Wolves 4 Bestikas 0

A masterclass in controlling play, with fine wing form from Pedro Neto, Winback Reuben Vinagre and clinical finishing from Diogo Jota (hat- trick) and  Leander Dendoncker.

Of their new boys, Taylor Perry, Kilman, Burr, and Otosowi impressed tremendously. 

Wolves, the future looks very brght. !

In the High Pressure World of KPop, a princess says good bye. Goo Hara RIP

Gone at 28  years old ; still a child 

The world of KPop is unrelenting ; there is tremendous stress and pressure for the starlets to dance, sing and appear to be everyone's favourite poster girl or boy. Ever since Psy made worldwide headlines with "Gangnam Style", the world has been fascinated by the multitude of groups from Korea (SNSD,Girls Generation, Shinee, BTS, Kara, Skarf and 2NE1 just to name a few) who make dancing and the Korean language and culture so alluring

Alone and in a fishbowl, Hara took her own life.

Goo Hara took her own life on 24th Nov 2019, just 1 month after her best Unni Sulli did the same thing at only 25 years of age. After Kara disbanded in 2016, Hara was trying to make a solo comeback in Japan and was recently there from 14 - 19 November.

The stress of being constantly watched, having no personal life, and everything controlled in an almost regimental  manner must have driven her to despair. She filed a police report against her abusive hairdresser boyfriend last year but I think, she was just so lonely after her best friend Sulli died. The relentless KPop system and company management styles needs to further looked into and better treatment of the boys and girls is a must. 

Their dance hits Mister, Step and Mamma Mia are really world class, and they even came to Singapore in 2015 to perform as I recall.

Rest in Peace, Hara. You will be missed. 

Latest European Match Wolves 1 Slovan Bratislava 0

The last game at Molineux saw Wolves beat Slovan Bratislava 1 - 0 thanks to a great assist from Traore and beautiful header from Raul Jiminez. 

They are in Europe, 5th in the Premier League. Well I am dreaming aren't I ?? 

Another win on the road, this time against Bournemouth. Go Wolves !

This is AFC Bournemouth TV channel, so the commentary is strictly non biased. I must say the Wolves team are riding high. Keep humble, keep hard working, pushing all areas and don't slip up.

We have 2 - 3 injuries to key players such as Wily Boly (ankle), Pedro Neto and Ryan Bennett. However, the squad now seem to have enough depth that even England Under 21 Morgan Gibbs White has trouble being chosen for the starting inne up.

Amongst all the new players (new signings, U23), only Max Kilmann and Reuben Vinagre truly impress. So the starting 11 are chosen from these top 16. I really hope they have enough in depth quality.

Keepers 
Patricio (Portugal No. 1, but prone to soft goals from time to time)
Ruddy (Very strong cover to Rui)

Defenders and WingBacks
Reuben Vinagre (hard man, superb off the ball running)
Ryan Benett (hard man with long throws)
Wily Boly (injured)
Romain Saiss (Moroccan international superb as a cover)
Leander Dendoncker (Belgian international and also superb as a right back)
Conor Coady (Mr. Captain Fantastic, England player but no call up )
Jesus Vallejeo (not good enough) 
Max Kilman (impressive youngster)

Midfielders
Reuben Neves (playing hot and cold, needs more consistency)
Joao Moutinho (My word, 34 years of age, fantastic buy from AM)
Matt Doherty (superb wingback)
Jonny Otto (superb right wingback)
Morgan Gibbs White (rarely started of late)
Taylor Perry (getting there)
  
Strikers
Raul Jiminez (on form)
Diogo Jota (hungry as anything)
Adama Traore (unplayable and unstoppable on his day ; takes 3 defenders on and wins)
Patrick Cutrone (so so, needs to up his game)
Pedro Neto (getting strong, needs to be less selfish)




Comments from the Bournemouth fans   "Wolves are so well drilled". Absolutely. Everything works like clockwork, everyone covers for everyone else. 

They are on a purple patch.

Next week Braga away  1 - 1 my prediction

Saturday 30th Nov.  Wolves 3 : Sheffield Utd 0.

  

Happy Birthday to my Dad Geoffrey ; You would have been 100 Years Old Today

My father Geoffrey Abisheganaden was born on 23rd Nov 1919. He was a talented,handsome, yet humble man. He was God fearing and a loving father to his 2 naughty boys John and I. He passed away peacefully at the age of (almost) 91 on 20 September 2010, 9 years. ago. 

I would like to wish him Happy Birthday (23rd Nov 2019) in heaven, or wherever he is and I love him very much. We are both blessed with his temperament, kindness and diligence. I will leave this post with as many photographs below to show the side of the man whom I called Papa.  

Mum and Papa on their Wedding Day. He looked so handsome and she was pretty. 

My Papa  as I remember him well 

A young lawyer he looked dashing 

Greeting the then President S.R. Nathan 

Our Economy is in the Doldrums. Will 2020 be worse or will we see good times again ?

Promenade des Anglais 2 Dec 2018 

The alarm bells are not exactly ringing themselves like crazy, but the economic situation here in Singapore has been on the slow slide down to negative territory.

Recently in October, I happened to go to Queensway Shopping Centre and bought a new pair of business shoes, as well as a pair of the latest ASICS Kayanos. Both the shopkeepers I spoke with were reminiscing about the 'good old days' just perhaps 9 years ago and never seeing their sales so bad in their decades of working in Queensway.

I was so taken aback that I did not even want to negotiate a discount with them and empathised about their plight. The new Gig economy whereby everything is being migrated first to the Internet Sales Portals like Q10, Lazada and Wish just to name 3 of maybe 100 B to C sites spells the death knell of the bricks and mortar retail shops, the mom and pop shops in the heartlands.

My friends are quite cut throat about not supporting the retail shops and will go so far as to check the prices from the shops and then buy them online for perhaps 30% cheaper.

Such is the sad reality of the traditional business which is fast going the way of the dinosaur.

Zurich Airport 2 Dec 2018 

The same feeling that one day AI, algotrithmic software and smart websites will be the end of our business. Not so fast, Speedy Gonzales. We have certain value propositions which no one else can replicate. Its not consumer goods like TV nor the fridge. Our equipment which we sell to the Quality Assurance Departments of companies dealing in Solar Panels, Lithium Ion Batteries, Food Research, Advanced Remanufacturing, Internet of Things and BioPharmaceuticals still require the element of DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE APPLICATION AND SERVICE SUPPORT.

The know how or domain knowledge of the application for these vast array of equipment still lies with the distributor, meaning Us. Hence, there is still some ways to go before the consumer gets so savvy that they can install high end environmental simulation equipment - something which no one learns in polytehcnic or mechanical engineering so our niche is still safe for perhaps the next 20 years.

   

2 dec 2018 Beautiful Day on the Promenade des Anglais with the Cote Azur in the Background

There are only 3 options if we want to continue. 1. Move part of the operations to a lower cost economy with cheaper price point products and compete in the traditional markets of electronics, automotive and semiconductors from there. 2. Move up the value chain and offer higher value added services like Test Services for pharmaceutical industry  and remain in Singapore. 3. Build our own brand and push on with Singapore designed quality and reliability at the same time capturing a niche in a non traditional market which we are one of perhaps 3 players worldwide.

Well, we have done all 3. 

2020 will be challenging on the local front, however, with the overheads at an all time low, and recurrent revenue streams coming in from non-traditional sources, I can say that we can do surprisingly well, if we get the lucky breaks real soon.

Carpe Diem.  

Python for Absolute Beginners Tutorial 2

This guy is a genius ! He makes the difficult language seem so doable !