85 -79 days (Boring ICT Week)

In camp training or ICT is suppose to be fun, a time for you and your fellow comrades whom you had not met for the past year to meet up and reminiscene (I've check, this is the correct word) on the good old navy days. A time to laze around and keep your mind free from all the hassle and buzzer of life.. but not when they is just too much lazing around...

For a start, this ICT had been short of enjoyable.. rather..time-wasting or time-consuming is the word. Almost everyday, we were made to wait and wait for further instructions, even when it is obvious that we had nothing to do for the day.. in short.. it is sheer tortune..

8th Oct (Monday) - Report to camp in my nicely ironed number 3 uniform (thanks mom..), was proud to be in this uniform although the pants did not fit so well and makes me looks a bit sloppy. Also have to dig out my good old NOKIA phone cos camera phones are not allowed inside the camp. Told a real long mrt ride to Lakeside.. I can't believe that a year ago I was taking this trip daily with ease.. the journey sure took a long time.. on the train was contemplating whether to take the Navy bus or the feeder bus, since I have no navy pass. Decided to try my luck at Lakeside and get on the bus without anyone asking.. anyway I am not entering the camp what.. Standard reporting arrangement, gather at the auditorium and take attendance, followed by some boring lecture. That take away half a day.. was expecting to go back early but emm, the time just drag on.. finally got released at about 5 pm... sian ah... ah oh yes, no thanks to the blur sotong officer who missed the Staff Sergeant name and named me as the IC instead.. Got home, have dinner and was lazing around, decided to msg the SDU ger but she never reply.. oh well.. David msg for supper, call J but he say may be late cos working.. fell asleep at about 9 pm.. woke up real tired so msg the guys saying supper is cancelled.. forced myself to type out a namelist of the guys I am in charge off with their phone numbers, I know this will come in handy.. slept at about 1 am..

9th Oct (Tuesday) - After been told of the schedule the previous date, I planned to go back to clear my e-mail if the day ends early. Also need to forward Sue's resume to HR for the planner/buyer position. Reach camp and changed into my overalls. Was wondering why so many people in number 3 when I was told that the irg was number 3 for the day lectures.. emm, but I wasn't inform what.. then was told that they only mentioned it after releasing us at the auditorium the previous day, I probably missed it as I was one of the first guys to rush out.. Those in overalls were made to sit in the front row and our names were taken down.. it was then to the "why people know, you dunno" thing with some idiot NS Officer.. I tried to argue back but was hold back by another guy... who told me no need to argue.. the officer is always right.. ended up no punishment but next day going to have uniform inspection.. sian see bor.. another day of lazing went by and today we were released even later.. figure that since it was already 5 plus, no point for me to go back to company but guess what.. while having my dinner, my boss called me and asked if I can go back to company as he was having class and they need someone to certify the confined space entry.. figure that since I also wanna go back to clear e-mail and I gonna get a refundable taxi ride back to company, I agreed to go back.. also called David and J to arrange to meet for supper.. At the company, after certifying the entry, went to cleat my e-mails, nothing in particular.. read Sue's e-mail.. quite touching., and forward her resume to HR. Hope all goes well.. left at 9:30 pm to meet the guys at Circuit Road Hawker centre.. drink and chat till about 11:30 pm before David send me back home in his nice red Beetle.. on the way talk abit about Mr J but emm surprisingly David did not criticized him as he used to do.. emm, went home clear e-mail and slept at about 1 am.. and oh, the SDU ger message me in the morning, she was sick so did not get my message the previous day, wish her get well soon but did not call..

10th Oct (Wednesday) - Could not get back in time so took a cab to camp.. it was ex.. cost me about $25.. was almost late so never go to the locker room to keep my bag.. the inspection went well except for one of my guy who was on MC yesterday, I was unable to contact him also.. he was in overalls during the inspection but managed to stay clear of trouble.. cannot remember how time passed but was told we have night sailing, think we only came back past 9 pm.. was offered a ride to Clementi which I accept graciously.. shared a cab with one of my guys staying near my area.. tomorrow had to report at 0730 hrs so asked him to share cab in the morning.. the f-up thing was that they was no dinner catered during the sailing unlike the previous year, we were told to consume combat rations.. real tired so have dinner, shower, abit of TV and then hit the sack..

