Mother's Day 2012 ; Sat 12 th May

Outdoor dining at Vivocity on a balmy Saturday evening

Mother's Day this year was a Spanish affair. I decided to try the restaurant Serenity at Vivicoty, which has been around since 2008. So I made the booking and we headed for the place at 7.10pm hoping that traffic was managable. We were wrong, it took us almost 45 minutes to head across town in bumper to bumper traffic which on a normal day would take no more than 20 minutes. Anyway, I had the presence of mind to book for the Roast Suckling Pig (1/2) which was slow cooked in the oven normally for 16 hours. It was certainly the highlight of the meal. For starters, we had the Tapas (or small snacks) of boiled cuttlefish with sweet sauce as well as the cod fish cakes. Excellent choice. 

      Seafood  Paella (pronouced Pay -eya)  

We ordered drinks, Sangria for me, which was Spanish wine with some cocktail mixture. The 2 boys had their milkshakes and Cokes, while May had plain water. The main courses was of course the Suckling Pig  and the Paella. The Paella was excellent in taste, the rice is sticky to the pan, and flavour of the fresh mussels, prawns and snow peas was something I would gladly try again. Finally the Piece de Resistance, the Suckling Pig. Slow roasted for  close to 1 day, the meat was sweet, flesh practically dripping from the bone and the skin, crispy. Perfect.

May and elder son, Noel.

The 4 piece band played a lot of Latin favourites while Sentosa's Universal Studios had some fireworks in the background. The only minor grouse was the service which, to be honest, was a little slow, but given that this was Mother's Day weekend, and they had a Full House, was the only blemish to an otherwise 1st rate meal coupled with the festive ambience. 

Happy Mother's Day to my wife May and my Mum, Anna. Much love from your husband and son.  

My 'new' car

      My current car the last 2 months is the Mercedes Benz E 230 7GTronic. Its a second hand car and I bought it from a reliable dealer for (get this) - US$ 90,000. Cars in Singapore are practically the HIGHEST in the WORLD, testament to the fact that the Certificate of Entitlement, or the piece of paper which entitles the buyer to purchase a new car is hovering around U$ 75,000. So, a simple calculation of say the Toyota Altis (1.6 litre), which is retailing in Japan for U$ 20,000.


-   Import Car Price                                : U$ 20,000
-  Additional Registration Fee : 150 %  : U$ 30,000
-  COE                                                  :  U$ 60,000 ('small' car COE is about S$ 75,000 or U$ 60,000)


  Voila ! you get the sum of  U$ 110, 000 or  S$ 130, 000 or RM 318,000 ! For a Toyota Altis no less.


  For  a new Mercedes E 250, you would need to fork out U$ 200, 000, something unthinkable for most Americans but frankly, Singapore has a growing number or elite rich, who park their cash here.


  So mathematically, the percentage price of the COE in relation to a small car like the Altis is 105%, see U$ 60,000 compared to the US$ 50, 000. But when you put that against the price of a Lamboghini Gallardo which has a U$ 1.000,000 import price tag, it is 'only'  7.5 % (based on big car COE prices) So anyone with half a brain will be able to assess that the COE supply is 'favouring' the rich, for if you could afford U$ 1 million for a car, whats another US$ 75,000 ?


     But for the person who is starting out a family, he or she will feel the pinch, because given that the average earning capacity of the ordinary Singaporean is in the region of about US$ 2, 800. In short, new cars will only be afforded by the rich or the people with rich parents who subsidise the cars for them. Ordinary Singaporeans, and most expatriates will contend with the (much criticised and aging)
MRT, taxis and public buses. Its manageable, but the recent spate of breakdowns by the MRT trains late last year and many times this year have made it a public embarrassment.


    Ridiculous isn't it ??    
  
    Of course, you will get the banks and dealers offering you, some discount from the interest you paid over the (up to 10) years, and you end up paying an obscene amount of around US$ 105, 000. When you factor in the interest paid for the car when you actually pay (its 1.88% on outstanding balance), if you drive it for the 10 years (most people don't, rather they end up changing cars and 'upgrading' and hence head towards deeper debt), you would end up paying something like US$ 120,000


        This is probably 4 -5  TIMES what you would pay for a similar type car in Japan after you add their taxes and insurance.


       That is why I opted to buy a second hand car. The COE was based on past 3 years price so it was a more manageable US$ 40,000. Plus I have customers, overseas partners and associates to cater for, so the second hand Merc was my choice, for better or worse.


       Its an elitist system we have in Singapore , and for those who desire to own a car, be forwarned, this is an expensive choice.

Happy Mother's Day Friends

My mother, Anna, June 2009

Every second Sunday of the year, the world traditionally celebrates Mothers' Day, so I  am reminded about the wonderful love and care my dear mother, Anna, showered on the both of us brothers when we were young, during our teenage years, early adulthood and into middle age. 

Anna was frugal, but with a kind soul. She helped everyone who came to her, as was her nature. She was the eldest of the Wen family (my maternal grandfather was called Wen P.C.), so had the leadership instincts honed in from young. My mother, was initially from a well - off family, which saw its fortunes fall in the early 1940s to 1960s. So she had to raise her younger sisters and brothers together with my Por Por.  Life then was very hard, having suffered  first under the Japanese occupation, and then when my Grandfather left the family for a number of years, leaving them with virtually nothing.

