Sirius

A delayed post...

Ventured back to Cathigh for the 57th Anniversary Campfire of our Scouts Troop last Saturday.

Cathigh, the short form we called our secondary school by. "Huh, you're from Cathigh?" is an ever depressing exclamation from girls that Cathigh guys are haunted with the day they wore the white shirts with silver buttons and green shorts (wah now already changed to acs berm like shorts le... hip ah). Girls just shun away at the thought that you are from Cathigh, too many encounters i have experienced and heard. That will have to be left for some other entry, some other time.

Sirius means searing or scorching in Greek, appropriate for the brightest star in the sky, symbolizes the meaning of Scouting.

This bi-annually event was held at the school's field, a first as the past few venues were at the Founder's square. The usual kakis from the bachelor's gang attended except KC, who was busy with his play and projects.

"Wah 57th Anniversary le! 7 years le since our last campfire that we planned for the troop!" commented YK. 7 long years have passed, time does fly amazing fast. The school building has changed, the faces of our Scouts have changed, but the troop spirit still remains.

Met WL and SS at the carpark. Our 2 ex-leaders while we were still in planning activities for the troop. Their baby boy has grown bigger this time i saw him, running around energetically, playfully, hiding under the head of the lion for lion dance. The sight of him reminded us of La Bi Xiao Xin. Even WL had a hard time chasing after his son.

As usual, the campfire of Cathigh Scouts drew many Scouts and Guides from many schools. The smell of the kerosene the sight of Scouts and Guides brought back our memories. Countless stories of camping, competitions, tekan sessions from WL and SS, came back to us instantly. We got back to the Scout's Den before the campfire commence. The Den where we spend so much of our secondary school life was relocated to a new room after the school building was renovated. Though the location has changed, the sight of the two huge totem poles, the sight of yellow t-shirts (the same ones that we used to wear when we were in sec sch), the cupboards, strings, lamps, camping equipment and the untidiness gave us a laugh that the current Scouts still shared our traits and experiences many years ago. Somethings just do not change.

The old QM (Quartermaster) store was no longer where it used to be, guess the Scouts only have one room to house both the Den and the QM Store. Days where poles scrapped the ledges along the corridor to the air rifle range and bball court while we moved poles for pioneering projects and flagpoles were no more. The pole racks are now placed at more accessible places near the Den. Number of poles have increased as compared to our years. I still remembered WL saying that the troop's oldest and most treasured stuff are none other them the pioneering poles. No wonder we used called the shorter poles as 宝贝.

A reception area for Scouts and Guides was set up, displaying our troop's achievements in Scouting competitions and awards. Trophies, awards and old photos were also displayed. We the old ones could not resist the temptation to find our "tu tu" and young photos back then. The funky centre-parting hair styles and geeky spectacles look gave each and everyone of us great laughs and good memories. Not forgetting our patrol boxes and patrol logbooks. HK was still ever proud of his Shark Patrol Box and reviewed many instances from his patrol logbook. At least the patrol boxes still had the same designs when we left them. MW commented that the pigeon and eagle design on the patrol t-shirt still look some what similar.

We officially took seat for the campfire by crossing the dome shaped gateway late after the most of the scouts and guides. I signed for my batch of Rovers at the reception table, asking my guys what year was our batch from, I'm getting old and could only remember images rather than figures. "97 bah!" YK said, seconded by TW as they shone their handphone backlight for me in the dark while i signed on the Coffee Bean look-a-like table top. Later near the close of the campfire did SL told me that we were 97 Ventures and 99 Rovers, after showing me the calculation of the years. "97 sec 4, 99 J2 mah!" Too late, i could not find the girl at the reception or the thing i signed on. Anyway i signed at a small corner since there was not much space left after all the schools had signed. Nobody will know one lah... they saw our batch and we have pictures to prove our presence... heehee

Can't remember the last time i stepped foot on a pioneering structure. Not that i did not trust the knots done by our Scouts, the elevation from the ground gave me a uncomfortable scare. TW had the same kinda feeling. Getting old, i must stress again, unlike the days back in Scouts where we climbed structures like monkeys. The gateway was ever impressive, Cathigh Scouts maintained their famous standard for pionneeing. We took stand at the top of the gateway for the view of the campfire. We waited for the declaration of the campfire while chatting away our Scouting stories. Mr Chua our GSL ignited the campfire which formed a 5-point star of flames at the center of the field. "Campfires buring, Campfires buring, draw nearer, draw nearer...". Yup the campfire has started!

