Of Style and Wow

My dream home is taking shape...

This is my new house! Just an artist's impression though, the first one is, well, the living, and next is kitchen. The third is my beloved room!!

Work started 24 May, and since then the whole house has been literally stripped naked leaving only the untouchables such as walls and pillars. And of course, the roof and floor! Yes, everything. At a cost of a 'complete makeover'.

30 May, the progress has been smooth! Some wall tiles were already up. Most others had their surfaces already prepared for tile works. Ready to make their way up onto the walls are new and shiny tiles.

Mozaic art glass tiles (Above) and one of the many beautiful tiles (Bottom).

Drill drill drill!!! It's very exciting knowing that your new house is being dressed up tiles after tiles, days after days, among other little things that would ultimately form up an intended dream home. I'm also especially grateful knowing that somebody is quietly (not our neighbors though) helping us do all the craft work while we are out doing our own things.

My First Formation Drill!

Navy Open House 2010

20 - 23 May 2010

Changi Naval Base

Finally, this show marked the end of our 7 weeks of training and 8 actual shows. Though there were some mistakes here and there, they were less noticeable ones. Phew... That said, I really enjoyed everything else, like the fun and laughter.

Songs were play in this sequence-

March in: Bandstand by Maj Tonni Wei

NOH 10 Medley: Victory at Sea, Jap Graf XII (Uchuu Senkan Yamato), Mamma Mia, Dayung Sampan, Can't take my eyes off you, and finally back to the end of Jap Graf XII.

March out: Upwards and onwards (Navy song)

That's all! More to come though - NDP, SAF Day, and COG at Istana, that's enough to keep us occupied for the next two months. All the weekends will soon be burnt!! June's COG will be very very exciting, because feiyang arranged Cruel Temptation 아내의 유혹 korean hit series and we'll play that. Imagine when the MPs or provosts are performing their drill, and we play this song. Wouldn't it seem damn interesting?? =)

Life as a bandsmen

It's been a looooooooong looooooooooong time since I last updated! And, this phrase has been sooooooo familiar cos I've been using them for the new entry after every cob web infested blog post. I've recently been very busy with band stuff and the setting up of the school alumni, which is a good thing because I enjoy leading a fulfilling and balanced life! Now, 21 already, so adult but NOT old. Young and energetic!! But i'm consistently tired. So how?!?? I wan to also lose more weight and not gain back within weeks!! HEHEH.

Hgv Alumni Association. That's the thingy me and the team is trying to set up. The school shows strong support for it, and I'm glad with that. But one constraint is that they are still hard headed about certain policies. Firstly, we can't go back to the school for a meeting on Saturdays simply because they want to conserve energy. No problem with that, we'll meet elsewhere. Second, our proposed new website must be hosted with their current website, which is apparently updated only a few times a year. Third, we cannot hold any funds, neither can they give us any for lawful reasons. I understand this, so we steered away from any potential cost-incurring activities like bonding games for the Exco. Many of such issues need to be ironed out, which I hope the management can practise a little more discretion about their hard rules. But one thing otherwise to note is the openness of the new management led by the new principal. Some initiatives once forbidden are now introduced, just like the bold step of forming one alumni body. If you were an ex-student and are now reading this, lo and behold we'll deliver something we can be proud of.

Kindly fill up this form! For Hgv ex-students only.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dF9OcDdFR19pUDc2bjVvaDNmRVpqRWc6MA

Just had COG. Nervous but, quite an experience!! =)

So basically, i'm out of the training wing officially. Though obtained a pass, I am seriously in need to practise hard to catch up with the rest - like fast sight-reading and fine-tune new pieces in lightning speed, scales, dynamics and articulation. Seriously.
With so many balls to juggle, can I do well for all of them? Result will show. I'll try hard. Real hard. Ultimately, my 2010 resolution is '100% responsibility'. Under it, I will bother and care to do the things I'm doing. It's a marathon, and i'm also physically fulfilling it - by running 4 - 6km a day, at least 3 times a week. I've been doing so since Jan, and doing well! I can now run 6km without slowing or stopping, unlike just last year. The next target will be 8 - 10km by April.
Next Tues, I'll stay in camp. there's a bunk, and a bed. Perhaps also the mates, and nothing else. No more internet at night!! Back to bmt-like life, where turning in and waking up is the 'right timing' in accordance to the body clock. Healthier lifestyle once again!! I'll download more games into my ipod touch so that I won't feel bored at night!!! =)
Good nites!!

13 February 2010

Got a call to urgently update my blog!!! And in order to get it updated, I'm now updating word by word, letter by letter and lastly, sentence by sentence and in conclusion, I've updated!

Shouldn't it be more exciting when it's my 21st birthday, and anything that follows it will be undertaken by the big word - LAW. I'm old! Old man! errR I mean, oh man!

Happy Eve of CNY, Happy birthday to myself. I've gotten myself the best present ever. What about the date? It's rather cumbersome to have it fall on the eve of CNY, but who cares? Cos it's something really unique about this date, and on top of the 21st special birthday. A key for me!

