (Alvin's friend.. wondered who told him abt this event thing!) and another person (did not get his name) already started baking and stuff..

Jeremy was our official oven man (who he was in charge of the oven baking process and stuff).. and I was like a bit of the baking guru lah.. help them in the baking process and all..

Joshua's help in the kitchen was a bit of a reluctance, rather than a helpful one! Can see tat he was actually quite reluctant to come but dun koe who forced him to come lah.. so I think he was like a bit lazy and restless, becos' he told me he was sleepy and tired due to late nite watching of anime stuff! haiz.. small boys.. so I think Claudia got a bit of fed up becos he is like dun koe wat to do in the kitchen and he is those yue4 bang1 yue4 mang2 type!.. so anyway, he went out and do the packing of the cookies!

Man.. yesterday's baking session was so nostalgic.. it was machiam like me during my attachment in Firmenich, where I baked biscuits everyday.. Moreover, I studied abt food and stuff in my diploma (eh.. dun forget, I was a Diploma in Applied Food Science & Nutrition - Specialising in Food Technology graduate frm Temasek Poly.. ok... I shall stop!), so I koe a bit of the basic stuff lah.. practically, I gave them the tip of greasing the pan before baking (so as to prevent the bottom of the cookies frm being burnt) and also to apply a thin layer of egg white on the biscuits, so as to retain its moisture and give a little shine to the cookies so it will look appetising!

And I'm so proud tat they heeded my advice, becos' the cookies turn out to be so good! =).. All thanks to God lah for reminding me of this minute stuff abt baking! =).. The baking guru has spoken.. ha..

Then the process went on the whole afternoon.. by 1900, I was super tired.. and during the process of baking, ppl left and I was hungry.. so I ate those unsuccessful ones (eg: burnt, deformed) and some of the potato chips tat they've bought.. and soon, I was full! Everyone started to slow down their energy level.. all was tired lah.. I think the most tired was Claudia, Jeslyn and Esther.. can see it in their faces..

Time goes by and all tat were left were: Ryan, Catherine, Esther, Matt Mok, Claudia, Jeslyn, Ashley and myself!

I did some of the washing up and then, ate dinner! Ate pizza ordered by Jeslyn and nuggets pan-fried by Claudia! quite good I muz say.. except for the pizza.. everyone agreed tat it has a weird taste.. will not say the company lah.. but its quite a popular brand for 2-for-1 pizza.. the no. is 6241xxxx.. go figure!

Then Esther, Jeslyn and Claudia were cont. baking, whilst I took a break and watch TV.. and can see tat they were very tired, becos' the cookies were like getting frm bad to worst.. its either burnt or stick to the pan.. but anyway, who cares? Can eat can liaoz, and we actually have surplus! Plan to make 200 cookies, but in the end, we had abt 400+ cookies! 2 types somemore: chocolate chip & almond..

Felt a bit guilty abt them baking and I was there watching TV and take a break! But I cldn't take it liaoz! I was on a 24 hr duty the day before (ie, Fri - 27/10), and I rush to bake cookies after tat!.. so ya..

And soon as I know it, I K.O.ed! I actually slept on the couch whilst watching drama serials! I was tat tired lah! I didn't care whether my shirt or held smelled of butter and cookies.. I juz slept!

Then soon after I woke up, Matt, Esther & Ashley left.. and I decided to leave with them! So they gave me a lift to Boon Lay MRT and I took the train home all by myself.. as tired as I am, I slept in the train again.. but occasionally I woke up, juz to make sure tat I did not miss the stop! I was finally home after 1.5 hrs of bus and train journey, and when I slept, its 2330! And once on the bed, I juz slept like a log lah!

So there I slept frm 2330 to 0830 this morning, and tat is 9 hrs of sleep! Tat's a lot of sleep, but tat shows tat I'm tat tired lah..

Then its log on the computer till now and writing this blogpost.. so after this writing, I wld need to bathe and get ready to go to church for Youth Service.. and its off to bk in at camp tonite, becos' tml I duty.. haiz..

ok.. gtg liaoz.. a bit late for my normal schedule liaoz..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 354 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Mounting duty once more,
<<< abriel >>>

ORD loh!!

Well.. I'm not exactly ORD yet.. my date is still far.. far.. far.. *fades away*.. anyway, it juz means tat I'm going for my ORD shoot tml..

Anyway, just dismounted frm duty tis morning at abt 7am.. a bit of mixed feelings.. dun koe to be happy or sad.. Happy becos' finally tat sgt (who is temperamental) has changed his attitude for the better, becos' he pleaded for me to have lesser punishment, becos' I juz did something wrong yesterday nite and it will cause me to get a few extras. The sgt was very kind.. he said tat he will plead for me.. dun koe how much truth is in there, but I wld think I deserve the punishment.. But then again, who wishes to have punishment? I certainly dun!.. so hope dun have lah! Now, I dun even koe how many ppl in my shift koes abt this!.. haiz.. juz hope tat the ppl who koe it will juz keep quiet and not spread their mouths off!! better still, they forget.. haiz.. =(

Today after dismounting @ 0700, I went for IMT before going to live range tml for my combat shoot!.. At my first attempt in IMT, I was abit of a "bobo" (hokkien for cannot aim) shooter, becos' I forgot my fundamentals liaoz.. but at my 2nd attempt, I was getting the hang of it and I became better; at least I pass most of the practice shots compared to the first attempt! Then, we finish our IMT session at abt 1300.. then came back to camp, and my OC gave us more briefing on our mini-exercise on Thursday (27/10), and he talk till like 1600, and then we are allowed to bk out , but come back 2200 on the same nite!

But I didn't bk out lah.. becos one thing is tat I find it no point, becos' need to come back at 2200.. too rush and not much time to stay home! Moreover, I want to save money on cab fare!

So I was the only one left in the bunk.. the rest of my friends book out! I was like to pass my time, took out some of my drill stuff and memorise for the mini-exercise on Thurs (27/10).. I study juz in case something happens in the place of my duty, I wld koe how to react accordingly, in order not to get scolded or punished by my upper management.. so this is like machiam studying for exam sia; which I think its true lah.. my squadron S3 (training officer) termed this exercise as an 'O' Level exam! To see how well we do our duties well in camp, wld depend on this result of the mini-exercise! Stress!!

Then dun koe how come Sidney koe abt my bk in timing lah. and he jokingly SMS me, which states tat he is gloating over my misfortune! Such a cheeky fellow =P.. hahaz..

Then dinner time came.. and I juz nice finished studying.. so I went to the Cookhouse to eat dinenr myself, and it was raining.. but I dun care.. I juz run to cookhse and eat loh.. u expect me to wait for the rain to stop? No way man! Then as I ran back frm the Cookhouse, I saw Sidney sitting on the steps (he was waiting for his friend to fetch him to Toranto Gate), and whilst he was waiting, I chatted with him for a while lah of course.. he looks bored and I was bored.. so I stayed down for a few mins to chat with him.. ha.. I still remembered something he told me.. he said.. "eh.. why you never bk out? Aiyah.. you shld bk out, so tat you can update ur blog and let ppl like me who have nothing to do, to read..".. so I guess I got a avid reader (like Sidney) who reads my blog on a regular basis? Well.. guess I have not forgotten you all.. today's blog is quite long lah.. along with my previous blogpost and maybe later in the week, you confirm wld be entertained with my post becos' I practically blog my life away? Ha.. =P

Fwah! I'm tired lahz! Dun koe why!! Maybe the alcohol level in me (frm the chiong-ing on Sat- 22/10) has not subsided yet! Haiz.. *yawnz*..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 358 DAYS to ORD!!

Trying NOT to be a "bobo" shooter,
<<< abriel >>>

A Day In A Studio

Fwah! A day in a studio is both fun and boring.. Fun becos' we get to do all tat we want in a studio, but boring becos' its like cooped up in a cage! Wonder how those recording artistes/international singers can actually force themselves to be cooped up in a studio and record their songs all day.. man.. haiz.. =(

The Worship Together session was fantastic!

However the studio we book was a bit dilapidated and has a strong sweaty odour when we first stepped in.. whew! wonder wat the previous jammers did to the room when they jam? Well.. dun want and dun dare to think! its too disgusting..

Anyway, its the picnic lady (aka Carlise) to the rescue! We told her to bring the air freshner frm her car, but never did we expect tat she brought kleenex wet wipes (to disinfect the microphones which Tiffany was hesistant to use it in the first place) and some cups with plain water! Huimin then exclaimed to her, as to is she coming for a picnic or wat! -_-'''

Anyway, the session was quite fun actually.. In fact, I learnt more new songs than ever! And wat can I abt the songs? Best!! Hope I can play them again or sing them in Youth Service soon =)..

The ppl who attended the session were: Cindy (whom I have not seen for a very long time), Carlise, Tiffany, Wendy, Derek and me! 6 of us were juz like jamming in the room!

