Countdown timers

Alvin and the Chipmunks. "Bad day"

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Back from ICT

Hello, ladies and gentlemen, have not updated for a long long time. Miss me?? If you are wondering where the hell i had been, just like my dad (a long story), i have been busy doing something that allows you all to sleep peacefully at night. I was away for a 5 day In-camp training.

The ICT was in ITI... Sounds familiar? Its not IT Idiot, but it stands for Infantry Training Institute. But then, ITI sounds like music to my ears, coz that's exactly what i am. Wahahaha...

Finally, i am back from ICT. Alive...

Deferment not granted. Only one and half days off granted. Why i am not surprised. Same bullshit from the same old CO. But good news is that the old CO has gone off, to be replaced by a Major(NS) CO, who is more "lor sor" than the old CO... Headache siah...

Learn lots of things in this ICT. For example:

1) There are things more miserable to losing money when you are playing a card game, big old two... "Dai Dee". It's miserable enough when you lost money in that game, but its more miserable when you use night snacks (Bread and Tuna) in the game. Ppl who lost have to consume (eat) the night snacks.

2) Footdrill. The command "ke kena lu rus" (Right dressing) invoke the following response from us..."Har, what's that??" Same for the other command, "Berhenti" (Stop) and "Dari Kenan, bilang" (Number off from the right).

3) We got recon 1 all along for our ICT. I was very surprised. I never knew we was so garang.

4) IPPT is still as siong as ever.

5) Cook house food still sucks.

6) E mart auntie attitude is worse than before.

7) No camera phone is allowed, and all non-camera phones carried by my platoon are Nokia phones, and only one fellow need to bring in a charger.

8) SAR 21 rifle suddenly seems much heavier than before. Same for our webbing.

9) Drawing weapons from the armskote comes with a "goodie bag" which consists the rifle cleaning kit, and needs to be return back to the armskote at the end of the ICT. The phase, "I work for goodie bag" does not apply in ICT.

10) Our platoon must run away when the enemy has contacted us. More easy to replace weapon than train new ppl, said the trainer... The Sun Tze saying was true... "san shi liu ji, zou wei sang ji". Of the 36 methods, running away is the best... Best defend is to attack does not apply to us... So, when we see enemy, we run away!!!

11) The most important lesson learned... The dates of the next ICT. You can start planning overseas holidays on that period.

And the best of all... We are all starving of ciggies by the second last day. One can be amazed by the amount of ciggies taken during a in-camp. Basically, the smokers were smoking when they are free, busy, awake and even sleeping. Smoking corner is basically everywhere. Yellow boxes is there for no reason. We are, afterall, reservist liao. If you wanna set up a good business, go to ITI and sell ciggies. Confirmed, guaranteed to earn big bucks.

COC on the last day. The last day is simply a day of doing nothing in the day, till evening. CO comes and goes. New CO and new RSM. All NSmen. Incoming CO was very "lor sor" during the speech, while we were standing there at the parade ground, trying our best not to faint and to chase away some flies that was buzzing around us, with the watchful eye of the RSM right behind us...

Then, its time to Out-process. That was the time when i received the msg that SK had passed away. RIP, SK. Seriously, it may be a good thing that you does not have to suffer anymore.

Monday, March 26, 2007

RTA again!!

Currently having my In-Camp Training (Reservist Trg) right now. From 26th Mar to 30th Mar.

And i am blogging right now... Funny, ain't it?

Yes... I am not in Camp. I booked out from camp to go to work. And i need to go back 2 days later in the morning. And by then, if i still have not finish my workload (urgent!), i will try to apply again.

I got so much things to blog about.

Last Saturday. My zone FA and HN competition. I did a video presentation (in a rush) with the photos taken on that morning itself. Not a very nice presentation, but i was in a rush to get it produced. If i can, i try to put it up on U tude, and post it here. (Earilest by next week, no promises).

I was quite disappointed with myself also. I helped in the training of a corp comp team members, and their results are somehow lower then my standards for them. When this type of things happen, that means the trainer himself is not really up to the mark, which, i feel, that is the case. I must somehow find a more effective way to train up to those comp teams members that approach me for help.

That feeling is quite bad, in a way that i wanted to be alone, to sort things up, to think of more effective ways to train them up.

I was feeling so bad that i ended up not going for dinner with the zone officers and went to a duty with EC instead, NUS borderactive 2007 atatrium@orchard. (Commonly known as PS)

It was a blessing in disguise.

It had not happened to me for a long long time. As i was driving along the PIE towards Changi, before Eunos exit, a long jam happened. Given that time and date, i suspected it to be a RTA that was causing the jam.

As i drive on, EC confirmed its an RTA. No police and SCDF ambulances at the scene yet.

Yes. RTA. It has been months since i helped out in a RTA in terms of First Aid assistant to the Casualty.

The RTA involved a taxi, a car, a van and a motorbike (Oh no!!!). There was a lady sitting on the road shoulder. The case was a facial impact by the inflating air bag. She cannot open her eyes. EC attended to her.

