We've Made It!!

This is another post from me lah, after like 3 days of not blogging.. so here it is.. my update for each day:

Friday (28/07/06)

Today bk in camp feeling shacked becos after yesterday nite's posting on blogger, it was already 0200.. Woke up this morning at 0530 and then I was feeling so shacked tat I tot of not going back to camp la.. but oh well.. Today never take off so have to go back loh!

When reach camp, we went down to take down Parade state and then saw Sidney.. said "hi" and he told me tat RSM gave him a RSAF GOH t-shirt.. he seemed happy.. =). but anyway, guess anyone (who is not in GOH) wld be happy to receive a GOH tshirt becos its nice mah =)..

After tat, boon sen and me went to eat breakfast before we sleep the afternoon away becos in the evening got base run and the organising sqn is my sqn lah..

At abt 1300, I receive a call frm my sgt tat my bunk pppl and 2 others are involved in marshalling of traffic for the run.. The time came when its time for us to marshal traffic.. But then there was a change of weather, resulting in a CAT1 status and this cause the run to be cancelled! So ya..

So since today's run was organised by sqn, they intended a Milo van for the run.. but becos' its cancelled, in the end, it ended up in my sqn carpark and then its being consumed by us lah.. You shld have seen how the trainees drink the Milo.. Its like as if they never drank before.. But wat they didnt knew is tat if you drink too much, it wld cause you to have diarrhoea! So tats why I only limit myself to 2 cups..

Went back to bunk and then was deciding whether to bk out or not since the run was cancelled and we are allowed to bk out at 1700 on the dot.. Called home and realise tat my mym didnt cook dinner and I asked her opinion as to whether shld I go home.. She adviced me not to go home so as to save money becos dun need spend money on dinner and transport.. Come to think of it, also true la..

Oh.. speaking of which, my mum has given the NDP preview tickets to my neighbour, so at least its not wasted la.. Thank God!

Becos I had 2 cups of Milo earlier, I only had a light dinner.. didnt really enjoy dinner lah, but I was simply too full.. After the dinner, came back to bunk, bathe and watch TV.. juz wanna relax the evening away before the NDP Preview show tml! Real excited abt it! Slept at 2200! Super early rite? =)

Saturday (29/07/06)

Woke up at 0800 this morning.. and if your mathematics is good, you wld be glad to koe tat I slept for a whopping 10 hrs! Its either I'm too tired due to all the activities happening in the past wk, or simply I'm a pig! But no matter wat u think, I wld think tat sleep is still the best! =)

This post is gonna be a photos-cum-blogpost again.. due to much popularity and the comments given by ppl for my beach outing post (ya rite.. I koe.. you are wondering who are the ppl who gave me comments rite? NO ONE!.. ha.. I gave it myself.. *thick skin again!*), I have decided to give it another go.. so here it is..
(Photos are taken with my Canon Ixus 60)

Guard-Of-Honour is wat I am! To be exact, its the Republic of the Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Guard-Of-Honour!

* Photo on left: This is the crest imprinted on every GOH T-shirt! Nice rite =)

I never knew how precious are my experiences as being in GOH are, until yesterday.. becos you koe why? Air Force GOH has regained its reputation of being the best GOH again in the NDP Preview Show.. of course, there were minor glitches, but overall, no major mistakes.. every mistake tat was addressed at previous shows were all rectified at today's NDP Preview show! Everyone including the RSMs were happy and satisfied with our performance! I think my RSM has regained back his confidence liaox!

Yesterday was also the FIRST time tat I brought my camera to an NDP Show.. and man oh man.. The photos came in fast and furious..

* Photo on right: Ann Tat & me taking a self-taken photo of ourselves! Best rite? Ha.. Ann Tat and me are like close brothers.. we never fail to talk to each other at every GOH rehearsal.. and you koe wat's best? He is gonna be in RSAF Day Parade! Yeh! =) Oh.. forgot to tell you tat Ann Tat & I share the SAME Chinese surname, as well as we have been in the SAME BMT company whilst our time in Tekong! How coincident is tat rite? Now you koe why I called him my close brother? =)

You koe wat ppl? I have actually taken close to 120 pictures yesterday on my camera! Man.. am I trigger-happy or wat? =).. Oh.. the pictures are uploaded liaox.. Go to Photo Gallery > My Experience As A Soldier Boy > NDP 2006: NDP Preview Show (290706) Photos!

Then its lunch time and it was SFI! It was average only lah! Then its march and more marching! Felt very sleepy during the afternoon rehearsals.. dun koe why.. I think its becos of the weather!!

Went back to the holding area which was the Singapore Indoor Stadium after tat to rest and relax.. It was super shacked lah! Then I heard from Hern Khoon tat the Singapore Idol finalists are there.. so I decided to check them out! Oh man! This is the first time tat I saw them upclose! They look better in person than on TV! Take for example, when I saw Miltilda (I support her in SI btw!) on TV, she looks quite plump, but when I saw her upclose, she looks not as plump as I expected!

* Photo on left: Joakim, Paul Twohill & Jay of Singapore Idol fame! This is the pic which I felt very satisfied with, becos this is the only clear and upclose pic I took of them, as they were coming out of the Gents.. and I happen to be standing at the side, and then I juz whipped out my camera and snap! So ya.. clear rite =)..

The Singapore Idols were here on one mission, which I think the production crew wld like to take a video of them having a big shout-out to the participants of the NDP Preview show, and I think they wld show this short clip either on Wed/Thurs episode of Singapore Idol! So ya..

So when they came out to speak, everyone was there! And the gals were franctically cheering for the guys (esp. Joakim which is a obvious gals' favourite judging frm the loudness of their screams!) and the guys are cheering for the gals (close fight between Nurul, Rahimah, Jasmine & Miltilda) contestants! Everyone was very high! You shld have been in the Indoor Stadium! The screams were like naturally shaking the Indoor Stadium down! Ha.. And I'm not kidding lah! =)

And I actually took a video of them coming out.. but then, wasted.. the view of the camera when I shot the video was at a wrong angle!.. haix.. so when I want to view it on the computer, I have to tilt my head.. but its good enuf lah! =).. wasted sia! After taking the videos (becos I naturally "chase" them to certain accessible spots to take video), I feel darn hot lah! Its as if I was doing some PT! Ha.. Anyway, now I koe wat is the feeling to chase Idols! haha..

After tat, went to eat my dinner which was KFC.. not too bad, except tat I did not have appetite.. dun koe whether am I excited for the show or am I really tired and sian? but I still ate though..

Then we had to change into our No. 1 uniforms for checking by MSD personnels and also prepare to fall in for walking into National Stadium for our Parade, but before tat, we muz do uncasing of colours.. So I think altogether this falling in and stuff, takes abt 2 hrs before we actually march into the Staidum for the actual parade! How slow is tat rite!! haix..

* Photo on right: Zijing & myself with our No. 1 uniforms! Zijing is my sec sch friend.. How we met is a long story.. but wat I say is tat I didnt koe he was in GOH until we started practicing for NDP.. and frm then on, we caught up with each other.. so ya.. but I still ORD earlier than him, becos I entered NS earlier than him mah! =).. My time in GOH this yr seems to be like a time for me to catch up with old friends as well as also make new ones!!

And as mentioned earlier in this blogpost, the NDP Preview went well!! Of course, there were minor glitches like a certain row dressing out which was quite obvious, but overall, my RSM said tat it went really well! And you shld have seen our expressions.. when we march out, everyone in my GOH were like in high spirits (in a sense tat all of us were shouting the timing real loud!), becos we koe ourselves tat whatever we did last time at NE Show (ie, wrong hand wrong leg during March Past!) were being rectified, and there were no obvious mistakes which make Air Force look real bad! So ya..

But I was really disappointed with myself becos I did 2 slight mistakes; one is tat after the first hormat (the term used to salute with our rifles), when we want to go back in rusoh (the term used to move back frm hormat to sediya position) position , my rifle actually like was caught slightly in my right breast pocket, but I manage to recover fast enuf..
Another mistake is tat during the feu-de-joir, I only manage to fire 2 rounds instead of 3, becos the last round, I was not in time to cock the round and fire, so I juz did the motion! Haix.. =(.. Disappointing!

But then wats commendable is tat I dun feel the nervousness liaox.. I'm used to the crowds at NDP as well as my position liaox! And oh.. I think a few photographers took my photo at my position too! Felt real good.. ha.. =P.. I koe I have no shame, but who cares =D.. wahahaha...

It was quite funny in a sense tat I did not get any goosebumps or watery eyes during the National Anthem itself! Dun koe why! Hmm.. maybe I was too overwhelmed at the rehearsal last sat where I wore No. 4 and emote such sentimental feelings? I dun koe! Juz hope tat when on actual day, I dun break down suddenly.. haha.. =)

Ok lah.. gtg liaox.. I shall cya all when I cya all huh =).. See whether I got time to blog tonite.. if not, then it wld be tues (1/8) becos mon (31/7) I mounting duty.. sianx..

Oh.. my 4 off days has been 'jia' liaox!! Sianx.. now only become like 3 becos last minute, they change the RSAF Day rehearsal dates and my OC wants us to mount duty.. on Saturday summore! Sianx.. =(.. Dun tok abt it liaox, or else I more gei-sim (heartache in hokkien).. Cya ppl then!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 81 DAYS to ORD!!

NDP is juz 9 days away,
<<< abriel >>>

Missing In Action (MIA)

Yes! This is another post of mine.. juz in case u all accuse me of being MIA-ed again.. hahax.. =P

Hope you all have enjoyed my previous post (Tues - 25/07/06).. I enjoyed the beach part of the post best! Photos combined with post! Fwah! Best combination! Hahax.. I better stop! =)

Anyway, today went to do the speedtrap thing lah.. When we went back to bunk, we were promised by my P1 sgt tat we were not to be disturbed, in other words, we can sleep until we full (ie, until time to fall in for NDP rehearsal tat is!).. Here's to 3SG Yifu if he is reading this:
"Thank you for helping us type in our USMS suggestions into the system at the expense of your precious sleep! =)"

But wats irritating is everytime I was abt to sleep very soundly, either I wld have a call or SMS and therefore, it results in me having to entertain it before I continue sleeping! So ya..

Then its time for my sgts to give out the tix for NDP 2006.. the no. of actual tix were very popular till the pt tat we muz draw lots to see who will get NDP actual tix.. so tat means to say its either you get 1 NDP Actual tix or 2 NDP Preview tix (which is this Sat, 29/07).. so ya.. Of course, I didnt get the NDP Actual though I very much want to, but oh well.. Anyway, the tix is not impt to me becos parents not coming due to church commitments.. haix.. come to think of it, quite disappointing lah.. but oh well.. haix.. so my mum is gonna give the tix to someone else lah.. haix. =(

Tml I'm gonna get an answer lah.. and if no one wants the tix, then I'm gonna keep it loh and probably laminate it as a soveneir! See how lah.. Aiya.. dun talk abt it liaox or else, I wld be even more sad!

