And i think to myself, what a wonderful world.

I had a great day today to cap off another wonderful week of my life. I was unfortunately knocked out of the Lim Chu Kang Idol competition earlier on wednesday, which was really just a PR mission on the part of my battalion HQ. Every company was represented, and has to be so. Thus, some lesser competitors were allowed into the finals and i was to make way for them. But in the end, the first LCK Idol was really a notch above all the rest. So, even if i was to stand on stage with him, i don't suppose i'll stand much of a chance.

And that was LCK Idol, but i did pull off a gig that i particularly enjoyed, wearing my own x'mas gifts - a beige white adidas jogging coat and a pair of cool adidas tuscany goodyear racing shoes; a very good way to justify some spent cash. =P But now they are sitting pretty in my closet, for they are too nice to wear out onto the streets, though i suppose i will have to don them for casual purposes eventually. They were bought with hard-earned cash man! I must prove their worth on me. heh

Finally finished watching The Lord Of The Rings Special Extended Edition Trilogy. It was a damn impressive collection, for all the added scenes really brought out the story clearer, being much more relevant to the bona-fide novel, and that was with more exquisite special effects and outstanding scores. The intricacy of the closely knitted relationship shared between each and every key character was better portrayed and the loose ends that seemed to be hanging from the cinematic screenings were really tied up better. Now i have still the tome of cinematic documentaries and appendixes to negotiate. It will take a while longer yet to complete the viewing of this priceless gem - My Prrecciouss... =)

Last but not least was my perfect day today: I went for a good water session in Mac Ritchie on a K1, after nearly a year's absence, and realized, to my great astonishment, that i can still paddle acceptably. Boris, my coach asked me to compete with the national team guys and i was really not ready to do so. But after the testings, i was thinking: if not now, when? Might as well start now and know where i stand. It will save some considerable amount of time in catching up with the rest in the near future.

Then met up with my old classmates and shared many cheers over lunch at Pastamania, cineleisure, and it was really some good food! We then proceeded to play pool at monstercue, where i won four games in a row, at the expense of my friends. hehe...

Evening was spent jamming in Boon's Studios with Fucang for two hours, and we did a couple of our own songs and two covers. I really enjoyed myself on the drums. My beats and my feel of the rhythm became much clearer and precise, all thanks to the lessons learnt at Contempo School. After the jam session we discussed about our annual countdown BBQ at East Coast Park over prata and curry, together with some good old laughs induced by our shared reminiscences. I was rolling over with laughter practically every minute! We are one hilarious fivesome, and it's fantastic to know that we have lost none of the lustre of friendship built upon many yesteryears.

What a fantastic x'mas weekend! But i think next weekend would be tonnes better, after all, we only get to do countdown once in a year!

The Final Stand

Ex Pegasus Ended on Wednesday. It was the last outfield mission that i will partake in 4 SIR. I'll be going away for Company Tactics Course in Advanced School before I clear my leave prior to ORDing in June 2.

The Exercise was one that i had wanted to put in my heart and soul in order to make it a success, and it was indeed. The impermeability of our defence was upset by minor mistakes here and there, but we did succeed in holding out our foes - 1SIR, long enough to delay them beyond their re-organisation time. 2 hours and 45 mins was the time that we held out on our objective - Mathilda Hill. Even though we were out numbered and out flanked on numerous occasions, we did managed to re-consolidate and fight a stubborn delay battle on our final stand - locality Mango, overlooking the security of a doctored link bridge that my company was tasked to hold.

I was severed in position from the rest of my company when my foes sneaked up on our soils and cut our forces into two at dawn. With me were two other men, whose eyes betrayed their fear, and indeed i was scared too. We were then surrounded by companies of enemy troops, who knew not our presence amongst them. We crawled and we sneaked our way past their Bravo, then Charlie Company. We were inching closer and closer to our final prepared stand when we were spotted by a sentry.

"Hey! there's someone out there!" shouted the sentry.

"Who's that? Is it an enemy?" added another.

We were dead, i thought. I looked back at my two guys, who were clever enough to stoop down in silence. I stole glances at them and i saw wide-eyed fear. C'mon! think of something!

"Hey! i see him! Hey you! Who are you?"

I proned down immediately, making sure that my differing uniform was not discerned in the semi-lighted vegetation, and blurted out: "Hey, you! Where are you from?"

"Charlie! And you? Where are you?"

"Over here!" I waved unhesistatingly upon request; the slightest pause will garner their suspect.

"You know where Bravo is? I'm looking for my Platoon Commander!" A lie, but a good lie.

"Eh, i don't know, why don't you move further up in front?" The two sentries turned to leave.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Re-org!"

"Can i come?" Then i saw nothing of them two save for their departing shadows against a rising sun in the East. Phew, that was close! Now that we have bought some valuable time, i have got to think of a way to get us out of here.

The sun crept up against the horizon and soon our positions would be exposed. And my god-damned weapon was giving me lots of problems; it just would not load the rounds! I attempted another go to remedy the situation when i heard the approach of a section of enemies. They are clearing our immediate flank!

"Comb this slope! Make sure nothing is there... Hey! i found something!"

One of my men fired his weapon at the enemy frantically. Shit, don't do that! But it was too late.

"He fired at me! It's an enemy!"

"Run!" i got up from my covers and made a dash for it. But when i stopped, i was left with just one man.

"Faizal, where's Ronald?" i whispered in the silent jungle air.

"He's taken, the enemy got him."

"Okay, you see that opening? We are going to make a dash for it to our Company HQ. You ready?"

"Ready Sir."

"Ready, GO!" i burst into the open and dashed down the main axis. Never looking back, my legs bore me as fast as i can past several enemy positions. One by one they took up their rifles and fired. But they missed, for the laser detection device on my body did not pick up their fired lasers.

