Cake from Prima Deli, pizzas from Canadian. Thanks to my sis. Me? I haven't got my Mum anything yet. Waiting for pay lah.. What to do.. Hehe..

Happy Birthday, Mum!

This is what happens when you have too much free time, with too many nice clothes! This happened at the fitting room of G2000 at Tampines Mall. I look spiffy, don't I? ;)

Ahh.. Sunday night at home, (gonna be) sleeping in my own room, instead of on the (much dreaded, but what to do) bed in my bunk. The last Sunday night I spent at home was when I took off for the Boyz Camp that took place recently. Sunday nights at home cos of off from deployment doesn't really count.. Hee..

Speaking of deployment.. Another deployment just ended quite recently. Here's looking forward to another one last one, some time next mth, and I'm done for this current phase of my life! Wee! Hehe..

Speaking of which.. I'm having this bittersweet anticipation of ending my current phase of life. Of course it sucks not having total freedom, but then again, at least there's structure. Outta there on Fri, back in there on Sun.

Being a must to clear IPPT and SOC is a chore, but at least there's smthg to look forward to. Smthg to work towards. Smthg to achieve. If at the very least, to not have to come back for RT. Hah!

Having cash deposited into my bank acct by a certain date every mth, is smthg nice to look forward to. Sure it's not much, compared to what a cousin's getting. He's getting more as a PTE, as compared to what I get as a LCP. Bummer, right? Ofc he's in the Police, so it's kinda like comparing apples to pears. You can't. Hehe..

I can't really complain abt the pay thou. What I'm doing, compared to my frens, but still getting the same amt (at least for those who are LCPs), is more than worth it.

Things have changed. Life is not the same as the time in BMT. It's TOTALLY diff now. More relaxed. And still I draw the LCP pay for nothing much. Cool, eh?

So ya.. It's quite an experience how things are now. Sure dunno how things will be when this chapter ends..

"Hisham.. This is xxx here. We meet up and chat before remember? Asking whether you free to meet up with me?"

This is an sms that came from a guy I met up to discuss smthg. Smthg along the lines of investment. I know he meant well, but it just sounds so 'gay', doncha think? Hee..

Ok, ok, so I may be exaggerating a lil there. It's not really killing me, but boy, does it hurt!

I guess when you're holed up in an air-conditioned room for ard 12hr at a stretch, and then sleep in an air-con-ed bunk for another 12hr, smthg's gotta give, right? I guess for me it's my back. It hurts when I turn. Hopefully it's not smthg bad..

Oh well, here's hoping for the best!

My SH hp bill that is. Yup yup! $31.03. Never have I gotten a bill this low. Dunno how I did it though. Hee..

Some people can be heartless and insensitive. To have laughed when someone dies just shows how heartless and insensitive you can be.

And to have said, 'She's not here anymore what...', is just downright disgusting!

How would you feel if the same thing were to happen to you? To have your gf die just six days short of your wedding?

I'm not being mean, but I wish the same thing will happen to you. If only so you could know for yourself how it feels like.

So what if you liked her, but it wasn't reciprocated? Suck it up, and get over it!

In her defence, she was a nice person. Treated those below her nicely. Friendly and approachable. Always having a smile for everyone.

Like I've said before, tragic.

Sometimes I think you're really a pain in the ass. Almost everytime I see you, you'd say 'Good life ah..' to me. Which is really irritating, really.

Can't you see? We're in there for like a few months out of so many. And I have the 'good life' only when we're there.

How abt when we're in camp? YOU can go to the canteen as and when YOU please. YOU can to to the mess as and when YOU please. YOU can book in by the first parade. YOU could go home on the night we came back from the island. Me? Could I do all those?

Sometimes I really think your diploma doesn't really count for anything. Seriously! Re-read the title of this post!

The end was imminent, and inevitable. And it has came. No more going back there.

Earlier I said that I was sad, but not really sure over what.

I guess I'm sad over not being able to play PSP for hours at a stretch, save for the necessary breaks.

Sad over not having to have a magnetic card to gain entry. Ala those high security places seen in movies and shows. Have always think it's cool. Haha!

Just sad..

Another one.

First it was my aunt. Now a fren.

To be exact, a fren's future wife-to-be. They were about to get married this Sunday. Which is really sad.

An accident. That was what claimed her life. She was the pillion on my fren's bike. As is the case with bike accidents, the pillion is the one who dies.

And so it is in this case.

Tragic.

And to think that I helped buy some of the envelopes for the invitation cards. Cos he ran out of green ones that came with it.