After marrying my father, their fortunes changed for the better, but my mother's frugal ways was always evident, always scrimping and saving and making wise purchasing decisions on property (local and foreign) , equities, antiques (I am still learning), jade and gold trading. She was the 'money brains' of the family while my father was the successful barrister well regarded for his debating acumen as well as his generous contributions to society.

I am very determined that I want to emulate or even surpass my mother, in first acquiring the 'money brains' and also the sense of helping the underprivileged in society get an equal opportunity in life. 

Here's to you Mum, happy Mother's Day !   

  

Jurong Bird Park - a revisit

Squawk, squawk, yeah, I've had a long day too ! 

       Recently this past week, my company has been hosting our partners from Rookee India, and the visitors expressed an interest to visit the world famous  Jurong Bird Park. As we had a couple of hours of free time, I took it upon myself to bring them to the Park, at around 4pm. From a vision by the late Finance and National Development Minister, Dr. Goh Keng Swee, the Bird Park was a reality in the early 70s and the first and largest man - made waterfall housing a huge aviary with thousands of birds roaming, in a practically cage - free environment, a large fine mesh netting covering a huge expanse of trees.

        I have visited the place when my kids were still toddlers, more than 10 years ago. Recently, I may have brought some visitor from Japan some 5 years ago, but the memories and the experience is still as good as the previous ones.

        Here is a picture of me with a Lory, a small parakeet. These birds are friendly and very colourful. They also make a racket and with one squawking into my ear, I am sure she has got my attention !

Call me, maybe ?

Really hot song by Carly Rae Jebsen, funny video and even funnier ending. Watch it and enjoy. No prude comments please. This is the 21st century.

Fulfilling a promise made in November 8th 2008

                  Changi Business Park circa 2008

         I had put up a post sometime in November 2008 with this picture (go and check) and the caption said that in 2012, we (the company QRA Int'l )would expand into a bigger office in Changi Business Park before I reached the big 50 years. Well, subconciously I didn't know that and had forgotten all about it. Well now, in January 2012, we have since moved in to a 3300 square foot office unit, however, in the same building which we had our previous office size of about 150 square feet. The reason I didn't even consider Changi is because of the classification of Changi Business Park is definately B1(light industry) and whereas we are in the business of testing equipment and require B2 certified building.

         And  I am still 6 months shy of my 50th birthday !! 

         Kannan (from QRA Malaysia) had mentioned something about Paula Malai Ali (where is she now ??) as well as having a  nice looking PA (well I have tried, again but Ministry of Manpower from Singapore dictates otherwise !) 

       It goes to show, if you dare to dream big, aim high, then one day, your dreams may very well come true. Don't forget, it always starts with a vision, hard work, saving for a rainy day, watching your costs and belief in yourself that will eventually make you achieve what you set out to do. 

        Also, all input (in terms of wealth ,opportunities given to you and life experiences) and no output (charity work and generosity to the poor) makes Ricky a sad and frustrated boy.

      Seize the Day.      

Thank you for 4 eventful years !

With cousin Gerard in Kuala Lumpur 2009

      May 1st 2008 was the first time I started this blog. The title Seize the Day (not original I must admit,but meaningful to me) was an obvious choice. Since then, there have been almost 25,000 page views, yes the Blog counter is off some 8 thousand, but the kind people at Blogger have a tracking software on the total number of pageviews plus where and how many eyeballs per post.

     Interestingly, my main readers are from North America, and I have a total of 9 followers. These people routinely read my blog for entertainment and curiosity I guess, so somewhere out there are people who know alot about me, and I, nothing or next to nothing about them.

      In the 4 years since I started my blog, both my beloved parents passed away. My father, Geoffrey Abisheganaden on 20th September 2010 and my mother Anna Abisheganaden on 8th January 2011. I used the blog to express my sorrow and also inform those friends and family who are thousands of kilometers about their passing. My uncles Paul,Felix and auntie Terry also passed on. On a brighter note, I completed 2 more marathons in 2010 and 2011 respectively and learnt a whole new sport and lifestyle, skiing, these 4 to 5 years.  In addiion, I relearnt my piano last year (2011) and wonders of wonders, I joined this cult association called Facebook !  In reality, it should be called Wastebook, as a lot of idle time (as if I have alot of it ! ) is spent reading and looking at friends activities and posting of mine.

    Travel wise, I have visited 8 countries to add to the list, such as Egypt, Hungary, France, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), India and I am still very happy to say that Singapore is the best place to live for ME. I hope in the next 4 years to add to that list, so must visit countries such as Russia, Czech Republic, Taiwan, New Zealand, Lithuania, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Argentina.

      My business has expanded quite a bit, and we are offering test services now, rather than just distributing of industrial equipment. We have business in 5 countries and our partners are mainly from Asia. I am confident that the Asian century will be one of great accomplishment for my company, its partners and the employees.
    
    My boys are both teenagers now, 18 and 15 by the end of this year. Finally I will be approaching the big 5 - 0 (half century mark) by this year end and I sincerely hope that I have spent my time productively and give back to society and the people who matter most to me, my wife, my family, true friends and my supporter customers.

Carpe Diem !!!   Seize the Day !!!