Tiger Outlook for 2014 Lunar Calendar

Our Very Own Running Inspiration ; Mr. Chan Meng Hui

      I share the exact same sentiment as Mr. Chan Meng Hui, running to me is like breathing, if I do not run, I feel lifeless and edgy. Man was born to use his legs and running comes naturally to me - although stamina and running endurance is only God given to a blessed few. 

     He started running at - get this - age 52, when he was sick and tired all the time from entertaining clients and drinking till his liver got sick, so on one trip to Japan, he saw all these senior citizens living active lives and eating healthily, so he vowed to change his lifestyle and now clocks - get this (at age 83) - 80 km a week !   Incredible you say ? He is also very fast, clocking a 3 hours 26 minutes when he was 56 years old. That is 5 years older than I am now ! 
    
     When there is a will there is a way. The body is a fantastic machine, when given the right foods, rest, motivation and discipline, it can work wonders. Use it wisely and you get maximum output for the same machine, use it and feed it junk, overuse it, abuse it and never let it rest, and it breaks down.

     My hero for the moment is aiming for - get this - 100 marathons ; which he will achieve in a couple of years time. He is already at full marathon 97.  

     Lets aim high and set the bar every higher. 

     Seize the Day ! 

Living in the Moment - Great Song from Jason Mraz

You got to just love the positive vibes this song gives out. Taken from Jason's latest album, the CD has easily 5 -6 very listenable tunes including "I won't give Up". There are many hip hop, rappers and female artists out there, but for true simple Popular Easy Listening, Jason Mraz gets my vote. 

Another great new breakout artistes are Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Man these guys are bad ! I love the cool artistry of their CD Thrift Shop. Simply the best duo in recent memory. 

Christmas 2009

My Aunt Mina elaborating to rapt attention of her sisters Dona and Anna 

The 4 sisters from left Mina, Anna, Dona (back facing camera), Mona 

Happy Birthday to Noel, Dec 2009 

Make a Wish 

Mum and Dad celebrating Hannah's 1st birthday 8 Dec 2005

 This is a priceless moment whereby my Mum (75) and Dad (86) were celebrating my niece Hannah's first birthday on 8th December 2005.  This picture was taken at my brother John's house. 

  My 2 sons were 8 and 11 respectively. We remember with love the ones who have passed on and hold on to the good, bad, happy, sad, triumphant, sorrowful, joyful and satisfying memories  in our hearts forever. 

  

               Below is the happy times shared during Hannah's 3rd birthday in 2007 ; my Mum would have been 77 and my Dad 88. 

Remembering my Mother, Anna Abisheganaden 30 Nov. 1930 - 8th Jan 2011

With my mother at the Singapore Cricket Club Oval Room for lunch 2010

     My mother, Anna Abisheganaden nee Wen passed away on 8th January 2011, exactly 3 years ago from a heart attack at her home. She was 80 and 2 months. She was a wonderful mother to me and my brother John, and doting and loving grandmother to her 3 grandchildren Noel, Andrew and Hannah (John's daughter).  A 45 year career in the Singapore administration service serving 4 Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Health, she was the epitome of the good personal assistant over the many years assisting and coordinating the many appointments for her boss, as well as arranging the myriad of meetings, functions, issues and communications between the CEOs of the Government Hospitals, and the Ministry of Health.  

                               With my father Geoffrey Abisheganaden, outside Club Tropicana 1973

She had a wonderful caring side to her, and as she was the eldest sibling in her family (nee Wen), she always took the initiative to arrange family gatherings for Christmas, and Chinese New Years without fail for her 3 sisters, brother and close family friends. I recall gatherings at our house for over 50 people. Many close friends like Prof. Chao Tse Ching, Dr. Teo Hoon Chow, David Mitchell, and many others were regular visits to our family home. Those were indeed precious and great bonding times with our cousins and we always look back at those days with great memories and fondness. 

At Botanic Gardens, 1954

She was a very active Swimming Club member, from 1974 till the year she passed away 2011, (almost 40 years) taking part in swimming, badminton, squash, kong chain (martial arts), line dancing, club D and Ds, singing karaoke, Club overseas swim meets, the range of activities boggles the mind. She was there practically every day except Saturday.

I think my fitness and love for sport, motivation and people skills are probably handed down from her.

Dear Mum, rest in peace in Heaven, love from your Son.   

Success - a Definition by Winston Churchill

 

 

"V" is for victory

This V sign with his fingers was flashed just as he was appointed Prime Minister in 1940 just after the start of World War II in 1939. 

"Success is the ability to move from one failure to another without the loss of enthusiasm" 
                                             -    Sir Winston Chruchill 

       This quote has been attributed to the late Sir Winston Churchill who was a tremendous orator and the Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. He was an acerbic and argumentative man, but what a strong motivator of an empire he was ! Using the eloquence of his words he stirred the nation not to be downcast in Britain's darkest hour. In fact he said the Battle of Britain was in fact England's finest hour. 

       In life, we are faced with all sorts of circumstances, successes, defeats, glory, humiliation, money and the absence of it. Failure is said to be the mother of success for if you have not experienced the bitter pill of failure, the stinging humiliation of defeat, how can you savour the satisfaction and sweetness of victory or winning ?  Indeed. It is all relative.

     We all need to strive hard for something we want, to achieve it, against all odds would be doubly sweeter to yourself. 

       Another brilliant repartee from Sir Winston to Lady Astor in the House of Lords : 

" Sir, if I were your wife, I would put poison in your tea ! " Lady Astor

" Madam, if I were your husband, I would drink it ! "   retort from Sir Winston