This song is for Mr. Everyman

                      Here's to Us.

      Let's face it, maybe only 5% of us end up as 'winners', the ones who have made that pile of cash, found the love of their life and retired by 40 or at most 50. They are the ones who are out in the Caribbean (or South China Sea) in their 72 foot yachts sipping on Mumm champagne and tanning their (bum) cheeks. Holidaying or globesetting is serious living, or so it seems.  

      The rest of us minions, like the song typifies, have to slog it out, day in day out, 40 to 60 hours a week living from paycheck to paycheck, raising families, coping with issues on relationships, family crises , business disasters, health costs, and rising costs of living compounded by an increasingly complex and expensive world. Retire ? You got to be kidding, seems to be the mantra I hear from everyone around me.

      Anyway, Mr. Everyman who struggles with job uncertainty, business failures, aged parents issues, growing children needs on a daily basis can take heart.  You are not alone. 

We must be resilient to weather any crisis and be stronger for it.   Our attitude  and our vales will determine whether we will be winners or losers in life.   

As the Song Says, "Here's to Us" . Seize the Day

What age and authority dictates, sound logic equates

            I will not so humbly attribute this statement to yours truly. Logic is the great leveller for everybody. We use logic in practically every aspect of our concious thinking. There are exceptions to this rule, and these are (not comprehensive in any way) :

1. Religion - faith will always trump logic, but then God works and behaves in mysterious 
    ways.

    Religion will always have their followers, so I will not even want to tread there. 

2. Consumer behaviour - this again is very hard to predict. Crazy unexpected queues for 
    non-sensical soft toys like Hello Kitty and the Minions in Singapore lead me to believe that   
    there is no hope for humanity. Maybe its just Singaporeans who have illogical bouts of 
    collective behaviour !
  
    The fact that it was touted as a limited edition, and reports of people throwing their junk 
    food away (actually that is quite a logical act, but the purchase of McDonalds food just to 
    get their hands on a soft toy is an illogical act in itself)

                                       Nothing better to do than to queue for my Hello Kitty 

3. Impulse Purchases - Branded Bags, Holiday feel good shopping, Fridge Magnets, 
    Crummy T-shirts telling everyone where you've been, the list is endless. Everyone has 
    that (or many) shirts or dresses in their wardrobe which has been hanging there and the 
    guy or girl is wondering, 'now why did I buy THAT ???'.   

    Logic does not have a linear correlation with age, in fact, sometimes the older we get, the crankier or eccentric we become. that is when we become 'one screw loose' or 'lose our marbles' or 'Woodbridge' (mental hospital's previous name) case.

     Common sense or logic is not so common then after all ? 

     Cherish the logic you (and I) have. For that separates the normal from the truly brilliant. Go beyond that and people may call you Mad.  Normal people want to follow rules and regulations so that they do not have to apply logic to the situation. That applies to 98% of the population.

    'Just Follow Law'.

    Seize the Day. 

  

Perception = Reality ?

                



    Recently some events here and overseas have set me thinking, if one has developed perceived ideas or views based on what he sees or experiences, then it will form his opinion on the subject ; what happens when he or she is not there to witness firsthand ? Then the media, local print or social media will be the first line of receiving that data or information.

    It is intuitively true that some media, social or print, will tend to have an innate bias, or slant towards their own society or government, even so called International magazines and print newspapers like Time, Newsweek, Financial Times and Asian Wall Street Journal will present a fairly rosy picture of their 'home turf' and sensationalise the problems of other countries 'out there'. It gives a 'feel good' factor to those (say Americans) who read about the problems in Europe and Asia without stepping out or even experiencing first had what had just taken place in, say, China, or Pakistan.  Hence there is a 'perception bias' created by the media to us, the recipients. Whether you and I are aware of it or not, is very critical to know if we want to create an independent mind, with independent decisions based on unfiltered information.  

    Even when the media is doing its job of just reporting freely and fairly, but if the entire event was staged to cause a certain perception, and the media is none the wiser, we the recipients of that piece of information of will be led to think, 'hey this is how it is' . We will tend to form our opinions and beliefs based on what we see, read but not experience. 

