Now there's a craze for building personal CPUs...hope I wasn't the one who started it hahax >.< Gabriel was complaining that the interested bunch of us were talking about it right outside his bunk (his bunk happened to be right beside mine, too bad buddy!), when he couldn't understand a single jargon about what we were discussing. Poor him!

Anyway, I just got back from Simpang. We got an early book-out today instead of tomorrow because our Maj changed the schedule so that we won't have to stay for parade tomorrow...shh! So the few malays, and a couple of us decided to go for supper, because our dinner was pretty rushed due to the MOI lesson before that.

After CNY, our fitness level indeed deteriorated. One after another, advance obstacle and confidence obstacle courses, close combat trainings, numerous runs in long 4 (even I as the front scout with Adam had to run because the main body was given ankan malari japat lari), chinook emplanning and deplanning lessons + practical, and finally SEOC. My legs became jelly, literally!

Bleahx..

Went out with my family to Marina Bay just now. It is one of the rare moments when my grandma is willing to go out with us. Her legs aren't that strong anymore, so walking for a long while would be rather difficult for her.

We headed to the Singapore Flyer first for my uncle to take pictures of the flyer. It was the first time for my mum as well. She couldn't hold back her excitement, and took plenty of pictures. Just like my mum hahx =) I'll probably be cycling there tomorrow morning if there's time, or else I'll just be around in ECP.

Next stop: Esplanade bay.

Crowded. We ate at Makansutra Glutton's Bay (that's the name I think). One thing for sure, the gado-gado there isn't the actual dish, and my grandma was slightly disappointed.

Hopped onto the river taxi for a half an hour ride along the Singapore River. The landscape in Singapore changes ever so quickly, that PS's words would be true in due time (He told me that cars in singapore would be replaced by spaceships when we got back to Singapore from our thailand training xD). I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen, but probably not in my lifetime.

Spending time with my family is indeed enjoyable. =D

I taught my dad how to use the mach 3 turbo shaver with the menthol foam (the one that I am currently using), and suggested that he bring a toiletries kit bag whenever he's attending a function. I'll do the same next time.

I have 3 dogs now, Shine's brother's here to stay for a week because his owner's away for a holiday. So its another Shi tzu for this week. Home suddenly became much more lively now.

I am really treasuring the time I have now with my grandparents from Taiwan. My grandfather's like 91 this year, and he often shares with me the same verses from the bible, "Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than fattened calf with hatred -Proverbs 15:17" and 'Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife - Proverbs 17:1'. My grandfather would always tell me the former verse every time I visit him in Taiwan.

It really feels like I've yet to know much about my grandfather, apart from him as a watchmaker, and an expert in fixing things. He can be a bit stubborn at times, and he knows malay, chinese, hokkien, english, ke-jia, and probably more. He thinks that my current swatch automatic watch is lovely =)

I like seeing pictures of him and my grandma in the past. Now my grandma's not really happy with me, because of certain hurtful words that he'd said to her in the past, that must have hurt so ever so deeply, creating the distance between both of them now.

I recall a time last year while I was accompanying her for a walk to fetch my cousin back from school. We had a short conversation as we waited. She told me about how hurtful words can be to your spouse if you just said them at the spur of the moment. Now she refuses to travel with my grandfather because couple of years ago, he told her directly in her face that he never ever wanted to go out with her anymore (somewhere along that line). Definitely a dagger to the heart =(

There are plenty of lessons and knowledge to be learnt from the older generation, we've just got to pay attention to them. I wish I had more time.

I've been sleeping in the wee hours lately. Due to the CNY mood? Probably not. There's nothing much about it except the few visitations.

I probably need a talk with my Father now, because He knows and best understands what I'm feeling right now. I wish someone would know.

That aside, I had a good time playing warcraft with Seumas and Shawn. We were playing LAN together in my room, with the 3 computers that were available. First it was DOTA, then we went on to Naruto TD, and to Enfo. And now both of them are sleeping, one on my bed, and the other on the floor, which means I have to go downstairs to sleep on the sofa..>.<

Maybe that's a place where I can have my solitude. I'm quite full from the Macs that we ordered just now (40 pcs of mcnuggets, 1 mcchicken, 1 double cheese, 1 large fries + coke). Definitely filling.

I pasted the CompassionArt annual calender to my door, and it has the 12 artist's quotes and faces for each month. Cool. Now I can have a larger picture of what to expect for this year.