Introduction of the schools came as each school presented their own cheers. I was waiting for the moment for Cathigh Scouts to chant our very own cheer. The spirit and strength was ever strong as we shouted our cheer, "Mercy" with our distinctive actions of kneeing down and clapping our hands and thighs for the rhythm. All Cathigh Scouts will always remember this cheer, no matter we win or lose, no matter when we are happy or sad, its our pride.

Campfire songs filled the air. And as usual Cathigh Campfire MCs were kinda tone deaf and lame. Haha, introductions to songs were as lame as ever... "hey so where you are staying now?" "I'm staying at the Land of the Silver Birch"... then they start singing... Then theres also this classic... "Hey look at the bright silvery moon (MC points to the night sky, where the moon is usually hidden by the clouds)"... and then "By the light.... of the silvery moon.... not the sun but the moon...". I shall not attempt to elaborate on tone deafness of MCs here. But overall the crowd was still in the mood, happily singing and enjoying themselves. The MCs still "rock" (just trying to follow the lingo of the young ones) despite their tone deafness.

Cannibal King and the various dances that engaged the Scouts and Guides were still our favourites. Scouts and Guides run jubilant at these opportunities to meet the other parties. I know cause I've been through that stage too. Though we were kinda too matured to dance with Guides and become "色 pei pei", we enjoyed watching the activity. Just to add that nowadays Guides looked prettier and have shorter shirts as compared to our days. Unfair one.

The campfire was a success. We hopped round the campfire area chatting with our senior and junior batches. HK had this feeling of coming back to help the troop run activities again. Even though he kept insisting it was MW idea. But we all know MW had to many commitments at hand, being the head of his faculty, he hardly has time to help out, just a spite of rashness i would say. KC even mentioned that HK's idea was probably a one nite thought and be forgotten the next day when he wakes up, when i told him about HK idea a few days later. Its not that easy to just say want to come back to help out again. Guess it takes time to understand the current Scouts, to see way things work, building relationships. What could work then, may not work now. We ended our involvement in the troop's activites when we entered the army. Then our leaders decided to pass on the duty to the batch, 2 years our senior, to take over the troop as leaders. They were the dedicated few and took over the responsiblity of running the troop while pursuing their degrees in universities. Guess it was an arduous time for them to cope with studies and dedicate their full Saturdays to the Scouts, week after week, years after years, just like our past leaders.

After the campfire, while the Scouts cleared up the field. It was like a reflection of our past actions. I saw the standard of Cathigh Scouts maintained as our days. Still efficient, with the added edge of urgency at work. What i liked was the discipline as before but without the extra tekaning, at least i felt there wasn't. I felt happy to come back after many years and see that Cathigh Scouts are still at the quality me and my batch of people were used to be like. I still felt proud to be a Cathigh Scout, wearing the yellow t-shirt, the yellow and white scarf, the trianglur troop badge on our uniform.

Incidents took place after the campfire that got me to think deeper and see the current leaders at another angle. Some complaints came from parents and even the school. The leaders took effective measures to handle them. The close bond that were forged between leaders and Scouts were felt by me as the leaders took means to defend the Scouts in any way they could. I was touched by the what one of the Leaders said to the school staff. "You don't know our Scouts? If you want things done, it will be done!" although in a tone of anger but at least it drove the point home to the school who couldn't really appreciate the hard work and effort put in by the deserving Scouts. If only the principal was around to witness the good work done by the Scouts.

I expressed my admiration and respect to the Leaders that night. I felt the promise that they gave to the past leaders to uphold the troop spirit and maintain the strength of our troop was kept. Its hard work. To build relationship with the Scouts, the school, parents, and the association. It takes dedication. Once you gave your word to help the troop, you do it, to the best, until the end, not asking for any in return. WX one of the Scout Leaders told me what kept him going was because he felt he benefited from Scouts during the secondary school days, he wanted the troop to go on. He said he felt the satisfaction whenever he sees the Scouts learn something when they carry out the activites, just like what he learned years back, as a Cathigh Scout.

智 仁 勇