An Endless Stream of Consciousness

This was my first week as my new appointment of joint Dy S3 and BSO. I have come to realize that Dy S3 is a tough job to say the least. But it does come with its privileges and power.

This week was a rather busy week, with a few of our big shots and myself tending to the EPC for Ex Valiant Mark '06, which is in September. Basically a joint exercise between the US Marines and 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards. Was kind of dreading it originally, but am now looking forward to it, after meeting some of the Marines this week. They seemed really friendly... well at least more so than my bosses. But then again, i can't stop wondering if they treat their own subordinates the same way??

They even gave me a nice cap with the US Marines logo on it. Though i don't think i will wear it due to its bright red colour (heh.. rather orh biang), but its a nice souvenir for me to keep at home nonetheless. My S3 will be headed to New Zealand for another EPC quite soon as well. Hope i can keep up the pace at my new office.

WORLD CUP FEVER

Footballitis has struck again... yes! I do mean the much talked about world cup fever that comes around every 4 years... as the world's most celebrated and watched sports tournament comes to life. Check out this giant sized world cup trophy i picked up the other day outside Orchard Hotel while checking out potential venues for our wedding next year... Cool eh? YEEAAHH! is what i say :P

ARMY = NO LIFE?

I have always wondered why my friends complained about army when i was back in Toronto. I have also always maintained that i will have a positive outlook when i come into the service. But what has happened since then has just gotten worse and worse. Not only have i failed in maintaining a positive attitude, i have sunken to a new low with the realization that certain personnel in the army will stop at no cost to get what they want, sometimes beyond reason.

When i first realized that i was to be posted to 3GDS, i was disappointed to say the least, because of all the stories i have heard abt my unit C-O. 'Tyrant', some would say. 'Gangster', said others. Apparently, my C-O was feared for the wrong reasons across the SAF. He was supposed to be unreasonable, and have a horrible temper; so much so that the only time i lost any sleep since i came to the army was the night before my first day reporting to Bedok Camp.

however, as time passed, i have come to see that not everything was as bad as ppl made it out to be. at least not for me. True, my big boss does have quite a temperament. True, he may not have the best way of confronting of subordinates--often screaming at point blank range and also metting out physical punishments to his officers in front of their men, so much so that they have no dignity left. But one thing i see in my C-O is that i believe that he is a reasonable person. He respects that his subordinates have a life. They have a family, they have things that they hold dear.

My new boss mr. "S-3" on the otherhand, just showed exactly why he can be the opposite. On this very fine day, which happens to be an off day just in case u don't know, he informed his dyS3 that I have to attend the s3 conference scheduled at 1800hrs. Not only was it last minute, he also seemingly deemed that fetching my sis and mom from the airport is unimportant. Fair enough, after some explanation to the dy S3, he allowed me to be a couple of hours late, but the fact that he said, i quote "since when did the BSO decide for himself whether he needs to attend my meetings?" is reason enough to see a certain part of his character.

My dear Cathy, i understand ur concern. I understand ur worry that if i were to mishandle this circumstance it could potentially ruin my working relationship with my new boss before it has even started. And it is because of that promise that i will take a step back and accept this nonsense. If i were to lose every trace of my personal life after this week when i officially report to s3 branch, so be it. I guess it is time i learn and understand that the way of the real world is as such, and needless to say, my current workplace is no different.

have settled the church and hotel locations for my wedding next august. although the guest list and lunch locations still need a lot more working on. i also went with Cathy and my sis to view their wedding dresses at the Stamford building yesterday evening. quite a few of my friends have been asking me whether or not i am ready for marriage. believe it or not quite a lot haven't found out yet and some have just gotten to know about it. their reactions were mixed, some with shock and excitement, some happy, and i guess there were a few raised eyebrows as well. anyways, back to the question: am i ready for marriage? i have always wondered when will be the day i will be bothered with that question, and i guess in my case the day came sooner than i expected. Certainly my decision to get engaged was not done in the heat of the moment. Though most of my friends can rightfully say that i can be a impulsive person. someone who acts on emotions. i was never one like my mother, or my sister for that matter, much to their dismay :P however, this time i can safely say i have thought through the whole thing and have come to the conclusion that this is what i want to do. and cathy is the girl i want to spend the rest of my life with. i know life after marriage is different from life as a dating couple. i know there are difficulties and struggles of starting a family together, of managing our work time, of financial management. Hey, chances are we will fall a lot along this journey. But the bottom line is, she is the person i want to take this journey with. We all have our own paths to take. So for those of you who have been concerned about me, thank you, but this is my path i have chosen to take.

Mah Big Sista's back in town! yeah man...

ok well this is like 3 days belated sorry but it ain't my fault. for prompt news live updates in singapore let me redirect u to http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/ :)

ok. jokes aside... am so happy to see that chatterbox back home safely. my sis never fails to liven up our home with her presence when she is back. after all these years i guess i realize that her noisy chatter is actually music to my ears....

taking a few days off now during this period. it is now just 10 more days before i officially report to the S3 branch as the new dy S3. For all the resistance that i put up before, i am thinking if this is really what God wants then so be it. i have been in similar circumstances of uncertainty before, and I have came out of everything fine.

this time round i guess if i were to really touch my heart it would be for more personal reasons that i did not want to work there. reasons that only my family and close friends would know. but i keep trying to tell myself, i am still in green. A soldier's life is as such, and we go where our superiors tell us to. And i really hope i will give my best in my new appt.

have been busy preparing for NDP 2006. this year's showpiece event promises to be a real grand event. Probably more so because it is the last year it will be held at our National Stadium before it is torn down and rebuilt. Am trying to see where i can get the tickets from for my family. there shouldn't be any problem for the preview on July 8, but actual day is the problem. oh well, by then i would probably have seen the entire sequence a thousand times already.