NDP 2006: A Success!!

At last! What we feared most: ie, afraid of doing mistake during NDP is finally over, and phew! Thank God we didnt make any mistake! =)

In the morning, woke up at 0600, becos word has been passed round tat this morning fall in at 0745 to draw arms, as our SBS bus is coming at 0800.. so ya.. its super early lah!

Woke up super tired.. dun koe why.. As usual, do my morning routine (brush teeth, etc) and then proceeded to boil hot water for my breakfast (which is instant noodles of course).. Then bathe and drew arms at the allocated time. Everyone was somewhat in a very tired mood but I'm sure in each of my shift's personnels who were taking part in NDP wld sure feel a sense of excitement!! =)

Then just b4 we left, something unexpected happened! I actually wore a pair of Acuvue-Moist contacts and my left pair actually came out! I was like panicking as to how and what to do and stuff.. then I found out the next best solution and tat is in bunk, I had actually spare contact lens, so I went up to bunk and take my spare contacts lah!
So frm here, I had made a conclusion tat no doubt Acuvue-Moist (this is a trial pair) is really comfortable, but the initial putting in of the lens into your eyes is quite difficult becos the lens material is really soft and flimsy and to put it in ur eye, it needs time.. however, if I use focus dailies (which I'm using now), its easier to put it in, but taking out is considered slighty a hassle unlike Acuvue becos the lens are bigger.. but oh well.. its juz too bad lah.. but I have to admit tat Acuvue-Moist is really comfortable, so tats why I'm contemplating like whether want to cont using focus dailies or acuvue when my supplies of contacts ends at abt Sept?

On the bus, wasn't very eager to take photos becos have taken it like on NDP Preview, which happened last 2 wks (29/07).. so was juz sitting there, whilst Boon Sen (who got so familiar with my camera settings/operations liaox) tat he "helped himself" to my camera, and of course I didn't mind!! =)

When we reached the place, we were being marshalled as usual by our marshals to our usual holding area, Indoor Stadium.. Once we reached Indoor Stadium, a few of us (Boon Sen, Kok Wei, Randy & myself) were so bored tat we ventured out of the Indoor Stadium, and we went to the South Entrance to take photos.. They have such good view there! So we took quite a no. of photos which were undoubtly one of the best photos for the day! =).. Photos are uploaded liaox.. Go to Photo Gallery > My Experience As A Soldier Boy > NDP 2006 (090806) Photos.

Then we had quite a few runs in the morning, with the last run ended at abt 1200. Then its rest, rest and more rest in the Indoor Stadium.. Our only entertainment in there was the Choir rehearsing their songs, and their choreographer was dancing very lively and her movements were exaggerated, which of course provided very good entertainment.. =).. Managed to video some of her movements with the Choir singing during their rehearsals, however, didnt upload it becos its simply too big, abt 400MB! *gulpz*

Then came dinner time, and it was KFC.. Lunch was SFI (which was disappointing becos we were expecting Pizza Hut/KFC).. Anyway, KFC was 2 pcs chicken, along with a bun and a regular whipped potato.. Didnt really had an appetite to eat dinner, as I was quite full.. but anyway, juz ate lah!!

Then came the moment where we changed into our No. 1 uniforms to get ready for the show! It was funny, becos once we changed into our No. 1, cameras were starting to click away and everyone seemed to be so enthusiatic in posing for the camera to take photo shots!

* Photo on right: A photo shot of my base's GOH with my RSM minutes before we were being ushered into the National Stadium for the show proper!
(Photo courtesy of Kelvin Tan frm my base)

Its then time for us to walk to the National Stadium, for uncasing of colours first, followed by the show proper! On the way to the Stadium, can see a few cameras clicking away as well.. It was such a proud moment for me as well!

Then came the uncasing of colours and surrounding us were audiences (but look at this carefully: CHINA & BANGLADESH nationals!).. I was simply too shocked becos I'm wondering how come the audience were not locals.. but oh well..

Then its time for us to go into the Stadium to perform! Of course, if I told you tat I do not have any sense of nervousness, I wld be lying.. But thank goodness, the nervousness didnt overcome me and I did perform. Not much cock-ups (if fact, I dun have any but not sure abt the others in my contingent, but I didnt think there are any really major problems! =).. I was like quite stressed as I was very conscious abt the tons of video cameras & cameras who were clicking away in the background, so I muz be like ready loh, not to do any stunt, or funny faces, juz in case I was shot at by the cameras..

