Merry, merry Christmas

Well, I spent this Xmas with a little less hoo-ham than last year. Still remembered how I got Yvonne, Weilin and Darius to go Orchard Rd with me last Xmas eve cuz I wanted to "feel" the Xmas spirit. All we got were perspiration and lots of foam in our hair. No way were we going to repeat our mistake this time round.

Met up with the usual CT gang and I brought along my sis and cousins. Well, they all hit it off so well during the chalet that they wanted to come along. Had lunch at Siam Kitchen where we were rewarded with a $50 voucher after spending an insane $88. Then, headed down for Karaoking at the KTV which I was brought to last week. Cheap place though it's a little "sleazy". It's cheap cuz their real business is at night. Haha ...hmmm

Then spent the evening at my grandma's new house. Got a chance to go back to my old "hometown" back in AMK, where I spent almost 16 years of my life? Certain things have changed, some have not. Cant believe how so much have changed, myself included.

Spent today rather uneventfully. Will be going down to Ben's house tomorrow with some of my classmates. Having gift exchange and mahjong. Supposed to be on leave on Tuesday but thinking of just going back anyway.

Just chatted with one of my ex-recruit who asked me if I had watched Saw 2. Was a little stunned when he asked. Found out he thought I will enjoy the show as I enjoyed playing mind games with them as the murderer in the show did. -_- Anyway, he is burning the movie for me so I can better understand how I am like to people. Hee ...

Merry Christmas to all~ Thanks for the various well wishes, especially those who msg me for the 1st time. May all enjoy good health and good luck. Most important of all, stay happy=)

Status: Have yet to attain legal rights to drive

That's a euphemism for I failed my driving test.(Euphemism: A way of making something sound nice?) Anyway, I failed badly. Horribly. It was so bad that I didnt even get to do the u-turn that was part of the prescribed route. Knew I would not pass but certainly not that bad. But guess what? I actually found it funny and was chuckling along the way. I clocked up an impressive array of mistakes to chalk up 44 points. Impressive huh? Next test 28th Mar ...hopefully then will be much better=)

Xmas is round the corner. Will be meeting CT people later today, followed by dinner at grandma's place. Then Monday going Ben's place. Oh yeah, I didn't know the changes in the gift exchange sequence, so now I buying for Ben. Great!

End of the year coming. Lots of thoughts ...Lots of things to say. 2005 was a good year for me and one in which lots happened. Well, I'll leave it to next time.

Next week is BUSY week. It's range week, so I guess lots of things will be happening too. Think I may forego my leave on Tuesday ...see how lar.

Finally, here's wishing all a Merry Christmas. Just hope you will all take the time to look at what's around you and appreciate the things and people around you. And have fun during this long hol.

Aftermath of a chalet ...Zzzz....zzzZ

Just came back from chalet, where I was probably the only one who slept the most. Well, I am really not much the night owl. Still, I got the chance to play mahjong and bridge. My sis and cousins came along too and they almost didnt sleep at all for the 2 nights. It was not bad, though it's certainly very ex.

On the first day, I rushed down after driving to meet with my sis, cousins, yvonne and darius but cousins were half an hour late. Then I brought them to Pasir Ris Park, only to realise that our chalet was near downtown east. So, we had to "route march" to our destination which was on the other end of the park. Weilin joined us there and we explored a little thereafter and had dinner when Yiwen, whom I have not seen since JC days, joined us.

Second day had more people coming, though I missed some of them when I went back to camp(more about that later). Didnt get to see June, Wei Yang and Emmanuel but anyway thanks for coming. Marcus, Zhen Hao, PK and Geri, who came right after her plane touched down *appplause*, joined us for the night. Overall, had lots of fun and the relaxing break I so deserve.

Went back to camp for fire drill last night. Had a bit of miscomm cuz people were thinking like in the middle of the night when I wanted it like before they sleep. Well, I had always been uncomfortable with what was done in the past and I put a stop to it last batch when I personally stepped up to do it. Things got a little out of hand this time round.(Always uncomfortable when you give people "free rein") Had to step in as usual and aligned it with what I wanted to achieve. I don't see the point of doing things the old way for the sake of doing it. Is there any merits in doing so? To me, there's none and I'd rather people maintain what they want to achieve throughout rather than to start off brilliantly and not see it through to the end.

Going back work tomorrow and then got Driving Test on Friday. Well, things don't look too good and even my instructor has asked me to go for "exam experience". *sob* Well, I can hope for the best, prepare for the worst right? Not losing faith yet but trying to be positive and hope the best possible thing happens!

Time to take a break

Did quite a few things today. Book out in the morning and ended up taking a cab home.

