The Unexpected!

Well.. first and foremost, I wld like to say tat the signing up for the Progress Package is open for ONLINE users already. Below is a step by step of how to sign up if you dun koe how..

(a) Kindly click here to go to the website.

(b) Click the choice, "Sign up for my progress package".

(c) There you wld be given the choice as to whether do you want to use "SingPass" or "One time PIN"..
(i) For one time PIN, refer back to the notification letter and look right at the BOTTOM whereby it states a sentence like this..
"*To sign up for your Progress Pacakage at website (www.progress.gov.sg), you can either use your SingPass or this one-time PIN xxxxxxxx. This PIN is valid until 30 June 2006."
(Kindly note tat each PIN number is unique to each person's notification letter. So you CANNOT use the same PIN for another transaction. So ya.)

(d) Then login with ur NRIC number and one time PIN/SingPass..

(e) Once you are login, type in ur bank account no. (to allow CPF to transfer the money frm their fund to yours) and select ur bank.

(f) Click "submit"

(g) You wld be given a confirmation screen. Read what it is written and if you see tat everything is correct, click "Confirm".
*Note tat once u click "confirm", you CANNOT change the details anymore.. so muz check b4 clicking =)

Ok.. so much so for Progress Package.. so right now, I wld start my blogpost proper..

Well.. for once, I'm starting to feel tat wat u write in blogs, you muz be very careful! Becos' you never know who is reading your blog. The most unexpected people wld actually be reading your blog. If they give u good commends, its ok.. but if they are not or for a matter of fact, they gossip becos of wat I write in my blog (which I certainly believe is my freedom of speech and I can either blog abt my ups and downs in any way I want!), then I wld think that they are not very ethical abt it.

You readers muz be confused abt why I suddenly mentioned abt this. It all started with my previous blogpost of Guy A and B lah! Apparently some ppl whom I knew actually read my blogpost for tat day (and mind you tat these ppl are unexpected!) and they kept pestering me to reveal who is Guy A.. they are curious to koe lah.. A lot of times things juz happen and I want to tell them the truth, but I held back my decision, fearing tat it cld start to sour lasting friendships.. so I guess I juz have to take this lying down. When I cldnt take it anymore and I suddenly "exploded", then maybe I will reveal it out of anger.. but right now, it seems to be still in control (I hope!).. enuf abt this liaox, or else ppl wld start the whole issue again.. I juz hate it when ppl start to bring up this issue.. I wish this has never happened.. haix..

Anyway, mounted duty with my ex-PC, 2LT Ivan Goh.. He was all right lah, except he was more garang.. he practically treated us as his current shift and expects us to follow all procedures tat he has placed for his current shift.. Not to mention the contingency drills too.. he practically imparted his drills for his shift to us, and he practiced it at the Main Guardroom..

However, I was quite fortunate in a sense tat I went to Eastern.. which is supposed to have drills but then it didnt happened, becos my assumption was tat he think its not necessary becos more crucial drills applied to Main Guardroom.. so ya.. anyway, I went to Eastern with the new sgt, 3SG Zhiwen.. he was quite good in a sense tat our average duty was 10-12 hrs and most of the table duty, he helped to do.. He didnt want to tax us too much! Unlike some other sgt who juz threw the whole mounting table to be splitted among the 5-6 men, 3SG Zhiwen (who was my sgt at Eastern yesterday) actually did table duty frm 0900-2100 and 0500-0900. Good right? Though I was unarm most of the time, I did a do-4-rest-4 duty.. which was quite shiong lah.. So I guess I was justified lah in terms of duty.. Had a good mounting with 3SG Zhiwen though =).. Dun mind going to Eastern with him again =D

Surprisingly, 2LT Ivan Goh (the PC tat mounted duty with us yesterday) did not like give a long debrief.. he juz say a sentence which was 2 mins long.. so ya.. ha.. best right? Last time when I was in shift 1, his debrief is always like 30 mins long! So ya..

Changed and go home.. on the way, I suddenly tot of it and I asked him who is mounting duty with us on Sunday (2/4).. and he actually said 2LT Sean.. When I heard it, I was happy lah =).. Hope Sunday mounting wld be good loh.. =)

Then afternoon came back and watched a bit of taped programme (wanted to watch the taped 9pm show yesterday nite, but then, it was last minute and I have not tried taping it on the spot.. moreover, it was my mum who helped to record.. so ya.. haix.. so in the end, never watch loh.. haix..).. Then its me surfing the net a while before sleeping loh..

Woke up actually wanted to go to Toa Payoh and buy the rojak (craving lah!).. but then didnt go, becos raining mahx!.. so ate dinner and watched a bit of TV, before ppl start appearing in my hse for cell.. Facilitated the bible study today and ya.. not bad I muz say.. hahax.. *thick skin*.. Then after cell, now on computer blogging loh..

Sleeping soon liaox.. waking up early tml to watch my taped prog! so ya.. =)..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 201 DAYS to ORD!!

Expect the unexpected,
<<< abriel >>>

Shacked after 1 duty!!

Well.. for once, I did not mind being a 22 yr old guy! You koe why? I juz receive a good news.. I'm gonna get quite a sum frm the Singapore Government due to the Progress Package thingy! Man.. If ever I wld need to go for voting, I wld vote for PAP! PAP rulez!! =).. Well.. wld not want to disclose how much I'm getting, juz in case those of you who are under 21 who are reading this, wld probably bash me up when I disclose the amount.. I can identify with those who have juz turn 21 or are still 20.. you all are so close yet so far... *grinz*.. ok.. I shall stop being a saddist and shall carry on with my blog! =)

Oh.. juz to tell you all sumthing.. yesterday officer (2LT Sean) who mounted duty with us, is one of the BEST PC (Platoon Commander) that I have done duty with! He is receptive as well as flexible, but at the same time, maintain order in the shift! How cool is tat rite? Well.. too bad he is not going to do duty with us during our next mounting.. haix.. its my ex PC (Shift 1 PC tat is, 2LT Ivan) tat is mounting with us lah.. anyway, how I wish 2LT Sean cld permenently be my PC for my GOH shift.. haix.. but its great working with him lah =)

Anyway, yesterday was my first duty after such a long while (abt 2 wks!).. apparently was quite shacked.. though my duty was actually one of the slackest (due to the complain of someone and then my sgt actually in the end, instead of him benefitting only, I did benefit frm it too!).. so becos of this, my 1700-1900 duty was cancelled lah! wohoho.. but then, becos no one told me tat my duty has been cancelled, therefore I woke up and only to koe tat my duty has been changed.. haix.. so I can't sleep liaox and then proceeded to the pass changing office to do some admin stuff VOLUNTEERILY for the shift for close to an hour!

However, as time pass, I'm not sure whether I was really angry at tat time or was I juz really pissed off and got enuf of this tat I muz really blog abt it to vent my anger.. Well, I wld not want to mention names in this blog.. let's juz call him Guy A. So here's wat happened..

Guy A was with another guy which both of them went to another gate to do duty yesterday morning for 4 hrs becos he was P1 the day before.. So as a matter of fact, the sgt who planned duty for both guys, shld actually take the 4 hrs into consideration and consider the 4 hrs as part of their total 12-14 hrs duty (total duty for each person is variant, which is depending on the total strength for tat day)..

The other guy with guy A (whom I will juz call him Guy B) actually did not make so much 'noise' at first.. he wanted to juz like 'ok loh.. juz do it loh'.. but then he kenna psycho by Guy A and then he also wanted to make 'noise'.. Its not Guy A psycho Guy B to talk to sgt abt it, which I was angry abt! Its juz tat I juz cldn't take Guy A's nonsense anymore! He has always been doing this when he sees his duty is quite shiong compared to the rest! Actually, frankly speaking, most of us wld juz like "sgt plan wat, we do wat loh!"..

If you have seen the detailing carefully, you wld have realised tat almost all of us were equal in our night duties.. the only difference is the time of our duties and our type of duty.. but in actual fact, all of us sleep abt the same no. of hours at nite.. it cld probably differ in the time of sleeping and waking up.. so I dun really see why he must make such a big fuss over it.. I tried explaining to him abt this, but then, he wld juz tell me tat I'm having the slackest duty.. so I shld not complain.. when in actual fact, its no difference frm him loh! Then sumtimes I wld like get so worked up when I talk to him abt this issue, tat I wld like brushed him off and refused to hear his explanation.. argghhh..

But things wld be different if he has the slackest duty.. he wld not like make any noise and he wld not even boost tat he has the slackest duty.. he wld juz keep quiet.. ya lah.. who wld be in the right mind to sound out tat they have a slack duty rite? so ya.. I juz cant stand his attitude lah!

Well.. on the outside, I may be good to him.. I may even chatted with him on MSN.. but actually at the back, I somewhat dislike him.. its only I did not say only.. so is this considered as backstabbing? I dun koe.. I dun wish to raise this issue to him, fearing for a fact tat he wld get mad with me and stuff.. haix.. totally confused!

Ok.. enough abt him! Anyway, after came back home frm duty, I was at the pt of shackness, and I actually slept frm 1300-1800.. if my parents dun call me to wake up frm my afternoon nap, I think until now I wld still be sleeping! Tats how tired I am lah..

Juz received a msg frm my sgt tat tml my squadron have a flight run lead by my OC.. and yes.. its again the GOH shift.. becos the mounting and dismounting shift cant be running lah.. dun koe why GOH shift so sway.. yes.. it may keep fit, but then, I find tat its totally waste of strength lah.. but wat to do? I juz have to do it.. muz submit to authority (at least tats wat the SAF taught us to do or else we wld get 'charged').. haix..

ok.. enuf of the sad stuff.. besides my Progress Packagae deal, I'm also happy for various stuff.. here they are..

Firstly, juz checked my SAF E-mart credit and I was notified tat my credits came liaox! So ya.. now its time for me to get some credit back frm ppl and for me to repay back their credits.. so ya.. so I'm going E-mart shopping tml =)

Last but not least, my long awaited lift has arrived in my block! After abt 6 mths of noisy sounds (becos of piling works and stuff) n countless efforts to keep my room dust free, the lift in my corridor is finally READY! Yeh! The best of all.. though this lift is gonna be shared by my whole block, but for my storey, it only has 4 units (including mine!).. so ya.. so still can maintain a bit of privacy though my room is like 5 metres away frm the lift.. But the best thing is tat frm storey 1, I can like dun need to walk so far juz to take the lift.. Its like a 2 min walk frm the bus stop (which I alight when coming back frm camp), I can reach the lift and then walk for 10 sec and you reach my doorstep.. instead of the traditional way of walking close to 5 mins frm the same bus stop and need to walk another 2 mins frm the lift in order to reach my doorstep..

But then the bad thing is tat if I wanna open the letterbox, I wld need to walk a distance (tat is the old lift walking method!).. so ya.. haix.. see how lah.. may leave the opening of the letterbox to my parents loh.. ha.. lazy rite?

