my friday the 13th.

I have no significant memory of the previous friday the thirteenth, but I definitely will have much of this one.

If I have one word to describe my 'friday the thirteenth', it will be 'eventful' (not 'suay'). FYI, 13's my favourite number. =p

I had to attend the Class 3 conversion course at the Old Police Academy, after which I would be permitted to drive police marked vehicles. After some theory lessons and practical assessment, there was a 2 hours break. During this break, I hitched a ride from one of the police driving instructors to a mosque nearby (Masjid Omar Salma) for Friday Prayers. At the end of the prayers, I bumped into this guy whom I found familiar but was too lazy to recall. Well, he spoke to me first instead.

Him: "You look quite familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?"

Me: "Yea, you're kinda familiar too. I'm not too sure."

Him: "I met you at an event? This, urm, Mendaki event."

Me: "Oh... (thinking) Yes, are you XXXXX?"

Him: "Ah, I interviewed you right? Ok now I remember. Oh, do you know that your sister's boyfriend is my cousin?"

Me: "(Shocked) Really? You sure? What's his name? It's a small world huh? (Laughs)"

He's the journalist from SPH Berita Harian, who interviewed me at the Anugerah MENDAKI ceremony last September. I was quite taken aback and yet delighted at how coincident this had been, not only the fact that I bumped into him there, but also the fact that we are somehow related.

That's event #1.

For the afternoon half, we were to take turns to drive a police blue mini van, three of us to one instructor. The first driver drove all the way down Thomson Road, to Upper Thomson. Then we came across this bike accident, so without any obligations whatsoever, we got out to render some help. This happened at the slip road leading to SLE. There was also another black Toyota, with three members of public. It was only later that I discovered that it was the black Toyota that had somehow caused the bike accident to occur.

Immediately after we got out, I went to take a look at the victim, who was a senior citizen about 65 years of age. He was lying consciously by the kerb side, with minor scatches and bruises on his face and arms. He was also complaining about that his chest hurts alot and that he was finding it hard to breathe. I told him (in Mandarin) to relax and breathe normally, while I unbuttoned his shirt to make it easier for him to breathe. However, what I observed was that the more he tried to breath normally, the more he shakes. Next, I asked if he had any kins so that I could inform them. He told me to inform his brother, but failed to remember his phone number. So all that could be done was to motivate him to hang on while the ambulance was on its way.

Eventually, the Traffic Police and the Civil Defence arrived. After some while, when situation was under good control, we hopped back in into our mini van and continued with the journey. For me, the rest of the journey was embarked with a heavier heart for it was the first time that I came across such a situation. I felt for the elderly. I felt that I could maybe have done a little bit more for him. I'm just hoping that everything eventually will be alright for him.

That's event #2.

After the course ended at 5pm, I had to make my way back to my base to report for night shift duty. At around 9.30pm, we received a message notifying that illegal immigrants are attempting to enter Singapore at the sea off Tuas. We were informed, also that two Police Coast Guard boats have been activated to chase those illegal immigrants.

However, what happened next really shocked me. There was a collision between the two Coast Guard boats and the boat with the illegal immigrants on board. This collision inadvertently caused one of the Coast Guard boats to capsize, along with four officers on board. Within the first minutes of the capsize, two of four officers managed to be saved. The other two, however and unfortunately, was not to be found.

Throughout the whole night, intensive search was conducted, involving the Navy, the Naval Diving Unit, some helicopters and of course SOC. All was to no avail, until around 8.20am the next morning, when the news came in. I guess every officer involved in this had silently held a glimmer of hope for the two officers to be able to make it, but it was to be dashed.
(http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/270334/1/.html)

That's event #3.

Eventful? Yes. Pleasantly eventful? Definitely not.