Rome Sweet Home

Cliche title, I know.

Anw, I'm back from Rome, Italy, just for an update. Been back for some time already but have been relatively busy since reaching home. Very busy.

In any case, apart from a few unpleasant 'surprises' it was a relatively pleasant trip. Unpleasant perhaps because we went during a time of slight political problem. There was a strike on Saturday, and the whole public transport system was down, which grounded us at the hotel. And we had a run-in with a pickpocket-thief who got away with a fair bit of money. Nothing else, thankfully..

Italy is a country with many sights, no doubt about that.. Let's see..

A typical Roman Street. The buildings don't get higher than this.

The Spanish Steps (Piazza Spagna) in Italy where 2 English poets got inspiration.

The famous Trevi Fountain. One of the countless fountains you see dotting the streets of Rome. But no doubt the most extravagant of them.

A page out of ancient Rome. The load of buildings behind,.. they're old. Really old. I think built by the Emperors (Caesars) of Ancient Rome.

And the Colloseum. Also from ancient Rome.

And all that in just one day. All walking.. OH well, it was tiring, but didnt sweat at all. Winter, you see.

To be continued...

If We Fought WWII

Part Two of Post-Exam Elation for my brother.

Another Risk Party. To explain, a Risk Party is just a sleepover where we play risk. Where "we" refers to me n my cousins (my cousins and I).


So last night, up to 4.30 am (actually this morning, now that i mention it) there was a Risk Party going on in my cousins' house. The good thing about Risk (the boardgame) is that situations that are unimaginable in the real world can actually take place. Let me explain.

We were treated to a case of the USSR and USA joining forces with one another to eliminate all the other super powers, The USSR being much richer, believe that. You see, I have to explain.

Red - Soviets
Green - Americans
Blue - Brits
Black - Nazis/ African
Yellow - China Army
Grey - I also dunno.

Anw, I was the Soviets, and I didn't make the same mistakes of my "forefathers". ALLY with the Americans! Unthinkable. But ya, i believe that we got more success, anyway..

Oh yes, i almost forgot, another unimaginable thing - there was peace in the middle east.

Of course some things go according to the real world, for example the fact that the most aggressive force in the game came from Afganistan, and that America ultimately controlled Europe, Africa, America, Australia, and 75% of South America. And USSR just took the simple Asia with its rice fields and etc. Oh, and that the Nazis started in South America (which of course is where most of them hid after the war, so its said..)

In any case, as per normal Lady Luck was sexist and favoured my sister so, needless to say, the wealth and military might of the USSR was evenly matched with the Luck of the Die of the USA. But luck wins in the end. Oh well. Close.

Now, I'm just hoping and praying I don't have to go back to camp tmr. Oh goodness, how I hope and pray. So wasted, you know.. hai..

Another last point.

I'd have to admit that sometimes my subconscious tended to believe that God was not on my side. Its easy to say that that's not true, but the subconscious part of the mind is a part that's not easily convinced. Anw, for some reason (known to me) that subconscious part suddenly, though maybe non-permanently, believes that God is on my side. And suddenly I feel happy. Even when I really really seem to have no reason to be that way.

God is Good.

The Reality of Delta X

So I now embark on a long break from work. I hope. Theoretically I have enough off-in-lieu to keep me far far away from the west side of Singapore for a long time. Ah, I see the irony that I'll be flying far far west soon afterwards.

But nevertheless if all goes well I have a long break. 2 weeks plus a little bit more, I estimate. But as we know the SAF (including here the RSAF) is forever ready and hence this 2 week long break is as easily broken as would a thread be. A thread supporting an elephant. At least I can cross my fingers and hope.

Newses, as my family often puts it:

The A levels are drawing to a close. I can actually feel the tensions and stress subside. And I'm not even the one taking the papers. For those who haven't experienced it, well.. just wait. And for those who have, I'm sure you can identify.

Secondly, my brother's O Levels are over. And we (the family) are actually treated to the sight of him going out with friends. We once suspected that these friends existed only in his mind, but now proof otherwise has arrived. He's out with friends now.

Thirdly, BREAK! Oh yeah, already mentioned it.

---

On a brighter note, I'm feeling much better from the past post. Took me long enough to realise what's wrong, but perhaps denial was at play.

My diagnosis - I can't adapt to change as well as I should be. My fault? Perhaps, but I WAS filled with mistruths and fantasies that, granted, I probably misinterpreted in my formative years.

The Romance of Things Left Unchanged, of Situations when you just happen to wish that time could stand still and change be eradicated. But Neverland is Fantasy. Fiction. Myth.

Wake up and snap back to reality; Logic says the only constant in this world is Change. And it's never been proved otherwise. I've tried to (yes laugh) represent this in an equation, but I think a graph where (dy/dx =! 0) is the best description. So let's keep it that way.

