The Post which Is Very Hot

First up, a belated Happy Chinese New Year!





It's been a good week worth of break. On Monday it was Day One of the New Year so as usual my family played host.

It was a mad rush in the morning. Woke up at 7am to start cooking every single damn thing we could find. Drinks, food, tidbits and last minute cleaning up.

I was in charge of the fried beehoon. Even when the guests started arriving at 10am, I was still in my nightclothes smelling of fried shallot and oil. Neat.





My extended family meets up often, every Saturday in fact. So it's great that we don't feel awkward when we see each other. Loads of fun, talking and catching with cousins we don't meet regularly.

After a long morning it was family picture time!






















Introducing Kim, my cousin's wife and their beautiful little daughter. Her name is Hailey and she's only two-three months old. She's not camera shy at all and sleeps like a log.


















Yijie, my 8th or 9th nephew. Lost count there. Easily bribed with food and tricked into taking pictures. Like this one LOL.


















Our new generation of kids! Three didn't come on that day so it's a real pity. This generation of kids keep growing so I wonder how many nephews and nieces will I have even before I get married some day.


















My grandmother (who was in a pretty bad mood that day for some reason), with her children and their spouses.


















My other group of cousins. My generation has grand total of 20 of us but it's split into two factions. This is the older one. Haha, most of them are working, married but we remain close.


















This is my faction! One cousin couldn't make it. She was down with chicken pox just before New Year which was really unlucky.

The bloke wearing the checkered shirt is not a cousin but my sister's fiancee Ken. They are getting married this November, just after my ORD. Great timing!


















Candid photo of us! Notice that the guy sitting down hasn't changed his expression at all. Haha.






















My family photo. Mom and Dad surrounded by us. For the first time there are three fellas because Ken joined us this year. I really appreciated the gesture.






















I loved this photo because it was totally candid. Someone said something and my mom cracked a joke about it so we all laughed.

BUT WHY MY MOUTH OPEN UNTIL LIKE THAT!


















The only Liow male members! Took us damn long to take this picture because everyone took turns not to smile during this shoot.



















Me and my oldest nephew. He was looking damn pissed because he wanted to go home but his parents stayed behind for a while longer.


















Later we went to a temple to pay my respects to my late maternal grandparents and we met up with my aunt and her family.


















My dad now has the same facial expression as my nephew just now LOL.


There are many other photos taken with many other cameras so I don't have the whole list but this will do.

Hope that everyone had a fun time and many hongbaos!





As usual, my holiday mood came down with a crash when I had to go back camp on Wednesday.

A few things happened here and there, and before I knew it, I was on a full out bad mood by midday.

Worst news was that, next month I'll be on SOL for 14 days, as well as having 7 duties to do. 21 days not going home. Crap.

So everyone, prepare not to see me at all in February. Sigh.





On the other hand I had pretty fun work to do.

I was on this EIS duty. My job is basically to fetch an overseas pilot from his hotel, which could be anywhere, to Changi Air Base for training.

This time my pilot stayed at Beach Hotel, just opposite Bugis Parco. Once again, I went back there even though just last post I complained I went there a bit too often.

However, it was the first time I went there in uniform. My buddy and I attracted loads of stares when we bought Mos Burger and went to the toilet.

I was thinking, "Wah wear uniform cannot eat or pee meh?"




I saw my pilot, who is a Malaysian. He had an uncanny resemblance to a certain fugitive which escaped last year. LOL. I only realised it when I sent him home just now.

But he's really nice too. We chatted quite a bit, and when I dropped him at Changi Airport Terminal Two for his flight home, he surprised me as he took out his phone, fiddled with it and passed it to my friend.

"Hey man, help me take photo with the driver can?"

WOAH. I was honoured because a pilot is usually quite a high ranking officer. Don't think I'll ever get to see that picture though. Haha. I saluted him and said goodbye.





Two days of hardwork earned a shitload of mileage. Thank God tomorrow is Friday, Gotta have a break soon again.

I have a surprising thing to announce finally.

I'm about to do something unexpected this Sunday. Some of you might see it coming but I was adamant about it for really long.

Watch this space!

The Post which is 6 for 10

Woohoo I'm in Chinese New Year spirit!




Most people apply leave when they have plans in mind. Outings, overseas trip, special events. I've been questioned a lot as to why I took leave this week and not the next instead pretty often.