Surprisingly, the Parade didnt seemed as long as I have expected.. but then I had my touching moments; not during the National Anthem (FYI: I only had goosebumps! Funny isn't it?).. but actually the moment where our Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, come into the Stadium, just thinking abt the sacrifices tat he has made for Singapore and to develop it to what She is today, is enuf to make me tear!! I have total respect for you, Mr Lee Kuan Yew! =)

* Photo on left: An overview of the Parade Square in the National Stadium itself! What a magnificent sight isn't it?
(Photo courtesy of Elvin Ng [my primary & sec sch friend])

Everything went on very well, with all the march past and stuff.. After we march out of the Stadium, all of us were in high spirits as we were relieved tat finally, the whole event was over!! Then we went up to our bus to go back to camp, and we saw the remaining live telecast of the Parade on TV Mobile.

Finally, the moment tat the whole Singapore is waiting for; the fireworks! Man.. the fireworks were awesome, and I managed to catch a glimpse of it in the bus.. Tried to video it but the bus moved off too fast, etc, so didnt loh!! =(

Went back to camp and booked out lah! On the way out frm camp, Boon Sen, Kok Wei & I were discussing whether shld we go out since its our off day the next day (10/8).. Talks were on the way and we decided to go out loh!!

Went home, put down my things and get ready stuffs (eg: my no. 1 uniform) to wash, before I had my supper (Black Vinegar Pig Trotters) which was cooked by my grandma! It was simply delicious lah.. My parents went to visit my grandma, and tat explains why there was supper for me!! =).. Had a fulfilling supper before I went to my computer to upload and resize my pics and stuff.. and by the time I'm done, it was 0100 liaox!! I was so shacked lah, becos as I was uploading the pics halfway, I actually felt asleep, but nevertheless, I was determined to finish uploading as Boon Sen was rushing me for the pics.. so ya..

All was finally done, and I rested for the night at 0100..

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 71 DAYS to ORD!!

Happy 41st Birthday Singapore!,
<<< abriel >>>

Preparing for my ORD Trip! =)

Well.. today didnt really do much..

Woke up this morning at abt 0900 this morning after sleeping like at 0100 yesterday nite..

Was really slacking at home until at abt 1230, I bathe and then went to Beach Road to meet Yizhou.. We met to go together to Beach Road to collect brochures for our Malaysia ORD trip!

* Photo on right: The fruits of our labour! See how brochures we got! =).. We actually had more but then we filtered out a few becos its either not attractive or too far.. so ya..
(Photo taken with my Canon Ixus 60)

We went to each store to search for the best deals and stuff.. After 15 mins of initial searching, we were done.. I then suggested tat we go to a place to sort out the brochures as to which is of a better deal and stuff.. I suggested Suntec City as it is quite near and have Starbucks (which is my fave coffee place)..

So after we finish our brochures-taking, we walked back to Lavander MRT to take a train to Suntec.. then we walked and stuff at Citylink.. went to HMV to look for Hong Junyang's new gaiban CD (wanted to buy but then dun think its worth it, becos I have most of the songs liaox becos I bought his previous.. so I have to see how lah.. see whether its feasible to buy!!).. then went to Translink office to enquiry abt my new purchase of my adult EZ-link card.. then went to Giordano to enquiry abt my continued membership, but then got a negative reply though.. haix.. dun wish to talk abt it..

We soon reached Suntec City and then I saw my uncle and aunty.. Said hi.. then proceeded to Starbucks @ Suntec City! Drank my favourite hazelnut java chip frappucino!.. it was good lah I tell ya..

Then as we drink, we discussed abt the brochures and stuff.. we then made conclusions as to the place we are going; KL or Genting or Penang.. but I think if my clique decides to follow these tours, it wld most probably be KL.. so ya..

Gonna bring these brochures to camp and let the rest of my clique decides where to go lah, becos its not only 2 of us going.. there is Kok Wei, Samuel & Boon Sen.. so ya.. have to get their agreement..

After tat, we shopped for a bag becos Yizhou said he didnt have one, so if we are going, then he need to buy a bag.. but in the end, he didnt buy, becos none was to his liking and not much range too.. so he said he wanna go to Queenstown shopping centre to look for one, but then, tat wld be his own time lah.. so ya..

Came home and on computer now blogging my post loh.. Going to book in tonite for tml's NDP.. so ya.. I dun mind booking in tonite as well, becos have to wake up super early tml.. so ya..