Then I think again. Are Things Left Unchanged truly romantic? I'm sure the stillness of time and lack of change would get boring. And what is romantic about boredom?? So the answer is inevitable, embrace change. Look Forward, rather than Backward. Be Optimistic, rather than Pessimistic.

The future bears many mysteries. Good ones, yes. Bad ones, yes too, and it's the bad ones that make it interesting.

We embrace our new lives and never grasp too tightly to what we once had.

I need that. God is Good.

Saturn out of Line

I think I had better get used to this "no-life" routine of mine. I'd probably have to accept that, i might as well disappear off this rock we call Earth for the next year. Ah.. Did I mention? 1 more year to ORD. But don't get me wrong. 1 more year is still shit long.

I rmb i once wrote that NS sucked the life out of you. And then I looked at it from a slightly more positive perspective - NS replaced what you used to call life. And now i look back and i accept; there's no freaking difference.

Perhaps I'd be cheerier once the A levels are over. But go sit next to someone who cares, i tell myself. Are the A levels over? (For those ignorant, the answer is No..). So for those who probably can tell that they're lucky since they're freaking busy at this period cos Ben is not the happy camper at this period, good for you. But guess what? I'm stuck with myself. Woohoo~

Unfortunately I can't leave myself to rot into a state of disrepair - I so wish i could..

Maybe its that boredom that overwhelms.

But heck, i'm not going to self diagnose myself with a mental illness. Oh wait. I already have.

I need to get rid of this tension. Somehow. Goodness.. Its not healthy.. Oh well..

On the other hand i wonder where Ben went. And i realise i keep asking myself this question. Finally, a self diagnosis. The Only Constant is Change.

Oh how i hate my inertia to it.

Plus i'm irritated with my injured toe. argh.. my last saving grace i.e. soccer out of the question? not to mention any other sport?

Perhaps as The World spins, people keep adding saving graces to their repertoire of sanctuaries. Though i keep losing these saving graces.

*I wish m = sin(Nt) would at least care to cease.*

Matrices

Ahh..Ch5 showed Matrix Revolutions.

Enlightening..

And i think i might be that one more step closer to being a Matrix Fan. But still the Force will Rule in any contest.

I still think Yoda wld whip Neo's Arse. In or Out of the Matrix. Yup.

---

I'm super busy these few days. Going upshift to the Island of Dreams (You-know-where) more often than not. Next shift is Lai's ORD shift - another ORD shift that i'm going for. i.e. Slack probably. BBQ up there perhaps.

Think today i'll sleep early. Xuejun's fault. Countless times i repeat myself. Yawn..

Oh tmr Hari Raya!! Difference for me is the holiday. At least a break. A well deserved one.

Ok night.

The Samba Song

Something has screwed with my tagboard. And i don't like it. Anw, to enhance loading of this page, i shall remove the tagboard temporarily. Till i decide i need to refurbish this page. Which is not today. Got more interesting things to do.

Fine, i'm lying.

I AM trying to learn some useless redundant skills. (note the intentional redundancy of "redundant".. cliche. i know.)

SUCH as..

Learning to write with my Left Hand.
Learning to become Left-footed.
Learning to be Brazillian
Learning to Samba.

---

ONE thing..

I've learnt that the easiest excuse for my cultural interblend (rojak, as my ex-coach once put it) is to disclaim all four races within this one simple statement explaining the inconsistencies between name, colour, language and perhaps culture.

I'm Brazillian. The Samba sort.

Until they get used to my cultural interblending that probably compares to our "multicultural" Singapore.

Learning the Samba. And for those who don't know me well enough, I'm talking about soccer.

---

Was having this discussion and i shall decide to bore the web denizens unlucky enough to type in "ultravioletlight.blogspot.com" [On a side note there's about 8 x 10^30 different possible combinations of 16-letter blog names in blogspot. Approx.]

Global Warming.

1. Get a glass.
2. Put a block of ice in it.
3. Fill to the brim with water (with the ice bobbing about)
4. Wait for the ice to melt.
5. Tell me if the water in the glass overflows (there's the comments function here...)
6. The water is not supposed to overflow anw. mathematically.
7. Which means melting ice-bergs don't change the water level.

Unless...

WE're talking about the ice chunks that are NOT floating, but resting on land. i.e. mainly in Antarctica.

THERE's a difference between fresh water and sea water when considering melting ice-bergs.

I intend to try out the salt water version. curious. very curious.

---

Going for a last minute shift. Its not as though i have a social life that'll be thoroughly affected by a last minute pawai shift.

Anw, its okay if you get off in lieu.

