Surreal

So much for the hype and preparation and training and briefings. Three more days to go. It was only at the beginning of the week when it finally hit me - we ARE going for Exercise Battleking. Yup, only when we went back to Khatib on Monday did the seriousness of the situation dawn on me. Only then did I realised how close we were to the big day.

Even so, we - okay maybe it was just me, were rather "rusty", having not actually touched the ADT trainers or the actual FH88s for a rather long time. So I kinda forgot many many precautions, safety measures and procedures. Yup, the mistakes kept being made. Oops lah. Was pretty nervous and lacked the confidence sometimes too. Things only got better on the third day - today, when I finally got back into the mood of it all. Wonder how the cadets would have thought of me. How to trust a commander like that? Haha...

For the cadets, this would be their final major exercise before they de-kit and return to SAFTI for their commissioning. Indeed, what a day that will be. For the supporting staff from 20SA, people like the layers, ammo carriers and detachment commanders like myself, it would not only allow us to practise on our own areas of expertise, but also provide a refreshing change from the dreary, boring environment of Amoy Quee (well I hope I'm not speaking too soon!), and away from a certain someone we all love to hate.

Anyway, here're some pics from Sunday's "surprise" celebration for Claudia's 17th. The one earlier in the afternoon wasn't captured on camera. How sad.

Hmmm what's this now... A little tied up at the moment I suppose.

You should have seen the other cake bought by Tanya on behalf of the Seventeens man. Beats this one hands down. ;)