MY DEFINITION: Looking back into the good old days

Sitting down on an armchair in front of the living room window, sipping a cup of hot apple tea and looking into the peaceful and cool reservation across my flat while listening to a few pieces of symphony by Beethoven. Tears streamed down from my eyes out of the blue and my heart aches worst that a thousand knives stabbing into it. They say a picture speaks a thousand words.

As the memories of spending 17 weeks of my NS life in the preparation of National Day Parade 2010 flash passed by in my head - the fun jokes, the cheering of the crowds, the practices on Nee Soon Camp ground and the scrumptious food - I can't help but just have to see it once again only as memories and not being able to relive it ever again.

Enjoying life during NDP 2010 break times. (Preparing for the evening rehearsals)

Trying to be the most "KILAT" marcher in my contingent... Hehe.. ;P

In this period of time, I've made more friends and network contacts as the weeks goes by and had always look forward to see them every week. And as each week pass by, the times that we had share together as marchers, colleagues and above all as friends, really etched onto my mind forever. I really don't want to end this very fast but all good things have to come to an end. Things got really into the heat when the training took place at the Padang. The 1st time I set foot at the Padang, I told myself this "Here I am on the grounds of Independence, here is where I will make history in my life and here is where I will portray my very best for the parade which I had practised hard enough back in Nee Soon."

The very first rehearsal at the Padang on 19th June 2010 @ 1330hrs... Trust me, the sun is boiling my blood...

But everything that happened at the Padang was a flash of light. There were only less than 4 rehearsals in June and come July, the National Education Shows and the Preview. The BIG day itself on 9th Aug. The exhilration when I first march into the Padang filled with spectators really boost my motivation and drive to go for it every single week.

The contingent in NE Show 1 without me... Argh!!! X@

The only time when I couldn't march was in National Education Show 1. As I recalled, the afternoon was especially blazing. As the sun boiled the cemented flooring of the Padang, I was sweating like a horse. To worsen it off, I suffered from insomnia the previous night and had not enough water intake before the rehearsal. All 3 effects set on me and the next thing I knew, I was on my knees squeezing my temple to control my dizziness and then, black out. According to protocols, I'm not allowed to march in the evening and it really irritated me a lot on this...

From then on, a promise to myself never to fail again in the Padang. The remaining National Education Shows were superb... The kids and the audience were practically the best amongst all rehearsals. The weather also gave us their blessings. Things ran very smoothly for the other shows.

Getting it all serious during NDP Preview.

But when it came to the Preview, the first thing that took my attention was the stringent security checks. Man, they didn't even spare the officers. But it was really funny when they wanted to check my guns... I was wondering as the guns that SCDF uses was a dummy gun and even though it was the real thing, it only shoots water and can only harm a cat... Hah!

Anyway, National Day Parade 2010 took place and I was rather pissed off. SCDF was never shown on the national television except the march pass which only zoomed to contingent commander and me. The contingent worked hard for it and this is what they get in return? I just don't see the rationale behind this at all. Never mind about that. Oh well, National Day 2010 is now history and I'll post more soon. So take care peeps and will tell you more about this journey... Till then, all the best in your work and stay happy... =)

Do take a look at the pics yeah? Enjoy...