I'll update more when I feel like it=) Very soon, I meanz. A promise.

Happy 2010

Yesterday, we had a casual chat in the training room when we probed into 'what's our life's purpose'. Idiotic Stanley shouted You are born nothing! You're born to die! in an extremely tongue-in-cheek manner. No offence, but it really made me wonder what's mine? While some people are born talented, I thought i'd better be borned to party, to appreciate and any other except talent. Yep, but maybe not. Time, together with effort, will complete the blanks very soon!! That's all folks!

And what? My 21st birthday is in days. The long overdue question has once again resurfaced and is rather pressing because what have I been doing for the past 21 years? A lot. I need a de-fragmentation, and then start to reorganize things soon. Nothing depressing, I'm ready to face the fact! I shall cook my way to my zhenyu's hospitality empire in 30 years! MUAHAHAHA.

New Year Resolution (It comes a li'l tooooo late but isn't it better than nothing?)

1. Do not initiate buffet outings (No unless)

2. No more sleep-debt - Sleep early or pay the price

3. Wake up and, yes, get up, and never touch the bed for the day.

4. Will remember to floss

5. Lesser cold jokes (i'll try harder each time)

6. Save > $50 a month (and never use them the next month!!)

7. Stop dreaming about my (tonnes of) dream cars

8. Try even harder to stop procrastinating

9. 100% or none

10. Remember the 9th point OR ALL.

And today, we had an early book-out just because of no water supply in the white house. Wonder how much more strange can that be?

I miss you. Z068.

Musically ongoing.

Even the best deal in the world would somehow dissatisfy somebody like me. It's back to honing my musical skills again, just like that of the past eight barren years. The poor feeling stayed on until today.

I get to go home everyday, pay a visit to the backyard whenever free to pluck the overgrown weeds like some farmers. Not a bad deal though. Sometimes a match of soccer game and gym session whenever we like it will be of enough goodwill to nullify the misery - all the freedom because the instruments aren't ready for use; some still at repair, for at least the next three weeks. It is seriously boring, but the overall and holistic package seemed to have simmered the bordom in reality. No more rifle, no more route march, soc, and you-name-it.

Firstly the entire environment physically is an art structure; a prewar building, probably a preserved one: more so of a colonial house with a strong british design language that is painted white in colour, as dubbed by its name 'White House'. Just like the Victoria Concert Hall, there are many large and tall wooden dome-shaped doors along every corridor, with the majority being studios and practice rooms. All are sofisticatedly soundproofed. Being situated on a hilltop just like the Instana building, I do feel a little bit of prestige. So far it has been rather breezy all day long, and having nice music from good players in the midst of the serenity made the place 100% a music school. More so a perfect one.

People wise, it's honestly rather stressful to know that many of them are holding on to music diplomas, with some majoring in opera studies, studio and stage production, and, deeply just music. Everything is that competitive from top to toe so at times I wonder why am I here. There's a strong need for commitment and an added interest to whatever I'll be doing from right now. Plus, there're so many geniouses around to influence me and whom I can learn from. Strategically this is the right path at the current stage.

It is only the begining; boring times will go away because busy time will come for sure. ;) Not so much of a sour grape taking into consideration the tight schedules the seniors have, but definitely the mainstream events will gradually occupy us to death. In conclusion, I'm proud to be here for the chance that they'd given me, and the opportunity out there to meeting people from basically one begining like myself.

Anyway, my 21st birthday party is on the list! Adult soon. Finally. Not only the look anymore =\ wahahhaa. That's all folk's!

- Pictures adapted from mindef's website

POP LO!

BMT is finally over! Those days were hectic, yet fulfilling at the end of the day knowing that I had learned many skills and gained precious experience. After all, 'it's not what you would leave behind, but what you'll gain in the times ahead.'

Whether joyous or misery, we all went through it together. That's the emphasised 'brotherhood'.

Today is the first day of the 10-day block leave, and I'm trying to get used to staying at home, nothing regimental anymore.


I miss all my friends.


Off on a holiday tomorrow! Take care, people!

Field Camp

I just woke up feeling somewhat like last week - a super duper sore throat and a slight fever. Couldn't really talk much without a deeper voice and a less clear speech. Diarrhea is also bad, but not killing.

Field camp is just within proximity, just few more hours to go. Looking at the weather right now, I can't help but imagining me having foot rot. A very bad thinking though. But I think to overestimate things will better help us cope with the actual situation. I simply hope to go through the 10 days out there without visiting the MO. Left knee got better, I'm no longer limping as much. That's best.

It'll be damn exciting!!!

So how many more days will I get to sleep in my room? Less than 6 days. Should be moving house on one of the last days of November. That will also signify the last few days of BMT too!!!

Happy birthday, yong ren.

6th Week Coming

Finally, 5 weeks have gone. Field camp is coming, in the 7th week. No bathing, very little sleep, yet a very demanding schedule is something I didn't look forward to until now. Everybody says it's fun, and I hope so. Very soon, we'll pass out after a 24km march. Very soon...

Why am I still online and not booking in? MC for 2 days, excused exercise for 10 days. Fever, flu and cough again. And a sprained knee.