Anyway, so you koe wat this means? Frm tml morning onwards, I can take the lift in front of my corridor.. dun need to walk.. ha.. see how lazy I am? =) So happy ah, so happy! Ha.. =)

ok.. enuf of blogging.. and now back to chatting and surfing and stuff.. =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 204 DAYS to ORD!!

Shld I be happy or sad,
<<< abriel >>>

A Change Is Good!

Yes ppl! I've changed my blogskin again! But then, this time it juz took me abt a mere hour or so, compared to 6 hrs last time! Finding this skin was also easy.. =)
So how do you all like it? Better than the last? I'm sure!! And oh.. music has changed too! Comment it on my shoutbox ya =)

Anyway, this morning woke up and then was on the computer the whole morning.. or shld I say the whole day.. was on and off the computer (was eating lunch and stuff mah!)

Then in the afternoon, as usual, my bro, Sidney, called me and rant to me abt his driving and then he told me he wanted to buy a new hp, which was Nokia 6280. He said he's getting fed up with his Motorola L7 and he said tat no matter how attractive Motorola is gonna come out with its new models, he is gonna boycott it lah.. so I was like impressive.. and I remembered once he told me abt how he hated Nokia hps.. but now, guess he had no choice but to go back to Nokia! See.. Nokia still the best! =).. And then he told me he wanted to get Nokia 6280, so I searched on the web for it, and man.. wasn't I tempted to buy it today? But after thinking it much and enquiring abt it, found it was not a good idea after all.. though its now my dream phone, but then the price to pay for it is simply too steep lah! After trading in my 6230 (which has a value of $150), I still have to pay $598 for the phone under contract.. man.. this is expensive lah! Maybe will get this phone when I ORD? So I guess Sidney wld start to influence me with the gadgets and stuff.. and soon, I wld think I wld become a gadget freak too! Ahhh...

Then after I was bored with my computer stuff, I lie on my bed and started reading my book.. and as usual, I fell asleep..

Woke up at abt 1700.. bathe and get ready to proceed to Sizzler, Toa Payoh for Wendy's farewell dinner who wld be relocated to Beijing for 3 yrs! Man!

When I went there, most of them are already there liaox.. Then one of the ppl there ask me the same question, as to whether do I feel tat once I pass the age of 21, the yrs of me being older wld juz pass very fast? I cldnt agree more lah!

Had a hot & cold combo salad bar dinner.. apparently, everyone ate it loh.. the spread of food was rather nice.. got seafood to meat.. not bad and worth the price of $23.80++.. so ya..

During the breaks between eating, Aunty Siew Fung (jeremy's mum) showed us her new bought camera and then ppl started to take photos and stuff.. so ya..

Then all of us were on the topics of gadgets lah =)..

Then I whipped out my camera after tat, and then, I decide to show them the picture u see on the left.. and weird answers started to come out of it.. here are some..
(a) A wrapper for a present (by Carlise)
(b) A snowman (by Carlise)
(c) I went to the toilet and 'lau sai' on the paper (by Huimin)
Other weird answers I can't remember liaox.. so ya.. but they are all weird.. Jeremy and I was like whilst they say the answers, we were there laughing our hearts out lah.. If you all cant guess, its actually my pimple blood on a piece of Clean & Clear blotting paper, job courtesy of Tjow! Tjow, if you are reading this, you shld be amused! In fact, very amused! People can actually guess it as something nice.. wahaha..

Then, its time for dessert.. and Huimin was like asking Derek to make for her ice-cream and Derek ask her how many rounds, and she said 5.. and true enuf, he came with a 5 round ice cream.. then I was like ok.. since he can make 5, I shall tell him to make for me 8! N he gamingly said 'ok'.. true enuf, he came with an 8 round ice cream cone and we were all surprised.. so I took photo lah (as usual).. then Huimin was like telling me, since it was my bday, why dun she give me a bday present of the ice-cream? And I thought she was joking.. after the shot was taken, she immediately push me to the ice cream and the 8 rounds of ice cream was somewhat smashed.. and then, she used her ice cream and 'bua' my face.. how disgusting was tat lah! but it was all of great fun! "thanx" hor Huimin! =D

Its really great fun to see the ppl again and chat with them! As usual, Huimin was in her funny self and the joker of the group! Oh.. Joshua Gouw was also suppose to come, but then, he actually forgot abt the whole event and at tat time when I msg him, he was still at home.. so ya.. quite disappointed he didnt come loh.. haix..

Anyway, not a lot of photos being taken today.. in fact only 4.. so anyway, pls. visit, Photo Gallery > Church (OCC/HCC/GJ) Events > Wendy Farewell Dinner @ Sizzler Photos!

Ok lah.. gtg liaox.. oh.. now, I'm obsessed with podcasts (all thanx to my kor, Derek, who told me tat I shld dl and listen.. very funny! so ya).. now dl it and listening loh! And indeed its funny! so ya.. =) Thanx kor! =)

its me mounting duty tml again.. haix.. after all the rehearsals.. sianx ah.. someone help me!!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 206 DAYS to ORD!!

Sianz ah,
<<< abriel >>>

A 22nd Birthday Celebration!

Well.. first of all, I wld like to thank the ppl (Mok, Ryan & Cat, Yap, Nat, Ash, Andrew, Tjow & Claudia, PK, Aaron, Natasha, Alvin, Uncle Enoch & family, Hannah & Jeremy) in my church Youth who have celebrated my bday today in one way or another! Thank you so much for the celebration as well as the bday present! It was so sweet of you all! For those who have written in the bk tat u all have given me, I juz want to say THANK YOU.. your words in the book was so sweet and I want you to know tat you are greatly appreciated! =).. Thank you all once again!!
(Photo courtesy of Yap! Thanx 4 this particular shot! You are a born photographer lah! I love this shot so much.. I think I will spam my Friendster, desktop etc with this particular shot! Ha.. love this shot so so much! Ha.. Thank you once again!)

Anyway, today I actually had high hopes or at least I was hoping tat I wld be going to a pub or sumthing with my church Youth friends to celebrate my bday.. but then I guess tat some ppl had difficulties.. so ya.. naturally I was quite disappointed initially.. but oh well.. guess it had to be at my 23rd birthday then?

Anyway, today's celebration was at Starbucks, Plaza Singapura.. we went there for some coffee.. then Catherine & Claudia was juz missing out of the blue.. dun koe where they went lah.. thought they have gone shopping or sumthing.. after a while, they came back with a Carrefour plastic bag and I can see frm the shape of it tat it was a bday cake.. so ya.. I was actually anxiously waiting.. ha.. then after a while, I saw a candle being stuck somewhere and then I knew the time was here.. Then Andrew suddenly was like leaning towards me and like block my view or sumthing.. then I knew the time has come.. see.. I'm clever ya koe.. ha.. =P.. So I was more or less prepared tat they are going to sing me a bday song.. so ya..

Then juz as I was least expecting it, they juz push the bday cake towards me and then they started singing the bday song IN FRONT of everyone in Starbucks, and they were singing it loud loh.. so I think almost the whole Starbucks (the people inside the cafe tat is) actually koe tat I'm celebrating my bday lah.. and guess wat! Though I was prepared, at tat time when they sang the bday song to me, I was like super embarassed and I can feel on my face tat there is this surge of blood gushing up my face and I can feel tat I actually blushed at tat moment! Man.. tat was so embarassing lah! Thank goodness I didnt cry or sumthing, or else, I cld have been a drama mama or sumthing.. LOL!!

But thanx anyway guys! Guess tats wat makes this nite so memorable despite the disappointment of me not going to a pub to celebrate my bday instead.. =)

Ok.. enuf abt my bday celebration liaox.. shall blog wat happened b4 the bday celebration..

Ok.. anyway, today's service was ok.. Carlise was leading and I think I was the lead backup.. so it feels like HCC all over again.. wohoho.. Todays worship was superb I muz say, becos for the simple fact tat it all linked together (the songs tat is!).. ha.. but something was missing though.. Drums! If got drums, it wld be better lah! But my bro, Andrew, was not available for practice, so he didnt play.. he attended church but not practice.. so ya.. haix.. wasted sia! But was happy to see him at church lah, so wat more can I ask? ha.. =).. initially, I thought he cldnt attend church at all, and wanted to ask him whether he is attending my bday celebration with Tjow & the rest.. so ya.. =)

Oh.. b4 the service started, attended the music practice (which I was late as usual; cldnt get the bus and the bus took so long to arrive and then moreover, need to take the train to church.. arghh.. so my travelling time was almost 45 mins! and tats long loh!) and also Metamorphosis cell.. and I muz say Meta cell was quite interesting in a sense tat instead of the normal biblical stuff tat we do at cell, this time its in a discussion mode.. in a sense tat we discuss abt current affairs and guess wat current affair we did this time.. and yes.. u may have guess it.. its actually the "Tammy frm NYP Saga".. shall not go on and explain further, becos you all muz have koe it in one way or another! Man.. this cell beats the old fashion way of like bible study and stuff.. so ya.. Discussion of current affairs rox lah! =)

Then service starts.. uncle chong beng gave sermon, though half the time I didnt koe wat he's talking abt! Ha.. guess I was not paying attention! The only thing I actually remembered was actually the story he told us.. ha.. it doesnt help too tat I got serious STM (Short Term Memory) too! ha..

After service, went to Meridian for dinner.. and then proceeded to Starbucks for the celebration thingy loh..

Actually, Andrew has the choice to go DOTA-ing with the rest of the boys after dinner.. but then, he actually made a firm decision tat he wld be staying with tjow & the rest to celebrate my bday with me! When I heard tat, I was so touched.. and coming to think of it as I blogged, I actually wanted to tear.. ha.. Thanx bro! U are really my true bro lah =)

And if u all have seen the timing, I have made an effort to start the blogpost before the clock strikes 12 midnight.. the reason being I want ppl to see this blogpost the first thing in the morning when they read my blog =)

ok lah.. gtg and sleep liaox.. quite tired.. woke up quite early in the morning after a long sleep yesterday nite.. so ya..

Oh.. tml is another outing day for me.. gotta go to Sizzler, Toa Payoh, for a farewell dinner for Wendy who is embarking on a work journey and she will be stationed in Beijing for 3 solid yrs.. gosh.. by then, I wld like 25 yrs old! Man..

Oh.. during service today, Carlise was like asking me tat once I pass the age of 21, the subsequent yrs wld come very fast and before I koe it, I wld be 30! Man.. I was like agreeing with her all the way! It is so so fast! For those of you readers who are under 21, u may not feel tat the statement is true.. but for those who are above 21, I'm sure u wld start to agree with me loh! Do I see tat nodding? ha.. food for thought huh! =)

Gosh! As I'm posting this post, its like 0130 liaox.. need to sleep liaox or else tml can't wake up! ha..

Oh.. todays event (my bday celebration tat is) photos has already been posted up on the net.. pls. go to Photo Gallery > Church (OCC/HCC/GJ) Events > My 22nd Birthday Celebration with GJ Photos. Thanx =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 207 DAYS to ORD!!