Anyway, today's rehearsal is all rite lah.. today, the RSMs swop some of the actual guys in the parade with the reserve, so tat they wld at least get to march in 1 parade.. so ya.. but they did not touch the perimeter (which I'm considered lah!) becos we are quite impt ppl.. so ya.. But anyway, I'm quite happy for Ann Tat lah, becos he is like filled with disappointment b4 the drill tat he told me tat he dun need to march liaox and he has already given up hope to be in actual.. but anyway, he went in to march today, and I'm sure he muz be on cloud 9 lahx, becos all hope is not lost! At least he manage to march in Preview lah.. better than nothing wat! =).. Juz hope this is of some consolation to him lah! Jiayou Ann Tat =)

I felt less nervous today at my new position liaox.. Think I'm getting used to it.. except for the initial 2 runs, I got a bit of a dressing problem when we do our march past.. but when it came to the last run, I manage to salvage the problem and found the crux to the problem.. So juz hope I can maintain the dressing on Sat (29/07).. we shall see ba!

Oh.. my schedule for August 2006 is out halfway liaox.. wats left is only the P1 sessions planned by my sgt.. mounting and rehearsal dates for RSAF Day.. and I muz say I'm fine with it.. juz hope the P1 dates are also as favourable lah! =).. we shall see soon loh! =).. but wats saddening is tat I wld NOT be attending church for the mth of Aug 2006 again, becos its either I have duty or rehearsals.. haix.. Sianx.. cannot see my church bros/mates for another mth.. haix. =(

Decided to come home becos I have to blog! Lots of ppl have been asking my reason frm being MIA frm the cyberworld, esp. my blog! So ya..

By the time this blog is posted, its 0145 in the morning! (I did the previous post, Tues - 25/7, in the same nite too, so tat explains the late nite!)..

Ok lah.. Gtg to dreamland liaox becos tml afternoon got base run.. sianx.. =(.. And I dun think I wld bk out tml nite, as tml nite muz bk in.. by the time I finish the base run, its like 1730 liaox then reach home, 1900.. 2030 muz leave home.. so wats the pt? Correct =).. so I think I'll cya ppl on Sat/Sun lah.. depends loh!

Wish me all the best in NDP Preview on Sat (29/7) =).. Hope RSAF GOH dun screw up again! *touch wood*

We shall see ya.. and cya ppl soon online! In the meantime, keep it log on to my blog.. more updates coming your way (I hope?) =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 84 DAYS to ORD!!

NDP is drawing nearer,
<<< abriel >>>

A loonnggg post...

A lot of ppl have asked abt my blog man, as to why I didnt update and stuff.. well.. the reason is I busy in camp lah!

And for the first time, I have heard ppl begging/asking me to blog.. u koe who u are =).. Guess ppl juz wanna koe my whereabouts huh =).. Appreciate it lots and hope you can visit my blog often enuf.. becos blogging is my life man! Hahaha.. =P

But oh well.. Now I blog now.. u all happy rite? Anyway, below is a testimony of how busy I am lah.. so this is gonna be long.. so hold on to ur seats..

Saturday (22/07/06)

Yesterday nite bk in.. Then slept.. This morning woke up at 0645 for NDP rehearsal at National Stadium. Left base in SBS bus at close to 0915. Reach stadium at abt 1000.. Went in for 1 round and then had lunch.. Actually they wanted another round but then they cancel in the end.. Thank God becos if this is so, I think I wld juz faint or fall out la! I was tat hungry la though I had breakfast in the morning! Breakfast was juz a pkt of instant noodles! Lunch was Siam Kitchen and I think its spoiled or sumthing la becos the food taste weird.. Dun koe and dun care.. I still eat la becos I was too hungry..

This morning during drill, dun koe wats wrong with my RSM.. He juz kept shouting and shouting.. Haix.. Think PMS or he juz simply muz show us the hard way then we can learn.. Haix.. Then in the afternoon, the police GOH trainer started shouting, juz like my RSM..

Then its rest for a few hrs and I took this time to take a nap.. It was so nice lah =).. Then its one more run before we eat dinner.. And this time it run quite smoothly la but once we are out of stadium, one of the RSM actually scolded me becos I was out of place.. I didnt koe tat lah but of well.. This is part and parcel of being in GOH la..

And then sumthing surprising happen! My RSM actually changed my position la.. Not further in but actually further front.. I'm actually moved frm the 5th row of the rear column to the 2nd row of the rear column! I was quite ok with it at first.. Then we had our dinner which was SFI! It was ok lah..

After eating, Boon Sen actually said sumthing (can't remember wat it is!) which make me like quite angry but it was not the real type of anger la.. I juz want to do sumthing to him lah.. so ya.. So I actyually want to juz beat him at his back for fun (juz normal strength), but I never did expect tat I had hit him so hard tat it produced a 'thud' sound, and this 'thud' sound frm the slap actually attracted a lot of ppl's attention! Its tat loh la! Then I suddenly felt so bad lah, becos its like almost I killed him! He look like he's suffering frm tat slap on his back but then surprisingly, he did not scream pain or sumthing like tat lah! Thank God nothing happen or else I dun koe wat to do sia..
So here's to Boon Sen: "Sorry if I had hit u too hard! Trust me.. I didnt mean to hit you so hard! I was juz amazed with my tremendous strength lah..".. Ha..

Oh.. before the actual run started, a few others and I had a short chat with the RSMs and I muz say it was an enjoyable one becos they crack jokes and stuff which at the same time, help me to relieve my stress, esp. my new position. And Ann Tat I think has become reserve liaox becos he never join into the contingent today due to a leg injury last wk.. but let's hope he has been considered as actual in the next 2 shows or sumthing la..

Then it was the actual full timing run.. I somehow was quite nervous becos its the first time I'm standing at tat new position and I did not practice anything prior to me standing at tat position.. So when at tat run, I was actually so nervous/stressed tat I was trembing slightly at some pt of the parade!
Then it came the feu-de-joir.. It takes re-adjustment again for me to fire becos its the Police GOH fire first then its my turn.. So my first shot was slightly late becos I was busy helping my front person (who was in the front row) to adjust his rifle properly for the shoot! But never did I expect tat its so fast, which resulted in me firing the first shot slightly late.. But the subsequent shots were not too bad but I still need time to re-adjust..

Then today for the first time, I actually had watery eyes when singing the National Anthem.. The surprising thing is tat I'm in No. 4 today for rehearsal and since my GOH history, I have never had watery eyes when singing the National Anthem until today! This is a miracle la becos this only happens when I'm in No. 1! But thank God, everything went on smothly and the only minor hiccups frm some ppl but other than tat, its ok la!

Came back to camp.. Draw arms becos P1.. My arms was put into guardroom by my fellow P1 mates and I waited for the colour party to come back then I close up the armoury.. Yizhou accompanied me lah.. Then I bathe and then I tired, then I sleep l iaox! By 2315, I was fast asleep!

Sunday (23/07/06)

Still P1 today! Today did not do much.. We juz entertain ourselves in bunk.. Its amazing how we did this! When we got nothing to do, we juz sleep la!

Then nightfalls and we watch TV and when we tird, we juz sleep loh!!

Monday (24/07/06)

This morning is mounting duty for my shift!

This morning woke up real shack! Dun koe why.. Think we sleep too much yesterday liaox!.. Hehe.. =P..

This morning though I had no first duty, but then I did super lots of fatigue work.. My work range frm being the mounting floor IC, collect and send bed sheet, fetch and pick ppl, take lunch and do parade state (which this is usually done by my sgt but they busy, so they call me to take over).. I agreed la..
Becos all these tasks need day driver, I therefore get to koe more abt the day driver and chatted with him la.. I evaluated tat he is a nice guy la after today =). But 1 thing abt him I still cant get over is tat he is super courteous in a sense tat he ends everything with ur rank.. Juz imagine how awkward I felt when he told me he wants to go for lunch.. He said, "CPL, I go cookhouse for lunch then after I'll be back." I replied, "ok".. Then he replied, "Thank you CPL".. I then told him tat he can call me by name rather than rank.. I juz feel so awkward la..

Then I went to see my detailing; it was shiong lah! Never in my mounting did I have such a shiong mounting! But I guess it can't be help becos 2 personnels were on 10C status and 1 personnel on half day! Haix.. So actually nite time I dun need to sleep liaox, becos I work on the basis of do 2 hrs and rest 2 hrs.. Haix..
But oh well, I carried on with my duty of guarding the secluded gate.. Then go back and rest a while before did my gate duties at different times of my mounting..

Tuesday (25/07/06)

** Today's post is slightly different.. I wld combine photos with my post.. but at the end of it, the description of the photo wld be denoted with a star.. so ya.. =)
(Photos are taken with my Canon Ixus 60)

Then its time to dismount frm duty but then quite tired la, becos of my duties.. Then later go Sentosa dun koe how sia! Will I be shacked? I dun koe.. But not only my shift ppl going.. Samuel Tan (frm HQ) and Tim Chek (frm shift 2).. So quite excited lah!

Though tired, but I'm looking forward for the outing la! Juz hope I wld not be exhausted la.. Then tml I P1.. Haix.. I think this wk I have no life except for the outing today.. =)

Had a lot of fun in Sentosa today! Its being so long since I had so much fun! Read on..

After we dismounted, we took a chartered bus frm camp to HarbourFront before we had lunch at the hawker centre opposite HarbourFront Centre..

* Photo on left: Me smiling for the camera! =)

Sat in the Sentosa bus and we sat till the new Sentosa station.. When we reach there (they call it the beach station), we were greetd with an all new landscape and of course, I was pleasantly surprised lah and immediately, my morale was suddenly boosted sky high..

* Photo on right: Me loaning Mingjun's Oakley Sunglasses and striking a pose for the camera! Oh man! I think I'm wanna get a pair of shades soon =) I look quite good in it rite *thick-skin* =P

Then as I walk, I kept taking photos with my camera either my own self pic or sumone else.. Machiam like some super crazy nut!
As usual, I didn't want to go down to the water but of course, kenna sabo!.. Haix..

* Photo on left: Me on the colourful sculpture of Siloso Beach, Sentosa! Managed to chance upon this as I explored the beach for more photo-taking shots! And managed to find this! Cool rite =)

Then Sam Tan & Tim came.. We then went on with our own stuff; play soccer and volleyball. A while later, my friends did sumthing which really embarassed me to the core la.. And worse still, there is quite a no. of audience.. To koe wat my embarassing act is, ask me abt it.. I wld tell u but definately with a blush on my face.. =)..