Back home!!!!


=)

Army

When I was just a little boy
I asked my Mother, what is army
It is a place, for me to be
That's what she said to me

Hey zhenyu zhenyu
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Hey zhenyu zhenyu

When I was young, I fell and hurt
I asked my Father, what is army
Army's a place, to change us into men
That's what he said to me...

Hey zhenyu zhenyu,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Hey zhenyu zhenyu

And it goes on and on... That's what sang everyday in the bunk, with a pool of variations. lol.

1st week

Stressed.

Will overcome.

Everything was, but just the beginning.

Twelve more weeks to go.

Will survive.

My will.

Last Few Hours...

Just got this news from a reliable source that I'll be in ro*ky hi*l's Zul*u coy. SHIT.

The worse coy in that school.

Anyway, the last few fruitful days were spent watching movies, tiny feasting and literally went sightseeing around the island. Met Nel, Ting, and Yong ren for dinner at Vivo and spent rest of the night there. Supposedly wanted to watch a movie, however ended up having supper with Nel and weida. On sat, yr and me met up again for a trip downtown on a bus, purposeful for sightseeing when mrt would be much faster. Watched Blood Ties by Chai Yee Wei at GV Plaza. A surprisingly good movie for a first full length film director . 4.5 out of 5 stars! Dinner time, I went to grandpa's house for my last dinner with them before ns, and then shortly after that met yr again. At midnight, we watched another one - The Ugly Truth. 4.5 out of 5 stars too! Super funny... Katherine Heigl is super cool. muahahahaha. Took night owl back to my house, and we ended the day after a few small chat about ns. woke up at 11, immediately we go out of house and went to chevron's e mart to buy ns things. walked 2km to chinatown to buy my stuff. Hmm, tired.

At night, had dinner with family at a jap restaurant and went on with buying yet more stuff for ns - from batteries, stationeries and alarm clock. what a nice ending...

Goodnight!

Next weekend out: The Proposal, G-Force 3D, Final Desto 3D. Hopefully can come out. Dunno what's the first thing I'll do then.

Where Got Ghost Review

First thing first, I must gasp in dismay and suggest that the film didn't worth 20% of the $8.50 ticket price at all. I guess Jack Neo is running out of idea, and has tried all ways he could possibly have done to engage the audience with his favourite mixture of laughter and one other extreme reaction, and in this case, kiddy fright. Despite all his effort, I'd say he was merely trying to entertain a two-year-old with his ultra-fake computerised graphics and the same old repeated jokes - how many times, in his previous movies, did Ah Nan said about the cobra and the 'spectacles'? Umpteem times. The ghostly appearance and some cinematic shooting angle do however look some sort of Holywood or Hong Kong film style. The rest of the effects were just damn fake, and having to stare so long at the screen just to see the fake granite hill fall off its cliff was simply a pain. Throughout the nearly two hours and especially nearing the end, I felt quite some urge to leave the hall - I have never felt like this before. Not only did the three story parts unlinked, I wasn't really sure what's the rational behind each individual part.

Albeit funny, the entire experience just left me wondering again whether to watch his next film. The decision this time to watch it is all in the name of supporting a Singapore film. I will surely think twice before queueing for the ticket to his movie in future. It's a total disgrace for the Singapore film industry - now almost all Malaysian cinemas show this film. Roystan Tan, a new bird in the commercial-scale production, did a far, far better job.

Following his previous movie's 1-star rating by a local magazine, I'd have given him half a star more this time, at the capacity of a common layman. It just feels like a no-brainer film of the 1970s.

Last Few Days...

Alright, D Day seems nearer than ever and having to spend the remaining 100 hours or less fulfilling an ever increasing items on the to-do list sucks, albeit a little of excitement here or there knowing that I'll for sure shed off those extra pounds.

D day also means an extra thing: the last few days of staying in this comfy and beloved house. When it's time to book out, the feeling of not knowing where my new home is sucks too. But with my beloved family, I'm totally at ease while playing with my new big toys. (sis don't get YAYA!) Nation above self.

Things seem a little odd these days yea? I hope not. But yeeeeaaa it is if I did follow my heart. NS is up and coming, that's the only thought. Shall status quo remains.

Yet frankly speaking, my enlistment date is at a right time because there won't be a confinement period as it did to my other counterparts. There's a public holiday on the 21st Sept. And on top of that, I get to enjoy many long weekends for the next half of the year as many of them will fall on a friday.

Wilds aside, another thing I'm not getting used to: From SAMSUNG smart-phone with QWERTY keypad to that old-school Nokia. And I really feel shiok when typing QWERTY at one go. Piano-style movement.

So from tomorrow onwards, I'll be happy to even just stay home and enjoy every detail of my house, although as always the outside world scratches my heart whenever i'm home. Nobody's going to watch the newly set up Mio TV because I'm away. No more feasting for me. Sis noticed that I didn't do my 10km today. What the hell are you noticing? Indeed, it's hell.

I shall prepare to empty a 'parking lot' in anticipation of my new boots.