A cold week

Apparently, this week seems to pass in the flash. Already, last Sunday seemed like yesterday (pardon that cliche, I couldn't think of any other way to express it), and right now another week stares straight at me.

We did not have much activity the entire week, except for the odd close combat lesson, during of which we finished quite fast, and session and after session of parade rehearsal. The commanding officer is leaving, and we did one elaborate show on Friday to send him off. Wayang, as we called it.

(Sedia - attention), (senang diri - at ease), (hormat senjata - salute with rifle) and all the other drills. In fact, my body began to get used to standing like an erect rod throughout the better part of the one hour, unlike previously where I had to fidget like a bee.

However, I began to wonder about the practicality of such a parade. Firstly, we were organising the whole parade by ourselves. That meant painting the display boards, setting up the pedestals, the stands, installing our audio system, cutting our own sound tracks (we do that for our marching in tracks), and not the last of all, catering. In fact, we even painted the vehicles used in the parade ourselves! It seemed more like a showcase of the Singapore Armed Forces' ability to organise an activity without out-sourcing than a farewell parade for the out-going CO (he's out-going too, if you know what I mean).