Is this so lifeless?

Here I was in camp again opening my armskote. I seem to be mentally tired and I really need to unwind myself badly. Anything that does not concern work is unwinding, be it sleeping or playing games but I just don’t know why I just can’t stop working in front of the computer. Am I such workaholic?

Armskote and Admin

As planned, today I have to open armskote and I was late for flag rising. After flag rising, I had a buffet breakfast in the cookhouse. Though food wasn’t really that nice, at least I get to fill my tummy to full because on other days, we were only allowed one serving and the auntie will say “later not enough; cannot take already.”

Today is the second day that Zaini was sent to detention. As I can see from the men that I once lead, the mood of everyone is uncommon; the past cheerful and noisy men were quiet today. The man book out after lunch today and I still have to stay in camp to open armskote to allow the guards to send in their weapons. After closing my armskote, I tried to finish my unfinished matters, typing out the blog that I have not been doing. I even planned what’s for tomorrow’s PT in camp.

COS and Armskote

This morning was my turn to open Armskote and let the guards draw arms. I have to open the armskote 4 times a day, so irritating and boring at the same time. I took over COS from Terrance. This is his last duty before he ORD. I took over as early as 0700 hrs because Zaini, my 84 section man was charge with possession of live ammunition. The trail started since 0900 hrs and ended around 1900 hrs or later. I was not at the scene, I couldn’t get a very clear picture of what exactly is happening but all I know was, Zaini was panic and has forgotten most of the things that he is suppose to say.

There were tears rolling down from Zaini’s family and even some of my men teared as well because it was really a sad case. I won’t know if I can hold my tears if I am there with them, all I can say are the crying atmosphere was presence. Everyone carries a sad and moody face for the rest of the day.

Meantime while the trail was happening, I have been doing housekeeping for paper works and I notice that things were very messy. I had a hard time clearing up these stuffs and shredding away restricted documents.

During dinner time, I was asked to gather some man by my RSM to clean the canteen because the Army RSM is coming to our tear down camp for breakfast tomorrow! I was thinking why must he come and have breakfast here? This place is so tear down and had to maintain cleanliness. I manage to gather a few man and we swept the canteen together. On our way back, the Battalion Orderly Sergeant, my BMT buddy, told me that the Army RSM is not coming tomorrow but on the 12^th instead. Upon hearing that, we could see the ‘huh’ expression coming from our face. Well, my RSM saw the date wrongly. What to do, what’s done is done but what I can say is that he is grateful for the help offered.

Early bird are always rewarded with good things

Today is the start of Protection Of Installation. As early as 0300 hrs, my vehicle to rifle range camp has already reported. We left at around 0320 hrs or so. The expressway was so quiet! Not much cars traveling on the road. We were too early as planned but we wasted a lot of time waiting for the duty personnel to wake up ad send us into the ammo dump to collect the bloody rounds. the road was dark pitch because all the lamp post were spoilt!

After i collected the rounds, i headed to CIA (Changi International Airport). No matter how slow the driver drive, i still reach early... there and than i saw the most horrifying thing! The sentry looking after the police station was actually taking a nap! I wanted to be nasty and ask my escort, saravanan, to ask him if he had a sweet dream just now, that was just NATO, (No Action, Talk Only).

Soon, the troop lift bus arrived and they started to march in to the sleepy, no govt police station at Changi Airport. Their first duties starts at 0800 hours... After i send in the ammo, i headed back to camp and had lunch with ranger and again, i do my favourite pastime, SLEEP!

Prepare to slack

Monday blues, a boring day, that’s all I can say. No mood to work because Joshua and I knew that it’s the end of month and in another 6 days time, 3 of our friends are going to ORD and leaving the 2 of us with the Duty Sergeant everyday. We have been trying to push all duties to the 3 of our friends because we wanted to make use of them before 2 of us regret. (That’s how evil I am) HAHAHA!!!

ITE gathering

It has been a very long time since I have last met my ITE friends out for dinner and chat. I met up with 2 at Safra Tampines before meeting the rest. We were supposed to have dinner at Safra Tampines ‘Sakura’ but they were under renovation so we have to change our plans. We headed to Tampines mall to have a buffet instead. After dining and catching up, I realized that they were not leading the life they wanted to have. It's really sad to see what my friend fail to achieve their dreams...

IPPT and FFI

I came back after ORD dinner for a night just to take part in IPPT the next day but heaven was not by my side. It started to rain before the warm up and everything was delayed. Half the mood of taking part in IPPT has already faded away. But I still hope that the rain will stop soon but it got worst after that. At 1000 hrs, the conducting officer cancelled the run. I head back to bunk and sleep. I was supposed to go to Singapore Safety Driving Centre with Fahmy to book for a basic theory test but I was too lazy and decided to book it on Monday night instead. I fast asleep and woke up at 1500 hrs.

