[Mood: Excellent] [Mentally: Strong] [Physically: Building Up] [State of Mind: Stable]
I forgot to blog last week because I was so tired. Lolz. Let's recap. RECAP!
Last week was a very long weekend. I booked out on Thursday night! So I went to watch 2 movies on 2 days consecutively, The Dukes of Hazzard and 4 Brothers. Both are quite great shows.
A little update on my NAPFA scores, by that week, I got the following results.
Shuttle run - 10.1s
Chin-up - 0
Sit-ups - 31
Standing Broad Jump - 234cm
2.4km - 11:59 mins
For my 2.4km training, we got divided into 4 groups, A, B, C and D. A being the fastest, and D the slowest, so they can train us accordingly. I got into group A. The way we train, a group will run around the track for a certain period of time, and within a certain period of timing per lap. To give u a better picture,
Group - Total running time - Lap time
A - 15 mins - 2:24 mins
B - 15 mins - 2:50 mins
C - 10 mins - 3:03 mins
D - 10 mins - 3:30 mins
So practically, Group A and B will run more laps, thus building our stamina. It has been going on for a couple of weeks, and our training for Group A is now running at a total time of 20 mins, and a lap time of 2:16 mins. It is crazy. But it helped a lot. During the second 2.4km test, I managed to clock a timing of 10:08 mins. Next time, I'm gonna try for 9 mins plus.
My shuttle runs and standing broad jumps are not quite a problem, as long as I get my techniques right. So I concentrated my OTOT (own time, own target) training on chin-ups and sit-ups. I realized my sit-up is similar to my running, no speed, but have endurance. So I can do more sit-ups, but not fast enough. I have to work on my speed, and that's a big problem. So far, my buddy and I have been training each other.
Chin-ups, on the other hand, is a killer. So I made it a point to draw out dumbells from the platoon office every night and train. As of this week, I can officially do 2 chin-ups, and aiming to push for more.
During the weapons presentation last 2 weeks, I fell down awkwardly after receiving my rifle. I ran and tripped on a ledge, fell forward, my left hand tried to break my fall, and the rifle fell onto my left hand. I could barely hold my towel after that. I didn't want to see the MO (medical officer) because I dun want to take leave. So I bear through the pain, especially with the week being my Technical Handling lessons and test.
Technical Handling is something like lessons on how to handle the rifle. Strip and assembling, loading and unloading, troubleshooting. I managed to clock 34 secs for stripping my weapon, 38 secs for assembling, and 40 secs for loading my magazine (meaning putting each round into the magazine holder), all with my left hand hurting. Passing time was 1 min, 1 min and 50 secs respectively. Yeah, I passed even with a hurting left hand. SO I was looking forward to doing it with 2 good hands. After my hand recovered this week, we had the test, and I clocked 28 secs for stripping, 32 secs for assembling, and 32 seconds for loading magazine. I wasn't the fastest for stripping (18 secs) nor assembling (28 secs), but I'm a bit confident I clocked a faster time than others in my platoon for magazine loading. My sergeant can do it in 36 secs. But of course, it's all not important, as long as I passed. Lolz.
Last Wednesday, we starting our fasting. In camp! It was a horror to find out that my one week field camp is on the last day of Ramadhan. Upsetting. But the first 3 days of fasting in camp is quite fine. I'd go straight into the third day, because that was that day all of us were tested to the limit. We had our AGR (the running training I mentioned above), and most of the Muslims downgrade their group. Meaning if they were in group B, they went to Group C or D, because they're afraid they cannot take it. But not me and Danial (a friend from SP). We stayed in our Group A, and managed to complete it. The day was not over yet, with 4km route march in the evening. The Muslims formed a small group leading the company, so we would not see the others drinking at the drink-up point. I think it was a huge achievement that we managed to overcome such a day. But I'm not too sure if we can hold it for 6km route march, which will start this week.
I was appointed Platoon IC on Friday. That was a bummer. It is a huge burden being the IC. And because I am aiming towards a low profile NS life, it's really messing with my plans. My first day didn't start really well, with our very first Stand-By Bed, and I got scolded by one of the Platoon Sergeants with vulgar words because 3 of my platoon mates were late for routine order. But I'm getting the hang of it. Especially with the support of my section mates. Looking forward to continue leading the platoon until my period ends.
One month of PTP is over, tomorrow we are going into BMT. I foresee tough times during our fasting month, but that's what army is like. I have the motivational factor and mindset to push on, and I hope others have it too.
9 more weeks to POP ah!
P O P O P O P!
(P.S: Sorry for any spelling mistakes.)
I Ask My Girl
I ask my girl,
To take a walk,
To take a walk,
Down Orchard Road.
Went past Mandarin,
To Centrepoint.
We had our lunch,
At Mac Donalds.
We had fillet,
And an apple pie.
We share a cup,
Of Lemon Lime.
Holding by her hands,
Look into her eyes,
I ask my girl,
To be my Valentine.
There was one night,
There was no light,
There was no light,
So we use torchlight.
Holding by her hands,
Look into her eyes,
I ask my girl,
To be my future wife.
But she reject,
Holding by her hands,
I slapped her hard,
Until she said yes.
Where The Cold Wind Blows
In the early morning march,
With a field pack on my back,
With an aching in my arms,
And my body full of sweat.
I'm a long, long way from home,
And I miss my lover so.
In the early morning march,
Where the cold wind blows.
Where the cold wind blows,
Where the cold wind blows,
Where the cold wind blows,
Where the cold wind blows.
(Chorus)
I know, I know,
You have to go,
So hurry back home,
Coz I miss you so.
In the eastern part of Singapore,
There's a place where we belong to,
Where we train to be a chao recruit,
That BMTC.
At BMTC,
(Chorus)
In The central part of Singapore,
There's a place where we belong to,
Where we learn to be a chao Ah Beng,
That Orchard Road.
At Orchard Road,
(Chorus)