Mounting.. No sweat lah!

Yesterday's mounting went to Eastern again.. but dun get the wrong idea.. I'm not complaining.. But yesterday's duty is one tat is quite shiong but at the same time, quite relaxing. "Shiong" in a sense tat its a 10 hr straight duty (never in my duties did I meant a straight 10 hr! The most is 6 hr!!).. "Relaxing" becos its under air-con for the duration of my 10 hr duty.. but its no joke lah.. Imagine standing with my rifle for 10 hrs! =\.. Quite shiong leh.. but 10 hrs pass by quite fast lah..

Then yesterday during my duty, we were discussing something; MINDEF is actually giving us something for our continuous learning in NS life.. So I was like thinking of wat course/e-module to take thru'out the whole day , and also prepare my Christmas shopping list during my 10 hr duty.. These are things tat help me pass the time loh..

The last news I've juz heard, is tat the Sentosa shift thingy on Friday is cancelled =( due to my squadron family day happy hour (which is happening on the same day).. so tat means more beer *sic* (dun think I will drink, becos' I personally dun quite like Tiger Beer.. and I'm also watching my calorie intake!) and dun koe watever other stuff tat is gonna to happen!
So its like Friday, my shift dismounting off kenna 'jia' loh, becos hv to come back at night, becos' this is compulosry.. Fwah!! This is so unfair lah.. haiz.. wat to do? Since when anything in Army is optional? [becos' if its optional, then no one wld attend! So they have to resort to such means.. argh.. =( ]

Dismounted duty today.. and there you are.. this blogpost is written by me now in front of my computer.. [duh..]

This blogpost is short becos I've got lots of things to do! I'm a busy man.. Am now uploading photos and writing this blog, etc..
At the same time, I'm chatting over MSN with my pal, Andrew over some personal matters [thanx to Andrew who made my day lah.. was feeling sad becos of a particular issue.. but he and his jokes juz made me laugh my sorrows away!.. set man.. we go and drink someday! think u shld be of right age liaoz hor? ha.. hope I'm not teaching you the wrong thing! ha.. as wat my army friend (who is 19 btw) told me when I asked him to do a naughty deed (dun think otherwise!) after dismounting today!]

Then juz now, juz came back frm Comfort Driving Centre (Ubi Branch).. I was there to book for my Final Theory Test.. and if you guys want to koe, its on 21 Dec 2005, 3.15pm.
And I muz say tat this bking thingy at Ubi was an experience lah! I last went to tat place and bk for a test (Basic Theory) is like 2 yrs back (14 May 2003 to be exact), and I've never been to there since (becos' I pass the test at my first time..).. Anyway, it also doesn't help tat I've not taken buses to anywhere near Temasek Polytechnic as I've graduated like abt a year back.. so as to wat buses to take frm Ubi to the driving centre was like a bit strange! But thank God for my mouth and a little memory of the bus no. tat goes to the driving centre.. I manage to find my way (I was like lazy to wait for the bus.. so its like I try my luck of every bus tat comes my way to see whether they stop near the driving centre.. since its like 2 stops away!).. Anyway, when I went there, I was like suddenly a stranger to tat place.. I roughly koe where to go (becos' I've talk to an operator before I left home), and I so stupid go and take a no.. I think everyone who wants to book the driving test (if they never been there before) actually took a number.. but then actually, the number is for students who want to enrol in the school and learn and take the test at school level! So ya.. After like 15-20 mins of observing the queues and heard the counters telling them tat they've got on the wrong queue, then I decide to join another queue.. waited for close to another 15 mins for my turn in the queue.. got the stuff settled.. but then this is one test tat I've paid so much.. becos Comfort Drving Centre juz came up with a new policy tat I muz open an account (which costs $5.25, and this account is for bking purposes like re-test theory bking and practical lessons bking.. but the downside of it, is tat it only valid for 6 mths! So after 6 mths, this account wld be cancelled loh!), and I agreed for a e-trial test (which is questions frm the test, but taken an hr earlier before the main test) which again costs me another $5.25, and the actual test itself costs me $6! So in total, it costs me $16.50! Man.. these ppl at Comfort simply koe how to earn money frm consumers! =
Regarding the E-prep thingy by MINDEF, I've decided NOT to take any courses, as nothing really interests me (except maybe learning how to work Adobe Photoshop 6.0.. but wat I have on com now is version 7.0.. so no pt).. Moreover, its not tat SAF is gonna pay the full 100% of the fees.. its only 90% of it.. and the rationale of us paying the 10%? It's so tat we wld take responsibility and ownership in our study! So ya.. nothing nice so wat for waste money? I decide to return these credits to SAF lah =)

Oh.. the photos of "Makansutra" are uploaded! pls. check the link, "Makansutra Photos" at my photo gallery column!

