ME? COS???

Hey guys.

Ok, I know I took a long break from blogging. I just created my facebook account about 9 days ago and got hooked onto Mafia Wars and Icy Towers.

And Yeah. Although I did not do very well for SA2, I'm still surprised that I still can get top 20 in class and top 70 in school. And there is a calculation error with my marks which means that I will go higher.

Yeah Man!!!

Yeap. And today guessed what happened. I was COS (the guy who controls the company when the CSM or Chairman is not around) for today. What happened today was that all the sec threes are going for founder's man (the highest honour in BB) assessment and the only sec three who is not going poned today's parade. So, being the next most senior, the sec 2s are the NCO for the day. OMG. TOTAL CHAOS. But then, officer said " Who is going to handle today's Master Parade?" Then, being the Best recruit, everyone saboed me and so I became the COS of the day. And boy, was it fun.

Just let me summarize that the day when I was in charge, the whole company actually listened to me and I pumped a number of people.

Yeap. And another year has passed. I dunno why but I feel rather 'sentimental'. I like, dunno what to feel. I like this class... besides a few people... and i know that argh! nvm...

Lets hope that we'll keep in touch. Or maybe...

Oh Yeah. And farewell to the best Chinese teacher in school: Laurens Chung!!! Hope that we'll meet someday again.

Yeap. Next year it's a new year and more challenges and obstacles to overcome. And when we take the role of NCO, PSL, JL and etc, I hope that we'll do a good job.

Will post soon.

BB CQ...

Hi Guys.

Yeah as you know from my previous post, I went for the national BB CQ competition.

So how did it go?

Well. Let me tell you what happened.

So at 7.45 this morning, we fell in and took attendance.

As the team leader (yes... i know...) I checked my team. Everyone was here except the chairman.

Called him.

He said "I'm sick. Captian Yong say Dexter replace me."

OMG. DEXTER. Crap.

Nevermind... at least its not darren...

ok. Boarded the bus an headed for Christ Church Sec.

Started mugging for the indoor section for the competition.

Well, let me explain a bit about the competition.

First every company (or school) is only allowed to send a max of 4 teams of 4 ppl. So, I was in team 002c. The team will take a test (i'll explain later) and complete the amazing race part together too.

Then there is the indoor section. About 30 - 40% of the Whole competition marks. You will have to study some chapters or "characters" of the bible, and this year's are Daniel, Jonah, and Elijah. Pretty easy. So every one had 1 specialist on each character and 1 all rounder. So I was the specialist on Daniel. But the hard part was the "seminar" thingy. Each team member is supposed to go to one seminar each and it will come out in the test.

Next was the Outdoor section. This is the main part of the competition. It counts as 60-70% of everything. Its something like the amazing race but you have to apply the info and stuff from the bible passages that we studied. The hard part is that the game play of each year changes. So its hard to prepare.

Ok. Here's how VS did.

We all were confident on the indoor part and completed it about half-an-hour before the submission time. We then planned on how we wanted to go completing the out door part.

This year is about the "life of ah beng". Its like the game of life, were you go to school, get job, go dating, and yeah... family planning... So the aim of this year's competition is to get a balanced score between the 4 aspects, health, knowledge, relationship, and wealth. And the BEST part is that you must go through 2 crisis that either minus or add alot of points. So, its like a gamble.

So, we went seperate ways with different tactics. My team went alot of places like Singapore Idol (A HELL LOT of Wealth points), where and Dexter Sang heal the world and I sang Beat it, NS (Health Points), where we got the rank of LTA, Went to Sports(Health), Home (Relationship and Health), spam church (knowledge and relationship) and last minute chiong study until secondary school ( Knowledge) and we became a hawker. lol. The crisis we suffered was the finacial crisis and relationship disaster. We lost 1500 of wealth points and 20 knowledge points. The relationship part we earned 20 knowledge and 40 health points.

So overall, our team did the best of all the VS teams as our average was the best, but it is still not that good. We got overall 239 health, 160 knowledge, 190 relationship, and 570 wealth. And after calculation by the officers our life value is 42. The other teams got 30, 39, and 34.

But in the end.

We

lost.

Yeah. My team was the only hope for VS of getting at least the top twelve. But we did not succeed. Last year we at least got 9th place.

Sigh. At least there is still next year. After this time's experience, we have learnt and will definately get into at least the top 12.

Sigh... my hols have ended.

Gonna chiong my Science paper A and B now.

See ya!!! will post soon.

Speech day

Hi Guys.

Lately, for these few weeks, I been rehearsing for speech day. Finally, the day has come and all my stress has been relieved!

This morning started off with a brief revision on the parade drills. The parade segment, hall segment and etc. Then, we rested at the auditorium until 3pm where it was time to fall in.

BB and NPCC were given the toughest job of the whole parade. Flag Drill. It seems simple but it is very tiring on your right arm as you have to keep it 90 degrees throughout the whole parade.

