September is approaching and there is a reason why I am looking forward to it. My completion of 1 year of national service! Someone told me once, after your 1st year, counting down to your ORD (Operational Ready Date) becomes more realistic.
Participated in today's Army Half Marathon. It was quite a satisfying bay run although running with a backpack was kind of a hassle. I didn't deposit my belongings at the counter because the queue was insane.
More runs coming up next week, my battalion out-camp run and RSAF annv run.
Till then. =)
August 26, 2007
August 12, 2007
Corrinne May's Beautiful Seed
Last week was perhaps one of the best weeks in my stay here. 1.5 days off as a post-audit celebration, National Day and lastly, ADOC (Air Defence and Operations Command) 1st Anniversary. All in all, I was only in camp on monday and wednesday morning.
My unit audit was finally over! For the past few weeks, I have been working past my working hours, setting things right unorthodoxly. Yeah, to see regulars tremble in the presence of the auditors is quite a sight to behold.
Attended Corrinne May's concert - Beautiful Seed, at NUS University Cultural Centre. Her new songs didn't really leave much of an impression, but the more you listen, the more it grows on you. She is just as appealing as before. :)
Anyway, while collecting my tickets for "Hostel: Part 2", a R21 movie, the counter staff asked for my identification. I was grinning at myself for that. =)
My unit audit was finally over! For the past few weeks, I have been working past my working hours, setting things right unorthodoxly. Yeah, to see regulars tremble in the presence of the auditors is quite a sight to behold.
Attended Corrinne May's concert - Beautiful Seed, at NUS University Cultural Centre. Her new songs didn't really leave much of an impression, but the more you listen, the more it grows on you. She is just as appealing as before. :)
Anyway, while collecting my tickets for "Hostel: Part 2", a R21 movie, the counter staff asked for my identification. I was grinning at myself for that. =)
July 06, 2007
Promoted.
Working with people of your age but not of equal maturity can be a trying experience. A friendly request was met with a lengthy email filled with personal attacks and threats. I actually laughed when he wrote about his professionalism.
I might be new, but I am not one who gives up without a fight. Through this, I also realise the importance of positive relationship with your superiors, to put it blatantly, 关系 ('guanxi') in my line of work helps. I have 2 officers to silence my critic.
A lapse of 3 weeks, the promotion order is finally in.
I might be new, but I am not one who gives up without a fight. Through this, I also realise the importance of positive relationship with your superiors, to put it blatantly, 关系 ('guanxi') in my line of work helps. I have 2 officers to silence my critic.
A lapse of 3 weeks, the promotion order is finally in.
June 17, 2007
Father's Day dinner at Mooi Chin Restaurant
I'm burnt to a crisp after 4 days of parade rehearsals. It's finally over for me but not for my other course mates involved in SAF Day Parade. Gee, I thought it would be great if one day off can be granted for the effort we given in.
Had an early Father's Day celebration on Friday with my family at Mooi Chin Restaurant. The Hainanese fare they served is great and authentic. My parents have nothing but praises. We moved away from the usual order of Hainanese chicken, in fact, Singapore's Hainanese chicken is far from the real stuff.
Had an early Father's Day celebration on Friday with my family at Mooi Chin Restaurant. The Hainanese fare they served is great and authentic. My parents have nothing but praises. We moved away from the usual order of Hainanese chicken, in fact, Singapore's Hainanese chicken is far from the real stuff.
June 10, 2007
Run, swim, parade.
Yet another 'life in unit' post. Gee.
Last friday I had DAG LIFE run at East Coast Park, it was a 5km run with participants from units under Divisional Air Defence Group.
I haven't been running such distance since my training days in School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC), but I hold up pretty well. Had breakfast with ex-coursemates and later headed for a swim. Exercising has this 'feels good' effect on me, gee.
Attended James' commissioning parade on Saturday with Ivan, ha, reminds me of my passing out parade back in Tekong, albeit less glamour. Ran into a couple of friends, ex-coursemates from SISPEC, secondary school friends, and poly friends. Abel and Eng Kee were there too. I still remember we were so crazy back then, ha. Took a few photos with sir, 2LT James.
