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Hello everyone, back again, this time an even shorter weekend than the last. Recently been booking out really late, saturday afternoons, and this time I even have to book back in before dinner today.

Well, I have yet another thing to add to my "Things I've done" list. On Tuesday I threw what would be my first and last live grenade in, quite possibly, the rest of my life. The only time in NS anyone ever throws a live grenade happens when they are recruits: the exercise was deemed too dangerous to attempt anywhere else, requiring the amount of supervision and safety precautions as it does.

Few things about grenades. We threw a normal Fragmentation Grenade made in Singapore, nothing special about it. Firstly, you know how in movies when they throw grenades, they rip the pin out with their teeth and fling it? I'm here to tell you right now, that's impossible. Your teeth would sooner come out, and possibly your jaw along with it. It's insanely hard to pull the pin out, it actually has to be twisted before you remove the pin. It took me about 20 seconds to wrest the pin from the grenade, that's how unprepared I was for the stiffness of the pin.

Next, the explosion is loud. As in Loud. So loud, without earplugs it would have hurt... You can feel the shockwave from the grenade reverbrate from hundreds of metres away, especially on your clothing if it's loose. It literally blows your pants off. Even behind the grenade throwing bay with my Platoon Commander I could feel the force of the explosion. It made me go WoW.

We've also started training for our live shooting rifle range, we get to play this cool simulation that's sort of like arcade style live range. Except if you misfire, even though it's fake, you get a real confinement. My shooting skillz aren't too bad at all, but I find that if I don't have enough time to take aim, my accuracy fails (there are things called snap targets, only exposed for limited amounts of time). With practice, I might be able to clinch a marksmanship award.

This week was pretty light on the physical activities, we had OC evening, which is a company level entertainment night where each platoon comes up with a performance to present to the commanders and our OC (Officer Commanding) himself (he's sort of in charge of our company). All in all, fun night, even though our platoon possibly had the worst performance. It was all hilariously funny though, we were given free reign to make fun of the commanders and stuff. And then we watched a movie. Ended up with what, 4 hours of sleep that Friday night, went to the "arcade" on Saturday morning, and booked out after that with grey circles and blank faces. My face is still blank.

Been sick with all manner of things the past week, still sick I suppose. The sad thing is, none of them are serious, but together there's enough discomfort to irritate me, and more. However, assuming I went to the doctor or something, it would just sound like I'm faking it. "Hey doctor, I have a flu, cough, an infected throat, diarrhoea, fungal infections, rashes, blisters, numbness in my toes and fingers, oh, but not running a temperature." Temperature taking is like the only way to check if someone is really sick (at least, in the army it is). Sounds too much like i'm just trying to find excuses right. Except it's all true.

Lynette's been having a real hard time juggling her studies and health too, I haven't even had the change to lend a hand either. Can't wait to get better, so many things I need to do. Hopefully everything should settle by next week.

After all, it's not long more until I POP =D, only 2 more weeks of pain pretty much, 2 road marches on either of those weeks, 16km this week and 24km the next (God have mercy.). And then that's it for BMT (it could get worse once I get posted to a real unit...).

Alright people, I'm out of time (again). I downloaded Delta Goodrem's new album Delta, haven't even had the time to listen to it. Bah, smash it into the ipod and I have to run.

Ciao.

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Hello again everyone, I'm back for another short weekend, which in other words means I survived another week in camp. Only 1 month more to my Passing Out Parade (POP)! That would mark the end of my BMT phase, after which I'll get posted to somewhere, hopefully not worse than the latter.

The last week was really uneventful compared to the events of the previous few weeks, to be honest. Nothing special happened, well, much. I did get my glasses crushed again (this time by a Sergeant...), and I need to do something about it, but doesn't look like anything's happening, my aunt has random people over at the moment...

Did a trip to Bishan to do some shopping, but the main thing was that I went there to pick up a book... The Great Hunt, Book 2 of The Wheel of Time series =D. David introduced me to the series by lending me to the first book, and I must say it was really good, even if I took forever to read it... Hope I find the time to get into it properly (It's more like book vs PSP now)

Forgot to mention earlier, I managed to correspond with my parents and we (my dad did most of it really, need to give him a big thank you and a hug for that) managed to put together an application for medicine in NUS (National University of Singapore). Hopefully, it goes through and I get a shot at an interview and test. If I get through that, I get to pretty much stop serving my NS, and begin my University studies. After I finish my Med degree, I just have to serve the remaining of my NS time as a Medical Officer... A doctor in camp of sorts. In short, good life. Entrusted the whole application to God, and if it's His will, out of NS and back to studies =D. Will miss home, of course, but it's not so bad, I'll be able to fly back quite often, hopefully, and life should be, in short, better.