The songs which we originally sang in church last time in HCC, never sound so good.. probably its becos we lack of a drummer.. with drums, the worship never sound the same! Man.. and guess who is the drummer?? Its none other than my kor, Derek! =)

Anyway, after the session, we decided to go to Beacon's Bar @ Sea Sports Club in East Coast Beach for dinner, under the recommendation frm Wendy & Tiffany.. the food were not too bad lah.. its not really those really good and not those really bad.. its those average lah.. Think we choose there is becos of the nature/beach ambience which is so tranquil and serene at nite.. imagine with the sea breeze juz brushing past your face and you can see happy families having a picnic together, as well as the owners of their pet dogs, juz taking a relax stroll along the beach pavement! Its juz so much things happening around, but you cant help but juz ponder and think how we wish tat this can happen everyday! =)

Had a great time of fellowship! Oh.. the following are the pictures of our food.. so enjoy! =)








.. Brownie Points .. the dessert which looks too sinful to eat, so I never eat =)










.. The Dory Fish .. Huimin ate this as her main course!











.. The Creamy Mix .. Carlise & Tiffany ate this as their main course!










.. The Chicken Chop .. Derek & Wendy ate this as their main course!










.. The Podoromo Mix .. The dish with the most artistic name, and of course, guess who's the consumer of this dish? Its none other than the food guru, Abriel and tat's me!! =)







I think Wendy wld be very happy to see all these photos in my blog, becos' I remember her saying tat we shld take photo so tat it can appear on my blog, since my blog is so often read by other ppl =).. so wendy, I have fulfilled your wish ya =)

Its time to say goodbye for I have to bk in camp liaoz.. Sianz -_-

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Food happy,
<<< abriel >>>

Chiong ah!!

Trademark of Brewerkz
Originally uploaded by jazzkool.

Well.. yesterday was quite shack.. but nevertheless, I manage to go to church (the youth service) after my duty lah.. and the sermon topic was on "Sex & Pornography".. and this topic was a bit touchy and all in the service.. but then, it serve as a timely reminder to us (esp. the NSF's.. with all these stuff being mentioned everyday in camp!)..

Then we went to Meridian Hotel foodcourt to have our dinner! I ate the Korean food (Spicy Pork set as usual) and somehow it's good lah! Probably did not eat it for so long liaoz, so tat's why its nice!

And I ate the sinful, Red Ruby dessert!
I was like telling the lady, "Aunty, less coconut milk"..and she gave me tat stunt look.. she tot I wld say more coconut milk! But then I told her I'm eating the healthier version and I want to jian3 fei2.. and she told me tat this is the first time tat she's heard of guys want to lose weight.. well.. then I replied her tat these days, guys are vain too.. and moreover, I'm gaining weight by the day and no exercise in camp these few days somemore.. so all the more I shld cut down on my caloric intake..
Andrew was with me lah.. he bought his dessert first and I was behind him.. then after he heard wat I said abt lesser coconut milk and I want to lose weight, he juz brushed it off by saying "aiya.." in a very ignorant tone lah.. well.. tat's him loh! he dun care abt calories.. he juz eat his fill! But the problem is tat he jogs and exercises even though he is not in school.. so ya.. tat no problem for him.. for me, its a different story altogether!

After dinner, Corn invited us to like go play pool.. actually, was quite reluctant.. but then, I juz followed lah.. becos its like so early go home also nothing to do.. so there I followed!

After abt 10.30pm-11pm, we (not all lah.. those underage one went home!) went to this pub called, Brewerkz in Clarke Quay! Click the word, "Brewerkz" to find out more!
Click here for the menu of food and drinks! Its cool sia! We had some food to go along.. We had the:

(a) Potato Skins
(b) Double Cheese Nachos
(c) Sauteed Mushrooms (ohh.. this is delicious! Garlic and buttery flavour!)
(d) Southwestern Club Sandwich (didn't get to try this.. Ryan & Cat ordered this.. didnt want to eat lah.. a bit paiseh.. ppl food if they never offered, dun take! ha.. tat's my policy!.. but also dun want to eat lah.. too full.. looks filling!)

Fwah!! This is the first time I go pub sia! And I muz say tat pub has quite a good ambiance and the waitress who served us (she is called Harmony by the way) has some really good Public Relations skills and we are so impressed by her knowledge of the alcohols tat we've ordered! Man.. aren't these ppl skillful and knowledgable!!

Well.. this is the 3rd time in 2 mths tat I've been drinking! The first was of course at my base anniversary.. and its like a day after tat, I went to drink.. and there was a break of 1 wk, and then this wk, I've been drinking again! Man.. aren't they koe how to go pubs and stuff.. heh!

However, I muz control.. becos' dun wanna end up an alcoholic, and worst still.. end up with empty calories!! Been watching my weight lately, and today I measured my weight, I was like increase another kilo! Man.. aren't I getting fanatic over tat kilo?? I think I muz shed some weight soon, or else, I wld go back to the weight tat was a nightmare! Anyway, I had a good time lah.. and no one actually koes tat it was Esther's birthday yesterday.. so Matt Mok (aka her boyfriend) gave her a surprise on a Ice Cream Oreo Cheese Cake.. it was good sia! The oreo and chocolate was thick and creamy! best! no wonder I put on the extra kilo! =)

Well.. after saying so much, forgot to tell you all wat drink I had.. I had a Golden Ale Beer; this brew is slightly bitter, lightly malted, crisp and full of hop floral aroma. It's also paler and clearer than most beers. It comes with just 4.5% alcohol. Its also touted as being the most popular beer!

And Corn was a bit crazy lah.. he ordered another jug of beer (I think it was a house brew, think its called Raspberry Ale), and it was like 3 cups.. no one finished it.. so in the end, I have to finish another glass.. so altogether, I drank 2 glasses (both with 4.5% alcohol)..

After the drink at Brewerkz, the grp went to another disco pub, " One Nite Stand".. but then I was too tired liaoz and moreover, my cash is running low and its like 1am in the morning, which I told my parents tat I wld be home abt tat time.. so I have to keep to my promise lah.. moreover, I dun really want to go tat kind of place.. gives me headache only!.. so it was like drizzling.. so I decided to go home lah.. becos' later, I will have another appointment with Wendy and the rest of the previous HCC members.. we doing some jamming-cum-worship in a studio or sumthing.. so ya.. its been a long time since we've played together! =).. so ya.. really looking forward to it..

Anyway, as I was making the way to go and take a cab, I suddenly felt myself at times not walking straight.. I was like a bit grougy.. I walk slanted at times and my head starts to spin a bit.. Eevn as now I'm writing this blogpost, my heads feels so light and spinning at times.. dun koe whether its not enuf sleep or the alcohol last nite! So they waved a very loud goodbye while I was abt to enter a cab! Thank goodness a cab appeared in time lah.. or else I dun koe have to wait how long.. though cab at the wee hrs in pub area were a bit easy to find, becos' of the 50% surcharge and all!

Fortunately, I entered the cab early lah, or else it wld rain cats and dogs on me! ha.. so by the time I reached home, the cab fare was exactly $12 ($4 being the midnite surcharge) and by the time I bathe and slept, it was abt 1.30am.. tot of waking up at 9am to do my stuff (like pack my bag for tonite's bk-in and this blogpost), but then woke up like 8.30am instead.. dun koe y.. maybe my bilogical timeclock is set like this loh! =)

Then in the morning, my dad told me tat my sis has bought a Canon Ixus 55 Camera (5 megapixel).. and I was like shocked lah.. of course, my sis doesn't have tat money.. she loaned it frm my parents.. my sis was like telling me tat my camera (which is only a Canon Powershot A400, 3.2 megapixel) was lousy and not good enuf for her project.. tat time I told her.. if she have so much money, go buy one herself and never did I expect it to be so fast.. so she I think is very excited abt her camera (and I wld think she's trying to boast her camera to me lah in certain suggestive ways.. or maybe I was too sensitive?.. I got very pissed off lah.. till a pt tat I dun feel like talking to her!) but I sumhow felt very uneasy and jealous.. becos' its like I asked my parents to buy sumthing, which they will always tell me its not necessary and stuff and like unwilling to loan me money.. which sometimes I think its better, but then, sometimes I juz feel unfair lah.. my parents actually allowed and loan the money to my sis and buy the camera! *argh*.. well.. guess I have to be open-minded at times and not being so calculative.. but then, its this jealousy thing inside of me lah.. sometimes, I juz can't take it but to compare! haiz.. =(

So now, she has a better camera than me.. and I certainly hope she wont like put me down by passing sarcastic remarks at times abt me holding a low-grade camera and stuff.. becos' I sure koe when she gets angry, she can put ppl off with her words! And I juz realised tat my sis is really getting very branfd-conscious as she grows up.. she now everything also want branded.. she got a crumpler bag and then now a very expensive camera (it was one of my dream camera before I decided on tat my dream camera now is a 7 megapixel camera by Canon)!.. sometimes I really wonder tat is now all teens living in a "branded" world? Everything with branded stuff then show tat you have the money and status? I dun koe..

