Have been neglecting my blog for a long time, as well as my outdated profile. >_< (nvm I've updated alr) Another longer-than-usual weekend just passed, due to the half-day on friday. It was racial harmony day and didn't expect there was no lessons on that "not-very-important" day. Had a CO parade and some telematch games, which I evaded participation, hehe. For now, I just have to look forward to National Day, which is sadly right smack in the middle of the week, sian. Not forgetting to mention my practical test on the next day, double sian...
Had an upsetting experience last week, which I dun wish to mention. It's a long story. Apologies to those who were pulled into involvement. The problem isn't resolved yet, but I wonder if I would regret my actions in the future. 'It's pointless to force oneself to do something that one doesn't like'...ideally this statement is quite true but then this does not usually apply in our real life.
The 2nd stage of my Japanese lessons has just commenced! Wee...so excited! Sugoku omoshiroi! However the first lesson was pretty boring, that's what happens when I self-study too much, haha.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Weekend Joy
It had been an interesting weekend, which started from friday night. Went with my band juniors for dinner at a japanese restaurant. Probably the first time eating at a proper jap restaurant (the sushi ones weren't counted). Ordered soba, which is some kind of noodles dipped into a sauce and eaten. Not bad lah, however I'm not very used to the sweet-salty-spicy taste of most japanese sauces. The soba set I ordered came with some sushi too, the fish tasted a bit weird...lol.
Went to school to receive an award for my outstanding A lvl results on saturday! Reported 45 min late >_>, cos i misread the time as 1 hour later. Tried to get a cab but eventually gave up after several attempts and took bus instead. This is probably the very last gathering of the 04 batch, but unfortunately most of my classmates who were invited for the event did not turn up, leaving only 3 ppl (including me) in my class present. The other 2 went off with their own friends =(. So lonely, meandering among the crowd aimlessly haiz. Anyway the award is a plaque with the HCI crest and my name inscribed on it, luv luv!!!
Watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2 yesterday. Clearly remember the time when I watched the 1st series at Junction 8 after my O lvl prelims 3 years ago, with the same friends, haha. (the 3rd series, alr filmed, will be aired next year) A very exciting movie! But still dun really understand certain plot despite staying awake throughout the entire duration of the movie, unlike others >_>. Ate at Carls Jr after that, their huge burgers are delicious! Shld have taken more advantage of the free flow of drinks...
Went to school to receive an award for my outstanding A lvl results on saturday! Reported 45 min late >_>, cos i misread the time as 1 hour later. Tried to get a cab but eventually gave up after several attempts and took bus instead. This is probably the very last gathering of the 04 batch, but unfortunately most of my classmates who were invited for the event did not turn up, leaving only 3 ppl (including me) in my class present. The other 2 went off with their own friends =(. So lonely, meandering among the crowd aimlessly haiz. Anyway the award is a plaque with the HCI crest and my name inscribed on it, luv luv!!!
Watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2 yesterday. Clearly remember the time when I watched the 1st series at Junction 8 after my O lvl prelims 3 years ago, with the same friends, haha. (the 3rd series, alr filmed, will be aired next year) A very exciting movie! But still dun really understand certain plot despite staying awake throughout the entire duration of the movie, unlike others >_>. Ate at Carls Jr after that, their huge burgers are delicious! Shld have taken more advantage of the free flow of drinks...
Monday, July 10, 2006
Vroom
The weekend guard duty went quite fine. Only 2 turnouts, plus the DOS is my instructor and the DO is very caring. I was not involved in the final turnout with the DO cos I was doing sentry at that time. Haha, so lucky! Guard duty is not tiring, but extremely sian. Felt that I've wasted 24 hrs of my life doing pratically nothing. Merely stand, eat and sleep. Really pity RPs.
Went for a spin in my friend's car yesterday. He's really a pro in driving. The way he handles the car is just so perfect, felt so safe and comfortable sitting in his car. =) Very motivated now to improve my driving skills. But how I wish I've my own car and able to drive my friends ard...
