Friday, May 29, 2009

Pre-ORD Prep

I remember back when we were all asked to blog for this site, one of the first entries I read from the other bloggers was one about what to do before your ORD. At that time, I hadn’t even enlisted yet and ORD seemed like such an impossibly far away event that I didn’t even think much about it.

Yet, time seems to have passed in something only slightly slower than a flash in the eye and, in two weeks time, I’ll be collecting my pink IC and stepping back into the civilian world. In my whole personal furore with preparations for ORD, I’ve learnt a few pointers and, to all you ORD-ing personnel or NSF out there waiting for your own day to “step into the light”, here’re some things for you to remember:

1. Plan your leave well

I think I really cannot emphasize this more. Most people (myself included) have the mentality that, throughout our second year of service, we should accumulate all our offs and leaves and spam all of them in the last few weeks before ORD. That’s what I did (and am doing). Take my advice, don’t.

You never know what kind of events might randomly pop up near your ORD that requires you to stay in camp and do preparation or just be there for. Plus, if there’s a mass ORD, usually there’ll be celebrations followed by free offs anyway. So, just spread your offs out a bit more evenly and stretching over a longer period instead of having to burn them at the last minute due to last-minute changes in plan. That way, your “holiday” period can start earlier too right?

2. Clear all you have to clear

This is mostly for the combat-fit personnel who have to clear IPPT, SOC, trainfire shoots and what-nots. Don’t leave it till the last minute. Clear all your tests fast and as early as you can (which means you have to start training early but, hey, no pain no gain right?). If you are excused or on status, make sure you approach your training branch or your superiors to check with them and ensure that your excuse covers you for your entire workyear till your ORD.

3. Clear all your paperwork

Sign all your clearance forms as early as you can to avoid situations where, in the last few days where you’re madly struggling around, the person you need isn’t in camp or there’s a big crowd of people trying to get the same signature. Paperwork also includes any form of clearances that you have to sign for your individual duties and also, very importantly, myORD, which is a package you have to complete on the ns.sg portal and print out on your ORD day.

4. Handover all your duties

If you have an understudy or someone to take over you (lucky you then!), then make sure you begin the shadowing and understudy process as early as possible. This is so your understudy can see you in action for as long a period as possible and learn as much as he can. He can also then see the different situations and issues that might pop up from time to time.

Make sure you are detailed and clear in your handing over and pass him the contingency plans for different situations you have encountered. This way, if you do it well, you won’t be continually buggered after your ORD with questions or pleas for help.

5. Pack your things

In the last few weeks before your ORD, you can start packing your things and planning what to take home each time. Over the course of almost two years, you’d have amassed an amazing number of things in your cupboard (including loads of trash, I’ll assure you) and you should start planning and bringing home stuff early and in batches to avoid having to lug a truckload of stuff on your ORD date.

Of course, make sure you only bring home stuff that you are very sure you won’t need anymore. Don’t run into a situation where you brought home something that you desperately need in-camp one day.

6. Don’t get in trouble!

Last, but definitely not least, don’t get in trouble! Be a good boy, do all your duties faithfully and responsibly and avoid getting into trouble (which leads to extras, punishments and charges) in your last days.

Many people I’ve known or seen have developed an “ORD mood” the weeks before their ORD, whereby they refuse to work much or at their best and their quality of work drops drastically, simply because they are in the holiday mode already. Don’t be like them. It’s blased attitudes like these that often result in last-minute offences that would really sully your ORD-ing, not to mention that it won’t do you any favours with your colleagues or section mates who are trying their best to do what they have to do.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Hoshi Restaurant

I guess by now, having read about my visits to several different Japanese restaurants, you’d be pretty sick of hearing about yet another sushi endeavour right? Well, tough luck (if you’re one of the few Singaporeans who dislikes Japanese cuisine).

Earlier tonight I went for a Japanese ala carte buffet with my parents (dinners with parents are always the best times to experiment with new restaurants without worrying about busting a hole in the wallet eh?) and, while the restaurant we visited had a few negatives, the food was of so good I had to recommend it to all of you out there who loves Jap food.

