Muahahaha.

lousy pic of my face. eeeewww.

Yeja, Me, Kuan Hoong and my bro

Parade in order

The Road not taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Comms Ball

Grand events at the Grand Copthorne... One of the most memorable nights i've had. Considering that i had to pay through the nose for it, it had better be! WSM was screwing around with the co-host from MDC as an emcee, and Commander wasn't too pleased. He seemed quite sick of WSM's ranting by the time he was called on stage for the lucky draw.

Had a really good time with my date that night. Considering that it was only the second time i'd seen her, it seemed quite amazing that i was enjoying myself talking to her. Maybe i should get to know her better.-further content on this topic self-censored.-

I am amazed at the comms mag though... i think that frank and gang has done a good job. The magazine brings back the memories of the hard times spent together, and the tears and sweat that dripped off our tired bodies... Its more than just a yearbook, its a record of all the pain and suffering we went through, an inscription of fire that burns itself into the hallways of our memories... yup it brings out powerful emotions... good job guys!

Got a lot of paraphenalia from the last few weeks of my ocs life... polo tees, other personalised stuff... things that i wonder if i would even use. Are memories that all precious? or to put it in another manner- how much would you pay for a crystallised memory? at least they could give something more practical.(no this is not a veiled insult at the gifts given, just that i think more thoughts could be given to the gifts.)

anyway... a quote my friend sent me to congratulate me on my commissioning:

"Nothing so conclusively prove's a man ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself." -Thomas J Watson

Aaargh. It's not easy being a paragon of virtue, but someone's gotta do it!

Post-Commissioning Arrogance Disorder

Post Commissioning Arrogance Disorder (PCAD)- A mental disorder which affects new 2LTs, who are vulnerable within 2 weeks of their commissioning. Symptoms include: 1. Breakdown of personal discipline (I.E not bothering to meet timings and coming late, falling asleep during lessons), 2. Loss of good manners (Not listening to lecturer, talking while lecturer is talking) 3. A sudden lack of maturity( I can squabble like a child, get angry over the smallest things, and expect the world to revolve around me. I am the centre of my universe so everything has to be for me, Me, ME!) Cure- As yet there has been no single remedy for this disorder. Several ideas that are reputed to work are: 1. 7 extras in new unit, 2. Scolding by previous instructors/ senior commanders, 3. Decommissioning (though rare), 4. Told off by their peers for conduct unbecoming of an officer (reputedly does not work well).

Personal favourite- A tight slap and a good spanking, followed by at least 2 of the 4 alternatives mentioned above. Being commissioned doesn't give you the right to act like an ass, you f***ers out there!!!

Some thoughts of a new 2LT

Lectures for half a day. I think its a miracle that we didnt piss the lecturer off. I think that if i was a lecturer, i would be really really pissed at trying to lecture new officers. Some people just don't have that level of basic respect to listen when others have something to say. This black bar on your shoulder does not give you the right to be an arrogant prick. Nor does it make us correct all the time. I think many people take this bar in the wrong manner. And it does reinforce my convictions that some people should never have gotten the bar in the first place.

Anyway, finally managed to get a comms ball date. In the strangest of places. Is there something wrong with going with my buddy's girlfriend's sister? hmmm. Ah well, Carpe Diem! seize the opportunity. Its been a while since i last met anyone new. About time i became more social.

COMMISSION LOH!!!

Commissioned on 230105.

Words can only begin to describe the deep feelings welling up inside. I almost cried on the parade square. The symbolic end of the ten months of training, culminating in a grand parade with the president in attendence.

When the president walked past in review, i didn't feel anything. Was i meant to? He seemed like just another old man......

Pride. The pride of commissioning as an officer.
Pride. The pride of commissioning as an infantry officer.
Pride. The pride of commissioning as an infantry officer from Delta Wing.
Pride. Many meanings, many forms. Not arrogance, but pride.

I take a lot of pride in doing what i do. And in what i have done. Hopeully, it goes for the future too.

Meeting the Family...

Once a year (actually more, but not so often), i get together with the rest of my extended family... Sit down and have a chinese dinner with them, meeting up with the cousins and so on and so forth. And every single time i FORGET to bring a camera. Damn. I have 6 or so cousins, and it is so amazing that all of us look so different, and have different outlooks in life....

Cast of Characters-
1. The tanned, muscular doctor. Damn i'm jealous. He 's got a sports car too.

2. The rugged and well-travelled pilot, recently married. He flies around the world for a living. Whats there not to enjoy about the job?

3. The PSC scholar hippie. Long hair, tattoo and cute girlfriend. The surfer dude of the government bunch. Thinks that getting high on anaesthesia is a funky experience, asked if character 1 had ever given it a try...

Nevertheless to say, it was fun meeting up with them. I'm in that strange transitional phase when i'm not regarded as a kid, but neither am i considered an adult. God it sucks to be in between...

Ah well. One more day to commissioning. hope all that time spent in training was worth it. I would really hate to fall flat on the parade tomorrow.

Thank you Thank you Thank you Frank....