Getting older by the day,
<<< abriel >>>

Updates..

Sorry ppl if you have been waiting for the update yesterday.. cldn't take it liaox.. too tired tats why..

The other day I went back to camp and slept overnight for the parade yesterday, went back to bunk and reached bunk.. and 20 mins later, I slept loh!

Then the morning I woke up at 0700.. did wat I wanted to do and then put on my contact lens! So by 0900, we left camp and proceeded to Tengah Air Base for the last min rehearsals prior to the parade loh!

After the parade ended, we went back camp and by the time it ended and I've reached home, its about 2000 liaox.. bathe and attended cell at my hse..

Then before they finish, my eyes was half close liaox.. then went to sleep like at 2230 and woke up at 0730 this morning.. a solid 9 hr sleep! I think I cld sleep so long is becos I did drills in the morning! Drills are tiring loh!

Then morning woke up and then watched my taped programmes, and then now on my blog typing and at the same time, chatting with an old friend of mine, Zijing.. its a long story of how I met him.. I actually met him when I was on the bus and he marching back frm doing flag lowering at Tengnah Air Base.. so ya.. after much effort to find out who he was, finally found out and remembered! Now, we are catching up with each other on MSN, and I muz say its a good chat lah.. machiam like we are best friends! And best still.. he said he's attached to GOH.. so tat means tat we have a chance to meet and catch up! Cya then bro! =)

ok lah.. oh.. Tjow has caught my hint of going to pub today.. so see whether we'll going loh! Felt so bad to like hint so much.. so guilty! Yes! I do feel guilty ok..

Ok lah.. gtg and do more chatting.. b4 I leave for church.. so ya =)

Till then,
<<< abriel >>>

Happy 22nd birthday to me!

First of all, I wld like to thank those who have sent their birthday greetings to me via SMS and online as well! Thanx for making this special day of mine a little more sweeter!

However, the person I muz really thank is none other than Xinyi. She has sent me an overseas SMS wishing me "Happy Birthday".. tat was so sweet of her lah! What happen was, my friends all bk out and only left my friend and me in bunk.. so naturally was sian loh.. then went down for lunch before proceeding to do fatigue work lohz.. then suddenly I felt my handphone moving, which says I had a msg..
Then when I unveil tat msg, it was obviously an overseas sms, becos the no. starts with +61 which is a aust country code btw.. and as I read, I realise the person sign off as Xinyi! Of course I was overjoyed lah! Xinyi, if you are reading this, you have actually made my day much sweeter than it already has! Thanx =)

This morning I saw my bro, Sidney, and he wished me "Happy Birthday".. thanx bro.. and he added tat, "go see ur friendster! your wish is my command".. for a moment, I tot he actually sent me an email or sumthing saying tat he wants me to meet him out and then we proceed to Apple shop, and then buy for me my desirable present, which is of course the iPOD Nano.. Then I realise tat Friendster how can this be? Then I finally tot is he giving me a testimonial!! So I was like chey! tat muz be it.. the testimonial loh! hahax.. how stupid can I get rite?


After did fatigue work (to be exact, we actually did plucking weeds/grass at our prowls ard the base.. so ya.. super hot and super stupid fatigue work.. haix..).. but thank goodness, after tat, we go bunk and rest and at 5pm, we bk out loh! =)

But the worse thing is tat we need to bk in tonite at 2200, becos obviously during our last rehearsal (which was the last one b4 we have our actual parade tml), 3 GOH guys fainted (the supporting no one fainted!) and of which, 2 was frm my base! haix.. super embarassed lah! So my RSM got so mad tat he made us come back 2200 tonite to have at least 8 hrs sleep.. haix.. so no choice but to leave hse at 2045 tonite.. haix.. but I guess I will sleep early tonite loh, judging frm the shagness of me doing drills on alternate days!

Well.. guess I will spend my bday celebrating probably with church friends over this wkend! Its been long since I went to a pub tat is.. *Tjow, do you copy?*.. *hint hint!*.. hahax.. =P

ok lah.. need to log off to eat dinner and watch TV liaox..

Clubster,
<<< abriel >>>

Total Defence Tour..

Yes ppl.. the highlight of my day was the Total Defence Tour (TDT)..

Went to camp this morning for abt an hour, before we left for the TDT.. The tour was ok.. we went to a few places.. here it is..

(a) Little India Arcade
(b) Abdul Ghafoor Mosque (located in Little India)
(c) Church Of True Light (located in Little India)
(d) Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple (located in Little India)
(e) Chinatown Heritage Centre (located in Chinatown of course)

The tour was interesting, as in not the places.. but the history and the culture of the place.. Found teh explanation for the "Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple" interesting, but then, I juz dun koe why.. When I visited the temple, I felt a sense of uneasiness.. yupz.. And also, I was shocked to see a chinese person actually pray to an Indian God.. hmm.. this is so so shocking lah! So yupz..

We of course walked a LOT.. so ya.. and along the way, I chatted with a few ppl whom I've never imagine I'll chat with! Its actually those HQ ppl like 2SG Kenny Law & 2 LT Sean Yeo.. It was really fun chatting with them lah =)

Our last stop was Chinatown Heritage Centre.. it was quite amazing to enter tat place.. machiam its like going back to the 50's-60's times of Singapore.. Its quite interesting to see the exhibits lah.. They all look so real.. And moreover, I'm most interested in early Chinese heritage in Singapore! However, its some parts of the exibits which I was quite afraid to enter alone! Becos its super quiet.. Quiet nvm.. its like "recorded voices of ppl" being played and other type of olden kind of music, which if you watch many ghost shows, its quite errie.. moreover, it has only dim lighting, and everywhere look so dark.. so u dun koe whether any "surprises" awaits lah.. so its quite scary.. but with some accompany, its quite harmless loh.. but I muz say, they really make up the whole place really well! Its like once you enter the stairway, you are as if being transported back in a time spaceship to the 50's. If you ever get the chance to go to Chinatown, try to make a trip to the Heritage Centre.. Its juz a 5 mins walk frm the Chinatown NEL station =).. however, its NOT admission free.. apparently, they charge per adult $8 and children, $5.

Then after there, we fall out frm there and then, I came home by taking NEL train frm Chinatown. Took train with Mark and on the train, we chatted lah.. apparently, he didnt koe I stay so close to him or best still.. he didnt koe I stayed at Serangoon! ha..

Then, came home.. bought lunch and then watch the taped programme of "Star Idol Finals".. slept for 3 hrs.. woke up and had dinner.. and then watch more TV and then now blog loh!

Actually want to watch movie after TDT but no kakki.. so ya.. in the end, came home loh! Come home also good.. can rest! =)

Ok lah.. gtg liaox... staying in camp for P1 tml and have drills tml.. haix.. sianz.. so ya..

** 2 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 211 DAYS to ORD!!

The DAY is approaching,
<<< abriel >>>

Updates..

Hey ppl.. this is gonna be a short one becos I'm sleepy liaox.. almost forgotten to blog.. so ya.. so here goes..

This morning, slept for 3 hrs in bunk, before proceeding for drill at Tengnah Air Base.. today was another vetting session, but even before it started, it actually rained for close to 1-2 hrs.. so we actually had a break of 1-2 hrs.. but thinking tat the vetting session wld be cancelled, never did we expect tat they still want to carry on.. so in the end, besides us marching and parading in the drizzling rain, one more thing is tat my shoes (n some other ppl shoes as well), were also wet.. so ya.. tats why lah..

Took cab home, becos once we finish the drill, its abt 1820 liaox.. and the bus also didnt come till close to 1900 and we were the LAST base to leave the parade place lah.. stupid bus.. anyway, so ya.. by the time we finish sending arms and go up to bunk to change and bk out, its already abt 1730 liaox..

As mentioned earlier, I share cab with my friend and then got home super hungry.. ate dinner and loads of other junk stuff (eg: potato chips and chocolate biscuits!).. gosh.. I think I wld be fat sooner or later! so ya..

Watched a bit of TV and now blog.. after bloggin, will go back to sleep I guess becos too tired lahx..

** 3 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 212 DAYS to ORD!!

The days are drawing closer,
<<< abriel >>>

Highlights (Part 2)..

Updates abt my blog..

NEW pictures being uploaded.. see the following..

(a) Photo Gallery > My Family Events > The Siblings Birthday 2006 Celebration
(b) Photo Gallery > My Experience As A Soldier Boy > The Outing Of 3 SBAB Guys

Thursday (16/3/06)

Am I That Stupid?

On tis day, did P1 at camp. Morning went for shift run and then we played ball games till abt 1000. However, was very sianz lah.. becos they play either basketball or soccer, which both I'm not interested in lah..

Went to canteen for breakfast after tat.. Then drew arms and then dun koe my P1 grp sway or wat (apparently today's P1 is NOT suppose to be mine! It is actually serving my extra. I'm clearing my 1 outstanding extra, tats why.. Anyway, the P1 sgt told me tat 4 of us have to go gate duties, and the other 1 do duty.. So I volunteered gate duty frm 1200-1530, and the other grp is frm 1530-1900.

However once I reach there, I juz realised tat I didn't bring any water bottle.. and my friend and I who were at gate duty are dying of thirst right there lah.. then at 1515, we called the other grp to find out their whereabouts! And guess wat! My friend bluffed me tat they got more fatigue work to do so tats why they wld be late (which they only told me at bunk at night when I asked them!)..

Anyway, at tat the time of the day (which of course I didnt koe its a bluff one! I trusted my friend too much!), I was super hot and thirsty.. so naturally, I wld feel a bit fustrated. So as I was very sianz, I received a call frm my bro, Sidney, telling me tat he has pass his Advance Driving Theory.. Congrats bro! But on the other hand, I suddenly felt very useless, becos its only his 2nd try and he pass, whilst I try for 2 times and also cannot pass! AND WORST STILL.. I did not take my 3rd time.. lost all hopes in my driving liaox! Felt totally demoralised and stupid lah! "Am I that stupid?" I asked myself.. Now its more or less confirmed I'm going to take my driving after I ORD; maybe after I learn a few lessons of driving, then I take my Advance Theory. Haix.. enuf said abt driving..

After gate duty, went up to bunk for a while before proceeding to the officer mess to move the remaining stuff to the original place.. but thank goodness tat the function is off and we can start to move things and stuff.. Finish it within an hour!

As if its of any consolation, tml (which is fri) is again my P1 (this time is a regimental one).. so by the time we're back frm drill tml (which is fri), its close to 2pm liaox.. will book out on sat but thank godness, its long wkend.. so this is something which I can look forward to! =)

Friday (17/3/06)

On this day, nothing much to say.. except tat its rehearsals, rehearsals and more rehearsals! Practically, we did drills frm 1100-1700! And I tell you.. its tiring lah..