I scanned around. I cannot find the motorcyclist. So, i asked around. Another lady (standing, and talking on a mobile) admitted that she is the motorcyclist.

"Hello, are you okie? Do you feel giddy?" was my question to her.

She shook her head.

"Do you feel any pain on any part of your body?" i queried.

"Here, here and here." she pointed to her leg.

Did the accessment, and EC suspect its a left anke or heel fracture.

So, we did what we think is correct, and wait for the ambulance to arrive, which it did minutes later.

I was on the wrong lane to take the "short cut", so, i make another big round to sent J back. Wistness anothe RTA, but there no casualties. And so we go back to MP via PIE again, and passes by the RTA scene and was amazed that there is is another (smashed) in to the back again. No casualties again.

Friday, March 23, 2007

"Poor" Countries

WHO urges more support for pandemic flu vaccines for poor

I read this article with interest.

Basically, the WHO is asking for the rich nations to help support in terms of finanically and other logistical support to the poorer nations.

This started up my brain into thinking mode.

Please do not misunderstand me. I am more than glad to help in terms of a crisis. But one thing that struck me is this. How come there are such "poor" countries in this world?

What causes the poorness and the hardship on the citizens of those nations?

Its the management ppl, or in a common term, its the goverment of those countries. Civil war, unrest, terrorism, slavery etc. Those are a very common sight in "poor" countries. Its the warloards, the goverment, the clans leader that are gaining on the hardship of their people.

In fact, some of those "poor" countries are very rich with natural resources. Like the movie "blood diamonds", the land is rich with diamonds, but its the warlords, who takes everything, sells the diamonds, purchase weapons with the money, and goes to kill more people, causing more hardship for the people.

In the movie "Black Hawk Down", the rich countries donated food, and logistic aids to the citizens. Who took over those food rations? Who suffered in the end?

And when a warlord "promises" the citizens of a good life and freedom when they win the civil war, how often do you see those promise being fullfilled? To the average ppl, their hardship continues, or even to a worse extend.

2004 tunsumi. Millions of dollars are being donated to affected countries. How much of those money really went into helping the affected citizens? How much went into the pockets of those corrupted goverment officals? What can UN do about it?

Another thing, i do not believe that the teachings of Islam is to go and terrorise other people. I believe religions teachings are for peace, harmony and brotherhood.

A good leader of a country is one who takes welfare of his citizens at heart. Do not give empty promises. Action speaks louder than words. In terms of hardship, crisis, the goverment should face the crisis with its people. When in suffering, suffer together. When in good times, enjoy together. He sticks to his people in times of good and bad, enjoyment and suffering.

Who can do that?

Can I do it also? No one knows. Man is greedy and lazy by natural.

Doraemon Magnets

The doraemon craze is now on.

7-11 has been offering the doraemon magnets for purchase of items over $5. Its a collector's item, with 41 different magnets of doraemon in different countries. The last 6 is the Singapore special edition, which is only avaliable at one 7-11 store from the 30th March onwards.

The craze is picking up. One big fan of doraemon is ZX. He is collecting the magnets, and as now, besides the 6 special edition, of of 35 countries, he had filled up 33 countries, with the help of AF. He needs China and USA, the 2 giants of East and West respectively.

There are still others books to be filled.

Now is the period of buying H2O isotonic drinks, will enable you to get a doraemon magnet, and you can go to AF's and ZX's house, you will be amazed by the amount of H2O that they have bought.

But i must admit, that magnet is a lot more nicer than the Hello Kitty magnets that was the craze a couple of years back. Cold Storage is good to have though of this marketing gimmick. A lot of ppl do collect the magnets, be it doraemon, hello kitty etc. Sales have certainly picked up.

So, how's your collection of the doraemon magnets?


Thursday, March 22, 2007

New board game / POL prices

I just played a most "bo liao" board game.

Its a horse racing board game, whereby you can place your bets on which horse will win, and let a stack of stupid cards to decide if you win or lose. (Lucks counts to allow your horse to proceed forward.)

Its the first horse racing game that a horse can go backwards!!! WTH!!

I was playing with AF, Jolin. And to those who know the 3 of us, you can guess who is the winner. (Not me, i am not a loser for nothing).

If i am playing with real money, i will be flat broke liao, competing with the horse for grass to eat, and drinking west north wind.

Hmmm.... That's why i dun gamble. With this kind of luck, i would be long "dead".

UNO and Aeroplane chess suddenly seems much more appealling to me than this horse racing board game.

Snakes and ladders, anyone?

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This is a totally unrelated post (lazy to create new post lah, a sai bua?)

Discounts for diesel prices had increase again. Back to 29% discounts after a few days of 21% discounts.

Though it is good news to me, i was still like "Wah liao, the price always not stable one."

Suddenly, the price will fall, and suddenly the prices will increase. The staff at the petrol kiosks must be very tired of changing all the signboards, especially SHELL, which displays the prices outside.

