I am prediabetic. Time to change my eating habits forever.

 

                                                       June 1974 at Trafalgar Square 

My recent blood test was (thankfully) quite a relief and while there were no results which was concerningly high (or low),  my blood glucose level falls in the prediabetic range. I have resolved to change my diet - bit by bit - first for the first 30 days and then hopefully it builds into a habit.

From what I have read, the prefrontal cortex of the brain does the analytical and logical thinking while the basal ganglia does the repetitive (automatic mode) work of the mundane.

I am fully cognizant that I need to do the following so there will be some changes to my diet and lifestyle.

 

6 Sept 2026 164th Saint Andrew's Alumni Dinner

 

  One Family Unbroken 

Yesterday was the 164th Saint Andrew's Alumni Dinner. Held at the school hall in St Andrew's Village, our 10 cohort members made merry with a lot of old stories and catching up with the many friends from different cohorts of graduands.

This year's dinner was no different from the previous ones, with quizzes, fund raising events and speeches. One display stood out, the yo - yo presentation by a young Saint - he was phenomenal.

This display exemplified what being a Saint or an old boy means to me. The school provides us with Godly values of truth, honesty, and the development of young men and women to their fullest potential. The school is not only about producing young people with academic excellence or sporting excellence. The school values and celebrates diversity in their hobbies and encourages them to give of their best and be the best versions of themselves.

Melvyn Ang 

My takeaway each year is the same. We may reach great heights in our business and corporate lives, but at the end of the day, we give our due respect to our school, the principal, heads of department and teachers who in one way or the other helped us catalyse, initiate and nurture our fledgling lives into who we become. For many of us, the 12 years (in my case), formed much of my character and I am grateful to Saint Andrew's for the opportunity. 

                                                                                  Peter Tan 

 Up and On ! 

Skyhelix Sentosa - Nice Views at 80 m above ground.

 

A couple of days ago, an associate of ours came to Singapore and I had the pleasure of showing him around a little part of Singapore. As a first time visitor, I took to Sentosa via the Cable Car and we tried the SkyHelix. 

This was the first time for me and it was rather a scary experience sitting some 80m above a high point in the island, with only a seat belt for safety. So what you see behind us is the actual skyline of the port of Singapore. No glass, no netting, nothing. 

We had bought the SGD 50 (each) ticket which entitled us to the glass booth premium cable cars and another 2 rides, a free ride up the Skyhelix and another ride to and from Palawan beach on the Western part of Sentosa.

For all new visitors, this SkyHelix is a must try. Just for the novelty of sitting at 80 m with your feet dangling into nothingness. 

I may be considered too old for the roller coaster rides (55 is the age limit I believe) but I can still try Base Camp Everest trekking and a few more skiing sessions in the near future.

Transport Ministry - some suggestions for improvement

 

A long trailer transporter at AYE yesterday afternoon. 

As a dedicated taxpayer for both personal and road tax, I am disappointed at the frequent road works in practically many roads and expressways in Singapore taking place in the last 3 years. 

True, we need to develop the island in terms of building new infrastructure, buildings, flats, MRT lines and so on. However, the use of all these heavy vehicles on our roads is very irritating.Not to mention, that there are severe injuries or even death if any vehicle or motorcycle gets hit. It will be a nasty sight.

In Europe, in Germany for example, the heavy vehicles are only allowed on the expressways after midnight and till 5.59 am in the morning.

Here are a few suggestions for our LTA folks to consider :

a) Only allow heavy vehicles (those above say 1 tons and not transporting workers) on the expressways on the expressways from 12.01 am to 5.59 am.

b) Allow ample distance ahead of the vehicles doing road works so that cars and other vehicles can change lanes. Sometimes, these workers put traffic cones up as close at 20 meters from the oncoming vehicles. Very frustrating.

c) For goodness sake, monitor the traffic situation for a few weeks before agreeing use of the lane for road or cable improvements. Then, only allow the actual works to be carried out at NON PEAK HOURS.

This will at least lessen the frustrations of commuters going to work in very congested roads all over the island.

Carpe Diem. 

2 Million Views !

 

                                                             In Philippines in 1975 

Thank you readers ! I am thoroughly humbled and awed by the reach of this blog. I will continue to scribe and curate my life experiences as long and as best as I can.

2,000,000 views.

I am slowly letting this number sink in. 

Carpe Diem. 

Are we a bunch of 'Karens" ? Too many foreigners in our midst ?

                                   With a school mate Faizal in Shenzhen recently.

This is the question I want to ask, in the wake of the incident whereby an enraged parent roughly pushed an old man to the ground when he merely patted the little girl's head. The old gent meant no harm, and he was the proprietor of the stall and had trouble walking as was shown by the CCTV video slowly making his way across the coffeeshop, and needed to hold on to the tables for balance.

When he walked by the little girl, all he did was pat her head, as is wont of many people of my era (above 50 years of age). First the mother got all protective and rushed to hug her 'baby', and then the father walked over, got all angry and shoved the old man to the ground.

True, the video only cut off at that juncture, but the father realized he overreacted, and helped the old man up and offered to buy him a drink.  

The fact of the issue that the father or the angry perpetrator was from Australia, had led me to question this basic behavior. Maybe in Australia, it is not 'on' to pat children on the head ? Or are the current crop of Singaporean parents too overprotective of their princes and princesses ?

Perhaps in many countries outside of Asia, it is rather rude or dangerous to touch children anywhere unless the adults happen to be kindergarten teachers, maids or trained child minders. 

So it begs the question, are there more and more foreign born people in our midst ? The sheer numbers of people of Asian origin who are here either as permanent residents, and natuzalised citizens are in the millions. The Singapore 'core' is fast shrinking as Singaporeans are reproducing themselves only 0.87 or less than 1 per Singaporean. Hence the need for immigrants, that we are fully aware of. 

A large percentage of them assimilate  into Singapore society and try to integrate. However, there is a significant minority who live and socialize in expatriate bubbles. Many different cultures coming and residing so close to each other, something will bound to happen and people with differences in child raising, social behavior and practices will always challenge the norm and incidents and misunderstandings like these will continue to happen.

What is the solution ?

 

 

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