ok my life totally sucks right now because i lose a weekend day every 3 weeks - or perhaps even less if i am going to do orderly duty - like for this month. so there for the next one year that will be the kind of life i will be leading. 6 days work week every 3 weeks.

of course to keep my morale up i shall tell myself that standby isnt all that bad. i mean like i am helping to defend this nation, protecting my loved ones when something happens. i mean dont we always just wait for things to happen. is that not our job? of course that's the politically correct answer. the no so politically correct answer is that after you get past the couple of hours of checks you get to watch your movie and read your book - which puts my movie tally this week to 4 and allowing me to keep to my goal of reading a book a week.

On books - jodi picoult's sister's keeper is an incredibly good read. but maybe that's cos i am a sucker for emo reads. but what's really cool about the book is it's surprising - though sad - ending, and the many subplots which makes the entire reading experience a worthwhile one. what i really liked was how she managed to weave the whole debate on the ethical implications of 'designer babies' into the book. i actually wrote a book review after that cos i was so inspired haha but i dont know where i left it haha. i also read empress orchid that for some reason has become the most read book in the platoon - i dont noe why they were so interested in it, maybe it's cos of the angpao cover or maybe they like me, enjoy reading about china's imperial background - which is why i bought it in the first place. but really, her writing style wasnt anything impressive though it does allow us a glimpse of the forbidden city in its full glory and brings to light the many struggles for power in the palace. perhaps what's interesting about it was how it portrayed the empress dowager tzu hsi in an incredibly sympathetic light, showing us how she really is just a victim of circumstances. the last book - sons of fortune too was not anything interesting, since it was merely bringing us through the lives of 2 individuals and hence was trying to be as realistic as possible. but that said looking at how these books always portray their lawyers to be - the excellent, witty and sharp lawyers. i cant help but think i am going to be at best a mediocre lawyer cos when i read the statements they make, it doesnt seem like i can make those statements as well.

HRM. i dont noe what i got myself into when i signed up for stan chart 42km. the trg starts 2mr. BUT i have always intended to just walk the 42km! why am i going to be trained for that. roar.

ok i am leaving for aust on 26 oct probably, to be back on 5 nov!

junyi! posted at 10:25 am.