Ok.. got to run.. I'm a busy bumble bee.. =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 338 DAYS to ORD!!

0745. Sembawang Air Base.

Computer nerdy,
<<< abriel >>>

Makansutra!

*CAUTION: The following content in this blog is very tempting and its rated FG (Food Guru Guidance)! Pls. visit with care, as prolong reading of this blogpost will lead to undesirable consequences like drooling and eating up your monitor (*gulpz*).. This blogpost is NOT for the hungry.. I repeat.. NOT for the hungry!! Read at your own risk!

Well well.. ppl.. Good Evening! Its time for the food guru to blog abt his day! ha.. had loads of food and taken a lot of photos today, courtesy of my sis Canon 5 megapixel camera!

Well.. below are the pix of food tat we've eaten today at 2 different places.. read more to find out (btw, the photos are taken by ME! So my photography skills are not bad huh!)..




This was the pipping hot pig trotters we've ate for lunch! It is fabulicous, despite the amt of fat and cholesterol tat is found in it! We had lunch at the coffee shop (named, Hands Food Garden), located juz opposite the Changi Village Hawker Centre!



Was having our afternoon tea at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Cafe at Takashimaya.. then my sis was like reading the menu, and she came across this green tea named, "Heavenly Gunpowder".. its weird isn't it? So I ask my sis to take a pic and therefore, wat u see now is the result of the photo! I've of course edited the pic lah (ie, put the box tat is!)






This was my dinner @ Sakae Sushi Restaurant, Wheelock Place.. this dish is called Teriyaki Chicken Don.






This was my parents' main course @ Sakae Sushi Restaurant, Wheelock Place.. this dish is called Salmon Wrap.. This is one of their new creations! The salmon is fresh and thick.. juz the way I like it =).. Salmon/sushimi lovers, this is for you! Gawk on it if you want! Ha.. =)






My all time fave dish @ Sakae Restaurant, the Fried Tofu. Its crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.. Coupled with the Teriyaki sauce, its simply heavenly! oh.. this is the photo which is my best work yet! Even my sis said this was the BEST photo of the day!




This was my sis dinner @ Sakae Sushi Restaurant, Wheelock Place.. this dish is called Chirashi Don.

















Anyway, dun koe why my sis and I were photo frenzy lah.. we were like caught up in a world of our own.. we juz take photos like siao loh.. currently still uploading the photos into Yahoo! Photo.. Yahoo! Photos suddenly so slow.. anyway, when its up, there is a link called, "Makansutra Photos" in my photo gallery column.. so ya.. as and when you free, juz pop in and take a look ya =)

We had dinner at Sakae Sushi @ Wheelock Place.. it was enjoyable... the pics above tells all loh!

ok lah.. think I've chatted with you enuf to make you hungry becos' of this blog! Ha.. gtg and bk in liaoz for tml duty.. sianz ah.. =(

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 340 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

The food guru has spoken,
<<< abriel >>>

What a difference a day makes...

Yesterday mounting went to Eastern.. Duty was ok lah.. but then again, lack of sleep lah.. so ya.. Got a chance to speak to Ming Jun abt Christ during our mounting lah, which makes our 2 hr mounting look like 1 hr.. becos' by talking to sumone, time actually pass faster.. =).. actually frankly speaking, did not want to speak to him abt it initially, becos' he actually asked wat I do today after dismounting.. I told him church.. actually, I was a bit lazy to call him to come to my evangelistic service today, but then I think the Holy Spirit prompted me to do so lah.. so I obeyed loh.. so ya..