As for the world cup finals, I dun support either team, so I'll always be happy for the team who won. After visiting the forums, it seems that the limelight is not on Italy's victory, but rather Zidane's headbutt. >_> Saw many parody of the incident, like this GIF: http://francefighter.ytmnd.com/ -_____-
Went for a spin in my friend's car yesterday. He's really a pro in driving. The way he handles the car is just so perfect, felt so safe and comfortable sitting in his car. =) Very motivated now to improve my driving skills. But how I wish I've my own car and able to drive my friends ard...
As for the world cup finals, I dun support either team, so I'll always be happy for the team who won. After visiting the forums, it seems that the limelight is not on Italy's victory, but rather Zidane's headbutt. >_> Saw many parody of the incident, like this GIF: http://francefighter.ytmnd.com/ -_____-
Friday, July 07, 2006
Guard Duty
Just did my first guard duty at Gloucester Camp from yesterday night to this morning, a new experience for me. It's a very small camp in charge of supply and transport, thus there is few human and vehicle traffic going in and out the camp. Made my job as a sentry much easier. The camp is so small that the prowlers only took abt 10 min to complete a round even when walking slowly.
The guard comm was quite nice, however the DO was not. Even the guard comm shook his head in dismay when he realised who the DO was for the day, and exclaimed, "Out of so many days in July why must it be him today?!" Made us so stressed lor, haha. He told us to be mentally prepared and get ready for sudden and multiple turnouts in the middle of the night >_<.
Learnt and rehearsed several types of turnout. Dun like the truncheon drill cos the plastic shield is so heavy, my arm will ache even when holding it in proper position for just a while.
Got to meet the DO during the staff parade and I could see that he was not very friendly. It was like being forced to do sth that one would not like to do. Also got scolded for things that I was not told or briefed of by the guard comm. Not his fault cos he was under that DO for the first time and did not know his standards. After a gruelling 1 and half hour, we could finally go back to our normal duties and rest. So suay that all these happened during my 4-hour rest (since I took the first shift from 1800 to 2000).
When I took the 2nd shift from 0000 to 0200, the guard comm warned me abt the DO coming out from his room at the 3rd level walking down to the guardhouse to call for a turnout. From the sentry's point, the main (and only) building is in entire view and anyone outside the corridor can be easily seen, hehe. Soon after, I saw the DO walking along the corridor and down the stairs, so scary! Informed the guard comm who told me to observe him further. Fortunately he just went to switch off the lights of a room at the 2nd level, then went back to his room again, phew! He never came out since then.
2 hours seemed like forever when the sky is totally dark throughout the shift and nothing happened. Got sick of staring the same scene. When my shift finally ended, I went to have a good sleep (though the bed and pillow sucks) till the next morning. Yay, that means no turnout! I guess the DO was not willing to sacrifice his sleep for some silly turnout. Carried out my last sentry shift in the morning before falling out for guard rest. =)
Sadly my next guard duty would be...tomorrow! Fast indeed. The guard duty schedule is really screwed up. Reporting tmr morning and will be dismissed on sunday morning, 24 hours...haiz, twice as long as yesterday's one. I wonder how do I survive this one...
Finally received my cover-all! The technician wear lah, the one where top and bottom are connected to form one big piece of clothing. Feels very airy and empty around the hip area, haha. Now I feel more like a technician. =P
The guard comm was quite nice, however the DO was not. Even the guard comm shook his head in dismay when he realised who the DO was for the day, and exclaimed, "Out of so many days in July why must it be him today?!" Made us so stressed lor, haha. He told us to be mentally prepared and get ready for sudden and multiple turnouts in the middle of the night >_<.
Learnt and rehearsed several types of turnout. Dun like the truncheon drill cos the plastic shield is so heavy, my arm will ache even when holding it in proper position for just a while.