11th Oct (Thursday) - Another day of waiting.. reach at 7:30 am.. wait for almost 2 hours before start sailing.. was oly restricted to base.. program was to load the army vehicles on and off... did only one cycle and they call it quits for the day session... ended at about 12:30 pm and was told to go for lunch and report at 3 pm.. reported at 3 pm but was low tide.. no gangway to go up the boat, some daring guys took the dangerous method of jumping onto the structure of the boat.. decided against doing that and also asked my guys not to do the dangerous act.. the navy is OHSAS 18001 certified so they are supposed to handle this risk.. told the officer that I am not going to get back the boat if no proper access is given.. was told to go for canteen break and report back a 4 pm... waited at the wharf at 4 pm then see CO and some other officers coming by to check the situation.. told CO about the danger of jumping over... was told to R&R till 7 pm.. chat with the guys at the mess and was told dinner was the same as lunch.. so offered to buy pizza so placed order.. pizza was late but managed to get onboard in time.. had a great pizza meal with some of the guys... do somemore loading and unloading before calling it quits at almost 9:30 pm.. hitch a ride to clementi and shared a cab back home.. long and tiring day..

12th Oct (Friday) - Suppose to be a off-day for all company staff but I was on ICT... sian see bor.. last day of exercise.. endure... report at 8:30 am and was told to R&R till 1.30 pm.. more waiting.. was expecting an exercise with the army but was informed tha no exercise, we just do our routine drills at Pulau Sudong.. went on board at 1:30 pm but was told to report back at 3 pm as only sailing at 3:45 pm.. sian ah... during lunch meet up with an ex-medic, chat about the old times and about a senior medic I used to like.. apparently she is going to divorce the guy whom i hate and is currently hanging out with a airforce captain.. emm, I know the guy was a good for nothing but then if I did managed to get her..I am also not so well off now.. anyway wish her all the best lah.. sail at 4 pm.. went to sudong was having a nap when woke up by the other IC, told me OC when to have FFDC drill.. I wonder.. what for.. gather the guys but before I can give any briefing... was told to gather as the crew will be giving a demo.. turns out they did not have the essential items onboard so have "simulated" training and briefing before calling it quits.. spent time chatting with the guys.. finally finished at about 9:30 and reach base at almost 10 pm.. have some milo and coffee as supper and return my stores... was approached by another guy staying in hougang to share cab so asked the guy who send me to clementi to add in another guy.. when reaching clementi.. the guy who was supposed to share cab just disappear.. call him and he told me he changed his mind and will be taking MRT.. shit him... reach home almost midnight.. cannot sleep so clear e-mails and laze around till almost 2 am before hitting the sack..

13th Oct (Saturday) - Today is Hari Raya, thought I might be invited to visit someone's home but no invitation.. spend the morning listing my cards on ebay... have a short nap in the afternoon.. woke up at 4 pm and cooked myself some noodles.. dun feel like going out so spent the next few hours lazing and surfing internet.. managed to control myself from visiting Singapore Pools.. after a light dinner, called Zhu but never picked up phone.. also message the SDU ger but no reply.. msg Zhu also but also no reply... getting a bit sian down here.. luckily going back to working routine next week... watch a bit of soccer before hitting the sack..

14th Oct (Sunday) - Pretty boring day so far... woke up at 8 am and proceed to list more cards for sale.. told myself I need to raised USD$3000 in 12 months... dunno raised the money for what but emm, just some plan to keep my mind occupied... wonder what I can sell to hit the target... Dad brought breakfast.. had laksa and beancurd.. real full.. proceed to call Mike for a chat... have a great chat.. he is becoming a father in March.. congrats.. after call, proceed to call Zhu but phone was off.. I think maybe she is not at Qionghai.. but then she may be just ignoring me.. sad but true.. I just have to accept the fact.. I am supposed to go and get a hair cut but emm, just dun feel like going out just yet...

Sometimes when you got too much time on hand, it gets really lonely when you have no one to talk to... I missed Zhu but emm things just doesn't seem to be working out.. I feel sorry for the SDU ger.. sorry but it is just not the right time now for me to know someone else... sorry... emm, actually I should be happy.. nothing is really bothering me at the moment except for the love thing which shouldn't actually be that distracting since Zhu and me never really got started... emm, still a long way to go before the end of the year and there are so much things that need to be done.. Meng Chye.. you have to stay focused...

Emm, have to help GM do his assignment.. hope I can garnered enough willpower to start soon.. have a great sunday and week ahead everyone...