The end is fast approaching. No more going to the certain island anymore after this. Sad. Not really sure what it is I'm sad over, though. Just sad.

car·ci·no·ma pl. car·ci·no·mas or car·ci·no·ma·ta
Abbr. CA An invasive malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue that tends to metastasize to other areas of the body.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

ep·i·the·li·um pl. ep·i·the·li·ums or ep·i·the·li·a
Membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells separated by very little intercellular substance and forming the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

My Bik Sali has passed away. Of advanced gastric carcinoma.

My only regret is of not seeing her again before my latest book in. My mum had asked me to drop by and visit her this previous Monday. I didn't. Now I guess I'll never be able to. Anymore.

Going back home in an uncle's car just now, my mum was narrating to him how Bik Sali had said that in 3 days time, she was going home, and she'll be renting some medical equipment to facilitate her breathing when she returns. Guess that wouldn't be necessary.
---
At the hospital when I visited you on 09/07, you joked that I'm my mum's bodyguard. I guess I am. You could still joke, despite of all the infusions. Wow, Bik.

Boys will be boys, and I guess this works for girls too. When I wanted to go back, you asked to kiss Iin, which Yan was holding on to. Too bad Ira was afraid. If not you could have gotten to kiss her too. Guess that was your maternal instincts huh, Bik.

May your soul rest in peace, Bik. Amin.

Yup. Great indeed.

I guess that's what you guys wanna hear, right? No matter what I say, that we actually DO work in there, nothing gets in, so be it then.

Ops Room People. A new term coined up. So be it too.

*Rolls eyes*

I don't have anything against those who are over their ideal body weight, nor do I have anything against nurses, and maybe it's just me, but if someone's in the nursing profession, doesn't he/she somehow epitomises being in the prime of health?

It just gives a better impression when the nurse tending to you fits the description above.

This is what I feel. Like I said, maybe it's just me. No offence to anyone.

Visitted my aunt yesterday. She has stomach cancer. Seeing her there pains my heart so much. All in, she's been IVed thrice. One for morphine, and the other two I don't know what. Morphine. That's what's used to treat very, very, severe pain. So just imagine what she is going through.

I wish you all the best, bik.

I finally got my DBS iB Secure Device! After waiting for so long. Not that I see myself using it much though. POSB isn't my main account. There's almost always a queue at every POSB/DBS ATMs everywhere. Bummer..! And what's with having to have a Device? Can't the 2FA code be sent to the user's handphone? Like what's being done for most other banks? So much more convenient that way..

It's now been two weeks that you and I are together.

It's great having someone to call my girlfriend and all, but it's not really what it's cut out to be. Sure it's fun havig someone to talk to, esp at night. It's something understood that when someone calls and talks at night for a long stretch at a time, it'd be to their special someone. But is that all there is to it?

It's been a fun two weeks. But smthg happened last two days, that still hurt a lil. 'You must treat me nice'. Sounded more like an instruction. I guess it's not what's been said, but how it's said. Maybe smthg like 'I feel that you have not been treating me the way I want to be treated' would be better. Sounds nicer. To me. Sounds more open to discussion on how I should be treating you. I guess that's how you are. And maybe that's not how I am.

Two weeks ago was the last we met. As friends. I popped the qn, and you agreed to be my girlfriend. Thank you, once again Sha.

I miss you. That's what you wanted to hear from me. It's been two weeks since we last met. I do miss you too, but I guess I'm not the hanky panky, mushy schmushy type. We ARE still boyfriend and girlfriend only after all. Not like we're married or anything. I think if we are, I'd be so much more mushier (not really sure if there's such a word. I guess there is). Touchy feely even. ;)

I like you, Sha. I really do. Liking Chinese girls aside, I really like your believe that everything starts after marriage. Saving oneself for your would-be spouse. And that you're already a Muslim.

With all the bombardment of the media, to be honest, I just feel like hugging you and kissing you and touching you all over. But that'd be a sin. And I'd be using you. Pure and simple. That's NOT what I want.

Don't be so unsure of yourself ok? We'll work together to make our relationship work.

Gambling is so addictive! Seriously!

Luckily for me, it's not the real thing. What am I talking abt? Payout Poker & Casino. It's a game on the PSP console. Thx F, for lending me your PSP, and letting me load PP&C inside!

Pre PP&C, I've never gambled, so all the IRs, NCPG and all that didn't really mattered to me. Post PP&C, I understand how gamblers feel.

I guess it's the excitement of winning. I may be wrong, but that's how I feel, everytime I win. Be it Poker, Baccarats, Craps, Slots, Blackjack and what not. In the game lah that is. Having more than what you initially have, just by taking chances. How easy can that be, right?