Got to meet the DO during the staff parade and I could see that he was not very friendly. It was like being forced to do sth that one would not like to do. Also got scolded for things that I was not told or briefed of by the guard comm. Not his fault cos he was under that DO for the first time and did not know his standards. After a gruelling 1 and half hour, we could finally go back to our normal duties and rest. So suay that all these happened during my 4-hour rest (since I took the first shift from 1800 to 2000).
When I took the 2nd shift from 0000 to 0200, the guard comm warned me abt the DO coming out from his room at the 3rd level walking down to the guardhouse to call for a turnout. From the sentry's point, the main (and only) building is in entire view and anyone outside the corridor can be easily seen, hehe. Soon after, I saw the DO walking along the corridor and down the stairs, so scary! Informed the guard comm who told me to observe him further. Fortunately he just went to switch off the lights of a room at the 2nd level, then went back to his room again, phew! He never came out since then.
2 hours seemed like forever when the sky is totally dark throughout the shift and nothing happened. Got sick of staring the same scene. When my shift finally ended, I went to have a good sleep (though the bed and pillow sucks) till the next morning. Yay, that means no turnout! I guess the DO was not willing to sacrifice his sleep for some silly turnout. Carried out my last sentry shift in the morning before falling out for guard rest. =)
Sadly my next guard duty would be...tomorrow! Fast indeed. The guard duty schedule is really screwed up. Reporting tmr morning and will be dismissed on sunday morning, 24 hours...haiz, twice as long as yesterday's one. I wonder how do I survive this one...
Finally received my cover-all! The technician wear lah, the one where top and bottom are connected to form one big piece of clothing. Feels very airy and empty around the hip area, haha. Now I feel more like a technician. =P
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Days ahead
Currently taking private driving 'lessons' from my parents, by familiarising myself with their bigger car. How I wish I can drive alone without guidance, but then my parents are worried abt the safety of both the car and me, hehe.
Asked the female SSG from my class abt why she wants to sign on to SAF. One of her reasons was the belief of being able to make trustworthy friends in the army, whereas in the outside working world it's very difficult to make true lifelong friends. Upon hearing her reply, it makes me wonder if the reality is indeed as cruel as she described. I'm taking a business course recently and I've begun to understand why she said that. Though the ppl guiding me along the course are very friendly, somehow I dun really trust them and even felt some were rather hypocritical. Always have an uneasy feeling whenever I attend the course, however I've paid for it so might as well attempt to gain as much skills and knowledge as possible. Might even end up like them in the future, haha...I'll never know...
Glad to announce that I'll be able to watch the world cup finals freely without the need to report to camp the next day! Yup, the following monday will be given to us as a 1-day leave! The instructors are supposed to be busy with a course on that day, but I think this decision is affected by the world cup finals in one way or another. Heard some companies are giving their employees a half day off on monday too, where they only report to work in the afternoon. Coincidentally, Yong Feng will be able to watch the finals with ease too. Seems like there is some world cup welfare going on here. >_> Schools unfortunately dun get to enjoy this benefit, hehe, youth day is 1 week too early :p
Haiz, 2 days of guard duty this week. My saturday is gone =( Pirates of the Caribbean anyone?
Asked the female SSG from my class abt why she wants to sign on to SAF. One of her reasons was the belief of being able to make trustworthy friends in the army, whereas in the outside working world it's very difficult to make true lifelong friends. Upon hearing her reply, it makes me wonder if the reality is indeed as cruel as she described. I'm taking a business course recently and I've begun to understand why she said that. Though the ppl guiding me along the course are very friendly, somehow I dun really trust them and even felt some were rather hypocritical. Always have an uneasy feeling whenever I attend the course, however I've paid for it so might as well attempt to gain as much skills and knowledge as possible. Might even end up like them in the future, haha...I'll never know...
