What I've learnt - #1

So what if you are in a particular unit for a long time? The important thing is to be able to distil the lessons learnt from the experience...It's no use being somewhere for a long time but there's nothing to takeaway from the experience...

40 down...80 to go...

I would just like to announce to the world that I have cleared my 2nd year in UniSIM! Just got the result after many hours of trying to get to the site. Of course the entire school would be logging in and trying to get their results... We were told that the results would be released on 13th December so I guess that the kiasu ones tried to log in as soon as it passed midnight of 12th December! I finally called the Exam Results Admin and they informed me of my results over the phone..."But cannot let you know the detailed results...only pass or fail, ok?"..."OK!", I said..."Well, you've passed! Congratulations..."

When I finally managed to log into the UniSIM website (at 0445hrs on 14th December, mind you), I managed to check my detailed results...not too bad...

Well, cleared my Introduction to the Humanities and English: Past, Future & Present...on to Pshychology next year... 2 modules at that...

Another one joins the Palm gang!

I would like to officially welcome Zahed and his family to our neighbourhood! It's good to have you around bro! May we have many tee-off sessions!

Nièce misses her tante

Ah...Jules, your niece misses you...we can tell...how? She asked Mum for the postcard with the picture of Stephane and you in front...the one that you sent about 2 years ago. With snow in the background. She carries it everywhere she goes. Even to sleep...She keeps staring at it once in a while...

"Kakak, do you miss Bik Julie?", I asked.

"Yes...", she answered softly...

One can never get enough of this...

The Data Lifeguard Tools software is doing fine now...chugging along for the past half-an-hour. Bought myself a Western Digital 250GB hard disk during the recently concluded SITEX 2005. Realised too late that I bought the serial version instead of the parallel. Duh...

That was last Friday. Had to go back to other end of the island in Changi to exchange for a parallel version. And guess what? Parking was a nightmare...had to tawaf the whole place a couple of times...thought of parking along the many roads around the industrial area but changed my mind when I saw the fluttering summons tickets in the breeze adorning many of the parked vehicles' windscreens! Poor sods... In the end, I parked on the other side of the whole place. Near some landed property. Had to fast march for about 6 minutes to get to Hall 5 but it was worth not having to fork out money to pay for summons!

The kind folks at Pluto Systems agreed to exchange the Maxtor 250GB hard disk for a Western Digital 250GB...they even gave me back $2!

Went to the Palm One booth and toyed with the new TX, the T5 and the Lifedrive...greatest take-away - that the Lifedrive stylus is compatible with my Tungsten T! Thanx Kelvin...sucker!

Anyway, am using the Western Digital software to partition and format the new hardware and also to copy over files from the old 80GB disk. I officially now have 1/2 terabyte worth of space! But...like the title says, one can never get enough of this...tune in to find out when I will be purchasing the next hard disk...probably a whopping 500GB one!

Murphy's Laws of Jungle Training

• The moment your groundsheet has lost its waterproof capability, the skies will open up and prove it to you...in the middle of the night...while you are sleeping fitfully in your hammock...
• The moment you return your life-jacket to the store, you realise that you will need it...to cross Sungei Temburong...which is 50m wide...and fast-flowing...and has crazy currents!
• The moment you realise that you need everyone to have machetes to chop through the impossible vines and thorny rattan plants, you find out that only 2 persons have it!
• Trust the GPS...trust the pilots who have been playing around the area for months...don't trust the guy who plotted your checkpoint in the map!
• Be very afraid when you see areas in the map with no contour lines! What? You think there are wide open spaces in the middle of the jungles?!? Two words...HIDDEN KNOLLS!
• Even though you may have marked the route, Murphy Law states that the moment you have to back-track, you will have a bitch of a time looking for the markings!
• Never let the sounds of vehicles in the jungle fool you...they may be miles away!
• Murphy Law states that you will get your balls wet in the jungle no matter what. You may have kept it dry all the way but the moment you want to reach a critical point which will lead you to your objective, you will have to cross a deep river...
• Murphy Law states that you will fall down in a way that will make your mates helpless with laughter at least once...if they have not caught it on camera that is!

Lala & her poo...

Well, this is what happens if you let a very young child loose around the house with nothing but her birthday suit on! She leaves behind presents...

