Just finished my 3rd In-camp reservist... just a very short 4 days, pretty less tiring than in the past, partly because I've been used to waking up just as early in the mornings for work everyday! This kept coming up in my thoughts... should I downgrade or not? I'm pretty worried that I'll be sent out of this unit, and not be able to stay with this great bunch of guys... I'll miss the chance of driving a 28 ton steel box around... I've been feeling great recently, being able to run and jump and walk and do pretty much whatever just as before. But every once in awhile, a numb pain will act up right at my right hip area to remind me of the weakened structure within. And my heart will literally stop whenever my back sounds off a crack from some bone joint. And I'll think twice, thrice, before I jump anywhere higher than 3-4 inches. My unit MO says I could downgrade to Pes C2L2, and still be fit for frontline duties, except I will never need to do situps ever again. But I'll never get money from IPPT ever again too, which sounds bad to me. And if so, I'll never be able to carry 155mm rounds ever too, which will make me a burden if we were to go live-firing. Thoughts... thoughts...

Our range went like stink. My rifle was a complete piece of junk. It jammed every few rounds, and I'm now pretty damn proficient in rectifying all the M16 IA drills now, having more IAs in one range shoot than some people in their whole lives! My night shooting is crap too, can only hit the big targets... at least we got to have an unlimited flow of keropok during our range... I've never eaten from a garbage bag half filled with keropok! So oily, so salty, but so nice, especially when so damn bored...

Convo was quite good, probably my last chance to meet many of the MSE peoples ever... starting to miss some of the days in school... gave up eating the brilliant buffet to try to meet up as many of the people there as possible, especially when I have to get back to camp later in the evening... took so many taxi rides! What a big transport expenditure for this month!

So strange... cannot upload pictures to my blog...

Anyway, what a tiring Saturday for me!!! I had a medical exam for my life insurance. Went through it completely smoothly... must thank Esther so much for all her work! =D

Then I had to take my grad stuffs to Marina to meet Huat, Grace, Woods, Liping and Shiming. Was thinking that I would be able to wrap up by 6 and meet the photo-taking peoples... but then the guys were all late! We only got to take photos at like 5! But the pictures should turn out great! Got to thank Shiming for all that! He so pro lah, arranging us for poses, and so garang lie down on the floor, climb up walls, forgot to tell him we won't pay him for his services ley! Waiting so excitedly for all our pics! =D

Already soaking underneath all the grad cloth... I had to walk from Fullerton Hotel to the Benjamin Shears Bridge, not so much a straightforward walk, as a section of the road was closed, and I had to walk through Marina Square to get pass the closed 100m stretch! Then I had to get lost somemore! Walked all the way to the Sg Flyer and F1 pits... and then I proceeded to walk like half of the Shears bridge only to find that I'm on the wrong side of the road! Feeling really really pissed already, so hungry and thirsty, legs totally tired... leather shoes really not meant for walking long distances! Adding to the flames, the fireworks photos didn't really turn out epic... But at the end of the day, it's still all the fun and friends that count! Cheers!!! =D

I now have a Star Trek triangular logo on my right forearm... result of me accidentally coming into contact with a 180++ deg C electric heater at work... a case of trying to finish work on time on a Friday evening... not healing even after a week... the scar would be so deep this thing... heck I'm not even a Star Trek fan!

Happy happy at work this week so far! Got one product out to customer this week, after being delayed for so long... another one's delayed by some new discoveries that I've noticed when using stainless steel powders, will be trying out some new recipes before going in for reservist next week...

I was thinking, after some chatting with my FYP student, why people would readily embrace and tolerate all those distinctive, unique "local flavours" in foods and drinks, but not so in language, in particular our Singlish? Really kelong sia these peoples...

Writing in using my new company laptop! It's so light as compared to all those anvils I've been using, including my own one at home! And it has a built-in Bluetooth and LED light! Cool! And it's so fast! My own one hangs even when I'm opening folders or just simply right-clicking! This new company laptop makes me want to get a new computer of my own...

Strangely, I'm having the urge to go swimming now! It's noon time, I'll probably become an Indian when I'm done with it!

We went to take photos at the 2nd NDP NE show. This time we tried a new location along Merlion Park, but sadly, it was pretty far from all the action scenes, but was too near to the fireworks! However, I got this picture of lighted balloons on moving boats! I love this picture! But I wonder where all the boats went in the picture... seems like 3 asteroids going to hit Marina Bay instead!

My first true fireworks phototaking using the DSLR! Finally got to try out all the techniques I've researched from the net; however we were just too close to the launchpoint to frame the shots nicely, plus I was distracted by using the new remote control borrowed from my aunt! And I hate it that my camera takes so long to "reload" after each fireworks picture, made me miss so many opportunities!

I love this picture too... the guy sitting down was clear, while the people walking by are blurred... so many emotions can be felt by me from this picture... =)

Went for my first evening jog in 4 weeks just now. Had more than a pinch of worry over my back, especially when I still do feel this numbing pain when I get into bad positions (I sometimes like to squeeze into little spaces under tables and behind machines at work...). And I skipped any stretching exercises once I feel my back starting to complain... But hey I finished my run! In similar timing as before my back broke too! Even managed to stick too and irritate this (I think) NS boy for half of the journey hehehe~~ =p

Blured at the seaside. Yes I know some guys (& a girl) will be itching to smack me right now, but hahaha! Yes I biked today! 4 weeks since my back gave way, I've been feeling pretty good, even better than the weeks leading to my KL trip and my "big break"! Feeling pretty good on the bike, except when I really stretch out and feel this numbing pain at the right hip region... but anyways, yay!!! I was singing the whole way from home to West Coast park and back, smiling at everything from squirrels, birds, cats, dogs, trees, cars, kids... Haven't felt like this in weeks!! =D


My tires really don't feel good in hot weather, although grip in corners seems much improved, but on the straights it feels really soft and lifeless, even with the pressure pumped real high. I prefer the hard sketchy feeling of my tires in cool weather, and at night. Feels much more exciting that way. =p

A huge ant under a leaf of a plant in my balcony, flaring her mandibles as she saw me coming...

Drenched totally, during the photoshoot at the NE show at Floating Platform. Didn't enjoy the fireworks at all. Not fun, not fun at all. Unlike cycling in the rain. Which is so totally sweet. Until my chain rusts and my heart aches.

I was greeted by this huge atlas moth at my floor's lift lobby on Thursday morning as I left home for work. A blackish one, with wings badly torn, probably by birds. It spooked me at first sight. I hate it, I hated it so much. I took the lift furthest away from it. I'd admit, I'm scared of it. My mum just told me my neighbour's father just was announced brain-dead today, a couple days after suffering a blackout at home. I hate this huge atlas moth. This isn't the first time that it's appearance has preceded a death of somebody around me. Neither it's the second time. Nor the third. I would never ever wish to see this animal ever ever again. Never.

Borrowed 4 bike magazines 2 weeks ago. They're due in 2 days time. Never had the time to finish reading them all. Wah lau eh.

Almost everyday right after work, I'll start thinking about my reward for the day. For the past 8 weeks that I've been working, it has been Breadtalk and Cold Storage pastries and buns. I really enjoy having a nice, exquisite, warm pastry or bun to satisfy my hunger in my stomach and in my soul at the end of every workday... Really love the sweet potato bun from Breadtalk, and the chocolate pastries from Cold Storage, who says you can't buy happiness with money? I can buy many minutes of joy with just a dollar and some loose change... =)