Anyway, according to my dad, he says tat my sis is working in yr end becos' of her holidays.. so she can pay them back in no time.. I dun koe how much truth is in there.. but ya.. since she has time to work, then go ahead loh.. she has the power to spend on her own money.. no one can stop her and tat's final! Period.

Even now, I'm trying to compare with her.. its like wat she has, I also muz have.. so as not to lose out to her.. first, it was a mp3 player.. then, contact lens.. then now, she got a new camera which makes me all the more to save up and buy one.. but then again, I've got one already.. so tat doesn't make sense to like buy another one right? =).. waste of money.. maybe next time when I'm working, then I will get one lah..

But then again, I'm also trying to save up to pay for my driving lessons in the near future! I got a shock when Alvin (who has juz passed his basic and now, he is taking practical lessons and I think at the same time, also taking his advance) told me tat he is paying his driving lessons ALL by himself.. he requested his parents NOT to give him any money! he said its close to $2000 worth of lessons which he has already pay upfront! Fwah! Applaued his courage to do this! I muz salute him liaoz! =)

So now, it is a matter of weighing my priorities.. Wld it be my class 3 license or branded stuff? I've got some big dreams ya koe?? I plan to like save up and upon ORD and end of next yr, I plan to buy my OWN air-ticket to fly up to Sydney (and of course, my parents and sis wld pay dutch too on their tix.. provided my sis has the money.. think the way she spend, I dun think it wld be achieveable.. let's see how things goes!) and go on a free and easy trip loh.. probably a week or sumthing! see how lah.. its always my wish to fly up to Australia to juz go for a holiday!.. but then again, it boils down to the 5 letter word, "M-O-N-E-Y".. haiz.. =(..

And seriously, this few times I've been spending too much over myself, till the pt tat I'm like broke lah.. so sometimes, need to ask frm parents money or get loans frm them.. felt quite paiseh lah, becos' my parents need the money to do other stuff too, and not only for me, since I'm brought up on a principle of "got money then buy, if not, dun!".. but then, sometimes, things juz have to change.. oh well..

So becos' of these, I actually thought of getting a savings plan with a bank or sumthing.. becos' at least, they help me to save money.. so at least my bank account wld be healthy! but then again.. with an NSF allowance of $520 a mth, and my spending is quite big nowadays, $520 is not even enuf.. but then again, who wld say he's contented with the amt of money he's getting? haiz.. this money thing is making my head spin! Now I koe why the Bible says tat, "Money is the root of all evil!"

ok lah.. I've gtg and log off liaoz.. becos need to like bathe and start going for the jamming session! Woohoo!! =).. but its bk in camp tonite.. and guess wat! need to spend money on cab fare again =(.. haiz..

Oh.. I've uploaded the pics of yesterday's nite outing @ Brewerkz in my photo gallery! Take a look ya? Its entitled, "Chilling @ Brewerkz Photos!"

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 360 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Trying my best to be prudent in spending,
<<< abriel >>>

Camp duty rants!

My last duty was a bad mounting lah (even though there were no drills to practice!)
Here's a brief account..

Tat tempermental sgt was in a bad mood tat morning.. dun koe y.. he talk to me in a very pissed off manner.. juz feel like scolding him off and then lah.. but then I juz controlled my temper! can't flare up juz like tat.. And I dun koe whether izzit pure coincidence or he actually 'aiming' me therefore he gave me very siong duties! The amt of hrs is the same, but then, its the duty tat I did.. so ya.. the duty proved too much for me so much so tat I was actually really shacked out after my last event! Any moment more, I wld like faint lah!
Its tat bad! I was telling my friend.. imagine I actually fainted during the last duty I had, and I was in a serious condition due to serious fatigue, so who will take the blame? My officer? The sgt who planned the detailing? Or my upper management? I dun koe.. wait till tat happens to me first lah hor.. ha.. =)

But something is worst than this sgt.. its reagrding one of my pals in camp.. He can be considered as my buddy liaoz.. but the last duty he "gone mad".. Its dealing with his speech lah.. I was super pissed off with him on Friday (21/10).. Tat very same morning, I juz told my friend tat he has no temper problems and stuff.. but then, in the same afternoon, he starts his nonsense! He pisses me off in the following manner:

(a) He talks sarcastically!

(b) Blames me for things tat its absolutely not my fault!

(c) I just pass a playful remark about him, which reminded him dun be too happy abt his leave as anything can change and he scold me sui1 chui3 (hokkien for mouthing unlucky words) and he keeps blaming me!

(d) He keeps boasting to other ppl (as well to me) tat he is attached! C'mon loh.. what's the BIG deal abt it?? Its not like u gonna get married.. even if so, must you like boast to the whole world?

(e) During one of our duties (foot prowl to be exact), we were placed together.. he said tat I was too noisy becos' I kept telling him wat to do! Pls. loh! It's like I'm telling him the right stuff of wat we are suppose to do in order to perform our duty well and to prevent getting extra duties (esp. he did not do foot prowl for a long time!).. and he kept saying I was too noisy and said I was too regimental! Pls. lah.. with his heck care attitude he's portraying, I wld rather we switch roles when doing the foot prowl! I believe I can do better loh!

Well.. then in the morning, he was not so bad.. but then I still bare tat grudge lah.. but then, still have to forgive! I'm trying very very hard.. =)

ok lah.. gtg liaoz.. got to have a short nap and go to church later! Yeh! Youth service awaits! =)

Trying hard to forgive & forget,
<<< abriel >>>

Thoughts..

I have been pondering on life lately...

I have this dream which seems to be perfect, which I don't wish to see it being shattered.

It's something that I want to hold on forever, because by doing so, I would find my true happiness.

Someone told me that if it is my dream, I must go all out to achieve it and not stay as a "hermit", for when the time is up, this dream would just vanish into thin air and gone forever.

So will I get a chance to fulfill my dream or am I embracing the dream when it's actually the end? I don't want to regret my decision in the end and cried over spilled milk.

After having said so much, I still can't decide, but I will try...

A new makeover!

The blog slut has spoken!! A REVAMPED blog at last!

Fwah! After 5 hrs of hard work, this new skin is finally done! Pls. note tat this skin is only a half credited skin.. the layout is frm an author, but the background, photos and stuff, I figured it out lah.. of course with some help frm my church pal, Andrew! Andrew, thanx ah!! Finally after so long, my skin is done! =)

You all wld realise tat the music of my blog has changed too?? Yupz.. I've reverted back to the jazz type of song, since jazzkool's blog is wat all tat jazz matters! Dun forget tat I'm a jazznut! =)

And I'm so glad tat I hit it off with Sidney so well in the first place.. we chatted online like the whole nite yesterday.. and we have so much in common.. love scounting for the best food in Singapore and indulging in buffets, love hanging out by the beach, being perfectionists in certain ways or at times, like and dislike almost the same food and things.. I quote this frm him: " Sometimes, I really wonder whether we are clones!" haha.. one day both of us will go out together, and we will take photos, then I will upload and show you all our photo ya?? Then you can see whether we are clones! ha..

Oh.. I'm in the midst of private studying my Advance Theory for driving, and I can say tat its tough, becos' have not been studying for like a year liaoz.. now, need to use brain again, a bit rusty! Now I koe why males after NS go for futher studies will start to slack and stuff or juz simply no motivation to study!! haiz.. I'm now on my way to half the book liaoz.. when I study finish, I will go and take my advance theory test loh.. hope to pass my advance theory by this december.. see whether can or not lah.. then maybe after ORD or sumthing, I will go to a driving school and learn driving.. but in the meantime, I have to control my spending and save up for my driving course fees! =)..

At first, I was like dun want to study lah.. but in camp, those newbies (who is frm the JC batch of soldiers) are like taking it like nobody's business! they take it as if its so easy and its part of them to study in NS.. so I guess I've got influence by them and the competitive nature in me, says tat I shld also do the same and not lose out to them.. after all, I'm 21 whilst they are only 18! If an 18 yr old can get his license in like a few mths, why can't a 21 yr old do it? Is it tat difficult??

So now, I'm like forcing myself not to play SIMS on my Ngage phone, and study my advance theory a little bit by the day! I muz say tat my acheievement today is not bad.. I had studied 18 pages (front and back) of the book within like 1 hr of bus journey home! Tat's so cool lah! I'm juz a step closer to achieving studying half the book! Yeh! Must continue to press on and not be lazy.. I hope.. =)

Oh.. the next 2 weeks will be quite siong in camp.. I have to go for my final year in NS combat shoot, handling the security audit and mounting duty at the same time! I think by the end of the next 2 wks, you wld see me lose weight lah, becos' of the lack of sleep and stuff.. Both events are super shiong lah.. and the worst thing is tat for the security audit, there are like 3 ppl taking leave.. so tat makes the manning system more shiong! ahh.. God pls give me strength! I need loads of it!!

