A pool of water made my car dance.

Today is 14-Jan-2008, Day 1 of my Make Up Training (MUT) for the In-Camp-Training (ICT) I deferred last year. This ICT is going to last 23 days; the longest ICT ever. The timing cannot be any more worst as it stretch all the way till the day before Chinese New Year eve. When people are busy cleaning, decorating, preparing to welcome the new "RAT" year, I will be fighting a war in the forest.

The morning past uneventfully as we waited to be "adopted" based on the special trade we were trained in during our active days (BTW, I'm a trained SharpShooter). I was really hoping that they don't need me and maybe I will get to enjoy this 23days "holiday". Too bad for me, "B" Company is in need of a sharpshooter and I get "attached" to them for the whole of this ICT.

We spent the afternoon attending lectures, laying around, reading books.... Not as bad as I thought. Guess what, we get to have "nights off" on the 1st day of ICT. Not only that, we also get to book in next morning instead of 2359 on the same day. This is unheard of in my own unit. Hmmm.... I'm starting to like this unit. :D

It was raining heavily during the afternoon and the roads are all wet (more importantly very slippery). As I was driving home along Lim Chu Kang Lane 1, a pool of water by the side of the road caught my attention. I thought to myself, it's just a pool of water. Shouldn't pose any threat to me nor my car. How wrong can I be. I cannot really recall what actually happened as everything happened so fast. Beginning with my left tyre splashing the pool of water onto the side of the road. Due to increased drag on my front left wheels, my car skidded.... I remember trying very hard to steer clear of a few trees by the side of the road and to stay on the track. I have no ideas how my car had travelled during that scaring 1-2 seconds. All I can remember is my car came to a stop after a 180 degree spin.

It's a MIRACLE!!! I actually "drive" out of this alive, unharmed and my car - unscratched (except maybe for the 4 pretty new tyres). I thought that would be the end of my close encounter. Nope... Wrong AGAIN. While trying to turn my vehicle around, I drove my car onto the road side as I was too lazy to do a full 3-point turn. I should have known better not to do that. It had been raining and the road is wet and muddy. My 2 fronts wheel got stucked in the muddy roadside, unable to move forward nor backwards. When everything looks so dismay, a white Isuzu lorry (registration number: YK8687L) pulled over and offered to help. So they pushed and I pushed (the throttle).... the car just couldn't get back onto the track due to the depression formed by the muddy roadside.

They signalled me to drive the car forward a little bit and we tried again to push the car back on track. Another car drive up behind mine and it was so kind of the driver to help give a little push. With the help of these 3 man, my car finally got back on track once again.

I really want to offer my most grateful THANK YOU! to these 3 total strangers who offered their help unconditionally. It's really wonderful to know that people are so willing to offer their help in our country, Singapore. THANK YOU!