And i realise that i'm greedy. I like off in lieu. lots of off in lieu.

---

Went for mass yesterday at Bt Batok's St Mary of the Angels. Which is in the same vicinity as the Franciscan Friary. And the place is beautiful.

And the service sermon was quite unlike the usual weekday mass sermon. it was relatively long and insightful. maybe because i paid attention. hmmmm..

Anw, i'll be off to bed now. Lots of sleep to catch up on..

Out.

Buy And Throw Away

I saw "Life!" newspaper today, and i was shocked. Because i actually bothered to read past the comics and the "television for today section". Celebrity coverage has been around for a long time. As to why, i have no idea. Personally i usually skip the mundane "this actor was seen with this actress" talk. Today, boredom just overcame me and i just glanced at it. and i really don't understand what's so interesting about celebrities' (who are just actors/singers and mere humans last i checked) lives.

Plus as far as i'm concerned these lives that they live, and especially the lives that the media coverage envision them to live, sparking rumours where rumours never existed before, are not what i'd normally consider model lives to base your lives upon. I mean, i don't know about you, but i consider the fact that their average expiry time of their marriages rivals the expiry date on fruits, perhaps.

Something like computers i guess; one's spouse is a novelty that lasts for a short while before.. Of course, we could solve that problem by not marrying in the first place. Which is commonplace too.

Oh i do envy them sometimes. Their lack of challenge in the world, a separation at the slightest of disputes. They don't have to endure the challenge of maintaining a relationship that apparently has gone sour. so they throw it away rather than attempt to make it sweet. or at least bearable.

But its a throw-away society we build today. Throw away relationships, throw away foetuses, throw away lives.

Personally i'd prefer to attempt to fix something that has gone spoilt, be it a shoe, a door or whatever. But i'm not them.

And these attitudes, embodied in the lives of others that paparrazi happily snap away at, are the lives that we wish to live - the life of a celebrity. a life just like you or me. a life, perhaps lived with an increase in wealth, but a life nonetheless.

They're actors, singers, whatever. But we're doctors, lawyers, teachers, gardeners, drivers, etc. I don't see anybody prying into our so-called mundane lives as i see in their case.

I think the most exciting thing abt show-biz is running from paparazzi and perhaps accusing them of trying to run you down.

And i think to be jealous of them is to be the most sapping-of-self-pride thing that can be done. No matter how perfect they seem, they'll be dead and buried/cremated soon enough. possibly even dead from all their "exciting" work.

And if you really feel like looking up to someone, try finding a more decent "celebrity" that you could look up to. Depending on your religion, perhaps Buddha, or Jesus, or Muhammad. I'm sure they'll be able to guide you as well as (definitely better than) any other.

I'm not sorry about this outburst. I just feel slightly sorry for those who have been made use of to make magazines richer. even if they're probably not sorry for themselves. And i'm sorry of the image some tend to portray.

New Guitar~!

Welcome back, Ben. Welcome back, Computer...

This seems to have been a really long hiatus from blogging for me. But referencing to past records/archives, there have been periods of longer-absence-from-blogger. Usually corresponding to periods of computer being unservicable.

In any case, at long last Mr. Computer (a good joke/argument on whether its Mr or Mrs Computer comes to mind) is alive and well, and hence i can provide an update. short one.

Firstly, the violin thing. There aint nobody to teach me, and i'd rather not bore my pawai-mates' ears off while they're trying to sleep work. At least in some respects i'm respectably considerate. Plus i don't like to sound like an screechy dingobird.

Secondly, i'm going to officially request to stay in TAB. which means that my days will be spent in TAB as well as my nights. Whenever i'm not on off, or in Pawai. TAB stands for Tengah Air Base, mind you. But i doubt i'd ever survive alone in Bunk in TAB, especially knowing how creepy it can get (yes it sometimes is a page out of "The Haunting"). So...

I bought a guitar to bring to TAB, which is mine and all mine i.e. i bought it with my own money. feel so accomplished. cost like $180, but i hope the quality is not severely compromised. Its a classical guitar and it'll add to my acoustic (which actually is my dad's and costs a lot more). Plus classical is a lot easier to pluck notes, which i'd like to learn how to do. So exciting. Plus shopping for the guitar yesterday was such fun too..

Especially considering who i was shopping for it with. haha..

And i learnt smthg new - there are people who can tune a guitar just by listening to it. pure hearing. What i can do maximum is give a 95% accurate tuning of the strings relative to one another. Relative tuning i.e. how each string sounds relative to the other. which i think is quite basic.

And so i was just like "wow" at the dude who tuned by mere ear-work. and i'm still like just "wow".