Ok lah.. need to bk in camp liaoz.. so before I go off, I will request you to leave a comment on my shoutbox as to wat u think of this revamped blog of mine ya??

Got to run! Tml mounting duty! Sianz ah!! =(

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 366 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

The blog slut,
<<< abriel >>>

Dismount loh!

Friday's returning to camp was quite a hard thing to do.. becos' its like we off since Friday afternoon and then there is this reluctance to go back to camp.. its natural lah!.. but then still have to go back.. haiz.. =(

I like left my hse at abt 10.30pm on Friday (14/10), but then John, my good friend, called me to buy for him breakfast to camp.. cereals, milk and orange juice to be exact! Man.. I was like on the phone with him like 30 mins, then he decided exactly wat he want and stuff! Was quite impatient lah.. but wat to do?? my good friend.. muz do him the favour.. in the end, after buying, I boarded the bus like 11pm! haiz ..=(

Well.. yes! I've dismounted frm duty at camp today and I muz say something which is real funny! So here goes..

The previous mounting, all of us were pretty tired and therefore was not really ourselves during the march down to guardroom. This is becos most of us in the shift were involved in the Change Of Command (CoC) Parade in one way or another, despite tat we did duties and stuff, so naturally we are tired lah! Then when we reached the main guardroon, we kenna scolded by one of our sgt (wld not say his name, but all I can say tat this is the same sgt whom I've mentioned few days ago in my previous blogpost.. tat really temperamental one..).. he said something like this: "eh.. wat's wrong with you all? Why all so low morale? I tot morale shld be quite high today right?".. and he said this in a very pissed off manner lah.. which I dun really understand wats his damn problem lah.. I then thought this to myself:"can't we be all tired, so tats y our marching is not really the normal standard Why are u so upset? And helo! You all juz ba-long-long walk leh.. whereas we as men are marching down.. arghh.."

Was really upset lah.. but somehow something turned around yesterday! He was on leave for yesterday's mounting and somehow I felt happy, dun koe whether I'm sadistic or am I starting to hate him?? I dun koe.. anyway, not too sure whether my shift is so suddenly so energetic becos' probably of yesterday's half day off and therefore we got rest and stuff, or izzit becos' this sgt (whom I've referred to as tempermental) is actually not here! So I wld positively say tat the most probable reason is tat he's not here lah! =) Anyway, we were so high morale yesterday tat we actually shout out timing and stuff.. its juz like plain happy tat we mount today lah! maybe becos today is a wkend mounting, so most of us gets more time to rest! =)

Well.. even though I'm like having quite a good number of rest yesterday, but sumhow I still feel tired after dismounting today.. even as I'm writing this blogpost! But then come to think of it, its Sunday and its a wkend, and I dun want to waste it off juz like tat.. so I wld think tat I will still surf net and do my other stuff lah before I bk in tml in camp!

Oh ya.. currently my new friend, Sidney Wong, the COPA of FDS SBAB (my squadron in camp lah) has suddenly added me in MSN.. and I'm currently chatting with him and as well, give him tips and ideas of how to improve his blog! (man.. didn't koe he had a blog initially!!)
Besides teaching him, we are also chatting juz like old friends! We chat abt anything under the sun!! Currently chatting with him abt food; Carl's Jr to be exact!! We both have a passion for food (buffets to be exact lah!).. and we have similar hobbies too.. so very easier to spark off a topic! =)


And yes.. after awaiting for so long, I'm gonna go to Chomp Chomp later this evening to ta-pow back dinner! Oh man.. my fave foods.. the hokkien mee (to die for!), friend carrot cake, malay satay, satay bee hoon, orh lua (fried oyster).. ohh.. yummy! My tummy is growling! I better stop it! ha..

Oh.. great news! Its confirmed by my officer tat I'm gonna get 2 days off becos of CoC and there is NO expiry date.. dun koe when to take sia.. have to see how lah! =)

Was hving my rest time yesterday when I came across a very interesting headline in the front page sideline.. its in the Saturday's edition of The Straits Times (15/140/2005), Insight section, which has a very interesting article abt Christianity evangelism in public (health workers and teachers doing the evangelism). Go read it if you have the time!

One more thing b4 I end! yesterday during my rest time, I actually played with my phone (the SIMS game of course) for abt 3 hrs non-stop! Man.. it was fun and time juz pass so fast loh! hoho.. =)

Ok lah.. need to go and do other stuff liaoz.. think I've spend too much time on this blogpost! Ha.. time is precious!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 367 DAYS to ORD!!

0745. Sembawang Air Base.

SIMS crazy,
<<< abriel >>>

A day at camp!

Well.. today went to camp a bit 'seh', becos' slept late yesterday.. got abt 4 hrs of sleep yesterday at home (despite I'm mounting 24 hrs and had a 14 hr duty!).. I went out with John immediately after I reached home and stuff mah..

Anyway, today at camp was more sai kang! Apparently last time, there were flower pots and flowers grown by my base RSM (he got abt close to a hundred pots of flowers and other stuff at my squadron's backyard, and he waters them every morning).. but I think becos of the recent outbreak of dengue, tat he decides to get rid at least 70% of them!.. so we as the standby shift today was appointed to clear the mess! So we are like carrying timber planks (which is so darn heavy.. I'm thinking tat each plank weighs close to 50 kg).. its tat heavy lah! and we've got like 10-15 of it to dispose off.. not mentioning tat there were bricks and flower pots for us to dispose as well.. Its like making a few long trips (manually mind u.. juz with a trolley) to a garbage bin near my squadron (but the distance frm my squadron to the garbage bin is like 1-2km, and not mentioning tat there were obstacles (such as uneven road and slopes) along the way, which makes the carrying more difficult!
I've carried the planks till the pt tat I think I've got a workout on my biceps as well as the other muscles in the hand.. think my muscles are gonna get cramped tml becos' of the lack of working it out.. I can feel the muscles are getting tighter after today.. man.. am I becoming more *ahem* muscluar? ha.. I certainly hope so! =)

Then its like after the sai-kang, we got rewarded by tat we've got a half-day off given by my flight sgt major (FSM) becos' of the Change of Command Parade thing.. I think I'm gonna get another 2 days off, but everything is not confirmed yet! so ya.. Inititally, I thought going out to catch a movie as well as also have lunch before coming home.. but after much considerations (yesterday when I was with John, I've spend abt $80.. so cannot spend much as this is only the beginning of the mth!), and ppl started not to make decision, I decided tat the next best thing is to get home and eat my Indonesian Economic Rice, which I'm glad I did lah! Cheap and good.. after eating, I slept for like 4 hrs (to compensate yesterday nite's lack of sleep).. then its internet until now, and now this blogpost..

Just went some Friendster surfing and I couldn't believe my eyes! Some ppl which I think tat no way they've entered OCS and been commissioned as an officer, actually did!! And those ppl which I've thot tat they will do well in NS, to be either a specialist (AKA 3SG) or an officer, actually becomes an OOT (Out Of Training), which means tat they will be as good as a soldier who can't do stuff, so they end up as admin clerk or sumthing!! Oh.. wat is this world coming too??

The bad news is ppl, I've got to bk in tonite at camp becos' I'm mounting duty tml.. so tat means I can't attend church! =(.. haiz..

But the good news is tat since there is a change in wkday and wkend P1, I've counted the days on my handphone calandar and found tat its quite favourable to me, in a sense tat when I'm on leave in December, I do not owe ppl P1's and stuff.. so tat means I can take leave in peace! ha.. =)

ok lah.. gtg and buy MacDonald's for dinner! Mum's not cooking! Oh.. btw, MacDonald's got some great deals with its coupons! See the coupons tat comes with the issue of 13 Oct 2005's Straits Times!
I think I'm gonna eat the 6 pc McNuggets set with a free Fillet-O-Fish burger tat comes free with it! Whooppee.. Curry sauce the BEST in McNuggets meal! =)

** Oh!! I'm counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 369 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

I'm lovin it,
<<< abriel >>>

A jolly good time!! =)

Nautica Shirt & Krumpler Pouch
Originally uploaded by jazzkool.

Well.. wat else can make me happy, except to say tat shopping and eating are the 2 best hobbies tat I currently have!! and yes.. I did just tat!! Well.. the following is an account of today!

Dismounted duty today (went to Eastern Gate yesterday to do duty!) and then after the debrief, I saw John (who is in another shift but he is on standby today).. and guess wat.. he 'jio' me, as to whether I want to follow him shopping for jeans, becos he got half day today! I just blantantly said 'ok' loh.. becos' since I've got nothing to do at home and also I'm like want to go out! so ya..

