21st Birthday Celebration

(Warning: Loads of photos........ be patient)

Venue : Aranda Chalet
Date : 13th August
Event : Moi's Birthday
Turnout: Marvellous

Booking in late at 1 am on Saturday (13/8) ... due to Artillery Institute parade, I hastily checked in and slumped onto the comfy queen sized bed after a quick trip to purchase beer n snacks.

Woke up and went to meet syndicate 3 for lunch at Suntec, the infamous Kuishin-Bo.

If ya remember the jingle, it's 'tong tong tong 1 2 3, we are Kuishin-Bo .....'

Well, it's quite expensive (I paid $27) but the variety of buffet is damn good.

A must try for all!

Candy floss snot!

Open Wide!

Syndicate 3 rockz

After a satisfying lunch, went over to Bugis to have a quick meet up with Daphne at her cosmetic counter to chat with her and to REMIND her to come later and not to be LATE.

The Hainanese Genes

Too bad Apple wasn't free to come down coz she was working night shift. Darn.

Met up with my Pop to go pick up my ice-cream cake and picked Shirley up on the way.

Look like couple hor....

Miss Shirley Lim has been a close chum of mine since way way back in Secondary school.

Almost 7 years liao. Miss Lim is gonna graduate soon from RMIT lor and gonna be a career businesswoman wor~~~

Looks like I need to do some catching up when I get out of the goddamn army.

Aaron n Irene turned up soon after. Known them since poly le.

Trying to act hunky :P

Me getting to close for comfort with Irene

Too bad Vernon n Eugene couldn't turned up. Pity =(

My LONG LOST SECONDARY SCHOOL frens turned up. The self-proclaimed 4 Musketeers.

L-R: JM, Me, Ian n Yuen Keong

Back in Sec 3-4, we always hung out together but now all 3 already ORD (me jealous...) and now are in local unis.

Sorry guys couldn't entertained yall so late coz me was playing mahjong but could hear from the conversation till 4 am that yall were catching up.

Will get dinner with yall 1 day, I promise.

My BMT mateys came down early too !!! It's almost exactly a freaking year in the army and it's some sort of reunion for all of us.

Ivan, my twin bro with the same exact birthdate/signature/tooth struture/foot size as me who's now a Signal Spec.

Alex, the high flyer now in ADA, comissioning together and has good news for us becoz his application to be a pilot is successful. Gooda news!

Kumar, the marblah as our PC Wong used to tease him, is now back in good ol' Delta as a Sargeant.

Sorry guys I can't attend all your birthdays coz me will be in Thailand. I owe yall a BIG BIRTHDAY TREAT.

Delta Pl 4 Sec 2: Ivan, Me, Alex n Kumar

DMC mates turned up too, exclusion of Wendy (late, as usual), Tiffany (Hong Kong), Wen Jun (who couldn't excuse herself from another chatlet), June n Clara (Australia earning their degrees), Eva & Felicia (family crisis).

Eric, Angie (Eric's new GF), Aaron, Gwenne, Me, Ivan, Mei Fen n Yannie

Thanks for turning out peeps, great to see yall again. Dunno when we'll meet up again. Hope to see one another in the industry.

My cozzies also came. Shirleen who turned 21 last week n Shu Fang who's getting married end of this year! Wow, we're growing too old !

Me n my Cozzies

Not forgetting Aunt May, Faith, Daphne n Charlie, who were fashionably late but nonetheless, made the cake cutting ceremony. TY Aunt May for graciously cutting the ice-cream cake with a rather useless stainlees steel knife.

Aunt May, Daphne, Faith n Me

Charlie - the dog has grown fatter rounder

Of course, last but not least was my dear family.

Mom and Dad, this wouldn't have been possible without ur support. I love ya! Although yall will never get to read this, it's heartfelt to know yall are always there to support me.

Mark & Pauline, thanks for offering me any assistance esp mahjong logistics and stuffz.

My family - can't live without them

Everyone finally gathered and the cake cutting commenced!

Birthday song and make a wish ...... Won't blog about it or it won't come true right?

The luscious B-day Cake

The cake was pre-ordered from Gelare, costing 108 bucks for 2.8 kg, it's a must order for all !!!

Some went for 2nd or 3rd helpings even though they have expanding waistlines (i.e. Me... my father, my brother, Aaron, Yan Wen...) haha :P

So, officially, I'm 21 le.

So had some side show entertainment for the unsporting girls.

As promised, I wanted to play Twister ... and only the guys played. It's damn fun to play lor~

I was having their arses in my face most of the time

After Twister, was mahjong. As usual, I won. :P Wendy n her date, Asst. Superintendent Sam turned up. Didn't manage to take a shot but thanks for coming !!!

Daphne, Faith n Me having some goofy fun

After everyone has gone, I sneakily opened all my prezzies.

Well, it feels like an early Christmas for me.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE PREZZIES I LURVE THEM!!!!