Oh yes, my old school had their award ceremony this week on Thursday, and they asked me to attend... I, of course, could not, but my parents went in my stead, and just to have a look. Apparently I was meant to be sitting on stage there, and quite possibly give some speech had I been present... In that sense, I'm sort of glad I couldn't make it. In all others, it just really made me miss home in general. My parents, upon my request, took down the names of key award recipieints and stuff, even gave me such a detailed recount that I was really moved as my imagination played out the entire assembly for me. The people I studied and interacted with throughout the past year, now back with all their results, words of "wisdom", just for some reason really moved me, made me wish I had been there. Ji-Yoon, who took the Dux for VCE (Congrats Ji-Yoon!!! If you're still reading my blog, that is =D), wasn't there either, but I really have to congratulate her, as I haven't had the chance to yet really. Apparently they read out a whole list of embarrassing stuff about me. Gah, so cheap. Take advantage of my absence why don't you.

Both my parent's birthdays were also this week, my mum's on Valentine's Day too. Too bad I really have nothing for them this year... I'll sort my mum's present when she comes to visit next month though =D. She's coming for my POP, and for my whole week break before I get posted to some other place in the army. Should be a good time of catching up, looking forward very much to the opportunity.

Valentine's Day was quite a sad one for everyone, we all stayed in camp and watched as our commanders took leave and booked out, leaving us in camp for another day of training. Those with girlfriends felt it most, of course, I really felt sorry. Oh well, this is the lot of the recruit. Nothing for it =(.

The only reason I'm still here to post right now is because I passed my IPPT (Individial Physical Proficiency Test)! The reason I'm in this batch, in the Progressive Training Phase, was because we all failed the IPPT, and therefore had to enlist earlier, blah blah. The fact that I now passed my IPPT, with a Silver award to boot, says something about the training at least: it works for me? Much as I hate to admit it, it seems to have in this aspect at least. Those who still failed the test booked back in today at 3pm Singapore time, while I get to book in at 8pm. Credit really goes to God of course, wouldn't have made it without His help really.

My sister finally found my blog, after almost a year. Why didn't I tell her of it? Well, there wasn't any reason to I suppose. Most of the content here doesn't really concern her anyway, and I doubted she would have been interested. But evidentely she was, so there we go. After reading her own post (I consequently found her blog through the link she left...) about myself, I was rather moved, and found that I missed her too, to some extent anyway. Hope she feels better, being able to read my posts =P.

Even so, not long left before I have to leave for camp again, much as I would banish the irritating thought. Better start preparing to leave. My aunt's random people haven't left yet, my aunt also seems to have forgotten her appointment with me to the optician. No, I don't know how to get there myself. Zzz. Meh. Living with a spare pair at the moment... Just hope it holds. Should be out next week, so see you all then hopefully ;).

Side note, 100th post and counting! Yay, blog's about 10 months old, so that makes it an average of about one post every 3 days. Not that bad!

Bye bye.

PSP Bible!

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I really need to open up with an apology to all my dear readers, due to unforeseen circumstances (Yeah, I fell sick again, on Chinese New Year day itself) (Me falling sick during my book out periods doesn't seem so uncommon anymore does it... Soon I won't be able to pass it off as unforeseen), I was unable to make the promised post during the week.

A few details about what happened to me first... It started off with feeling uneasy on Wednesday, but nothing to be concerned about... Then Thursday morning brought a nasty fever and splitting headache, together with painful body aches. We had to go to various relative's places to visit and eat stuff, ended up sleeping, or attempting to sleep in whatever possible location. I then vomited what seemed like my entire insides out on Thursday evening. You would think I would have felt better after that right? Nope. Thursday night, no sleep at all almost. Woke up every half hour, and the short bursts of sleep weren't really that... It's just really hard to sleep with unnatural body aches plaguing you constantly (believe me the dreams are worse... Until today my subconscious still thinks some of them were real). Doctors were all closed (Yeah, the only time of the year Singapore almost pretty much closes), so I just lay there rotting. Up to this point, where I'm about 4 hours away from going back to camp (I hate it so much when I put it like that), I'm still not completely well, my back and shoulder/neck are still aching. Didn't go to church today, needed the extra rest badly. Hopefully I'll be ok this week in camp.

Ok, back to what happened the past 2 weeks.

Field camp was quite well summarised in the previous post already, so I won't go into that... much. Only one thing I forgot to mention I think... It was possibly the first time I actually poo'd without any proper facility except toilet paper, an entrenching tool (short, crude sort of hoe) and the soil/mud around. Fun.

Ok, the Situational Test which was from Sunday to Tuesday was honestly not as bad as field camp. Basically was a leadership skill test thing out in the field. Went sort of meh. They throw random situations at you and you as a random group of people try to work together to solve it, leaders rotated for each exercise. External instructors monitoring the exercise. The road march was the worst part though, 12km before the camp started, then 4km and 2km during camp days really killed people. I think the point was to tire you out during the test... Something about performing and thinking even while exhausted and stressed. Lamesauce in my opinion.

Anyway, after we got back to camp, it was really quite a relief. Shower, proper bed, made you feel better after living like a slave, literally (not that we weren't slaves anymore... (not that we are(?))). Not that I didn't already appreciate these things before...