Just can't wait for NDP tml.. it wld be the last 2nd parade tat I'm gonna do for SAF before I ORD in October 2006!.. so ya.. its funny though.. I usually dun have any feelings for parades, but then, this NDP is somewhat different.. I suddenly feel so proud to be in NDP this yr, probably becos it wld be broadcast over LIVE on TV and stuff.. so ya..

So remember to catch the NDP 'Live' on Channels 5, 8, U, Central & Suria at 6pm! Trust me! You wont regret watching this yr's NDP! =)
Hope I can appear on TV tml and you wld be able to see me.. *thick skin*...

Ok.. gtg liaox.. have my dinner, watch 7pm show (Xi Guan Da Shao) on Channel 8, bathe and off I go to camp at 2030!

Cya ppl soon on cyberspace.. Watch out for this blog for updates of the NDP where I wld share my feelings and stuff.. =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 72 DAYS to ORD!!

1 Day to NDP 2006,
<<< abriel >>>

A tiring weekend!

Hey! It has been a somewhat tiring weekend for me.. here's what happen..

Saturday (05/08/06)

Booked in on Friday (4/8) nite itself becos instruction has been given by my RSM to stay-in lah.. so ya.. so I shared cab with Boon Sen to camp and we bk in earlier, as we want to catch the last episode of the 9pm show on Channel 8, Love @ 0 Degrees C.. the ending for me was quite disappointing though.. I would have hope tat Yiqin (played by Rui-en) would choose Guobin (played by Julian Hee) rather than Weixiang (played by Elvin Ng).. but haix.. dun talk abt it.. Guess MediaCorp dramas are giving a different ending, rather than the expected! After which, I slept at abt 2230..

Woke up at 0645 but I'm too lazy to wake up, so I woke up at 0830 instead, becos its anyway, 1015 then fall in to draw arms mahz.. So anyway, at breakfast (which was the usual instant noodles) and bathe and stuff.. Fall in at 1015, drew arms and off I went to National Stadium for the last NDP rehearsal before the actual event happening on 09 August..

When we went there, we had our lunch, which was SFI (read this: DISAPPOINTING but somewhat expected lah!).. then we went for a few runs, before we had our DINNER (this time its better.. its Pizza Hut!) at 1500 *gulpz*.. this is the earliest so far becos our normal usual run wld be at 1833.. so ya.. oh well..

* Photo on right: The grandstand view of the whole RSAF GOH Contingent during our actual rehearsal run. Dun we look good? =)
I've got one friend who is in Girls' Bridage contingent who asked me on MSN as to how come our lines are so straight? Ha.. quite a silly question actually.. for those of you all who dun koe, its actually we are considered "cheating" becos at every 5 columns, there would be markings.. but these markings are not very prominent! It all lies within the control of the first 6 men!.. so ya.. so if 1st 6 men really take a crooked dressing, then the whole contingent would be crooked.. so ya.. so now its like not only the 6 men have to do their part, we ourselves (each and every one in the contingent) have to put in our 100% effort in making the contingent as straight as possible! so ya..
(Photo courtesy of Boon Kian of Changi Airbase)

Then when we started to fall in for the initial runs, Ann Tat saw me and kept a smiling face and said to me that "Yes! I'm reserve!".. I was like thinking to myself, "is he really happy or he is only putting up a front?".. haix.. I first thought he have a space in the actual contingent liaox, but haix..

After our dinner, my grp of friends (Boon Sen, Kok Wei, Yizhou & myself) wanted to take a photo at the National Stadium becos this is the last chance to take liaox, but however, due to my forgetfulness, I forgot to bring my camera.. sianx.. =(.. so didnt take photos lah.. haix..

* Photo on left: The last look at the National Stadium before it wld be demonlished and make way for the new sports hub. It feels weird actually.. it wells up a lot of feelings within me whenever I see the National Stadium! It looks like a common venue for NDP year after year, but now this being the last NDP at National Stadium, it would be quite sad! I'm sure Singaporeans wld feel the same when they attend the Parade on 09 August.. a sense of nostalgence (if there is such a word?!?) ..
(Photo courtesy of Boon Kian of Changi Airbase)

By 1930, we reach camp.. hear my officer talk until like 2010.. then went up to bunk to pack my things for Wed (9/8) becos Mon (7/8) I on dismounting off and Tues (8/8) I on mass off.. so ya.. then was so hungry that I ate 2 cups of instant noodles, a pkt of sweet potato chips and 5-6 strands of MacDonald's french fries (my friends ordered.. so tats why!).. and mind you.. tats my supper!.. I'm a pig rite.. ha.. =P

Then watched the finals of Superband on Channel U.. Wasn't really happy with the results though becos I was expecting J3 to like win, but instead Mi-Lu-Bing (aka Milo Peng) won the title of Superband..