Its like stocks and shares. The only different is that you save money only when the price goes down, the other way round.

I am being like a stock broker. Higher discounts then top up diesel for my van, or topping up my van even though its still quite full. Hey, you never know when the prices will go up.

And i have developed the bad habit of slowing down when passing a petrol kiosk. Just to take a look at the discounts and the prices of diesel. (Not to buy 4D!)

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Allergies

Some ppl are fantestic. They are so cute that you either want to hug them and strangle them at the same time.

Imagine you are signing up for a sports event, and of course, the organisers would want to know if you had any conditions that will increase the injuries risk, and to let the medical ppl on duty know of any conditions to enable the medical personnal to be prepared for it.

And in the sign up form, they would ask for any allergies, be it drug related or generally.

I had attended 2 events as a medical personnal on duty.

Both yield funny results in the "allergies" column.

1) Allergic to cats and dogs.
Hmmm... only cats and dogs har? What happen if that fellow goes near to cats and dogs leh? what will it cause?

2) Allergic to rashes.
So, do not get any rashes loh, then you would not have any allergies.

3) Allergic to 7-up and Sprite
Errr.... why only 7-up and sprite, and not others like coke, pepsi, ice cream soda?

And the best of it all...

4) Allergic to bread.
No comments...

Reflect on it.

So, if that's the case, during my ICT (reservist training), i will declare myself to be allergic to:

1) Green colour uniform, as it will cause discomfort when i am wearing it.

2) SAF camp, as it will cause me to be sick, in a layman language known commonly as "homesick".

3) SAF Training Areas, as there's lots mosquitos there, and the chances of dengue and malaria will be significantly higher.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Deferments!?!?!

I got a shock this morning. My boss sent me this msg: "u need to delay to camp".

I can see crows flying over my head, i can see worms crawling on the floor. What's that msg suppose to mean? What is delay to camp? ( I am supposed to be on the afternoon shift).

That's when my stomach sent me a message also. A message of hunger. My brain went to analytical mode and decided that the message from my stomach is of a high piority than the message from my boss.

So i ignored the sms on my phone and charged into the kitchen and raided my fridge, set up an ambush and managed to hold 2 eggs prisoner.

In 10 minutes time, i was munching away on my french toast happily.

My phone rang. It was my boss.

"Simon, next week, the letter will be ready, and i want you to be around to start informing the goverment agencies, don't go back to army camp."

Wah... macham like the my boss is the CDF. Say dun go back can dun go back. Suga Suga like macham SAF camp is my house like that. Cannot lah! Need to apply for deferment liao.

But then hor, think about it, if the SAF camp is like my workplace, wah!!! shiok siah!!!

And the call came after i had cut my hair, "packed" my stuffs for the In-Camp-Training.

Create more work for me instead... 2 weeks ago, asked if my boss willing to write letter for me to defer, and i got the feeling that my ICT period will be the super peak period for my workplace also, being a new management, lots things need to be done. That time is still early for internet deferment application. My boss say never mind. Now he's asking me to defer, and its too last minute.

Some phone calls and some hurried explainations later, i still need to go back to camp on Monday to report and see the CO about the deferment.

It's the same CO who had refused to excuse me from a TECHNICAL Mob because i got NDP Medical Duty OPERATIONS and i was the ground commander for the SJAB personnal on duty during NE Show 2, at Padang, 2005.

I still feel like kicking his butt. Make me rush here and there. Goddammit.

So what he's in the army? So what's he's a half colonal? I am a full civilian! Call me MISTER!

Monday, March 19, 2007

AYAM

Another Monday, a "bluely" day to mark the start of another working week.

Monday to me also marks the end of a busy and hectic weekend, slowing down my pace of life by going back to office to work.

Indeed. Weekends are normally busy and hectic for me. Work, SJ, gatherings, catching up on my sleep, etc etc... All those will keep me busy and hectic...

Take for example my last weekend.

Friday night. Did not sleep the whole night... Scared that i cannot wake up on Sat. 4 plus in the morning. Msg and jio CS to go ECP Mac. She does not want to go. So, i went to HQ to pack the logistic for the duty later, and went for a short rounding.

0600 hours. Went to Marine Parade to pick EC up. Went back to HQ.

0800 hours. Left HQ. Destination, Sentosa.

CS did try to jio us to go sentosa on that saturday. And i ended up there. Not for joy, fun, laugher, but for duty.

Information that i received, Duty end at 1300 hours. By 1600 hours, we are still doing the duty. EG enquired the organiser. The event is supposed to end at 1700 hours. A serious case of miscommunication.

Fed up. Whole day driving around sentosa. Ended up with a sore back.

After duty, proceed to ten mile junction to pick up stuffs for the BBQ.

Yes. We have a gathering BBQ of BP WLNY members. Its been a long long time since we had any gathering. It was quite fun. Went flying after the BBQ.

And i slept the whole of sunday. And woke up just in time to catch the movie "phantom of the opera" on TV. Nice show, and back to flying after the show.