So, after we fall in, the command was given, and we marched onto the parade.

We came in from the left side of the parade, and the Scouts, NCC(SEA), and Red Cross came in from the other side. We chepat hentak and then behenti at the drum beat. Then we turned and faced the center of the parade and took dressing.

After that the guard-of-honour NCC(Land) marched into the center back of the parade with rifles.

The Parade Commander then gave us the turong command, and we could rest and put down our flags. Finally. Then we waited for 5 minutes and we saluted to the acting chairman of VAC/VEC. After another 5min then the GOH, Mr Ng Ghee Khin, Cheif of Air force came in. We then saluted.

Suddenly, the unimaginable happened.

When he walked past the flag party and went on stage, MY FREAKIN PHONE TURNED ON AND RANG. I was like, WTF??? It must be my watch that pressed onto the button. Lucky he already walk on stage and the band was playing, or else I die liao.

Then, inspection of the guard of honour and marchpast. After the Marchpast, we immediately ran up to the hall and awaited there to plant the flags in the hall.

After planting the flags, we had free dinner and relaxed at the hostel canteen after that, at about 4pm, we went home.

Fhew! Great that it is all over. I can finally relax... for a while.

Will write soon!

BB Awards Day

YEAH!!!

WOO HOO!!!

Finally. We have been wait for this day for a year. It is BB Awards Day!!! This is the day where we get our new badges and some good people will get promoted!!!

Today, most of the Sec 2s were promoted to Lance-Corporal (LCP), and I was one of them!!!

My LCP Chevron with my new badges

These are the badges form left to right, Top: 1 year service, First Row: Target badge, Adventure (Stage 1), Christian Education (Stage 1), Citizenship (Total Defense Bronze/Stage 1), Community service (Stage 1), Second Row: Drill (Stage 1), First Aid (Stage 1).

Yeah! Finally something on the right arm. Last year the Sec 1s (us) only got one target badge (the first badge on the first row). But at least I got best recruit! (Ha ha!). And now after a few weeks time, we should get our NCO Lanyard (finally a thing on the left slot).

Yeah!!! I am so glad. I am now aiming to get Corporal (CPL) by the end of this year. This way, there is a higher chance of my getting Warrant Officer (WO).

See Ya! Will post the BB March Camp soon.

Combinded games day 09

Wow.

Yesterday was quite fun.

I had combined games day with my coy and 48th coy (Zhonghua sec).


We first gathered in the canteen and waited for fall in. Since there was 10min 2 fall in, I decided to retrieve my file I had left in Chinese class on friday.

When I got up to the fifth floor project room, I found out that I was locked. Furius and mad at whoever locked that dumb door, I dashed down to the eco-pond for fall-in. I thought I was early, but the CSM held the fall in 2 minutes earlier. Luckily the I arrived school the same time as him and he saw me. He thought I went to the toilet. If it was not for that, I'd be screwed.



Then we took the bus to Zhonghua. Squad 1,2,3 in bus 1 and squad 4,5,6 in the other. Being in squad 4, I sat in bus 2. When we were numbering off, we found out that Rayson, who is in squad 6, was in bus 1... and we were already halfway in the journey...



When we arrived at Zhonghua, We first saw the GB doing some activities. Being in a boys school, the sick guys like me was talking sick about the girls to the other innocent non-poluted people. When we got to the inside of the school, we had a closer look at the girls. We all puked. We thought they were sexy but they were actually VERY UGLY.


Then we were assigned to different groups in each of our companies. I was in group 2 with Ivan leading us, Wen Wei, Casper, Ting Jie and Wei Hang. First game for us was badminton. I totally sucked at badminton. I parnered Ivan, who was very good at badminton, to help me. But instead. I pulled him down. Badly. Our score was 16-17 (our target was 15 but we had a duece) and 10-15. I kept missing and hitting the wrong place. I SUCK!!!!!!!


The next game was basketball. A game where not only I sucked but my whole group sucked. WE DID NOT EVEN KNOW HOW 2 PLAY BASKETBALL! AND I BROKE MY FINGERNAIL AND IT BLEED!!! IT BLEED!!! cough--cough. enough shouting... rest... rest...AND I WAS SO OPTIMISTIC, I CHEERED WHEN THEY SCORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Then it was frisbee. We did not know how to play frisbee but we owned them, suprisingly. They kept dropping the frisbee and we kept catching it. Allowing us to have a score of 9-0. That was a good encouragement to us.


Again, we owned them in captian's ball. That was the only game that I was good at. The score was 11-2. In fact, the whole of second coy dominated that game.

When my group was about to go to the futsal court to play, the officers decided to cancel all the last games as there was no time. We then had lunch and left.

Before I end, I still have a few points to add.
First, one of zhonghua's core values are 'courteous' and one of them had a fight with my senior, and that kid was only sec1.

Next, Zhonghua's class rooms are very small. Only half the size of our VS classrooms.