* Photo on right: Mi-Lu-Bing the ULTIMATE winner of Superband!
(Photo courtesy of MediaCorp, Channel U)

But its ok lah.. as long as tat stupid rock band, Lucify, dun win can liaox and yes lah.. they didn't win =).. so ya.. my whole bunk mates were like condemning Lucify lah.. dun koe wat they singing at all loh!

Was super tired.. slept like at 1030.. I really slept all the way thry lah.. I dun koe why I'm so tired loh.. haix..

Sunday (06/08/06)

Woke up at 0700 this morning in bunk for duty today (didn't bk out yesterday becos no pt lah..).. Felt super sianx liaox becos today wkend duty.. yes.. not much duty to do, but then again, all other airbases have their offs (including Monday), but here we are doing duty.. I told yesterday to all my friends frm various bases tat we are mounting duty today, and their common reaction was like "so fierce ah?".. so ya.. haix.. super sianx.. I shld be out there enjoying my wkend loh.. and now look wat happen? =(

Duty was 8 hrs.. quite normal for a wkend! Usually, my working hrs wld be 12 hrs loh, but today better lah, becos its the wkend.. so ya..

Nothing really much happened today.. but I heard rumours (or maybe confirmations) liaox abt my placement in the new shift right after RSAF Day.. Well.. I have no choice as to whether which shift I shld go, becos I can't choose.. This shift thingy is planned by my upper management.. so ya.. even if I dun want to the shift, I still have to lah.. but I dun think it wld be long, becos its definately less than 10 duties left after RSAF Day lah.. so ya.. it all depends lah.. we shall see how when the time gets closer loh!

Monday (07/08/06)

Dismounted duty today.. Quite happy becos its like mount duty 1 day and off 2 days (1 day dismounting off and 1 day mass off!).. But it was not a smooth one though, becos b4 we dismounted, instruction has been given by my RSM to clean our SAR21 rifles for NDP on Wed, 09 August.. so we had no choice but to clean it lah, becos we on mass off tml mahz.. So ya..

While we cleaning, my officer confirm the news tat we wld be broken up into the shifts once we finish RSAF Day Parade on 01 Sept 2006! And for tat, I also koe my new shift liaox! I juz hope my new officer as well as shift mates would be ok lah.. hope its not as bad as I tot loh, though there are some of my former shift mates in the shift (the new shift tat I would be going to tat is) too.. so ya.. juz hope I can adapt well lah.. but anyway, tat is like in a mth's time thing.. so ya.. at least now, I koe which shift I go to liaox, so it somewhere cleared the air and suspense which I always have before this news was been told to us! =)

By the time I finish cleaning my rifle and book out, it was close to 1100 liaox.. then I bk out with 2 bags lah: my civi bag as well as my NDP goodie bag (which was full of things lah!)..

* Photo on left: NDP goodie bag! Isn't it fully packed with stuff? I think the whole bag weights close to 1kg-1.5kg lah!
(Photo courtesy of NDP 2006 website!)

Came home.. watched TV and ate my lunch.. then bathe and then had my nap (slept frm 1410-1700)! Was too shacked lah..

On the computer and checked my emails and stuff.. ate dinner and then back to computer and blog this blogpost loh!!

Plans for my off tml, going with Yizhou to Golden Mile Complex to take brochures for our Malaysia ORD trip.. Glad tat finally, plans for our scheduled Malaysia trip are on the way! =).. Lets see how things goes ba! =).. Just hope tml we wld be able to find the right package lah! =)

Ok lah.. gtg and surf ard the Internet liaox.. Cya ppl..

Oh.. I'm so getting into the NDP fever lah! Can u feel it? =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 73 DAYS to ORD!!

2 Days to NDP 2006,
<<< abriel >>>

Happy-go-lucky me!

Here is a post of my activities in 2 days.. so ya..

Thursday (03/08/06)

Today at camp was P1 and I perform duty for the mounting shift.. Did duty frm 1300-1700.. The rest of my grp did a 2 hr duty whilst I did a 4 hr duty becos I was in an aircon environment.. So ya..