Met up with 2 groups of people. First was my classmates from VJ. Had a gathering cuz Ben came back from Australia and nearly half the class was there, including Gundeep whom I have not seen since JC. It was a time to catch up and hear Ben's story from his military academy. Poor thing will be 2LT until he comes back from his studies and that will be like another 4 yrs to go. Maybe can organise a mahjong gathering at his place since he has learnt how to play.=)

Then also met up with my BMT friends, mostly from my section. Had not seen quite a few of them since POP, so it was nice to see them. Ernest, Danence, Daryl, Sherbert, Alvin, Melvin, Yih Huat, Yi Hua and Qian Hao. Reached there late and they had finished eating and then I took QH's car to Paradiz Centre where we KTVed. Left early to meet my mom and sis.

Supposed to have a relaxing week this coming week and I certainly hope so. Will still be going back on some of my leave days to do some errands. Pissed off that cigarette boxes have been found. They will not be happy on the day that I go back ...Beware ...

Having driving and chalet and my driving test this week, so I will let all know whether I passed anot. Hope for the best=)And looking forward to MAHJONG!!!

Gathering @ Suntec

The 5 of us
Me and sz wha
Ziyang and me

Next week I'm on leave!

Yet another week has passed. I am currently still in camp but will be booking out tomorrow and finally go on leave!!! But will still be coming back during my leave period though. And I will not be going Bangkok(again!) during Xmas, so yeah a sense of deja vu again. Anyone wanna meet up?

Just conducted a pretty fruitful journalling session with my new batch of guys. I was getting them to reflect after having gone for their NE tour this afternoon and one thing led to another and they were one by one voicing out the problems they were facing for the past one week plus and encouraging one another to co-operate. I know for a fact that people have been quarelling and some of them even threaten with their connections outside. I'm quite prepared to be the Ah Beng to counter the Ah bengs ...which is what I have always been doing. Anyway, let's see how they walk the talk subsequently.

Will be taking my driving test next week, so wish me luck=). Feeling quite ok and just pray that I have all the luck! Going for CT chalet too so hope to have fun too.

Haad a pretty good retreat the last 2 days. It was no doubt tiring, lasting the whole of 2 days and I had to run down to office to check this and that and even doing some work during lunch break. But it was a good experience and I did make some sort of an impact since I had a few chances to do some presentation and I was the youngest person there.

Had an interesting chat recently and came to terms with the fact that I have changed a lot over this year. Thought that my year in OCS would have changed me the most but coming here have changed the way I do things, the way I deal with people greatly. It was perhaps something I felt that I had to become in order to do what I wanted to do. Better soften myself when going to the outside world.

Busy day tomorrow, going home tomorrow.

My understudies come already!!!

2 new officers came today! Yeah my understudies are finally here!!! And both of them are from Delta wing! I think it's great that my junior batch has the same pride i had when I commissioned to wear the green beret. Counting down to ORD? Ok, must focus, still got lots of stuff to do. It's my duty to make sure that they learn what to do well.

Driving test soon. Think I am in pretty good shape now and really it all depends on the performance on that day itself. Certainly have confidence in my abilities. hehe

Why do I seem to be the only one been constantly piled with work? Ok maybe I am just exagerrating but I sometimes ask myself this question when I feel like I am the only one and no one else can help me do whatever I want to do. Prob some sort of compulsive behaviour. No doubt it is affecting my mood but I always tell myself I am working for the welfare of my men.

Ok, gotta sleep so this has to be a short post. Got retreat tomorrow and Friday. Ciao~

My 2nd yr in NS!!Happy 2nd anniversary!

Yup, I enlisted on this very day 2 years ago. How time flies. Gonna meet up with my BMT section mates soon, next week i think? God, been so long since I last saw them. Wonder how they've been doing.

Met a few groups of people last week. Had lunch with Zhen Hao, Wen Fang and June last Sunday which was a sort of homecoming party for June since this is the first time she returned since going off to study in Australia. Then, met up with my class peeps like Ziyang, Sz Wha, Shen Zhi and Weilin. Got a souvenir from ZY cuz he went Wallaby and a postcard from SW after she returned from the Sea Games. Poor girl, came so agonisingly close to winning a medal. Well, it's the experience that matters the most anyway. Anyway, ate at this Vietnamnese restaurant called Pho House at Suntec. God, the food reminded me of Laos and I found the food too exotic for my liking. A little apprehensive about trying exotic food in the future. It was fun talking to them and making fun of the girls, like when Shen Zhi dropped her Ez-Link and I lied to her about not picking it up.hehe

Had yet another enlistment ceremony on Thursday. The people are getting super kan cheong. The whole thing is supposed to start at around 0830 and the first parents came at 0720. God! Luckily I anticipated this to happen. It went ok, thank god and at the end of it, parents came to shake our hands, prompting my boss to comment that it seems we were organising a wedding where people came to congratulate at the end of the ceremony=).