Lastly, I went to watch BREAKOUT that night. It was hilarous but not as funny and the previous play, JUMP.

Ok. That is so much for yesterday. Gotta do my chinese compo. BB!

My CCA - The Boys' Brigade

This is the last post for my English assignment. And I shall end it off with something that happens very regularly in my daily life. My CCA – The Boys’ Brigade (BB).

The BB emblem

“Why did you join the BB?” some of my friends would ask me,” What is the use of joining a uniformed group?” Well, I have a few reasons. First, BB helps me train up for the National Service (NS), Second, I was attracted by all the different fun and interesting activities BB offers. Third, I am a Christian and BB is a Christian Organisation. Fourth, BB can help me attain at least an ‘A’ grade in the LEAPS CCA point grading system and this can help me cut-off 2 points when I go into the Junior College of my choice. Lastly, BB is the FIRST uniformed group in history and I feel quite honoured joining it.

Now, I will go into a bit of history – how The Boys’ Brigade was founded.

Sir W.A.Smith

BB was founded in 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith (Sir W.A.Smith) in the Free College Mission Hall at North Woodside Road, Glasgow. He was a Sunday school teacher and he had a hard time controlling a group of unruly Boys after Sunday school. So, he thought of making an organisation for Boys as a part of the church. It proved very popular and 50 boys in the church joined. Many different activities were added to make it fun for the Boys. That also marked the start of camping for the young. This also led to the formation of other uniformed groups such as Scouts and Girl Guides.

In Singapore, BB has been around for over 70 years. We have over 6700 officers and boys and over 100 companies (or units). BB was first founded in Singapore in 1930. The company in VS is founded in 1931, which also means that it is the second company in Singapore.

The BB Programme in Singapore is divided in to three groups:

1) The Juniors: Primary School.
2) The Seniors: Secondary school.
3) The Primers: Post Secondary.

The Primers are mainly those who are old boys and they have come back to help serve their company as Cadet –Lieutenants (CLT).

There are many different ranks in BB and they all come with responsibility.

For Boys (Seniors):
1) Recruit (REC)
2) Private (PTE)
3) Lance Corporal (LCP)
4) Corporal(CPL)
5) Sergeant(SGT)
6) Staff Sergeant(SSG)
7) Warrant Officer(WO)

For Officers:

Uniform for:
Cadet - Lieutanents (CLT)

Uniform For:
2) Officer Cadets (OCT)

Uniform for:
3) 2nd Lieutenants (2LT)
4) Lieutenant (LTA)

For now, all the Sec 2s are just PTEs. But soon we will be LCPs. But the maximum rank a boy can attain in Sec2 is CPL.

There are 5 main attires for BB.

REC/PTE/LCP/CPL/SGT SSG/WO

1) Day Dress (Full Uniform)
This attire is for normal day to day activities

REC/PTE/LCP/CPL/SGT

SSG/WO

2) Ceremonial Dress
This attire is for grand occasions.

3) Musketry Kit (Half Uniform)
This attire is for less formal occasions

4) Fatigue Dress

5) PT Kit
These two attires a worn when more physical activities are performed

Every Saturday is when BB parades (trainings) are held. The parades normally last for about 5 hours, from 8am to 1pm.

First, we will start off with Muster Parade (fall in). This is when every one will fall in their squads and the squad leader will report to the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) of their squad strength. Then the CSM will attend to the late comers and they will have to explain why they are late. If the reason is invalid, you will have to ‘Knock it down’ (do push-ups). Then the Officers will check your cleanliness and ‘shininess’ of you uniforms. It is like taking attendance, except that you get punished it you are late and if you uniform does not look good. Sometimes there are a lot of late people or there is a lot of people moving during the parade, then they will have to ‘Knock it down’, and this will cause the parade to lengthen and result the rest of us in leg cramps. A normal Muster Parade lasts for about 45 min - 1 hour. Sometimes it might even drag on for 2 hours!

After that we will go on with our badge work for about 2 hours. This is when we learn all the skills and prepare for the theroy and practical test to attain the badge.

Next is Physical Training (PT). PT lasts for about ½ - 1 hour. For me, I am the lazy type and I will always slack off. Until the PTI comes chasing after the slackers, I will pretend that I am doing my best. But in the end I will get caught and results in doing more push ups. Sigh.

After PT, it will be games and this is the time where squads go at knuckleheads with each other and try to win the games for squad points. The Games IC will plan the games and scores and he will determine the winner for the game.

Finally, it will be fall out and announcements. But before every fall out, we will sing a prayer called the BB Vesper to thank God for giving us the opportunity to get together and learn, and this is an oppurtunity to remember Him.

After this, I hope that my readers would understand more about BB and the importance of Uniform Groups like us.

A photo of our company taken last year.

Besides all these, BB also cares for the society. One of our most well known programmes is the Sharity Gift Box. Here is a video of other companys doing the Sharity Gift Box