After we sent our arms, we've got our usual debrief.. and my officier was a bit longwinded.. It was 0930 before he started.. I told my friend.. tat this debrief wld NOT end until 1000.. true enuf, it is loh! During tat time, we also discuss tat we want to have our shift outing next Fri @ Sentosa! Power sia! Can get tan! I'm looking like a white chicken now! Ha.. but more than tat, want to spend more cohesion time with my shift lah! =).. looking forward to it loh! =)

Came home today.. did some errands before coming home.. then on my computer, check email and after which, off com.. bathe and rush to church for music practice (becos I'm playing and singing backup for the evangelistic service today mah!.. fwah! That nostalgic feeling of playing and singing juz remind me the old times in HCC!.. anyway, as usual, help the worship leader a bit in terms of timing and stuff, becos he is not so musically incline.. so muz help mah in order to get things rite!.. so ya.. helpful rite.. ha).. then by abt 4pm, we are done.. and I'm like an hour away before meeting Ming Jun lah.. so I followed Ashley, Nat, Matt Yap and Andrew to 7-11 @ Centrepoint to get a drink.. On the way, I asked them some LAME jokes and I suddenly told them a lame thing which I've juz thought of myself.. Nat then commented tat when he is around, the LAME aura is ard him and those ppl ard him will get affected.. ha..

Then when we are back at church compound, Matt Yap, Ash and I went to the TOILET (*gulp*) to have our drinks, becos tat is the only place where there is fan, becos its super hot outside lah.. soon, receive a msg frm Ming Jun tat he's reach the agreed mtg place.. so went down to fetch him lah.. then went with Ming Jun to the canteen to sit loh and chatted with him a while, becos' not so nice to let guest come and sit in the toilet.. ha..

So the church service went on.. the speaker was good! He put his points across very well.. Just chatted with Alvin (one of my best pals in church) over this speaker, and I understand tat he is a Youth For Christ head leader and a former Chemistry teacher in Victoria Junior College! No wonder tat explains the excellent rapport and chemistry he had with us as Youths! Man.. he shld be invited more to our church to give sermons! Tjow, if u see this, u koe wat to do lah hor.. ha.. *hint hint*..

Then, had dinner... but the decision for dinner was tough.. becos' apparently 2 grps of ppl want to have dinner with me.. (ha.. see.. I'm so popular! *chey*).. anyway, decide to choose the Meridian grp, becos' the other grp is goin all the way to chua cho kang for some other activities.. too far.. moreover too tired.. so coming back frm chua cho kang a bit of problem if take public transport! (see.. though I'm tired, still can think!.. ha..).. once at meridien, had a craving for char siew.. so at first, was at a dilemma of eating wontan mee or char siew rice.. in the end, I ate char siew rice and regretted.. next time, i shall eat wonton mee instead!

Then Esther and some others went to Eski Bar @ Holland Village for a drink.. wanted to follow, but then, the cash flow is the problem and also my tiredness lah.. so ya.. decide to go home..
In the end, becos' ppl like Alvin, Josh Gouw and Ash wanted to play Time Crisis 3, so Ash was like kept asking me to go play lah.. I told him I was tired.. and he cont toask me a lot of times but I just reject lah..
Then when I was abt to separate ways frm them to take MRT, Alvin & Josh Gouw was like grabbing and locking my arms on each side and pull me into PS and into the lift and up to the arcade! (their acting is superb lah! they initially said bye to me lah.. after which, they juz grab.. it was tat natural lah..) I was like wat the.... tried to struggle and break free, but cldn't! Instead, I gave up and I followed! Then had to make 2 phone calls frm my hp.. they were inside initially.. but then dun koe how come they turn back, and all of them were like waiting for me and standing beside me to make sure I didn't run.. fwah! I was like a treasure or sumthing loh!
So I was like staring in space in the arcade and see them play loh.. Almost felt asleep when Ash said he got to go.. so I followed.. I then gave Alvin a peace of my mind by juz asking him who was the mastermind.. So Alvin said it was not him.. he said tat it was Ash instead! When I heard tat, I cldn't believe my ears; Ash WAS the MASTERMIND of this!! He apparently called Alvin to do it.. Joshua Gouw happen to be at his side.. so tst makes Alvin & Josh his accompalices.. and the mastermind himself was staying right far behind.. Ash if you are reading this, clever move! You wait.. one day you will get a taste of ur own medicine! ha! =P

Then came home half dead.. and bathe and now on this com and write this blogpost! Super tired liaoz.. so its like tml another day out with family.. so ya.. and bk in tml nite for mon duty.. sianz =(

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 341 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Dead beat,
<<< abriel >>>

Shack cannot think!