My theory is that I just want a smooth transition to the Chinese New Year. No unit bullshit, no late calls and people yelling me around. So far it worked out pretty well!





I pretty much had no event to take part in however. First day of leave, I slept at home like a baby, read quietly at home and did a lot of housekeeping. Yes, I just took leave so I can skip area cleaning at work to do the same thing at home.

Best thing I did in day one of leave was... IGNORING TWO CALLS FROM THE OFFICE! Haha oh boy that felt great.

But I like the silence of the home. I revel in doing simple stuff and relaxing once in a while because sometimes life is pretty darn hectic.




I spending a lot on shopping too. Been to Bugis a bit too much (Alvin is complaining of that too) for the past few weeks, looking at new clothes and shoes.

It also means I'm spending a lot. It depends on what's your perspective of a lot, but generally I'm not a big spender. But whaddahell, it's just once a year! =D




Carefree. Yup that's the way to go till next Wednesday.

The Post which Bang His Head with Your Head

Another two crazy days in the unit.





Mad people running up, doing mad things and yelling mad stuff. Oh boy it's a circus out there. Today my temper was running high (again) thanks to quite a few idiots.

Alright I feel and think I'm normally a placid and calm person, but this notion of mine is subjected to test nowadays. *deep breath in, deep breath out*





Well since he tagged today, I'll introduce Lih Kang into this blog. Funny he has to come in now, just went he left my unit for a better place.

No, he's not dead.

He came to my unit at about November to December I guess. Was supposed to be a driver but he didn't, ending up with a supervising job. For a while it worked out pretty well; we got more competent hands in the front desk.

But as usual, things got screwed up. He got his posting orders out to my unit, so yup, he's no longer working at my place. Lost another working mate T.T





Counting back, I seem to have lost many friends before my courses ended.

Matthias back in BMT. Desmond for driving school. Paul in LTO. Then Lih Kang. In two weeks' time my STO friends are all going to ORD. Sigh.

I'm the only one surviving in my unit, or rather, left to die while they all survived to leave for greener pastures. Haha.




It seems like a Friday to me today, not only because it's been two shitty and long days, but also TOMORROW I'M ON LEAVE TILL FRIDAY =D.

Planning to eat sleep shop and get into party mood. Woohoo!

The Post which was Crying over His Handphone

Finally a weekend!





Thursday and Friday was terrible. Plain bad. Shall not demoralise myself by talking about it again. It's bad enough going through it once.

All I'm saying is one more time I'm being pushed around things are going to get nasty.





Friday evening was a lot better though.

Met up with Audrey and Renjie for dinner at Astons. My first time eating there actually. I thought it's some restaurant! Haha, but turns out no. It's just a stall with good Western food.

Went down to Andre's place for our recce for our party. All I can say is that my eyeballs nearly popped out when I saw his new house. Brilliant atmosphere, fantastic place to party. I can't wait.

His parents were awesome as well. Honest. I thought it'll be a problem trying to convince them to lend us the place and getting them to believe we won't wreck the place, but they were supportive and open from the start. Heck, I think they were even more enthusiastic about it then we were!

But they agreed to lend us the place and gave us many ideas. I'm thankful and more optimistic about the party now. Haha.





Played volleyball today since 3 weeks ago. Kept wanting to go back but had delays here and there and was sick the other time. Feels great to play and have fun.

More and more seniors are coming back. Seniors of mine also. I'm glad to see the community spirit of TJ volleyballers who come back to their old school to play.

Ron and Chunkiat came back today also. Ron the legendary player. Well of course he is outta practice, but I remember back in the heyday he was my idol of sorts.

Like me, he's really thin for a guy but his jumping power is nothing short of awesome. There was this picture of him jumping for a spike during their finals back in 2006 and his butt was next to the setter's (Kenneth) face. Haha, it looked funny but it showed what an incredible jump he had.





And they are going to ORD soon. This is their year. This will be my year too! OPTIMISM~

The Post which Is Not So Serene

Damn this is a whining post.





Past few days was real bad. New people in, old people out. New politics, new policies and new problems.

Auditing coming up. All the regulars are working like nuts, and when they do they get cranky. When they are cranky they get pissed, and when they get pissed all hell breaks loose.





People feel that I'm lucky to be a driver in a navy camp, which is really true. But we have very little manpower, it's pretty strung out to be overworked all the time.