The horde of amazing gifts

In order of appearance and not preference:

~ Book titled 'His n Hers' from Shirley
~ Borders voucher from Aaron, Irene n Vernon (I've already used it up haha...)
~ Puma sneakers from Ivan, Alex n Kumar (they're simply what I want, thanks)
~ Movie vouchers from movie-flick-chick Gwenne
~ Topshop vouchers from Ivan, Eric, Yannie n Meifen
~ Calvin Klein boxers n Renoma wallet from Aunt May, Daphne n Faith (using both items as we speak)
~ Chocolates from Apple (have already gobbled them in camp lol~)
~ Hip Hop cap n Aviator shades from Wendy (have already used the cap x2 for bad hair days)
~ Tee-shirt from Yvonne

Also, thank you for all the hong baos from my relatives and my brother & sis-in-law, much needed finances esp when u're holding a chalet.

That was a spectacular celebration for me, couldn't ask for more.

Oh and I also got something AMAZING from my parents. I took my photos with this:

My new toy is the shade of Siesta Orange

My Olympus camera was in the dumps and this Casio Exslim Card is DAMN GOOD. Like orgasmic wonderful. It's slim enuff to bring out and the battery life is STUPENDOUS.

Before booking into camp, met up with Aaron, Irene n Vernon @ Billy Bombers.

My My, what big mouths they have

Who can stop them with such big BURGERS

Aaron was having yucky meatloaf

Nostalgic Irene - Bo Ying Ren - Sharon Au look

Monograph of Vernon getting drunk on root beer

Muscular Aaron flexing his own meatloaf

Booking in wasn't fun after what I went thru.

Took some snapshots at MacRitchie reservoir where we had a Formation Cross Country Run.

The new Artillery Institute was overall champion. Cadets running like road runners.

The flame burned on

The gunners with the legs of GOLD

John, Me n Jason

Annual Mammograph check by the park

Are you sianz of all the photos ? Wahahaha .... there's more.

Typical cadet look - looking like a freshie to be bullied

Narcissitic shot in bed

That's all folks. Hope ya enjoyed the photos.

I'm going off to suffer in Thailand next week le.

Bon voyage,
Benjamin

Bday Chalet Preview

Not much time before I'm gonna book in.

Just have to say. I had a WHALE of a time at my Birthday Chalet.

A big thank you to all who graced their prescene, really appreciate it ya !!!

Another big thanks for the prezzies, they are simply wonderful !!!! They are ALL from the wishlist wahahaha !!!

Although officially I'm not 21 yet, to me it already is.

Everbody that's important to me who made it and that I cared about was there (except for those overseas la and those who have crisis...)

To me, being 21 is a momentous occassion where it is a celebration of not only my adulthood but to see the gathering of close friends and relatives all at once.

It's just simply delightful.

I have DOZENS of pics which I have no time to post up, will do a proper blog entry with the Pics with my new camcam and text that befit the occassion.

Glorious food!

Blog abt it next week,
Ben

P.S. I have all the photos in my lappie, will send to the relevant peeps thru msn when I see ya online next week tata~

Chalet prep

There's so much thing to do when it's a one man show !

Trying to prepare for my chalet can be hectic.

Cake, mahjong tables, catering and logistics of getting peeps there.

Very disappointed at some people who can't make it.

It might be a small thing to you that your prescene won't affect the mood of the party but it's my 21st Birthday chalet.

I want all the people in my life who I cared about to be there, right ?

Well if you think I'm not that important to ya, then maybe you're not that significant to me then ......

I guess one sees the true colours of the rainbow as they age.

Upset but determined that the party will still rage on,
Ben

My Birthday Wishlist

I'm compiling this wishlist for the sake of myself and for the peeps that are going to my Bday chalet.

I'm a very practical person, Virgo mah, so I hope, the emphasis is on hope is that maybe you all can abide by the what I want and what I don't want.

A bit self-centred to ask frens for what I want but rather than frens cracking their brains for what I want and getting something I might not even use, I save them the trouble to tell them what I already have and what I desire.

It just makes the celebration that more practical n worthwhile. For me lor.

If you think I'm an ego bastard that will be posting up expensive stuff.

You're WRONG.

Also if you select something on the list ya want to buy for me, SMS me so I'll remove it from the list so I can tell other peeps not to buy repetitive stuff for me.

Imagine if I get 2 books of the same title, then 1 use for Toilet Paper ah? No rite, well I think you get my drift. And I will add in the specifics of what I'm going for rather than a gaudy colour or some lofty design which is appaling for me. :P

Here's the wishlist of what I desire for:
(In no particular order....)

1) Crumpler messenger/laptop bag (a bit too funky for my age... let me relive my youth can!!!)

This link has a lot of designs: Crumpler

I would prefer the colour brown, beige, orange or white, preferably the range of Cheesy Disco and Crisp Suit. Don't get me black or blue bags, I have enuff of that.

A weekend bag to town

Cost:Approx $130~

2) Brown/Beige sneakers from Puma or Diesel

My feet size is US 10.5, if you're intending to buy for me shoes, keep the receipt just in case lor ....

Clubbing sneakers

Preferences: don't get leather for me hor ... suede sneakers is nice enuff.

Cost:Approx $100~

3) Books by Ben Elton or Mike Gayle

Books I wanna read!!!

