It is during our Darkest Moments that we Focus to See the Light

Do not Despair ; We will Overcome Anything 

6th April 2020. Tomorrow, Singapore goes into Semi- Lockdown mode. The Circuit Breaker is applied. What does this actually mean ? For most parts of Singapore, everyone MUST make every effort to social distance from the people around them. That means at least 1.5 m. I will make my 2 meters. In the US it is 6 feet.

>All schools and Universities will be shut, but classes continue online. Tutorials will be held via many apps like Zoom or Webex.

>No dining out. Only take aways

>Going out will be limited to with 1 family member and only to important places such as supermarkets, wet markets, post offices, drug stores and banks and of course doctors and hospitals . Only key companies in segments vital to the economy will remain open. 

> Everyone is required to stay at home. If you must go out, go out singly and keep the exercise to around the neighbourhood. No group or team games. The Community       

Centres, Country Clubs and all social clubs are closed.

>Keep yourself healthy in as many ways as possible. Mental health is more important as physical health. I mean it in the most serious way. 

> No drinks at the coffeeshop downstairs the block, no gyms open, no pubs, lounges, KTVs, or nightclubs. Restaurants only offer take out service. No plays, theatres and all nightlife will be shut for 1 month. 

>It is absolutely necessary we BRING DOWN the numbers of newly infected. There ialready local transmission which is going on and many are unlinked. So until and after EVERYONE does their part by staying home, and doing the right things, life MAYBE can return back to something resembling our past lives. It will not be easy but truly focus on life and once we get some semblance of control, we CAN then resume something like our past lives used to offer us. 

If NOT, then it will be a massive lockdown with major inconveniences and changes in routines to life, just look at most parts of Europe. It really saddens me.  

For me ? Let me give you my plan for the one month ; I will treat it like a case of 'me time'. Be positive and keep a diary of what I eat, how much I exercise and I will try to lead a balanced lifestyle (easier said than done I know). I also try to get as much sleep as I can for this way, my immunity is as strong as possible to ward off this dreaded virus.

For starters I aim to get 8 hours of solid sleep. Once I awake I am now eating a lot of fruits and fibre for breakfast. Then its upstairs to my 'me room' or attic to telecommute with my staff and check emails with customers. The new normal now is communicating with many apps from Zoom, and now Team for meetings online.

Plus points is that, I can take naps as and when the mind gets tired. And showers when it gets too hot. My attic is not airconditioned and I like it that way. 

Focus on doing what is right, then everything will be alright. 

We will find the vaccine, and when that day comes, then we can truly move on.

Till that day,its time to batten down the hatches and press on.

Stay Home, Save Lives, The Lives you save may be yours and your loved ones. 

Seven Wonders - Fleetwood Mac

Really Cool Song ! 

Skiing - One amazing whole body workout sport ; this was in 2011 in Tomamu Resort Hokkaido

I love skiing as a winter sport. As my body is past its peak, I have to accept that my knees may not be able to take the swerving and turning at such high speeds coupled with the incline of the slope. But with the swishing of each 'S' curve and the cold wind blowing in my ears, it is an exhilarating experience !!!
  
Tomamu Resort in Hokkaido Japan 2011 was the 4th time we went skiing having first had a taste of it in 2006 in Korea. The next 2 - 3 years we did 2 ski camps in Korea, 2007 and 2010. I recall I reached Intermediate level and could ski down Intermediate slopes with little difficulty. 

Then we went for 2 wonderful ski trips first in 2011 Tomamu resort and then the last one (regrettably) we visited Rusutsu in Hokkaido in December 2012.  

Let me be clear about this sport ;

You need to be physically fit and core strong as when you fall, you need to get up from an inclined slope and most likely lying on your side.Additionally, the energy required to ski for a whole day will easy burn off 1000 over calories from the moment you put on your skis to then trudging and skiing somewhat to the skilift station 

Wear a good helmet, this is really important to prevent any novice, or intermediate skier to encounter a serious concussion or even death. The great Michael Schumacher went into coma for many years after a skiing accident and all but shortened  his useful successful life first as an F1 driver and then as a celebrity.  

Take lessons. YMCA has good ski camps for 5 - 6 days in total, mainly to Korea and 
Japan and I strongly recommend going for them. They have all expenses paid trips which include the airfare, ski resort, group ski instruction and then coaching from beginner to intermediate. 