Home of the Officer Corps

Well, I'm back again...After an absence of 7 years! Missed the wide open spaces, rolling landscape, greeneries, singing cadets, the 'grand old' HQ block, the puzzling gazebos, the Tower...and of course Charlie block! Check them out at http://www.mindef.gov.sg/safti/ocs/

Ah...my office space has increased by 400%! A room all to myself! Some privacy after about 4 years of 'shared office environment'! Has its advantages and disadvantages...

Rafi - I'm always chasing after the bugger in terms of holding appointments! - gave me a quick rundown of the personnel in the Wing-line... seems like a nice bunch...

A person I didn't expect to run into was the makcik at the canteen. God...she still remembers me after all these years! I was quite impressed with her memory. Seems to have a good rapport with Rafi...bantering away about her trip to Thailand and advising us not to "pergi sana sorang-sorang ah..."!

Learnt something new today...didn't know that 'mata-mata' is to go dutch...duh!

Transition

It’s a time of transition for me…I have been in this place for nearly 4 years. More specifically, it’ll be 1 month shy of 4 years. The longest I’ve been in any unit…Like all transition, I will leave this place with a tinge of sadness…I have learnt a lot from my years here. Here are some of my takeaways…

1. Have passion in what you do. This is the main difference between a mediocre output and a good one.

2. Be PROACTIVE and not REACTIVE. Don’t wait for things to happen…make things happen.

3. Don’t compare…it will only frustrate you…do what you are supposed to do and do it well…and then some…

4. Always look for the next best answer…never be satisfied with the status quo…

5. Always do self-reflection…in whatever you do…it will help you improve, give you space and rejuvenate you…

Philips dudes the Saviours

The Philips guys came today. My seemingly ‘unconnectable’ internet connection was actually due to me changing my password to my ISP…duh…Anyway, my internet connection was up and running in no time. Good to be back!

The Treat

Went to Bagus@Banquet in IMM today    

I dream...

Had a dream (nightmare?) on the upcoming exams in October! Can still vividly remember it! The questions were on my last 2 TMAs! Shit...I had better start revising...time's running out...     test

Poked 7 times

I was poked 7 times today! The first one was on my left arm where about 39ml of blood was drawn - red, live-giving blood! Then I went to another room to have my jabs. Minimum number of jabs was three i.e. rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Hepatitis A. A record on the number of jabs I had gotten in the past was faxed over to the MMI and I found out that my tetanus and typhoid jabs had expired and I was to be given all 5 jabs! First was the typhoid jab on my right arm - quite ok - just a pin prick. Second was the tetanus on my left arm - this was hurt the most! It left my arm quite sore...even now! The third was the Hepatitis A on my right arm again followed by the JE jab on my left arm. Both were quite ok. The rabies jab was given on my right thigh!!! But it was ok... The last jab was to do the Mantoux test for Tuberculosis on my left forearm. A small goosebump appeared after the nurse had injected a small amount of liquid. Then she pasted a water-proofed material over the spot and marked it with a marker. And I was done with the jabs! First one! Then I went to have my dental x-ray - in the unforseen circumstances that we should perish there, at least they will have some means of identifying us through our dental records! How comforting! Next stop was to get my ECG done. The nurse asked my weight and height and I had to go through an eyesight test before that. I had to go topless for the ECG. Funny devices were attached all over my body. The dude had to do the printout 3 times before he had a perfect reading...Then I went to pee in a small container and my urine test was a-ok! Last stop was the the MO and he gave me a clean bill health - subject to the result of the blood test, of course! Then I had to collect the Maloprim before leaving the place! Phew! 2 hours...not too bad...

He nearly missed his cut!

God! I was at the edge of my seat when Tiger bogeyed the 17th! He went back to +5 when the projected cut was +4! But Tiger being Tiger, he rose to the occasion when the occasion called for it and birdied the 18th to go back to +4. Well, he's in for the weekend! Didn't expect Day 2 of the Championship to have such drama...Ah...that's golf for you!

Talking about golf, Sho had asked yesterday for a game next Tuesday but I had to declined as I'll be on training for the Mission. Would have loved to hit the fairways...been a while since I hooked and sliced! The last game was with Jasni and GK at Transview in 'honour' of the SAF Day!

Uncertainties

I've got word today that I was in the reserved list for the Mission. I received it with mixed feelings. Had been waiting for it since I received the SMS last Friday.

Expunge

Today is a day of 'expungement' (if there ever is a word like that...) It follows the unfortunate dive of my ever trusty Tungsten 14 floors down! Ooh...it survived the fall, by the way! Save for the lost stylus and soiled screen, it was A-OK!