Also, i have decided to go play badminton again today. after a month-long injury mind you, and i am so fearful that it'll recur. hai...

oh well.. wish me luck.. haha

and good luck for all the exams to all pple taking them..~!

cheers~ n peace.

Bad Day(s)

Bloggers' Mental Block. I read a cartoon in the papers about that. Cute, definitely. And one could probably tell that I have something close to that, seeing as how I started this entry.

But I don't really have one, thats the funny part - i've got too much to say and i'm trying not to bore excessively. Side-tracking, see how i've given up CAPITALISING the 'I's which was part of my initial determination to make sure this blog entry at least will be acceptable by Cambridge. So much for THAT determination.

Anyway (see i havent abbreviated that word yet!) the fact remains that due to certain events to-be-mentioned i didnt have the time to update my blog for the better part of 2.5 weeks. Which, i'd say is a record for some time (see Archives for further details).

---

Firstly, I've passed the one-third mark of my National Service. 6 mths in the Army and another 2 in the RSAF. Prefer the last two months a lot, mind you..

Secondly I've had a few REALLY BAD days. Thank God for my Perfectly Porous Memory (PPM for short) that i have the ability to forget what exactly made those days bad. BUT on one of those "bad" days i did go out for a drink. And i got high after one glass i think, but it was effective in temporarily blank-ing the slate scarred by the bad day. My PPM did the rest of the job afterwards.

Oh the last "Bad Day" i can rmb clearly. Cos the physical effects of it i.e. a Cold, a Sore Throat and a feeling of Lethargy still linger. And because it was just yesterday.

Weeding Grass IN THE FREAKING POURING ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING RAIN. On DISGUSTINGLY SOGGY RICEFIELD LIKE GROUND. urghhhhh!!!!

and if thats not bad enough, my ONLY pants got soaked through and i had to go home all the way in the MRT train cold, in singlet and shorts. ahpek style, i was told. grrr...

And so i'm sick today. But at least, not dying of pneumonia as nafeesa suggested i might hv if i didtn watch out. but coughing like nicky (ref last post).

---

I wanted to learn the violin. ANYBODY out there willing to teach me? OR sell me a second hand violin? cos my budget of <$100 is bit hard to meet. even at sweelee's, where i went to today btw..

I hope if u want to sell your violin you at least live in the Sunniest cum Rainiest and Brightest/Whitest Island! Loads of Pawai free time (.pwi).

violin.pwi
sewing.pwi
cooking.pwi
javascript.pwi
talkingcock.pwi

ok nuffsaid. i'll do smthg i hvnt done for some time. but first, see how the grammar and punctuation and abbreviation and spelling sense has deteriorated over the past few paragraphs? cool innit?

here goes.

cheers~ n peace.

Going it MYself.

Today i'm on off. In lieu of National Day. But fair, i spend National Day at work - its still considered work - and i get to spend the feast of the Assumption of Mary at home. Fair trade, cos i'm quite glad for this welcome break.

Break not only from work, but stressful "play". Just took in the time today at home. Therapeutic. And tmr i'm ready to go upshift again! Yay! Back to my favourite Island! Wahaha..

Refreshed. Feeling Educated, Knowledgeable.

Managed to practise Javascript today; made a script to help timetable planning. The cook always gives a positive review. So i think it was a fantastic script. And i think it shows much promise to better life down at the Office.

Which makes me think. USMS (suggestions to the improvement of workers condition) at the office. There's an obligation to send in 8 per year. I hvnt had any. And now i know why.

I saw the bathroom at bunk didnt hv place to hang clothes; i bought those stick-on hooks for hanging clothes.
I saw it was troublesome to plan a shift forecast, i did the JS script to do it for those involved.

And all this in 1.5 months here.

I should be excused from USMS. I'm independent. Not that i'm too arrogant to ask for help. More that i don't like to trouble other people with something that i think i CAN do myself. Its just that as yet, i don't see any problem around the office that cannot be handled by itself. As long as the superiors give space to implement our own changes, there's no need for obligatory USMS. It just encourages dependence.

And the irony is that the ones that are too big to handle, e.g. Washing Machine on Pawai? or probably too big to handle for them, even.

Latest USMS - don't hv enough variety of vegetables brought up/ no fruits.

Freak. I really don't think of USMS. I'm more enthusiastic about learning a bit about agriculture. Vegetables can be freaking grown, for crying out loud.

---

On a brighter note, i hv no idea where last week's inspiration to write what some call a poem (which i dont see rhyming) came from. But it felt nice to let go of my Mathematical Nature and embrace a different nature. If i were more Mathematical at point of writing that perhaps it would hv sounded more like "she's perfect because she matches every single one of my criteria". which is not nearly half as romantic.