Hey ppl! Its time for daily updates again!

Yesterday's duty was totally shack out lah, even though I had one of the slackest duty shcedule for the day.. but its becos the lack of manpower, tat I had to help my friend to go and take lunch ration and my sgt this morning "arrow" me to take breakfast this morning.. which is like ya.. its not my duty but then I still have to go loh.. anyway, juz help lah.. becos' my shift is seriously lacking of manpower, till the point tat my shift need to activate the P1 personnels to help us do duty frm 8am-5pm and personnels serving their extra duties to carry on for the nite!.. so ya..

I was like having intervals of 2-3 hrs sleep for the nite.. and as you koe, this is really tiring lah.. have woke up since 3am this morning and have only like catch up on my sleep at 5.20am (becos' the persons taking over my duty took over late!) for abt 30 mins, then its me collecting breakfast and have not slept since! I'm shacked lah! =(

Then we dismount actually quite early.. and it was quite a happy dismount.. but then something chose to happen at camp and we were reprimanded and nagged a bit by a soon-to-be flight sgt major..

And after tat session of reprimanding, it was like 11.30am liaoz.. so for the whole period of bking out (frm camp to walk down to the main gate to walk down toranto road), I felt very sianz lah.. probably frm the tiredness tat I've acquired frm the duty I did last nite!.. my friend ask me why am I feeling so sad and so sianz and not my usual self.. they thought I was angry over the reprimanding issue.. I admit tat I was a bit angry and sad.. but mainly is becos of my tiredness lah..

Then went to AMK and had a haircut becos' tml got CO Parade.. which means tat tonite have to bk in camp, and tat my dismounting day kenna 'jia' 1/2 day loh and this is not fair.. hope tat there is some compensation or sumthing loh! *humph*..

haiz.. now my hair is short.. and I'm satisfied lah! =).. but now feeling eyes very heavy and need to take a short nap..

For those online, will be online again tonite until abt 2200.. so its sleep for me now.. too tired liaoz.. I frankly dun koe wat I talking right now.. ZzzzzZzzzz..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 344 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Eyes closing,
<<< abriel >>>

A Day In Bunk..

Well.. today practically slack in bunk loh! but of course, did a little fatigue work this morning, becos we on standby mah.. and I was shocked this morning lah.. out of like 20+ men, only like less than 10 men were at camp today, becos the rest were on off! So besides the P1 group, its like only 3 men (including me) doing the really 8-5 job loh.. haiz..

Tried to sleep in the morning in the bunk, but I could not loh.. becos I think I slept too much at home liaoz.. so I was like tossing and turning on my bed lah..

Then went to lunch at Cookhouse.. today lunch at Cookhouse was power loh! It was really tat power! Lunch was served on a banana leaf and of course with Indian dishes! then there is a never-seen-before dessert in camp (which is juz syrup with agar agar and longan) and a thai coconut dessert.. this is so cool lah.. how nice this cld be served everyday in camp! Man.. if I have a camera phone or sumthing, I wld definately take a photo loh.. but a pity I dun! =(

Then after which, went back to bunk.. but still cannot sleep.. so in the end, I studied my Advance Theory and I finish the bk liaoz.. now only left the questions part! so ya.. quite happy with my progress lah!

Then its time to bk out when Sidney called my phone! Man.. he chatted with me for so long.. rite frm the pt of my bunk to AMK interchange.. if my mum had not called me, he wld have continue to chat with me further! I chatted with him until my ears are red sia! But nevermind, my phone is incoming free! So ya.. I dun mind talking to him loh =).. Well.. as usual, we chatted a lot of things lah (i even comforted him with words at some point lah!).. Its seriosuly a fun chat loh! Sidney, if you are reading this, pls. do this more often! The chat session tat u had with me earlier is so so fun.. wish we cld have more of these sessions *hint hint*.. Its a battle of wits and speech against each other.. ha =)

Then came home, had dinner then watch the 7pm show on Channel 8, "Tong Xin Yuan".. then now on this blogpost and again, chat with Sidney on MSN! ha.. so fun!

ok now.. gtg and surf my web! then its bking in later.. haiz.. sianz.. tml duty! =(
Goodbye peepz! =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 346 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Chatterbox me,
<<< abriel >>>

What A Mounting!