Then went on to suntan and eventually played beach volleyball which is my first attempt.. Agree its kinda fun but it gets monotonous after a while and when this happens, I wld juz like excuse myself frm the game and juz soak myself in the sea water.. So there I did and then, we did sumthing to Hern Khoon which is worst than my state and more embrassing lah.. Revenge time.. Ha.. =P..

* Photo on right: Half of the GOH shift posing for the camera as a group shot! How this shot came abt was becos all of us were soaking in the sea, and we juz like "why dun we take photo"... then all of us juz take loh! This is wat I call impromptu picture! =)

After tat, we went to the toilet and bathe.. And again, I was amazed at how the toilet looked! It was really an open concept and the deco was real nice lah! Ok.. You may think/say I'm a mountain tortoise but I dun care.. =P..

* Photo on left: An MTV-inspired picture shot of myself =)

Then we walk back to the beach station and got the drink frm 7-11.. Then we went home but not before Hern Khoon and me taking more photos of ourselves.. So ya.. Pics of the whole outing are uploaded liaox (I was the official photographer, which explains why there were abt 150 photos!).. Go to the following to access it:
Photo Gallery > My Experience As A Soldier Boy > GOH Shift Outing @ Sentosa (25/07/06) Photos!

Btw, Hern Khoon is as photo crazy juz like me.. Hern Khoon is super vain lah! Then its dinner with Boon Sen & Yizhou @ MacDonald's, HarbourFront Centre..

* Photo on right: Dun Hern Khoon (right) and me look good in our shades? Awww.. =)

Then went home for some home-cooked food by my mum.. Then I edit the photos taken.. I also burn the copy for my shiftmates then they circulate round becos the photos are 400mb and believe it or not, I took 150 photos.. Tats a lot of photos la!! But nvm.. Wat matters most is the fun memory lah! After today, I made a conclusion tat I love the beach and activities like suntan and volleyball.. Now I koe why my bro, Sidney, likes the beach so much =).. Slept like at 0100 after finish burning the CD and stuff.. Totally shacked lah!

Wednesday (26/07/06)

Today was super shacked when I'm back in camp.. but then still have to mount duty becos I P1 today.. Super tired lah..
Did the super hot duty frm 1300-1700.. Then when I wear my SBO, my back hurts becos this morning when I wake up, I felt my back red and whenever I want to dry myself after my bath, it wld hurt so badly lah! Super pain loh!! Now I'm feeling the after-effects of suntanning lah..

Then tml by rite no duty but then last min, my officer told us tat we had to do speedtrap.. WTH lah.. Haix.. no choice..

Watch TV in bunk then felt sleepy.. Slept.. Wanted to sleep early but then too many nice programmes on TV liaox.. Haix.. Slept at 2230 instead! Tml is gonna be another tiring day with all the NDP rehearsals and stuff.. Haix.. Hope my body can take it lah! =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 86 DAYS to ORD!!

To be continued...,
<<< abriel >>>

So weird!

Man.. I'm having mixed feelings! The feeling of being so glad at home and zou-bo as well as real shacked!

I'm shacked becos I slept at 0145 last nite, and at 0715 this morning, I woke up and surprisingly, feeling very fresh! But now, after 3 hrs, I'm starting to feel the "kick"..

Even as I blog now, my eyes juz feels heavy lah! Haix.. Think I'm gonna sleep a while in the afternoon, before going down to Toa Payoh to run some errands for my mum, and probably at the same time, buy rojak home =).. Yummy!

I think one of my videotapes spoil liaox, becos its like I record the Singapore Idol Extra shown on yesterday but only the image came out, but it was the audio of the previous programmes tat has been over-run over and over again.. Haix.. disappointing.. yet another tape failure! Last wk forgot to tape, and this wk it came out with more problems! Wonder wat will happen nxt if this continues on.. Haix..

Oh... I'm quite amazed at what ppl will do in their free time.. this is becos' of the following article which I read in the Forum page of today's (21/07/06) Straits Times.. so here it is:

Glaring mistakes on NDP website

I was aghast when I was surfing the Net and found the National Day Parade 2006 website (http://www.ndp.org.sg).

On it were very basic grammatical errors and many syntax errors unbecoming of a website that is representative of our country.

It was stated that the website was designed by an external company and such low editorial standards make me wonder how the tender process was carried out, resulting in the company receiving the contract to design the website.

Some of the glaring erros include the following:

(1) "The treatment of the brushstrokes given the logo an Asian feel, and it denotes that Singapore is evolving into a global city but not forgetting our roots and values. The way the globe is tilt, it gives a feel that the world is revolving around Singapore and we are in the centre of all action."

A proper sentence would be: "The brushstrokes give the logo an Asian feel and shows Singapore evolving into a global city while retaining its roots and values. The globe is tilted to show the world revolving around Singapore and we become the centre of all action."

(2) "This year marks our nation 41st year of independence."

It is imperative that the National Day Parade (NDP) Exco rectifies the problem as soon as possible; it is embarassing that a website which is supposed to glorify our nation's acheievements over the past 41 years ends up making a mockery of our standard of English.

I hope the NDP Exco will also explain how these mistakes came about.

Edgar Kiew Li Chong"

When I first read the article, I was like WTH! Like tat also want to complain! This person muz be thinking he's real good or sumthing like tat lah or simply, he has too much time to spare! But ya.. why complain? Becos I believe tat the website articles were written by above average NSFs who have scored well in their English Language.. and becos they have such standards or shld I say calibre, they are then approached to write articles for the NDP website! And here they are trying their best to write articles (not forgetting tat this website thingy are probably done at the sacrifice of their free time [probably weekends], and I'm sure tat they are NOT paid to do this website as well! As you all koe, NSFs weekends are very precious, becos tat is the only time where they can juz let their hair down, and chill out with friends and stuff!.. And here now, ppl are complaining abt the articles they have written instead of complimenting them! Now where are the appreciative Singaporeans huh?

Arghh.. juz feel that this guy who wrote the letter, have nothing better to do than to criticise and complain! They juz dun koe wat's happening behind the scenes! I'm sure lots of hard work, effort and sweat has been put into making this website a terrific one!
So here's me to the NDP Website team, despite all criticisms and complains, you guys have made it come thus far and you all have done such a fantastic job! I can only stand up and applaude you! Kudos! =)

Ok.. the above juz spoils my day lah.. arghh.. Anyway, I think more or less its abt it liaox.. Not much to blog anyway.. but if I do, it wld be another update lah, and tat is a bonus! Ha..

Oh.. the photos for last week's NE Show are out.. to view the photos, simply go to:
Photo Gallery > My Experience As A Soldier Boy > NDP 2006 : NE Show (15/07/06) Photos!

Ok lah.. gtg liaox.. If I dun cya ppl anytime soon, then see me online on Tuesday ya =).. Cya soon!
FYI: I'm bkin in tonite becos got NDP rehearsal tml.. so ya..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 90 DAYS to ORD!!

18 days to NDP 2006,
<<< abriel >>>

ORD loh!

Well ppl! Guess wat! I'm a step closer to ORD! =).. So happy ah, so happy =)

This morning bk into camp.. ate breakfast, and after 10 mins, a grp of 7 of us bk out of camp and then proceeded to Nee Soon Camp for our Dental FFI!

And our original timings were actually at 1045-1115, but becos we have our NDP rehearsals at National Stadium later in the afternoon, therefore, we made a choice to tell them tat we have rehearsal and izzit possible to see the dentist earlier? To our surprise, they did allow lah, becos there was nobody mah!

And mind you ppl.. tat was at abt 0940 (an hr before our appt!).. My appt was actually at 1100 but by 1010, I'm done liaoz! How cool is tat rite!

I juz dun koe why when I first sit on the dental chair, I had this sudden phobia tat had been instilled in me since tat time where I started to visit my dentist in my primary school during my primary school days! I juz dun koe why! I was having this slight fear! Hmm.. wonder wat caused tat lah! =(..

Then the dentist said something which is quite amusing.. he said:
"Don't worry! This is just gonna be a quick checkup to see how your teeth are working before you ORD! Even if we find out if there are any problems, we just laugh it off and let you ORD!"

When I heard tat, I was like -_-'''.. half the time, I dun koe wat the dentist is talking lah, becos he makes really lame comments or maybe its a lame joke which I obviously dun understand!

But watever it is, I still manage to get thru the dental FFI.. and then share cab with boon sen, guowei and samuel (who were there for dental FFI too) back to camp and we then bk our medical FFI (2nd step towards ORD) in our base medical centre.. The system was a bit of a cock-up, becos they only allow 3 persons per day.. so ya.. there were 7 of us.. so I was the odd one out.. but thank God, Samuel (my bunk mate, whom is also in my P1 grp, who has also the SAME ORD date and no. of leave, and who is also in the same company as me when in BMT) decides tat he come with me to FFI.. so ya.. Thanks Samuel =)

Then I called my sgt to check whether tat day which I do my medical FFI have any rehearsals (juz in case of any last min changes/additions of NDP rehearsals), but my sgt dun have the rehearsal schedule paper.. so I called home to ask my mum to check for me, becos I koe my room has the rehearsal schedule paper.. And thank God, tat day dun have anything.. so ya.. juz hope it remains tat way! Oh.. anyway, my medical FFI is scheduled on 07 August 2006.. so ya..

Then came back bunk and slept till 1415.. woke up, bathe and then go canteen to have a quick lunch/teabreak, then its I being zoomed up in a bus to National Stadium for NDP rehearsal..

When I went there, felt extremely shacked.. dun koe why.. then as I want to go toilet (becos there was some sort of delay), they needed volunteers to take dinner, and then Ann Tat (my friend frm Changi Airbase, whom now we are like blood brothers liaoz..) went to volunteer himself to take dinner, and he saw me and then shouted my name and I turned over, and he asked me to go with him to take dinner.. So ya.. So I went loh and on the way to take dinner, caught up with him for a while abt wat's happening during the past wk in his life(though we chat very frequently on MSN!).. and on the way, he was talking to me abt earlier this wk, he was having Kuishinbo for dinner! Fwah.. best!! Now I craving for Kuishinbo liaox! How? How? =(

Ate Siam Kitchen for dinner (which was a pleasant surprise, becos I was expecting SFI).. Then went for drills, which lasted abt an hour or so! I dun koe why I actually didnt feel myself today to do drills! Every movement which I executed was not of my top form.. haix.. maybe I'm too tired lah, becos of the late nites/ fatigue work!