Another weekend passed.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Crystal Jade Restaurant

Last Thursday... I went to a Restaurant to eat. With my boss, the investors (big boss) and my colleague.

Its the Crystal Jade Restaurant, located at Ngee Ann City, Orchard.

Its then i know the real meaning of luxury in a restaurant, except my brother's wedding. (We are sitting at the VIP table for the wedding...) Its also when i know i am "sua gu" in terms of luxury eating.

The restaurant was busy. It was crowded. The table we were at was huge, even though there was only the 8 of us there. The ambiance was okie, given the crowd and the noise there. But the food was served in portions directly to us, not placed in the middle where everyone started to fight for the best portion, best ingredient.

Its the food that i am talking about. Or rather, the food that the big bosses ordered.

First plate. Roast ducks, chicken and pork, topped up with jellyfish. It was simply yummy! The meat was cooked just right, and it remain tender and tasty.

Second dish. Peking duck. To be frank, that is the very first time that i am eating Peking Duck. It does not contain any duck meat. Only the roasted duck skin, and its crispy. I had 2 helpings.

I cannot recall what comes next. But what i can recall vividly is the fish. It is really fresh, and the gravy that comes with it was fantastic. Simply fantastic.

The next dish that i can think back of with dripping saliva, slurping, is the shark fin. Its not the shark fin that you get in normal eateries where the thick soup is much much more than the shark fin by ratio. At Crystal Jade, the servings of shark fins is more than the thick soup! Though i must admit that the amount of crab meat was a bit pathetic. Its like the shark fin's is not considered a soup at Crystal Jade. You have to bite and chew at every spoonful that you thrust into your mouth.

Man, i am still watering thinking about the dish.

Veggies next... Those who know me that i can be quite selectively when it comes to veggie... But the veggie dishes at Crystal Jade was good, though the "bai cai" was a bit over-cooked by my standards.

The "sheng mian" was also fantastic. But they added lots of "chong" and bean sprouts that i am not so fond of.

But i do admit that the dishes was a bit "too rich" for me. Its not for me to eat those kind of dishes that often. I did not see the bill at the end. The big bosses took care of the bill, but i can imagine it to be hefty. Which can causes a common man like me to face bankruptcy if i am to eat at that restaurant a bit too often. Well, as the chinese saying goes "yi fen qian, yi fen huo" (best goods come with a price) right?

Well, time to wake up and go back to eating hawker fare, and i do admit, some stalls do churn out fantastic stuff also, which is more healthy for my wallet.

Friday, March 16, 2007

New Milestones

I feel reborned.

Although things are still the same, but to me, its like being all over again... A fresh start.

Offically, from today onwards, i am no longer with Auric Pacific Nutritech (APN) Pte Ltd. I got a new job. The job scope is exactly the same as the old one. The locations of the office and factory is still the same, and we are still producing the same old things.

The company is different. It has a different investor, it has a different name, and now, we have more freedom.

The name has been changed from APN to APN. Auric Pacific Nutritech to Asia Pacific Nutripharm.

Yeah!!

Frankly speaking, i was sick and tired of the management of the old APN. It seems like we are being restricted to lots of things. We have to do our own marketing, and while we want new products out, the management will pull us back. When the management thinks we are getting a bit out of control, they will pull us back and tie us up.

I was at a low morale before. I had asked myself, issit worth it to work for the old APN, whereby they do not really spare a thought for us. Any updates on the company policy, memos or even staff sales, we would never know. Family days, Dinner and Dances, we would be the last to know, usually after the deadlines.

How do you feel if your boss gave you a good apprisal, but the company refused to give you the performance bonus for 2 years straight? How would you feel if for the past 2 months, you never receive your pay on time?

Now, i hope things will be different. I had met up with the investors yesterday evening, and had went for a dinner with them. From the meetings, my boss suddenly has lot more freedom, leeway, enpowerment to do things our way.

Expect to see more products coming up from us.

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Accompany my dad to AH yesterday for some minor surgery. Glad that he is doing well.

There's a chair in AH, Ward one, that is extremely comfortable. the leg rest can be brought up so that the user will be in a semi sitting position, and the head portion can be lowered to become a bed!! It is spring operated.

The chair reminds me of the seats in the first /business class seats on airplanes.

Brand name is "cellini" i think. The nurse informed me that such seats can be found at Jurong East. Anyone can help me find? Especially the price.

Its so comfortable that i almost fell asleep while sitting on it...

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

What does love mean

Received a mail from AP. Thinking of sharing it with all my readers out there. Quite amazing how the young kids define the meaning of love.

And sad to say, in this manner, kids are a lot better than adults.

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"What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

**********

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love"
Rebecca- age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5 "

Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my dad dy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen"
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt .."
Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)
Karen - age 7

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8

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Competition teams

Went down to help SY train her comp team members yesterday.

In fact, there are 2 teams yesterday. Same level, but a bit contrasting. How contrasting, can be view straight from their motivational attitude, and perhaps, their experience.

