Farewell, old dame!

This past week has been pretty eventful.

After 4 days of outfield, numerous mosquito bites, and a golden (or rather, brown) tan, I think I've become more accustomed to the wilderness.

Well, having been through the crap (a grave understatement, I assure you) on Tuesday on behalf of someone who decided to chaogeng, in a position I am not trained and hence ill-prepared for, you'd think it can't get very much worse henceforth. As if. Next week is another 4-day outfield week, and there are lots more coming up.

I wonder how much longer I can hold out if they continue to subject me to such "generous" treatment. My back has already begun to ache from those n-hour manpack expeditions. And the other two signallers are already down; almost 1/3 of the coy is on some status, and more people are flocking to get ATT C on Mondays. But it appears it still hasn't dawned on them that there is a problem somewhere...

Anyway it was Zejia's birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday, Bro!!!

Had fun at the sing-along session at the National Stadium, you can read more about it on Zejia's blog. What a way to pay tribute to the Grand Old Dame, and bid her a fond farewell.

Not too long ago, we were slogging away building the grand stands for NDP, then marshalling, and finally witnessing the grand finale on National Day. But by National Day this year, she would be no more. Sad sia. Took quite a few pictures for keepsake.

Just a random thought. Singapore is realy small! Saw another signaller and his gf, as well as the PL5 people yesterday. It's almost impossible not to bump into someone familiar when you are along Orchard Road, or the City Hall-Suntec-Marina Square stretch. How pathetic right, like there's nowhere else to go. Which is partly the reason I want to go overseas for my studies. We all need to leave behind the well to embrace the skies, someday.

The track-by-track review of Stef's new album should be up by next week. It's a FANTABULOUS album! Zzyo has a nice review on his blog, so much better than the one in zaobao... He should start writing 乐评 for them lor.

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.

NDP & WC

Didn't watch the 3rd place match between Portugal and Germany yesterday coz I was too tired after going for the NDP '06 pre-preview with my family. Having watched the P5 preview (tt was eons ago) and most recently, the official NDP 4 years ago, I wasn't really excited by yesterday's parade. Much of it is a rehash of past-year parades, anyway. Besides, national day is more than a month away! But the theme song (sung by Kaira Gong) is one of the best we've had in many years, since Tanya's "Where I Belong".

Btw the parade sergeant major is the new formation sergeant major of armour, and the parade commander is the CO of 1 SIG, so I'm sorta related to them. LOL.

On the other hand, the eagerly anticipated Finals of the World Cup Final is gonna be tml morning! And I'd be watching it with an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. I'm rooting for Zizou and Les Bleus, but apparently (and ironically) they wouldn't be wearing blue since they are 'away'... Now bring on the booze and binge!

NDP

The past week has been relatively uneventful, with most days spent under the scorching sun at the national stadium building the temporary grand stands. As a result, I now have a "nice" and healthy tan - almost like charcoal, a lot more vitamin D, and probably a few DNA mutations. It's actually pretty fun, building the stands from scratch using metal frames, poles, and wooden planks. Almost like piecing together lego. For once, I knew what it felt like to be a construction worker/labourer, toiling under the sun in singlet and helmet - not the green army one, but the kind construction workers wear.

We were only supposed to finish next Thursday but due to our "efficiency", the stands were up by yesterday. For the "good work", we have been given 2 days LEAVE next Monday and Tuesday. Great, another 2 days of wasted leave. But at least they had the decency to release us early (2.30pm!) yesterday, and give us OFF next Friday. Which is not that bad after all, considering the fact that we'd have been doing other saigang at 42 anyway if we weren't doing NDP.

Oh yes, apparently a lot of specs got posted to ATI, which is in my camp. I can't help gloating that they have been posted to such an ulu camp, to take up the less-than-cushy job of an armour spec. Saw a few familiar faces, and expecting a few more. Good luck guys, hopefully some of you end up at 42.

I'd probably spend the next few days watching Da Chang Jin on DVD and slacking my life away. Ciao.