Musings after a good run on the first day of 2018

Goodbye my lovely E230 ; reliable and powerful (200 BHP)

Beautiful to look at too

I am writing this post after a good 5km run in pristine cool weather (we have been having rainy weather these past 2 - 3 days) of about 25 deg C. Starting from my house, I normally finish the circuit in about 31 - 34 minutes. So today's 31:42 (5km) was satisfying for me.

I have just recovered from a bad bought of cold, chest cold,'flu and then stomach 'flu ever since we came back from our holidays mid December. What I can reflect upon is that I am so glad to be living in the tropics for the simplest outdoor hobbies such as running, cycling, swimming and even karate training can be conducted practically every day of the year. We have only hot and dry and mildly hot and very wet 'seasons'. So this means we do not experience the very cold winters which last all the way from earl december to mid March of even early April most years. 

However, we have very high humidity for at least 50% of the time, so certain days the humidity can get to the 70s and even 90s , for example prior to and after a big thunderstorm, leading to sweat sticking to the skin and making life quite unbearable !

Many European friends whom I know love having the hot weather year round, so I was curious to find out what made then shun the winter cold. Well, first when it is winter, it can get pretty cold and dry to about 0 deg C or below (some places experience -10 deg C). With the sun out in Italy 2 weeks ago, I felt I could venture outdoors with perhaps 3 layers of clothing (2 inner thin clothes, a  vests and a polo T shirt followed by a leather jacket). I was sadly mistaken, and fortunately for me, my wife bought me a woollen trenchcoat ; add that to the additional 2 to 3 layers underneath - for me to be genuinely warm. On top of that, I had to put on a scarf to keep my neck warm, and a beanie or cap to top off the look. 

For the bottom, I had thermal underwear, and jeans or chino long casual pants to complete the look. I brought my running shoes and a pair of moccasins to alternate. Ski socks were a must as every part of the body needed to be bundled up.  A good pair of leather gloves, a beanie or smart cap was also used to complete the look. 

Watching my breath condense in the air in Burano

So all in all, my experience in Italy this trip was feeling clumsy, feeling cold and having to use the moisturiser every single day. The nose was runny and I was dehydrated mainly from all the walking, and sightseeing. 

So winter, in Europe is dreary - it gets light quite late in the day and dark quite early around 4pm, cold  (2 - 5 deg C for a number of days, and rainy) and one's mood can be affected by the festivities like Christmas and New Year if one is feeling sick, or having a tough time without a job, or struggling to make ends meet.

I am glad to live in the tropical Singapore. Mild weather all year round. I can just put on a running vest, shorts, socks and shoes and I am out the door practically any time of day or night, not worrying I would get frostbite, mugged in bad neighbourhoods or slip over some icy pavement.

Time to plan for a new overseas marathon (or 2) in 2018 ! 

   

My Wishes for 2018

Eating Healthy and Exercise 5 x weekly ;

Sushi is good ; but skimp on the soya sauce - salt is one of the 4 'white' killers.

I have departed from the usual personal goal settings for the last 10 years ; which did improve my life from 2007 till 2017; I did a fair amount of marathons, got some competency in martial arts, learnt to ski, learnt new languages (very basic but its a start) but certain things still remain elusive. 

So here are my wishes for 2018 ; starting from external and then personal.While I can't do much on the external front, I can wish for something good to happen in 2018 can't I ?  

Worldwide / Local

a)There will be a peace throughout the world, less antagonistic and jingoistic "USA first" kind of rhetoric is alarming and divisive to say the least ; all members of UN should also take steps to not only reduce the armageddon talk (N Korea and US for example) and try to forge some kind of win-win relationship. We seem every few months on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe.  

WORLD PEACE

b)There will be an inclusive attitudes amongst all peoples of the world and the threat of extremism is under control. Extremist terror groups are always there, so it is wise to be prepared for anything  catastropic in Singapore or overseas. It is going to be the year of living dangerously not knowing what and when the next wave of disruption and turmoil will happen.  

PROSPER THY NEIGHBOUR  

c)The rich poor divide is more apparent these last 10 years what with the rise of new billionaires from the emerging new superpowers China and India and the US printing much more currency to flood the market (quantitative easing they called it), and the slipping down the slippery slope from middle class to poverty of many people all within 1 generation is a scary scenario. This is something I wish we could as a society manage better. 

MANAGE OUR EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL DEBTS 

c) Singapore, may we have a better year on the economic front ; the transition from traditional business to the smart nation using Internet of Things is painful, especially for seniors (yes I am getting there in 5 years) like me and my peers. We know that PMETS are continually under threat by new technologies (block-chain, big data and Bitcoins), automation (driverless cars, cleaners and service personnel are coming) so we need to stay relevant ; that means training, and retraining ourselves lest we drop out from the treadmill in no time. The fall from grace is fast and painful ; so we must adapt or go down 

STAY RELEVANT 

Personal

a) Health in Body, Mind and Finances ; I will cut back on needless phone checks on websites like Facebook, Youtube and the like ; reading from the net requires alot of discretion and an independent mind is very crucial.  Having friends from many social strata is also important to understand that society is made up of all kinds and not just rich, elites, and scholars.  

STAYING FOCUSSED, STRONG MIND, STRONG BODY, GROUNDED 

b)  Balanced lifestyle for a better and happier me ;  I know what makes me happy and I will continue to pursue  my personal goals (private) so that 2018 will be an exemplary year for me and I can uplift and motivate those around me to be of their best potential.

BALANCED AND RESILIENT 

Seize every Day  ;  2018 Bring it On !! 

   

                                                        The Abisheganandens 

Birstol City 1 Wolves 2 ; Classic Game ; never say die attitude ; Wolves are in a mercurial mood !

This game has made me so happy in a vicarious way. My childhood team, Wolves has now gone 10 points clear from the next team at the English Championship table, Derby County.
There is a newfound spirit, optimism in the team with a great talent led by a brilliant tactician coach  Nuno Esperito Santos. I dare say he can be the next Jose Mourinho (now Man Utd.)

Last night's game showed the tremendous character and spirit of the coach / manager, players and the fans.  Wolves were down to 10 men around the 14th minute when the captain Danny Baath was sent off for a what looked like a genuine challenge on the Bristol City striker.  Despite that major setback, the team kept their form and shape and played even better football than when they played with 10 men.

In the 64th minute they went down to a Reid goal which was well crafted. Wolves looked to be losing their grip, but they never gave up. 2 minutes later, Doherty was brought down by the City keeper Fielding and Fielding was immediately sent off. So it was then 10 against 10 men. City were then forced to use their reserve 'keeper on field. 

66th minute, Barry Douglas sent a wicked curling shot from a direct free kick which took a deflection from the defender and 1 - 1 !  You could literally feel the stadium rocking from the video above.

There were many other good end to end chances and in the 94th minute - right at the death of the game, Pack gave away a needless freekick and Douglas (again) swung in a wicked in-swinger of a cross and Ryan Bennett popped up at the far post to smash in the unstoppable header.

Bristol C  :   1   Wolves  :  2

What a game, what a team, what a coach / manager. 

At last count, I believe there are more than 10 players who have scored goals ; almost everyone except the keeper John Ruddy. This is unbelievable. 

 1. Diogo Jota
 2. Leo Bonatini
 3. Ivan Cavaleiro
 4. Helder Costa
 5. Reuben Neves
 6. Matt Doherty
 7. Barry Douglas
 8. Romain Saiss
 9. Ryan Bennett
10. Wily Boly
11. Reuben Vinagre
12. N'Dyae


I am going to bet next season that they will win the Premier League in 2018 / 19.

Watch out !!!   

Venice Italy, 6th Dec 2017 ; truly a must visit city

At the Rialto bridge 

Venice is a city of superlatives. No metal roads for cars, waterways and canals and many districts. Coupled with architecture from the middle ages, gondolas, ferries, and water taxis for transport and you have a one of a kind city.  I had visited Venice twice before, once in my childhood and once upon graduation from University (thanks to a generous 'holiday gift' from my parents who wanted me to have a cosmopolitan view of life) and most recently.

I can say that, with each visit, my perception of the host country, Italy, changes. For the better actually. On the 5th December chilly morning, we took the TrenItalia cross country high speed train from Milan Centrale to Venice Santa Lucia station (which is on the 'island' itself). When we landed at the station, we (I in particular) was befuddled at the numerous signs and means to get to our hotel, which was located in the southern portion of the 4 major islands. 

Some bag porters came up to us and to my surprise, they turned out to be Malaysian Indians who had come to Italy for a better future and wound up living in Venice the last 10 years ! So, we negotiated a EUR 25 bag charge and they hauled the 2 big and 2 mid sized bags all the way to our hotel up and down the numerous bridges and winding walkways. I would say that this experience is a one of a kind in Italy, let alone the world.

Soon enough, we made it to the hotel and after a quick checkin, we started to explore the city. I did my homework booking 2 tours, one for the Duomo Saint Marco (St Mark's cathedral) and another for the Doge's palace (the President or the top official). A third tour which we booked when we came was the Murano (glass making factory), Burano (scenic village with lovely waterway views) and Toricello (a church stands there).

Duomo Saint Marco is declared as a world Heritage Site, so its a must visit for any first time visitor. St Mark, the apostle (not the disciple) of Christ who was responsible for bringing Christianity from the Palestine region to Europe (first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity was the Emperor Constantine) and most importantly Africa (Egypt in particular) where he and his followers was credited for founding the Coptic Christian church.

Duomo Saint Marco in the Piazza Saint Marco. 

The architecture of the church is influenced by the then global superpowers, Greece, Roman and possibly Egypt. Built from the 1st to the 10th century, it is magnificent both inside and outside. The square is massive and we were fortunate to visit during the down season of winter where the hordes of tourists dwindles down to a trickle. Venice was one of the 4 city states or autonomous cities in the Roman empire electing their own Doge and the other 4 being Florence, Pisa and Milan (if my history serves me correctly).