But ultimately, what is their attitude towards training, learning new things, is they, them. How motivated can they be, is by they themselves.

To be frank. One team is totally independant. They are able to train themselves, with the advice from the instructors, a mistake here and there. The other team, when left to themselves, will prob be long gone... back to their homes.

Thinking about the 2 teams yesterday evening. I had came up with some nonsense.

TEAM. Its the team.

Its just like Public Duty. Public Duty is to be honest, is a boring thing, especially to low risk events. But how come the duty siaos keep on chionging duties leh?

Its the team. If you enjoyed being in the team of duty siaos, chiong duties is a hell more less boring. We joked, we laugh, we discuss, we taught and we learn. All we and no I. But to be able to chiong the duties with the duty siaos, we all need a bit of interest in duties first.

Its the same for the Comp team.

The ppl first must have self motivation to join, from there, in the case of SY's crop, the "sisterhood" takes over. For the self-disciplined team, they eat together, they play together, they joked together. No secrets, it seems. That's why they are close to each other, and they are more motivated to succeed.

I did a motivational "pep talk" for the other team. And it works a little bit. I can see sparks starting to fly, and now, its up to the other team to produce the fuel, and oxygen and ignite the spark to a blazing fire of motivation, self discipline and endurance. Each one must play a part to be part of the team.

The person who needs to play a huge part will be the team leader... The rise and downfall of the team morale is solely on the shoulders of the team leader. He/she must motivate their team to move forward after a strumble, and not to stay there and cry like a baby.

This reminds me of the book. Seal Team 6. Rogue Warrior. Making of the teams.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

FA and HN competition

Oh yah... something cropped up in my mind.

Its the beginning of the year, and everyone's in SJAB are getting busy. Very busy.

Coz the beginning of the year means the majority of the zones in SJAB are organising their First Aid and Home Nursing Competition. So that they can select some teams to represent them at the National FA and HN Competition at NHQ level.

Not to mention that the Officer Training Course had started and some members are also training for the Singapore-Malaysia FA and HN competition.

And since the zones are organising the competition, schools are preparing their members, training them to represent their schools for the competition.

There's a "mad" rush to find Officers to train the school members for some schools. Zones are in a "mad" rush to find judges for their competitions. Judges are in a headache to arrange their schedule.

As mentioned in my previous post, GQ had approached me to help to access his competition members in FA and FD. He had organised a camp just for them, to prepare and train them for the competition which is held this coming weekend.

SY also approached me to train her comp team members.

Hmmm... I do wonder sometimes how effective the comp team members are. In a real case, will they help? If they do, can they cope?

It happened before. In 2002. I was in NHQ, waiting for DT to arrive so that we can go to PA to train our GOH for the BGI. NHQ was full of members training for their competitions. I was in the zone room, slacking, when suddenly, Taufiq ran in.

"There's an accident at the junction outside. Got casualty."

I jumped and ran out tossing the keys, shouting Taufiq to go to my van to take out my First Aid Kit.

Its a car-motorcycle accident. The motorcyclist was lying in the middle of the junction. Some motorists had stopped to help diverting the traffic and assisting in the casualties. A brunch of public KPOs gathered at the roadside, watching, talking and memorising the licence plates of the accident vehicles.

I approached and introduce myself. Taufiq joined in. Accessed the casualty. By the time, DT had arrived, and he did another accessment. He concurred with me that the casualty is safe enough to be moved to the predestian walkway. It is dangerous for him to lie out in the middle of the road on a Saturday afternoon. The traffic was heavy.

Did come wound dressing, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

Ambulance came, paramedics load and ambulance gone.

We made our way back to HQ, and then i realised that almost the whole lot of members and some officers are watching the accident within the compound of the HQ. Competition team members and officers. None came out and help when the accident happened.

That's why i came to the conclusion that i do wonder how effective are the competition team members when they come to a real live casualty.

Weekend again.

Watched the movie "300".

Its talking about 300 spartan warriors, fighting to the last man against an great army. Totally out-numbered.




Before you all started "gianing" to watch the movie, its rated M18. Sorry to those below 18...

Last Sunday. Total shacked out. When i reach home after the movie (and breakfast), it was already sunday morning, and the sun is toasting some butts to the peacefully sleeping souls.

Got 2 hours sleep, after which, its time to go to my brother's place for a 1-month party of my nephew. Nothing much there. Just eating and chatting with some relatives.

Went down HQ to check E mail and to get some rest. After which, i proceed down to Tampines sec. "Trained" their competition team members. Invited by GQ. It lasted till evening, and off to Changi Village to "tabao" the famous International Nasi Lemak with GQ and 2 others for the starving students in TSS.

It was a long wait. Long wait for orders for GQ, long wait for a parking lot for me. I got the chances to park 5 times, but each time, i gave it to the car in the "waiting list" behind me, since i ain't getting off my vehicle.

Funny thing is that i gave up my positions to 5 vehicles. 3 were driven by Malays, 2 were driven by Chinese. The malays wave their thanks to me after they had parked their vehicle, while the chinese drivers just lock their doors and walked away.