Buy your own ski clothes and ski goggles. Hygiene is most important. Enough said

Rent skiis from the resort till you are at an expert level or advanced enough then decide to buy custom skis. 

I am good or fit enough for perhaps another 10 years max. So I hope and pray I can still ski another couple of times. 

George Calloway interviews Dr John Campbell ; very insightful

Shanghai May 2006 ; Weiss Technik Sales Training

with Frank Rigley (VP of Sales) 

The global COVID - 19 health pandemic leads me to look back at some old and happy memories, just to remember the 'good old days'. This was when we were sales agents for the then largest environmental chamber manufacturer in the world Weiss Technik. My company QRA International were agents from 2003 to 2012 or 10 years more or less. The first few years representing them were relatively easy and Asia, particularly China was the booming market for Weiss International sales.

These pictures were taken during their second Sales Training in China and it was held in May 2006. Our team of 5 were made to do presentations and at that point in time, we had offices in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. N. Kannan (Malaysia), myself and Sebastian Lin made up the team to China that time. 

With Dieter Haus and Tibor Csombordi (Hungary agent) 

The schedule was normally 4 1/2  days of lectures, tutorials and factory visits followed by 1/2 day of tour and the last day, normally was reserved for certificate presentations, pleasentries and goodbyes. 

Shanghai was and is the most futuristic city in China and each day's training was a learning experience for every one attending as we shared each other country's experiences, difficulties and success stories. 

Sebastian presenting on behalf of QRA team to Mr. Hehl, and Fred Schweitzer (Sales Manager)

It is safe to say, that these meetings will never be replicated as far as I am concerned, since 2012, my company has parted ways with the Weiss Technik group and I would like to say that we have made our own mark in the Athletic Chamber business as well as in the Test Business since that fateful day in 2012.

I recall the then management team at Weiss with fondness, Mr. Karl Heinz Hehl (MD), Mr Rudy Kreuzer (Technical Manager), Mr. Dieter Haus (Sales Director), Mr. Willie Dern (Service Director), Mr. Charlie Kaus (Service Manager) and my closest associate and friend, Mr. Frank Rigley (Regional Sales Manager). 

Japanese agent, Frank Rigley, N. Kannan, Tibor Csombordi, Pakistan agent, Ian Firth (Australian agent)

We will never walk this path again. 

So gather ye rosebuds while we may, 

Old Time is still a Flying

And that flower that smiles today,

Tomorrow will be dying.

Robert Herrick 

Charles Dickens : A Tale of Two Cities

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.^[6]"

That was written some 200 odd years ago by the famous Charles Dickens. He had certain genius flair for writing and I am so taken by his prose and nuanced composition. At the moment, I am listening to audio books and this is the first I have started on. 

This might just be his 'Magnus Opus'  (his best work) or then again there are so many other classics by him and many of the Renaissance authors that I will need to read and listen to all of them before deciding which is my favourite of the Classics !  

COVID -19 Aerosol and Droplet Transmission

Dr John Campbell is currently the most watched Youtube doctor who has been very clear and forthright with his analysis of the SARS-COV 2 Virus which is sweeping the entire world right now.

The key takeaways is this :

a) the virus is and can be transmitted by both aerosol (in the air) and droplets (by sneezing, coughing and then left on the surface).

b) the environmental conditions range from very cold and dry to warm and humid conditions (below 30 deg C) for the virus to remain alive 

c) the half -life (time for the virus to reduce its quantity) can range from 24 hours to 72 hours.

d) the virus can remain within the size of aerosol is 0.6 microns (one thousandth of a millimeter) all the way up to a standard droplet size droplet size of 1mm to 5 mm. 

d) in crowded places, there is the chance of aerosol transmission as when it is in aerosol form, it can remain in the air for up to 3 hours. 

e) the virus can remain alive up to 72 hours for various surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel. Cardboard and copper the duration is lesser. 

Social Distancing, Regular Handwashing, Proper Hygiene and less close contact with people, people. The social get-togethers, the occasional buddy or gal catchups, the smokers corner ; many of these nice to have things. 

Please limit or cancel them for the time being !

Carpe Diem !