And Ann Tat was so poor thing! Even though he manage to go into the contingent today for practice, but actually its becos its the place of my sgt who was not able to make it for drill today, becos he was busy with his course trainees' live firing!.. so ya..
So I actually at some point during the water breaks, went to congratulate Ann Tat tat he is in the contingent liaox, becos the past wk, he has been so disappointed/afraid abt not being in the contingent anymore since he fall out last wk due to his leg injury, but becos today he is like taking the place for someone, and when they are back on Saturday, there is a very big chance tat he wld be as reserve, becos his place tat he was standing today,was of a sgt rank, whilst his is only a Corporal (CPL) rank .. But nevertheless, I reassured him with my encouraging words, and at the same time, juz hope for the best for him loh! But I think his RSM sure wont let him down; he wld definately find a space for him one lah! =)

Rehearsals for me is quite stressful, becos when I slack in the drill (esp. the march past), I can feel it and at the same time, I tried my best to retify the problem; sometimes I'm successful while sometimes I dun.. so whenever I feel myself slacking and not doing my best, I wld always be scared tat the RSMs wld spot me and scold me lah.. so ya.. worst still, change my position! so ya.. dun wanna tat to happen!
And it always happens when I'm slack in drills, the RSMs tend to be very close to me (as in the position lah!).. Take today for example.. I koe I slack in my march past and then the worst thing is tat the 4 RSMs were juz directly at the back of me loh (becos I rear row mahz), and immediately I became super stress lah! But thank goodness, the RSMs never say anything.. so this probably means my dressing and drills were still acceptable.. so ya.. so my position is safe liaox =)

Then drill ended, and when back in camp, my sgt ask who want to take half day off tml (becos my officer gave us half day off tml becos we kenna jia at today's NDP rehearsal where we go home late!).. so becos I dun wanna to like go back to camp for juz a half day, therefore, I decide to take a half day off tml and only return tml nite to camp for NDP rehearsal on Saturday!

But one bad news though.. once I bk in tml nite, I'm NOT gonna be able to bk out till Tues.. becos:
Saturday (22/07/06) - P1
Sunday (23/07/06) - P1
Monday (24/07/06) - Mounting
Tuesday (25/07/06) - Dismounting (but got shift outing!)

So ya.. I'm not gonna see ya all ppl online lah.. but technology is so advanced rite? You can call me on my handphone (I have incoming call free) or SMS me to chat loh! I'll be happy to do so =)

Ok lah.. quite late liaox.. need to sleep.. too shacked!
Tml morning waking up to watch my taped programmes (Singapore Idol stuff!).. =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 91 DAYS to ORD!!

2nd step to ORD (Medical FFI) awaits,
<<< abriel >>>

It took the toll out of me!

Well! Today woke up like 0515.. super tired lah.. partly becos the weather was so nice to sleep in, as well as I slept at 1230 yesterday nite.. so ya.. u can imagine how tired I am loh!!

Shared cab with Boon Sen this morning to cab.. Instructions has been passed down and tat is by 0700 need to fall in (boots muz brush shine and wear our smart 4 instead of the normal long 4 which we always do.. in other words, turnout muz be good!).. And both of us reached camp at abt 0630.. went back to bunk and hurried ourselves in doing the stuff..

As we walked up the stairs, we were greeted by a stench.. a very strong stench! Words juz can't describe it! I first tot it was the rubbish, but then after much curiousity when we came down frm bunk to fall in, I then realised tat the stench is actually all the course trainees long 4 which they didnt wash and they juz left it there to dry! fwah best!! Super smelly lah!

Then its marshalling for the WHOLE day! 4 of us (including me) were being stationed at a carpark for traffic marshalling.. I was given the task by my RSM to plan the mini-detailing for the other 3 personnels.. It was fairly simple lah.. I juz split them into peak and off peak hr loh! Of course, another guy and me did the peak hr, whilst the other 2 did the off-peak hr (which they both rotate among themselves)..

Then this carried on till the rest of the day! So ya.. at the end, we had a debref by flight sgt major (FSM).. he said something which I remember till now:
"Today is not much of a problem! No hiccups and stuff.. but its only draggy, which gives me more time to tell you more cold jokes!".. I was like quite curious wat cold joke he gave and the following it is (when back in bunk, Boon Sen was telling us abt it becos he was a victim!).. The joke is:

"Question: Where do you go to chill out?
Answer: Cold Storage"..

Fwah! Super cold rite.. so ya.. tats wat FDS can do to you at times! Ha..

Then bk out and came home loh.. Then suddenly I crave for durian.. so I went to buy loh.. After coming home, I feel super shack lah! But nevertheless, on my computer and check my email and stuff!

Then do till dinner.. then came back computer to work on my planning of leave till ORD, which my officer want it by Friday.. so ya..

Sianx.. this wkend P1 and nxt mon is duty, followed by when dismount on nxt tues, got shift outing.. haix.. =(. but wat to do?

Anyway, tml is gonna be a rush day for me, becos its dental FFI in the morning for me (All ORD personnels need to go thru this phase! and you koe wat this means? ORD loh!), and then NDP rehearsal at National Stadium in the evening.. but thank God, my officer decided to give us off-in-lieu, which means Friday I only need to come back camp for half day.. so ya.. best rite =).. but we have our bad days too lah!

Ok.. gtg liaox.. feeling sleepy! Gonna bk in tml.. haix..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 92 DAYS to ORD!!

ORD loh!,
<<< abriel >>>

A reunion with an old friend!

Man oh man! This is so exciting!

Yesterday's mounting for me is quite slack, but nevertheless, I still like I lack of sleep or sumthing.. Super tired!

Came home and sleep for abt an hour, before I went out.. At first after I wake up, I was like "wah lao.. so sleepy.. I like somehow regret to go out later today".. but then, I suddenly tot of like becos this is so rare and a mtg not to be missed, therefore, I braced myself up and dragged myself to the toilet to change and bathe loh!

I tot I was late, but surprisingly, I was on time.. so ya.. During my journey to meeting my friend, I receive a msg frm my sgt saying tat I have to fall in at 0700 tml becos I'm involved in the marshalling stuff for one of my base mtgs.. Lots of VIPs coming to base.. so ya..

Ok.. when I reached, I meet my friend at Body Shop at Plaza Singapura.. My feelings were like quite nervous, becos I'm not too sure whether I can find him or recognize him or vice versa.. So my heart was like thumping quite fast.. Prior to which, I asked him for his updated photo and he send it to me via MSN.. so ya..
Anyway, I looked ard and did not see any familiar face, and immediately deduce tat he is not here yet.. but surprisingly, after abt 3 mins of waiting, he called out to me frm the escalator he came down frm, and there I saw him face to face! I was so happy to see him lah, but thank God I did not tear or sumthing or else I wld be super embarassed lah! =)



A little history abt our mtg today.. My friend, Bing Xun (he is at the right in the picture), is actually a friend of mine whom I know since Primary 1 in Saint Andrew's Junior School (SAJS) and when we are at Primary 4, we were streamed, and he went to the EM1 class, while I was in EM2. Then after his PSLE, he left for Raffles Institution (RI) and thereafter, proceeded to Raffles Junior College (RJC).. then he went NS and now, in NUS pursuing a Direct Honours in Pharmacy.. so if you count, its like 9-12 yrs since we have last contacted with each other..

How I knew him was a little of a coincidence! I first found my other friend, Stanley, on friendster.. added him and becos he was also in my clique when I was in Primary school (along with Bing Xun & others), I juz simply asked him whether he knew where Bing Xun is.. and surprisingly, he told me tat he has Bing Xun's contact details becos they were BMT & NS mates where they were posted into the same unit! How good is tat rite =).. so ya..

Then today is like I free, so I decided to call for a mtg between Bing Xun, Stanley & me, but Stanley not free, so its only Bing Xun & myself.. so ya..

The photo above is taken today at Fish & Co restaurant, Glass House, becos we went there for dinner.. Had a good time of catching up.. believe it or not.. we have actually stayed in tat place, eating and talking for 2 hrs! And believe you me.. tat 2 hrs pass so fast; its like only 1 hr!



We watched this show, "Pirates Of The Carribean: Dead Man's Chest". My verdict of the show: 4 out of 5 stars!
This show I feel is better than the first, becos this show has combined both comedy and action together.. And the comic moments in the show were mainly dished out by the actor, Johnny Depp, and I muz say its very comedic instead; quite natural too! You shld watch it and laugh at the comic moments!
The downside of the show is tat it has an abrupt ending (which hints tat there is a Part 3 to this movie, but no news as yet as when Part 3 wld be released), as well as the plot/show feels a bit draggy (its running time is 150 minutes and the though the movie feels draggy, but the scenes in the movie change fast, so it helps to compensate the dragginess of the show loh!).
If you watch it, stay tuned for the short snippet (which is super funny lah!) tat wld be shown after the credits had been rolled out completely. Bing Xun told me to stay on to watch, so I did.. but it was not really worth it, becos the snippet is like a bit of "senseless" and last only I think 20 secs.. so ya..
PS: If you are wondering when Spiderman 3 is coming out, according to the trailer (if you watch "Pirates Of The Carribean: Dead Man's Chest"), you wld be glad to know tat it wld be released worldwide on May 2007! So its a LOOONNNGGGG wait lah! Haix.. =(




Seafood Platter For 1
This photo is taken with my Canon Ixus 60, with again using the Digital Micro function.
This is my favourite part of the Seafood Platter, which explains why I take this pic =).. looks delicious isn't it? Bing Xun also commented on my phototaking skills; he said it look delicious! Ha.. =)

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, we juz chat and eat at the same time! I was super hungry lah, so tats why I finish up the Seafood Platter, or else, I wld have left some stuff (eg: the butter rice and the fries) behind.. so ya.. It was really a great time together, since for 9-12 yrs, we never tok liaox =)..

Our nxt mtg wld be with Stanley.. and this time, it wld be 3 of us: Bing Xun, Stanley & myself.. but details are not cfm yet.. so ya.. becos we need to find a common free timeslot loh! So ya..

Ok lah.. I gtg liaox.. Very late liaox.. need to wake up in 5 hrs time.. Sianx.. bk in so early tml.. 7am lehx.. super early lah! haix.. spend money on cab fare tml again.. =( So I'll cya ppl when I cya =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 93 DAYS to ORD!!

Cheers,
<<< abriel >>>

Makan & more makan!

Today had a lot of eating sia!

Went out with mum and dad to first see my grandma at the old folks' home, then its proceeding over to Ah Teng's Bakery at Raffles Hotel for my afternoon tea.. its my dad's treat.. Anyway, the following are some of the stuff I ate for my afternoon tea and note tat all photos are taken with my Canon Ixus 60, using the Digital Micro function in the camera.. so here goes..




