DRAGONBOAT '06 BATCH CHRISTMAS PARTY! WHAT A "P.I.M.P" EVENT~!!!

It's the year of 2009. The beginning of many more years of the 06' NTU Dragonboat Batch Xmas Gatherings to come! A splendid initiative from Ah Boon's part to suggest this idea, which I totally, fully support with my heart! It's a good idea to gather all of us brothers in arms (paddles) back each year for a festive gathering, especially now when most of us who have become alumnus don't go for weekend trainings like we used to, all the time (including myself). I remember those days when we all train in preparation for June races when we see each other's face almost everyday, spend more time together than we do with our girlfriends. This initiative I believe is a wonderful idea that I'm willing to support each year (even if I become Food I.C. each year =S ).

Our "全家福"

The guys...

...transform into the 18 Arhats!

The ladies of our lives... =) (hopes to see a rise in numbers... hehe)

(Many) thanks to Melvin, this year's BBQ party was held at his place, hence the name "P.I.M.P" which meant "Party in Melvin's Place" for those who still have no idea, in particularly Andy Tan. Haha =P. Of course, we can't forget Ah Boon the organizer of this 1st yearly event, and the rest of the batch who took time off their busy schedule of rushing to more than one party, and came down for the party.

Food was great, especially Charmaine's potato salad which everyone liked very much, and the rather unexpected huge amount of leftover BBQ food! Company was splendid, with all the crappy, noisy & fun-loving bunch of guys! Wii was very fun, even left my girlfriend addicted to it! Gifts for the gift exchange session too, were interesting!

Never had so much fun before at Wii...


The $10 Budget Gift Exchange begins...







The Gifters and the Giftees...
Hope everyone enjoys their gifts. It's the Thought that counts...

Till next year... may we gather on Christmas Day again! Good luck, & Take Care ya all... =]

11th December, 2009:
My first ICT briefing...

Just yesterday, I went back for my first ICT briefing in Mandai Hill Camp, with Amos...
Since we are in the same battalion, as we found out long time ago, he has become my reservice buddy. Haha...
Thank God for a familiar face!

We went there, without a single clue on what to expect. The only thing we knew was that we were going to attend a half-a-day battalion briefing, that was all. But we arrived at the entrance of the camp, I was shocked. There was a long queue forming from the Guardroom... I thought that was the queue for the StarHub or M1 iPhones that they launched recently. Hahaha...

In the end, it took us quite a while to finally get through the Guardroom & enter the Camp. We just followed the signage along the way to find our way to the Multi-Purpose Hall, where we were shocked again. Another long queue forming up! Funny thing was, we just queued up without knowing what was ahead. Eventually, as we got closer to the end of the queue, only did we found out that there was the In-processing going on... all the administrative & sizing of uniform & equipment.

But I must say that the administrative set up was quite poorly done. No one knew where to queue up, cuz there were queues forming up all over the place, circling within the MPH itself. So confusing! Even the staff down there weren't as helpful as they should be, they didn't bother to offer assistance or gave instructions on where to proceed onto next. Amos & I had to rack our brains to figure out where to go to next...

Eventually, all the sizing & administrative procedures were completed after more than one & a half hours! And judging from the schedule they put up on notice, we were behind time. But not to worry, as I told Amos, the one true characteristic of the SAF Army is that, even if we start behind time, somehow we will always end ON TIME! Haha...

We proceeded on to the Auditorium for our briefing. The contents of the briefing I shall not say, but I did see some more familiar faces. I hope we end up in the same platoon or company. As far as I know now, Amos & I are in the same platoon! That is something worth rejoicing about... hahaha.

Anyway, INTERESTINGLY, at the end of the briefing, as a reward for our outstanding IPPT Silver & Gold Award achievements, our CO had a prize presentation for all those who achieved Silver & Gold awards!

A total of 65 silver awards and 8 gold awards. And needless to say, yours truly here (me!) got the Gold Award! Haha... My prize is a complimentary VIP Guest Pass for True Fitness Gym, attached with a name card of the supervisor. I wonder if it's a free membership gym pass? Wouldn't that be great! However, I think that will be highly unlikely... haha

Oh no! My ICT is gonna start soon! A feeling of both anticipation and unreadiness... =S

My New Idol : DONNIE YEN

<<導火线>>
<<FLASHPOINT>>

I caught "FlashPoint" again last night on DVD. And I absolutely fell in love with Donnie Yen! He is officially my new Chinese Idol~! With killer looks (he's 43 years old, can you believe it?), a cool personality, and a hard & muscular body, not to mention his amazing fighting style~! You should see how he fights in the movie - moving at super fast speed, every punch, every blow so deadly (able to land his victims in the movie in vegetable states). And how he slams people & use locks on his opponents. This style of fighting just seems more superior & more realistic to me, compared to his kung-fu fighting peers like Jackie Chan & Jet Li. No offence, I mean those guys are good too, but Donnie Yen is the BEST. HAHA...