With close to a thousand ppl rushing to a small changing room to change, its really a challenge to juz manoeurve urself thru the queue and get in and out of the changing room.. so unfortunately, my No. 1 jacket kenna stained a bit, but thank goodness, the warrants which checked my uniform close 1 eye a bit, becos its not the actual parade anyway.. its juz a vetting.. so ya..

reached bunk at abt 1930, after pkt dinner at cookhouse (apparently, we went too late.. they were clearing liaox!), went up to bunk and kilat my other pair of boots for mon..

But when it was almost dried, I saw tat it was not so good.. so I got worried.. but without a care, I juz went to sleep at 2200!

Then at 0100, I woke up.. kept tossing and turning.. and finally I got so fed up at 0140, I woke up and went to the toilet, and at the same time, took the clothes frm the dryer and distribute them to the ppl who wash the clothes and dry them in the dryer. After doing so, it was 0200. Still cant sleep becos I actually had a wild thought of kilating my boots at 0200.. but was too lazy.. so decide to see if I can wake up early the nxt morning, then no problem liaox..

Saturday (18/3/06)

I auto wake up at 0600, and kilat my boots till 0645.. brush teeth.. send arms at 0800 and then booked out..

Came home, use a bit of computer, b4 proceeding down to Beach Road to sew my No. 1 rank! I tell you.. I reached there at abt close to 1300, and no one actually there wanted to sew the no. 1 rank for me.. because No. 1 rank muz be hand-sewn.. unlike the no. 4 rank which is machine sewn! so ya..

All the tailors there tell me tat wkends they dun sew No. 1 rank becos of obvious reasons.. u all think like this..
let's say 1 No. 1 uniform needs 15 mins to hand sew the rank, whereas 1 No. 4 uniform needs only 5 mins.. so 1 No. 4 shirt rank sewing is $3 whereas it ranges frm $4 onwards for a No. 1 rank sewing (depending on the shop.. its up to them whether they want to charge ex or cheap!).. Anyway, so if u do ur maths, its more profitable to sew No. 4 ranks rather than No. 1 ranks on a wkend.. becos No. 4 rank-sewing are like free money coming to ur pockets on wkends!

So when went there, saw boon sen and the rest (they also go sew rank but another shop!).. talk to them for a while.. then went to sew my rank.. This aunty said come back 1 hr later.. so I went to Ikea to buy cloth covers ($1.40 for 3 pcs! tats cheap lah!).. and by the time I came back frm Ikea and at beach road, its 1.5 hrs already gone by.. and the shocking thing is tat the aunty told me tat she has NOT sewn yet!

Then I was like wat to do.. have to wait.. then I juz peep to see whether the shop which I always frequent was opened! and I saw it was opened lah (but actually, when I first went to look for ppl to sew my rank, the shop was not opened! its only after I went back to collect, then the shop has opened!).. then, guess wat! I saw Yizhou at the shop I frequent and he also sew no. 1 rank.. I actually wanted to sew with him at the same shop, but the aunty said 4pm take and I was rushing for time to go to church for music prac at 3pm.. so ya.. so I actually wanted to like skip the music prac and let my no. 1 take more priority.. so ya.. then I went back to the shop and told the aunty tat I found another tailor who was willing to sew for me.. then she was like "ok lah.. I sew for you now..".. repeat to her wat I told her 1.5 hrs ago, and then she was like telling me not to stand there, or else, she wld be stressed..

Told my friend abt it, and then he juz let the aunty sew.. so ya.. then he brought me downstairs to eat tang yuan.. not bad actually.. then he saw a fellow GOH personnel (frm Changi Air Base and its a 3SG), and yizhou was juz behind this guy.. so ya.. he didnt recognise yizhou first, but yizhou took the initiative to call him and let him sit with us loh..
So me as a sociable person, I also started to chat with him lah (although I didnt koe him!.. and frm the conversation, I finally found someone who was frm Temasek Poly! ha..).. we also chatted other stuff..

Then at 1530, decide to go up and check the status of the sewing.. thank goodness its ready loh! took it and fled to church in MRT.. by the time I reach church, it was like 1600 liaox..

Practice with Mok in the canteen instead, and then played for worship..

Church was fine.. accompany with close friends whom I've not met up for a mth was even better.. then after which, ash jio me to go party.. but then I decline lah, becos was too tired.. remember I woke up at 0600 this morning? so ya.. sorry bro! =)..

Followed hannah to Forum's Toys R Us to buy water balloons for her sis bday tml.. its a last min thing lah.. actually wanted to go home liaox, but hannah said she doesnt koe the way, so I as a gentleman, volunteered to follow her loh.. so along the way, we were laughing, chatting and joking with each other loh..

Then we took bus 105 home together.. alighted a few stops before her.. SMS her like an hr later to see whether is she safely back and stuff (becos apparently, I felt tat it was my responsiblity to ask her abt her whereabouts.. since I didnt like really walked her home, as her hse to mine is like 30 mins drive away!.. so ya..).. see how much I've matured as a gentlemen! ha..

Sunday (19/3/06)

Woke up bright and early this morning..

First stop, went to see my grandma in an old folks home.. went to Tampines Mall to eat lunch with family.. (as usual, saw 2 familiar faces.. 1 is my poly classmate and the other is my Paya Lebar FDC Platoon mate!)

After which, proceeded to Orchard for some windown shopping.. then went to Borders @ Wheelock.. had a surge to buy a bk.. and so I bought a book (which is a newly released paperback book) and the price is reasonable.. $16.80.. oh.. the title of the book is "Darkhouse" by Alex Barclay.. which is a Mysteries genre type of book.. the synopsis of the book is interesting, so tats wat attract me to buy the bk lah!.. juz hope I wld be so interested in the bk tat I wld want to read it everyday! =)..

Then after which, went to Coffee Bean to drink Cinnamon Ice Blended.. not bad actually.. quite vanilla-ish.. =)..

After tat, went with family to go to Tanglin Mall to walk walk as time is still early for the bday dinner tat my parents is gonna treat my sis & I.. so ya.. I gave the suggestion of "Black Angus" @ Orchard Parade Hotel.. and surprisingly, my parents said ok loh! =)..

Anyway, the service there is superb.. we waited for my sis for abt 30 mins before we ordered the food and started eating.. so its like almost every staff of the restaurant came and ask us whether we are ready to order.. it gets irritating as time goes by, becos I have to keep repeating myself.. so ya.. but I guess this is all part & parcel of their job scope loh!.. so cant blame them..

Oh.. dun koe why how come this time, I can't post pics on blogger.. think something wrong with the server or sumthing.. so here's is only in words.. if you want to see how the dish looks like, pls. see part (a) of the starting of this blog, whereby I state tat there are new photos uploaded to Yahoo! Photos.. so ya

So here is juz the description of wat we ate..

Teriyaki Top Sirloin: (My sis & my Main Course)
A fresh-cut 9oz. top sirloin, marinated in soy sauce, sesame, fresh garlic, and ginger. Char-grilled to order then glazed with our homemade Sesame Teriyaki sauce.
Side dish for me (included in meal price): Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Stuart's Steak Soup
Side dish for my sis (included in meal price): Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Garden Salad.
*PS: Stuart's Steak Soup is a combination of a beefy soup base, complete with beef chunks, barley grains, sliced white onions and celery. A heavenly soup! You muz try it! If you like beef stew, this is for you!!

Hawaiian Ahi Fish: (My dad's Main Course)
Marinated with spice and tossed with pineapple salsa. Served with a choice of potatoes and steamed vegetables.
Side dish: Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Stuart's Steak Soup

Grilled Chicken Teriyaki: (My mum's Main Course)
A half pound chicken breast, basted with our famous sesame teriyaki sauce.
Side dish: Baked potato (with toppings: sour cream, saffron and chives) & Coleslaw.

Chicken Caesar Salad: (A shared dish)
Our signature caesar salad, piled high and topped with a slice of char-grilled chicken breast.
Side dish: Carrot soup (which is the soup of the day)

Sky-High Mud Pie: (A shared dessert)
Rich ice cream swirled with almonds and topped with a thick layer of fudge and whipped cream.

So here's a reminder.. if you want to see the pics, pls. visit the photos gallery and click the appropriate link ya =)

Ok lah.. gtg liaox.. need to wake up at 0530 for going back to camp tml! Haix.. sianx.. its 0100 on a mon (20/3) as I publish this blog.. Gosh! Its so late liaox.. Nitex ppl! =)

** 4 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 213 DAYS to ORD!!

The days are drawing closer,
<<< abriel >>>

Disappointments..

Hey ppl.. u all may be waiting the good news tat I'm gonna spread to you all, but I'm afraid tat u all wld be disappointed..

I'm also disappointed lah.. becos the whole day was juz a screw up!

Was supposed to have the tailor come this morning with our No. 1 uniform and then proceed to Beach Road to sew rank when we bk out!

We waited for the tailor by sleeping in bunk, until when my sgt call, then we fall in.. so its like we are hungry for lunch at 1300 (at tat time, I was quite sure tat I wld give the test a miss liaox!).. so went to canteen and eat.. SMS my bro, Sidney, and told him abt my misfortunte (ie, can't go to test!).. and in return, he ranted to me abt his woes for the day too.. haix..

However, the tailor did not come until 1540! And guess wat! I actually MISSED my Advance Driving Theory at a timeslot of 1515! I'm actually not very happy abt this, becos I cld actually have a glimpse of hope to pass today's test.. Even if I did not pass, at least I tried and have made my $6 worth it.. but the problem is tat I didnt even attend the test! So actually I wasted it loh! haix.. Well.. guess I'll have to postpone my driving to after my ORD since my schedule in GOH is really unpredicable, especially since last min stuff is the trend of my squadron.. haix..

Anyway, after we collected our No. 1, my RSM want to check our uniform.. he actually said iron our No. 1 before seeing him.. but then, none of us did, becos its like we do not have any iron and this is so last minute.. so ya.. all didnt iron loh.. anyway, after we were supposed to wait for my RSM at 1630, but in the end, he only turn up at 1700! We were of course furious lah! My RSM made a few commends abt me not being able to tighten the shoe lace (becos I thought he juz see and tats it mahz!.. didnt expect he check so thorough.. so ya.. of course, kenna scolded lah.. haix..)

After tat, bk out and took a bus home.. as usual, boon sen psycho me to take cab, but I didnt "give in", becos I am really broke this mth! If this goes on, I wld be broke in no time lah! But sumhow I took an hr to reach home, and I actually regretted it.. I shld have taken cab instead of waiting so long for bus 169. haix.. but oh well.. I'm looking on the bright side of things.. I can save money..

Came home and prepare my No.1 to be brought back tml.. so ya.. =)

Watched a bit of TV and had a nice dinner prepared by my mum.. then on the computer and now I'm blogging loh..

Gonna stay in camp for the nxt 2 days, becos I P1 for 2 days consecutive.. haix.. so the nxt time I'm gonna blog is probably on Saturday after coming back frm church.. so ya..

** 8 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 217 DAYS to ORD!!

Till nxt time,
<<< abriel >>>

Highlights...