The first 2 hrs I did duty with an NSmen and we chatted abt Nokia stuff becos he was a Nokia Care Centre Customer Care Service Officer..
Then 2 hrs later, I did duty with a mounting shift guy and he was frm Paya Lebar Airbase who was loaned over to my base.. I then did duty with him and of course, we chatted with each other to pass our 2 hrs of duty more quickly.. We both agreed tat we chatted more with each other compared to when we do duty with the NSmen loh! Both of us also have things in common and tat is both of us hated rock and metal music, as well as we both are happy-go-lucky ppl!
So ya.. So u see, even 2 hrs of my duty, I can make new friends!

Then a call frm my sgt came, saying tat my P1 grp have to do speedtrap tml! WTH!! Everytime my P1 grp always do! Sianx leh.. By rite after we sent our arms tml in the morning, we can go home liaox.. (becos today is my shift's mass off!).. We actually also did not have dismounting duty leh.. so this means tat we can go home earlier loh.. but now got this speedtrap thingy, so its like no difference frm dismounting duty loh.. Super sianx liaox..

Then my sgt very good, as he wanted to help us like ask my officer whether is there any compensation becos our mass off tml kenna jia, but my officer dun want to gice.. so no choice.. haix.. wat to do? We sway rite? =(

Friday (04/08/06)

Woke up this morning in bunk with a stomachache.. went to toilet but nothing came out.. (ok.. I shall spare the details!).. Was supposed to wake up at 0545 this morning for the stupid speedtrap thing, but then, I was quite lazy lah, so I woke up at 0600 instead.. in Mandarin, we call this "lai4 chuang2"..

Then we went down to wash up and stuff.. we then proceeded to Guardroom to have our breakfast and draw the stores for our speedtrap and stuff.. The Guard Commander (which was a staff sgt) was quite shocked, as in he actually did not plan dismounting duty for us but yet we came down.. So we explain the whole situation to him lah..

We then proceeded to do the speedtrap frm 0700-0800.. We had a lot of onlookers from base personnels as well as visitors to the nearby Sembawang Country Club.. Onlookers as in like u koe lah.. Singaporeans very kaypoh, so they see see look look becos the place we are standing (where we book ppl if they really was more than the speed limit which was stipulated) are usually empty, so today we stand there is a rare sight lah!
Then there is this CPT (Captain rank officer) who asked us, and we (Boon Sen, my sgt Yifu, and myself) replied (but I did most of the talking).. here is our conversation:

Me: (salutes) "Good morning, Sir!"
CPT: (salutes back) "Hey good morning. What are you all doing?"

Me: "We are doing speedtrap, Sir."
CPT: (confused look on his face)

Me: "Sir, our job here is to catch anyone who actually speeds more than the speed limit."

CPT: "Oh.. Then how you all know whether who speed? You all use your eyes to see?"

Me: (laughed and smiled for a brief moment) "Sir, no! We got equipment to check the speed limit of the cars.

CPT: "Oh I see..." (walks off)

Fwah! Best rite? haha.. Then my sgt cracked some jokes as to now we got speed detectors on our spectacles (becos its so coincident tat the 3 of us - Boon Sen, Sgt Yifu & myself wears specs..)

Then at 0800, we pulled back, and soon, we were back in bunk after sending our arms, I suddenly had a stomachache, and then went to the toilet.. and oh man.. I exploded.. ok.. no more details.. juz in case u have not ate ur dinner.. =P.. Bathe and bk out for the day.. We were reminded to come back tonite at 2359 for our final NDP rehearsal before the actual NDP! So ya..

I somewhat can't wait for the actual NDP to happen.. I seriously think I wld really cry at the National Anthem when sung on 09/08/06.. I think will have watery eyes but probably not cry lah.. Cry is juz too exaggerating!

Then came home and ate lunch (Lunch was fried bee hoon bought frm my hse opposite!).. Then watch the taped telecasts of Singapore Idol (SI) Spectaculars Show & its results show!

On the SI Extra segment, I actually saw almost everything which happened last Sat @ the Indoor Stadium.. Can't remember? Go read my blogpost dated 30/07/06 (Sunday).. and of course, I did see some of the familiar Airforce GOH guys (in particular, 1 sgt from Paya Lebar Airbase.. I think he is now a superstar liaox!.. and he actually praised Jasmine on TV.. he said tat "Jasmine is pretty!").. Of course I think she's pretty too! Dun you all think so? =)

I was then so inspired to do blog banners that I did it and spend abt an hour on 3 simple banners.. see below loh..
(Blog banners is my term of referring to picture headings like: "Singapore Idol Updates", "Goodbye", "The Exclusives"..)