Omg, I sound as though either I'm a gay who has the hots for Donnie or I'm some girl who is smitten from head to toe with him... But I am neither!

Anyway, can't wait for this coming December 18th~! "Bodyguards and Assassins" shows in cinemas! And yes, you probably guessed it, Donnie Yen is in it as well.

Can't wait... Hope the storyline & fighting sequels are fantastic! I have high hopes for this film... hehe

<<十月围城>>
<<BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS>>

VISITING "HER" GRANDDAD...

Today is supposed to be the late post of "7th of November, 2009". One year exactly after Charmaine's grand-dad passed away...

It will be always be a regret that I didn't get to meet Uncle in person. He who doted on Charmaine so much. But this is not Charmaine's real grandfather as per se. The thing is like this - Uncle's wife whom is Charmaine's "granny", is ACTUALLY her nanny who took care of her when she was young. No need to say, Granny also doted on her. Even Granny's daughter doted & helped took care of Charmaine as well. You can say practically their whole family loved Charmaine (well, who can resist her? hehe...) & doted on her pretty much. Even up till this day, they are still pretty much in contact & in good relations.

I remembered just a few months back, I was invited to dinner at "Granny's" place after my (then) work @ NUS. That was the second time I met Charmaine's "Granny" & "Granny's daughter" (the one who changed Charmaine's diaper before).

The first time was a brief introduction during Charmaine's sister, Pamela's wedding. That night was more of a "Ohhhh... so that is Leslie... Your boyfriend. Not bad ah, quite handsome!", "Remember to bring him to our place for dinner some time ah" and "Ah Ma wanna see him more". Hahaha.

Anyway, that night at "Granny's" place, I was treated with very much welcomed arms from "Granny & her daughter". They treated me like part of the family, & I'm grateful for that. Hehe. I hear from Charmaine that they told her, "Ah Gong would have approved of Leslie, if he saw him." =P

So today (7th November 09), I really wanted to make the trip to Mandai Crematorium to pay my respects to "Ah Gong". We took a taxi from Charmaine's place, and we were the first to arrive with some time to spare, before the "Granny" and her family came. Using the "alone" time we had with "Ah Gong", I secretly prayed to God & "Ah Gong" in heaven, hoping that he can "hear" me. I introduced myself as Leslie, Charmaine's boyfriend and told him not to worry for Charmaine, cause I am around and I will take care of her. Continue to watch over us, and I hope you will give us your blessings in heaven above. I also prayed to God to look after "Ah Gong" up there, and bless the rest of their family with good health & peace.

After my secret prayer, we just sat around talking to each other before his niche, until the rest of the family finally arrived. "Granny" & daughter & her two daughters, along with some of the uncles, aunties, nieces also came. You can see how much they loved "Ah Gong" as well, especially "Granny" who couldn't control her tears when she saw her photograph on the niche. The scene touched a part of my heart, and I had to hold my tears. =P Next, they laid out a bowl of fishball noodles, a glass of hot 'teh' & a can of grass jelly drink in front of him. All of it, once "Ah Gong's" favourite food & drinks. After that, as a norm (I guess), the family & us went around, checking out other people's niches.

After the visit, we went for a family lunch at a nearby restaurant. We separated into two tables, one for the uncles, aunties, the other for the kids & youngsters (includes Charmaine & me, of course!). Each table ordered a plate of Hainanese chicken, roasted duck, roasted meat, Wu Xiang and veggie. It was plenty of food for our table. Too much, in fact!

After the lunch, it was time for everyone to go back to their homes. We said our good byes to "Granny" & her daughter, as well as all the relatives and hitched a ride in one of the cars to the nearby MRT where we went back on our own.

"It is always hard to have someone close to you leave you suddenly. But we must move on & slowly adjust back to our lives. And the truth is, they never really leave us as long as their memories live within us. Lives will end, but memories will never cease. That is the beauty of Life."