I was bored that time and I called Ranger and chat with him over SMS and we agree to meet up and have movie and dinner together at vivo city. I went to Yishun area, near where he stays and had a light dinner before meeting him for a heavy dinner.

He came down buying dinner for his mum. We soon left after I finish the carrot cake that I ordered just now and followed him up his house. After delivering food to his mum, we headed to Vivo city, wanting to watch “Mahjong Kong Fu” but Vivo was not showing, “Apocalypto” was selling fast and left with first row seats. We decided to watch something else. We watch “Gridiron gang” in the end, a show with the lead actor ‘The Rock’ and his American football team. A very touching true story that every happen in the world. After that we went to Change village to have a light supper before he send me home.

ORD Dinner @ Hilltop Restaurant

Today is not just another wedding dinner or get-together dinner but an ORD dinner. It was my first time attending an ORD dinner and I was quite excited about it. I met up with Fahmy at Tampines bus interchange and have a light lunch and we headed to Yishun to meet up with Ranger as he is driving us there. We were ahead of schedule when we reach Yishun. Ranger made his way to fetch us.

We were way too early and I brought Ranger along to the estate I use to stay in the past. After that he parks his car in west mall and we had high tea at food court. After that we left west mall to look for the Hilltop Country Club by foot. We soon spotted that place and head back to west mall to collect Ranger’s car and proceed to Hilltop CC.

As soon as we park the car in Hilltop Country Club, we head straight to the ball room. The Country Club was well renovated and I like the designs of it. It really made me feel like I’m really on top of a hill top but just too sad to say that the buildings are taller than the Country Club. It was windy and the toilet was constructed in such a way that it is open to air outside. I saw Chua at the reception issuing the door gift, a cash card and an Ez-link card. We walk around the Country Club to kill some time. Soon it was time to be seated and the ball room still looks very empty, for a few minutes, and men of my Battalion starts to flock in slowly.

We were entertained by some “Bapok” which we all really love it. It was really a fun night as they made the volunteers do something that is really shameful; they really made our ORD Dinner night a real great one!

ORD parade and off

Today is the day where everyone is waiting for. Early in the morning I open the armskote, and I also have another appointment as usher. I have not gone for any briefing and have no idea what am I suppose to do. Later around 0700 hrs, I receive a call from Signal PS that the In-charge is looking for the entire usher from all the company and wanted us to meet him at the mess. I and Ranger were appointed to be the usher. We went to the mess and had a fast game of pool before we met up with the In-charge. We were told to stop any parents who tried to cross the line just to take pictures.

As the parade starts, mistakes starts to pop out, they were nervous, maybe… Or was it not their day? After the parade, they can fall out and head home with their loved ones. Life is more like a storybook. A storybook that does not tell the future but the past, the happiness, the sadness and the good and bad memories.

After the parade, I and Ranger stayed in camp to rot. Ranger has said ok to Fahmy that he will go dink at colour zone on that day itself so that’s why we stayed in camp till late evening. Meantime during the afternoon, there is a shoot at the 25 meter range and I was arrowed to be the safety specialist for the NCC cadets, they were only like 15 or 16 years old. Stress level was high for me because it was their first time and worst still; their individual field craft is as bad as a newbie. Don’t knowing how to aim well for some, weapon jam and some tumble. I have to rectify for them. They were funny students and did not give much problem. Later in the night I went to drink with Ranger and Fahmy. I even ask Shaq along. After colour zone, I went home for a night rest.

Rehearsal on ORD parade

The whole day, the parade square was filled with soldiers marching up and down, left and right. For me, I got nothing much to do, so I just lie around until afternoon, than I was told to have a timed run by one of the officer to see how he can help me in 2.4km run. That was my biggest problem. It was quite hard for me to finish the last 800 meters because I took around 10 minutes of my time; my officer gave up also because he knew I am in pain. I had a bit of breathing difficulty and he can see that I did not give up. He did not press me on to continue to run.

At night I went to Jalan Kayu with Ranger and Fahmy again to have some prata to fill ourselves. Soon after we head back to camp and have a good night rest for tomorrow’s parade.

COS Part 2

After 2359 hrs, I did the most shameless thing in my life, I actually ask Ranger to sneak out of camp with me and head to Jalan Kayu and tabao prata! I can’t believe my own action. But it was really fun. After I had my prata, I went to sleep in the air condition office till 0545 hrs to wake up just to raise flag.

After my flag rising, I had my breakfast and as usual, first parade and area cleaning but after these, the man have foot drill lesson for their upcoming ORD parade. Marching in the sun was never fun because it sucks. After dinner, I met up with Wilson for another business discussion on manicure and pedicure. We have a working engine and we now have to start the engine and it is a very difficult process because the engine parts and function and skill are very foreign to the two of us. We had a hard time trying to understand the engine so that we, the spare parts, can help to run the engine more smoothly.

Hope that this engine will help me gain a good positive business experience.