Happy 40th Birthday Singapore!

Singapore celebrated her first National Day on the 9th of August 1966 exactly a year after she gained independence from Malaysia. About NDP.

Hmm? Military personnel can’t even have the chance to stay at home to watch the live telecast of the National Day Parade? haiz… why? Tomorrow is Singapore’s 40th birthday and we Liaison cadets have to book-in into camp at 1915 just to prepare stores for the following day’s outfield exercise. It is so sickening. I can’t even celebrate with Singapore on her special day. We are from SAF… man…

This morning I had a 4 hours long test. From 1030 to 1430, without lunch break. I am so engross in my test that my hunger sense seems to have not being able to reach my brain. There must be traffic jams in my 2 tiny brains. The test I had is the most important test I had to take and I just hope I will pass this. I had never failed any test yet, but they were only barely passing by a few marks.

tata…

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A Half Full Day

Is it a half day or a full day rehearsal? We were kept for almost 2 hours in camp for the AI, Artillery Institute, parade rehearsal. It was quite boring and dragging and I did not put in my fullest effort in the rehearsal, to be frank.

How many people got the chance to wear their No. 1 attire for parade? I am proud to be able to wear that in SAFTI parade square for my commissioning day on 1st October. We went to draw our No. 1, for those who are not tailoring theirs, and accessories for both No. 1 and 2. At that time, I realized that I have to put in more effort, not in the AI parade rehearsal, but to lose more weight. I can’t get the right size for my pants! A lot of the pants sizes are so small that I am wondering why the cadets, who wore those, were so thin. I think they suffered a lot… hee… Luckily, there are sizes for my top.

Drawing of the No. 1 and 2 already took us about 2 hours. By the time we booked-out, it was about 2pm. And we hadn’t had our lunch yet! I was very hungry. What makes it worst is that CPT Lam wanted us to do area cleaning and standby area before we are allowed to book-out. Why gunnery instructors are like that? Yesterday 2LT Chan, today, CPT Lam. But today is not as bad, at least CPT Lam never conduct the standby for long. He just walked along the corridor door, peeped into our rooms, and inspected only a few rooms and calls it a day. That’s the way.

Time is precious, never waste time on unnecessary stuffs.

tata…

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Terrible Night

By right, today is a day when we can book-out early without dinner indented for us. But by left, don’t know who the stupid person is who indented dinner and we have to book out late.

This whole day is quite a slacking day. In the morning, we did our area cleaning. Some of us went to help to do Signal and Optics stores, some went to the cadet store to help out. Until around 10am, we went for our vaccination at the Medical Centre because we will be going to Thailand for Live Firing. After lunch, we had a briefing by LTC Yeo, whom is our head of liaison, so call boss, about the inconsistency of teaching by the instructors. We clarified with him some of our doubts and got a confirmation on the correct teachings.

Then, the lesson dragged on, now by MAJ Desmond, on our examination brief and revision. He gave us a lot of tips about the test and bet with us 5 cartons of can drinks if we only had 0-4 failures in our course. If there are 5 or more failures, each of us has to buy the instructors 1 can of drink. MAJ Desmond is actually quite a nice person. Expecting a child in a few months time, I congratulate him. He was our Syndicate DS during our first exercise and he gave us quite a lot of welfare. Respected us and teaches us with patience. Even though he was with us for only 1 week out of 2 because he was sick, we learned from him a lot during the first week.

During the evening, we went for a quick run around the camp and had a game of Frisbee. Quite sad to see him sitting alone at the stairs, watching us play for half an hour. After the game, we are expected to get ready for the standby area and to book out. But don’t know who the person is to indent the dinner. No choice we had to consume them.

FA group are back from Kranji to join us. We were told that they will be booking out with us. But in the end, they book out while we had our Frisbee game.

Today’s Duty Officer, DO, is 2LT Chan. I really hate him. He dragged our book-out timing. Our standby area lasted for almost an hour, all because he is having ‘PMS’. By the time I walk out of the gate, it was already 2010hrs. Sucks. Tomorrow we still have the AI parade rehearsal early in the morning and we booked-out so late. I hate him.

I have nothing to say… Never ever be bad to your men, or else they will hate you. Be considerate and understand your men feelings. The worst thing that will happen to you is when your men turn their backs on you. Terrible.

tata...

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Heal the World - Michael Jackson

spoken:
Think about the generations and to say we want to make it a better
world for our children and our children's children. So that they know
it's a better world for them; and think if they can make it a better
place.


There's a place in your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place could be much
Brighter than tomorrow.
And if you really try
You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel
There's no hurt or sorrow.
There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space, make a better place.