So there I did and ya.. came up with a new segment in my blog (which will appear anytime after the SI Results Show on Thurs!).. so ya.. Hope you all enjoy it! =) For Singapore Idol fans, this is for you =)

** Credits: Photos in this post are taken from the official Singapore Idol Website.


Starting frm this week, I'm gonna give you readers updates on what I think is interesting abt recent Singapore Idol episode! I will include some real exclusive stuff abt contestants (but dun expect it to be so juicy.. its like some of my observations and stuff, but its all exclusive, becos its coming out of my mouth or shld I say mind/hands? haha.. ok.. being lame!).. Just in case you all miss out who was eliminated at the recent Singapore Idol Results Show, I'm also gonna update here.. so this is gonna be exciting? I suppose =)


Jay Lim is the latest contestant on Singapore Idol to be voted out!

He sang "Supreme" by Robbie Williams during the "British Invasion" theme for this week's Spectaculars Show (which happened last Wednesday, 02/08/06).. It was to his misfortune tat the judges didn't really like the song becos its simply not him!

However, during this morning's interview with the Class 95 Morning Express, he defended his stand that its not that he didn't want to sing a song which is "so him", instead, he wanted to bring out to the audience at the show as well as the viewers at home another side of him, probably his naughty side! However, the choice to being "not him" proved to be too much, resulting in his elimination from the competition. He added that if he had known tat the viewers and judges wanted to see the "real him", he would have chosen, "Your Song" by Elton John!

But oh well.. its just too bad tat he is eliminated! My mum actually had a lot of high hopes for him becos of his voice and stuff, and I guess my mum is a bit disappointed that Jay Lim is out! So does this mean tat Jay Lim is an aunty-killer? ha.. I dun koe! The guess is up to you readers =)


After watching today's taped telecast of the Singapore Idol Spectaculars Show, I then knew that Jasmine (picture on right) actually stays near my neighbourhood! Fwah! How cool is that rite?

And she also introduced my favourite Indonesian Food Stall (opposite my house!), which I always frequent lah! I tell you the truth.. I can eat this stall 7 days a week and always the same food, and I dun get 'sick and tired' of it!! Its tat shoick lah! The thing which Jasmine likes most is its deep fried fish.. yes! The deep fried fish is super nice lah! =).. Well.. I'm drooling liaox..

But I still can't get over the fact tat Jasmine stays in my neighbourhood! Guys, dun envy me =P..

Ok lah.. my Singapore Idol segment ends here! Stay tuned nxt wk for more updates..

Fwah! Its been 2 hrs since I started this blog! This blog looks simple rite? But lots of effort goes into it lah! Ha.. ok lah.. I gtg liaox..

Tml is NDP rehearsal @ Stadium and Sun is duty at camp.. so the nxt time I login and update u all, it wld be Monday liaox.. So I shall cya ppl then ya =) Cya!

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 76 DAYS to ORD!!

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

Admin work is fun =)

Phew! Just finished my admin stuff, and now to the blogging world before I go off to dreamland! Anyway, here's my update..

Wanted to take off today but then I think again, I want to save my off, so therefore I decide not to do it lah, but after today's activities, I somehow regretted my decision, as to I shld take lah.. but come to think of it, if today I take, I wld miss out some impt stuff (eg: the schedule for my shift!).. so ya..

Anyway, this morning was not much of a thing.. was in bed after my breakfast (I koe I'm pig but wat to do? =P).. then my sgt called me down to S3 branch to take the P1 schedule frm him, and he specifically told me to type the schedule for the shift when I get home today.. so ya.. At first when I entered the S3 branch office, I was quite surprised to see only my S3 in there, who was at the same time abt to come out, so it did gave me a shock lah! Imagine in front of you, a MAJOR juz pop out and you suddenly was nervous becos you dun koe wat to do.. so ya.. I did ask my S3 whether my sgt was in there, and he said 'no'.. then suddenly, I heard frm the back, someone called me and true enuf, I saw my sgt.. and then he told me wat to do and stuff..

Then its going to the conference room for USMS.. sianx. haix.. but I was glad to koe tat one of my suggestions (who was a pure coincidental idea) was approved and I was awarded $5 for tat idea!.. so tat explains why I saw this extra $5 in my account the other time.. yuan2 lai2 ru2 ci3! =0)
But it was super sianx for me becos I was running out of ideas lah.. so I took a long time to think lah, but somehow, I manage to squeeze out some ideas.. but dun koe whether good enuf, juz type and see loh..