Glad to announce that I'll be able to watch the world cup finals freely without the need to report to camp the next day! Yup, the following monday will be given to us as a 1-day leave! The instructors are supposed to be busy with a course on that day, but I think this decision is affected by the world cup finals in one way or another. Heard some companies are giving their employees a half day off on monday too, where they only report to work in the afternoon. Coincidentally, Yong Feng will be able to watch the finals with ease too. Seems like there is some world cup welfare going on here. >_> Schools unfortunately dun get to enjoy this benefit, hehe, youth day is 1 week too early :p
Haiz, 2 days of guard duty this week. My saturday is gone =( Pirates of the Caribbean anyone?
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Passed!
Yay, passed my driving test on the 2nd try today! So happy, though I understand that my skills are still rather shaky. But practice makes perfect and my parents' car is readily available for practising, haha. Hope I dun get involved in any accident and get my license revoked. Now that there is no instructor to guide me along I feel more nervous... and there is no additional brake at the front passenger seat to do a emergency brake should I commit any serious mistakes. I dun know how to park a car without poles and how to drive effectively on the expressways in order not to cause any inconvenience to others. I guess the real challenge begins from here.
My first test was quite screwed up. Had an immediate failure by mounting kerb at crank course. (Now that I think of it this mistake was so stupid) It was caused by moving too fast when turning. Also, I moved at many times when I was supposed to stop and wait. Haiz, that's the result of being impatient. 30 demerit points in the end, totally unacceptable.
So this time, I learnt how to move slowly in the circuit and stop to check more often than before. No mistakes for the circuit courses. =) However I made the tester impatient and he penalised me for delay in moving off and unnecessary stopping, haha. Better be safe then sorry. Very lucky to get the same test route as the first time. (1/10 probability of that happening) And the route was very easy, added to the fact that the roads were very empty. Really empty such that I can switch lanes with ease. No pedestrians and taxis to give me heart attack also. Felt the route was very short, cos it was so smooth. Morale increased when I drove back to the driving centre, but after which was scolded by tester for not following his instructions >_> (not impt).
Throughout the test the tester din even take out the checklist to tick, probably memorised all the mistakes I made. >_> Back into the tester room, he took out the list and started ticking like crazy, my heart sank. Then he flipped to the back page and wrote '12' and ticked 'passed'. Hurray, I made it! Quite a close shave. The tester walked off hurriedly without discussing the mistakes with me (-__-)... Nvm, I think I knew what went wrong.
Went to settle all the admin stuff after that and now I can officially drive a car! Though I haven't got a proper license yet...
Much thanks to the OETI instructors who let us off early for the past 3 days so that I can make it in time for my evening revision driving lessons!
My first test was quite screwed up. Had an immediate failure by mounting kerb at crank course. (Now that I think of it this mistake was so stupid) It was caused by moving too fast when turning. Also, I moved at many times when I was supposed to stop and wait. Haiz, that's the result of being impatient. 30 demerit points in the end, totally unacceptable.
So this time, I learnt how to move slowly in the circuit and stop to check more often than before. No mistakes for the circuit courses. =) However I made the tester impatient and he penalised me for delay in moving off and unnecessary stopping, haha. Better be safe then sorry. Very lucky to get the same test route as the first time. (1/10 probability of that happening) And the route was very easy, added to the fact that the roads were very empty. Really empty such that I can switch lanes with ease. No pedestrians and taxis to give me heart attack also. Felt the route was very short, cos it was so smooth. Morale increased when I drove back to the driving centre, but after which was scolded by tester for not following his instructions >_> (not impt).
Throughout the test the tester din even take out the checklist to tick, probably memorised all the mistakes I made. >_> Back into the tester room, he took out the list and started ticking like crazy, my heart sank. Then he flipped to the back page and wrote '12' and ticked 'passed'. Hurray, I made it! Quite a close shave. The tester walked off hurriedly without discussing the mistakes with me (-__-)... Nvm, I think I knew what went wrong.
Went to settle all the admin stuff after that and now I can officially drive a car! Though I haven't got a proper license yet...
Much thanks to the OETI instructors who let us off early for the past 3 days so that I can make it in time for my evening revision driving lessons!
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