Chorus:
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.


If you want to know why
There's a love that cannot lie
Love is strong
It only cares for joyful giving.
If we try we shall see
In this bliss we cannot feel
Fear or dread
We stop existing and start living
Then it feels that always
Love's enough for us growing
Make a better world, make a better world.

Chorus:
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race.
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.

Bridge:
And the dream we would conceived in
Will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in
Will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life
Wound this earth, crucify it's soul
Though it's plain to see, this world is heavenly
Be God's glow.


We could fly so high
Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel
You are all my brothers
Create a world with no fear
Together we'll cry happy tears
See the nations turn
Their swords into plowshares
We could really get there
If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space to make a better place.

Chorus:
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.

Refrain (2x)


There are people dying if you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me.
There are people dying if you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me.

You and for me / Make a better place
You and for me / Make a better place
You and for me / Make a better place
You and for me / Heal the world we live in
You and for me / Save it for our children
You and for me / Heal the world we live in
You and for me / Save it for our children
You and for me / Heal the world we live in
You and for me / Save it for our children
You and for me / Heal the world we live in
You and for me / Save it for our children

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Need a new life

It is almost a year I am in the army and nothing seems to have changed my impression of the way things are managed in there. Terrible.

All sorts of people can be seen in there. Friendly ones, lazy ones, backstabbers and many more. Be sure to know who to be with.

Another 2 months and I will be commissioned. It is neither long nor short. Unexpected things might happen during the following 61 days. I had never ever thought of wearing my No. 1 marching in the SAFTI parade square. During this course, I had tried to put in every effort in me to work towards that day. At first, I was in SAFTI Charlie Wing training as an Infantry Officer. Being not physically very fit, I was afraid that I might not be able to make it to that day. But not in Artillery, I have to face another challenge or many challenges during the 23 weeks course. Test and presentation were required during this period. Lectures and more lectures are unavoidable. Those remind me of my secondary school and poly days. But at least I was happy to have them during those younger days. At least I was studying something which I like during poly. But in army, I had no choice but to study and study what I do not like. I always hoped the day I end my liability to serve the army comes sooner and faster.

Reading Harry Potter books and architectural magazines keep me alive since I am enlisted into army. They are part of my soul and body. Neither can separate from me. My life depends on them. By the way, I finished reading the 6th book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Want a spoiler who the Half-Blood Prince is and who died and who killed the person? Be warn of the spoiler below –

----= Spoiler =----

Severus Snape is the Half-Blood Prince. Being half-blood himself, he invented himself that name from his pure-blood mother’s last name, Eileen Prince. His father, a muggle named Tobias Snape.

Severus Snape killed Albus Dumbledore using the Unforgivable Curse, Avada Kedavra. His last word being ‘Severus… please…’

----= Spoiler =----

It is a very sad ending from the author. The 7th book is going be a book worth waiting to find out what will happen to Harry and the story after Albus Dumbledore’s death. 2 or more years of wait, I am very eager to look forward for that last, or is it, 7th book.

tata…

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Harry Potter and Yoke Chye Part II

Since last week after I bought my Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince book, I have not parted it ever since. I had already finished ¾ of the book and I am enjoying it very much.

Even though I had exercises every day from morning until late night, I will try to read it whenever I had the time, even when I am doing my “business”. hee…

Surprise to see me here today? Well, my course has being given nights out till 2315. Oh my, look at the time now, I have to go. My Harry Potter book is calling me! hee…

tata…

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A sleepy weekend

It should be a week of nothing but Harry Potter. But my time with the new book was cut short due to the lost in the fight against the powerful Z monster.

I slept at around 2am in the morning after reading a few pages of the new book this morning. Then, I woke up at 7.40am and got myself prepared to meet Jian Yong and Weijian, my BMT platoon mates, for breakfast at Bukit Merah. We wanted to have a try on a famous Soon Kuay made from real bamboo shoot. It was indeed quite nice. Later, we went to Queensway Shopping Centre, which is only opposite of the store, to make photocopies of my army stuffs. Photocopying into transparency is quite expensive, at 60cents per piece. At 11am Sunday morning, the shops are yet to open in Queensway; therefore we decided to go our own ways. Taking public transport and doing nothing but looking at strangers is the most boring things to do. Now that I have my new Harry Potter book, it will be my company until I finished the whole book.

