The title briefly covers some highlights of my week.
On Tuesday I took IPPT and managed to get either 4 or 5 for my static stations and finally broke the 10 minute barrier for my 2.4km run. I was really happy about it because I shaved off more than 30 seconds since my last IPPT and I’m really proud of myself although I failed to make it for Gold timing. I’ve really changed from the time I enlisted. Originally I accepted National Service as just doing work, following instructions and even during BMT when my fitness improved, I think little about how the army can help me with improving my fitness because I was a PES C personnel. Turns out that my ‘lousy’ posting was a blessing in disguise – being in the combat support unit and staying in helped enhanced my motivation to leverage on army’s facilities and regiment to train up. I am super glad I didn’t turn out like ‘most other PES Cs’.
On Wednesday morning during the Physical Training I notice a fine ‘crack’ across the plastic strap of my Casio ‘Tactical’ watch and soon the strap gave way and i was left with 2 pieces of the watch.
Wednesday night I booked out so that I could go for my IRAS interview on Thursday morning and on my way home I went to Delifrance to buy a Baguette for the next day’s breakfast only to realise that the SGD$2.40 Baguette has shrank in size considerably and its thickness now resembles a slightly thicker walking stick. I am not sure if it’s the flour prices, the baking master’s pay or just that branch of Delifrance but I must comment it looked pathetic and for a moment I didn’t want to buy it.
Thursday morning was my IRAS interview, which really only lasted 30 minutes but was preceded by a series of written kind of tests (I decided not to divulge the details of the process in case I’m not allowed to though as the Taxation Statutory Board they should be smart enough to make me sign an agreement which I didn’t if they didn’t intend me to reveal that process). It feels good and I kind of like IRAS after loitering around the place before the entire thing (I was too early you see).
Thursday afternoon I rushed back to camp to complete some work before leaving again for the long weekends…
In the week I must say I’ve help some people who’re going to be really great people in the future and I take the chance to urge everyone and anyone to help those who come after you to chase their dreams. Here’s a really meaningful poem by Will Allen Dromgoole:
The Bridge Builder
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fear for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again will pass this way;
You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?”The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.”