Hey ppl.. its been 4 days since I've blogged! Man!! This seemed so long!! Anyway, I've got quite a long blog to update you all (as usual.. wats new?).. so ya.. but I'm sure you wld find it interesting ya =).. but wait a minute.. ain't my blogs always interesting? hahaz =D

Anyway, here goes my blog..

Saturday (11/03/06)

On duty this day! Tired as usual.. becos drill rehearsals ended on Thurs (09/03), and have not had a fully recovered rest yet.. so ya.. so did my duty loh.. Duty more shiong at nite, becos of the lack of manpower tats why! So ya.. I actually had a Main Gate duty frm 2300-0100, and, 0300-0500.. but then if you think logically, this is like very tiring.. so ya.. So I changed my duty with sumone (the 0300-0500 duty tat is!).. so I practically did Main Gate duty frm 2300-0300 lah.. 1 shot for 4 hrs! =).. so its like after at 0300, I slept till dismount.. but then, at abt 0805, I woke up automatically! then realise tat no one did clearing up the floor.. so me being a *ahem* resposible chap, and one who cldn't stand ppl juz staying there and hope someone clean up the place, I decide to take initiative to clear up the floor..

Sunday (12/03/06)

Well.. quite excited on this day.. becos FINALLY after so long, I get to go out with my bro in camp, Sidney, after so long of persuading and stuff! Its juz so hard to get him out lah! He machiam like some VIP! Well.. being able to jio him out is considered an achievement for me liaox! =).. so ya..

Well.. it was partly my mistake in being late.. in fact, I was late for abt an hour! Gosh! How punctual I can be ya.. but it cld not be blamed on me totally lah, becos I took an alternative route, and in the end, was 1 hr late.. As usual, I got calls every 5 mins or so frm Sidney.. I think he wait until "bu nai fan" liaox! Sorry ah bro!

Actually, met him and Yizhou at Suntec City for the IT Show.. man.. the human traffic jam was as bad lah.. Juz getting across the bridge frm City Hall MRT to Suntec entrance takes abt 10 mins! Its like everyone walking in 1 small step!

Anyway, 3 of us (yizhou, sidney & me) walked the whole of the IT show loh.. along the way, Sidney kept like making me feel so guilty of being late.. but ya.. I juz "in one ear and out the other" lah!

Spend quite a while at the IT show.. of course, I was mentally prepared to not like being tempted to buy the stuff liaox.. so ya.. did NOT get anything at the IT show loh! =).. I resisted temptation! hahax..

Yizhou was looking for a router, so we shopped ard the place for one.. and then we were contemplating a special offer (but of some China brand I think!).. and then guess wat! I saw the brand of my router.. advise him to buy the brand tat I have instead.. at least its more reliable, since I used it for so long liaox.. so ya.. in the end, he bought it lah..

Then as we are almost done, saw boon sen & his girlfriend lah.. Then after which, we went to Marina Square and walk ard.. and went into Creative shop.. saw the speakers.. they are darn cool loh! Any moment there, I wld start buying! But thank goodness we were fast enuf to get out of the place and therefore, I did not buy anything loh!! =)

After which, we proceeded to Orchard for my all time fave activity, shopping!! Yeh!!

First we went to Paragon to go to the Crumpler shop and buy Yizhou's bag! Yizhou thought of buying a bag loh, and its either Crumpler or projectbloodbros bag he's looking for.. so ya.. Sidney got an Apple card and therefore he can get 10% off Crumpler bags lah! so ya.. I somehow manage to "contribute" to psycho/tempt Yizhou to buy Crumpler bags.. telling him all the perks of Crumpler bags and compare to the bag he wanted at projectbloodbros, Crumpler is much much better! And guess wat! My persuasion worked! He bought a Crumpler bag loh! =)

Then after tat, we went down to M1 and buy handphone.. actually I was the one buying lah!! And becos' my Nokia Ngage QD was giving me problems (ie, it kept on "hanging"), therefore decide to change my phone to Nokia 6030. I was also "gian" for the radio function lah.. so ya..
A lot of ppl have told me tat this is a sucky phone, but I certainly dun think so.. it is definately much better than my Ngage.. but oh well.. opinion differs lah!! so ya.. it all depends on how u look at it.. btw, I took the black colour.. so ya.. among all 3 colours (silver, black & champagne), this is the best lah!! I traded in my Nokia Ngage QD for $150, and I bought the Nokia 6030 WITHOUT contract (but with the $18 M Card- which is a prepaid card!).. Buying with the $ 18 M Card simply costs me $216 instead of the normal $268.. Moreover, besides purchasing the $18 M Card, I got a complimentary $8 M Card as well, so tat makes me a total of $26! So yupz.. So after trade in, I only pay $66 for my Nokia 6030. Quite worth it I muz say.. Dun you think so? =)
Anyway, this is only for the time being! After I ORD, I'm gonna trade in this phone or sumthing for other camera one.. so this phone I guess will only stay with me for abt 7 mths! =) *hint hint! 7 mths to ORD!*.. hahax.. =P

Then at M1, I was so tempted with the sleek design of Motorola (all thanx to the psychic powers of Sidney! Man.. this guy is influential lah!), tat I actually think tat nxt time if I change phone, I wld want to get Motorola instead (eg: Motorola V3x).. haix.. its me dreaming lah..

Anyway, getting my Nokia 6030 was no easy feat! After we bought Yizhou's bag, we went down to M1 to get my phone, and becos the queue @ M1 Paragon was long, I have to wait 1.5 hrs later *gulpz!* to get my phone! So after I got my no., we went shopping at Taka (to shop for Sidney's sunglasses) whilst waiting for the 1.5 hrs waiting time to pass!

And we walk practically frm Taka to Wisma (met Mark @ Taka.. 2nd person frm FDS we met for the day!), then to Wheelock, then to Pacific Plaza, and finally he got his sunglass.. And its no easy feat loh! He settled for Pacific Plaza and there he got his sunglass at Ripcurl shop.. and ppl.. hold your breathe! He actually bought a $240 Oakley sunglass! *gulpz!*.. And again, I had a part in tempting him to buy the sunglass.. Yizhou also had a part too, but I was the main party! =P Man.. I sounded like the devil for tat day loh.. tempting everyone to buy it.. then Sidney cldn't take it anymore, becos he tried on various brands, but all dun look as good as the Oakley's.. so ya.. Dun say.. I tried it on and it look good on me too! Of course lah.. $240 dun look good? you muz be kidding man! Anyway, when we ask the salesperson whether is there any new pcs, she said no.. its the last pc.. so ya.. so no choice lah.. since Sidney want it, he got it lah.. After he bought it, I suddenly felt this heavy sense of guilt of actually tempting him to buy and burn his pocket! Sorry bro.. didnt mean too.. but actually, the tempting process was very fun =P.. In fact, along the way, Sidney was again jokingly cursing and swearing tat I actually tempted him to buy the sunglass! But all in the name of good fun lah.. =D

Then as we walked to Taka to go to Paragon, we pass by one optical shop and saw the exact pair of Oakley's tat Sidney bought, and tat made him felt worse.. becos tat shop had a very high chance tat it has a new pair lah (but we didnt go in and ask!).. but oh well.. things are like tat lah!

Then after we got my phone, all 3 of us were undecided as to where to eat our dinner! So at first, we actually want to see Yuki Suki @ Cineleisure (which is a Jap. buffet!), but then, we cldn't take it liaox.. we were hungry! I was hungry to the state tat I got a headache lah! So in the end, I suggested Sushi Tei, Paragon, and asked them whether they ate b4.. they said no.. so we went to Sushi Tei for dinner loh.. there again, Sidney made fun of me again.. saying I muz pay for the dinner and all loh!!

Anyway, when we went there, we ordered a few dishes.. each of us ordered a main course, and we shared some side dishes! so ya.. here are some pics of the food we ate!.. hope it makes u hungry.. ha..

Our first side dish! A 18 pcs sushi platter.. They call this "Ohsumi Mori".. Quite economical.. this plate of sushi only costs us $12.

This is our second side dish! Deep fried tofu. Its different frm your normal fried tofu at Sakae Sushi.. this has a much savoury taste.. but a bit on the salty side though! They call this dish, "Age Dashi Tofu". Price of this dish: $4

Oh!! This is my fave. main course in Sushi Tei and I ALWAYS eat this when at Sushi Tei!.. Its a cold soba noodle dish, complete with cucumbers, carrot, ham slices, egg omelette, etc.. complete with the savoury cold soup thingy tat makes the whole dish so oishi-nei!! Anyway, this dish is called the "Hiyashi Chuka Soba". This costs a merely $8!

This dish is Sidney's main course, the "Yakitori Don". He wanted to eat Teriyaki Chicken, but they dun serve this in Sushi Tei.. So I advise him to eat Yakitori Don instead, as it is definately much better than Teriyaki Don @ Sakae Sushi.. and after eating, he agreed tat it is much much better than Teriyaki! Yeh!! The food guru's choice is never wrong! Ha.. Oh.. this photo was taken by HIMSELF on his Casio 5 megapixel camera! So ya.. See bro.. told you I'd acknowledge the credits for the photo! =).. so ya happy now? =D

As usual, we were photo crazy and quite trigger happy.. so we juz take shots lah!

After which, we proceeded to TCC @ Centrepoint! Initially it was my treat (for being late lah!), but then in the end, they insisted tat they were joking with me, and therefore, they paid for their stuff too lah!.. Anyway, we were fortunate in a sense tat the place was quite empty, so we got a sofa seat lah! so ya.. since the atmosphere and environment was conducive for taking photos, therefore, we took the pic u see on the left loh! Well.. juz a brief introduction of the photo.. Its me on the left, Sidney on the centre and Yizhou on the right of the photo! =)

After tat, came home, feeling shacked.. becos did not sleep in the afternoon mahz.. after dismounting, went out liaox.. so ya.. tats why never blog also!

Monday (13/03/06)

When I woke up the morning on this day, it was like hell lah! Feeling super tired and shacked! Absolutely no energy to do anything! Then whilst I was having my breakfast, I suddenly had a thought.. I sumhow regretted tat I shld hv got either 1GB iPOD Nano (@ $268) or the Canon IXUS 65 (@ a special price of $599.. usually its abt $650-$700) at the IT Fair or sumthing.. but then again, felt tat both are not impt.. so ya.. however, I'm waiting for ppl to give either one to me on my 22nd birthday (see countdown below!).. man.. Do I have a sense of shame? Apparently no! Hahax.. =).. I'm hinting very often in my blog nowadays as to wat you can give me for my 22nd birthday present.. so you readers koe wat to do huh.. =D.. die die.. now I lost my reputation and my shamelessness! Hahax.. But I dun care! Ha.. =P.. Anyway, below are the pics of the iPOD Nano & the Canon IXUS 65!.. savour and drool on them! ha..



Anyway, mounted duty at camp on this day lah! For the first time in history of GOH 2006, mounting duty has so many ppl till the pt tat some ppl had to make do with the wooden sofa chairs as their bed, becos apparently, there are not enuf beds to sleep on! Even if there are beds, no bedsheet being laid on it! Store I/C doin duty as well, so can't take bedsheets frm store.. haix..