So came home, bathe and freshen up.. gelled my hair, change specs and choose clothing.. and off I went to meet him at Raffles City Shopping Centre!

When I reached there, I didn't wait long before he called.. and minutes later, we met lah!

Then he asked me whether I want to have cheap or expensive lunch! I was like thinking of food court (to save money).. but I koe John this type won't agree lah.. He likes high class places.. so I prepare to spend a bomb today lah!

So in the end, we went to this place called, "Seah Street Deli" at Raffles Hotel! At first when I heard "Seah Street Deli", I thought it was some coffee shop or sumthing.. but never did I expect tat it was at Raffles Hotel! When I first stepped in, I was a bit shocked, becos the decor of the place was like so 70's.. machiam I'm been transported back in history to those 70's cowboy snack house in America! Ya.. its tat retro!! It can be compared to the Billy Bombers Restaurant in Singapore.
But the prices of the food was quite reasonable.. but the best thing he said tat I shld not worry abt the prices becos' he got this card which entitled us to have 50% off the total price meal! So I guess it was a great steal lah! So I happily ordered..

We had Ice Lemon Tea for starters (its free flow btw, but its not cheap! its $5.75 per cup, but the best part is tat it is unsweetened, so I can add how much sugar I like!)
Then, I had Clam Chowder served in a Sourdough bread bowl! The bread was super crispy and the inner part of the bread was so soft and fluffy! its so cool!! its even better than the one at the Soup Spoon Cafe in Raffles City Shopping Centre..
Then for main course, I had the Monte Cristo Sandwich.. It is actually sourdough bread, which its been prepared/toasted juz like french toast (think they applied butter on the bread and they toast it), and it has lots of shaved honey baked ham stuck in between the bread and tender chunks of turkey breast meat.. and the side dish which I've chosen was the coleslaw, and this sandwich merely costs $14.90! I had quite a full meal I muz say..

Then after the meal, we had like enjoy and sipping our free flow ice tea and chatting abt anything under the sun, but mainly we chatted abt our shift duty and wat happen and stuff.. it was so fun!! And I think both of us drank abt 5-6 cups of ice tea EACH whilst we talk.. think we sat and eat and talk for close to 1.5 hrs!! The place is so suitable for chatting!! =)

Then at 3+pm, John inititated tat we shld make a move to start shopping.. and guess wat! Just as we are able to enter Levi's @ Raffles City, at the corner of my eye, I saw Joshua Gouw (my church mate) walking juz rite past me.. I of course called him and like chatted with him for a while, while my friend went to the Gents. I wld think he wanted to go out with me or sumthing, becos' he hinted lah and I caught the hint.. so ya.. but I was shopping with John, so can't possibly to leave John alone to shop rite =).. anyway, after John came back frm the Gents, then I bid Joshua goodbye and we went on our separate ways!

After much looking around (becos John can't find a pair of suitable jeans), we proceeded frm Raffles City to Orchard.. and in the end, he found his suitable jeans frm Levi's.. and he actually went to alter it, so muz wait for abt an hour.. then we went juz shopping in Paragon & Takashimaya.. then as we are shopping in Paragon, we went into Krumpler shop, and I was like telling John how long I've been eyeing on the camera pouch, and he was like saying to me tat if you eye it, juz buy it.. dun wait.. I was like "helo! you are rich.. I'm not!! I've got a budget and stuff!".. but anyway, I cld not resist it, so in the end, I bought the camera pouch (its selling at $24.50)!

Then we went to Taka.. was window shopping.. then we went to this Nautica shop! I was like when I see the striking orange polo t-shirt, I was like really considering as to whether shld I buy it! In the end, I bought it.. as I felt it was a good buy! Original price was $59 and now they have a sale.. its selling now at a special price of $39.90.. so ya..

Tell you all something.. I'm actually a VERY brand conscious person.. this is becos' I wld even like make sure the packaging where they put my branded clothing and stuff, make sure its like showing the branded store name, or else, I wld like most likely NOT buy it..
So this is wat actually happens at the Nautica store! As you all koe, Nautica belongs to Royal Sporting House group.. so even though it was a Nautica store, there is still a possibility tat they wld give u a Royal Sporting House bag, which is so low-class (ie, the image doesn't fit the Nautica shirt and ppl wont koe tat I went to Nautica and buy my clothing!).. so ya.. becos' I was like this Nautica shirt I can buy and I can dun buy.. I dun really die die want it.. its juz tat at tat moment, it looks good and tempting to buy! So I actually saw a customer paying for his goods at Nautica and they use Nautica paper bags, so at tat moment, I think ok.. I will buy it, juz becos' they use Nautica paper bags!
I told John abt tis, and he was like ok.. and he called me more than a brand conscious person.. he called me a BAG conscious person! ha.. which I think its so true of me lah!

John machiam was like my shopping consultant.. I ask him stuff like how do I look in the size of the shirt (when trying).. Moreover, I even ask him to help me choose wat colour shld I buy for my Krumpler Camera Pouch! Yes!! he is tat good!!
But of course, when he wore the jeans, he also asked my opinion.. so we machiam like giving each other our *ahem* professional shopping comments! No wonder we can click so well!! oh well.. =)

Then came home, had a terrific dinner cooked by my mum (A Peranakan dish called Babi Pongteh.. which is actually tender pork and chinese dried mushrooms braised in salted bean gravy and accompanied by a must-have Peranakan side-dish, which is the Sambal Blachan! Oh man!! This combi of Babi Pongteh with Sambal Blachan is really the best meal I've eaten!! oopps.. am I making you hungry already?? I hope I dun!)

Well.. ya.. tats my journey today!! Cool rite?? ha.. =)
I think my blogpost today is more like a food blogpost rather than a blogpost of my journey today! Well.. if you are hungry, ask me more ya =) I wld be more than happy to tell you =) People dun call me the 'food guru' for nothing! heh! =P

ok.. so its me bking in tml morning and tml I will have half day! Yeh!! but then have to go back before 2359 becos' Saturday I mounting duty! =(.. oh well..

** Oh!! I'm counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 370 DAYS to ORD!!

0745. Sembawang Air Base.

A happy RP,
<<< abriel >>>

Farewell !!

"...I want to thank you all for giving me such fond memories during my stay in Sembawang Air Base. Take care and may God Bless you and your families. Thank You."

These were the last words of my base commander (now retired), Colonel Chan, during his farewell speech, whom we did a Change Of Command (CoC) Parade for him today in my base! Almost cried when he said the words above lah.. so touching!

It was a 30 mins parade, but when everything was added together, it was abt 2 hrs.. becos at the end of the parade, we have to like have our light refreshments (thank goodness I was fast enuf to grab some food.. any later, I will eat AIR! ha..) and then form the line of honour to send off Colonel Chan.. Quite a waste of time I muz say lah..

It was after much rehearsals and scolding frm the Parade RSM tat we have such a great standard at the Parade today.. and I can safely say tat this parade is far much better than the SAF Day Parade and the RSAF Day Parade.. probably becos the parade size is smaller, therefore, its easier to train and discipline the participants of the parade! So ya..

Saying of which, I wish to state something in this blog.. or else I wld have no peace lah.. I juz wanna get this thing off my chest, or else I wld feel unhappy abt it! so here goes..

There is this sgt of mine (wld not say name) who has a very bad temper; when he is in a bad mood, he wld show it in his face (his face looks like Justice Bao.. as if the whole world owes him money!).. anyway, this happened yesterday (Monday - 10/10).. it was like I was this guy (lets call him 'J') buddy-of-the-day as announced by my Flight Sgt Major (FSM).. the purpose of a buddy system to J was to ensure tt he was not late and stuff..

So Sun (9/10) I msg J abt time to bk in and stuff, hoping tat he wld not be late.. but he still did in the end becos of a reason.. dun koe whether its valid enuf for his lateness.. but anyway, ya.. b4 I slept tat nite on Sun (9/10), J woke me up and ask me wat time to fall in and stuff.. I told him and in addition, I told him wat to wear and stuff.. he said ok lah..

Then the morning came (mon - 10/10) and this sgt of mine (can see he not enuf sleep the nite b4 and tat explains his KNS (Ka Nah Sai) face in the morning) was like commanding me to go look for him lah.. and he gave me tat kind of look, as if tat if I dun do it, he wld punish me.. or tat kind of look tat I owe him a living!

Fwah! at tat moment, I juz felt like talking back to him lah (which I did at first in a very pissed off tone, but I held back my temper and words and juz go look for him reluctantly!).. I juz feel like telling him off, by saying, "eh.. u think u bad mood u can order me ard like tat? wats with the look? do I owe u a living? can't u tell me to look for 'J' nicely, instead of like showing me this kind of face? I told u tat I saw him eating and after tat, I didn't koe where he went.. you expect me to follow him like a dog? can't you wait a while more to see whether he comes down?"

