Basket.

Well, so it's over at last. Two years of National Service, now officially behind me and my pink civilian IC tucked safely away in my wallet.

Looking back these two past years and the year before that, a fair assessment would be they were fairly dire, but they had their moments.

I remember 2004. A cloud seemed to hang over me that entire year, a feeling of unease draping my movements, such that even when I enjoyed myself, it was in resignation of pushing off something inevitable. Plenty of things, of course, were inevitable that year: strained relationships, final partings and obviously, enlistment. A lot was on my mind the entire year, such that I came to see schoolwork as a distraction, and a fairly welcome one. Maybe that explains how I managed to put so much effort into Maths C; it became a sort of escape.

And so, it came to pass that at the end of a year cloaked with resignation and on the back of an emotional couple of weeks, I stepped onto Pulau Tekong to commence Basic Military Training. Hardly in the best state of mind, one might think, but I accept things best when in a state of tired resignation.

Largely in such a mood, I tided over BMT. In fact, in some ways it was better than 2004. No responsibilities - just follow orders. It was a dog's life, but it was better than the various stresses in school where everyone seemed to want something from me all at once when I had nothing to give. After December 2004, the weeks seemed to fly as we finished item after item. I peeled foot blisters after every route march, counting down as the distance increased and the days went by. Eventually we passed out, threw our jockey caps skyward and somehow believed it was a happy ending.

Of course, it was just the beginning.

Right after BMT, I ended up in the 24th Battalion, Singapore Artillery. Initially puzzled over my vocation, which read "FATA ASST (LOCATOR)" on MIW, I was quickly apprised of its job scope upon entering the unit. To follow was a two-month course that only because of my BMT, I found to be relatively unchallenging. Of course, the delights of the outfield were and continue to be many and various: mosquitoes, sandflies, sand that fucking gets everywhere HOW EXACTLY, mud, deceptively shallow puddles, more mud, unreasonable instructors, EVEN MORE FUCKING MUD... anyway it was soon over. I missed the course closing though, for an interview at MOE.

And so in mid-May 2005, I found myself a FATA locator in TA Battery. For the two months I was there, all we seemed to do everyday were inconsequential housekeeping tasks, the colloquial name for which is "saikang". I shrugged and carried on with my life, pursuing my interests, maintaing my relationships and treasuring my weekends. It was a fairly languid time.

Then came July, and I think you all know what happened there.

National Day passed with me at home still recovering. It was September before I returned, and late September by the time I ended up pushing paper.

2005 was to end with me cautiously optimistic and really hoping that 2006 would be a better year. Well, it didn't, and in fact it's been worse. I don't like to admit this, but it's nearly broken me more than once. Anyway, I did make it this far and I can now look back through rose-tinted glasses as we humans are wont to do with the past.

Two years of NS - two years of blood, sweat, toil, mud, mosquitoes, mimosa, camo cream, Prickly Heat, shitting in holes, unreasonable sergeants, sleeping in self-dug graves, insurmountable (for me) "low" walls, blisters, instant noodles on solid fuel, nocturnal trench-digging, GRENADE!, 1930 TIBS bus and 2000 fastcraft yes sir, bashars, one minute everything out, one minute everything IN, fire and movement, POP, camo nets, ACTION FRONT, DGU ON, safety breaches, cease fire, knock it down, why E-stop is pressed?, cleaning arms and cleaning arms and cleaning arms and cleaning arms, paperwork, paperwork, more paperwork, yet more paperwork, applying leave, approving leave, cancelling leave, yes sir I will do it at once, yes sir, no sir, of course sir, I understand sir, my mistake sir, audit, post-audit, offs, new bosses, better superiors, no time in the end to see it all out.

Finally, it's over.

It's always people who make life difficult. Paradoxically, it's also people who make it better. Not usually the same ones, of course - but sometimes yes. In the end it's the friends I've made, the people I've got to know better, the people including family who have supported me through all the worst I've suffered, the people I've shared all the above experiences with who make the two years memorable in a good way. They have been the moments in two dire years that have kept me going. To all of you, thank you - you have all be amazing.

Including, of course, my dear JC class that kept me going in grey 2004, and the two years that were to follow. Including, also, all my battery-mates in 24SA, who have been true friends to me and whose debt I am in. Three dire years - surely it is time for a good one?

Here is to 2007. New challenges, new difficulties, new obstacles to surmount. A fresh beginning, and may it be one full of hope.