Located on the third floor of IMM at Jurong East, Hoshi restaurant has always been one of those Japanese buffets my parents and I had wanted to try but, due to its high price and the fact that we were always inexplicably full when we passed by the restaurant and thus couldn’t validify paying the price, we always skipped by it.

Today, I finally had the chance to try the ala carte buffet and boy, was it worth it.

For starters (and, well, main courses, I guess), the restaurant’s food was of top quality. Despite their relatively limited buffet menu (the non-buffet menu, which actually wasn’t all that pricey, was more varied), there was the usual selection of favourites bound to satisfy everyone’s Nipponese cravings. Plus, quality over quantity right?

Between my parents and I, we shared a veritable feast of dishes which, while not a lot, definitely justified the buffet’s price in quality. The salmon sashimi we ordered was fresh and tangy, with just the right amount of raw fish taste. The prawn (ebi) tempura were freshly fried, with soft-but-bouncy prawns and crispy batter. The baby octopi was chewy and tasty while the soft-shell crabs were definitely a must-have. The best dish of the night, however, definitely went to the sirloin steak, which was just rightly done and packed a flavourful punch. To top it all of, all these dishes were all-you-can-eat (although I’d advise you to stop after a helping or two to prevent from getting sick of it).

The best part? All the dishes come in small, single-person servings so you don’t end up over-ordering and over-eating.

I’d recommend the place to anybody based purely on food alone.

True, the restaurant does have its faults. Some of the dishes (the breaded prawns and mini udons were pretty lacklustre) were bland and the service staff, although friendly and accomodating, were somewhat harried and disorganised (some of the dishes we ordered never made it to our table). Plus, at about S$40 per person on a Saturday night, it definitely wouldn’t be a choice for the cost-conscious.

Still, for those who can afford it and want to help the ailing economy, Hoshi restaurant is a must-go.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Monday, May 11, 2009

Watch fat mall cop bumbles around

I love comedies. They’re dependable (if sometimes not terribly good at being funny), lighthearted (mostly) and, at times when most cinemas are packed with high octane action flicks or complicated emo dramas, watching a comedyh is the best way to relax after a long day.

Still, even among comedies, there are the really hilarious ones, and there are the unwatchables . Finally there is a group of movies that are decent but ultimately forgettable. Paul Blart Mall Cop belongs to the last group.

Co-written and co-produced by Kevin James (TV’s King of Queens fame), the movie stars James as Paul Blart, an out-of-shape, lovable born loser of a security officer at a mall. His attempts to get a more serious law enforcement job is twarted by a sugar deficiency and his attempts at wooing a new stall-owner at the mall, pretty Amy (played by Jayma Mays, from Heroes), are best described as inept and embarrassing.

Still, when the mall is invaded by a gang of criminals, and some customers and shop-keepers are taken hostage (including Amy and his own daughter), it’s time for Blart, who’s stuck in the mall due to some fortuitous incidences, to get things right for the first time in his life.

While the story might not be the most refreshing plot ever, it is actually a slight departure from the normal everyday-life-with-gags that most underdog movies seem to do. The hostage situation, which takes up about two thirds of the movie, actually makes the movie much more interesting to watch and keeps it from falling into a boring rut, which the first half an hour threatened to do, complete with the most awkward scene at a bar ever.

The script is decent but not inspired. The characters are mostly one-dimensional (they mostly are, even in the best comedies), the lines are predictable and the jokes, while there are shining moments, fall flat. Still, the climax, which, while incredulous, is engaging.

The acting, though, is very good. James, as Blart, is awkward but endearing, an affable loser who likes to inundate everyone with trivia. Mays, while she doesn’t have the meatiest role, is understatedly funny, with Anna Faris-esque expressions and mannerisms (her face at seeing a heavy metal tattoo on Blart’s back is hilarious), which is a good thing in this business. Keir O’Donnell, as sarcastic villain Veck Sims and Bonny Canavale (most recently seen in TV series Cupid), who makes a cameo here as the SWAT team leader in charge of handling the situation, are both great at their roles.

Paul Blart Mall Cop is definitely not going to be bagging any award or even stay on your mind a day or two after watching it, but it’s still a decent time-killer.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars