Chronicle 48 - Another End To Another Start

Missed the January post again! It's been 1 month since I've left National Service and have nothing on my hands currently except for my final Diploma module assignment. I seriously lack discipline. It's already my last module and I can't seem to gather the necessary "last burst" of mental strength to do it, and I'm still contemplating whether or not to take up the Degree program.

Studying aside, it seems I still can't hold on to my personal resolution to run everyday. Currently, I'm maintaining 50 push-ups and sit-ups a day so at least it's better than nothing. Recently Joel, Jerry and me went for a cycling outing. It was pretty rigorous aside from the rain in between that compelled us to take a break. However, recently I have been sleeping and waking up at odd hours. I think adjusting back my biological clock for regular working lifestyle is going to be tough. I'm thinking about doing a part-time degree course and to teach private tuition at the same time to finance it, just not sure if it is a good idea but then again, I'm desperate for some income.

Just had a barbeque session with my previous National Service guys. Glad to see those that have ORDed are doing well and those still serving are umm... surviving? Currently, I'm following 2 Korean variety shows: [Let's Go Dream Team Season 2] and [Running Man]. Very entertaining to say the least.

Chronicle 47 - Letting Go

Looks like I missed the December post. What a bad habit. I really need to re-look into my ideas about punctuality. Especially since I'm freed from National Service, it seems a major re-shufflement of my life is in order. I have in mind a certain lifestyle that I would like to adopt. However, willpower is severely lacking.

Anyway, finally leaving Nation Service after my extension actually felt very good. To think letting go was so easy. It was a very relieving thing for me to do. I wonder if I would have thought the same had I just decided to let go of everything in August. Anyway, I think the operations are in relatively good hands. A fire can never burn eternally on a piece of wood. Everything comes to an end and there are certain things in life that you just can't see through. Cliche as it may be, "Time flies and waits for no men". Soon, the time will come when I have to enter the workforce. In which direction would my life take a turn towards now? They say a man without direction and ambition is akin to a zombie. Still I believe that I am someone who is ambitious when the time comes.

For the new year, I've gotten myself a new phone: HTC Sensation XL. About time too, considering the 2 years I had to endure using that "antique". Can't wait to fiddle around with it. During these short 2 months in "limbo" till I get my Diploma, I wonder if I should take a rest or try to earn some upkeep. Talking about new, it seems the pictures accompanying my blog entries should get a new theme as well.

Chronicle 46 - The (Tiring) Last Stretch

Using the roman numerals sure is fun initially, but is a real pain to keep up when the numbers get bigger. Guess there's a reason why the Arabic numerals are more popular instead. Looking at the numbers, I realized that it has been 46 months since I started this blog which would mean 3 years 10 months. What a achievement!

My wish that the Audit would be the last to demand my huge attention sure is short-lived. The contractors for the runway repair numbers about 200. Catering security passes for them is no easy feat. Adding on, the preparations for Singapore Air Show 2012 has snuck up on me. I'm gonna need a break after December. The massage coupons should come in handy soon.

I went for the Sundown Festival along with my sisters and Joel last week. My younger sister actually fainted during the event. Guess she can't really handle crowds and yet now she's off with my mother in Hong Kong. For some reason, all lucky draw / preview tickets and what not all seem to favour Joel in some way. If winning the Sundown Festival tickets wasn't enough, he also won 2 preview movie tickets for [开心魔法]. Eating a buffet with Joel is always entertaining. The sequence would be him boasting about his appetite, ordering lots of food, struggling to finish his food and ending with his trademark "我要吐了!"

My man broke my spectacles with his elbow early this week during physical training. I know it wasn't intentional, but still can't help getting a bit worked up. Been down with a flu since Sunday, and Panadol doesn't seem to help. Haven't been this sick in a long time.

Just an hour prior to writing this blog entry, I lost my house keys. I was walking home from class when I realized the keys missing and a hole in my pocket. Argh, FML!

The only thing that isn't so negative would be that I just got my pink I/C. Although it's close to 4 months late.

Chronicle XXXXV - October

The audit is finally over. Hopefully, that would be the last high-key event I'll have to face. Peace should start having some backbone and not let itself be pushed around. Nothing much came from the audit except some "old debts" which I have no control over. Forget CO's direction, here comes Adwin's direction: "Forget the past and let's move on and make a better future."

I went for a movie [那些年我们一起追的女孩] with Joel and Wing Kin. Quite a wonderfully made movie in my opinion. Makes people reminisce in all the times when wonderful things were within our grasp but for some reason, never followed through.

However, life goes on. We have all moved on in life. Wing Kin is studying in University and Joel is working. Back to my point, "Forget the past and let's move on and make a better future."