---

On an even more brighter note (yes i threw grammar out of the window along with my pink IC) i am going up to PAWAI again! yay! or have i already mentioned that?

Anw, its a weekend shift so i'm "trapped" for this weekend. Though tmr is my 5th and "provisional" shift - after tmr, if all goes well, i can stay out and finally tap into the full use of my time.

Maybe Driving? or Badminton? or Tuition to keep my mind active. So many choices..

But now, Church!!!!!!!!! Really YAYYY! waahahahaha!

OUT! =P

For Her.

My mum asked me, What do you like Most about her?

And i thought.

I KNEW i liked everything about her.

But what do i like MOST about her?

Is it her enchanting eyes, which first captured my vision?
Is it her beautiful dimpled cheeks, which first enticed me nearer?
Is it her melodious voice, which first caused my heart to sing?
Is it her lovely face, which first told me how lucky i am?

OR is it her honest, pure and loving heart that never fails to love everyone around her, and especially me?

I think its the fact that in fullfilling all the criteria above, I believe that God loves me so much to send her to me. And i'll be forever thankful to Him for that, no matter what He has in store for me.

Happy Anniversary My Darling...

A Thought Too Farrr

Move over Sungei Buloh.. These are REAL mangroves. Ones that have survived bullet-fire... High tide actually, the sea recedes abt 50m during low tide..

Paradise off an offshore island off the south coast of Singapore.

The heavens show their rage on the innocents down below walking along the long jetty into the open sea.. The heavens are beautiful even in anger...

---

Those are a few pictures of MY island (note the possesive element involved in saying that). Even though its far from being MY island. Far, due to an ORD date (which IS welcomed, don't worry) and a rank far below Major General (a major-general's pay is DEFINITELY most welcomed).. Civil Servants in High Places in Singapore get a lot of money.. quite surely more than other countries around us where (if) corruption is abound. More even when the total sum of earnings is considered..

(Roger Federer Beat Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon final)

Food for thought, its said. But its also said don't think too much.

---

I was thinking about smthg i once read in a blog. 2nd degree friend, in friendster terminology. The Hund's Rule concept applicable on SBS/TIBS/CSS etc. Every Singaporean (especially those who hv gone out as a couple, hetero or otherwise) would know how Singaporeans tend to follow the Hund's Rule when choosing seats on a bus..

(Roger Federer Beat Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon Final)

Note, i'm not sure as to whether i'm quoting the right rule here, its been some time since i last studied that quantum thingies.. correct me if i'm mistaken please. n show me the little thing called Evidence! muahaha.. okay i'm officialy looney!! lalala..

I'll come back to that later.. (looney-ness)

Anw, i personally find it irritating when i see one person especially on the MRT sitting in the middle of a threesome of seats. i.e. _____ (IDIOT) _____.

So i find it pretty amusing when i saw a white couple (father and little daughter) decide to educate one of the pple out there.. i.e. Father (IDIOT) Daughter.

and not hesitate to talk to one another over the (now-no-more-an-idiot)... good work. now, another 4,499,991 to go. I think i took note of my friends (who AREN't antisocial idiots..) muahhaha..

thats the word - antisocial. we tend to need that rhineland-like territory to protect us from all the other ugly and rude singaporeans. so funny wahahaha again cough cough..

---

Looney-ness - its a wonder. wonder how people survive 2 yrs of NSF life. glad i don't have to go thru it (only 1yr10mth wahahaha lame). but seriously, they shld conduct a study: brainscans wld be necessary so see WHICH part of army life shrinks your brain... BMT? SISPEC (wld explain a lot *evil grin*)? or the sheer dullness of Fatigue work (aka SaiKang).

(Roger Federer Beat Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon Final)

The word Almost-Sgt Raja used was "erode". which is apt. He did use the word Brainscan too.. bah..

Randomly i think i'm going to change my blogskin. boooorrrreeeeddd of it. need mi photoshop though.. urf..

and here's another few pictures..

The most Lau Jiao on the Island. Been there 9 yrs. Even longer than DB-legend A. Tan. His name is Nicky alias The Veteran alias The Legend.

And this is Nicole aka Retarded Bitch. not being vulgar. just honest. and its her fault if this blog takes time to load because her picture is so big in megabyte size for some absurd reason which i dont know nor care to know. ahh heck..

---

So listen boys and girls.. or rather just you boys out there.. when you do your NS in a couple of years time, and are rolling in the mud, doing SOC or being forced to drink tooth-paste water from your helmet, or even getting service pay, think of me. think of the time you chanced upon my blog. muahahahaha. think. (i sound like a mad scientist.. muahahaha)

(Roger Federer Beat Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon Final)

oh yes. it'll be appreciated if u girls could offhandedly remind your brothers whenever they get exceptionally irritating. yes..