David and the others got back from Japan at some point last week, seemed like the trip of a lifetime. Even reading about it already makes me wish I had been there to share in the spirit and moments. Sigh, but for my lot, it might have been so. However, that's probably not the last time any of us will be going on a trip together anywhere, so it's not time to brood yet ^^.

Going back to camp after such a long break is the ultimate drag. Thinking of going back to that life just makes me want to melt into a pool and evaporate... But there's nothing for it, speaking to my parents over the phone really helped to motivate me to keep me going too. Hope they're having a good Chinese New Year over there too, with all the celebrations.

Really not feeling great now, so I'll end it here... Any more thoughts will come in next time I book out... Which should hopefully be next week. Sick of irregular bookouts and confinements. My social life is getting shot up... No chance to catch up with people anymore, stay in touch whatsoever. Sigh. Army life needs a reformat.

Cya.

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Well I'm back from field camp, long proclaimed as the highlight of basic military training, both in terms of horror and lessons learnt.

Oh yes, David and the gang are back from Japan, from what he tells it they had a great time. Wish I could have been there. I definitely should have. Enough said.

The commanders told us that we would come out of field camp a different person. I beg to differ, in my case at least. I know of many who were indeed transformed by the experience... For me it was just more torture heaped up on my head. It was supposed to make us appreciate the things we took for granted more. I think that happened to me during the first few days of National Service already. Took me much less time to learn that there are many things that we have and use everyday that we could live without.

As for field camp, 6 days without a shower it was. Painful experience. I only expected irritation in terms of being dirty and sweaty 24/7 for the duration of the camp. For the first few days this was so. Then I knew something had to give, and it did. My back broke into painful heat rashes that stung like needles when in contact with sweat and pressure, not fun at all. If not for them, perhaps field camp wouldn't have been so hard to bear. Terrible experience, but it gets a lot worse after BMT, so let's not think about that anymore.

Had a whole heap of stuff to post about, but due to, ahem, time constraints (I know I suck at time management, but hey cut me some slack ok. I get enough of that in camp) I shall keep it very brief.

I'll put it in this way, at the end of the field camp, I can at least cross off a lot of things on my life's "things I've done" list.

• Fired an M16 Rifle (blanks of course)
• Gone without a shower for 6 days
• Gone without brushing for 6 days
  
• Survived on 3 sets of unwashed uniforms for 6 days, amidst rigorous training regimes and being constantly assauged by sweat and exhaustion.
  
• Slept out in the open forest with nothing but a ground sheet, facing the stars
• Dug a shell scrape (In layman's terms, it's a one man trench. In army terms, it's your own grave. Doesn't provide any defence against modern airbust artillery fire ftw.) (Let me tell you, that was by far the most fscking exhausting thing throughout the whole camp. I felt sick when I finished for the rest of the night. No proper tools to dig with like spades, try just an Entrenching Tool. Took me 7 hours almost to dig a hole knee deep, 2 metres long and 1 metre wide.) (Don't ask me how they dig graves so fast in shows. I call BS.)
  
• Slept in the fscking shell scrape.
• Leopard Crawled (Another insanely tiring exercise) 80m (I was nearly dead from exhaustion after this, it's not as short as it sounds) under live GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) fire, with random Thunderflash explosions around.
• Came within 20 metres of a starving wild boar (not fun, was on shell scrape digging day as well. My poor friend's pack got ravaged by it for food. It had tiger stripes too!)
• Had my basha tent flood during a savage storm one night, forced to evacuate and stand in the rain for half the night.
  
• Marched 8km carrying about 20kgs of weight including a helmet and rifle in about 2 hours (This one is death. 12km one inc. for the next field camp tomorrow. QQ.)
  

Without a bible for 6 days, I resorted to simply meditating on scripture and praying. If anything, I think the field camp served to strengthen my faith as I saw everything just work together for my good (I can't be bothered to find the verse). Really need to thank God for helping the field camp run so smoothly though, there were a million ways things could have gone wrong, but didn't. Just want to thank my parents and everyone else for their prayers too.

I'll elaborate more during the Chinese New Year week, from about Tuesday to Sunday, which I should hopefully be getting off. In the meantime, I have a second field camp -.- commencing tomorrow, until Tuesday. The difference is, this is a sort of leadership assessment thing, so it's a lot more physically tiring, just to see how you work under stress. Put simply, more torture. Good thing this one's a bit shorter than the full field camp, but probably going to be worse. I'll wrap both the camps up in a monster post during that week, so watch this space ^^.

Today I went out with one of my bunkmates, and for the first time I took the trouble to go out for the sole purpose of good food. Went out, had a nice lunch, NYDC for the best oreo cheesecake I've tasted yet. Never thought I'd see the day. But I find that spending my book out time outdoors and doing stuff is a lot more satisfying at the end of the day than staying at home and doing nothing, especially the night you book back in and think back.

Got a lot of things to do during CNY, but there are a few people that I really need to meet up with, make sure I budget for that.

I'm running late again, I'll be back Tuesday or Wednesday night, and the next post will come in that week.

Bye.