Hi. So I mentioned on twitter that August would be a blast for me.

Probably because I planned my Off days in such a way that IF NOTHING WENT WRONG I would not need to return to camp from the 9th to 21st August. Yes I know. 12 days. I've gotta be shitting you right? Apparently not, its possible but only one or two guys managed to in the end. Here's what went wrong.

9th of August. Our glorious National Day. 3 people from my battery (something like a 'department' in my unit) has to do guard duty. Usually these people are rewarded with a 1 day off in lieu (Which is really quite a big deal) So the thought process in my head was like "Okay edison you've already planned for 12 days off how's 1 day of doing guard going to affect you? Besides you get 1 off day and 10th of August is not a forced off. Volunteer!" WRONG. 10th of August was later announced as a forced off. Also, I am notified that 15th 16th 17th theres going to be marching rehearsals for a huge event where my Chief of Artillery is doing a handover parade so all Offs are CANCELLED.

You see how fast I went from a Cunning-Off-Planning-Genius to a Dafuq-Just-Happened-Why-Am-I-Suddenly-Left-With-So-Litt-kinda situation.

But ohwells I took things in my stride.
SAF School Partnership Programme (National Day) at Yishun Junior College
Then came 8th August, which was the day 24SA (My unit) would go over to Yishun Junior College to celebrate National Day with them as part of a SAF School Partnership programme. (And the day i was supposed to book out for my 12 day break which eventual -oh shut up)

WOKE UP AT 4AM!

(All photo credits to 24SA Facebook and ジョ アン)

Was part of the parade in the morning, where we joined the YJC and YSS uniformed groups in their usual NDP routine.

My sergeant pulled me down with him for this Sing-along-session on the tracks in front of THE WHOLE SCHOOL. But it was fun, and somehow it wasn't embarrassing because...well...It's like we popped out of the National Day Poster and joined in.

I was part of the weapon display team, with the GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) as my station.
Basically just taught 14-17 year olds how to carry and hold a 11.6kg huge ass gun.

Trust me, I know what i'm doing. Haha.
And yeah theres all that hoo-ha about the photo I took together with the 3 YJC girls and was tagged in. My sergeant 'offered' me into the photo ok haha and I gamely followed. But they're all nice people. If it weren't for them I wouldn't have any photos to take away from the event.
Gryphon Battery Cohesion
13-15 August was my Battery's Cohesion! It's something like 'Family-Day' only that its for the Battery.
We had a chalet at SAF Seaview Resort
^ It's damn nice right? This is the back of the chalet, didn't manage to take the front

^ This is the standing from where all the BBQ pits are.

^ Behind me is this huge drop to a beautiful beach.

^ Shooting up from the beach

^ Inside the chalet

^ Don't you just love spiral staircases?

^ Literally Seaview

This is easily one of the best chalets in Singapore. But it's only open to booking by SAF Regulars I heard.
So we had a great time playing games like balloon popping (Where you tie balloons on your feet and people rip it off) and Handball!

Everything went perfectly that day.

Then we had BBQ

This was probably the 2nd BBQ I had in a day cos in the morning I ate Korean BBQ with my bunk mates before going for the chalet. Thus I didnt eat alot.

Slept earlier compared to everyone else because I thought there was still activities tmr.

So so wrong.

Games the next day was cancelled because everyone didn't have enough sleep.

My jaw dropped so low I felt the sand from the beach on the chalet floor.

In the end I went to buy Roti Prata breakfast for everyone at the chalet with Martin, Guosheng, Jordan and Zhanrui.

The place wasn't far and the Prata Bomb was damn nice. Martin also told us his experience with the supernatural. All the way back to the chalet.

THEN AT THE CHALET I REALISED MY WALLET WAS MISSING.

11B, Civilian Driving License, Military Driving License, ATM Card, Monopoly S$100 Free Movie Pass. All Inside!

I panicked and I rannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn all the way back to the Roti Prata place at top speed.
Scene at the Roti Prata shop was quite funny now that I recall it.

*Speeds into shop and brakes at the counter*

I said "Hello"

"Yes? Prata?" (Brilliant sales technique you see how they open the conversation with their product name)

"No Im looking for my wallet. Did you see it? Brown leather wallet"

"Umm No, No, Nope don't see any wallet. *Turns arnd* EH (insert random indian name in caps) WALLET HAVE? NO? NO? Sorry sir, no"

"Okay, so...I can give you my number, call me if you find anything."

*Gives me their shop name card and smiles*

"Nono, is there anywhere I can write my handphone number so you can call me?"

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Then he gives me a pen.

Adorable bunch of prata flipping dudes. Not a care in the world.

So, dejected, I walked back to the chalet. My phone was off. Switched it on. Cos Jordan might call to check on my situation. Suddenly an unknown number called and "Hi is this Edison? This is calling from the Hendon Camp guard house. We have your wallet one of our guys picked it up"

HOLY SHEET MY WALLET IS IN THE NEARBY COMMANDO CAMP.

Together with Jordan, Martin and Guosheng we walked (Then cabbed) all the way to the camp of the commandos where a couple of red beret guys were sitting in the guard room.

They found my number because I had my personal name card in the wallet.

What a crazy end to the chalet. (Yes it ended, cos the 2nd part was for comma
nders)

Brilliant half of August. Brilliant.