Application ends on Monday night. Don’t dilly dally yeah?

For most of my adult life, I had been trying all ways and means to gain entry to the National Day Parade. At the National Day Countdown Show a few years ago, I was tempted to ask PM Lee, who was standing next to me, if he would allow me a ride in his white Mercedes the next day. (I didn’t, of course!) Then, I was given a pair of Preview tickets in 2005, after blatantly begging on air. When the celebrations moved to Marina Floating Platform for the first time in 2007, I got a call from the NDP Committee.

Goal #1 : Attending the NDP. Check.

My heart skipped a beat when I received an email titled, “Invitation to be part of NDP 2009“.

[...] The EXCO is venturing into new media this year. [...] to involve and engage more Singaporeans [...] We thought your blog is very interesting and of course, widely read [...] We would like to invite you for a chit-chat over coffee (or Coke, if you prefer) to share with you our ideas on this year’s NDP.

Goal #2 Hosting the NDP. Not this year. Sigh…

But how could I possibly turn down people who offer me Coke? Hahaha.

I had the privilege of meeting BG Tan Chuan-Jin, Comd 3 Div/ Chairman NDP Exco, and his team the other day. I had imagined that I would be talking to a stuffy old man who can’t tell Facebook apart from Twitter, or who is blindly plunging into new media because everyone else is doing so.

Nope. I was very taken with BG Tan’s conviction and charisma. Sitting in the air-conditioned lounge overlooking the Platform and watching the construction of the stage, I knew I had to be a part of this.

I’m not going to reproduce the meeting minutes online. Essentially, they are granting me access to the Marina Floating Platform. WOOHOO!

Ladies and gentlemen, say hi to one of the Official Bloggers for NDP 09. *flashes dimpled smile/ waves*

I guess I won’t have to submit my name for e-balloting this year. The rest of you should start doing so. *smug grin/ continues waving*

Application begins in 20 minutes.