Well.. yesterday's mounting, I was actually detailed to go Eastern once more for my mounting, and of course, I was elated at first!
However, I've got mixed feelings, becos I want to stay with my new found clique in Main Guardroom, so I saw Weiming (who belong to another clique and he hinted to me tat he wanted to go Eastern becos his "clan" is there..).. so without much hesitation, I decided to swop places with him loh!.. so there I was in Main Guardroom while he was in Eastern..

However, I was glad tat I've stayed in Main Guardroom lah.. becos' its juz so fun loh! =).. We had some err.. "fun moments" (will not elaborate.. if you want to koe, come and ask me and I will tell you!!) as a shift in Main Guardroom somewhere happening during the evening!

Then came nightfall, and I was detailed to go to Toranto Guardroom for duty.. This is one place of duty which I didn't want to go initially, becos' tat place doesn't give me proper rest and also the duty there is quite shack, becos' duty wld be frm 2300 and last all the way till 0230 the next morning.. but the tiring part is tat becos' duty starts at 2300, we have to start and move off like at 2230 frm the Main Guardroom, and this time is juz like an hr after staff parade.. so you tell me how to catch a light nap before I start my duty at 2300? Not to mention tat my officer "turned us out" to practice contingency drills at 2130.. so by the time it was done, its already 2215.. like tat where got time to sleep?

I was actually woken up by my friend after 15 mins of sleep, to get ready for contingency drills practice conducted by my officer.. so ya.. there I was and as mentioned above, I did not get any wink of sleep after 2215 loh.. so no choice.. have to "suck thumb" and juz get ready for duty soon at Toranto Guardroom.

Then once the clock strike 2230, we set off for Toranto, and the ppl were Samuel, Ben New, Velu & myself.. Samuel and I got dismountng duty, so we did the first shift of duty frm 2300 - 0200 (by right shld be 0230, but then my sgt said tat becos we had dismounting duty which is quite shiong, therefore he gave us to sleep at 0200 instead of 0230.. so Velu & Ben New had to do a 4 hr duty.. but then, Samuel and I came to a consensus tat we wake them up 0200 instead of 0150 for them to get ready!.. becos' we didnt want to tax them too much even though they did not have any dismounting duty!)

I was so glad tat I did duty with Samuel loh, becos' we simply talk juz anything under the sun (or shld I say the skies and moon.. ha).. and we talk all the way during our duty time, until 0200 loh!! And surprisingly when I mount duty with him, becos' we kept on talking to each other, we did NOT sleep a wink or felt sleepy during our duty lah.. so tats good!

Well.. can't divulge wat we share to each other, becos some stuff we share with each other is very private in nature, and I dun want to spoil this friendship and trust tat he has in me.. =).. ya.. must be sensitive to other ppl's feelings mah.. how wld u like ppl to tell others wat you told them in private? you dun like rite? so its the same logic here loh =)

But after the conversation, wat I can conclude is tat you cannot judge Samuel by his cover! I really mean literally, a cover! You wld realise tat he is actually a totally different person (in the way he think and look at things) after you hv a heart-to-heart chat with him! I will never look at him the same way again after the chatting session with him yesterday! I'm really serious!! And I'm so ashamed to say tat his mindset/thinking of life is actually much more matured than a 21 yr old me .. and mind you, he is only 19 yrs! Felt so ashamed by this fact loh! =(

So after saying so much, I can say tat yesterday Toranto duty was one of the most enjoyable duties I've done, becos' I've got to koe Samuel a little bit more than I usually do.. and talking to him juz makes your mounting less stressful! =) So ya.. now I think if I ever get a chance to do duty with Samuel again, then I will gladly say yes yes yes!! Mounting and doing duty with him is so so fun and enjoyable! oops.. I think I'm carried away liaoz!