GREAT! Finally got some of this black S*** i called a blog changed! At least i managed to add the links and a photo to boot. All thanks to Frank, who taught me how to right-click and "View Source" other people's blogs.

......
Ok that was a trifle mundane, but after trying it for a couple of weeks without success, one would be grateful for any kind of assistance. Especially since i'm kind of a html idiot. HTML programming for dummies anyone?

Oh God i still have trouble finding a date for my Commissioning Ball... This is highly embarassing. Even my friends are having trouble trying to help me. Is this some kind of conspiracy? I don't think i'm that repulsive. Maybe its the way i asked. Ya i guess it was. Messaging people always seemed kind of a cold way to bring a point across. But what choice did i have? Cadet life is virtually a 0530 to 2230 job. Bah. Blame it on spending life too occupied with doing things, and not socialising enough. Or at least not socialising enough with the right people.

2 days more...

The fact is sinking in. It is but 2 days more until the long journey has ended. The culmination of 9 months of sweat, blood and tears. The words escape me. I cannot believe that i am leaving this place that i curse at everytime i bookin. Where i spent endless time in learning, living, and taking the opressive punishments. I cleared out all of my stuff when i left last night. The bunk seems so empty... Life is leaving Delta Wing, and it is not likely to return.

ACPC

Tedious ceromonies... The last 2 days were boring and tedious. Sitting upright in a padded chair (and not allowed to lean back!!!) and listening as 300++ people get their swords and certificates... watching people screwup on stage... watch people fall asleep... watch people do pushups and jumping jacks after being caught sleeping... the sword presentation itself takes 2 hours!!!! Aaaargh!!!!!!! This is killing me man...

Postings... 6SIR!!! hoo-ha!

Finally got my posting orders... I'm going to 6SIR! =)
It just feels good to know where the end of the road is for me... It puts a cap to the certain uncertainty and frustration that clouds the mind and slows the thinking. Anyway, the best thing about 6 is that... its not 5! I had certain apprehensions about working with Cpt Chua again. i didn't think i would be comfortable working with him. Thank God i'm in 6. Plus there's a whole gangbang of other Delta and Foxtrot cadets going there too. Sounds like its going to be a lot of fun...
But its going to be sad, parting with all of my previous friends. parting is such sweet sorrow...and i'm really gonna miss some of these people. Of course, some i wont miss though...
But enough of that. The warm glow of satisfaction and happiness should rub out all negative feelings.

End of an long, long, long long, week..........

Oh my god. This week felt like crap. runs and marches every day, ad topping it off with 2 hours of drill... and being made fun of by the SSM while i was modelling the No.2 uniform. Where can i hide my face now?
Anyway, i'm finally in the comforts of my own home... my feet are aching after walking in those drill boots. looks like this weekend is going to be shot too.
Ningyan got the Sword of Honour, no suprises there. Everyone was rooting for him. The Sword of Merit winners were more controversial though... Not everyone agreed that some people deserved it. Personally, i felt that there were other better cadets. And with rumours of politics and hidden agendas going on behind closed doors, i feel that the judging might have been a bit biased. F*** politics man. Where is the fair system where the best get rewarded? Favouritism has no place in a military setting. No names though, its only my opinion. I don't want to get a little friendly stab in the back when i'm sleeping in camp one night... Needless to say i'm not too happy at the selection of the best cadets. Maybe its because i thought i could be one of them. Guess thats not the case. As my sergeant-major says, its only....
IF! you make it.
......
Oh wait that was so wrong. I know i made it. I know i'm as good as they are. If the instructors don't think so, well, F*** what they think. I know i can do it. So there.

PAC!!! Hoo-ha!

As usual, as the end of the week dawns, there is a pleasant feeling inside...almost makes me want to sing. =)
This was a horrible week. It looked okay, but it was horrible. 6km run on tuesday, 8km fastmarch on wednesday, 10km run on thursday, and the finale- the platoon assault course on friday. Looking at it, i guess thats the most distance i've covered in one week since... well, since.
And that f***er, hichael, keeps making fun of my face. That bastard laughs everytime he sees my "calm, composed features". bah.

A most depressing New Year

Ok, for the second day of the New Year, its been raining from 7 in the morning to seven in the evening. hardly a great start. How are we going to do parade rehearsals like this? I guess we'll be doing wet weather rehearsals most of the time... Going back into camp tonight (in 1 hour to be exact.) Doesn't feel as bad as it normally does. Guess i'm getting immune to it already.

A new year dawns

Now in camp again. got the most shitty shift of cadet duty, booking in and out for all three days of this long weekend. This has got to be one of the most depressing New Year's day i have seen in a long time. Its been raining here since morning. Thats about 5 hours worth of rain. Its quite a bit, once you think of it.
I came prepared to fully enjoy the call of duty (rather, punishment) in camp. With my Nomad Jukebox, and a small store of books, i'm comfortably insulated from the despair of being in camp. Actually planned to sleep off most of the day, after the countdown party at zouk last night. Maybe i will sleep early. Can't really pack my field pack cos i ain't got the items. So how? Chill dudes...