But i'm humane. i'll tell u the secret to my 'success'..

"Arse Luck".

Out.

oh yes. and my brother wants to remind you guys that Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon Final.

Out for real.

Island History

Yay i'm so happy. Uni term is starting!

But wait. its starting without me, dammit..

oh well, i guess i hv to maximise my time spent in pawai trying to learn stuff eg. cooking, gardening, cleaning.. yawn, usual army stuff. and i realised that actually, pawai is the name of a city in india.. hope not a namesake.. it'll be quite interesting to go research one of the lesser-known islands of singapore..

there are plenty of stories eg. ancient civilisations that used to be greater than rome and an army more vicious than the mongols are there to be found/formed. and there are plenty of ancient ruins to base our claims/stories upon.

i didnt take a hike thru pawai yet, they say its 500m long.. tiny, yes.. haha..

any case i hv pics of my friends on pawai, but i hv to make sure i dont include any equipment.

hmm wonder if the tv and the monopoly set is considered among them...

---

Can't upload pics for some reason.. maybe i try later..

for now, ciao.. so busy i am.

yes, while i'm super free during work hours esp whence in pawai, i'm super busy in the rare occasion that i'm home.. though it seems that my days tend to clear up when pple cancel. hai complicated.

and ya, i'm blogging less...

out.

Tsunami Proof

I seem to hv lost the blogging impetus since joining RSAF. gradually been sapped out of me. in any case, i am forced to the upkeep of this blog for the purpose of maintaining non-hokkienised conversation.

I'm clueless as to whether hokkienism is a misnomer. there's so many dialects indistinguishable from each other in that language that i tend to be smothered in. well with the exception of the last shift - mukun can't (or at least not well) speak chinese, kong doesnt, and my fave niko doesnt.

niko is a dog, mind you. 5 month old black dog. i'm ignorant and blissfully ignorant at that regarding the 'breed' of the dog. breed? its a foreign word. Black dog. enough description. bit ugly. but adorable. hence cute, in the literal meaning.

I'd hv gotten wonderful pictures of the wonderful island i reside on for certain periods - i even brought my camera.. but as testament to my idiocy i didnt charge the batteries. but i brought my camera. good enough lah. in the words of tauhid, idea was there.

and while i was happily sitting on that peaceful rock south of the "rock" that is Singapore, an island south of Singapore, Java, was hit by two earthquakes. in relative proximity to indonesia, we are. the second quake actually caused a tidal rise of about a foot - and consider the fact that i had left the jetty minutes before the tidal rise to watch my spongebob.

two guys (kong n mukun) remained on the jetty to see the sea engulf it. (actually the wave water jus managed to cover the jetty, but i tend to exaggerate). me being 40+m (i think) above sea level happily watching an animated sponge and his good friend the starfish didnt feel a thing. but later i got glad for those 200+ steps we hv to climb - it makes the place a very safe place during global warming. or a tsunami, which probably wld be the more imminent threat.

But in any case its such a relief to be back home after 3 days on the island. even if i keep considering it a chalet resort etc. correction, anw - its a chalet resort with area cleaning. tutz..

ok gonna rest. ciao.

out.

World Cup Pneumonia

So concluded the World Cup Germany 2006 last night (early this morning, Singapore time) as Italy won the competition for the 4th time, once more amidst an issue of corruption back home. I shan't comment on Corruption in Italy lest his Excellency the Italian Ambassador posts a comment like he did in "Today" newspaper regarding a commentary about corruption in his country. I'd agree that its unfair to judge a nation by its football players.. but there's no absolving the players involved in their elaborate attempts to soil the nature of the game.

And so concludes probably a World Cup that really i could have won a LOT of money - there was a certain pattern; every team i wanted to win either played horrendously (England) or lost. Quite sad, really.. Except for a handful of matches such as Czech Republic v. USA. And public enemy no.1 (for ousting Aussieland) eventually claimed the trophy. So i could hv won a lot of money..

In any case i believe that the most interesting talking point of the game was inevitably Zinedine Zidane's 3rd extraordinary header in 2 World Cup Finals. For those who are blur, the first two won the Jules Rimet trophy for France in 1998 v. Brasil. The third, this time well placed to the chest of an Italian player, got him sent off.. For those of you who missed the action..

Followed by the Italian's (obviously) must-make-the-ref-notice reaction..

We have it all on camera film - the whole sequence - but i'm lazy to upload it. Anw, Zidane got sent off in extra time, and France went on to deservedly lose. For if Italy did knock out the valiant Aussies and the Deutschlanders, it was evident that they wanted the Jules Rimet trophy much more than the Frenchies. Perhaps bcos half the Frenchie team HAVE already lifted it before, in 1998.