    With repeated instances of the same issue cropping up, we, in our busy lives, will take the repeated occurance and plant it into our concious  and subconciousc mind, hence, confirming the 'fact' and it becomes 'reality'.

    I will cite some examples in another post. Seize the Day.

         

I'm going for No. 8

            This year marks my 51st in this world, it seems like just yesterday that I was an undergraduate, and then started working in a small MNC called Trio-Tech, got married, started my business in the early 90s, endured the Asian Crisis, went through turbulent times with 2001 September 11, SARs crisis, business disagreement leading to my partners and I agreeing to disband our company, in 2003, I started my own business (again) and now 10 years ago, we are at 2013, and I am going to run my 8th marathon at the right young age of 51.

            Sure, we say life begins at 40, then 50. Who are we really kidding. The fact is that we may have the good fortune and blessings of health, that is something to celebrate, so I am celebrating being 51 by running my 8th (and hopefully 9 - 10th) marathons by this year and (latest), next year.

            I will need to be disciplined in time management, and make my runs worth it. There is only 4 and 1/2 months to go. Will I be able to do it in below 5 hours ?  That is my set goal and I have not gone under 5 hours in 2 over years - the last being in 2010.

           I can and will. Seize the Day.

Haze in S.E. Asia - 16 years on ; Nothing much has changed

         Once again, Singapore and Malaysia are the unfortunate recipients of the unhealthy smoke blowing from our big neighbour Indonesia. The fires are going on unabated, with firefighters trying their best to stem the spread but again, many people just watch helplessly as the tragedy unfolds again, in epic proportions, reaching on Friday 21st a "hazardous" level of 401 at 12pm. Many people are falling sick, especially the old, infirm, young and those with existing health problems. It is definately "NOT ACCEPTABLE".    

         Why are we, time and again, subjected to this man made disaster ? The politicians have made little headway, through high level haze meetings through ASEAN with Indonesia, to date not ratifying the pact for haze control.  So 16 years on, we are in fact worse off, in terms of this environmental disaster. So, millions upon millions of Singapore citizens and residents are put on additional health risk, of lung related disease and worse. What about the cancellations of tour bookings, millions of visits and business opportunities cancelled, going elsewhere and general frustated sentiments ??   






        It is especially frustrating when, in Singapore, we are known for our efficiency and proactiveness  and this man made environmental disaster happens again and again. It is good that now, the S'pore ministers are pressing their Indonesian counterparts to name and press the requisite charges on the guilty companies and organisations. I hope for the sake of us all, we can have the good temperament to ride this one out. Singaporeans should be more resilient and patient as there is nothing else we can do. 

        Enough is enough, we need to take action to stop this once and for all. Meantime I wish all Singaporeans and neighbours good health and take good care by cancelling or reducing all extra activities outside, drinks lots of fluids, and pray for a speedy, permanent resolution for this.   

My family, circa 1999

Celebrating my Dad and Mum's birthday ; this was taken November 24th 1999 

         This was taken sometime late 1999, the date on the photo states 24th November 1999. As my parents' birthdays both fall in the last week of November, we normally celebrate both birthdays at one go, most times at one of the well known Chinese dining establishments in Singapore. So the 24th Novmeber must have been a Saturday and that's where everyone is free from work and other committments. 

        This photo was probably taken at Min Jiang at Goodwood Park hotel serving Peking duck which was my father's ( we called him Papa) favourite. In addition, we would have some steamed fish, sharks fin soup (when it was still acceptable to order and eat it !), some pork ribs and whatever dishes which were in season. The restaurant has since closed and made way for some newer fusion food joint.  

        At the time of this photo, my father would just have turned 80,  he was healthy, hale and hearty for a good 85 years walking without a walking stick till the last 4 years of his life. He was a Godly man, and was very active and in demand to sit on the board by many Christian organisations such as the Bible House, Campus Crusade for Christ, the YMCA, St. Andrew's Cathedral and many more throught his 30 years of active service to Church and para Churches in Singapore.  

     My mother would have turned just turned 69, and she had retired from the Ministry of Health at just about that year. She was still extremely active in sports in the Swimming Club, and also helped out at her good friend's Shamini jazz ballet gym along Dunearn Road for a number of years. 