So ya.. as mentioned above, I've got a very good male-bonding session with Samuel yesterday during the Toranto duty lah! =)

Then dismounted today and came home.. had lunch and now, on com with this blogpost.. and at the same time, help Sidney in his Driving Basic Theory Test, which he wld be taking tml! Sidney, gambette!

Which reminds me I have to study my advanced theory soon.. becos' plan to take my advance in December! tats my aim lah.. hope I can fulfill loh.. =)

ok lah.. gtg n bathe.. may go out with family later.. mum not feeling well, but she may still obliged! ha.. me a bad son rite? she sick still call her to go out! Ha.. and I think I'm starting to get under the weather too, becos' I have a cough and a slight sore throat too! sianz!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 347 DAYS to ORD!!

Monday, 0745. Sembawang Air Base.

Male-bonding rox,
<<< abriel >>>

Scounting for food and run errands..

Well.. after I dismounted yesterday, went out with my family.. juz to window shop and stuff loh.. but in the end, didn't buy stuff.. becos my salary/pay/NS allowance (you get the idea!) not here and my bank account *ahem* is not healthy.. ha.. =)

Anyway, went round and saw a Braun Buffel wallet which costs like $96 lah.. its nice lah.. but I think my mum can get discount (20% to be exact) if buy frm Metro, becos my mum koes friends frm Metro.. so maybe can use their 20% staff discount card.. see how lah!


Then for dinner, we are like scounting frm Bugis (my sis went shopping there) to like Suntec City.. we machiam like food fanatics..

I actually wanted to try Equinox at Swissotel which is on the 70th storey, but then, somehow we can't find the lift to Equinox.. only manage to go to the 66th storey of the building.. but when we went out, it was like hotel rooms.. so in the end, we had to settle it for another time.. and there we descended in the lift frm the 66th story to the 1st storey.. I must say the lift is super fast.. in like 1 minute, you can reach the 1st floor frm the 66th storey! How cool is tat! =)

But in the end, after searching for so long, we decide to settle for Sizzler.. and the below are food pics of the food we ate.. These photos were taken by my sis on her Canon 5.0 megapixel camera!.. she studied a photography module, so thereby explaining why the photo is so clear and the angle is so good! =).. so drool over the pics ppl! =)




Swiss Grilled Chicken






Chilli Lime Prawns (This one not very worth it.. so expensive [$26 to be exact!] & the serving is small! its juz like 5 prawns and 1 small portion of seasoned rice.)






French Toast (which is served with every set meal ordered!)















Then I actually had the intention to take photo at Esplanade, but then there is no time lah.. a bit too late.. so ya..

In the end, we went home and I as usual did some internet surfing.. then slept at 11.30pm..

Woke up like 10.30am this morning! I was shocked at how long I can sleep! Actually, I got a call frm a friend in camp which is like 7.50am in the morning lah.. I thought someone frm camp called and I have to go back! anyway, I picked up the call and answered it half awake loh.. I was slurred in my speech and can't think well!

I slept for like 10 hrs lah.. I think its becos the lack of sleep the day before becos' of duty, and plus I went out with my family after tat.. so tat adds up to the real lack of sleep! =).. anyway, its seldom I get to wake up late.. becos' today is special.. today is mass off =).. oh.. now as I type this blogpost, I still feel so awake like an owl! I wonder whether tonite at camp I wld be able to sleep! Yeeks!

Then in the afternoon, went to bank and open a Save-As-You-Earn (SAYE) Account.. this is to help me save money lah.. I can't save.. so decide to let bank help me save loh! I actually wanted to have a savings plan very long liaoz but didn't have a chance to or I was simply lazy to scout for one.. so now since have, why not go for it? Anyway, if you want to koe details, feel free to ask me ya?? I wld be glad to tell u the details =)

Then went to buy the famous toa payoh rojak for dinner and some cell grp food in Toa Payoh (under the instruction of my mum).. and by the time I'm back, its like 2 hrs gone! Time juz pass so fast sia!

Then I ate dinner and did some calandar stuff for my mum.. Then this blogpost..

After this blogpost, have to go out and attend cell, before bking in later for duty tml.. Tml is another person less doing duty.. haiz =(.. more shiong loh!

ok lah.. gtg liaoz.. sense my cell grp mates are coming! Ciaoz!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 349 DAYS to ORD!!