And full applause to the Italian defense, and clinical though sporadic attack.

---

Anw, i watched the final on Pawai, and hence was knocked out clean the rest of today. and it was a good first shift, where i definitely had to do more than my fair share, which of course did piss me off abit.. but apart from that, its okay la. its fun to change generators and do ops checks with the Radio. That's why i'm a signaller.

And 90% of the conversation and 80% of the TV shows and 50% of the radio shows were in Chinese. which, especially the conversation bit, really got on my nerves. technically it feels that i was excluded in all sense of the word for a lot of the time, and i'd have bonded with the sea better. and it was a disappointing day this morning - being poured down by the clouds' tears. and the sky's breath. The wind was blistering cold, and the weather.. still can't recover.

But apart from that.. the nice long nap, the end of world cup, the return home from pawai, the changing into dry clothes, the nice long chat with keira, and especially keira knighley on TV two days in a row.. Enough things to be thankful of. and enough space to still wonder about one of the great mysteries of the FIFA World Cup.

Out.

to You.

I'm back, and so sorry to dampen the spirits of those who believe that there should be more productive things online with the amount of money blogger is spending on me. But i'll just sigh and carry on with my exciting life that nobody will understand.

Maybe it adds to the excitement of hoping for an exciting post everytime u happen to chance upon this site. and perhaps you'd hv been terribly disappointed unless u were a terrorist searching for where the hell the RSAF conducts live firing exercises. Which even then i don't think you'd want to know anyway.

Anw i believe i'll be uncontactible over the next few days - i'm going over to the island. where its rumoured to have a monopoly set, mahjong set, risk set and others.. true, but read the fine print. nobody wants to play. bishk!

its almost as bad as giving u a hell lot of money and no time to use it. i.e. OCS. hurhur. whatever.

anw it never fails to amaze me how skillfull experienced cabbies are at their profession. did you KNOW that they have a computer map on their little screen?? soo cool.. did you KNOW that one day before the diesel prices skyrocketted i wanted to be a cabbie? oh wait. it was before it became known to me that a cabbie's job is the most lethal job (survey done in NYC). even surpassing the more obvious job of soldier. hmmm..

i guess gang member doesn't count.

or race car driver.

whatever.

Anw i think the computer map is probably a waste of money for experienced cabbies. and an insult to their abilities. they don't need it. it'll probably be better used to let their sons see where AMK ave 10 is. My fake address is there, btw. complete with a block number...

I'm gg back to what i used to be - a book worm. i guess those who know me wld probably question that statement, but rest assured, i was an avid reader before. besides, u'd probably hv only known me earliest sec1, which is 6 yrs after i read my last book regularly. strangely, sec1 happens to also be 6 yrs after i kicked my first football. coincidence?

On another note, i did try to convert to "Notepad". disaster, i think.. too personal. too hateful, too cynical of this crazy world we live in. i like myself in this civic-controlled environment that is blogger. u'd like me here better too..

i hate you, world. u're cruel and selfish. why do i seek to please u? why? - 010706

I still wonder. Why?

out.

Swansong?

I'm sorry that i've bored the living hell out of most pple that read my blog. Thank you naf for making that known to me - though i probably always knew.

It also makes me understand just how boring my life must be to an outsider. but seriously, rest assured - my life is not boring to me. so needn't pity the fact that i'm living a life that might seem extremely boring to you.

Which makes me think. a lot of pple's lives are completely boring to others. at least to me. which makes me wonder what purpose a blog serves. what's the difference between a blog and "Notepad"?

Out.

Extension

I still don't understand what ISN'T fascinating about seeing F-16's taking off when i look out of my window. and roaming around in a control tower. or walking across the runway etc. No matter what u guys say, i still think i've got the most fascinating job of them all. i mean.. its such a fascinating job that one of the sergeants has actually considered (and suggested to the relevant authorities) extending his ORD date. yes. EXTENDING.

of course, i reacted as most pple wld - "insane!" i yelled. this reaction is a result of BMT. but then i considered.. its not a bad idea. good job, relaxing enough, peaceful on islands, and, well.. decent pay. plus we don't hv to go outside to look for a job to occupy us while we wait for NUS.

Probably that last paragraph - last two, infact - has probably got some of ur jaws to drop. especially if ur a guy. girls jus dont get ns. and fighter jets. and etc. but thats a fact of life. was reading smthg by neil humphreys abt NSmen. smthg so true, abt how i tired my sister and brother and whoever was watching Black Hawk Down with my meagre knowledge of M-16s. (which i'll gladly announce that i hvnt seen in AGES).