Up to now, I finished almost 4 chapters. The story and plot is getting more in depth and exciting that I cannot stop myself from closing the book. But as I was reading, I have to fight against the Z monster that is haunting me since this morning. After a fierce battle, I was defeated and I fell asleep on the couch in my living room for almost 2 hours before I force myself to wake up. Today is a very sleepy day.

I hate to read small quotes which revealed the most wanted part of the book. Yesterday, Yap, send me 2 paragraphs from the last chapter of the book revealing who died. To my disapproval, I could not believe I read it, and to my horror, I somehow could not accept the fact that the person who died was…

It is time to pack my stuffs for booking-in tonight. Later, my family and I are going to my maternal grandmother’s house for dinner. It had being months I last step foot in her house.

tata...

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Harry Potter and Yoke Chye

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have finally arrived. Released on this morning Singapore time 7am, people all over the world got their hands on the new series, book 6. From children to adults, the wait was finally over. Tearing off the plastic wrapping from the book, the smell of the new printed book from ancient-forest friendly paper is sensational. Opening the book releases glimpses of golden light waiting for everyone to explore deeper to its source. Who is the Half-Blood Prince? That is for you to find out, for me to know. Anyway, I only started to read the first few pages of the book a few hours ago.

Now, let us immense into the world of Harry Potter one more time and await for the last book, book 7, to be released in a few years time.

tata…

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Changes in life

Why here and not there? Why am I so unlucky to be posted to Liaison for FO training? Those were complains which I made during the day I received my posting. But today, I realized that it is actually not a bad place to be.

Being a FO may be a good thing, also can be a bad idea. Camouflage on the face sucks. Road marches with infantry shag. That was some of the low things being a FO. But when there are no exercises, we do not have many things to do. Training phrase is not only the most enjoyable, but also physically and mentally stress. Friends in FA (Field Artillery) learning the advance weapon systems at Kranji, they are doing quite well there. Living conditions over there is also much better than in Khatib. With water heater in the shower room, where can you find that in other unit camps in Singapore? Not even in the newly renovated block FATA (Field Artillery Target Acquisition) is using has one.

From “intelligences” report, FATA cadets are training with some officers, including a Captain among them. They had out field every week. One of them they went this week was physically tiring. They said that it was even tiring than our Ex. Safari. One out field of theirs is equivalent to the whole Ex. Safari. Now, I thank CPT Helen to post me to Liaison. But my wish to join the FA group will also never be met.

I had being appointed as my Syndicate IC while Tian Hai was appointed as the CC2IC (Cadet Course 2IC). It's quite easy actually to manage such a small group.

Lessons this week was all introductory. Nothing much was thought to us in detail. Until now, I am still in a confused state of what was thought to us, just like what happened during the first week, 10 weeks ago, in FAOCC common phrase. One of the instructors told us that some of them did manage to see only “some light” during the day they commission. Hmm… sounds bad a?

Anyway, posted or not posted to Liaison, I still have to strive on and continue to work hard for my big day on 1st October 2005. That is the day I am looking forward.

Yesterday went out with my syndicate mates for Dim Sum lunch buffet at Harbor Front. Wow… I ate until I feel like throwing up. Then later, I went to City Hall to meet Chee Yong and we stayed there to watch the SAF Color and Guard of Honor (GOH) Contingents march pass. Later on, we went Suntec City. I bought an Aiwa portable speaker which does not need any power source from Carrefour. It cost $39, though a bit expensive but the design looks nice. Then, we went to meet Yong Kang, Jenny, Suann and Karen at the food court and had our dinner. I did not eat though as I still feel full and not hungry at all. Night is still young, and we went to TCC (The Coffee Connoisseur) at Clark Quay for a drink. The atmosphere there was great, with architecture and design books to read, it was a sensation. The last time I went with my poly friends, we did not managed to stay there because the whole place was crowded. It was a very long time I had met Karen, not even the last time she came to Singapore. She still looks the same though. Seeing Kang and Karen together, reminds me of some events during my secondary school days, bringing some old memories back. Well, many things are unpredictable. What was supposed to be impossible in the past now becomes a reality. Life is full of surprises isn’t it? Just like mine.

Until now, I am still single, for how long already? I forgot. When will I ever had a partner? That will be, for you to find out, for me to know.

tata…

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No time no time

Aiyah… got no time to write anything now. Just an short update… I am now in my specialize phrase in Artillery. Guess what, I am training as an FO (Forward Observer). That was my third choice out of the 3 to choose from. What luck I am getting these few days? But one thing which made me feel better is that I passed my SOC. Even though my timing had dropped by almost 40sec, I do not mind as long as I passed it. No more SOC until I commission! Got to book-in to camp already.

tata…

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