Chocolate Biscuit Cheese Cake.
This is so yummy but at the same time, very rich.. eat too much quite gelat! so ya.. but its nice ya.. It looks like it has Oreo biscuits crumb, but in actual fact, there are no biscuit crumbs! In fact, its all sticky; so I suspect tat they mixed the crush Oreo into the cheese and make into this cake.. Superb idea rite? Make it easy to eat and pleasant to the eye! =)




Chocolate Brownie
This brownie is rich, thick and full of chocolately taste! The brownie to die for! What's more? It is not sweet! The perfect cake for chocolate lovers!




The Scone Set
These ever-popular scones are always a must-have in this bakery shop! The scones are so popular that if you go any later, you may not get to eat them! Spread the butter generously on the scones and if you have a sweet tooth, berry jams (specially imported from France) are also provided in the set.. and one bite of the scones, can make you feel like you're on cloud nine! Simply heavenly! *thumbs up*




The Sugar Tray
This photo is taken to show the capability of both my camera and my photoshooting skills! Learnt this skill frm my sis who attended a module on phototaking whilst she was in Year 1 of her course in NAFA (Nanyang Academy Of Fine Arts).. so ya.. Not bad huh?
I actually got another pic which can show my photography skills better, but somehow blogger cant accept anymore photos.. think there is a limit to the no. of photos tat blogger can take loh! sianx... However, I upload the photo in my Yahoo! Photos liaox.. access the following:
Photo Gallery > My Family Events > Family Makan Outing @ Raffles Hotel & The RiceTable Photos (16 July 2006)! > Outside Ah Teng's Bakery @ Raffles Hotel
*It may look simple, but it takes a lot of skill.. ha.. no lah.. juz tot of try to apply one of the camera tricks tat I've read frm somewhere.. it says tat if you want to take photos frm behind a window, the trick is put the lens as CLOSE to the window, so as to avoid reflection frm the camera.. so ya.. now you learn sumthing new huh =)

After we have eaten, we shopped a while and at the same time, run some errands.. then its time for dinner.. My mum decide to try The RiceTable Indonesian Restaurant, becos we have a 20% discount voucher and we wanted to try this for very long liaox! So ya.. the following are 2 of the best pics tat I've taken with my Canon Ixus 60, and again using the Digital Micro function in the camera.. So here goes..




Rudjak Manis (Fruit Salad)
This salad is quite shiok I muz say! Its more of an appetizer rather than a dish! You shld try it sometime! The fruits in this dish are green apples, pineapples and oranges. All these are put into this special sauce which taste so nice, tat my mum and I can't figure out the ingredients for this! Hmm...




Ikan Bilis (Fried Anchovies)
This ikan bilis is fried to perfection.. combined with a mixture of nuts and a sprinkle of sugar crystals to coat the mixture of nuts and ikan bilis, its simply perfect; it doesn't matter whether you treat it as a condiment to your rice or as a main dish (which means juz eat without rice).

Other photos for today's Makan outing is uploaded into the net liaox.. Access the following to view the photos:
Photo Gallery > My Family Events > Family Makan Outing @ Raffles Hotel & The RiceTable Photos (16 July 2006)!

For more information abt The RiceTable Indonesian Restaurant (eg: lunch/dinner menu or locations for the restaurants, etc) click here!

Ok lah.. now I'm super full liaox.. tml gonna mount duty, so have to sleep now! Its late! Sianx.. tml mounting duty.. haix.. but I got Tuesday to look forward to! Yeh! So I'll cya ppl when I cya =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 95 DAYS to ORD!!

Makan crazy,
<<< abriel >>>

NDP Fever!

Man! The NDP Fever is on again! Now.. where did I last stop? Becos' there is certainly a lot to update abt.. so I feel tat this is gonna be long.. so ya.. so here goes..

Thursday (13/07/06)

Slept in camp yesterday nite, becos this morning got CO's Parade and we had to attend, becos last minute, our rehearsals are being pushed to the afternoon session.. sianx..

CO Parade is ok but its the first time I see so many ppl attending it.. its like almost the whole flight is attending sia.. becos there are course trainees attending it too.. so ya.

Then I got the thing which made me so happy the whole day; I got my dental FFI liaoz! Its scheduled nxt thurs (20/7) at 1100, but then I have to do it fast, becos the same afternoon, I've got to go to National Stadium for NDP rehearsal, since now the rehearsals are thurs and sats.. so ya..
As I always said, when I get my FFI, its a step to ORD! So now I can shout, "ORD LOH!!" =D

Then its rest in the afternoon before its pushed off for rehearsal at National Stadium at abt 1500..

When we went there, I didnt really eat dinner which was served almost immediately when we reached there.. the reason why I didnt really eat dinner is becos I ate 1 whole cheese toast, 1 cup of tea and 1 box of chee chong fun.. so ya.. so I eat all these, and u think I still can eat dinner? I dun think so loh =)

Then its rehearsal but this time, the field has tarpaulin laid on it, which is better lah.. at least get us familarised abt the markings and stuff, since we screwed up the other time becos of the markings..

Abt 3 hrs later, the drill ended (which was quite slack actually!) and we went back to camp, and by the time it reached camp, it was already 2000.. I was thinking becos nxt day (fri - 14/7) I P1 and the rest on off, so no pt bking out, since need to come back the next day.. my bunk mates (who is also in GOH shift!) also think the same way.. so we did not bk out loh..

But before I went up to bunk, I pre-asked my P1 sgt how the P1s and stuff.. he explain to me, and at tat time, he cldnt confirm any details.. so I asked him to SMS me the details the nxt morning.. and he said I wld be in charge.. I was like.. "huh? ok loh..".. sgt ask me things, I cannot say cannot rite..

Friday (14/07/06)

My specs went for a range session and then it only left my P1 grp, me, and the previous day's P1 group.. My sgt did msg me in the morning as to give specific instructions to ppl loh, machiam like I really a IC like tat..

Did wat my sgt told me to, and then, I went to the I-NET room to check my email and stuff.. then suddenly, one of the HQ personnel told me to take my shift's parade state on behalf of my specs.. I was like WTH! I told the person tat my sgt is coming back in the afternoon at noon so he can do it, but he replied tat noon is too late liaox.. so ya.. did it anyway.. and I actually felt quite frightened lah, becos my name is at stake! I actually put down my name in the parade state as the person who take the parade state, so if anything wrong, I have to answer, so its quite impt tat wat I do inside the parade state is correct lah!

Then after tat, went up to bathe, before I went down to guardroom to do duty becos I was P1.. Did my duty with my "boy boy", Randy.. and we talk a lot, sumthings which are too personal to be stated in this blog.. so ya.. but it was a great chat with each other.. so ya..

At abt 3pm, we are being "pulled back", and I went back to bunk to like slack a while.. so to slack, I went down to my I-NET room again.. this time, during my time of surfing, I stomped upon an idea; look for kakkis to watch "Pirates of the Carribean 2 : Dead's Man Chest".. I first looked for Mingjun, but he said he watched liaox.. so I was like thinking of who can I asked to watch.. suddenly, a tot came to my mind.. ask my best friend, Bingxun.. Man. so excited! Have not seen Bingxun since I graduated frm my primary sch.. so if you count back, tats 9 long years, and its only recently tat I got his contact thru another friend of mine whom I found on Friendster! And we had agreed to meet on Tues (18/7) for movie and dinner.. fwah! Best! I hope I can recognise him loh, and I dun cry when I meet him.. ha.. you all koe me lah.. very emotional one! Imagine seeing a old friend of urs when u have lost contact for 9 long years.. oh man! This is gonna be exciting =).. can't wait for tuesday to come =)

My other 3 P1 friends (boon sen, samuel & yeow siang) went to "cheong sua".. they act as enemies for the course trainees who were doing section movement activity.. so ya.. they were totally "chao ta" lah.. fortunately I did not go (which I initially wanted to actually), or else, my whole neck wld be covered with heat rash and this is disgusting lah! Then they also came back quite late in the evening, whilst yizhou, guowei and myself had our bath already and were watching TV.. they so poor thing =(

Then I was so shacked lah, so by 2200, I was fast asleep!

Saturday (15/07/06)

Woke up this morning at 0645.. brush teeth and stuff.. and by 0815, we were downstairs and got ready to draw our rifles for our NDP rehearsal today (which happen to be an NE Show!)..

Reached there and when I saw Ann Tat (my friend frm Changi Airbase), he told me he got bad news for me.. I was like, "oh.. wat is tat".. then when I found out wat was it, it was quite bad lah.. it apparently he's not taking part in the parade today becos his leg pain.. When he told me abt tat, he like very upset and want to cry like tat! I can sense his disappointment when he told me tat lah.. but anyway, I did cheer him up by telling him positive things lah.. glad it helped him a bit loh! =).. Cheer up bro ok =)

Then its resting a while at Indoor Stadium before we go to the National Stadium for some rehearsals.. and this is where another change took place.. my RSM suddenly called me to change my drill position frm the 18th column 3rd man, to the 20th column (which is the perimeter rear column) 5th men!.. so this again, takes a bit of get used too (no one now tells me whether I'm on the marking itself and stuff, and my marching muz be a bit more 'zai' now, becos I'm at the perimeter row and when I go for the march past, I'm quite prominent as in I'm the 2nd row frm the front.. so ya.. There are pros and cons lah.. the pros is tat I'm more susceptible to camera shots by camera man (both on the parade square as well as casual shots which I got one from a camera man! He took an abstract image of me.. he actually focus his camera on my chrome bayonet.. so its like he dun take me directly, but he use my bayonet and take me.. quite cool rite?) as well as TV coverage, but the con is tat I have to very careful in my actions.. every drill movement have to be executed perfectly and becos I'm at the perimeter, so everything is visible.. so ya..
Then we had lunch (which was Pizza Hut).. not too bad!

Then I saw my cousin, Sherwyn, and called him lah! Apparently, dun koe wat is his role in NDP.. so ya.. anyway, I did call him but becos he is like so busy, never really talk to him.. so ya.. Then guess wat! My cousin told my grandma abt it, and at nite, my grandma asked me abt my mtg with my cousin and stuff!..

