Freaking Winds at the NDP parade preview.

As some of you might know, I am part of the Air Force supporting c.u.m marching contingent for this year NDP Parade. Have been burning numerous weekends to put up a good show for all of you fellow citizen of Singapore. All the rehearsal so far and also the NE show (for the primary 5 kids to watch) went through with nothing exciting happening to us untill today..... our Air Force contingent was almost wiped out by a freak wind that blow across the Singapore river.

Now, who ever say Singapore River was a sheltered water way, well protected from storm and strong wind should really reconsider after todays incident. Before the NDP preview starts, we were all station at the following location-- (RED STAR)



Now, with all the land masses surrounding the body of water, a strong wind is not really possible. We were all the usual good soldier, sitting down eating the usual Mass produced and mass sponsored Pizza Hut lunch that all good soldier always eat during the pass few years NDP parades when the first warning came.... the sky become dark. The sea water starts to rock the boats quite violently in a distance. Here comes a small gust of wind that never stops it momentum. Soon our Pizza is been peppered with natural favouring (sand) and than a few leaves from the tree added the final touch to our lunch before the wind starts to rock our shelter which was those Pasar Malam type.

The wind become really FREAKING FAST!!! I mean, for a true blue Singaporean that never experience tornadoes or hurricane, I have never experience such strong winds in my 24 years time in Singapore. Our Air Force contingent was really caught off the guard, the entire "Pasar Malam" tent literally flew off from the ground and some Air force service man are still sitting there, under the open sky right now, still happily munching their meals and admiring nature destruction happening in front of their eyes. Probably we were all too shock to know what to do in such situation, our Singaporean mind are just not tune to react to such Natural disaster... it took a few moments before all the guys release what happen and move away from the scene of destruction. One champion actually did the most unforgiving thing for any SAF service man to do; He quickly took his bag, a bottle of NEWATER and his Pizza lunch but left his SAR21 rifle at the scene. "Better save his stomach than a lifeless, 2kg piece of metal." This time the FEAKING wind have become MORE FREAKING, a few trees were broke off at its trunk and a heavy stone chair literally topple under the force of the FREAKING wind. The Pasar Malam Shelter was not spared the extra punishment, the metal scaffold broke off and landed on the ground where we use to sitting and enjoying lunch.

It came so fast and its gone as fast too. The Aftermath-

1)Our Pasar Malam shelter was all blown away and we were all laughing for don't know what reasons. Maybe too happy that we are still alive or maybe just very excited to see all this destruction happening LIVE.

2)One of our guys, the Champion, SAR21 rifle magazine was damage when one of the metal scaffold from the "Pasar Malam" shelter landed on it. The spring from the magazine literally flew out. The rifle was luckily still in good condition. I think ST Kinectic should really reconsider the design of the rifle magazine.

3) Only 2 casualties. He hurt his hand when the Pasar Malam shelter flew off initially. The other guy is from the Police contingent, got hit hard on the head.

This incident was the most exciting stuff prior to the NDP Parade Preview, its just a waste that we were not able to bring cameras for the NDP Preview due to last minute security reasons. In any case, we are still still alive and I hope all of you will show your support for us by tuning in to NDP Parade 2005 LIVE telecast on the 9th of August..... "For the Red Lion paratrooper who injured himself" , "For the Airforce and Police contigent who survived the FREAKING storm".