Today I went for the 2nd session of JC Physics teachers briefing at TJC. Supposedly half of the JC Physics teachers were there (less 2 JCs which opted out), but it did not look like so!

I realise that being a JC teacher means that during meetings like this, you see these few teachers all the time -- the circle is quite closed. I also realised that many people from my circle in university time are JC teachers too. And I realised that some of them are posting out soon after some time in a JC. I also realised that since there are only so few JCs, JC teachers are very reserved and guarded in their interactions with other JC teachers -- they are viewed as rivals! The life of a JC teacher is indeed vastly different from that of a secondary school teacher.

I also learned that not all JC teachers are "on" or sharp. Most RJC and HCJC teachers are good. VJC, TJC and NJC teachers are mostly quiet, so can't really tell.

I bought 3 CDs today. I haven't bought CDs for a long time, but I got inspired to buy one (ok, three) when I met an old friend at Parkway MPH yesterday. He sort of recommended two CDs. So I bought 2 Emi Fujita CDs and the Kill Bill soundtrack today. The sad themes from the movie are so interesting, as are some other pieces -- but I have to admit, soundtracks are expensive to buy for just a few tracks. But I couldn't find any MP3s out there. Here's a midi of The Lonely Shepherd though....

I just came back from chalet session with my CT class. The main activities this time was soccer, bowling, playing pool, BBQ and cycling -- not exactly a lot for a 2 day chalet, I guess. But quite a few of us still had work committments in school. We could have swum perhaps. We wanted to kayak though, but the rental kiosk at Pasir Ris Park apparently went bust already. You know what? I probably will try to round up some people to kayak/canoe at Bedok ECP one of these days...

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I have a 2 week reservist this December again as usual -- this time with a stand-by as well. So I won't be able to come out over the weekend. What to do? Combat unit is like that one... I'm an Infantry Combat Medic -- an SIR soldier. The funny thing is, all around me, I seldom meet combat people from the real combat units (SIR/BRC/GDS/CDO). Clerks, techs... combat support at most. My experiences during my NSF days from 1993 to 1999 are one of a kind -- that's just about the only advantage you get by being in a fighting unit.

Actually, I'm glad that throughout every phase of my life, I have been able to experience something and be thankful for it and say "Yes, I've done something...". From cadet scouts in TNS, school team volleyball in DHS, ODAC YLTC Camp and String Ensemble in VJC, combat medic and contributing to saving 4 lives in NS, 2 marathons, OBS 21 days, BRC attachment days and a Special Op in NS (2nd installment), sailing course, climbing Mt Trusmadi and Mt Kinabalu, etc. during the later years, to being a teacher, and a Robotics Club teacher, guiding the next generation.

I guess if a person were to think back at 29 and see that nothing significant was done, it would be most sad.

I met someone on Saturday who said he would want to work and stay in Australia in a few years time. He felt that Singapore was small and overcrowded and these two factors were causing a lot of problems. He felt that Singapore was a bad place to bring up children with good values because of the overcrowding and resultant competition. But luckily, the security and education situation is good, which means it is still somewhat good for children, I guess.

Although it might be said that it is difficult to survive in Melbourne, he says that life is cheaper there as housing and rental is low. One could be doing a small business with low customer flow but survive well due to the low rental and housing. This would be unthinkable in Singapore with high housing cost and business rental. With some savings after working a few years in Singapore, one could have sufficient to go over there as a PR.

He does have a point. Singapore seems to have deteriorated somewhat over the past 10 years. Life is getting a lot more difficult with such high housing and rental cost. There is frequently emphasis on unimportant things and gimmicks, which seem to add value, but actually is money going down the drain.

We need to do something about it fast...

I managed to catch Prof Gunther's Body Worlds exhibition on Monday. Not scary at all. Definitely educational in nature, and one should marvel at the grand design of the human body. The exhibition is a bit small though -- it is just a fraction of the normal exhibition in Europe. At $18 for adults and $12 for MOE students, it is a bit expensive.

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I was at Sim Lim Square food court today with Mr Ueng and Mr Morgan (CompLab staff). We were having dinner (OK, technically I had eaten already and was snacking to accompany them) and then when we were about to leave, we found that Mr Ueng's bag was gone! Unbelievably, someone stole it right under our very noses!

The thief was a real pro! And I hope that he is pro enough to know that he should take the valuables and ensure that the bag is eventually recovered -- leave it somewhere in Sim Lim, on a bus, etc.

After lunch with some of my church friends, we went out to the jungles of MacRitchie! We wanted to go see the ruins of the WWII Japanese Shinto shrine deep in the jungle. After an hour's plus trek from SICC (Singapore Island Country Club), we reached the place. It was just like Indiana Jones! Not much was left, but from the concrete steps left, I can imagine the size of the place last time! There was supposed to be a link bridge over the reservoir too, but the stumps left are under water now.

The shrine "Syonan Jinja" was constructed to commemorate the deaths of the Japanese soldiers and staff who died in the invasion of Singapore. The British understandably destroyed it after the war -- if they didn't, the people would do it!

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Happy Birthday to me!