And PP&C being just a game, I really took my chances! In the game, Blackjack pays double. So if it's a $5 bet, the winning is $10. The more you bet, the more you win. Plain, simple logic. In order to win more and more money, I bet everyting I had. So betting $1m would win me $2m. If I won, I'd save and restart the game, to save my profile. If I lost, I'd restart the game too. Presto! I now have the $1m back.

This carried on and on. Now I have like $12m ++, and unlocked all the available casinoes, with each casino having higher and higher betting limits. Just how addictive is that! I'll tell you how addictive that is: It's so addictive that I was playing the game for hours and hours on end, save only for the necessary breaks here and there!

Imagine if it's the real world. There's no saving of profiles and restarting of the game to get back money lost. That's gambling.

For real.

Ouch!

Most memorable quote: "After this, you put one layer of kiwi. Let it dry. In the evening, take your socks then sah sah sah! Should be ok already".

Not really quoted verbatim. Smthg like that. Along the lines.

Enjoyed practicing for, and the actual Parade itself. Some time back, was wishing that I could participate in a parade. Any parade. And true enuf (or should I say, coincidentally?) my platoon was chosen for the COC. Guess I miss the Drill Com atmosphere.

Congrats and all the best LTC Khairul!

Now that it's over, it's back to the certain island to do a certain smthg. Glad to be back. Enjoying the break. ;)

Yesterday marked the beginning of two things, namely the start of no smoking in clubs and pubs, and the rise of the GST from 5 to 7%.

While the former doesn't bother me much, as I don't frequent clubs and pubs, and I'm in the process of quitting smoking, the latter does get me jittery a little.

A simple calculation would be that for every $1, the GST is now $0.07, as compared to $0.05 previously. A 2% rise may not seem much, but it all adds up, no? Take for example, mobile phone bills. For someone who has a few lines under one's name, it DEFINITELY adds up. Feeling the pinch already!

The Sunday Times carried an article abt four shoppers who apparently 'saved' by buying things before the GST rise. The spending againts savings ratio are:

1) Spends $3,000 saves $60
2) Spends $10,000 saves $200
3) Spends $14,000 saves $280
4) Spends $92,000 saves $1,600

Funny. Save for the one who spent $92k, the savings for the other 3, to me, are peanuts really. Don't you think so? If one can afford to spend so much in the first place, the savings one gets, when compared to how much one spends, is that really saving? Hmmm..

The rise of the GST rate may be a little harsh, but amidst all the gloom and doom, at least someone can find humour in the situation. What am I talking abt? McD's, and their latest TV commercial. In it, an auntie is selling tissue papers. Those 3 for a dollar thing. A girl decides to get herself tissues, and hence hands the auntie a dollar. To which the auntie said "Tissue papers now cost $1.20.." Haha! Watch out for the ad. It's funnier to see it, than just to read abt it.

Just giving my two cents worth (pun intended)..

It's been a while. Since the overseas trip. Was awaiting and counting down the days. How was it like? Same old, same old, I'd say. But would I change it for anything? Hell no! Haha! Guess I'm being selfish, but hey, I'm not to blame for being qualified, and getting it. Everyone I think is giving me their two cents worth, directly or indirectly, in my face or behind my back, but I'm not in need of it. Seriously.. Get over it!

It's a MUST to mop now. Whereas it wasn't the last time. No big. I kinda like the 'aftersmell'. As in aftertaste. Though it gets choking if overdone. Kinda kinky if you're into the 'doctor and nurse' thingy.. Hehe..!

Forgot a book I wanted to bring along. Mental note: bring book.

Payout Poker and Casino was a blast! Especially Poker. Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, Omaha High and what not.. Slots too. And Baccarat and Blackjack and Roulette. Feels so tempting to get a set of my own. Hmmm.. $299 for the set, battery and charger. Sounds like a good deal.. Yes? No?

Brought a pack of Djarum. Seriously I'm like torn between quitting and not quitting. Sigh..

- - - - -

Speaking of which..

Sy, miss those days with you man! @ J & S. Especially @ S. Had a fucking good time being with you there!

M is nowhere close. Seriously!

Almost always during a company level deployment, it's common to hear those 'never do work' comments. Frankly, I don't give a damn anymore!

I don't apologize for being qualified for the course, having went for the course, having passed the course, coming back and being attached to (and NOT posted to) where I am now. It's not that I 'never do work'. I do. It's just that the work I do is different. Diff from being deployed outside. Not happy with it? Suck it up, and get over it!

- - - - -

For almost two hours you were coughing and what not in the bunk, and you could not take the initiative to wipe the bed frames? And you expect ME to wipe it for you? It's no wonder you were coughing and all that for the past two hours!

M is for Medic, NOT Maid!