Valentine's Day Surprise

I had a pleasant surprise today,outside at my roof garden, I found a nest with 2 young baby birds. It started when I went to the attic toilet and I noticed like what seemed to be a very large and dead caterpillar carcass. Strange, I thought, we don't have such big trees at the rooftop garden to sustain such a giant thing. On walking outside, I saw the mother sparrow flying off and there at eye level is this little birds nest and 2 live baby birds.
In our modern and deforested environment, it is increasingly common to find the wildlife encroaching on human communities due to deforestation and this is such an example. I hope these babies have a chance to grow.My neighbouring environment is quite condusive to many species of birds and I have spotted a whole family (5) of yellow crested cockatoos nesting in the forest near where I live.
So its a nice surpirse on this Valentine's Day Feb 14th 2009.

In a Cave Somewhere...........

Buy Toto for 1st Time - Blur

I bought my first set of Toto numbers today,obviously influenced by the S$ 10 Million 'Hong Bao' draw and the frenzy cooked up by the newspapers in recent days. This morning I went to the neighbourhood Coronation Plaza and queued up with the Filipino and Indonesian maids,retirees and some contractors who happened to be passing by and also trying their luck. I had no idea how the Toto system worked so was in effect a clueless first timer. I picked up several Toto forms and filled up 1number per box (!). I just plucked numbers from the air,and filled up 6 boxes with 1 number n each box ! Not knowing what System 7 was (apparently it was for 7 numbers all coming out accurately). I asked the Indonesian maid who was next to me and she also had some numbers (they were 6) sent to her by her friend - she as also a first timer - so she filled in the form same as me.Confidently I queued - luckily it was not a long queue - and presented my filled in form.

" Sir, what you doing ah ??" the NTUC cashier asked me and gave me a look of "another blur sucker first time play Toto, gimme a break "

" Must fill in 7 numbers in 1 box"

Crestfallen, I went to the back of the queue,threw out my coupon and picked again random numbers and filled out the forms as per her instructions. I asked some Singaporean contractors this time around whether I had filled the forms right.
Upon reaching the counter, I beamed at the Aunty and said :

" Wish me luck OK ?"

She shot me a pained look with ("why me ?" written all over her face), she also
double checked that I had filled the coupon corectly.It was over in 10 seconds,I had 4 sets of 7 numbers and :

NOW I LIVE IN HOPE.

At least until tonight, when I will listen to the results and say what a dumb ass I am throwing S$ 14 bucks down the drain, when the chances of 6 numbers coming out (1st prize) are 45 x 45 x 45 x 45 x 45 x 45 x 45 or 1 in 8,303,765,625 (1 in 8 billion).

At least it was fun for a while.

Editor's Choice Shoe Runners World 2009

The ASICS Kayano XV (15th update) is out ; I made a quick dash to Queensway Shopping Center to grab a pair before they ran out, apparently the distributor brought it only a limited quantity due to its immense popularity in the US. Rated most recently in the March 2009 edition of Runners World magazine where they wear tested 30 models from leading running brands such as ASICS,New Balance, Mizuno, Saucony, Brooks and Adidas th Kayano emerged tops as "Editors Choice" in the category of Stability shoes.Priced at US$ 135 in the US, I bought my pair for S$ 215 with 3 pairs of cushioned socks thrown in.

Stability shoes are ideally for those who have mild to moderate overpronation (that is when you run you have a tendency for your foot to roll inwards). I am a slightly moderate overpronator and have been buying the Kayanos since 2000 (9th update)when I took up running as a hobby. I have used other 'best in category' shoes like NB 1223,Mizuno Wave Rider and even the Nike Triax but nothing beats the sheer cushioning of the Kayano (using their patented Gel near the inner heel side).When you run, especially on road, you want protection from the impact and continual pounding on the ground.At least 2 fellow runners I recommended the shoe have sung its praises.The analysis is that the heel cushioning is excellent and soft while the forefoot cushioning(front part) is firm. Only drawback is that the shoe
may feel a little heavy ay 13.0 oz.or about 400 per shoe.



Another unique feature of the Version 15 is that the laces actually follow the shape of the feet, that is the interlacing and the holes are not straight positioned but curved slightly to follow the shape of the feet. This apparently is a good idea as the fitting is more snug as compared to the traditional lacing which is vertical and straight.

They have 2 colours (1 for Male and 1 for Female) and have 2 releases every year.

Kayano is actually based on the name of the Japanese shoe designer in ASICs (formerly named Panther in the 70s ) and believe it or not, he is actually a NON-RUNNER. The team headed by him study the bio-mechanics of running and apply the gel cushioning based on various ways of foot strikes and gait analysis.

Normal shops in town (Royal Sporting House is a dealer) will probably retail this shoes at S$ 280 so Queensway is probably the best deal in Singapore due to the immense competition they have - easily 10 - 20 shops selling sports apparel and shoes. Sales Price S$ 215 nett. Grab one now as stocks are running out fast.