Hmmm... food for thought.

Then its back to BP, supposing to wash our vehicles, but i was too tired, so i decided to go straight to office to work (night shift).

I thought i could have some rest in office. Wrong. A flask had been smashed to pieces in a shaker incubator, while the other flask had toppled over. What a mess.

After work, go back straight home and KO.

Note to readers...

I know the postings to my blog lately was very "dry". Nothing interesting. Well, that's coz my brain is not working, or calibrated correctly. Was too tired most of the time, and its not effective to think about writing about interesting posts. Things that happen, i tend to see it in a direction, and not spending enough time to reflect on it.

Pardon me pls.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Bout of depression

Currently in a dilemma... Cannot make up my mind... There's this seeming unsolvable problem looming right low over my head that it's clouding my braining, creating storms with lightings which is affecting me. In a certain way.

Over what?? Its personnal. Wanna know? Don't even bother asking me. I wouldn't tell you. Period. Keep guessing if you have so much free time, folks.

Another weekend is here. Another week passed. Time can pass by so fast, that in a glance, its gone forever, forever... The weeks can turn into months, and eventually, into years.

It seems like yesterday that my sister-in-law had just given birth. And this coming Sunday (tomorrow), we will be celebrating my nephew's one month party.

One month party... That means a month had passed. In a flash.

And i am a month older, minus a month's achievement.

In other words... I am still standing at the beginning line for a month.. In fact for this year.

When will I ever make the first move and move forward?

Or will i be forever at the starting line while everyone having some achievement in life, and i sit down there, admiring their achievement?

You all can tell me, go on.. make the first step, make the first move... but there are obstacles in my way, which is beyond my control. There is also the past, which is hindering me, tying me down, suffocating me with all their weight. I find it very hard to wriggle out of it and setting myself free. Free from worries and stress over many many things.

A master had mentioned that in this year of the pig is good, and lucky for the ppl who are born in the year of the horse. And i am awaiting for the goodness and luckyness to arrive.

Maybe, its just a stage of depression setting in. Dun worry... i will snap out of it... Gimme time, and soon, i will be lame again.

Well, a piece of good news today to cheer me up a little. Diesel prices had dropped again. Shell is selling diesel at $0.788 per liter! Finally, it had dropped to less than $0.80 mark! Time to rejoice!!!

By the way, GTO is a great show.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

UNO is back!!

How amazing the BP kite flyers are....

Went down all the way to riverside point to fly kites with AF, ZX and WC... Not much ppl there, ZX's friend (who had just bought a kite) was there. Zx flew his beginner kite... Brush motors...

"It's a bit harder to fly the beginner kites". ZX informed me...

After flying, i went to top up at shell before proceeding back.

A piece of good news for me... A new price war had broke out. Diesels are going at 29% discount!! From the usual 25%.

That means to say, a litre of diesel now cost $0.895!!! WEE WOO WEE!!!

Hope that price stays....

Back at BP. The 4 of us, Viper. AF, ZX and me started playing UNO cards... I guess, we do have a short attention span too. In a way, we never play aeroplane chess liao. The latest craze, UNO!!!

Amazing....

Talking about UNO cards... Its been around for a long long time... I had started playing it in primary school, but the best impression is during National Camp in 2002. I was doing medical duty for the National Camp, and as such, we are pretty free most of the day, especially at night.

That's when we would gather and have some fun of our own.

And that's when someone bring up some UNO cards and we played. There was a big group of us. Can you imagine us playing just 1 game for over an hour? It was like, non-stop... everytime someone shouted "UNO" (Last card), the others will play down draw 2 and 4 cards and the poor fellow will have to draw lots cards.

The same thing happened yesterday. We had great fun, and Viper got difficulty seeing the colours because of the lighting effect. We play till we become blur, become groggly and everyone starts to make mistakes.

UNO... The never boring game!!

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Tremors in Singapore

I do recall in my Secondary school, during Geography lessons, that the teacher mentioned that Singapore is in a "safe" zone. A area without volcanos, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc etc, which is to classified those as "Natural Disasters".

Well, it has been proven wrong once again. Singapore do have Natural Disasters. Only on a smaller scale then the others. It might be that Singapore is, after all, a small country.

Singapore was hit by 2 tremors yesterday, following the 6.6 magnitude earthquake 430 kilometers away in Indonesia. Yes, the epicenter of the earthquake will not be in Singapore, but nevertheless, Singapore was still affected and lots of ppl in Singapore can feel the tremors.

Suddenly, the words "DID THE EARTH SHAKE FOR YOU", took on a brand new different meaning.

Singapore was hit by Natural Disasters recently too. Flooding at Thomson Road, Landslides causes by the rain. Its only at a much smaller scale, as compared to other countries. Just like comparing a water gun to a GPMG.

A friend had commented that the Indonesian quakes are getting worse. In terms of the magnitude, and the frequency. So, does it mean anything?