Now i hv to do some research abt F-16 fighter jets and F-5 fighter jets. how to differentiate them. and its so troublesome cos i cant bring any "bytes" into the army computer. no idea why. why i can't bring bytes FROM my com, i understand. but INTO the com? viruses? hmmm...

I mistakenly went down to play soccer. attempt to at least. i decided i'm not gg to try out for the FSS team. need to buy boots. geez. unless i bring my first (and only) pair of boots. which are ancient. and by ancient i mean older than me. think how old that is in footballboots-years..

So excited abt tmr. why? i shan't say. not here at least. hurhur. okay i feel dirty. gg to bathe for the next hour or so. exaggeration no doubt. okay. ciao

out.

Beret

I realised that i definitely would not be able to rmb all the significant events of the past week, seeing as how many significant events occur during the course of one week in the RSAF. yes i'm so proud to say those four letters. even though i'm still like the smallest thing (private) that could ever don the RSAF No.3 uniform (which i'm so happy to announce that i was issued today). i will take a photo in that No.3 Uniform and paste it up here one day, but not now, cos i left the uniform in camp.

Which brings me to my next point, or rather, probably ur next question - "What the hell am i doing at home?". Its a good question. They give me night's out, and i choose to come all the way back home, foregoing the free dinner laid out so graciously at the cookhouse. crazy? nah.. my mom laid out a wonderful free dinner for me at home too. so voila i'm here visiting my home; and having to start making my way back to TAB at 2145. respectable 3 hrs back at home - computer, guitar, tuition room.. etc..

Anw, i digress. i was on the subject of uniforms, and i'm so glad to say that i've achieved my objective in the army. explanation: in BMT, i decided that my goal in the army would be to...

GET A BERET!!!

Wooo i'm so happy i got a beret! And after struggling to put it on for the rest of the day (after 1500hrs) i finally came to this. (see above picture).

Well, they say the Beret needs seasoning, so well. and the colour.. don't ask me, i also don't know. it says greyish blue, but it looks more like greenish blue-ish grey. either way the colour is cool. goes well with anything. yep. unlike the mismatched red or overmatched green.

Anw, another significant event was that yet again i've evaded IPPT test. make no mistake, IPPT is what i dislike most abt army. cos IPPT is a test where we actually hv to work. grrr... work and stress about passing simultaneously. ohh i so wish i pass it. albeit a month-long hiatus from physical training.. oh well. back to camp now then.. sleepy~

out.

The Sadist

I nvr thought it'll ever come to this. but;

HURRAY! SCHOOL STARTS TMR!!!

okay i'm being a terrible sadist, but reason being this is the first time this day doesnt affect me whatsoever. and i didnt even realise the significance of today as the last day of the pseudo freedom for school kids around singapore till i perused blogs of some of them school kids. i.e. my sister. and suddenly it hit me.

that being said, i still hv to book in tmr morning early at 7.45 am; probably will make my way to TAB say, ten hours earlier. to make way for time to get lost in the maze of roads there. actually there's only one long deserted road there. bit scary. it may not exactly cut through the cemeteries of Lim Chu Kang, but goes thru the equally scary zone of army and police camps. look left, look right, you would see the keat hong, police academy and other camps. and every time i pass the police academy i just suddenly rmb the show of a couple of decades ago (Geez.. i'm so old) called Police Academy. and thinking of all the weirdos inside the show Police Academy and realise that Chua Chu Kang Rd's very own police academy is probably likewise dominated by that sort.

---

and i miss pulau kawai again. i mean pawai. i wonder what "pawai" means in malay.. one day i'll make a note to check up on it. i wonder if would they call pawai an island in western countries ? i mean, its tiny.

and singapore has this unnatural habit of naming things bigger than they really are. i mean, MOUNT Faber is not even a hill, let alone a mountain. and here i was growing up believing that this great ridge that we have is comparable to Mt Everest and co.

that being said, i suddenly rmb that Alcatraz, which i believe to be similar in size to pawai -maybe Alcatraz is a bit smaller - is called a Rock more than its called an Island. and London is still called a city even though its way bigger than Singapore the Country.

maybe its because we asians are smaller than our western counterparts. which would explain why no asian team is in the second round of the FIFA world cup. unless u count the socceroos from down under. who AREN'T asian. though they're beginning to believe they are. (next time out they want to join the Asian group of qualifiers).

Anw, since they're our closest neighbours (yes, tts the sorry state) i'll support the socceroos. yay! good for them. maybe one more round before the real big guns start to take over. i.e. the Brasil's and the Deutschlanders. And yay harry kewell and yay Liverpool.

After all the exercise of the past few days, i'm just very glad of this welcome rest. and one more week in camp; hopefully its a fruitful one.

And i'd better give a very overdue wish to all.

Happy Holidays!!

Yes.

I'm such a sadist.

out.