"Stop him! Stop!" shouted someone, but i was never intending to obey. My sole task now is the get to my HQ alive, which i did. Just in time as well, for my officer commanding was no longer around.

"Dzhul, where's OC? Who's in-charged here?" I asked my Sergeant Major.

"OC's away. That leaves you in-charged here, sir."

"Ok, what have we got?"

After Sergeant Dzhul gave me a quick brief on the situation, i was brought to Platoon 3 PC - Vincent, and i was glad that he had his reliable Machine Gun with him. Platoon 3 holds the final stand at Mango, which was segregated by two concerntina wire obstacles across the axis - perfect delay lines. Platoon 2 was then under assault in the frontage but they just will not withdraw to Mango; a folly that will cost us deeply. For it will soon surface that a single MG will not suffice in defending a platoon from a company attack on two flanks.

After a quick brief and deployment of forces, we laid in wait for the crunch. By then, Platoon two was no more. In the quiet of a Wednesday morning, we waited.

"This is it. You will hold this ground, gentlemen. And you will fight for each other, and die for each other on this locality, do you understand?" i issued my last prep talk, to which some answered with a resounding 'yes sir', and some did not. That didn't matter, as long as they understand fully that their task now is to simply stand and fight courageously.

The attack was swift. The enemy flooded over us in matters of minutes, but our MG did well in pinning them down, if only for a while. A gradual displacement due to overwhelming enemy penetration eventually resulted in the attrition of my forces. . Lying in the middle of my final stand, my weapon was stuck again. Looking over the ridge at me was an enemy Sergeant. He saw my plight, and was taking great pleasure in lining me up for an aimed shot. No way was i going to grant him that pleasure. I dumped my rifle aside and immediately sprinted up to him before he could focus his scope on me. With a yell, i gave him a close-line, WWE style. i was going to grab his rifle to shoot him when the Umpire shouted, "Hey! No physical contact!"

Alright, i thought, i can live with that. I sat back and smiled at the shell-shocked soldier, gave his helmet a slap and stood up, declaring my death.

Then i saw that all who have fought with me at Mango were dead too. Lying in the middle of the locality, they were waving to me. With a sigh of relief i took a seat amongst them and just then, OC appeared. A bit too late i reckoned. Anyway, the guys did well and i'm proud of them, for Mango was held for another 45 mins during that firefight. It was indeed a good learning experience for my company and me in issuing field commands and making decisions. i'm glad that things went our way in the end.

So that ends my involvement in Alpha Company, 4 SIR for outfield exercises. i will miss working with the guys and commanders. They are a wonderful bunch of people.

A Foot to the Ball

People are like soccer balls. They need to have their asses kicked to start rolling and to eventually accomplish spectacular feats like bending round walls and scoring late on. This week was spent finding ways to get those balls rolling; and as the week wears on, to get them flying into goal.

As the enenmy 2IC for my company, who is tasked to support a 1 SIR full troop exercise - Ex Pegasus, i was instructed to plan for a defence mission and to indent necessary Signal Stores [S], Medical Support [M], Ammunition [A], Ration [R] and Transport [T] - SMART. The creation of staff aids like maps, blown ups of my company's objective etc. was not too difficult. It was the process of making the SMART indents a reality that really got me to play ball.

All week long, i was bugging people from brigade, 1 SIR and my unit for replies and confirmation of my indents. Some were admirably responsive, but the bulk were simply taking their own sweet time. It was understandably difficult to mobilise manpower and commitment to serve my concerns as i was nothing but a small fry and there were equally urgent matters and daily routines to attend to. As such, a good four-fifth of playing time was spent passing the ball around in schoolboy style.

Sometimes, football has to be nudged by some inspring playmakers in the right way to spice up the game; getting to know people at Brigade level certainly did that job. With the timer counting down to fulltime, and the possibility of our dear exercise degenerating into a calamitous debacle as logistical shambles continue, push evetually turned to shove. Someone up there in the brigade decided to issue out yellow cards, and immediately, all the support that i've hoped to recieve for my company came rushing in with positive replies. Goals are going in so quick that the game was quickly turning into a crowd pleaser.

Although there are still a few issues to iron out, i am now soundly reassured that the exercise will be a success for my guys. The last few night of moonlighting was indeed worthwhile. Football is really a beautiful game after all.

This is my December

It's Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and Winter in the Northern. My favourite time of the year - DECEMBER! Friends studying overseas are returning, work gets exciting, the holidays arrive, the yearly countdown with my best of friends is looming large. So many events are happening! And i'm turning 21. boo hoo.

So, this year will be the 7th year that the few of us rugby pals are celebrating New Year together. We wanted to make this one a little more special than the years that passed by perhaps staying in the YMCA Hostel. Then maybe go up to the rooftop to have a dip in the pool, and create some havoc around the bbq pit or something. But the chauvinistic caucasian management said, ' NOOO, we're only open to travellers, not locals!' And there goes their S'porean revenue i guess. With hindsight, maybe those caucasian chauvinists are wise fools after all, we could be too rowdy for them to handle.

2005 was a mythical figure when i first entered the army. It was so far away i thought, looking at my Operational Ready Date [ORD], or simply the get out of the army date. Now it is just around the corner, and a year older i've grown. Good, now i can take on my own investment accounts! The local investment age limit has set me back by quite a while now.

Some wise sage said that the only thing that's constant is change. He is incorrect, because there are also alot of other constants in this world... you know, as the mathematical junkies would name for you. But for laymen's sake, he is correct. Come on, give that dude a chance. Changes keep us alive, and so, i think i'm looking forward to another year of change.

Arrgh, why think so much! This is the time to be jolly! This is my December! Cheers!