Pomp & Pageantry

The past two days have been days of pomp and pageantry for me as a member of The Organisation. Why you may ask me..

This year, to commemorate 40 years of National Service, the SAF invited NSmen to witness the SAF Day Parade. I was one of them due to my involvement in the Organisation (they were also asked to send NSmen)...

This was my 3rd SAF Day Parade (having attended the previous two during my NSF) and the drills never cease to amaze me, especially the trooping of colours. How long and hard they must have trained for the parade is anyone's guess. Anyway, I wonder if either Organisation will be able to pull off a Trooping of Colours... Like one of my friends remarked, 'You see this, then you know our Colours Commissioning is crap!'

During the reception after the parade, I caught up with quite a few of my former superiors in my unit. Some of them had already been promoted to the next rank, am happy for them... Well one of them gave me a tip regarding my future career moves which I am going to take quite seriously...

---

The following day was one of great honour for me. I was picked to be the emcee for The Organisation Awards Investiture. For those not in the know, this Investiture involves the conferring of the Order awards on the distinguished recepients. Most if not all had served The Organisation for the greater part of their adult lives. As a Knighthood was being bestowed, the recepients had the privilege of the President of the Republic of Singapore, Mr S.R.Nathan to present the awards.

Mr President is a pretty jovial person and I could see that his smile and handshake was warm and sincere. At the tea reception after that, my fellow officers and myself had the privilege to meet His Excellency. He shook each one of our hands as we introduced ourselves to him. No I did not get to take an individual picture with The President but we had a group photo with His Excellency which I guess is privilege in itself. Anyway, I appeared on national television that night, albeit for a few fleeting seconds and... one of my friends helped record the video clip, something which I am indeed grateful.

Wonder when the next Investiture would be, perhaps by then a new President would have been elected. I remember that when this President was newly elected, I was a cadet in one of the supporting contingents at the General Inspection... and I was able to pick out myself in the photo which appeared in the press.

This event is one whereby I can give myself a pat on the back, as a few of my colleagues in the Organisation did. I am glad I rose up to this challenge...




---

Is it time to call it a day in The Other Organisation? Looks like I should focus my activities, volunteer will only be The Organisation. I have already pruned away one of the activities related to The Other Organisation, although it's a meaningful activity but my schedule will not permit me to commit. Anyway I am just doing mundane stuff in The Other Organisation, whereas in The Organisation, under this leadership at least, I have the latitude to undertake more things to make an impact... however, of course once the leadership changes, it is pretty uncertain as to how the new situation will be like. I speak in riddles but no doubt regular readers (if i have) will be able to discern which Organisation is referred to without the need to name it yeah?