Chronicle XXXXIV - Disillusioned

Things are not what it should be! Even worse is the fact that I can't seem to do anything about it. As if the heavens themselves are giving me a sign telling me to give up, things crop up again and again to hinder my work. I'm not about to change my direction just because of a few ignorant remarks from some big shots. It seems they can't understand that I'm doing the equivalent of charity work and that they are chipping away at my determination bit by bit. ARGH!!!

The freaking audit is in less than a week. Struggling to find a balance between operations and a humane side of myself, I find myself drifting away from both commanders and men alike. The "curling up effect" in response to constant pressure is constricting me.

Now that the usual steam has been released, let's move on to some lighter stuff. For Joel's birthday, we went for the movie "Johnny English Reborn". Hilarious scenes mixed with some cool graphical imagery makes the show rather enjoyable. However, as with most comedies, the plot could seriously explore some depth. The status of Joel's birthday present is still on hiatus. My peak period is right now as I have to prepare for the audit and contend with many assignments deadlines that seems to have allied themselves.

A man of mine, Ng Beng Sheng is due to be released from the current shit hole. Wish him all the best in his future endeavours and may him never look back.

Chronicle XXXXIII - Riding on a star

I was crazy, but it seems I'm sane now as I'm regretting extending already. My own plans are destroyed one after another and other plans are forced unto me all at once. I didn't extend for this. I extended because I wanted to see the things which I so painstakingly created through. Life is so unfair. A walk-through by a "One Star" with his "not very bright comments" has many others breathing down my neck. Give me a break! Unless you can help me, don't disturb my work.

Adding on to my troubles are the never ending assignments that keep coming at me. I've been managing to scrape through the assignments while juggling both camp and studies but it is taking its toll both mentally and physically.

Recently, I've been tasked to train up a group of 6 new troopers for their induction programme. Quite a well-behaved lot which is rather rare considering the number of "spoilt brats" around today. Still, welfare must be balanced with discipline.

That freaking Joel kept dropping hints about his birthday preset. Maybe we should really delay getting his present to teach him a lesson! Haha... That's a thought!

I'll be going for the Army Half Marathon this Sunday. I've never ran more than 10km in my life(almost died by the way). Hopefully, my legs and mind can still retain their usual functions after the run.

Chronicle XXXXII - Extension

The verdict: "I am crazy!" I actually extended my ORD date. Instead of embracing freedom and my long separated pink IC, I held on to a life of suffering and an ugly green 11B. Everyone is telling me it's wrong and telling me to "wake up". I myself know it is one of the most idiotic decision I've ever contemplated. Until now, I'm still wondering why I did it - the extension of service.

There was a base recall exercise in the beginning of the month. We were so close to achieving a 100% recall rate. It seems there was only one guy who reported back late. And the thing is, he was watching Transformers at Vivo. Wow, talk about being brave. Respect!

I was supposed to attend a refresher course over at MP Command with my batch course mates. However, for some reason, my name was not reflected and I was "excused". During that period, I took a break that was long due and went for the movie "Transformers" with a friend. It seems"Transformers" was the movie that made the guy late for the base recall.

One of my men recently signed over a package meant for another squadron. Long story short, that package went missing. I had to go all the way to Jurong to liaise with the supplier and purchase a new one. Life sucks! It's not even my fault!

I've also weathered through another base security exercise. Of course, all base security exercises are never pleasant. What with the extra duties, extra procedures ad extra supervision, I would rather not go through it. Still, this year's exercise wasn't as bad as previous year's though as it was relatively short and the management were preoccupied with other stuff.

The SAF Day Dinner that was held in Istana went through without any mishap. Thankfully though, as I worked damn hard being the scenes. The security passes for entry into Istana were all done up by me. Consolidating the names, searching/begging/asking for the photographs and the printing is hard work by the way. Up till the weekend leading to the event, I was recalled to finish them.

Politics is a touchy issue, and I'm not even talking about state politics. Rather it's the politics that happen within the men under me. Workload, working hours, number of duties and everything under the sun can become blown-up issues for comparisons. Needless to say, unhappiness among them will affect morale and morale affects work productivity. It came to a point where I had to gather them all and "counsel" them. I've forced to to a "mutual" agreement and laid down by house rules. I mean, how should things ever be fair? These guys seriously need to know the meaning of teamwork.

I've watched quite a number of movies this month, including Harry Potter and Wuxia. And yet, that doesn't mean I'm rather free. I've been pretty busy and this month can be said to be my most productive yet. In addition to all the work in camp I've mentioned, I've also rushed 4 academic assignments. As always, I NEED A BREAK!