Next week will be the start of BOS (Battalion Orderly Sergeant) duty, gonna see most of my saturdays or sundays 'burnt' staying in camp, idling (No kidding).
Last friday I had DAG LIFE run at East Coast Park, it was a 5km run with participants from units under Divisional Air Defence Group.
I haven't been running such distance since my training days in School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC), but I hold up pretty well. Had breakfast with ex-coursemates and later headed for a swim. Exercising has this 'feels good' effect on me, gee.
Attended James' commissioning parade on Saturday with Ivan, ha, reminds me of my passing out parade back in Tekong, albeit less glamour. Ran into a couple of friends, ex-coursemates from SISPEC, secondary school friends, and poly friends. Abel and Eng Kee were there too. I still remember we were so crazy back then, ha. Took a few photos with sir, 2LT James.
Next week will be the start of BOS (Battalion Orderly Sergeant) duty, gonna see most of my saturdays or sundays 'burnt' staying in camp, idling (No kidding).
June 03, 2007
emotionally weak
I'm leading a monotonous life in camp. I like a desk-bound job, but not in the army context. People here do not have good work ethics and I have a feeling I will be corrupted in the long run. I am going to plan out a schedule to keep myself fit, a 2.4km run twice every week and sweating it out in the unit's gym on every wednesday, our unit's sports and games day.
James commissioning this week, will be at SAFTI to grace his commissioning parade. Sir, permission to take picture with you? :)
James commissioning this week, will be at SAFTI to grace his commissioning parade. Sir, permission to take picture with you? :)
May 27, 2007
Vocation : Operations Specialist, Air Defender
Trainee's life is finally over. I am posted to camp as operations specialist, but in my opinion, I am just a overrated admin specialist during peacetime. I am posted to a different unit from all of my friends so it gets kinda bored. But my friends' unit is just a road across, so if I am desperately bored, I will just cross over and seek company if not I will just head to Northpoint and window shop or chill at Coffee Bean, after all, everyday is night's out for my unit until 2359 hours.
My bunk is beyond livable condition, floor layered with dirt and stains and closet still contain items from the last occupant. Will be spring cleaning with my buddy this week. Brought my own pillow (the one left behind is stained with sweat and god knows what) and will be bringing in hifi set and other misc stuff. If you think Im worse, my friends brought their personal TV.
To celebrate the end of my trainee's life, pampered myself with a new phone, Nokia E61.
Photo courtesy of infoSync
My bunk is beyond livable condition, floor layered with dirt and stains and closet still contain items from the last occupant. Will be spring cleaning with my buddy this week. Brought my own pillow (the one left behind is stained with sweat and god knows what) and will be bringing in hifi set and other misc stuff. If you think Im worse, my friends brought their personal TV.
To celebrate the end of my trainee's life, pampered myself with a new phone, Nokia E61.
Photo courtesy of infoSync
May 20, 2007
Air Force School, moving on.
After 3 months of training in Air Force School, it's time to move on. I will be graduating on tuesday and moving to my new camp the next day. On graduation day, I will be the emcee for the ceremony. It's a long story, but I was the backup emcee, then the secondary emcee, finally the main emcee.
I was told in-confidence about my posting during my end-of-course interview. It's not official yet, but I will be serving staff tour as operations specialist.
Will update more once I have more information, till then. =)
I was told in-confidence about my posting during my end-of-course interview. It's not official yet, but I will be serving staff tour as operations specialist.
Will update more once I have more information, till then. =)
Technorati Tags: national service
May 13, 2007
A series of fortunate events
Summary exercise is finally history!
It wasn't that terrible after all, especially when I am the platoon sergeant for the exercise. To say the least, a series of fortunate events (which I am not suppose to disclose), led to a toned down 2 days 1 night summary exercise at the comfort of my camp instead of outfield.
Another week more, I will be passing out from the school and be posted to Chong Pang camp for the rest of my NSF period. Don't really know what to expect of unit life as for the past 8 months I only been through training schools.