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

As energetic as a bunny,
<<< abriel >>>

An Eastern Mounting..

Duty yesterday was all right in Eastern, except tat its the normal 5 hrs sleep only out of the 24 hrs duty.. Moreover, its 14 hrs duty becos' its Eastern and quite lack of manpower. But nevermind, becos' today is public holiday and tml is off, so not so bad lah..

Anyway, at Eastern, the personnels on duty are Samuel, Alex, Ivan, Kian Boon and myself. So we actually click quite well.. We talk abt. some personal stuff to each other, and I muz say the chemistry between the 5 of us are quite good lah.. so duty is not a chore after all =P

So by now, 4 of them already koe wat personal issue happened during my duty yesterday, and I also koe some of their personal problems and all lah.. its a good sharing session I muz say, and of course, they give me some comforting words.. Special thanks to Samuel and Kian Boon.. They comforted me when I'm sad over tat personal issue lah.. Just needs time to gather my thoughts together and get over the issue altogether by MYSELF! But be rest assured tat I'm all right lah.. so dun be worried abt me ya ppl =)

Fwah! Yesterday, I think Samuel & me is the maid of Eastern lah.. I helped to wash the filters of the air-con unit in Eastern (becos' the air-con not strong, but after washing, the air-con powerful sia).. In the evening, I help pull the bedsheets in restroom.. Samuel helped changed the full bin, and I applauded him for it, despite his tiredness =)

Anyway, its a good mounting lah.. now, if you all excuse me, I'm going to sleep now.. so tired.. *Yawnz*

It's me signing off and drifting into dreamland and booking in camp tml nite =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 350 DAYS to ORD!!

Friday, 2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Trying to sort myself out,
<<< abriel >>>

Shattered Dreams...

The dream which seems to be so perfect at first, but now, it is being shattered in front of me. The achievement of this dream seemed so close but yet so far.

I've finally came out of my "hermit shell" and try to grasp this dream of mine, but destiny is just too heartless, and I was not fated for it.

Should I believe in Fate or should I believe in God? This is a very hard question to decipher. Are God and Fate the same thing? I don't think so.

Dreams are suppose to be a good thing, but when one tries to reach it and have a competitive attitude towards it, all hopes and happiness will come to naught when one doesn't achieve it.

Would I be sad you may ask? And of course, I do! But would I be able to change history? I would give a definate 'no'. But what can I do? Doing foolish things like committing suicide? I don't think its worth it! I'm still young and there are still a lot of things for me to achieve in future; my family, friends and career.

When will I get over this sad issue? I don't know. It may be minutes, hours, days, months or even years.. Whenever I think of it, I would just feel very sorry for myself.

Anyway, its all over already! From now on, I would just carry on with life, and try to achieve new hopes and dreams.

May God's Word be a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Amen!

A dejected personnel,
<<< abriel >>>

The weekend tat pass me by..

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

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

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

1. Devotion (Philippians 3:12)

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

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

2. Direction (Philippians 3:13)

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

(b) Forget wat lies behind and press on.

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

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

(d) Look forward

3. Discipline (Philippians 3:14)

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

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

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

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

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

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






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













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

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

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

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

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

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

0815. Sembawang Air Base.

Fatigue after duty,
<<< abriel >>>

Busy Bumble Bee

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

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

Here is my string of activities:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

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

ORD loh!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Day In A Studio

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

The Worship Together session was fantastic!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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








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










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











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










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










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







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

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

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

Food happy,
<<< abriel >>>

Chiong ah!!

Trademark of Brewerkz
Originally uploaded by jazzkool.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

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

Camp duty rants!

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

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

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

(a) He talks sarcastically!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thoughts..

I have been pondering on life lately...

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

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

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

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

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

A new makeover!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

The blog slut,
<<< abriel >>>

Dismount loh!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

0745. Sembawang Air Base.

SIMS crazy,
<<< abriel >>>

A day at camp!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2359. Sembawang Air Base.

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

A jolly good time!! =)

Nautica Shirt & Krumpler Pouch
Originally uploaded by jazzkool.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

0745. Sembawang Air Base.

A happy RP,
<<< abriel >>>