Service here is SUB - STANDARD !

This sandwich restaurant has been in Singapore for at least 5 years now and with more than 20 outlets in various places like Changi airport Terminal 1, I got quite hooked on their Subs about a year ago what with their focus on fresh food,healthier food choices such as tuna, chicken breast fillets, teriyaki chicken and plenty of lettuce, tomatoes,olives,onions and as much (or as little in my case) of dressing.

I frequent 2 outlets, one at Raffles City and another at Great World City. While the food standard is more or less consistent,and with the customer (me) required to interact extensively with the server in ordering :

a) type of Submarine sandwich
b) Size : 6 inch or a foot long
c) type of bread (6 types)
d) toasted or not
e) type of filling (you choose)
f) type of dressing (8 types)
g) side orders to go with your Sub

In an earlier blog, I had praised the foreign worker for showing exemplary service to me.Unfortunately, this time around, all of the front line service or food servers were mainly foreign (the ones in Raffles City are Filippino and Chinese, the one at Great World City is Filippino and a local). They are all young, males and females, but they all lack the Customer Service Attitude or even the basic greeting of "Good Morning or Hello " is absent. It may a motivational problem which the Management should look into, providing training in handling customers or even good customer etiquette.

My experience is almost always the same, even though I frequent the place perhaps 3 times in the week. They show no sign of recognising me (I am there at almost the same time about 9.30 am most weekdays).No greeting, the same dour expression, the monotonous questions with the food servings and the emphasis on finishing up my order.

I might as well order from a machine if I had to !

The key point is that these people are the 'ambassadors' of the company. No matter how good your food is,the key objective is to enhance the dining experience and to make your customer feel elated. Of course food taste and presentation is top priority no doubt but Service is the 'x' factor here. I can cite Starbucks at Marina Square is one such excellent example where I am happy to patronise. On seeing me come again for several days in a row, the barista can preempt my coffee order as well as the sandwich I normally like. On top of that, on seeing me as a 'regular' the baristas have invited me to their monthly Coffee Parties to thank regular customers. Now THAT IS EXCELLENT SERVICE.

When you are at the front line, that is the Sales or Service people, be mindful to have a positive attitude in giving it your all to your customer. Because when your customer feels your moodiness,or half-heartedness,even though you are 'doing your job' he will take his business elsewhere and it will ultimately affect everyone, and most likely you.

St Andrew's Reunion Dinner August 2008 - New Pics

St Andrews Class of 1978 circa August 2008

Finally the DVD and pictures of the Saint Andrews Reunion Dinner 2008 held on August 30th have reached me. 3 tables (32) Old Boys of the graduating class of Secondary 4 1978 made the event and I very glad I came. Many of my old friends I had not been in contact for 30 years ! The old saying of "when you are a child, time crawls, when you are youthful, time walks, as a young man, it runs and in middle age, time flies, in our greying and golden ages,time zips by" is very true. We are all older and hopefully wiser, some of us have the middle age spread, some hair loss but almost all of us look and feel like when we were 16 ! I say this with my tongue -in - cheek !



Me, Andrew Lee, Aldrin Ow Hing Choy



Peter Chin,Ng Tong Yang,Ng Heng Chow

Sad to say we reminisce the ones that have passed on sometime ago, Raymond Goh (in the 90s in the UK) and Andrew Fok (also in the 90s). All of us men are mindful of the fact that time is catching up on us and we need to Sieze the Day so to speak and make the most of what God has given us,in terms of our families, work and business opportunities and make our lives and those around us meaningful.



Andrew Lee,Aldrin Ow Hing Choy, Poon, Jay Soo Kian Teck


Jokes there were aplenty,like when was the first sex book passed around in class (!), who created the most scandals (no, not me), who the most popular teachers were in terms of 'judeness' (sex appeal), which teacher was gay,the day we all got caned for getting "0" for our Civics Test,all the small stuff which was the BIG NEWS in that time and day. So, in actual fact, for the few hours,on 30th August 2008, we were magically transported to our Boyhood which was so carefree,simple and idealistic in those days,untainted with the technological toys of our current 21st century, what with the advent of the mobile phone,Internet,SMS,MMS, MSN, Blackberry,Bluetooth,3G and IPods,Facebook and the so -called 'Facebook friends phenomenon'. When the evening was over, we all sang the School Song "Up and On" and many of us felt like we had never really 'left'.



The Matrix animation designer (fellow Saint) and Dr. Woffles Wu



Fong Kai Yew (seated),Edward Ong (standing),Sunil Subnani (seated), Chiu Look Kwong (standing)

These friendships set in those days I believe will outlast all these technological interconnections, and as our collective conciousness and shared experiences bear testimony, it is these friendships which I cherish and I hope will last for the longest time. So, friends,and fellow Saints,

UP AND ON !!

What is Bush doing now that he is retired ? Make New Friends