//* Hike! *//

Went for a short night hike yesterday. The group: Benny (the organiser) & friends - one naval diver still serving NS, the diver's elder brother and Delton who led the way; Adrian with wife; Kin Woon; Angeline; Meng Ger; Hazel & friends - Maggie, who's an advanced diver, & Hannah. Start point is MacRitchie Reservoir near Little Sisters Of The Poor. I brought my DC and so we took a group picture there before setting off into the vegetation at around 7.30pm. We took the Forest Trail and ventured into Singapore's Nature Reserve. There was rain earlier in the day and so we were blessed with cool weather, and with a full moon, we were never walking in total darkness. Along the way, Kin Woon was keeping count of the number of benches we passed, while Meng Ger was arranging for the program after the hike - midnight show "Black Water". After about an hour, we came out of the trail onto the perimeter of a golf course - "civilisation" was what Adrian termed it. We took a break outside the gate of a PUB facility to drink and towel before skirting around it and then walking into the trees again - this time heading towards our end point. The route, commonly known as the PUB line because of the water pipes that runs under it from the reservoirs, was now a little uneven, consisting of a series of small humps that we had to negotiate. We reached Rifle Range Road, the end point of the hike and where the cars were parked, at around 9.45pm. Benny took out a map and showed us the route we have taken for the hike while we rested. We left shortly after for supper at a McDonald's nearby. For me, I have quite enjoyed the hike, and I'd love to do it again. Benny mentioned that we will take the tougher Diary Farm route next time. Count me in.

//* New SNEs *//

3 new SNEs added at BrownTown, at long last!

//* Overnight OT *//

Tonight while most people are sound asleep, I will be going back to office at 4am to work! Had to do some mass data updates when the server is down for backup and maintenence in the early morning hours. So I better go get some sleep now. :)

//* Fail! *//

I didn't pass my driving test. :(( I actually left for the test centre early, hoping to get a cup of coffee to calm my nerves. That plan was wrecked when it started to rain cats and dogs before I alighted from the bus, and I was trapped at the bus stop for a very long time. In the end, I had to call my instructor to fetch me in. I guess that was already a bad omen. I began to worry about the slippery road condition and became more nervous. Then I saw my examiner and things couldn't really be any worse. His face was so dark and stern and his voice was so low and fearsome. During the entire duration of the test, he never for once smiled. Apparently, luck deserted me. In the end, I was too careful and tried too hard not to make mistakes. I failed because I was too slow moving off and drove too slowly on the road. "That's not the way to drive. Try again next time." I was disappointed for quite a while. *sigh*

//* Poll *//

New layout poll: Is the current colour combination too dark for your liking?

//* Thinking of a new layout...*//

I'm almost done with the preparations to move. Only the archives section needs to be tweaked, I think. But now, I am thinking of doing a new layout. I need a new banner anyway, now that the blogspot ad banner is going to be out of the way. So now, if you have suggestions for a new layout, I want to hear it. Ok? Hmmm...maybe I'll learn how to use Flash MX to create some flash for the new layout...hehe. :)))