But then, 3 of the new GOH specs mounted with us lah.. I was fortunate enuf to mount duty with 2 of the GOH specs (one of which was the platoon best!)..
I shall mention abt the platoon best (by the name of Zhiwen) in this blogpost of mine.. apparently, he looked garang and unapproachable at first, becos he has tat "dao" look on his face.. but then, when I mounted duty with him, we both got along fine.. in fact, we were juz like old time friends.. he did not pull rank and stuff. he even help his "men" (which is us lah) in some of the things.. for example, when he goes with me to take ration, he offered to help (unlike some sgts who juz stay there and see and expect me to do everything loh!).. and also in the morning, he helped cleared breakfast ration boxes which we were inconvenient to clear until the Floor I/C clears the place!.. man.. I think this is one of the best sgts tat I've had.. well.. juz hope tat he stays this way and dun change for the worse.. becos this is only his first duty with us.. so ya.. dun koe wat will happen in future.. so ya.. keeping my fingers cross loh! He actually agreed to bring me with him to Eastern to do duty nxt time.. dun koe whether he can remember by then lah.. so ya.. actually, he has abt the same thinking as me lah, probably becos we are of the same age.. so not much of a difference.. =)

Also got to koe 1 more sgt (by the name of Kenneth Ling) better (but he is frm S3 branch and NOT GOH! or else, it wld be fun lah!).. in fact, he looked so much alike like another senior sgt (by the name of Kenny Law) in S3 branch.. when u first see Kenneth, u need to stare at him for a second look, or else, you wld mistake him for Kenny! Ha.. What a coincidence! Two K's and lookalikes, and both in S3 branch; I wonder whether they were twins in their previous lives! Hahax..

Anyway, the tailor for our No.1 was supposed to come this day, but then, I think last minute he got something on.. so he changed it to Wednesday.. haix..

Tuesday (14/03/06)

Well.. as mentioned earlier, if my No. 1 comes yesterday, I wld have gone to Beach Road today and sew my rank and iron my No.1 liaox.. haix.. but then, its coming tml.. Tml is a bit rush lah.. judging tat I got my Advance Driving Theory tml (my 3rd attempt actually!), dun koe wat time then I can be at Beach Road to sew my rank and bring back to camp on Thurs, becos Friday I need to use it liaox.. haix..

You all koe sumthing? I did NOT study for my Advance Theory this time round.. I want to try my so called luck lah.. becos its like for the past 2 times I study so hard, also no use.. also fail.. so I'm going to juz take the test tml.. and *touch wood* if I fail again tml, then I wld take it again when I ORD.. no pt keep on retaking becos waste money.. and if I choose the date of test and sway sway tio my rehearsal dates, I have to spend money again.. so wats the pt right.. so ya.. Its all up to the Man Upstairs lah.. but appreciate if you cld pray as well? If its His Will, then pray tat He'll let me pass tml.. if not, then too bad lah.. not time yet! so ya.. believe he koes wat's best for me lah! =)

Then at nite after dinner, watch a bit of TV, and then blog.. didnt see Sidney online.. so I msg him.. and he msg me to call him back.. and there, he ranted to me abt his driving lesson.. hahax.. funny chap!

Then whilst surfin the net, I juz had this subconscious thought of me not actually attended church for already a solid mth! Man! No wonder I felt so far frm my church friends, even more importantly, God! But I dun koe actually.. when I go back to church this week and the next, I dun koe whether wld I feel the same at "home" or wld I start to feel a gap frm my bros in church (ie, Andrew, Nat & Ash), in a sense tat I dun feel like part of the grp, where I juz play like some "extra" or wld I feel even more closer to them since I've not seen them for a mth? Or wld I feel tat its much better to juz attend church and not hang out with them anymore, as after a mth of standing "alone", I got used to it? I simply dun koe.. these thoughts are raging my mind now! I'm thinking a lot!! haix.. what I write in this paragraph, is actually not the full thing of wat I want to say.. its juz the gist of it.. there is actually more to it, but I dun koe how to put it in words.. so ya.. haix.. blame it on my poor English.. =(.. I'm now like totally confused.. I dun koe whether is this feeling being put in by the Evil one or its juz my subconscious or izzit natural to feel this way? hmmm..

Ok lah.. gtg and sleep liaox.. its late.. even though I dun feel sleepy, becos I had a 2 hr nap in the afternoon.. so ya.. btw, at the time of publishing, this blogpost is published at 2359! So you say late or not.. hahax.. Think I spend abt 2 hrs on this blog! Gosh!!

** 9 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 218 DAYS to ORD!!

Many questions to be answered,
<<< abriel >>>

Tired..

Well.. u may think its not tiring being in GOH, but you are all wrong ppl! Its actually very tiring!

In fact, this morning I woke up with an aching hand.. probably muscle too tense up yesterday whilst I execute the arms drill! Oh.. or maybe I'm getting larger muscles? =)

Anyway, slept at abt 12am yesterday, becos felt totally awake lah! Then when I slept on the bed, I really slept! Somehow regretted for sleeping so late.. haix..

Then, this morning went back to camp half dead! Then wats worse is tat my GOH shift have to do fatigue work (frm dismantling the tentage [which we did not setup btw]), to emptying sandbags to things like clearing up my squadron storeroom and tearing paper (*gulpz*!) and also other stuff! I tell you.. my fatigue work started frm 8+am in the morning and stretch all the way till 2+pm in the afternoon! My only rest time was frm 0900-0945 (breakfast time) and 1230-0115 (lunch time).. the rest of the time was doing fatigue work! We do until we all peng-san! All very shagged loh! I think we are worse than Bangla worker!!

But one thing worth mentioning is that Samuel Tan (the new OCPA - who was previously frm my shift), is tat he did help us in all tat we do.. So tat means he is no different frm us.. so ya.. hardworking chap!! He actually can have a choice of juz sitting down in the office and do nothing.. but instead, he helped us! So you say is this worth mentioning? =)

Then after tat, bathe and bk out loh! Came home, watched a bit of taped videos and then had my dinner (which was Turkish Kurbabs wrapped with tortilla.. not bad I muz say..

Then came to blog liaox loh.. going to sleep soon! Tml need to mount duty.. haix.. super sianx.. Got to go..

** 13 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 222 DAYS to ORD!!


Shagged personnel,
<<< abriel >>>

Updates...

Well ppl.. today nothing much to update.. juz tot of making my presence known.. ha..

Drill rehearsal was ok today.. not much of cockups.. Dreams ended promptly but not early.. still the usual 1730! haix..

This morning I receive a good news and tat is this wed is supposedly my mounting duty day, but my RSM say we shld NOT mount on wednesday, becos we need to get our No. 1 stuff frm my base e-mart. So ya..

And Wednesday (15/03) is my 3rd attempt at my Advance Driving Theory.. dun even koe whether I'll pass, becos this time I totally DIDNT study! Becos I think I study so hard last time, and I didnt pass.. so this time I'll take the risk of not studying and see whether I can pass this time round!.. if still cannot, I'm determined to only take it after I ORD.. no pt wasting $6 on the test over and over again! So ya.. moreover, my time in GOH now is unpredictable.. so ya..
Anyway, it all depends on the man upstairs lah.. pls. pray for me.. won't u? If this is His Will to let me pass, so be it ya =).. Thanx!

Then after today's drill, share cab home with boon sen and then watch a bit of TV.. kilat-ed my drill boots (need it for next wk's full dress rehearsal.. actually wanted to kilat my drill boots on Sunday, but then, worried too lazy.. so I did it today loh!).. then on computer and now blogging loh.. Dun koe wats wrong with blogger as I blog.. think there's some connection problem!

Anyway, chatted with a few ppl online before I blog this blogpost.. And apparently, juz rite out of the oven, Sidney (my bro in camp) has told me tat Samuel (my ex-shift mate) is actually promoted to be my OC's PA! Man.. another men frm my shift down, and being posted to HQ! Darn! Why are all the good ppl being posted up to HQ? haix.. But Samuel told me over MSN tat everything not confirmed yet.. so ya.. but I think its more or less confirm liaox lah! So Samuel, jiayou!! =)

Oh.. Yizhou & I gonna spend the whole Sunday to ourselves juz shopping and eating! Dun koe whether its window or real shopping.. but for me, its REAL shopping! I wanna buy some t-shirts frm New Urban Male (NUM).. a popular male fashion wear! =).. The tshirts there are quite cool loh =).. Pay credited in liaox.. so wat am I waiting for?? haha.. jk lah.. but I'm serious abt buying the tshirt, unless after trying, I find tat its not nice or not suitable for me to wear.. then maybe I'll consider not to buy it and buy a Zara shocking pink polo tshirt instead.. It looks cool loh =)

Ok lah.. I think I have chatted enuf! Man.. the clock is ticking.. its getting late.. need to sleep liaox.. bkin in camp tml for standby.. wonder whether got fatigue work.. haix..

** 14 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 223 DAYS to ORD!!

Ciaoz ppl,
<<< abriel >>>

Grumpy Day!!

Well.. today is really a grumpy day for me.. I want to rant! So pls. let me do it here, will you? =)

Anyway, morning was fine lah.. no problems! But it all start in the afternoon!

When we reached the rehearsal place, it apparently was the wrong place, and the worse thing is tat no one told us abt the change in venue for rehearsal.. so in the end, we had to walk like close to 1km to the place under the hot sun! And mind you, tat was a 12.40pm sun! Can u imagine how hot the sun is? Arghh..

Then nvm.. when we are in the right place for rehearsal, though its sheltered, however, again, the Parde RSM was the problem! This time its not his command got problem, but its the warm-up drill tat he conducted! He totally exhaust us lah! Then as if its not enuf, he actually spend close to 3 hrs on a drill procedure (which wld only take place in the event of wet weather!).. and then, we had to march 1 km to the actual site for another rehearsal! Was supposed to do the first time full rehearsal a bit of a "fast-forwarded" process.. but then, becos he explain here and there, and also some of the contingents cock up and the Parade Commander needs somemore explanation, in the end, a "fast-forwarded" drill doesn't sound like one loh!

I tot after the first time, they wld let us go off.. but then the unexpected happen loh! One more run.. this time, its a full run! And guess wat! At 1720, the second run has not even started! I think it was at 1730, then the second round start.. one by one, u can see the ppl in the contingent were either half dead or low morale!

Then by the time we finish our drill, it is alredy 1810 (original timing to end is 1730!).. took bus back to camp.. and the uncle acually drive quite fast lah!

Then send arms, and back to bunk and change.. then as we walk out to Toranto, something happened! One of my ex-shift sgt was making noise and was very angry tat we did a stunt while walking to X-ray.. actually, tat stunt is very minor one loh.. I dun see anything wrong abt it.. in fact, I do it all the time.. in broad daylight somemore where there are a lot of cars during wkdays somemore! So I dun see why today muz be an exception we cant do it! And I dun koe why this sgt was so angry for wat!

