Scouty’s Weblog

Finally had completed my 1 month of physical fitness training. Though as expected, I did not managed to clear the IPPT test. As it had been a good 6 years since I did any serious exercise, and its really not possible for me to clear the test within a short 1 month training. But the good thing about the 1 month of training had created the awareness in me to exercise regularly. As now I do see the benefits of regular exercise.

So will have to really resolve to ensure I do some exercise at least once or if not twice a week. Since I have all the facilities at my workplace. Gym, Stadium, Swimming pool and all the various courts. So might as well utilise them.

Finally today got time to be home for dinner and finally spent some time with my little nephew.

Perhaps its due to the many days that I wasn’t home in the evening, due to the weekly IPT training and also lessons. I had not seen my nephew for like close to 2 weeks. As there is no lesson today, so I get to be home for dinner, thus finally got the time to play with him.

As he was sitting next to me having his apple while watching TV. So start talking to him and playing with him. Then he after his apple, he start playing his toys, while I try to incorporate some learning things for him. (Identify colours, shapes)

Decided to start my ironing and he also join me in my room, but not before carrying his loads of toys onto my bed and play. Kids being creative, he start to convert this little bucket into a helmet and start saying he is a soldier. Seeing the sight, I decided to take a photo of him with his ‘helmet’. But he got shy and decide to not act soldier. So had to coax him before he finally agrees to let me take photo of him with his ‘helmet’.

So there he is, in his ‘helmet’.

Am glad and surprise that we got to spend some time together and I must say, he does has his moments where he will listen and do what he is told. That is also provided his mum (my sis) is nowhere in his sight.

But well at least spent some good time with the little prince of my household. Haaa.. now will be looking forward to the day the little princess of my household come back here.

Had submitted my group project on Friday. Finally the stress of having to do the report is over. Had spent a few late nights compiling what my other project mates had done. Though have to admit if we had spent more time on it, it would have been better. But well, now is to rely on the upcoming test to help boost the grades then.

As we will be having our HR – MER test next Thur, so Friday’s lecture was suppose to be a revision where tips will be shared. However this time round, the topics tested are going to be more theory based, so it won;t be so straight-forward where I can ’smoke’ my way through. So I guess will have to spend more time in the preparation.

Anyway… after this test, the last assignment will be to do a presentation based on our report and thats it!! Done for the whole Diploma course!!! Finally 3 years had passed, still can remember the first day I started school and now I am at the last 2 weeks to the whole course. Though I still have friends whom had taken the Finance module waiting for their exams by end November.

At last 3 years of perseverance and constant studying. In the process, I had made very good friends and also learnt alot of things. Had seen how people can be so result orientated till they end up being famous for the wrong reason, how people can be so competitive till making more enemies than friends, how pregnant woman can be so unpredictable with their mood swings and many more…

I would say, for the whole 3 years of studies. Year 2 was the toughest, as that was the year where I had to take the most subjects that is numbers and calculations. To think I was almost ‘killed’ by the ever stressful Statistics and Business Finance. Still can recall the daily hanging out at the school library with R just to get the formulas, concepts and steps into our head.  Boy.. am I glad the tough days are over.

Looking forward to the end of course, and of course the graduation ceremony. Must make sure my kakis will attend, since we had all came a long way together. Reaching our final destination together!!

Nothing beats having a group of good buddies to struggle and ‘chong’ together. I am glad I had them!! To all of you! Huat Ah!!

It seems like people nowadays are getting all stressed up due to problems they faced. Somehow problems + emotions can add up to be quite a strong cock-tail not for the faint hearted.

Had seen a few of the guys at work coming to me with problems and be their listening ear, while in the process give them my 2 cents worth of advice / opinion. I have to admit, it is kind of satisfying when the guys are appreciative. That does help to reaffirm that what I did is on the right track. Being a listening ear to these guys here.

Had also seen another friend facing some problems with work, personal life and family. Lucky for him, my mum is there to be his listening ear and give him the advice.

