NDP

Managed to catch the Fireworks Festival by Team Singapore on Tuesday night coz we ended up in the area for dinner courtesy of Jinny's suggestion. The fireworks were SO pretty!

But sometimes I wonder whether it's worth it to spend so much money (millions, I expect) just for tt few minutes of splendour. I mean, for that 20 minutes you are watching the fireworks, you marvel at the visual spectacle and feel exhilarated by the sights and sounds, but at the end, you leave feeling empty and void as the last sparks of brilliance fade into the darkness. Perhaps it's the realisation that fireworks, like so many other things that we find desirable, are a beauty to behold, but ever so elusive and flitting. Perhaps it's because the fireworks always signify the grand finale and what's left after that are fond farewells and a lingering sense of longing (for an encore, or an even grander finale) never to be satisfied.

Did marshalling for the whole of yesterday, and it was a tiring and mundane job. Whilst other Singaporeans were enjoying themselves in the stadium or watching the parade on TV or even just idling away on this holiday, we were confined to the exterior, rain and shine, barely catching a glimpse of the excitement except for some of the fireworks display. It's a stark reminder of the sacrifices that national servicemen have to make to ensure the rest of the population can continue to lead their lives as per normal, comfortably, with a peace of mind.

Like most Singaporeans, I didn't realise NDP was built on the sweat and toil of so many SAF personnel until I got involved this time round. Perhaps we all take it for granted coz half of the population has served, is serving, or will eventually serve. But the girls will never understand how sianz it is for the guys to be cheong-suaing while they merrily start their new school term in university.

Now NDP is passe and my battalion is preparing to turn operational, so we are probably going full steam ahead on training starting next week. Let's see how it goes.