Celebrated Mother's Day with my family at Zui Fairprice Live Seafood Restaurant. Food was great, though a tad salty. One of the highlights was the coffee pork ribs. Tender and not overwhelmingly seasoned with coffee, absolutely delicious. :)
It wasn't that terrible after all, especially when I am the platoon sergeant for the exercise. To say the least, a series of fortunate events (which I am not suppose to disclose), led to a toned down 2 days 1 night summary exercise at the comfort of my camp instead of outfield.
Another week more, I will be passing out from the school and be posted to Chong Pang camp for the rest of my NSF period. Don't really know what to expect of unit life as for the past 8 months I only been through training schools.
Celebrated Mother's Day with my family at Zui Fairprice Live Seafood Restaurant. Food was great, though a tad salty. One of the highlights was the coffee pork ribs. Tender and not overwhelmingly seasoned with coffee, absolutely delicious. :)
May 06, 2007
TB030 Gathering at Sushi-Tei
Last week's field camp was a terrible experience. I endured an endless spree of deployments and ceasefires for 2 days and 1 night with only 1 hour of sleep. Everyone's a walking zombie after the exercise.
The worse is not over, a 4 days 3 nights field camp coming this week.
Turn up for last week's class gathering at Sushi-Tei was great. After dinner, we chilled at Pacific Coffee Company, reminds me of the good ol' days back in polytechnic. Something worth mentioning, now we have a few teachers amongst us in TB030. :)
Here are some photos we took from the gathering.
The worse is not over, a 4 days 3 nights field camp coming this week.
Turn up for last week's class gathering at Sushi-Tei was great. After dinner, we chilled at Pacific Coffee Company, reminds me of the good ol' days back in polytechnic. Something worth mentioning, now we have a few teachers amongst us in TB030. :)
Here are some photos we took from the gathering.
Dinner at Sushi-Tei
Chill' out at Pacific Coffee Company, Vivo
April 29, 2007
A serene Sunday ..
Today is one of those days where I can sit in front of my desk, free of worries, going through mundane tasks. For the past few weeks, I have been reading up my trainee's manual like a bible, preparing for the almost weekly tests and finally, the final exam last week.
So settling down comfortably, I started clearing my mailbox. It's quite interesting looking through the email conversations I had, email exchanges between members of various project groups I had in Polytechnic, querying worryingly on my National Education graduation requirement which I did not met and much more issues that are part and parcel of tertiary life.
In that afternoon, I cleared 50 over emails.
Eve of Labour Day will be attending a mini gathering organised by Yi Quan at Vivocity's Sushi-Tei. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. :)
So settling down comfortably, I started clearing my mailbox. It's quite interesting looking through the email conversations I had, email exchanges between members of various project groups I had in Polytechnic, querying worryingly on my National Education graduation requirement which I did not met and much more issues that are part and parcel of tertiary life.
In that afternoon, I cleared 50 over emails.
Eve of Labour Day will be attending a mini gathering organised by Yi Quan at Vivocity's Sushi-Tei. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. :)
Technorati Tags: Tertiary life
April 15, 2007
AFS Mid-course updates
Approaching the 5th week of my weapon phase training in AFS, learnt much and frankly speaking, I quite like the place I'm in now. Sadly, another 4 weeks more of training, I will be posted to my unit.
I was tempted and decided to sign up for M1 Broadband yesterday. The installation on my Powerbook is fuss-free, within minutes, the internet is up and running. I would not have signed up if the wireless internet in my camp isn't down for upgrading indefinitely. Having your laptop with internet connectivity is the best thing in life for NSFs like me. :)
Went for Yao Sheng's 21st birthday last week, nice catching up with people from my course, especially the TB030 gang. Here's photo 'stolen' from Sharon's blog. :)
I was tempted and decided to sign up for M1 Broadband yesterday. The installation on my Powerbook is fuss-free, within minutes, the internet is up and running. I would not have signed up if the wireless internet in my camp isn't down for upgrading indefinitely. Having your laptop with internet connectivity is the best thing in life for NSFs like me. :)
Went for Yao Sheng's 21st birthday last week, nice catching up with people from my course, especially the TB030 gang. Here's photo 'stolen' from Sharon's blog. :)
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