Talhah's Blog

Yes, yes, been a while. I admit to consciously neglecting my blog but I feel that I need to spend my time out of camp more.. fruitfully?

Last week, thinking that I was to be confined this weekend, I went to Sentosa with Shad, Ezza, Ama and Wan, just soaking in the sun and sea, chilling out, de-stressing, trying to exhume the frustration, anger, exhaustion, negativity from my body and soul. It was therapeutic.

Went to Vivocity for the first after Sentosa. Interesting architecture. Was too tired to really look at the shops, will do that another time.

You may be thinking, "Eh wait, Talhah, didn't you mention that you've got confinement this weekend? Then what are you doing blogging?"

The answer? Our confinement was postpone to next weekend, all because the 23rd ERS had to go for a Telematch. I "escaped" that when I substituted for a coursemate's guard duty. Better to burn my Friday than my Saturday.

Tonight, I am feeling a bit.. emotional? Browsing through my friends' blogs, reading the latest Naruto scanslations, went for silat training, I noticed that though some things have changed (be it for the better or worse) many other things have remained the same.

A couple of friends found new partners; I sincerely pray that your relationship will last the distance and brightens up your life further. Some guys in silat have shown remarkable improvement in their training - good job guys! Naruto's getting more interesting. Yet some companions are in angst... still.

What about me? Hmm, okay, let me warn beforehand, this entry from this point onwards is gonna be about my week in NS, so if you ain't interested you may skip. It's kinda like my therapy, getting it out of my system.

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From my PTP phase til today, I've been praying to Allah s.w.t., to help me become stronger mentally and physically, so I may be able to overcome the difficulties I'd face in NS. I readily admit, I'm not that tough nor is my willpower really that strong, so I've been praying, praying that I will be able to do my best for my trainings.

There have been tough times, true, yet I'm still standing. Alhamdulillah.

This week was a real trial for my Rota. Monday was mainly lectures, with our BTM training cancelled due to heavy downpour. Tuesday, hmm, can't really recall. I think we had training before we had yet more lectures.

Wednesday was a tough, more so for some of us. We had a "Heat and Humidity" session. What it consist of is us, donning our firemen jacket, leggings, fire helmet and gloves as well as our breathing apparatus, carrying a stretcher loaded with 4 hoses (not a light task, mind you) one round around the training ground, then climb up to the roof of a nine/ten storey building. We then have to roll up hoses twice before entering a sauna-like room which was like 80 deg Cel. more or less. In that room, we'd have to do things like carry jerry cans, answer questions, do exercises.. whatever the instructor fancies.

It may sound easy, but don't be deceived. It's very draining on your body and mind, torturing. Alhamdulillah, I was able to clear the session.

The very next day, we had Breathing Apparatus Proficiency Test (BAPT). Again, donning our fire gear (think winter clothings, it's nearly as thick, if not more) and our BA set, we had to do 4 stations, namely Treadmill, Bicycle, Impact Machine and Endless Ladder. The 1st three was not too difficult but the Endless Ladder nearly slaughtered me.

The Endless ladder is a machine whereby you climb the ladder rungs on and on and on.. for 3 minutes. To get grade 'A', which was a requirement to clear our course, we had to climb more than 45m, which is not an easy task.

We then proceed to the BA Maze. Think of a lab rate maze. That's roughly what the BA Maze is about. We had to exit the entire cage before 8 min. And you have to do all this and not inhale more than 220 bars of oxygen.

Again, with Allah's rahmat, I've been able to clear it.

The BAPT was followed by Voice Procedure Test, which I was able to nail as well. So 6 weeks into the course and I've been able to clear some of the major tests of the course.

Next week, if I'm not mistaken, I've got maybe 2 flashover sessions, REPT and CA training.It's gonna be tougher and tougher before it gets any easier, if at all. Oh, and don't forget that I'd be confined next week.

Well whatever it is, I hope and I pray that I can go pass out as an ERS. I hope I'll continue to give my best in my training.

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On another point, I've been a bad boy, somewhat. I've been sms-ing and calling a girl during camp quite often lately. The thing is, this girl's attached and I doubt she's got anything but platonic feelings for me. I guess I got to try and calm down somewhat. I don't want to ruin other people's relationship. Besides, I've got nothing to offer to her.

I guess I'm just feeling lonely, in a dorm full of 30 guys.