I got the feeling tat he is angry over something or someone made him angry.. and he vent his anger on us! You call this ethics as a sergeant? My foot understand!! Arghh.. it doesnt mean tat he is a 2nd sergeant, he can juz throw rank.. my friend said it rite.. We see him do the same stunt b4 loh.. Heard frm my friend tat he is angry becos the base orderly sergeant (BOS) was there.. pls loh.. I seriously think tat the BOS for today doesn't mind loh! Its not as if he never seen b4! Dun koe wat's wrong with this sgt lah! Arghh.. He said he want to see us tml to settle this issue.. My friend suggested we go as a group and talk to him.. Arghh.. enuf abt him! The more I mention abt him, my blood wld boil! Such unreasonable sergeant also have in my base! Arghh..

Then as one of the bus came out, the bus uncle was so good tat he gave us a lift down Toranto Gate! So nice.. then boon sen & me took a cab home loh, becos its like 7pm liaox.. quite late.. if take bus, probably I reach home at abt 8+pm..

Anyway, told this cab frm this certain company (dun want to say which company, or else ah.. will tarnish the reputation of the cab company!.. but wat I can tell you tat its reputable! Tats all I can tell you!).. it was ok all the way until my friend alighted and I reminded the cab driver abt my destination.. Initially, I wanted to ask the cab driver which way is faster (as in which way have more traffic light, and whether the way I usually go will have a lot of traffic lights?).. and this taxi driver was like so pissed off with my asking.. as if its my fault! He answered me back, "so now which way u want me to go?".. he gave me tat kind of look loh!! And I got so pissed off tat I juz tell him to go the normal way tat I know lah, becos I say the alternative way, he dun koe how to go and I'm not sure too! Then he gave me tat kind of look.. so irritating! arghh.. I was actually on the verge of copying his name and cab no. and complain to the company.. but was too lazy to do so lah.. Thinking of which, I regretted my actions.. I shld have complained! Is this how he give customer service? argghhh.. it doesnt help tat I'm in a bad mood today too!

Well.. came home super shack.. and thank goodness, no one shorten my fuse at home, or else, I dun koe wat I'm gonna do! Gonna sleep soon.. super tired lah, after all the drills.. haix..

Tml is another drill session.. Guess I'll be mentally tortured again tml, since I'm mentally tortured today at drill! haix..

** 15 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 224 DAYS to ORD!!

Grumpy old fellow,
<<< abriel >>>

Happy weekend.. Lousy weekdays..

The title says all.. So read on to find out more..

Sunday (05/03/06)

Well.. came home after duty excited of course.. becos I get to go out.. haha.. anyway, this mtg was last minute.. but I'm glad I went lah.. becos one thing is I get to eat good food, but most importantly is the company tat nite!! The ppl tat went to the event was John, Mingjun, Mingyang and myself! If you happen to read this, I wish to tell you ppl, thank you!! The nite was memorable!! How I wish I cld relive the nite again!! =)

Anyway, left hse slightly late, becos I overslept in front of the computer for 30 mins without me knowing! Was transferring songs to my mp3 player, and then it was so long transferring, so I went to dozed off.. and I actually dozed off for 30 mins (as mentioned earlier!)

But fortunately when I reached there, everyone was late and I'm not the latest.. so ya.. Anyway, to cut the crap, I went to watch "Mrs Henderson Presents" @ GV Grand, Great World City.. And then the unexpected happened! I was on bus 16 and as I was moving to my seat in the crowded bus, one person tap me with his watch.. and there I saw who? My BMT platoon sergeant! Chey!! Anyway, it was very coincidental.. he initiated the "hi" to me.. was really surprised lah.. wanted to talk to him, but we sat at different seats.. so I juz said "hey!" in a very shocked manner lah.. then when we reached Great World City, he got off the bus too! And I tot he juz walked off.. but following closely behind him, was me alighting frm the bus.. so we chatted briefly for 20 secs.. so ya.. he juz told me he is meeting my ex-platoon mate for work I guess.. If I'm not wrong, he's now an insurance agent lah.. dun koe whether full or part time.. I remembered he called me once in camp and I was in the Cookhouse.. but anyway, its a long story lah.. So ya.. it was really coincidental!

Then, we went to collect the tix first at the box office.. but seeing tat we are still an hour away frm the screening of the show, we therefore proceed to Ben & Jerry's ice-cream store to eat ice-cream (John's treat of course! Thanx John!).. Anyway, the following are the flavours we ate:

(a) Cherry Garcia - Cherry Ice Cream with Cherries & Fudge Flakes

(b) Chunky Monkey - Banana Ice Cream with Fudge Chunks & Walnuts

(c) Dublin Mudslide - Irish Cream Liqueur Ice Cream with Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Coffee Fudge Swirl

(d) Berry Berry Extraordinary - Swirls of Blueberry Fruit Sorbet and Raspberry Fruit Sorbet

(e) Mango Lime - Mango Sorbet with a hint of Lime

(f) Phish Food - Chocolate Ice Cream with Gooey Marshmallow, a Caramel Swirl & Fudge Fish

During our time of eating, Mingjun was like boasting to us tat Ben & Jerry is not as good as Anderson's.. so he proved to us tat Anderson's is better, so he bought Anderson's ice cream and let us try! It was very creamy.. the flavours are those creamy type.. which is of course, not my cup of tea.. but I obliged him, so I juz ate loh.. so yupz.. I still like Ben & Jerry! =).. Even my other 2 friends (John & Mingyang) also didnt like Anderson's for the same reason.. too creamy!

Anyway, we shall get on with the movie.. I wld rate this 4 out of 5 stars! Yes.. initially I thought this is a boring show, becos I wld thought its a old film or those quiet ones.. but surprisingly its not.. However, this movie is rated M18 becos it contains nudity! Yes.. nudity! But you may think a person like me go and watch this show, I muz be crazy? But actually, I'm not! I tot so initially.. becos never did I expect to watch this kind of show.. but the nudity posed in this movie are actually in a very artistic form! Its not like those sexual scenes u see in those R21 movies or those cheapo porn flicks! So ya.. its very artistic I tell you!
And I dun regret watching this show! The soundtrack for this show is really fantastic, till the pt tat my friends who watched the show with me, wanted so badly to get the soundtrack.. Man.. I wld get the soundtrack someday =).. Anyway, the genre of the soundtrack is those cabaret and broadway type of music.. so if you like this kind of music, then, this movie is for you (if you dun mind the nudity tat is!).. The movie also portrays a witty humour, and not some slapstick humour like other movies!
So if you ask me whether this movie is worth my every cent (mind you.. its $9.50, becos I watched it during wkend mahz!), I wld give a firm YES!! =)

After the movie, we cldn't decide what to eat for dinner! So we went back to town.. actually wanted to go to eat Crystal Jade, but dun koe why in the end never go.. so anyway, we took a cab frm Great World City to Orchard Parade Hotel & ate Italian food for dinner (all under the recommendation of the food guru of the day, John! Di I tell you tat John has also a passion for food too? He is indeed a fellow food guru too.. wahaha ).. was supposed to go to Orchard Hotel for French-Cajun cuisine.. but then I tot Orchard Hotel = Orchard Parade Hotel, but apparently not.. so ya.. so once I mentioned Orchard Parade Hotel, John changed his destination and told the taxi uncle to go to Orchard Parade Hotel instead! so ya..

And we went to this place called, Modesto's! It is an Italian cuisine restarant, where their pizzas are stone baked and their pastas are home made! The service and food is fantastic.. let me first mention abt their service..

When I first step into Modesto's, I was greeted by a person of mixed breed Caucasion (dun koe wat nationality she is frm!.. but can see she is definately NOT a local!!).. anyway, the restaurant was beautifully decorated and the seating chairs were first class! It was so comfortable and the place is sparkling clean! No dirt on the floor becos as u koe, my Crumpler bag had a white stripe.. and after like an hour of dining, I lift up my bag, and was suprised to see tat the white stripe is still bleach white! Tats how clean the place is!
And when we first sat down, the waitress actually unfold the napkin for us and help us put on our laps! What great service..

Then its the ordering of the food.. we took quite a while to order the food, becos we were spoilt for choices! The menu was so long and thick! And also we were quite fussy with the choice of food.. so ya.. poor thing.. the waitress took our orders for a whopping 10 mins! Anyway, we ordered the following:

(a) Pizza.
We actually had a pizza of mixed condiments, all under the special request of our table waitress (who was the supervisor of the restaurant!).. We had half pizza with salami (which is spicy Italian sausage) and the other half of the pizza with Para Ham (which is actually RAW pork but preserved with salt! So its gives a taste/feeling of "smoked ham".. but of course, it is thinly sliced!) And I tell you.. with the extra thin and crispy crust and with all the condiments (in addition to it, it is being baked in the stone oven!), the pizza is mama mia!
Price: $21.00+++

(b) Cream of Mushroom soup.
This soup is also fantastic! Its really creamy and thick; complete with sliced mushrooms added inside! So its actually cream and mushrooms (I suspect tat mushrooms were being blended in with the cream to make the soup.. or else, the soup wldn't have such a strong mushroom flavour!) cooked to perfecto!! Anyway, this soup is actually quite a big serving. So I was like made a commend tat with such a creamy soup, sure very jer-lat after a while.. so the waitress suggest she cld split it into 2 bowls! and John wanted soup too.. so ya.. we both shared the soup lah.. but then, when the soup came, we let Mingjun & Mingyang tried, and they also love it.. esp. Mingjun (becos he love creamy stuff mahx!).. so ya.. they also praised tat the soup was fantastic too loh!
Price: $10.50+++

(c) Pasta.

Linguine Alla Modesto. This is what my main course is called!
When it first came, I was like shocked! How come so big plate? Then I saw wat was inside the pasta dish, and I drool immediately.. It was tat fantastic! In fact, this main course was under the recommendation of John. He said he ate this before, and he always had this pasta whenever he comes to Modesto's! So ya.. I decided to give it a go, since it is like his recommendation and I trust his taste! =).. and I'm glad I did lah!
Anyway, my pasta was cooked with white wine sauce.. Mingyang & John had the same type of pasta too, but cooked with different sauce; Mingyang's with tomato sauce & John's with creamy sauce.. I tried all 3.. and my personal faves are white wine (which is mine) and the tomato sauce. The creamy one is nice, but its simply too rich! So ya.. Mingjun had a different dish lah, becos he's allergic to seafood.. so ya.. Anyway, this dish is really fantastic! You shld try it sumtime!
Oh.. a detailed description of this dish: Flat spaghetti with prawns, squid, clams, mussels, whole crab, anchovies, capers, black olives, fresh tomatoes, garlic and white wine cooked in the traditional Italian Cartoccio style.
Price: $24.00+++

Then the bill came and we were shocked lah.. After the taxes (which includes an extra 16% = 10% service charge, 5% GST, 1% cessation charge), the bill came up to a whopping $146! Fwah!
But then the supervisor gave us 10% off the price of 2 dishes (the soup & the pizza), becos John actually complained tat the crabs on the pasta were not fresh, as they were soft. Mingyang & mine were too.. so ya.. so as an apology, she gave us a discount.. Initially, John had no intention of asking for a discount or sumthing.. He juz thought feedback this to the supervisor loh! But never did we expect tat we have a discount.. so ya.. thank God lah.. so after the discount, the bill is reduced down to $142. Ok lah.. at least better than nothing!

