on more current issues.. the campfire finally came and gone.. great relief, to tell the truth. i was afraid the lack in man-power and commitment would have resulted in the campfire becoming a failure. it almost became one actually. certain things were really last minute, like programme, souvenirs. help from ALs was really crucial this time round.

and yes i really have to thank God for the weather. it was raining really hard the entire week leading to the 9th of april.. was really glad that God responded to my prayers throughout the week, and cleared the skies after 3pm on sat. its was really Him that made it possible for everything to proceed smoothly. it would have been logistical mayhem if it had rained, but thank God - really.

the friday night i was also happy that everyone got things done rather quickly, the gateway was up by 11.30pm. the putting up of canvas was rather tedious, but it was done by 2 plus. waited for wayne to be back from supper, and tested out the lighting until 3.30am.. before finally clearing things up and getting some sleep at 4am.. quite good considering last year, we did the gateway until the next morning. this time we were blessed with 4hrs of sleep :) must say that our gateway though simple, was presentable - or the ALs seemed to have no problems with it (which is a good sign).

the few hours before the campfire, was rather hectic. thanks to john cheah who took like how long to get dinner for the sec2s... who were supposed to be urshering.. in the end we had to mobilize the sec3s for ushering and sec4s for gate-keeping - oh went well though.. everything was set, and schools were led in at 7.30.. gosh the campfire was damn long la, 3hrs, ended at 10.30.. before the schools got down to have their refreshments. the fire was really scary, a certain AL made the call for the dumping of all the firewood, so like halfway into the campfire, the fire was already dying.. ya - kinda embarrasing. i really think 150 pieces ain't enough, but oh well.. clean up next.. chop chop everything was done in 2 hours, got to sleep at 3am.. chao shiok - sats from now on will be free.. oh but still have to clear my 1st class and CCA..

oh, abt the arrow yell by the old boys. yes it was solid, yes it was crisp. i saw it, i heard it, i was stunned. they unison they exemplified, the pride they exhibited, was really remarkable. and i do feel ashamed, regretful, that the arrow yell the scouts did was really crap, and as the TL it was a strange feeling of failure. they were outstanding. we were so different from them. why? would be the question. from the same troop, but so different inside. we were a selfish bunch, they were a dignified group. we didn't make the mark as arrow scouts.

but thinking again, really, i believe that if we were back in that era, where school was fun and life was good. when hw wasn't an issue, and after school meant soccer, we would be better able to put in that extra effort in the troop. and where the seniors then were domineering figures who exercised strict discipline and conduct, bringing the scouts up with pride in what they do, the brotherhood they shared. i'm afraid its lost, degenerating as every batch passes out. its sad, it must be disappointing also for the old boys who were there seeing us doing our miserable arrow yell. it must have hurt them so bad, that they felt the need to give a glimpse of how it was like then..