Then we went back to Indoor Stadium to eat our dinner and rest.. Dinner was KFC.. not too bad.. the chicken finally for once is big! =)

Before we moved out for Parade, my RSM said, "see.. ppl from paya lebar taking photos, why sembawang ppl dun want to take?".. then I answered back to my RSM, "Sir, not we dun want to take.. we want to take actual day..".. then my RSM said tat actual day dun have time becos all too busy.. so ya.. anyway, we did manage to take a few photos.. some candid and some formal.. photos wld be uploaded soon as soon as I have it! =)

Anyway, the parade today was above average, though initially when marching in, there were a slight cock up but we did retify in the end.. the crowd today at the Stadium were Primary 5 students frm the schools in Singapore, and this show is considered an NE Show for them.. So anyway, when I march in, I was quite taken aback tat there were actually abt 52,000 Primary 5 students watching the Parade.. it was certainly noisy lah! Its noisy to the pt tat even b4 the Parade Commander shouted the command, the students already koe the last word to the command and they shouted it out, which if we were not alert, we wld juz follow lah, and we wld be made of a laughing stock!
Then again, there were some cock-ups with the command, tat out of 5 at ease positions, we had only 2.. the rest were at attentions.. and the last one was very long.. we stand attention for close to 15 mins becos of the programme lineup, and halfway, my arms juz started shivering liaox, and I was almost at the verge of like giving up, but realise tat its mind over matter.. if I really given up, I think I wld screw up the show as well as being kicked out of GOH.. moreover, I'm at the rear row, so have to show tat AirForce garang (malay for fierce).. so ya.. I'm glad I manage to control loh..

Then came we singing the National Anthem.. and there it starts again; my tears juz well up within my eyes when I sang the National Anthem, and I can feel tat my eyes are wet! I was almost at the verge of tearing lah, but didnt! Thank God!

Then it came to the march past.. it was quite stressful for me, becos I'm like quite prominent, becos I'm 2nd row frm front, and the last column.. so ya.. but I'm glad tat I delivered in the end lah! In front of me, despite my timings (cant really shout too loud, or else ppl may see/hear, and this is not desirable!), is a bit out of step.. haix.. =(

Then its debrief and I'm quite shocked tat Yizhou told me tat he teared not at the National Anthem but actually at the march past.. Gosh! People have different feelings! so ya.. =)

Then its good news lah, becos we were told tat we are going back late, but surprisingly, we left quite early but going hback to camp frm National Stadium is a chore, becos the bus goes one big round, becos the roads near National Stadium is closed.. so ya..

Shared cab with boon sen (surprisingly the cab fare is not very ex.. just a weeny more ex.. to be exact, $0.40.. so ya..) and then reach home and then blog this post liaox!

Ok lah.. have to sleep liaox! very late! too shacked after drill! Tml waking up and hopefully go out with family and have nice dinner or sumthing.. ok.. *yawns*.. sleepy!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 96 DAYS to ORD!!

Sleepy head,
<<< abriel >>>

ORD loh!

Yesterday's mounting was quite shiong, becos 2 personnels frm my shift were on 10C status, and one of my friends, were on half day due to an impt matter tat he had to attend to! However, my sgt called down the P1 to do duty, so its not so bad after all lah!

Though its shacked to do mounting, but wat makes it so enjoyable is tat there are always a few jokers ard to crack jokes here and there, so its not too bad; it helps to like relief both mental as well as physical stress lah! =)

Today at my dismount debrief, my officer said we are to clear our off on Friday, but becos my grp P1 and there are 2 more ppl do P1, so 3 frm my group of an original 6 will be on off.. so tml then we decide who will go on off lohx.. =)

Then I was kenna called down by my officer to do an admin matter which actually he shld do it for us, but oh well.. haix.. Then after he left, my sgt suggested he type for us becos we dismounting, and he can claim half-day off if he leave camp late.. however, it was until my turn liaox when he said tat.. and I see him like so poor thing.. got abt 5-6 ppl to do liaox.. so therefore, to reduce his burden a bit, I did help him type my share! so ya.. anyway, I come early also not much of a use, becos I wld only be at home online mahx.. so ya.. these kind of things can wait one.. dun need to be so urgent! so ya.. =)

Then dun koe wat to eat for lunch.. so therefore, I proceeded over to Spec Mess to tapou lunch home.. ate chicken chop fried rice with egg, which costs me a whopping $4.50.. quite ex sia! I have to like wait abt 20 mins for it to be ready, becos it was quite early in the morning.. so ya.. but anyway, originally I order chicken cutlet, but then not ready yet, so chicken chop was the next best choice loh! So ya.. Thank God its nice lah, or else, I wld have wasted my $4.50.. but then again, I feel my $4.50 is not really worth it lah! haix.. oh well..

Then came home and then on the computer a while, but never did I knew tat I was prompted a "full scan my computer" msg for my Norton Antivirus.. so did it, but it was too long.. so I left the computer on whilst I juz sleep my afternoon away! And my alarm rang at 1630, but I juz off it.. and before I knew it, it was 1800! Gosh! I have slept since 1400 and wake up only at 1800? Oh man! I'm gonna have a hard time sleeping tonite at camp, becos I sleep too much liaox! But then again, can't help it becos I felt super tired lah!

Sianx.. need to go back camp tonite, becos tml I have CO Parade and instruction from my officer is to bk in tonite.. haix.. sianx..

I think this is one of my shortest post ard, so you all can go buy 4D/Toto or sumthing, becos its seldom tat I blog so short loh! Oh manx.. wats happening to me? Guess I've been short-winded? (ok.. not funny! Its lame, I koe!)..

Oh yesterday marks the start to my last 100 days in National Service! Though there was not much of a celebration, but juz the tot of it simply is SHIOK! =)

Ok.. enuf of crap! Ciaox and cya soon! Wont be blogging for quite a while becos of camp/rehearsal commitments.. so ya.. I'll cya ppl when I cya =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 99 DAYS to ORD!!

"O.. O.. O.. O.. R.. D..",
<<< abriel >>>

Finally!

Before I continue today's post, I wld like to announce tat my blog has finally changed to a brighter skin! Comments pls on my Shoutbox! =).. Another thing which I wld like to announce is tat the photos for last Sat's NDP rehearsal (Family Day Show - 08 July 2006) is finally up! To access, pls. follow the following:
Photo Gallery > My Experience As A Soldier Boy > NDP 2006: The Family Day Show (08/07/06) Photos!

Now on with the post..
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes! Finally the World Cup Fever is over! Italy won 5-3 on penalties to France and is the reigning champion. But do you think I care? No! All I care is I have no more sleepless nights becos of my bunk ppl shouting goal and stuff; no one wld purposely switch to the soccer channel in midday where obviously there isn't any encore telecast of the match or purposely switch channels during match times becos majority in my bunk wants to watch soccer, which ultimately made me have to take the trouble to go other ppl's bunk and watch other shows besides soccer. Sometimes I dun really understand wats so interesting abt soccer; its just 11 guys chasing a ball and shooting it into some net. And yet becos of this, ppl can go bankrupt or heavily in debts. So there are more cons than pros and yet I dun koe why ppl like it so much. Haix..

Anyway, yesterday went shopping with my family in the late afternoon. Only manage to buy some of my essential toiletries.. As for other stuff, can't find what I fancy or want! Maybe becos I went only to Suntec to find loh.. Have not been to the Shopper's Paradise (ie, Orchard Road) yet.. Then I was like regretting coming out with my family to shop, becos its like when I want to buy sumthing, my mum wld nag at me saying, "you got a lot of money izzit?".. I wld like then explain but how much explanation wld not work lah.. Haix.. Think I muz go with friends like Sidney then its fun =).. At the same time, can get some professional advice too loh! =)..

Came home with supper.. Ate my supper and the durian tat my neighbour gave! It was certainly a full meal! I usually dun have the habit of eating supper but yesterday was an exception becos my dinner was juz laksa (pic. on the left!) frm Congress Kopitiam at Suntec and it was early at abt 1700.
** Picture taken by my Canon Ixus 60.

Though lunch was a Ramily's beef burger (not as good as I expected it to be and the first bite, I actually felt like vomitting. I think the chicken wld be better!) at my nearby pasar malam store, I did get hungry after like an hr later!

Anyway, after eating tat burger, went to Suntec with my mum.. Walk and eat the laksa for dinner lah.. But by the time I'm back, was to tired liaox.. Watch TV and then sleep liaox..

Juz to sidetrack, I have spend like close to 2 hrs on this blogskin yesterday, so appreciate if you cld give me comments? I'm currently looking for new songs to be put into my blog, but cant find.. so ya.. still in the process.. when I free, I change ok.. but if you got any other comments, pls. feel free to type in my Shoutbox! Anyway, the reason why I chose such a bright skin is that it reflects my personality liaox.. I think bright skin suits me best! So ya.. =)

Woke up this morning with a bit of reluctance becos of the cold and chill weather this morning.. But nevertheless, I had still to get up.

Went to camp and ate breakfast. Was instructed to do fatigue work A, but then last min, someone backed out, and I have been tasked to do fatigue work B, which actually is much better la, becos I get to go along with familiar bunk friends (Boon Sen, Yizhou & Samuel) to a certain camp to do the fatigue work B. We took a 5 ton tunnel to the place, and on the way, all 4 of us are planning for an ORD trip to Malaysia in September during our clear leave period! So ya.. plans are in its initial stage and this is getting so exciting! I certainly hope tat this wld be fulfilled loh! Looking very much forward for this =).. But this means tat I have to start saving now! So ya.. this mth I think I will put a sum behind la.. which means tat these few mths, I can't spend much loh.. haix.. but for the better good =)

Went back to camp to catch some sleep becos weather was super good la.. Then went down to conference room for lessons by various ppl, and this lasted for 2 hrs loh! In fact, some of the lessons we learnt is similar to my advance theory.. And it did remind me abt my twice failure of my advance theory.. haix.. sianx.. Then we bk out later than usual..

As I bk out, I saw one of my shift mate (who is only 18 yr old btw!) walking home (usually he is on his bike, but becos he speeds too fast whilst riding his bicycle, he is been banned frm riding by my upper management!).. so ya.. and then my officer has juz given him a 3 wk confinement in camp becos of his stunt he "chu" in camp today.. so poor thing.. haix.. I feel so much for him lah! In fact, I think he is becoming my younger brother liaox.. haix.. and yet, when I chat with him on MSN, he still gave me a positive outlook! Best! I applause him for this loh! I think if I'm the one, I wld be like super sad for the whole week lah! So ya.. =(

Went home to eat dinner and then now on computer blogging loh.. Sianx.. Tml mounting.. Haix..

Oh.. my Thursday (13/7) rehearsal has been changed frm morning at Nee Soon Camp to evening at National Stadium.. which means I most probably wont be bkin out until Saturday becos I Friday P1 mah! Then Saturday (15/7) is NDP 2006: NE Show liaox.. so ya.. haix.. totally sianx! ok lah.. gtg liaox.. tired *yawns*

Oh.. tml (11/7) is my LAST 100 days in NS! =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 101 DAYS to ORD!!

ORD loh,
<<< abriel >>>

The WORST Parade ever!

Yes! "The worst parade ever!" says my RSM who is the Chief Trainer for Air Force GOH.. haix.. details as follows.. so hang on tight.. this is gonna be a short one, I hope..

This morning woke up quite early.. woke up at 0700.. ate instant noodles for breakfast, bathe and then went down to draw our rifles, and we were whisked off immediately to National Stadium via SBS bus!