All these had kind of made me realised that indeed humans are a complicated lot… Bestowed with the power of thoughts but not with the power to manage it. Somehow, most of the time its due to the fact that one let their thoughts run wild and lose the power to control or manage it, that resulted in problems arising. Worse will be when emotions also decide to join in the fun, and when combine with thoughts… all hell can break loose.

Seeing all these things, it make be even more resolve to learn more about counseling and hope with the knowledge can help more people around me.

Just thought of sharing this quote here, find it quite apt to the title of the post.

As long as we are alive we will experience sufferings. But that does not mean we have to be unhappy. Unhappiness comes from allowing ourselves to be controlled by life’s ups and downs—from feeling defeated, from losing hope, losing courage, losing the will to advance.

Had made a visit to my ex-colleague or rather my ex-Senior Supervisor from OG. As that was where I started out working as a part-timer after my O levels days till my enlistment into the NS. She was the person that interviewed my friend and I, got us the job and fought for a full-time pay package for us both.

During my days of working with her, she took care of my friend and I. As we were the 2 youngest male staffs employed by the company and were working in her department, so she made sure we were well taken care of especially within the department and also guided us in our work as we were both pretty new to the working world.

However, as I had to repeat my studies. So I left the place earlier than my friends, however I still maintain contact with her and the other colleagues by making regular visits. Due to some reasons, she left the company shortly after I left and has since been working for this stationary company at Suntec City till now.

Had been visiting her since I also don’t know when and as she is one of the VIP ladies in my list, so she is also in my mailing list for the yearly Christmas and Chinese New Year card.

Well, during my last visit on Friday, can see the tireness in her eyes. Perhaps its really time for her to take a break and relax. Since she can easily just relax at home and be a full-time Tai Tai. Her 2 sons are all working and have their own family. So she can actually just rest and not put herself to such work stress.

Whenever I visit her, it will always trigger the memories of my days working with her and the things she had taught my friend and I. Thus decide to blog about her, since she is one of the VIP ladies, so its only right that she has a post too.

Had went for my first IPT training (Individual Physical Training) today at Khatib Camp. Kind of volunteer to attend the traning, so as to prevent being charged for defaulting IPPT or worse, have to attend RT (Remedial Training).

As its my first session, so am required to take our first IPPT Cat Test. Oh.. Boy.. Still can remember my last IPPT was like when I am still in Sembawang AirBase which is like in 2002. So its a good 6 years since I last attempted all the series of test. Sit-up, Chin-up, Shutter-Run, Standing Board Jump and 2.4km run.

As expected, I flunked all the series of test with only a miserable 1 point for Sit-up, which i managed to struggle a total of 29 sit-ups in 60 secs.

The running was manageable at first but as usual, due to the lack of exercise for the past 6 years, the breathless feeling kicks in very fast and soon the mind and the legs start to go into conflict.. Mind want to go on, leg refuse to move, then the lungs join in the fun by increasing the breathless feeling. But still glad that I had at least managed to complete the whole 6 rounds.

Perhaps due to the long period of no exercise, am abit excited with the following training sessions. Hopefully can achieve something after the 1 month of training.

By the way, was quite amazed by how technology has been used in the various IPPT testing stations. All computerized and now its almost impossible to cheat. Though the only draw-back is the voice that counts out your number of Sit-ups, Chin-up done is that of a guy… If its a lady voice, should have more motivation. Maybe I will suggest that after my training. But overall, am rather impressed with the whole training process and even the PTI (Physical Training Instructor) is quite polite too.

Am totally shacked out after today’s session. Can expect my body to ache tomorrow. But well, theres always a price to pay. Since I hasn’t been exercising for the past few years. Now its the time. Time to get fit again!!!

Made a wrong choice of drinks just now and am enjoying the kick of it.

Had met up with the folks at work for dinner and then for drinks at Starbucks. Forgotten that it is around 9 plus, so ordered a tall caramel frappuccino. After drinking about 1/4 of it, then realised that I am having coffee at such a timing.

So now, here I am! Feeling wide awake and can even feel the caffeine flowing in my body… somehow even my room seems brighter, now that my body is filled with caffeine.

Time is 1.41am…. will see what time will the effect wear off.