first week

going to book in later this afternoon. And as is normal on booking-in days, morale is at - or near- rock-bottom.



first week of cadet life was hectic. Lots to do, very little time. This
was especially true for the first 2 days, when I probably had about of
5 minutes' free time total. Although, I realise, there's actually a lot
of stuff u can do in 5 minutes (like getting an entire platoon of about
40 men to shower and get ready for lights out)



things are on the whole similar to when I left. Discipline is slacker
(sometimes unbelievably so) but training is still as tough. And
sometimes, watching my new platoon mates getting up to their antics, I
feel like some crusty old man. Which, in a sense, I guess I am.



if there's something about the military life (or at least cadet life)
that grates me, it's the never ending list of tasks that have to be
done. There's very rarely any time when you can lie back and not do
anything. A conscious effort has to be made to relax, because in
relaxing you are deliberately leaving aside things which you could (or
should) be doing. For someone like me who highly values free time, but
also has a guilt-sensitive conscience, this is an awful paradox.



guess I shouldn't complain too much though. After all, will be having
relatively long weekends these 2 weeks coz of the xmas and new year
holidays. And had quite an enjoyable weekend this time round, eating,
watching 'phantom' and going for coffee etc etc. You know, normal
leisure activity. Normal civllian leisure activity.



time to readjust back to the military mentality. Until the next book out on friday. Heh.