When we reached there, we were given a surprise.. our holding area actually is at Indoor Stadium and NOT the normal place where its juz at the corridor of the Stadium.. so ya.. so it was quite a surprise, becos the place is air-conditioned and stuff.. so ya..

Then we had the normal rehearsal practice in the afternoons, and then its back to the indoor stadium to rest till the real showtime..

During the break, we were on a photo frenzy, so we took photos (photos wld be uploaded soon.. stay tuned!).. then hern khoon, samuel, randy and myself decided to do something 'naughty' which ultimately test the 'thickness' of our skin! Ask me if you are curious to koe =)

Then ate dinner which was KFC.. not too bad.. then its time for us to change and then get on with our show!

Was late becos of some miscommunication and stuff.. so in the end, we did not do uncasing of colours (which is a norm at parades)... so got a final brief frm the RSMs before we marched in.. Then the show started and we waited for quite a while before its time for us to march in, and this is where the terror starts!

The march in I tot was all rite, but we did overshot out pt, and this makes us marching on the spot a bit funny becos we were marching backwards and stuff! We were then initially ok and stuff (on the spot and stuff - at least on my side, I can safely say tat, but the front columns, I dun koe..)..
Anyway, the terror starts when we adjust our contingent to the command is given, whose purpose is to make sure tat the contingent is as straight as possible! And dun koe who is the fellow, who actually went to the wrong marking (which my RSM told us before marching in, tat the markings on the ground are WRONG, and remind us time and again, NOT to follow the marking!), and becos of the fellow, he made my row move like 3 spaces, which is super awful lah! You shld have seen the faces of my RSMs when they see this.. some gave a very disappointed face, whilst some juz gave a very stunned look! So ya.. haix.. it was really an embarassing moment, becos Airforce GOH has always a reputable image as in we are one of the best GOH ard, but today, we are the ONLY GOH which screwed up the parade.. so ya.. haix.. totally disappointing and so embarassed lah!..
I also heard frm my RSM tat one of the sgts (frm other bases and NOT my base - dun wish to say which base though I koe who lah) who is in the FRONT row somemore, actually almost dropped his rifle and he actually smack back his rifle whilst we take dressing.. so ya.. haix.. =(

Then usually, when there is a flag flypast when its time for us to sing the National Anthem.. Usually juz unknowningly when I'm in my No. 1, I wld juz like have teary eyes and stuff.. but today, I dun have leh.. dun koe whether izzit becos of today's front part screw up.. so ya.. haix..
If you are confused why I have teary eyes and stuff when there is a flag flypast, I dun koe the reason also, so dun bother asking me! My biggest guess wld be tat sense of patriotism to country and u koe me lah.. I'm quite an emotional person.. so ya.. =)

Of course, needless to say, after the casing of colours and stuff, my RSM scolded us and stuff and his opening line is, "this is the WORST parade ever! The worst parade!..."..

On the way back frm Stadium, my shift ppl in the SBS bus has been talking abt this and tat, regarding why did we make the mistake and stuff.. so ya.. Quite a lot of mayhem happening in the bus! And unknowingly, we reached back camp in a jiffy!

Haix.. came home in bus which totally sianx lah.. worst still.. both buses which I took today (169 and 135) when coming home frm camp, actually had the same problem: ie, it actually almost break down.. so ya.. when tat happens, I tot to myself, "am I tat sway?".. so ya.. haix..

Then bathe and on this computer blogging loh.. so ya.. ok lah.. time a bit not too early liaox.. going to sleep liaox.. =).. cya soon..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 103 DAYS to ORD!!

Disappointed,
<<< abriel >>>

Disappointments..

Totally disappointed with my shift.. decide not to go into details.. I'm juz gonna say the gist of it here.. so here goes..

It was originally a fine weather to mount duty in; cool breeze without the sun and my boots will remain dry despite the wet weather which last time once my boots touch water, within minutes my socks wld be soaking wet.

Anyway, did my normal duty until my sgt pye over my detailing and I admit tat this is one of the slackest duty tat I've done so far but its not my fault tat its so slack becos simply the detailing is planned by my sgt.. and my whole shift ppl is like blaming me and call me a slacker. And I can actually hear some of them talkin behind my back la.. WTH! I got so pissed off initially tat I actually wanted to tell them to shut up but I didnt la or else they wld have seen the other side of me..

Then as if its not enuf, due to an oversight of my sgt, my sgt wake me up last min to tell me to do a 30min armed gate duty and then another person take over for the rest of the other hr. And I was like ok.. Do loh.. no harm.. Then when I stand there, I tot of it, why dun I juz do the rest of the hr in order to shut the rest of the ppl who called me slacker.. U all koe how hurtin for ppl to call you names when you are not!

Then there are worst things. Ppl in my shift kept callin my name in a very high pitch and a few times is ok.. but it carried on too far and too long liaox, which at times, I feel like really shout explesives into the pyset and juz ask them to shut up! Imagine this carried on the whole afternoon whilst on duty.. its super irritating la..

Then when I carried on another duty after the gate duty, one of my shift mates juz kept complaining to me and hinting at me tat my duty is slack whilst his is not! I'm juz thinkin.. Its not tat I always have slack duty.. I'm juz lucky today to have such a duty.. so wat now.. You blaming me? I was so pissed off tat I did not talk to him for a while.

Then came someone with dinner.. I ask wats for dinner and he showed me; I replied consider very good already becos got fish cake and chicken wing.. Then I was being replied by tat person tat I have a unique taste.. Then immediately I been brought back the fact tat they muz hv been spoilt or pampered to say tat cookhouse food sucks.. In fact, I find it average and I dun see why they shld condemn cookhse food! Haix.. these young ppl muz have too much money to spend.. They dun koe the hardships of life.. Haix.. Dun tok abt them liaox, or else I wld die of heart attack.

Then at nite, went to take nitesnack.. then sleep the nite away, before waking up at 0440 to get ready for my last duty of the day, which is table.. but before 0440, I was awaken by my friend's voice at abt 0300.. stupid fellow, and immediately I realised tt I was sweating in my sleep! Gosh!!

Did the table duty in the morning and I muz say its quite smooth sailing.. not much of a hiccup!

Then dismount and then came home.. immediately was on the computer and then logon to blog as well as also listen to some of the PODcasts on www.mrbrown.com.. super addictive! I'm actually MSNed some of the PODcasts to my friends.. so ya.. love a selective few! =)..

Ok lah.. gtg liaox and listen more of mrbrown show liaox.. Ciaox n I will cya soon!

Will be bkin in tonite becos tml got NDP Family Day Show @ National Stadium! Man! Really excited abt it! =).. Ciaoz..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 104 DAYS to ORD!!

NDP fever,
<<< abriel >>>

Yummy!

Yummy is all I can describe! Finally my craving has been satisfied! Dun think otherwise u cheeky ppl! My craving is fairly simple actually.. its actually eating the King of Fruits, Durian! Yummy! =) Bought it at a pasar malam after days of finding out ard my neighbourhood of where's the cheapest durian ard! I find those 3 for $10 is quite expensive.. so ya.. bought those $1 ones and I muz say its very good =).. at least it did satisfy my craving.. =)

Anyway, today at camp nothing much, except tat its the uniform inspection in the morning and believe it or not.. I was quite anxious.. during the inspection, my heart actually was beating very fast.. I fear tat my RSM wld say bad things abt me and stuff.. but he juz see and then go.. he really didnt say anything, except tat he said my boots are not shiny enuf.. so ya.

Then its time to bk out and then came home.. then watched TV and now on computer.. blog a while before I sleep loh.. sianx.. tml need to mount duty.. haix.. =(.. and I'm getting poor liaox.. I have only $6 to last me till Monday (10/7).. juz hope its enuf!

Oh! Juz read my email.. my attachment company (whom I first sent my resume to), actually replied back my email and saying tat I wld be on their waiting list in the event for any job openings in the company.. so ya.. am very happy lah! I tot they wld reject me or sumthing like tat! Juz hope in time I wld get a job loh! =).. I wld rather work there than anywhere else, becos, its a place which I have spent abt 3 mths there during my polytechnic's student internship programme (SIP).. so anyway, juz hope my resume is good enuf for them to offer me a post loh! =)

And its really fast come to think of it.. I have abt only 3 mths before I'm out of NS and join the working force.. Today on the way home frm camp, I was juz thinking of a few things:

(a) Wat if I cldnt get a job in time?
(b) Am I going to rot at home all my life if I work?
(c) At wat age I wld get my license and get a car?
(d) Wat's my future job?
(e) Wld I have enuf to spend becos I'm actually quite materialistic?

So you see.. I can think a lot on a bus journey and this really depends on whether I want to or not.. so ya.. haix.. all these thinking juz gives me a headache.. Dun wish to think so much liaox! I want to live a happy-go-lucky attitude loh! See how lah!

Ok.. time really ticking away! Gonna sleep now! Gdnitez ppl and I'll cya on Friday? Ciaoz!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 106 DAYS to ORD!!

Job-hunting is stressful,
<<< abriel >>>

An Experience!

Well ppl.. today I'm slacking at home again! But its quite a meaningful day lah!

The first thing in the morning, my room is suddenly filled with so many uniforms (no. 1, no. 3 and no. 4).. all have either to be folded and brought back to camp, or have to be set up and ready to be put in my wardrobe for future use..

Then I saw my sgt on MSN and he told me tat tml my RSM want to check my actual No. 1 uniform for this sat's family day show! Then I was like ok loh, since I already like more or less prepared to bring in liaox, becos I put the buttons liaox, juz in case.. but never did I expect tat I wld be wearing my actual no. 1 this sat.. haix.. oh well..

Then whole day online on computer.. chatting and stuff.. then afternoon went to buy lunch.. and then went to take a walk the pasar malam near my hse.. and guess wat I bought.. for the first time in my life, I actually ate Chou Dou Fu! This was an experience! I always wanted to try, but then cannot find in Singapore.. so since now have, I dun mind trying..

At first, it didnt smell so bad.. but when the lady put it in and deep fry, the smell start to come out.. The smell is indescribable.. it smells a bit like rotten stuff, whilst my mum said it smells like sh*t.. so ya.. Then I saw the lady is like kept rubbing her nose as she starts to fry.. I think she also cant stand the smell.. then when the tofu has been deep fried, it is top with some very salty soya sauce and with a side dish of some pickled cabbage (which I didnt eat).. and this whole thing costs me $2.. $2 for an experience is like ok loh..

