Being able to be part of the F1 team 2008 is a blessing, being able to be an Usher who is able to reach out to the patrons and offer my service together with so many friends is an ultra blessing. :) Ill tell you why.

26th Sept 2008

Work officially starts at 4pm but we were excited about the event that we went in at 3+pm. Briefing started at 4+pm and dinner was right after briefing. Indeed it was something new for me to have my dinner in the Esplanade carpark with so many ushers and people from other positions.

That was how it looked like. We had to queue up real long. There were nice caterers to help out with the serving of the buffet. After dinner, we went to our respective Grandstands. I had to help out with the Connaught Grandstand together with Vivian(My beloved/hilarious partner), Danial, Michelle, Vanessa, Winson, QiLu, ZhiWen, WenDong and others that i didnt really get the chance to interact well enough. The granstand look something like this.

Oh, and i was in charge to be stationed at A6 together with Vivian on the first day. The 1st was really bad for us. We've met tons of crashers, some who got rowdy, people from other grandstands. It was so bad on the first day that you can practically name any type and you'll get it. The security was nice by helping us resolve some much more problematic issues. oh, and our 2 handsome security guards who were really nice to talk to and were very nice to us as well. :)

You just have to admit they are handsome. (:

The second security guard kept telling the 2 of us "Must insist! INSIST! dont let them go up!" cause it was really unfair to allow non-ticket holders to go up to the Grandstand.

We were able to talk nicely and chat with the patrons which made our day felt really nice. As we bid goodbye to our patrons, they said "See you tomorrow! :)" which really made us smile and said goodnight.

Debrief on the first day was a lil bad, since we weren't very firm to stop people from going up to even take a picture so, security had to be real tight the next day.

27th Sept 2008

Woke up in the morning at like say 8am to KK Hospital for training. Indeed a very fruitful one, learning more and more balloon sculptures and knowing much more about each and everyone. :)

Met the others and went for briefing at 4pm again, then dinner. Swop over with the morning shift people and work started. Much rowdy crowd was expected later that night since it was the Qualifying Race. but it was a lot better i think. Now, a picture of the seats and view from my grandstand area, A6.

Yes, Esplanade is right opposite from my Grandstand.

Qualifying was cute, since Vivian and i didnt really feel that great tension to really watch the race, we stood at the end of the Grandstand. From time to time when we hear the crowd go "OH..." we'd then rush up to see what had happened. (:

The patrons DID come back! (: and they were really nice. :)

Oh, and we had some help from the standby ushers, Adeline. :)

28th Sept 2008 FINALS!

Today was really nice, patrons at our grandstand was really cute, some old faces and some new faces still, they were nice! :)

We stationed down the grandstand while Adeline was up. We were all enjoying what we were doing, cracking jokes, laughing at all the small things, keeping ourselves in high spirits yet not leaving our responsibilities. Okay, we did left our responsibility during the last 6 laps of the race. Vivian and I ran up to watch the race as well.As soon as everything was over, Vivian and i rushed down to the grandstand bidding them goodbyes and goodnights and saying, see you next yr! :) and all of them smiled despite the unexpected result of the race.

Connaught Grandstand was done, so we ran over to help out at the Padang since Gate 4 was having terrible jam with people cutting queues which was really not very nice. So all the ushers formed a human line. and so, we did the KALLANG WAVE! It was DAMN CUTE! Even the security and police was enjoying! The foreigners was amused and fascinated that day kept wanting us to do it again and again! "ONE MORE TIME!!" and it went over and over! The policeman was so cute, he went down the line shaking our hands thanking us! :)

now, pictures of the aftermath! :)

Min Min Winson VivianVivian MinMinMinMin VivianMinMin VivianVivian MinMinWenDong Michelle Vanesa MinMin VivianSAME MinMin DanialMichelle MinMin Vivian Adeline MinMin
Vivian Adeline MinMinQiLu MinMin

Tracks. (: (Connaught Drive)Near Victoria Concert Hall.Turn (:Then i was talking to Winson about some guy! ahahas! i wanted to blog so much about F1, the amazingness, the vroooooooooms, the ear plugs, the stupid poncho jokes and stuffs.

Vivian told me just now about this article, and i really wish you guys can take some time out to read it, cause it really touched my heart. Cause the last line referred to the grp of us who sat there and ran around tell people "see you again next year! :)"

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_284107.html

Home > ST Forum > Story
Sep 30, 2008
SINGAPORE SINGTEL GRAND PRIX
Thanks a million
I AM neither a follower nor an ardent fan of Formula One, but after this weekend's tremendous F1 race, I am a local convert to the Singapore F1 Grand Prix event.

I echo the many accolades and praise for the organisers for pulling off this monumental event in a compressed time frame. However, that could not have happen if it wasn't for the Singapore 'can-do' spirit which was evident in many aspects of the race organisation.

I was particularly struck by the genuine enthusiasm of the energetic gate ushers who welcomed all guests and who were equally effusive in their warm goodbyes over the three nights. The bus marshals who under the stress of the departing crowds managed to get the crush of people dispatched efficiently and with a courteous smile and goodnight were small gestures which gave the event a nice finish.

The F1 race was significant to a common citizen like myself. I sat in the midst of a British contingent who were supporting their renowned McLaren comrade Lewis Hamilton, and many of them shared their praise for the race infrastructure and warm friendly hospitality demonstrated by many fellow Singaporeans. This struck a deep chord within me.

This reaffirmed what we always knew that, when faced with a challenge, we can do it.

Now when the glare and glitz from celebrity subsides, traffic conditions ease in the Central Business District and our visitors depart our shores, I wish to say a big thank you to the army of ushers, security personnel, route and bus marshals, medical personnel... and the list goes on.

You have done us all proud. These folks worked tirelessly behind the scenes and made things work. There were inevitable shortcomings but let those be good learning points to make next year's event even better.

Lastly to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and race promoter and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, thank you for sharing your vision to bring F1 here. It was bold and daring and it was a privilege many of us thoroughly enjoyed.

To the group of ushers who called out to everyone, 'See you next year', I will certainly return for Singapore GP 2009.

Daniel Tan

and i must tell you, i really almost teared upon the report. We did this cause we really care, and we were really happy that we were part of the team, and this is an unexpected reward for the group of us, the million dollar moment that exceeds its quantitative value.

Amen. :)

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