One more resolution that I came up with was to contribute 100 dollars each month to both my parents, which means, 100 to dad, 100 to mum, and eventually 100 to tithings. It's not a large amount, but surely its a significant sum from my monthly allowance and salary from the army. I want to make it a habit to contribute a little of whatever I have to my parents, and be a good son to them. And so I've begun working on this resolution, and I pray that I'll carry it through to the end of this year, so that I know how I can improve on my resolutions made this year.

Back from the land of smiles, and sooo at home!

Well, you can say that 21 days is a long time to many. But somehow, it flew by pretty quick. There was the 3D2N navigation exercise, covering over 50km in foot distance (not forgetting that I had to get my friend evacuated due to food poisoning). I managed to practise resection, a skill that many would probably ignore because it's tedious and requires a few prominent features. But somehow, it became a morale booster for my team. They couldn't stop beaming when I told them that even without a GPS, I was cock-sure of our position. That's a comforting thought isn't it, especially when we've been doing dead-reckoning all the while.

After the navigation exercise, we proceeded on to a 10 day field camp, with 6+3+2 back to back missions (defence, assault, assault, defence, assault, assault up 2 different knolls, followed by ASO, and more assault + defence on a higher knoll).

Back from the 10 days, everything felt like luxury. The nights were freezing, the daytimes were scorching. A little extreme. But the nights were cosy because we built fires to warm our feet and hands, though I was choked out once because there was headwind >.<

I cleaned the entire toilet singlehandedly before the R & R, with a few helpers from my platoon and platoon 3. I de-choked 4 toilet bowls full of faeces, de-choked/flooded the main shower area, and 6 other shower cubicles. I almost died from the smell and the grossness of it, but still, I was reminded of my Father's determination to carry out His Father's will, and was willing to go through all the terrible sufferings and injustice done to him without a single complaint. I managed to survive the cleaning process...

Let me pen down a few milestones in my life (at least worth remembering):
1. I built a CPU myself, and discovered so much more about the computer. Really pleased about it =)

2. Tomorrow will be the day that I can remove my P-plate from my parents' cars. I'm officially a year-old driver.

3. I had all my grandparents with me for re-union dinner today, along with Amy and Uncle Johnny, and the usual relatives from my dad's side. It's such a rare occasion! They aren't that young anymore, my maternal grandparents are in their late 80s and early 90s, while my dad's side's almost reaching 80.

I pray for my heart to be at peace, and for me to find solitude and community in You.

Pre-Cresendo phase

2 hours left till my reporting time at the airport. And off I go, 3 weeks into the land of smiles, taking on missions after missions. Yes it will be tiring, but when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

It's only 3 months left. Let's make it a good one! =) Kampate!

Just came back from clubbing, and seriously, my ears still feel muffled >.<

Well, staying out late at night isn't exactly the best choice you can have for entertainment, but nevertheless, it's not that bad once in a while. Let's see, I've sorta discovered an adequate amount of alcohol to get sufficient high but not overboard:

- 1 cup Dry Martini, Sex on the Beach, vodka lime, or white russia (I think that's what it's called)
- 2 jugs of Sour Apple shared among 5 people
- 1 tequilla shot
- 1 flaming lambo

Well that should be quite a substantial amount. The point is, you don't want to go spending too much money, get drunk, and spoilt the entire experience. So drink enough, and enjoy the dance for the rest of the time there.

It's the new year. Exactly one year ago I was contemplating on what i should do before entering the army, and how my life would turn out without having to go school for once. It didn't turn out that bad. Training in the army turned out a little more demanding that in class, because if something wrong were to be executed, physical punishments would follow instead of the teacher reprimanding you right in the face.

I guess being in the army takes you out of your ego for a while, and inbuilts greater discipline in many aspects of my life. Family and church became the main focuses, because I would want to spend time at home with my parents on the weekends. You set your priorities right before you, and it always leads back to my family.

This year I'll be setting up in a few ministries, one as an observer for the teaching ministry, the other as a member in the senior fellowship committee, and then as lentor for the worship ministry as well. And not to forget my other commitments to the worship ministry. Oh wells, I seek the calling, and thus shall let Him pave the way for me.

Coming to think of it, I should pen down some New year resolutions for 2009:

- Level up spiritually, do my devotions religiously, daily.
- Stay in touch with my all my friends, sometimes just so hard to find time for everyone.
- Adopt someone to show care for in church, so that I can be a mentor (preferably someone of the same gender of course)
- Commit to my minitries wholeheartedly.
- Give my tithings. And give my parents 10 percent each from my allowance.

There are more. probably will write them down somewhere hmm...

it's 2 and half days left to ex crescendo..not exactly looking forward to the thailand trip >.<