From the Channelnewsasia website: Singapore buildings can withstand quake-induced tremors: police , i do not find it reassuring that the its the Singapore Police Force is doing the reassuring. What has the police got to do with building structural safety?

Ain't it the BCA (Building and Construction Authority), HDB (Housing and Development Board) or perhaps, the Ministry of National Development supposed to give us the assurances that the buildings structures are safe?

I find this worrying... Police are into checking the Building structural Safety.

SCDF can go on standby, and MINDEF can go arrest criminals.

"Dumb" Citizens of Uncle Sam?!?!?!

This is a interesting clip, it showed the ppl in the US how ignorant they are of the current affairs.



But think of it... they may have interviewed thousands of ppl just to get the few dumb answers to get us some laugher...

Inadvertly, there do have some black sheep in every country. And those happened to be the few unlucky black sheeps who got picked for the interview...

Well, in my views, god really must bless America....

Question: "Gimme a country starting with a S"
Answer: Asshole!!!

Weekend encounter part 3

After NUS Biathlon....

I thought i could get some sleep in HQ, before the next duty, Yuan Xiao at Chinatown...

Or so I thought....

Alas!!! that is not true!!

My mobile rang. It was from my colleague. I need to go back office to take a look. Damm!! how come my mobile always ring when i need a rest?

Went back office. Spend quite a long time there, of which what had happened, i ain't going to disclosed down here. Rushed back to HQ, changed, and went down to Chinatown.

And i KOed... Inside the ambulance. Next thing i know, my makan has arrived. After which i KOed again, only to be awoke by JH, with the most beautiful message... "Duty ended... Stand down, proceed back to HQ now."

What a weekend.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Weekend encounter part 2

After the comical sight of watching the rich ppl blasting their honks, i went home to try to get some sleep.

And some sleep did i got!! I just closed my eyes, my mobile started to ring. I answered, and after which, i tried again. My mobile rang again. It seems like my mobile dun want me to sleep and keep me occupied with calls.

I gave up sleeping. Changed, and went down to East Coast Park. Spend about 3 hours there. Did the recee for the NUS Biathlon on Sunday. This time, my mobile was quiet... Damm it.

Went to HQ to start deployment planning and packing of logistics. EC, JH and EG was there. SQ join us later. EC and me had dinner from Mac delivery, and i continued packing, till its quite late, about 2300 hours.

Went home to bath, change and pack my clothings, and proceeded to WC's house for a small gathering. After which, i went to Marin Parade to pick up EC, and went to ECP to meet CS, with AF, Viper and ZX.

Here, the story gets more interesting.

It started with AF asking me to turn my head around to ask the 2 ladies at the table behind me if the cards on their table are tarot cards.

And we ended up with the 2 ladies reading "fortune". Those are not tarots cards, but its something like them. Spend the whole night chatting, joking, and by 0545, we made a move. EC and me went back to HQ, where i did the final preparations for the NUS biathlon.

0630. Members started arriving. Briefing started and the whole group proceed to ECP. This is my third visit to East Coast Park in less than 24 hours. Amazing...

I was driving the ambulance. As we passed by the ECP Mac, i looked at EC, and he looked back at me, and both of us broke into laugher.

Duty started. It was uneventful. Minor injuries reported, not serious enough to activate a evacuation.

Went back HQ after that.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Weekend encounter part 1

First weekend of March is a case where lots of things happened, both good and bad...

My impression of the last weekend is one of busy, and tireness. Too busy and too tired.

Friday. I was the graveyard shift. When i reach the factory, a fantestic smell greeted me. I groaned. Shit... the batch had gone wrong. So, i did what i had to do, and after that went to Bukit Timah Market for breakfast with Viper and CS.

If you are damm free on Sat mornings, and want some free entertainment, please do not hestitate to go down to Bukit Timah market, go up to the second floor, go to a seat facing the carpark, and pesto, a nice show is happening right in front of your eyes.

During the time i was there, i had realised one thing. Lots people who goes to the Bukit Timah Market and needs a parking lot there are rich people. Or poor people. There are lots Merceades, Lexus, BMWs, big SUVs (not cheap one hor...), sports coupes etc...

And Saturday mornings are the peak period for the carpark. With lots cars contesting for the few avaliable parking lots. To a extend where horns start baring, cars moving against flow of traffic, and a standstill to the traffic inside the carpark.

There's a Merc sports coupe, who had stopped illegally inside the carpark, causing a bottleneck to develop. The car behind him blast his horn, which provoke some cursing?? and swearing?? from the driver in the merc. That man continued his cursing and explanations even through he had shift his car, and the traffic behind him cleared.

And still he continue talking. And Viper was cursing at that driver, and CS was grinning and laughing away and the comical sight. Then i joined in the fun. I said something loudly in Hokkien... "hey wanna go, just go lah... stop talking cock!!".

That Merc driver must have heard it, coz, the next thing he did was to look at me. ( I was at the second storey, the food center). I looked back. And he stopped his blickering.