Went to one of my ex-recruit's 21st birthday party. Ate the mango cake, the second time I dared to eat mango in a year.*shudder* Anyway, it made me think of some interesting things. Firstly, the cake was in the shape of a key. People say that is to symbolise the key to success in life. Then, a 21st birthday party is a must-have, cuz in weilin's words,"to make as many people know you are turning 21 so that you can chu ren tou di." Which makes me think about my impending 21st birthday. My mom kept asking me whether I want to do anything, and frankly speaking, I don't know. To me, it's no big deal and I really don't have the energy to want to organise one. And to invite various groups of people and having to go round entertainng them is tedious. Been to several parties and notice that the birthday boy/gal has to go round and mingle with the different groups of friends. That is something I don't realy want to do cuz it's my special day, so why should I make myself so tired. Well, I won't make any conclusive statement cuz I really dunno what i will do.

Ok, a new week is starting and a really busy one somemore. Hope everything turns out fine. Ciao~

Happy 2nd Anniversary in NS!!!

Ok, have posted some photos and there are few more to go. Cant finish uploading cuz of my slow inet connection. Will do it some time later when I come home. Wonder when will that be?

Darius, thanks for your encouragement=). My mom was not willing to fork out the money too. Boy am I glad ...haha

Hey Melvin, great to see you here! Boy do time flies real fast. As I am preparing for an enlistment on thursday, I will be celebrating my 2nd year in NS. Enlisted on 11th Dec 2003. Makes me think back of the fun times with Foxtrot platoon 2, especially section 4! We were the section that always do our work and kept our bunk in tip-top condition. And company best was from our section too! Well, Ernest has signed on for those who don't know yet. Section 4, shall we meet up soon? And happy 2nd anniversary to ya all!!!

A year ago, I was in Brunei, prob getting ready for Ex Chillhermit, the 6 days jungle survival exercise. Was a little miffed that I spent my first year in army with someone I didnt like. Will never forget what happened. As those who don't know, don't offend me real bad cuz I will remember it for life. Anyway, it's been a year and I have yet to overcome my fear of mangoes. For those ignorant of this, I used to love to eat mangoes. After JCC, I basically swore myself off mangoes. You can't blame me, especially after eating maggots-infested mangoes for 6 days as your ONLY source of food. Serious.

Ok, time to plonk myself down to work. Will be working my butts out these few days. In the meantime, enjoy the photos.

POP Parade

They started marching from here ...
Ended up here
They formed up for the march in ...And then ...
From recruits ...
To Privates! My boss is standing there on the dias.

The PT team

Warming up for the exercise
Jumping jacks, Infinity counts of 4!
Doing the Henta Kaki song

POP skit

The guy wearing the uniform is doing a parody of me
KNOCK IT DOWN!!!
Making a fool of themselves. Sorry gotta be honest.
Someone falling into the water
Being scolded by the seargent

Busy time ahead ...no weekend for next 2 weekends

A relaxing weekend to saviour before a busy period starts yet again. You will see less blogging and me less online. Ok that sounds grammatically wrong. Thurs is another "big day". Hopefully I have done all prep. Going to have some new system in place which I disagree but let's see how things turn out. Pity those coming in, they must be feeling horrible. It's like almost 2 years since I enlisted around the same period too. Not sure whether I am ready to take the next batch cuz it is so physically and emotionally sapping.

Just finished my second book of the lull, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. A great book which I wanted to read since secondary school days. Did not disappoint. And I take back my words about Never Let Me Go. The ending was powerful man.

Got my 2nd offer from Leeds this week. Looks like the more prestigious ones are taking their time. And I am going to give up Oxford cuz I cant take the test. NTU also send me a letter. How do I go about telling them I want to give up my place there? Can anyone pls enlighten me?

Oh yeah, will be going Bangkok over Xmas with my family and my cousins. Sorry my fellow CT councillors for not being around on Xmas eve for our annual gathering. Probably can do some CNY shopping for clothes.

Oh yeah forgot to add this many a times. Amanda, the cousin I have been tutoring, got 240 for her PSLE. Well, at least I know I have not done any damage. But it was somewhat beyond expectation, so everyone's pleased about it. At least my Saturday afternoons were not wasted.

Lots of things happening this month for me: enlistment, retreat, chalet(looking forward to the mahjong ...man do I miss that!), driving test(finger crossed), trip to Bangkok, range. Hoping to squeeze time to do all these and meet my friends too.