Most of my friends would have given their right arm just to stay at home each day (like I usually do) but sometimes I feel that they have a more stable and happier stay in life. Haha, the irony isn't lost on me.





It's only the second full working week. Darn tired.

I feel like a old handphone battery, physically and mentally. It's like, the battery runs out faster than it used to. You can try to charge it back to the max, but when you use it again, the cell runs dry really quickly.





Just praying for Chinese New Year to come fast!

The Post which is Hawt Juice

One year soldier lo!





A year ago, I was shaking pretty bad as I made my trip to Tekong den bang, one year passed. Ten more months to go. C'mon bring it on!

It feels pretty good you know. Last year (which actually isn't too long ago) people would ask,

"Eh dude when you ORD?"

I'll have to go, "Wah, next November lo."





Damn that answer pretty much sucked. Now when people ask me the same question, it's "This November!" followed by a bright smile. Man the feeling so much different.

Now that's what I'm talking about! =D





Anyway yesterday was a pretty cool event.

Have you ever met up with people whom you spoke to for a really long time but never ever met them before in your whole life?

I'm not talking about online dating agencies!





So what happen was, I have this bunch of gaming buddies. Back in my gaming heydays I joined this bunch of friend's friends online to play DoTA every other day.

They were called Clan LC. Lambchops is the real word. God knows why.

They're a fun bunch. We get along well online and talk pretty much about everything guys can talk about. So last year (can't remember when) we decided to plan an outing to meet each other for Red Cliff 2 this year.





Yesterday was the selected day. Alright I was a little nervous about meeting a whole bunch of people whom I know their names but not their faces. Strange right?

But it was really cool to get along with them. For once I can put a face to the online persona I meet so often. Haha.





Alright that's it for week two of 2009!

The Post which is Dancing in the Loo

I'm back from the dead once again!





This time it's taken a bit longer. No dengue fever, which is a relief but I'm still not 100% well. I still have to go back to camp as usual.

Perhaps Wanqi is right that I should have a New Year Resolution to have a healthier lifestyle. I guess I'm looking into it and see that improvements are made.

Still having this irritating niggling cough. Sigh.





















Today is an important day to me, because it's significant, meaningful and will serve as a reminder to me to be careful so I can live happily.

THEY FINALLY PUT BACK THE BLOODY LAMP POST 65.





It's been nearly 3 months since I knocked it down. It has been a pitiful stump with wild grass growing ever since.

When I went to camp today, I took the usual turn and woah, there it was, nice and gleaming, the paint of the bold numbers "65" still wet.





Funny enough, our CO came down to have a talk with us, and he somehow mentioned this accident.

"Drivers, I must always emphasise the importance of safety. You know last time that accident the driver go bang the pole? Today I drive past I see it's finally up. Last time always got the hole there, I remind myself I must drive properly."

The whole room was snickering and laughing at me, but I was cool with that because I feel exactly the same way as he did.

Our CO is a nice guy. He's candid and informal but gets his messages across. Everytime he wants opinions from us, he'll ask our all regulars to get a smoke break so he can hear our sincere whining and complaining. Top man.





It's a new year, and it's full of new challenges but I'm optimistic and hopeful as ever. I also hope to get my health back on track and be a happy man.

The lamp post is up straight again. So am I. =)

But I'm talking about my general health and lifestyle, not just any specific body part. LOL

The Post which Went Crazy at Night

Rewind one year ago, at New Year's Eve, this is what happened.




















Fast forward one year, I was lying in camp, running a high fever, counting down in smelly and hot bunk, barely aware my surroundings.

But the strange thing is, in my uneasy sleep, I somehow managed to wake up at 11:55pm on New Year's Eve. Just like the song Five Minutes to Midnight. LOL. I countdown-ed silently and collapse back to sleep.




When I reached camp in the morning, my temperature was 38.9 deg. No joke. First I had runny nose. Then it was blocked. I can't tell you which one I preferred really.

Until today, my temperature see-sawed between 37 something to 38 plus. Then this morning it skyrocketed to 39.3. It's a bit like the oil prices last year, except it hasn't dropped yet.






I went to my favourite doctor again. Nothing going too well, he says. Drawing a syringe of blood off my arm, he suggests that I might have gotten dengue fever. Good stuff.

And then he gave me another injection ON MY BUTT AGAIN. Oh boy, my right buttock had had a few adventures.





Sigh. What a new way to start a year.