3 goals seal an amazing comeback win against 10 man Man City

This game of football is so unpredictable ; I actually woke up at 3.30 am to watch the game between Wolves and City ; at half time I had switched off the TV and went to bed, convinced that there was no justice in the football world, with Wolves conceding a very dubious (hardly any intended contact) penalty taken twice by England international Raheem Sterling before the goal was accepted.

Wolves were down 1 - 0 against a 10 man city side ; To make matters worse, they went down 2 - 0 after Sterling lobbed the ball over Patricio in the 55th minute to make it 2 - 0. 

It was as if a script out of the Twilight Zone ; then came this man Adama Traore ; an unstoppable and unmarkable player - the stuff of nightmares for opposing teams. Incredibly fast, skillful, strong and a good footballing brain to boot.

He rounded off a brilliant Wolves counter, Neves stealing the ball off the careless Sterling and Adama unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 yards leaving the City goalkeeper Bravo no chance. 

1 - 2 ; Game On !

In the 81st minute, Adama again stole or bumped off a tiring Mendy making a mockery of his International standing, nutmegged Brazilian Fernandinho and passed the ball out of reach of Rodrigo for Raul Jiminez to slot home.

2 - 2 ;  We have a Game !

In the 89th minute, an enlightend Matt Doherty did a neat 1 - 2 with Jiminez, rounded off 1 desperate lunge from Gundauan and curved the ball passed the hapless Bravo.

3 - 2  ; Wolves.

Needless to say, the top blew off Molineux that evening, with people hugging, crying and just plain drunkedly happy with the wicked win over the Champions.


Wolves, you have arrived. 

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. 

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 !

Python for Absolute Beginners

I am giving myself 3 months to be fully conversant with Python ; this is essential for coding and for my future work possibilities, as we need to equip ourselves to be ready for the 3rd age and that includes being software ready for the Cloud, as well as Blockchain.

Wish me Luck !!!   

Barcelona 4 - 7 Dec 2016 Marina and La Rambla

Taken from the rooftop of our gorgeous hotel, 

Dequesa de Cardona Hotel 

One of my all time favourite cities in Europe, Barcelona evokes a sense of "joie de vrie" or joy of life from the people, the Catalnonians. Barcelona city is a seaside port, and the marina is one of the many highlights of this amazing place. 

Our hotel when we stayed, Dequesa de Cardona is located along the Passeig Colom right by the marina,and its 5 minutes minutes from the southern start of the La Ramblas which is the walking street where there are a multitude of shops, steet artists, tourists, together with pickpickets (Barcelone has the dubious honor of being the world's pickpocket capital).    I would highly recommend its hotel, the staff are really friendly and helpful, the room was huge for the reasonable price ((500 ft2) quiet facing the indoor courtyard) of EUR 151.5 hich included a WONDERFUL buffett spread (costing EUR 18 each) serving 6 types of Nespresso, omelettes, fried eggs done any style, so many different kinds of cheese andthe piece de resistance, the Jamon Iberico ham (small pieces) - best in the world ! 

I had the shock of my life when I was pickpocketed and had my handphone stolen right under my nose by a couple of petty thieves. So, travellers be warned, keep your wallets, credit cards, passports and cash in separate places and only take what you need for the day.

I saw with my own eyes 2 guys chasing madly after some pickpocket, not realising I was the next foolhardy victim.

Atop Parc Guell 

There are literally more than a dozen places to visit and soak in the history and culture. 3 of them are related to the famous architect and designer Antoni Gaudi. The picture above, is Parc Guell, which Gaudi was commissioned by the Government to create a modern theme park of sorts and which he did with his signature "no sharp edges" style.There was also the La Pedrera Building which was another signature building and the world famous La Sagrada Familia church first built in the 1500s, and Gaudi was the last designer to add on his touches to the outer facade. The aithorities plan to finish the church in 2025, 100 years after his sad death after being hit by a tram and left to die on the road in 1925. 

The La Pedrera Building is a communal house meant for several families perhaps an extended family home. 

La Rambla is both an attraction for its multiple popup stands selling lots of football momentos for their world class Barcelona team, street artists who go to painstaking lengths to amaze people with their makeup and art, as well as the street artists, painters, student doctors offering free health checks and musicians which make this place a "Unique Walking Street World Renowned. "

When we visited Barcelona 3 years ago for 5 nights, the place evoked a magical, bohemian and definately artsy feel about it. Never mind the pickpockets, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there and would recommend to anyone who plans to go, do keep your valuables close at hand, separate your cards, money, passport and store them carefully. Never bring more than you need for that day of sightseeing.

So, in a nutshell, what are the top 8 places of interest to visit in Barcelona ?

8. Iberico Ham Museum, La Rambla

7. Born District - small stylish restaurants serving tapas ; must try the vermouth. 

6. Montjuic hill, Jaon Miro museum

5. Marina, eat some fabulous seafood there

4. Parc Guell 

3. La Pedrera - amazing architecture, and do visit the rooftop to view the chimneys ! 

2. La Rambla - watch your wallets and passports

1. La Sagrada de Familia (Sacred Family Church), inside decor is mind blowing. 

CARPE DIEM. 

Place de la Catalunya

Department Stores, Boutique Shops, Restaurants