We was there for quite a long time. I had wanted to go off early, but due to the comical events that is happening at the carpark, my van was trapped. So, i rather keep myself entertained more and wait for the traffic to clear.

I took some pictures with my mobile, and hopefully, i can post them up here soon.

Its comical.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Test answers

Imagine that I am in the teaching profession, and when it comes to tests or exams, looking at the pictures below, i would have prob died a long long time ago.

Cause of death would be either hypertension or laugher or both.

Don't believe? See the pictures below...

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Know why liao??

OMG!!!

Thursday, March 01, 2007

(Humour) If you love someone

[Humor] If u love someone...

Shakespeare:
if you love someone,
Set her free ....
If she ever comes back, she's yours,
If she doesn't, here's the poison, suicide yourself for her.

Optimist:
If you love someone,
Set her free ....
Don't worry, she will come back.

Suspicious:
If you love someone,
Set her free ....
If she ever comes back, ask her why.

Impatient:
If you love someone,
Set her free ....
If she doesn't comes back within some time forget her.

Patient:
IF you love someone,
Set her free ....
If she doesn't come back, continue to wait until she comes back.

Playful: I
f you love someone,
Set her free ....
*If she comes back, and if you love her still, set her free again, repeat*

C++ Programmer:
if(you-love(m_she))
m_she.free()
if(m_she == NULL) m_she= new CShe;

Lawyers:
If you love someone,
Set her free,
Clause 1a of Paragraph 13a-1 in the second amendment of the Matrimonial Freedom Act clearly states that....

Bill Gates:
If you love someone,
Set her free,
If she comes back, I think we can charge her for re-installation fees but tell her that she's also going to get an upgrade.

Biologist:
If you love someone,
Set her free,
She'll evolve.

Statisticians:
If you love someone,
Set her free,
If she loves you, the probability of her coming back is high
If she doesn't, the Weibull distribution and your relation was improbable anyway.

Salesman:
If you love someone,
Set her free .... If she ever comes back, deal! If she doesn't, so what! "NEXT".

Schwarzenegger's fans:
If you love someone,
Set her free,
SHE'LL BE BACK!

Insurance agent:
If you love someone,
Show her the plan ....
If she ever comes back, sign her up,
If she doesn't, keep follow up with her and never give up!

Physician:
If you love someone,
Set her free ....
If she ever comes back, it's the law of gravity,
If she doesn't, either there's friction higher than the force or the angle of collision between two objects did not synchronize at the right angle.

Mathematician:
If you love someone,
Set her free ....
If she ever comes back, 1 + 1 = 2 (peanut!),
If she doesn't, Y = 2X - log(0.46 Y ^2 + (cos(52/34X)) x 5 Y ^(-0.5)c) where c is the infinite constant of no turning point.

Nowadays' style:
If You Love Someone, Set it free,
If It Comes Back, It is Y ours If It Doesn't, Hunt it Down and Kill It...!!! OR PERHAPS REPORT TO IMMIGRATION THAT SHE/HE IS AN ILLEGAL

If you love someone
WHY IN THE FIRST PLACE SET HER FREE??? CARELESS IDIOT!!!

Long green paper

Talking about my last post, especially the long rectangular piece of green paper, which we known so commonly with laugher or hatred, as a summon.

Indeed. Its one of the few papers that we can react in so different ways, from one extreme, to the other extreme. Its also one of the few papers that can change the whole mood of a person, change the situation and perhaps, the driving or parking habits.

CS nearly got summoned yesterday.

I noticed 2 premas people walking towards the carpark, as i was driving in to AF's block. I called AF. No one answered. I called Viper. His line was busy. I called their house. Viper picked up, and i asked if CS is at his home. She is.

Then i asked where CS parked her car. "In the multi storey carpark, at first level." Viper informed me.

I drove to the carpark, spotted CS's car, and quickly, tear out a parking coupon and placed it on her windscreen. The parking attendance was at that level.

Another friend of mine got 2 summons. She never buy the green round thingy for parking her bike at the carpark.

Me? of course i kena summons before also. A few times, in fact. My respond was always the same, when i returned to my vehicle, and seeing red over the green paper.

" *&^%$#@*@%#$& " would always be my response.

The largest amount i kena is a hundred bucks, but i never paid up. I appealed and it was successful.

Once, i received a call from GK over a summon that was displayed on his car windscreen.

He was at his then gf place (now become wife liao) on a sunday, and when he returned to his car, to his horror, a piece of green paper was on his windscreen. He called me up and asked me how come the summon on his car windscreen has a vehicle licence number that is the same as mine...

He really thought he had received the summon, untill he saw the licence plate number on the summon.

This is the story.

I was at yishun on that particular sunday, running some errands, when i realised that it is too early, so i just pulled up into the next avaliable car park for some smoke. Upon reaching it, i saw a familiar green colour honda city car. I checked the licence plate. It had belonged to GK. So, i just pulled out my previous summon and placed it on his windscreen and drove away.