I indeed told this sgt of mine the reasoning already.. I told him tat I saw him eating juz now but then after tat, I dun koe where he went to!
I was already lacking of sleep and you koe me lah.. when I lack of sleep, I will be grouchy over the slightest matter.. this sgt of mine is also not an exception.. but pls. loh! can't he talk to me nicely, instead of showing me his tat kind of face?? Argghhh... juz thinking of it makes my blood boil loh!

Anyway, its now all over and I hope he certainly tries to control his anger, before one day, I juz explode and I dun koe wat he will get frm me and I dun koe wat punishment I will get! so ya..

ok.. enuf abt tat sgt.. anyway, its me getting to bk in tml morning instead of 2359 tonite, becos' tml we are mounting duty! so ya.. dun koe whether this is his initiative or wat la.. but my bk in timing matters =)..

Oh.. forgot to mention tat today, Mon, 11/10/05, officially marks the END of being Guard-Of-Honour (GOH) 2005, and a new chapter of my life (and tat is getting back again to shift duty and getting used to the life of getting lack of sleep and short weekends) starts again!
Just by looking back at the past 6 mths, where we juz started to train as GOH initially, I first thought tat the days of GOH is tough.. but then, as time goes back, I found tat GOH has also its perks of being 8-5 job, but the cons is tat my wkends get burn loh! wat to do?? =)

I'm juz shack now lah, even though I had like a hr sleep today in the break period frm 11am-2pm.. guess I'm going to bed after tis.. tml morning need to wake up early and be doubly awake becos' I'm mounting tml.. siong ah..

0745. Sembawang Air Base.

GOH journey finally ended,
<<< abriel >>>

Cheers! Drink a toast to you!!

Cheers anyone?
Originally uploaded by jazzkool.

Its been a drinking week for me! ha.. quite 'high' these few days.. and I agree drinking cld be addictive! Not to mention the calories I put on if I drink on a often basis!

So here goes my drinking journey.. *hick*..

(1) SBAB Base Anniversary

It all started out in the hot afternoon at 1300 hrs at SAFRA Yishun Country Club (Click here to find out more!).. Anyway, did not really take part in any activities.. juz walk around with my friends around the place, and see ppl play games (such as Air Rifle and bowling.. but the longest we stayed for was bowling lah, becos' the air-con there very power!!)..

So after watching, we still like got 2 hrs left at SAFRA Yishun.. so we got adventurous and went to the Fruit Machine Room (aka Jackpot Room)and we juz play play lah.. each one came out with $2.. juz play for fun loh.. We all like very swa-ku (hokkien for mountain tortoise).. dun koe how to play.. Even after we have finish our credits, we still like in a daze of how to play, as in we still dun understand the game! ha..

Then after tat, we saw our sgt, and he ask us where we went! We said we went to the Jackpot Room.. then he said 'let's go and try again!'.. but of course, with my friend's "clever" instructions, he teach my sgt how to play.. ha.. so my sgt first change $10 worth of credits.. then in like 5 mins, his $10 was gone.. all thanx to my friend's "clever" instructions!..

Then he wanted to try again.. so he changed another $10 worth of credits! This time he got real lucky! He actually won $40 worth of credits after like 15-20 mins of play! so we b4 tat was like since we did not win, we want to hear the jackpot machine giving out the 'coin' sound.. so we ask our sgt to press the button, "collect".. and the money juz drop out like tat lah frm the machine! fwah! tell u! you never feel so happy in ur life b4 when u hear the sound of money! ha.. then when we see the winning of credits kept increasing, our blood pressure juz gets higher and higher.. Feel so good to win money sia!
Sometimes I really wonder whether ppl do really die of heart attack becos' of the jackpot machine.. the thrills you go thru with a jackpot machine is like a rollercoaster ride! =)
Then, my friends and I was like, "aiyah.. shld have played with my sgt becos he so lucky.. then who koes we win money!" It was so addictive and tempting tat I wanted to try again loh.. but no.. I shall not succumb to such a temptation! No good, no good!
Frm this trial play, I can conclude tat jackpot can either make u rich overnite or bankrupt overnite! No joke!!

Then at nite, its dinner at my base's hanger! The food there was superb! Though its was not like shan1 zhen1 hai3 wei4 (which means in chinese, for delicacies)(man.. this chinese phrase took me to look into 2 dictionaries for this phrase.. the enlish-chinese and chinese-english dictionary!), but its good enuf! There was kueh pi tee, rojak, carrot cake, oyster ommelette (aka or3 jian1), satay, tempura prawns, masala chicken, papadom, brani, sushi, and many more!! There was also entertainment frm the SAF Music and Drama Company (its been a while since I had seen their performance! I think its since BMT POP, which was like 6-9 mths back!! The performance which I think its the most unique was the team called, "Fusion Ensemble".. whereby they played popular 80's chinese and english hits and of course, some modern ones, with the following instruments: Keyboard, Drums, Saxophone, Bass guitar, electric guitar, cello, violin, erhu, ti-zhi or commonly known as a bamboo flute!.. they are real good lah! they sound so harmonize together!!)

The best of all was the Tiger beer of course (and the Tiger beer gals.. they are pretty.. oops.. ok.. next!).. I actually drank 5 cups! *gulp*..
What happen was the first cup was like a welcome cocktail.. then, then I felt the taste was like a bit too much.. so I switched to fruit punch..
After tat, its toasting time.. so I drank beer again.. and this is the 2nd cup..
Then again, its toasting again, so another cup.. this is the 3rd cup..
Then came the Tiger gal, so she helped us refill.. and as I watch the performance and drink and its done.. so this is the 4th cup!
Then came another toasting, so I drank another cup, and this is the 5th cup!

Its like tat drink and drink, until you dun koe tat u drank 5 cups liaoz!.. but thank goodness, we all ja-boed (malay for "go off") after tat.. One of the ppl we knew (a newbie lah), actually got drunk becos' of too many ppl toast him liaoz.. so we carry him back to his bunk!

Then as I walk, I feel as if my whole head was very light! But the thing is tat I can walk straight!! So I share cab with my friends, and once in the cab, I was like sweating lah.. I asked my friends whether they hot, and they said no.. so I was like blowing the air-con to myself lah! Then as I juz start to close my eyes in the cab, I can sleep very soundly loh.. but I force myself not to sleep lah.. juz in case.. so I guess I was half-drunk!

Came back home.. juz nice cell almost finishing.. didn't attend it.. I went to bathe and took out my contacts.. and I actually use a fan to blow my eyes b4 taking out my contacts, becos' my eyes were too wet and therefore very hard to take out! ha.. funny rite?

After bathing, one of the cell members ask me why I so stone.. I told him tat I was half-drunk becos' I drank 5 cups of beer! I was inititally dun want to bring in the fan.. but then even though after bathing when I sleep, I was quite refreshed but then I felt so hot.. I was sweating profusely like a pig lah!.. ya.. so its like I slept since 9.30pm tat nite, till like 7am yesterday (its a total of 10 hrs sleep.. and usually I dun sleep tat much! so I really guess I got drunk! but thank goodness, no hangover!)

(2) Oktoberfest @ Marche, Heeren Orchard

Well.. yesterday I think was the best time of my life! I actually went for a drinking session yesterday..

After church yesterday, we all proceed to Marche @ Heeren Orchard to celebrate the October babies birthday (Ash, Andrew, Xinyi, Jeslyn & Esther).. so Tjow had a funny idea of asking them 5 to 'tah' 1 litre of beer! I tried the beer.. no kick sia! Tjow said it rite! "Tiger beer more kick!" Even a seldom drinker, Jeslyn, also agrees! ha.. talk abt she being not a drinker!

Anyway, Tjow came up with the idea lah.. so the guys (ryan, tjow, alvin, me and wai kheong) also tah 1 litre, but then its the dark brew, 7.6% and above kind of alcohol! So its like I take a few gulpfuls and I was like quite 'seh' already.. in like 15 mins after I drank, I felt my head was heavy and I'm starting to slant! ha.. but then, not tat jialat after a while.. it seems to subside after a while loh..

Then after Marche, Tjow was like saying, "its a rare occasion tat I joined them, so I muz follow them loh".. I was like saying "ok" reluctantly lah.. but then, I suppose joining them once in a while won't hurt?

So I followed in Ryan's car (actually all guys are in Ryan's car, whilst the gals are in Corn's car), and went to Marina Square to play pool loh!

All thanx to Joyce (our blur guide.. ha =P) tat we almost got lost! But fortunately there was *ahem* the Suntec area guide, tat I found the way there! Oh.. then Tjow saw Starbucks and he bought the "Tazo Lemon Ice Shaken Tea".. very nice!! I think I'm gonna get a cup today! If you like sour and refreshing stuff, this is the tea for you!! Yummy!! Its heavenly lah!