     The boys are 2 and 5 respectively, and my brother John was still a singleton. He married in June 2002. 

     Time goes on every swiftly like a flowing river. 

     Seize the Day

     

Anna Abisheganaden 1930 - 2011 Happy Mother's Day Part II

                                                My Mum with My Dad on the Queen Elizabeth II in 2002             

My mother seldom took holidays with my father when she retired in 1999, she much preferred to spend the time with my son, her first grandchild, Noel Hao Ren, when he came along in 1994. Both my father Geoffrey and her doted on him and practically everyday, they were at our house, playing and entertaining him for hours on end. 

Noel was very fortunate to given all that attention. I remember she was given a short holiday to Sydney in 1997, as part of her retirement benefit, from the Civil Service. She was really thrilled to spend some time sightseeing. I remember that she came back with all these souvenirs and had lots of souvenirs for Noel and Andrew. 

In 2002, she and my father, Geoffrey took the 7 day cruise aboard the grand Queen Elizabeth II cuise ship from Hong Kong down to Singapore, stopping at Da Nang in Vientam. Those were heady days for her, as she was entertained at the Captain's table, and the picture above was taken at the stairwell. Feasting on international cuisine, lounging by the pool deck, and having her hair done by some English hairdressers, were all rewards for her hard yet immensely satisfying life. She was indeed very blessed.                 

In 2003, we went as a family for a couple of overseas trips to  Bintan Indonesia, as well as for my cousin Peter's wedding in Kuala Lumpur. I still have fond memories of those trips with them.   

  

With her grandson, Andrew Hao Jie. 2008

      Anna was a stalwart at the Singapore Swimming Club, spending as much as 6 days a week there, after work from 1974 till 2007, almost 30 years !  She indulged in many activities, ranging from swimming, martial arts (Kong Chian), badminton - she was a pretty decent doubles player, aerobics , tennis and gym member. I recall once, when I had just started working in 1989,my then boss, Terry and another manager, Roy were invited by me to the club. They saw my Mum playing with another person and accepted the offer to a 'best of 5 sets' match. They promptly lost all 3 sets, and even going down 15 - 0 to my Mum and her partner ! She was a real firebrand then.  Swimming was also her love, and I guess her active and healthy lifestyle must have rubbed on to me, as I am rather a fitness nut, for over 13 years now.  

                      With me at the Singapore Cricket Club in 2010

      As the eldest sister in her family, she was like the matriach, dispensing  family advice to her younger sisters and brothers, though many a times, she did not want us to know the content of the issues - there were some like in all families. When we were little, I was the Indian Chief and getting into all sorts of trouble, so she would dispense the ruler or the cane on my thick hide ! My brother who was always my accomplice, would then, upon seeing me 'get it good" and all our boyhood nonsense would be under control. I had a fantastic carefree childhood, with great memories of us catching spiders, fighting with the kampong boys, playing football with the neighbours, flying kites, disturbing my mum when she was home cooking, doing all the carefree things of the 60s and 70s which are so alien to todays' computer and handphone gadget obsessed youth. 

   We flew kites, made glass string, caught and fought our spiders, played football in the concrete pitch next to our bungalow house of the Methodist Girls School (MGS), climbed trees to pluck some rambutans, played with our 3 mongrel dogs. We bought comics and SHOOT magazine to catch up with the then English football, some 2 weeks late ! All this after primay school in our heyday with nary a care fore homework, CA1, SA1 and SA2, Prelims, and major exams were unheard of then. My mother would make her way to the Swimming Club and I would catch a ride with my father's chief clerk in his car most days for swimming practically 4 - 5 evenings after school around 4pm , with a rest only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.     

With her Granddaughter Hannah during Chinese New Year 2005 

        My parents, were doting grandparents, and great parents right the end of their lives.  I do owe my parents a great deal in life, and we must never forget the sacrifices they made for us. Our parents set a roadmap for us children to follow and behave in a manner befitting the family name. 

      So this Mother's Day, I salute my Mother Anna Abisheganaden. Love, your Son.