Then I cant really sleep.. so I followed boon sen to his medical FFI appointment today.. but I did not go there for fun.. I went there to change my medical FFI date.. Original I put it as 7/8 but then that day, I'm dismounting, so I dun wanna wait like 3-4 hrs before I see the MO.. so after much pains, I manage to change my appt to 22/8.. so ya..

Then its rest a while before going down for flight run, but my OC wasnt ard and the FDC ppl are busy with their technical handling test! So its only my shift lah.. and not the whole shift is present, becos its either they on off or performing P1 duty.. so its a small grp..

And so we ran (I was quite reluctant at first, but come to think of it, I have not been exercising for a while, so running shld at least shed some weight I hope?), and then we went to play some games.. I didnt want to play and so was sgt. weiming.. so both of us chatted loh! It's a good chat lah! =)

Then I had a quick bathe, before I bk out and came home for dinner.. I watched TV till 2200.. wanted to stop watching TV at 2030, but the shows were too interesting.. so ya.. so tat explains why I so late then blog loh!

Oh.. wat I can say is tat I always have this perception tat this mth is Sept liaox.. I dun koe why!! Am I in an ORD mood/mindset already? But come to think of it, its also quite true.. becos I left with approx. 13 duties then I can say sayonara to my base and get on with life! I have been waiting for this moment like for 2 years, and finally its drawing nearer! Yeh!!

Ok lah.. I gtg and sleep liaox.. tml P1, so this means I wont be blogging tml, but much worse is tat I have to help the mounting shift do at least 4-6 hrs of duty tml.. sianx.. but then, Fri got mass off so not too bad, but the early part, my grp kenna jia, unless the mounting shift is tat good to not let us do mounting duty.. see how lah!

Ok lah.. I very shacked liaox! Ciaoz and I'll cya ppl soon! =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 78 DAYS to ORD!!

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

My only purchase for this mth!

Yes.. read on my blogpost for Sunday (30/07) to koe wat is my only purchase for this mth! And this is a miracle lah, becos I seldom 1 mth buy so little things =)

This is a post of more photos-cum-blogposts.. Photos are taken with my Canon Ixus 60.

Sunday (30/07/06)

Woke up this morning and continued on with my blogging. Then after which, its a bathe for me and then my parents and I went to the old folk's home to see my grandma (this is a fortnightly affair)..

After tat, went to Starbucks @ Century Square, Tampines, to grab sumthing to eat as I was kinda hungry.. So I grabbed a cake and a drink which was absolutely fabulous lah!

* Photo on left: The delicious cake from Starbucks. They called it the Strawberry Indulgence. Sounds so indulging rite? Ha..
It looks and taste real yummy lah! The cream and strawberries really blanded really well with the cake. This cake is not too sweet as well, so I guess its tooth and calorie-friendly? Of course, if you dun mind the whipped cream, this is really the must-eat cake this summer season at Starbucks!
So wat are u waiting for? Get it only for $5.60 a piece at all Starbucks outlets! =).. Go try go try! The food guru won't be wrong one! =)

Not only did I have a cake, I also had coffee which is always my fave and must-have at Starbucks.. the Frappucino series!.. So here is their new drink...

* Photo on right: As mention above, how can you complete your meal at Starbucks without having a dose of coffee? Do it right here with a Hazelnut Java Chip Frappucino..
Of course, I forgot to ask them to not put whipped cream becos I dun wanna put on excess weight.. but after I taste it, it doesnt taste so bad after all, probably is becos I didnt take whipped cream for a long time liaox.. but oh well.. the chocolate syrup drizzled onto the whipped cream, complete with the world's best coffee drink, wat more can u ask? Absolutely nothing! Just plain pleasure! =)

Becos I have decided tat today I wanna get a sunglass/shade after I was inspired by my beach photo and how good-looking I look with a sunglass (I koe I'm thick-skinned but wat to do?) =)...

Sidney called me this morning to complain abt how he screwed up his driving and stuff.. haix.. usual stuff la bro.. ha.. =P.. Then I told him my intention of getting a sunglass and stuff.. and juz before he puts down the phone, he advised me on certain tips of choosing sunglasses, esp. how I look with the sunglass, as well as the purpose of the sunglass so no point buying cheap ones.. Come to think of it, I actually tot thru his comments! Thanx bro =)

* Photo on left: This is my new RayBen sunglass! Cool rite? Original price is $178, but the store (YES! Eyewear @ Suntec City Shopping Mall) has a 20% discount, which after discount, it costs me $142.40.. but becos I koe the Operation Manager of the store, she gave me a further discount.. so in the end, I actually paid only $128.. and if you count carefully, its actually a whopping 28% discount! =)

So after seeing my grandma, I was searching almost every optical shop in the civinity to see whether they got cheap shades/sunglass but it was to no avail. In the end, I ended up in the store which I had in mind when I first left my house this morning.