And then when I went home and eat, I told my mum wat I bought and she was shocked.. when she smell it, she immediately like been taken aback.. I asked her to try but she refused.. so I ate all by myself.. When it was the first bite, but when u eat more, you wld feel the "kick".. the taste starts to set in.. And by the last and final piece, you wld be like "ok.. I had enuf".. and I told my mum tat this is the first and the last time I'm eating such stuff.. never wld I eat it again.. its quite horrible man.. I juz wonder how the taiwanese manage to like such stuff! Btw, the store holder is a Taiwanese.. so tat explains it loh!

Then had the rest of my lunch (which was Dumpling Noodles), and then eyes start to feel sleepy, so I slept for abt 30 mins..

Then woke up and run some errands at Suntec City.. and I tell you.. the bus trip there was super hot, becos I think the top level of the double decker bus, the aircon spoil, becos it kepts emitting hot air.. whilst the bottom deck is very cooling.. when I alighted, then I realise how stupid I am..

When came back frm Suntec, the bus also came very swiftly.. after a 5 min waiting time, the bus came! The aircon in the bus is shiok lah!

Reached home and on the computer, and now blogging loh.. at the same time, chatting and ranting abt some stuffs to some of my online friends.. so ya.. =)

Ok lah.. gtg liaox and eat dinner and watch some shows.. before I'll be online again briefly at nite, before bkin in tml morning.. Sianx.. my 2 off days juz finish like tat.. haix.. =(

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 107 DAYS to ORD!!

Tml is another day,
<<< abriel >>>

A start to my off day..

Hi all.. you may wonder at this time why I'm at home? This is becos I have a mass off.. so ya.. becos we had burned out 2 consecutive days of weekends..

Today practically stayed at home and being a good boy.. but then, of course at home becos nothing much to do, so my computer is my best companion.. I'm really surprised at the amt of admin work I did today on the com.. here they are:

(a) Help my sgt type my shift's schedule for the mth of July, as there are some miscommunication, which resulted in the wrong placing of P1s.

(b) Type my grp's P1 schedule (specially for my P1 grp only!)

(c) Type friend's testimonial on Friendster.

(d) Check email.

(e) Pack my camp bag for Wednesday.

(f) Compress and send out photos of the SAF Day Parade 2006 (in zip format)..
Speaking of which, the photos are uploaded on the net liaox.. pls. go to Photo Gallery > My Experience As A Soldier Boy > SAF Day Parade 2006 Photos!

Now the above 6 things had taken me the WHOLE day to complete! So ya.. Tml wld be another off day for me, but then I wld again have to do a bit of packing work.. clothings are being stacked up in my room, namely my no. 1 and no. 3.. so ya.. tml then do loh.. =)

Ok lah.. I'm tired after facing the computer the whole nite.. Gonna sleep and wake up early tml.. tml is another off day! Yeh! But then again, hope tml someone jio me out? I'm getting a bit bored at home liaox.. sianx.. =(

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 108 DAYS to ORD!!

Off tml again,
<<< abriel >>>

What a week!

This is gonna be a long update (anyway, wats new?).. so ya.. hold on to ur seat.. Here are the updates for the various days..

Friday (30/06/06)

Today went to NYP for marshalling for NSmen rededication parade from north-northeast zone. It was an experience lah. Sat in my senior trainer warrant's car with some other ppl frm S3 branchwho were involved too!

When I stepped into NYP, I was so surprised to see such a beautiful campus and we also went to the canettens; they have even fast food canteens and an aircon canteen whose food is much cheaper than outside. I first thought TP is better than the rest of the polys but NYP beats TP hands down la.. I somewhat regret why I didnt come to NYP in the first place!

And then I saw those students studying and stuff.. They like having so much fun studying in poly, which brings back many fond memories when I'm way back in TP and this also makes me want to go back to poly and study.. Haix.. those were the times..

Then the marshalling of traffic came and I was instructed to marshal the VIPs. Out of which, I marshalled 3 BGs and the Minister of Education. One more BG is supposed to attend but he cancelled his last attendance at the last minute. Anyway, I actually marshalled the VIPs for 2 hrs before I fall out. And its under the hot sun mind you! So its no different frm doing duty lah.. Moreover, I do the marshalling duty in my RP3 which is super hot lah!.. Then ate some reception and tats my dinner! Super full la!.. I have been eating the whole day liaox, so by the time we eat the reception, I already almost there liaox!

Sat the minibus back and then I bathe loh! And I slept super early la.. By 2045, I sleep liaox and by 0700 on the next day, I wake up and tats 10 hrs sleep! Oh.. forgot to tell you.. Now my blog has been publicised in my squadron HQ liaox; now even my S3 koe tat I have a blog page! Die liaox.. now I need to really practice caution in my blog.. but dun worry.. my blog page wont close down lah =)

Saturday (1/7/06)

Today is SAF Day Parade. Everyone before the Parade was taking photos and were in an excited mood to perform. My heart started to beat very fast even before the Parade started; the gallery was fully seated so naturally there was quite an amount of stress. Moreover, I was the third row and give timing for the front people.

But something unexpected happen. We actually henta kakki (malay for marching on the spot) too fast which result in most of us banging on the wrong leg. Some ppl say its my fault and I admit it becos if not for my timing, the front ppl wld be rite lah!.. haix.. Feel so disappointed with myself. After tat, I have no more morale doing the rest of the drill liaox..

Then came the march past.. Somehow I cant really hear the command to tilt my head so I actually like want to turn liaox, and I didnt koe whether I actually execute it and the marching was quite not in line since I was also the front man for the march past. Everything today juz dun seem to go well.. I'm totally disappointed.. =(

This nite I was gloomy the whole nite la.. Even my bunk friends ask me why I suddenly so quiet and like so moody.. I didnt tell them the reason la becos I was too disappointed to mention. But since this is my blog, I will say it..

This is becos of the parade issue lah, which we all screw it up loh! You all may think tat there is nothing wrong and I shld juz take everything with a pinch of salt. But if you koe me well enuf, u wld koe tat I'm a perfectionist. So becos this Parade I'm considered like one of the leading man and I was the one who gave the timing for the front ppl to henta kakki on the spot and properly, but in the end, it didnt turn out as expected and I feel like its my fault lah.. Becos ppl have been saying my timing was a bit of a screw up. And then, my head tilt-to-the-right (pandan kekenan) drill was too fast and our marching in a line was simply crooked and becos I was the 1st row, so everything cld be seen clearly. I ask my bro, Marcus, how was the Parade and he said it was bad and all tat.. but he actually tried to encourage me by saying its not my fault and stuff (I told him everything) but I simply cant put it all down. I feel tat its my fault. Eevn if its not my fault, I still feel disappointed becos I'm part of of Airforce GOH and we cock up the Parade. Other ppl may not think so much, but to me, its like a great disappointment lah, becos I'm simply a perfectionist la! Everything I do, it muz be good if not better. And today we made so many mistakes.. Haix.. Such a great disappointement.

Wats more.. There are somethings which I'm very unhappy abt and its regarding my camp stuff.. So I guess its sensitive info.. if you want to koe more, ask me on MSN.. so ya.. but wat I can say is tat the ppl in my camp has started condemning my shift.. so ya.. so much for integrity huh..

Lots of ppl have like ask me how I feel and stuff (eg: like why I feel so sad/quiet).. I spoke to a selected few and they are Marcus, Sidney and Boon Sen. They have msg me and I wld like to thank them for the encouragement when I'm at my lowest moment! =).. Thanx!

Anyway, despite all the unhappy things, the only things tat made me happy was the photo taking. I think out of all the photos taken, I was like in about 70% of it. Ha.. totally was photo crazy or maybe I was photogenic.. Ha.. =P.. will upload the photos soon.. =).. but then too bad I can't bk out becos my RSM said so.. Had to stay in for tml's NDP rehearsal!.. Haix.. Anyway, the photos are gonna be uploaded soon and when come to NDP, I will take more photos.. Probably with my Ixus 60.. Ha.. =)

Sunday (2/7/06)

Today is a happy day! I woke up quite early in the morning and saw my bro, Sidney's msg.. The msg is really encouraging lah!.. Thanx bro =)..

Ate instant noodles for breakfast and then watched a bit of TV then bathe and off I went on a SBS bus for NDP rehearsal at National Stadium. I'm like back to my old happy go lucky self this morning. I dun koe why the sudden 180 degrees change of emotions. Hmm.. guess everyday is a new day ba.. =)

Reached there and sat for a while, before having 'Siam Kitchen' for lunch.. I was instructed to like go take lunch, and becos of the lack of manpower, I carried 2 boxes full of food.. so after which, I was like regretted, becos it was super heavy after a while, and my muscles started to feel fatigue.. Then when I almost reach a place, one of the CPL frm another dun koe wat contingent, offered me help.. and he was like want to put it into his contingent.. I quickly told him tat its not his contingent's food! He was like 'oh'.. then he offered to like help me carry.. Then he said, "commandos" rite? (oh man.. I look like a commando? It was super flattering! =P) I was like no.. then I said nvm.. I wld carry it myself.. then came my admin in charge.. he was like asking wats the problem.. I told him.. then I actually didnt engage tat guys help.. I carried both boxes myself.. and I tell you.. my arms sighed a sign of relief frm all the fatigueness! Ate lunch which was quite average..

Then its a few runs under the hot sun in the field.. Then its rest for 3 hrs.. during this 3 hrs, we had a lot of fun.. we talk and stuff.. ate dinner which was SFI's chicken rice.. didnt like SFI's chicken rice though, becos I was like too full to eat liaox.. and the veges (which was boiled brocolli) were soft and over-cooked.. but nevertheless, I finished the whole pkt of dinner lah.. dun waste food mah!

Then its the full run.. before tat, the RSAF Chief Warrant came to speak to a few of us and I overheard the conversation.. he actually praised tat we did a good show yesterday, even though there were cockups.. he is always like the super advance morale booster lah!.. =)

It was quite exciting to be in the full run, becos there is like more audience liaox.. dun koe why so last minute got so many ppl.. so ya.. but I did not really patriotic enuf to tear during the National Anthem.. so ya.. maybe becos I was in No. 4 rather than in my No. 1 which I don last wk.. The run was good enuf.. its even commented by my RSM.. so since he say good, its good loh!.. and I tot tat there was no fireworks or things like tat.. but then I was wrong.. there was fireworks and we saw a bit lah! =).. it was so beautiful!

Then came back to bunk and confirmed my off on Tuesday with my officer.. so I'm going off frm tml-tues and only be back in camp on Wednesday morning! So ya..

Then came home by cab becos my 'luggage' was super heavy lah.. So ya.. came home, on the computer and then blog this blogpost and at the same time, receive SAF Day Parade photos frm my friend lah.. so ya..

Ok.. I'm tired.. Gonna sleep liaox..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 109 DAYS to ORD!!

Tml is gonna be another great day,
<<< abriel >>>