For more info abt Modesto's Restaurant, check out their website, click here!

Anyway, after eating, took bus 105 frm opposite the restaurant and got home at abt 10.30pm like tat.. after tat, I bathe and went to sleep liaox.. too tired!

Monday (06/03/06)

Went to camp pretty early.. took and share cab with boon sen, as we need to fall in at 0700 to go to ADSD for my base safety forum.. did traffic marshalling.. was quite easy, but its hot lah, becos of the weather lah.. but anyway, it was fun =)..

Came back, bathe and had a 30 min nap, and I was off to lunch and draw arms for my drill rehearsal later in the day!

Well.. I was already not enuf sleep, so the drills I did were not up to my standard, and it doesnt help with the hot weather as well.. and the Parade RSM was conducting the drills, and arghh.. sickening fellow! He doesn't koe how to give commands properly lah, and his timing is so fast too, and he blames us tat we are rushing the timing.. haix.. wonder whether is he cut out to be a Parade RSM? I wld think the reserve Parade RSM is much much better! arghh..

Anyway, after drill ended at 1730, the bus came (of course with waiting, becos the supporting contingent frm my base took my GOH bus, so we have to wait for another one!) and off we went back to base..

Once reach base, put arms at guardroom (and becos I juz woke up frm my sleep, was a bit grumpy and thereby during the process, showed a bit of my temper lah!).. after tat, went to Cookhouse for dinner lohz!

Then went back bunk, watched a bit of TV and I was asleep at 2130!

Tuesday (07/03/06)

Woke up at 0600 this morning! Had a 9 hr sleep, but I was still tired! By right, I shld not do P1 duty this morning becos they have so many ppl in the guardroom liaox, but then, dun koe why last min they call us and say they want us to do P1..

So we went down guardroom and 4 of us were given a choice (2 to guard another gate, and 2 to do the extra x-ray checks).. so I said anything.. and of course, I koe the other 2 ppl lah.. they sure take x-ray check, becos abt an hr later, they can pull back, whereas like me, I'm not 100% able to pull back frm the other gate the same time as theirs.. in fact, when they finish duty, I juz started! So ya.. and tat place is inaccessible.. so waiting for transport and ppl to take over us is a problem! So ya.. I am anything one lah..

But wat I'm pissed off is tat they kept saying "ok ok, they got ppl take over me..", but in fact, they called no one.. its either they are busy or they forgot.. or they cant be bothered? I dun koe.. Its until I called the 2nd time in 1 hr intervals and told them I had to fall in as part of GOH shift for sumthing (which I didnt koe.. but then, I told them tat I'm supposed to fall in and I'm late liaox.. I also dun koe for wat!)..

Anyway, the sgt promised us tat we wld be taken over at 0845, but its only 1045 then we are taken over! WTH! arghh..

Then after we (my friend & I) were taken over, we were driven to ST Logistics to help move some stores (at first I tot my No. 1 uniform is here or sumthing), but apparently, its for my Squadron roadshow at the end of this mth.. so ya.. again, a "Bangla worker".. haix..

Then slept in bunk and then bk out.. took cab with boon sen (share lah.. so each pay only $4).. so ya..

Came home, watched a bit of TV and then start to blog loh.. in fact, I spend like close to 2 hrs on this blog! I koe its super long, but its super detailed too! Its very me lah.. hahax..

Sianx.. Rehearsals for the next 2 consecutive days (tml and thurs!).. and oh.. Thurs I may not need to march, becos my No. 1 uniform is not here yet loh.. its like I have some things and some I dun have!.. so no pt marching rite? See how lah.. who koes my No. 1 uniform will come tml?

Ok lah.. gtg liaox.. surf other webbies and sleep early tonite.. long day tml.. so ya..

** 16 DAYS to my 22nd birthday!!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 225 DAYS to ORD!!

Am I happy?,
<<< abriel >>>

How was mounting duty yesterday?

Well.. yes.. most of you wld be curious to koe this answer rite? =).. so here it is..

Yesterday mounting was ok... except I was quite tired and got a bit of fustrated actually.. Got 8 hrs duty.. but then the maddening thing is tat I have to go down to Toranto for night duty (which I HATED it, becos it means I dun have enuf sleep!) However, thank goodness I was totally shacked yesterday, therefore once I lie on the bed, I was like "gone" immediately!

Anyway, after my duty ended at 0245 (by right shld be 0230, but then my friend and I decide to give them more rest.. so ya..), after 5 mins, I slept until like 0552. Vehicle came to fetch us and up to guardroom I went. Slept till 0800 and then woke up to do area cleaning of the WHOLE guardroom (which includes the toilets, pass changing office, sentry post and of course, the restroom itself!).. was quite mad at the sgt who planned the duty, becos I told him tat I went down Toranto already and by the time I'm back, I wld be totally shacked.. but he still refused to give in to me and let others do the job.. haix.. so I have no choice but to do loh.. of course, I sometimes when talk to him, I do it a bit of sarcastically, but in a jokingly manner lah.. but ya.. but deep down inside, I was complaining lah.. argghh.. But wats done is already done liaox.. no pt. harping on the issue.. moreover, I ranted already.. so ya.. ha..

But wats comforting is tat I'm going out with my camp friends, John, Mingjun & Mingyang to watch the movie, "Mrs Henderson Presents..", and have dinner later with them.. actually wanted to stayover at John's hse @ Holland Village and then bk in with him tml loh.. but then, my mum dun allow.. so ya.. but then again, if I sleep at home, it maybe better too.. so tat I wld get enuf rest..

Anyway, nxt wk is really a shiong wk! In 1 wk, we have 3 rehearsals (Mon, Wed & Thurs).. and then, Sat is mounting again.. totally shiong lah! Haix..

And guess wat! Another last min notice.. I have to do marshalling tml at one of the other bases for some event.. WTH!! and if I dun PM one of my friends in MSN, I dun even koe abt it loh! Dun koe wats wrong with all these ppl.. give last min notice.. lucky tml I decide to take cab (becos bringing in my No.1 tml).. but then, like tat I hv to set off early loh! Stupid lah! Arghh...

Going offline to fill up my mp3 player with songs liaox.. byes!

Fustrated,
<<< abriel >>>

Zoommm..

Yes.. zoommm.. this wld be a fast update, judging frm the time u see in this blog update!

Well.. did this blogging after cell.. my cell ended quite late today.. it finishes at abt 11.30pm, but the best thing is tat its at my house.. so ya.. =)

Anyway, I promise this update wld be fast.. so here goes..

Yesterday mounting was somewhat slack (not becos of the duties, but becos of the sgts tat mounted with us!).. Was initially given a 8 hr duty (was the slackest of all ppl).. so since I saw my duty so slack, my sgt wld naturally ask me to do some extra duties or swap duties and stuff.. so since I was on a slack duty detailing, I gladly agreed, so tat they feel tat they gave me slack duties was right..

Anyway, I was off duty at 1300 yesterday, and after I finished my lunch (which was 30 mins later), my sgt called me to go to the pass changing office to teach cum help a sgt (who was on "On-The-Job (OJT)" training).. it was my rest time actually but as mentioned above, since I was the slackest of all, I agreed lah! Went there to teach cum help, and then walked a foot prowl.. After came back frm foot prowl, went to sleep for abt an hour, before going back to the pass changing office to do a 2 hr duty.. but then, becos the toranto gate need ppl to do a peak hr marshalling, and the personnel who was doing it was still on IPPT test, therefore, my sgt called me to go.. and again, I agreed.. Then when I was up, the person who was suppose to take over pass changing officer duty was still not back (ie, I did till 1900 and someone shld take over me at 1900), so I stayed inside till the person taking over, actually appeared at 1930.. Then I went back to guardroom and got ready to do staff parade.. Only to koe tat my sgt told me tat I have an additional 2 hr dismounting gate duty frm 0700-0900 the next morning.. and I tell you.. I was shocked.. My gate duty originally is frm 0300-0500, and take breakfast at 0600, and then I considered as dismount liaox.. but then, the ppl psychoed my sgt to give me the 2 hr dismounting main gate duty becos apparently the person is too shacked to do it as he perform as CISCO duty the whole day.. I was initially quite mad lah, but then again, becos I was the slackest, therefore I can't complain! And one of the other CISCOs were like asking me why I agreed to do the dismounting duty when it was not mine initially.. I then told him the story, and emphasizing the pt tat I got only 8 hrs.. but wat I didnt tell him is all the misc. duties I've done which when adds up, its abt 3 hrs! So its like 3 hrs of actually doing duties which are not mine! So in total, when after dismounted, I counted the no. of hrs I did.. and it was a whopping 13 hrs! And if you count the rest of the ppl's duties correctly, I actually have the most no. of duties! The rest were like 10-12 hrs.. I was 13 hrs! I was like WTH! But anyway, wats done is done.. and I can't turn back time.. guess next time, I wont be the Mr. Nice Guy anymore.. becos I feel tat being Mr. Nice Guy is as good as being taken advantage of! So I shall be stronger and cleverer frm now on! No more the stupid or coward Abriel anymore! Watch out for me world!

So ya.. then after dismount frm duty, bathe and went to DBS bank with Weiliang (my bunk and shift mate!).. he accompanied me to DBS bank to open a new Savings account, but after much consideration and some factors, I didnt do it in the end.. then I accompanied him to POSB bank to apply for his POSB Debit Card. Well.. not too sure whether is he lazy to ask or sumthing.. he actually told me he cldnt find the debit card form.. I was like sure or not.. then in the end, when I went there, I asked the information counter and tata.. she gave me the form and I gave to Weiliang! So ya.. as easy as tat! Hmm.. wonder is he scared of asking?? Anyway, after which, he queued for the debit card.. but after 2 mins of queueing, he gave up, becos he was impatient to wait.. haix.. if I was him, I dun care.. I juz queue loh.. settle it once and for all!

Bought lunch and came home.. watched 3 hrs of video-taped programs (until the pt tat my mum called me to go and have my afternoon nap).. slept at 1600.. mum woke me up at 1730 to go to Toa Payoh Central to buy Tiong Bahru Pau for cell supper and the famous toa payoh rojak (the one tat I always buy frm and have to wait for close to 30 mins for it! and today is no exception! I waited too!) for dinner! The rojak was super shiok lah! Yummy..

Then after tat, was in cell.. almost half dead, becos too tired.. so ya.. after finish cell, eat supper and then now on computer blogging loh! Now want to sleep liaox lah..

Tml duty again in camp.. sianx!! So I'll cya ppl on Sunday ya.. =)

Tired RP,
<<< abriel >>>