To cut the long story short, I got the sunglass after like 30 minutes in the store; becos I was like choosy abt this and tat, becos I'm paying for it and I'm quite particular abt how I look with the sunglass and stuff.. I think the staff there also a bit impatient.. After seeing so many pairs of sunglasses, the salesperson recommend me to "RayBen" brand of sunglasses.. I heard of this brand, but I tot it is those really old-fashioned ones.. Surprisingly, the range which I saw was quite of updated and cool.. so ya..

So in the end, I was contemplating between 2 choices.. one with a black surface, whilst the other is the tinted surface (ie, the one I bought lah!).. after much consideration, I decided to get the tinted surface one, simply becos the lens is smaller than the black surface one! I dun like specs with the super big lens.. so ya..
Oh! Prior to buying, I actually ask the salesperson wherther there is the tinted blue specs but with the same tupe of RayBen pattern? But then she gave me a sunglass which was the one which I always wanted, but it was too expensive. It was the perfect sunglass tat I can ever look for.. Its actually Oakley's brand.. she told me the following:
"I think I koe and got wat u looking for and this is it, but the price is not very nice".. When she said tat, I was expecting Oakley's and true enuf, this was it lah! The price, a whopping $338 before a 15% discount.. Expensive rite?? Haix.. too bad lah =(.. one muz be contented..

After which, my parents met A. Agnes Tan (frm my church) for dinner.. We went to Marina Square FoodCourt to have our dinner.. It was a sumptuous spread and of course, how could I forget to order my favourite "Curry Noodles".. its the best tat Marina Square FoodCourt can offer! man.. I'm drooling already!

* Photo on right: This is the curry noodle tat its world best! You can only find this at Marina Square FoodCourt! I juz love this! This is a must-eat for me @ Marina Square FoodCourt! Its delicious beyond words lah!

Then A. Agnes was like near the end of the dineer, she talk abt her woes/worries of worship in church! I actually shared with her my experience and stuff, and gave her some advice.. so ya.. =)

By the time I was back, I was frantically taking photo of my precious sunglasses, and then bathe and prepare my stuff for tml and stuff.. My sis was using the computer for her school work, so I had to wait.. After finish packing and bathing, it was already 2330, but she was still using!

My intention was juz to blog today's entry, but I realise tat it was too late and moreover, I had duty tml, so ya.. so didnt blog in the end, and after which, I was so sleepy tat I juz slept my way thru juz like tat! Am I tired or wat?

Monday (31/07/06)

This morning woke up with a bit of reluctance, becos the weather was simply too cool to sleep in.. And juz as I was abt to go out, it rained! I was like WTH! haix.. but at least, the weather is cooling lah..

When I reached camp, I initially do not have any duty, but one of my friends said he felt sick-ish (if there's such a word), so I agreed to do his first duty!.. and I actually dun mind, becos the weather is so cooling lah! This is the first time tat I did not really sweat during the duty! So frm here, you can see how good the weather is lah! =)

Tuesday (01/08/06)

Yizhou changed with me his dismounting duty.. I didnt mind and I gladly changed with him, becos its table duty and its my fave lah! In fact, I juz love dismounting table! So fun!! =).. People in my flight may think I siao or sumthing, in fact I think I am too, but then, I juz dun koe why, I like dismounting table duty.. hmm.. an admin person perhaps? =)

Came home and ate lunch.. then went to Upper Paya Lebar Road to buy dinner for mum.. Bought Cantonese Roast meats (ie, duck, char siew & spare ribs!).. Its yummy I tell you! Simply yum-mi-li-cious!! Oh.. they got a website.. click here if your interested..

Then came home and blog.. sending also my resumes to other companies liaox.. need to look for jobs liaox.. time is running out! My time in NS is like getting lesser and lesser each day =)..

Ok lah.. gtg liaox, and do up my No. 1 uniform and stuff for nxt wk's NDP 2006! Real excited abt it =)

** I'm still counting down the days LEFT to serve.. its 79 DAYS to ORD!!

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

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 >>>