I've only read 'Dinner For Two' by Mike Gayle and 'Past Mortem' by Ben Elton. So get the rest of their collection for me. A book is enuff for my intellectual hunger.

Cost:$16.90/book

4) Vouchers

For convenience sake, I would gladly accept vouchers. CK Tang, Zara, Heeren. Just don't get me KTV/spa vouchers.

Cost:In dominations of $10, $20 or $50.

5) Beige old school aviator shades

You can get me Ray-bans or go to Bugis get me. Cheap cheap. $15. Just don't get me elongated ones that are pointy one, it's hard to find nice frames.

Note that these frames ain't mine, they were borrowed

Cost:$15 bah ....

6) Non descript masculine jewellery

Contrary to what Wendy dislikes, I like accessories that are meaningless.

Metallic bracelet or rings are nice to adorn once in a while. Trying to act metrosexual mah, getting old liao.
Perlini's Silver

Cost:Ranges from $8-88 i estimate haha....

7) Singlets from P.O.A. or CK

Me going for the beach boy look, and since I have a constant tan from sitting around in classrooms, must wear singlets more !!! Preferably a wife-beater.

Cost: >$30

8) GV movie passes

I've been M.I.A. from the theatres lately, miss all the good shows. Must catch up with the entertainment industry. Sigh.

Cost: $9.50 a tix on weekends wor~

9) Boardshorts

In theme with my beach bum look, my waist is 30 (suprisingly) and I'm looking for brightly coloured boardshorts from Rip Curl or Quiksilver. No Billabong plz. Preference of orange, green or maroon.

Cost: >$69

10) Bang & Olufsen earphones

My Creative Zen is very lonely with pathethic ordinary earphones. I want B & O leh. Don't know how much they cost though. Must be earphones hor, not those cup mounds that cover your ear like snowmuffs.

Cost: Don't know

11) Fossil brown leather watch

Bought this for Ivan's birthday, then now I want haha. The range is damn nice at Heeren but it's damn ex. $120 lor.... Looking for a casual brown watch, nothing too classy though. Just not the ugly matrix range in black leather. yuckzs.

Weekend/Clubbing watch

Cost: >$120

This is the compiled list of what I DON"T WANT

1) Stuff toys
2) MP3 players - I got Zen liao.
3) Scented candles/fragrant soaps or anything from Body Shop
4) Stationary
5) Cologne/Bodywash
6) Spa/KTV vouchers
7) Polo tees - I have like 10 of them. Enuff is enuff.
8) Stuff you can buy from ebay or Yahoo! auctions. - a bit the err

Well that's the entire list of what I want or don't want.

Hope this helps your decision making process of what I want for my Bday.

Happy shopping,
Benjamin

Commissioning - Not mine

Before booking in last Sunday, went back to dear old SAFTI to see my buddies getting their swords.

I'm 3 months before I reach their status as they entered earlier then me and the return back to SAFTI has me in some sort of goose bumps.

Seeing the ushers in No.1, the feeling is just unbelivable.

It's like wedding day but not.

A feeling of suave-ness would sweep upon you when you don on the No.1 suit with the peak cap, looking fine and dandy.

Alas, it ain't my turn yet and all I can do is watch the parade.

Where by-now-2LT Zeng and Yeo are photographed on the parade square.

Left right left right left right left ....

Marching in a file .... Super sianz esp rehearsals

Comission Loh...

Especially at this part of the programme, I could feel the same exuberance of joy they felt when they throw the peak cap. 265 days of suffering.

It now gives me more urge, more energy, more to look forward to my own comissioning parade. I just can't WAIT !!!

Officers now... can't play play like kids in front of your men now hor

Feeling bar-less amongst them

I have to greet Eric .... Sir ...

High flyer Ivan with low flying arty cadet Ben

Back to the present, the last 2 weeks is Exercise FireTracker.

A Battlion planning exercise and it crack my brain into million shards before I regain my composure.

It's mind boggling I tell ya what a S2/S3 or a FSO has to do to create an Ops Order.

Today signals the end of the fortnight classroom exercise and went for TEWT yesterday to observe the ground.

Syndicate 3 (Men of TWELVE) - the highest point on our AO (Area of Ops)

Our syndicate is damn outstanding I tell ya. Everyone contributes and works like an oiled engine.

There might be a few squeaks here and there but our instructor, LTA Ong is the BEST.

The BEST. He is patient and well versed and it's a lil sad to see him go to SMU to further his studies.

Honestly speaking, he is the best senior person I have ever encountered. Sacarstic, witty, composed and smart. If there is one person in the army I wanna emulate, it's definently him.

I also took a 'Band of Brothers' photo on one of the prominent axis in our AO.

Pardon my amatuerish shots.

Not ready for war yet

It has been a positive learning environment so far as I go, the days are getting shorter as POP day nears.

60 days to be exact.

Just a lil props, I changed back to my old format as the previous format was hideous as text couldn't be seen. The main pic is pretty nice right? Hehe.

I'm doing up a birthday wishlish tmr ...

Regards,
Ben