I watched LOTR: Return of the King the 3rd time yesterday night! With Mr Ueng, Mr Morgan P and Jiang Bo. This movie is so grand! And full of deleted scenes too -- I read the book. So the Extended Edition DVD will be good!

And the quotes from the movies are so nice and artistic and grand!

I visited the Singapore Discovery Centre today. It's basically the SAF NE exhibition centre. I tried the motion simulator ride as well as the M-16 shooting game. I also tried fishing at the lake! Mind you, fishing is not allowed, but I was there under SANA's function, and they had a fishing booth there sponsored by a fishing tour company. Rod fishing in the lake with a big hook and chicken meat as bait. No fish in half an hour, so we gave up. The only time I successfully fished was with a line and small hook at the canal in Survival Village in Hendon Camp (Commando Camp) in 1997 during my 2nd installment.

I just came back from my reservist ICT -- 5th Dec to 19 Dec. We did the whole works -- very tiring. SAR-21, range, live firing exercise, stand-by force. The 3-day main exercise had Company in conc, hasty defence, dawn attack and MTC -- combat rations all the way. Sometimes I wonder why I meet so few people who are in real combat units -- I guess someone must do the unpalatable work of defending the nation and I happen to be one of them. So few people around me can empathise with what I go through...

Some of my friends know that my HP ring tone is the theme from Charlie's Angels. Why? (No lah, not because of the 3 Charlie's Angels from my class!) It's because I'm Charlie's Angel -- 650 SIR Charlie Company Medic Specialist.

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I have just received my new posting letter. I applied for transfer and so I'm going to Damai Secondary next year. Well, my new students will be from a younger age-group, different backgrounds compared to College. So I have to treat them the standard way like I did when I was in Bedok North last time. So boring when the students cannot interact properly with me...

I was just reminded of the untimely death of one of my students. I've never had a "54" on my hands though, and none of my classmates have ever passed away while still in the same class as me.

One of my Pri 6 classmates in TNS who was in the adjacent class in DHS had managed to beat a brain tumour and survive brain surgery while I was in DHS. When we left for JC, he was left behind in DHS as he had to repeat a year. While in NS, I learnt that he eventually died of complications. So quietly, without us knowing, because he was not in the same school. I never knew when he died or under what circumstances. His name was Lu Kaijie.

Last year, one of my PAE students who went to TJC later met with her untimely demise in September. As she was not under my care, I was spared of having to fill the Pupil Occurence Slip -- reason for leaving school, code "54" for death. But it was quite sad, and I was sad too.

Recently, I have been reminded of clubbing on two occasions by my students.

I have occasionally visited some nightspots with friends in the past when I was younger -- what you would call clubbing or pubbing now. Interestingly, the term clubbing is quite a new word -- didn't have such a word last time. Also, there is a difference between clubbing and pubbing, contrary to what some of my students suggest. Clubbing is when you drink, dance, and there are tables. Pubbing is well... at pubs and bars!

In the past, I remember there was a time when tea dances were what the wild students go for to experience it legally. This was a daytime disco with no drinking for youths. The term disco is archaic! Obviously, being the goody-goody that I was, I never tried any of these tea dance thingies.

University time was when I had my first experience of nightlife. I remember going to Fire disco, I think -- for Hostel Orientation! I also remember, in 2nd year, visiting Guild House, NUS's own nightspot with a dance floor -- open till 1 am and $10 per entry for NUS people only (2 drinks too). They stopped it when I was in year 3 as it was too wild... Later on, I did visit some nightspots with my DHS classmates when we met up -- they were always meeting at nightspots!

What I do remember is people getting drunk! NUS Guild House at 1 am -- all the drunk people would come out! When you are drunk, you remove the inhibition and reveal the true you. Some get violent easily, some talk, their tongues are loosed, some are mellow, some sleeping. I've never been drunk before, or anywhere near. But I know that alcohol removes the inhibition and allows even the most shy to dance. Well, I did!

Most times, I took a Shirley Temple or some other mocktail. When I did feel like drinking, I tried stuff like bourbon coke (cola's caffeine helps keep you alert), vodka lime and tequila pop (you put the coaster over the glass and hit the glass on the table hard and it fizzes, then you gulp it down, but I was not permitted to rush the drink). Quite mild, if you drink slowly. I did not like the taste of most alcoholic drinks, which is why I can never get drunk, cos I never drink enough! But I do have a weakness for tasty cocktails though. I remember having a Long Island iced tea for the first time. Tastes just like ice lemon tea, so I was going through it very fast. My chaperone had to remind me that the Long Island tea is a strong cocktail and is notorious for making people drunk -- so he took a quarter of my drink!

Talking about chaperones... Most of the time, I function as the chaperone -- the one who will 100% stay sober and ensure the safety of everyone. Of course, being the chaperone, I need a chaperone too -- to make sure I never get drunk! One friend got dead drunk after 4 drinks! You will also definitely get drunk after 3 tequila neats (lick salt and suck lemon -- there are correct methods to take each drink! I was quite fascinated!).

Things can get quite strange sometimes at nightspots. I remember there was once when there was this queue for the unisex single toilet. A girl was inside and next thing you know, a slightly intoxicated guy comes along, jumps queue, and opens the toilet door! Don't know why she did not lock the toilet door (maybe the lock was spoilt?), but luckily, she was done and was washing her hands. Moral of the story: Whenever you use the toilet, lock the door. And go in a pair so that your friend can guard for you.

When it's time to leave, some people are a bit drunk, while some may be downright unconscious! I remember once, when it was time to leave, my friend was drunk, so she went to the ladies to neaten up. We waited and waited, but she did not appear, so we went to check and she was sleeping in a cubicle. She was really drunk, and had to be carried out to the road. I remember she was lying by the roadside while we waited for a cab -- must have been quite a sight... The other friend was a bit drunk too, but could talk coherently -- I believe the term is "a bit high". Luckily I was sober and could ensure their safe return. Oh well, I have to emphasize, whatever you do -- DO NOT GET DRUNK!

And the music is so loud at nightspots! It would be better if it was softer.

Test. It works! The URL problem has been solved!

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.