Then when we reached there, Alvin has his hands so 'itchy' tat he went to play arcade, which was also in the same place as pool.. He as usual played Time Crisis 3, but then he said the machine sux lah, becos' of the sensitivity of the gun.. not good.. so yupz.. dun koe wat other games he played with Tjow.. for me, I played a few rounds of pool.. and I muz said tat its quite addictive lah! Its been a long time since I've played pool! ha..

So we played until like 1.15am.. so its like once I see Tjow kept his pool stick, I was like "hooray..", and I lift up both hands! ha.. its late and I'm 'seh' already.. but Tjow said tat its such a rare occasion tat Jeslyn actually join us this late, and she waited PATIENTLY! ha!!

then Corn fetched me back lah.. thanx Corn! =).. and by the time I reached home and bathe and stuff, its like 2.35am liaoz when I sleep!

Woke up this morning at 9.30am.. and then brush teeth, do my Quiet Time, and then now my blog and upload photos and frantically sent to ppl the photos of yesterday's nite event! Oh.. the photos are ready for viewing.. pls go to the photo gallery and look for the title, "Oktoberfest @ Marche Photos!", and you wld be able to see it!

*GJ ppl: If you want the video of the drinking session, pls. dun hesitate to msn or email me abt your request for the video, and I wld gladly sent it to you.. but then, the video is 37mb! so suggest its either MSN or gmail pls, or else it won't sent!
So if you wanna my msn add, its westlifer1984@hotmail.com..
another alternative is look for either Andrew, Alvin or Tjow! They've got a copy of it liaoz! =)
As for the photos, pls. refer to the link, "Oktoberfest @ Marche Photos!" in my photo gallery! Thanx!

ok.. so I guess all good things muz come to an end!! Going back to camp tonite, becos' tml got CoC rehearsal and whole day somemore.. haiz.. =(.. so the reason why I agreed for the outing with Tjow yesterday, is so as to make me feel better and I wanna enjoy my last free weekend, becos after this, there is mounting and stuff and no confirm free weekend, unless its dismounting or confirm free weekends! =).. so ya..

** Tjow, if you are reading this, thanx 4 the invite to the outing yesterday.. enjoyed myself throughly, though I'm like super shack after tat! Thanx! and hope to go out with u all again soon =).. cannot everytime lah.. or else, parents will scold if I come back this late at nite! ha..

ok lah.. gtg liaoz.. bathe and go out with family, b4 bking later!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Drinking is addictive *hick*,
<<< abriel >>>

What a day! Phew!!

I think I'm getting to be sun-burnt.. my skin is starting to itch and it is red! definitely sunburnt!! *itchy* *itchy*

today drill was all right lah.. we as GOH very funny.. when we are in our vest and slack, we dun perform the drills tat well.. but when we don on our No. 1 suit, suddely our drills become so "zai3", but of course there are mistakes!! but overall, still good lah! =)

Today again got a few hrs of undisturbed sleep at camp! Fwah!! I slept so soundly loh!! Too tired already, despite I had like 6 hrs of sleep yesterday nite! This is probably the result of shackness after drill!

Its no exception now tat I'm very shack today, becos of the rehearsals this morning! *yawnz*

Well.. made a discovery today.. I was friendster surfing on my cousin's profile, and suddenly I stumbled upon one of the "more-familar-face-in-NDP-Colour-Party-but-still-a-look-but-never-say-hi" face.. and its becos of this CoC Parade tat at least we started to chat more!!.. and now I'm dying to koe the answer of how he manage to koe my cousin! muz find out frm him someday!! =).. this shows how small Singapore is sia!

Tml is my base anniversary.. so there is no need for us to go camp tml.. but then I have to stay back for the base dinner tml which will end abt 9.30pm.. so tat means late nites and taking cab home! well.. quite happy lah.. wat more can u ask? free flow of beer as well as free food! I'm quite sure tt there wld be some entertainment too!! =).. so I think since tml dun need to bk in so early, therefore it wld be I think quite a late nite for me.. (its either late nite or I wake up late!)

Oh no! I have nothing else to say! I suddenly hv a lost of speech! Ahhh...

Oh well.. then I think I wld end here to end ur misery of hearing me complain =)

Base anniversary, Upz lah!!,
<<< abriel >>>

Half dead!

Well.. this morning at camp was quite a peaceful one.. It was also quite a smooth sailing one.. I actually got a few hrs of non-disturb rest (ie, sleeping lah!) in bunk! It was raining heavily in the morning, so to sleep is qutie shiok... becos' its cooling mah.. machiam like aircon!

before I continue, I wld think tat one of my sgt is actually reading my blog.. becos' I had been to his blog, and there are 2 obvious hints tat he is reading my blog on a often basis.. even his tag board has the word, "shout" in it.. juz like mine.. which of course, the name, "shoutbox" is of course originally mine loh.. then another hint which makes me think tat he is reading my blog, is tat his latest post actually deals with the title of the album tat I put in my blog! Isn't both events juz very coincidental?? so have to very careful abt wat I say =).. scared shuo1 ta1 de4 huai4 hua4! ha.. anyway, sgt, if you are really reading my blog, will appreciate if you tag into my shoutbox.. so at least I dun need to keep myself in the suspense or stuff! =)

Anyway, today's rehearsal in the afternoon is not really a good thing after all! We started like at 1pm, but didn't end until 6.30pm! The parade RSM said tat our drills very slack and not up to standard.. so tats why we have to do the drills over and over again!! The worse is actually the GOH contingent (which is us!).. everyone went back already and send arms, whilst we are still like practicing our mark-time.. pls. lah.. I felt so lethargic and restless and tired (and I'm sure the rest of the ppl agrees with me loh!) tat I really can't perform my best!!

So after the drills, by the time I reach home, its like 8pm.. went to eat my dinner, and now blogging loh.. think soon I will fall asleep! tired and shack sia!! Its always 3.45am tat I need to wake up and close my room window, becos of the rain!! For the past 2 days, its raining at 3.45am and I need to close my window, thereby disturbing my sleep and I dun sleep enuf! Actually u tell me.. where is sleep enuf?? ha.. =)

ok lah.. gtg and do my stuff liaoz.. Ciaoz! =)

Shack till the core,
<<< abriel >>>

H.A.P.P.Y. is how you spell "Happy"!

Oh man! I'm elated!! I'm over the moon! Over some personal reasons as well as now my rehearsals are in the afternoon.. so tat means I get to sleep at home and spent more time in front of my computer and do other stuff! Yeh!!

Today at bunk was fun, fun and more fun! Initially, I thought my day was juz to scrape off the kilat off my boots and polish shine my boots! but then, after several attempts to take out the kilat off my boots and polishing shine it (I did it for 2 hrs!! believe it or not.. and the boots is not perfect.. in fact, its looks much worst.. if I knew earlier, I shld not remove the kilat.. but its a requirement.. haiz), I gave up the idea.. Too tired and 'sick' of doing it again!

Then wat I did was play with my bunk mates, 'Monopoly'.. and we played to pass our time till bk-out time loh! The funny thing is tat, there is this sgt who like felt a bit bored, and so he juz came to our bunk and juz like talk to us and at the same time, play 'concern' of how we do abt our boots.. then he got shock.. he saw us gathering, and we played monopoly.. then, he juz joined us for the session loh.. and whenever we started playing, he played too! Cool right?? Didn't koe Monopoly cld be tat fun! =)

Then we played till bk-out loh.. so fun! In the end, I got bankrupt, and surprisingly, my sgt is NOT the overall winner! He got bankrupt in the end too! ha..

Then this Fri (7/10) is my base anniversary.. so tat means got free dinner and Tiger Beer! yeh!! gonna drink to my heart's content, but gonna watch out for those calories becos,

1 gram (g) of alcohol = 7 kilo-calories (kcal)

Ok.. I'm being scientific here, but its good rite? You learn something new everyday! =)

ok lah.. gtg and bathe liaoz.. I reeked of sweat?? ha..

Still surviving in GOH,
<<< abriel >>>

TIME!

Hey ppl!! Its time for me to blog.. got lots of stuff to achieve tonite.. so need to do everything chop-chop!!
*PS: I've changed the music of my blog! Nice right =)

Well.. currently into Corrine May's Song.. love the song, "Everything In Its Time".. Here are the lyrics:

Everything In Its Time

Sometimes I wonder what lies ahead
How long till my hunger is fed
They say it's hard to make it in this part of town
so many people on this merry-go-round

Some folks try astrology
Some turn to crystal balls
To find an answer
To get through it all
I just fall on my knees and I try to pray
In the silence I can hear Him say

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its time

I often feel like that i'm two steps behind
Somebody must have moved that finish line
There are a thousand reasons
why I should give up
But I'm stubborn in the things I believe

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to the patience and watch for the sign

'Cause maybe there's another plan
One I still can't see
A little surprise, like your love in your life
Funny how time changes how we see

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to the patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its time
Everything in its time

Well.. this song is so touching.. you juz see the lyrics and u koe wat it is liaoz!! It speaks a very powerful message in a song!

