New challenge - to set up a business in Thailand 2011

                                                Outside Government House, Bangkok in 2008

    The year 2011 is challenging to me personally, as firstly my beloved mother passed away on 8th January. Things were going quite well, but as it is with life, you are never fully in control of every aspect, and her passing, although smooth, was a big shock to me.

      However, as the year got on, business seemed relatively stable, and now, in mid year it is the time for me to seize or create the opportunity to set up something new, not in Singapore, but to bite the bullet and set up something in Thailand. What will this bring ? Will there be setbacks ? Will the company be able to move forward and grow from strength to strength ? 

      Thailand is a land of contrasts. A very welcoming people, divisive politicking, and a minefield for business investors. The appearence of any so-called 'easy money' is just a mirage. Don't be fooled by any get rich quick scheme here or anywhere else in the world.

       If it sounds or seems too good to be true, IT PROBABLY IS.  
 

An insult to our Intelligence - Treat spectators like kiddies !

    This is an embarrasingly horrible remake of the Lady Gaga song, where you have the songspirators all dressed in red and white and promoting the Fun Pack for the upcoming 2011 National Day parade to be held at the Floating Platform. Talk about bad taste, first you copy the Lady Gaga song who's got no class in the first place and second you didn't get proper authorisation to air the song in public. (ie. did not pay royalties to use the tune).  Thirdly, the lyrics would be better used in a kindergarten toilet training video.

    It goes to show how unoriginal some of our so called 'creative talents' are.

Army Half Marathon anyone ?

Cool looking pewter Finisher Medal to be won after you finish

    In my run-up to the 2 major marathons at the end of this year, I have been 'invited' by my running 'khaki', to try the North Face 100 whereby each party runs 50K for a total of 100 K, and all in the Macritchie forest trails. While this may sound worse than a typical marathon, I think that the forest canopy and trails are actually better cushioning than the hard road tar or concrete surface of a road race.

   So, to add to the list of 'to dos' the rest of this year, I plan to run the Army Half Marathon 21K and the North Face 100 and probably take the Treadmill Race off the list. I am at the tipping point time, whereby if I don't aim to do the things I so want to do, age and creaky bones will determine that I can't do them anymore, so :

   "Seize the Day for the days of glory and  youth will come to pass". Lets enjoy the time we have. 

Here's to marathons # 6 and 7

There comes a stage in life, when I want to take a stab at improving myself, be it, in the physical fitness  department or in the mental  ability department. So, for the next half year, I have decided to set myself 4 targets, 3 physically and 1 mentally challenging goals.

1. and 2. To run in the SC Singapore (4th Dec 2011) and Penang (20th Nov.2011) marathons
3. To participate in the annual treadmill race at my Club with intention to be in top 3
4. To complete 360 sudoku games correctly for 1 year.

This is done during my free time, so lets see how it will actualise or not.

Jammin' with the Boys at Boat Quay

My 2nd jamming session with good friends Roland Teo, Looi Teck Kheong and James Lee at his penthouse jam studio along Boat Quay on 16th June afternoon. The view is picture perfect and the company perfect too. My amateuristic attempt at the keyboards spurs me to practice more and try to get my musical abilities act together in the near future. Here's to more jam sessions guys ! I enjoyed it tremendously.

When the Saints Go Marching In - US Navy 7th Fleet Brass Band

Awesome 'dixieland' rendition of the song made famous by the great Louis Armstrong. Listen and be moved. Classic !

Worried about you - Rolling Stones

One of the best slow rock songs by the Stones, from their commercially successful album Tattoo You. Worried about You.