The cost of living in Singapore is rather absurd. Say if I want to go to Orchard Road from my house, which is basically a ten minute drive away, I have to pass through TWO ERP Gantries, which is just absurd. Thankfully, it was Sunday and the gantries were not operating.

I was some sort of “model” for my friend today who was buying clothes for a male friend who is approximately the same size as me. It was kind of interesting to see myself in clothes I don’t think I’ll be buying for a while. I think it’s time to ditch the “T-shirt and Jeans” formula for something else and revamp the wardrobe.

My dad has been very paranoid these days, worrying about me when I am in camp. He worries if I can take the training, whether I can cope with the trainings mentally and physically etc. among a list of worries. I was telling him that I am fine and I can take care of myself and he said “I know you can take care of yourself but when you become a father, you will understand why I worry so much.” Food for thought. I wonder if I will be as worried as my father in the future.

Tags: national service, singapore

I’m back from the first week from BSLC and it was better than expected. The physical trainings were okay – at least I am enjoying them right now. The regimentation is rather relaxed compared to my time in BMT; it could probably just be my infamous BMT company though.

But I have to study! Gosh, I never expected to see textbooks and files of paper that are so thick. On the bright side of things, I probably will save my brain from further brain rot And I failed the first test with a 44/50 when 45/50 is required for a pass. =/

There are a lot of outfields from the fourth week on. Perhaps I might write something of my exploits when I have the time, in a discreet manner. I think I have/will lost/lose some valuable memories during BMT because I didn’t write them down somewhere.

I think I have signed up for too many scholarships. I applied for some of them without thinking twice because they didn’t require an essay and also because of other reasons.

Pasir Laba camp is so far.

Tags: bslc, national service

I hardly watch TV and I must have missed the “Instant ORD for MAS SELAMAT CAPTURE” report on TV.

It’s really lucky that we are currently still trainees or we stand a chance to be activated to catch this guy who literally threw our face away. Hearing tales of people being activated and not being able to book out for one month isn’t exactly pleasant. Let’s hope he is captured or found dead or whatever when we graduate.

Resumption of being a trainee tomorrow. I’m somewhat worried because, frankly, many considered BMT to be a chalet and I wonder how SISPEC will turn out. Let’s hope that being in Ninja had helped a little. :S Maybe I can post a little next saturday. For now I am keeping my fingers crossed on the many applications I’ve made.

Tags: national service

Comd SAF BMTC wishes you all the best in your future posting.

Your Posting Order is listed below:

1.	You are posted to	SISPEC.
2.	Your vocation is	INF LDR(TRAINEE).
3. 	Your are to report to:	Pasir Laba Camp
 	 Reporting Date/Time:	24/03/2008 at 0800 - 0830 hrs.
 	 Person to report to: 	Chief Clerk 

Can’t say I didn’t expect this.

Tags: national service

I think I have broken my record for spending about $4+ on taking MRT repeatedly for a maximum of five stations at one go today.

I went from Farrer Park to Somerset and back; Farrer Park to Raffles Place, Raffles Place to Farrer Park and Farrer Park to Raffles Place again.

I was to meet someone at City Hall but after thinking for a bit, I decided to walk to City Hall instead. It was such a long walk and the sun wasn’t very cooperative either. Thankfully, the route marches helped.

And then back to Farrer Park from City Hall.

Posting in eleven hours. I guess it will most likely be something like this… or this?

Tags: national service

For the past few months, my feet has been sorely “trained” by the route marches and the never ending runs and marches. It seemed like they have met their match today.

I’m usually wearing sports shoes, canvas shoes, or boots which are rather comfortable and easy to walk and move in. But TODAY, as I wore “working shoes” for my interview, I felt challenged, even to walk. I swear that if I were to walk around more, I would probably get blisters on my feet. It felt so unnatural to walk around and god forbid, I could not even run properly and easily when I need to do so.

I guess I need to get used to it.

Tags: national service

First of all, read this.

After I read this last Saturday, I was both stressed and at the same time disgusted. Stressed because these kind of “high flyers” are going to be competing with me for all the stuff that I am wanting to apply for and because I am reminded of the competition I face (for our excellent local universities). Disgusted because these “high flyers” claim that they are worried for their places in so-and-so and so they go all the way to Volunteer Street and volunteer themselves for services to spice up their C.V. How practical. If they are worried, what of the rest of us?

In case you were wondering, I will admit, honestly, that I don’t have “passion” for volunteering and basically everything you see in my “C.V.” was done because either I wanted to or because I was interested in them.

More reading materials: link & link

They say “Loyalty to country, Leadership, Discipline, Professionalism, Fighting Spirit, Ethics, Care for Soldiers“.

Indeed, “Care for soldiers”.

I have no further comments.

Tags: national service

After being drenched in the rain for a few days and getting almost non-stop cough (which does not seem to come with any phlegm) for a few days, the cough has finally subsided today and now I get a flu!

Reading today’s Straits Times’ Saturday Special was depressing.

Finally, BMT is over for me. POP was two days ago and I was just too lazy to blog about it. It was pouring rather heavily during the parade and the VIP decided to embark on such a long speech that the poor souls standing there in the rain had to endure feet pain. To add to the concoction, there was an accident somewhere in Loyang and everyone was stuck at the ferry terminal – so basically, my company only left Tekong at around 8 pm nearing 9 pm.

But hell, it was worth it. At least our two days of rehearsal did not go to waste. (There was a wet weather programme and that programme is so truncated that it was not even worth doing.) Postings are going to be released on the 21st. I will keep my fingers crossed.

By the way, for those who want to watch 10,000 BC, please don’t. It’s a bad movie. I rated it 4/10. Apparently, Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 6% fresh rating. This is probably one of the worst movie rating I’ve seen.

Tags: national service