Currently in a dilemma as to what to do over a personal matter, and I guess this song really speaks of what God's answer for this matter!

"Sometimes I wonder what lies ahead.. To find an answer, to get through it all, I just fall on my knees and I try to pray in the silence I can hear Him say.. I promise you, the answer will come, hold on to patience and watch for the sign.. Everything in its time"

This few phrases in the song really speaks great words frm God over this matter =)

Anyway, on a happy note, its me bking in tml morning! Yeh! Today drill was not as shack as I thought.. its as usual under the hot sun lah! so not so bad.. but then, once we are about to bk out, my sgt told us tat those who has kilat on their boots, we have to scrape them and polish using kiwi! My goodness! how to do this?? waste my time.. so ya.. so tml, I have to do it in bunk liaoz.. =(

Oops.. time is running out.. need to do my other stuff liaoz! Busy.. busy.. busy..

0745. Sembawang Air Base.

Everything in its time,
<<< abriel >>>

Shopping and more shopping!!

$$$ is the word to describe today!! I went shopping like siaoz today sia! Spend quite a few lump sum, but for a good cause lah! =).. anyway, shopping to me is a great and fun thing! It helps me to relief stress and makes me feel happy!

I starting to think that shopping is like a drug to me, which gets me high.. do you all feel the same?? Maybe you can feedback to me via my shoutbox? =)

I today actually found a bag which I like (to replace my camp bag lah), but then the big one is currently out of stock in the whole Singapore!.. so I'm currently waiting for their call loh.. see how.. maybe tml or sumthing I will got to Queenstown Shopping Centre and check it out loh! See whether they have it!

Can't find the photo of the bag in the net I want! wasted.. anyway, tat bag is called "Vertikal Outbound".. so ya.. if you manage to see it somewhere, dun hesitate to give me a call ya?? I wld be most grateful! =)

ok.. went to Plaza Singapura foodcourt for lunch and as usual, ate my yong tao fu frm the same store.. then at nite, went to Marina Square food court and ate curry mee and the ice yam paste with gingko nuts (its practically called "orh ni".. yupz.. nice nice! my meals are so good today sia!!

ok lah.. gtg and bathe and bk in later in camp.. tml got drills again.. oh no.. the tormentous drills once more.. haiz.. =(

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

A "red lobster" in the making,
<<< abriel >>>

Its hard!

Hey ppl! its time for me to blog again! Dun sigh.. it wont be long.. *ya.. as if*.. ha.. juz kidding! I try to make it short and sweet.. so enuf of me crapping.. me gonna start..

Today is really hard.. Hard as in the events happening around me! so here's why, and at the end of this blogpost, you wld koe why I said its hard!

(1) Childish Children's Service in Church

The service (sermon and the praise & worship session) today in church was absolutely CHILDISH! My goodness!! How did I manage to sit thru the 1.5hrs of childishness?? *gawks in disbelief*..
I was like getting bored halfway lah.. and the tone of adults speaking to the children is like so childish loh.. machiam like telling a fairy tale to the children.. there seems to be articulation in speech of the ppl on the stage speaking to the children.. I'm sure u koe wat I mean rite ?!?

But come to think of it, its Children's Day celebration today in church.. so everything muz be childish! I was siting next to Jeremy and talking to him (discussing at times abt how childish one can be when he/she is a child) abt how we have matured thru the years.. And frm tat, I realised tat I have like 9 yrs left my Sunday School class and sat in the main congregation!! It has been 9 yrs, juz like tat! Time really pass so fast in a twinkle of an eye!

(2) Tjow ranting abt the kids!

Well.. Tjow (my fellow youth in church) seems to be the 'man' when handling kids! I love his kids-handling method, becos' he has the power to discipline them! He has been assigned to look after 4 kids today at the service.. almost every youth got 4 kids.. except me whom I have none! actually, I dun koe wat to do if I have 4! my goodness!!

Anyway, everytime he looks after the kids in the church services, there seems to be something funny happening!
Last wk (it was my church anniversary), he also looked after 4 kids.. then being his friendly self, he asked one boy this question,
"Are you hungry?"

Guess wat's the boy's answer? He answered,
"No, I'm John"

When I heard abt this, I almost pengz!

Then this wk, something happened again when he looked after another 4 kids! This time, its involving a girl and a boy.. Do not wish to describe wat happens.. but wat I can say is tat the girl and boy has some perverted behaviour! *gulpz*.. my goodness.. such a young age! *gawks again in disbelief!*

Its really fun to hear Tjow's ranting abt the kids! Ha.. =)

(3) Children Control!

Then today after service, initially, I was not involved in helping the kids and all.. but then I got nothing to do and so I got bored, and moreover, there was like a shortage of manpower, so I lent my services/help to bring down the kids and also to help carry the goodie bags for the children!

So its like me controlling a crowd of like 10 children.. and I tell you.. they are even much harder to control than the crowd control at my camp! This is becos the children do not really like walk in straight lines to the boarding bus site, or the children all look the same! So the only way to identify them is thru the colour coded sticker on their shirt!

Phew! Children crowd control is tough job!

(4) Meer words!

Hey NS ppl.. if you have a copy of this mth's Pionner magazine and you read it, then you wld find this paragraph very familiar:

"What struck me the most was how Singapore is able to become one of the most respected countried in the international community, despite its small size, " said Mr Joshua Gouw Kun Long from Catholic Junior College. "For young males like me, it makes me look forward to National Service."

Extracted frm Pioneer Magazine, September 2005 issue, Pg 14, "Meeting the future leaders"

You wld realise tat the last line of the paragraph, I have bold it! This is becos, its natural for someone with uniform group background to like eager to go NS, and usually, tats their mentality of them before entering NS.. but once you enter NS, its a different story! You wld wish you wld remain a student forever instead! Well.. I guess tat 80%-90% (if not, 99%) wld agree with me tat wat I said is true!

Anyway, the person who said this thing (ie, Mr Joshua Gouw Kun Long) is none other the Joshua tat I koe who is frm my church! I actually didnt notice it (though I've read finish the mag, but have only read the left column and not the right!) until my best bud frm church, Alvin, actually told me abt it.. and after which I knew it, I spread to almost my whole youth group actually koes abt this!! And I've promised Joshua tat I wld publicise this thing on my blog, and there it is! If you, Joshua Gouw Kun Long, is reading this, your wish is my command! It is in my blog!! No escaping!! wahahaha... *evil laugh*
Alvin was worse.. He said he is considering to scan the page in 1600 dpi (ie, photo quality) and put it in his blog.. as to whether he does tat is another story!! Joshua, so you better pray hard tat he wld forget the matter!

*PS: Mr Joshua Gouw, you are fortunate enuf tat I did not post your pic.. or else, ppl will start bashing you up when they see ya on the streets! ha.. =P

(5) Hard to believe!

Well.. this is something really hard to believe.. today, then I knew tat one of the relief teacher (who was teaching me E. Maths and a bit of English when I was Sec 3), was actually the father of my fellow youth group member, Ryan.. it was really hard to believe at first.. but then as time goes by, I juz believe loh.. becos at first sight, Ryan and his dad looks totally different! The world is so small lah! Juz can't believe it!

(6) Personal sharing!

Today after church, went with the youths to Cuppage food court for dinner! the reason why we didnt go to Meridian Hotel or Cuppage terrace is becos they want to have a Youth Camp meeting at Cuppage Foodcourt, becos of some conveniences for the meeting!

So today the table was actually initially sat by a lot of ppl.. but then they moved.. so its left with my best bud, Alvin, and another youth member, Jeremy.. so 3 of us are like shifting tables to eat..

I ate the meatball soup with rice frm a pig organ soup stall (thinking tat the soup wld be power-filled with grounded black pepper).. but I was wrong! It sux lah! I knew I shld have eaten either the same stall as Alvin or order Malay food juz like Jeremy! haiz.. =(

Anyway, after we 3 have finished eating, we shifted tables to nearer to the other youths.. and when we sat there, Alvin got a drink and I've got myself a bowl of mango lychee ice dessert, despite my fleme in my throat (becos' of the recovery of my sore throat)!

Then as time pass, Jeremy had to shift tables again for attending the mtg (which is juz opposite lah!).. and then its left with Alvin and myself!

Then, as Alvin and I juz talk, we started to get real personal.. and he shared his personal stuff whilst I shared mine! We both had a very good time of sharing! Alvin, if you are reading this, thank YOU once again for providing a listening ear !! You will ALWAYS be my best buddy! =).. Cheers!

ok lah.. I think I have talk too much! sorry for being so loh-soh.. ha..

Off to dreamland,
<<< abriel >>>