Marco Polo was a Venetian and my home country of Singapore takes a leaf out of the many good aspects of a well run city state which Venice left behind, entrepot trade, seaport, conscription for a strong military, strong financial institutions and rule of law.  

   

              One of the many high end boutique shops dotting the small vias (streets)

We had an excellent dining at the Bistro de Venise, which is one of the Michelin up and coming restaurants for 2017. More of that food blog later.

  

Seta ; Mandarin Oriental Milan ; 2 star Michelin dining ; best meal in 2017

           

My wife and I had a superb meal in Milan, Italy recently. The restaurant is Seta in Mandarin Oriental,Milan and the foodie writeups on it were giving it reviews beyond excellence. I am putting up this post in the after lunch glow of a truly satisfied patron who has had an extraordinary gastronomic experience. 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel is an exclusive 5 star (5 storey) building tucked away at via Andegari 9, 20121, near the Piaza del Duomo district is the 5 star Mandarin Oriental Milan.It is within 10 minutes walking distance from the Corsa Vittoria Emmanuelle II or the famous walking street.  

Reservations must be made well in advance (I did mine almost 1 month beforehand), as they are almost fully booked (only about 12 tables) on the weekends, I was fortunate in that we  managed to secure a table on 4th December monday at lunchtime. 

Berlucchi Prosecco 

The first thing when you enter the hotel's unobstrusive entrance is that you step into a hotel of understated luxury. Seta itself was set up in 2015 and within 2 short years, it has gained 2 Michelin stars for its dining excellence. Helmed by Antonio Guida, his team of chefs, the maitre 'd and the service staff are all well groomed, and well versed in their craft.  

Seafood Spaghetti 

We opted for the 3 course set lunch, for EU 65 each. I also had a Berlucchi Prosecco to go with the seafood antipasti (starter above). The starter was a show stopper, the spaghetti was done 'al dente' or chewy which I thoroughly enjoyed as compared to our Singapore version of boiled to extreme softness. It had some prawn mince dumpling on the top and a beetroot - tomato gravy. Very tasty. 

  

Free nibbles 

Seta delights its patrons by offering fusion Italian food mixed with Asian influences (chef Guida worked in Japan for a good number of years before starting Seta). On top of that, the sommelier (wine expert) and the wait staff are excellent in their service standard, world class, very skilled in their craft, never pushy and available whenever you want them.

  Lamb Roulade 

The main course lamb roulade was sensational, the meat was very tender, flavourful and the fusion was in the vegetables with radish, carrots on a pistachio nut sauce. Very innovative.

Pantanonne Bread 

The Pantanonne bread is a Seta original, and it was rich (raisins, cranberry etc.) and came with a side of cream. 'Perfecto' as the Italians would call it.  But no, they went one better and offered us there additional desserts gratis.

Calorie counters please step aside 

The grand finale,  which would keep anyone with a sweet tooth thoroughly satisfied, is the ultimate sweet fruit fantasy. 5 different pairings of sweets for anyone ranging from cherries, to chocolates, to avocado to walnuts. The devil will be in the weighing scale when you get home (OMG ! I put on ...... kg !!! ).

A final review of Seta, based on my rather simplistic forumla :

a) Food Quality and Presentation : 4.8 / 5

b) Service Quality   :  4.8 / 5

c) Ambience           :  4.9 / 5 (very quiet setting with plenty of privacy corners)

d) Satisfaction        :  4.9 / 5  

Overall : 4.85 / 5 ;  Really a class meal worthy of the term 'fine dining'. 

Will we go there again, of course. But we must start saving our monthly earnings for a long while yet. 

Cheers ! 

   

Wolves go Marching on ; 23 Dec 2017 ; 1 - 0 win at home to Ipswich

This time of the year many football clubs are in the thick of the mid season and Wolves are having a splendid first half, leading the Champsionship by 7 clear points at the mid way mark. Their squad is brimming with talent and coach / manager Nuno Esperito Santos is a master strategist as well as man motivator. Easily 3 quarters of the team can be fielded into national teams, and I can list the obvious ;

Strikers 
Diogo Jota  (10)   - Portugal
Ivan Cavaleiro (10)  - Portugal
Leo Bonatini (13) - Brazil

Midfielders
Reuben Neves - Portugal
Romain Saiss - Morocco
Matthew Docherty -  Ireland

Defenders
Wily Boly  France

Goalkeeper 
John Ruddy England 

The team has only conceded 4 goals in the last 11 matches with eight clean sheets (not letting in any goals) - including the titanic 0-0  against Man City and scored a whopping 19 goals. They are practically injury free at this point and with the January transfer window coming up, coach / manager  Santos will be eager to snap up the loan players such as Jota and Bonatini. So great is their potential that the manager needs to make quick decisions as they are hot property. Wolves will do well to place mid table if they reach the Premier League next season 2018-19. 



    

Paves - Baby

This is a brand new band from the UK, and I like this single called 'Baby'. have a listen and decide for yourself. They have potential to be chart toppers ?