Throwback from the Past ; Anna and Geoffrey Abisheganaden 1978

with Aunt Alice, and friends from 196 East Coast Road.

My Mum and Dad led very active lives, both in work and also in social and volunteering activities. These are the memories which I would choose to remember them by, at their prime (Mum in her early to mid 50s and Papa in his Mid 60s). 

Mum as the personal assistant to 4 Permanent Secretary of Health since the late 60s till the late 90s. Papa was a lawyer who had his own law firm and then helped out many organizations as legal adviser and school such as the Bible Society, YMCA, Anglican Council of Churches, NUSS Society Alumni (he was President on 2 separate occasions),St Andrew's School (board of governors) and St Andrew's Junior College, Singapore Swimming Club, the list just went on and on.  

What everyone does with his life is purely his decision only. At the end of his or her life, if he gets a chance to reflect on it, he must have as little regrets and rather,  reminisce about all the joyous and satisfying occasions that have dotted his life and experiences.

Living in a huge bungalow, driving the fastest supercars or visiting all the glamorous places the world over just doesn't impress me like when I was younger. I am cognizant of my limitations in life both physically, mentally and spiritually. I do whatever I can with my abilities and small gifts bestowed upon me to traverse through life, raise a family and mingle with friends and people who mean much to me. Helping others out is also an option I am more focussed nowadays.

Robin Williams (the late great comedian) in his standout movie "Dead Poets Society" told his young students to "gather ye rosebuds while ye may.." a sonnet by Robert Herrick.

Gather ye Rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a flying

And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamps of heaven, the Sun

The Higher he's a getting

The sooner will his race be run

And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first

When youth and blood are warmer

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time

And while ye may, go marry,

For having lost but once your prime

You may forever tarry.

"To the Virgins, Make Much of Time" 

Robert Herrick - 1591 - 1674.

  

Hardtalk - Steven Saccor interviewing Yuval Noah Harari

Bruschetta ; Simple, Fast to prepare, good to eat and low in calories.

Standard Bruschetta as a starter for the main course, OR just as a simple breakfast meal.

I am a beginner cook, in fact this Circuit Breaker (CB in short) from 7th April till 1st June has given me plenty of opportunities to start on a new hobby, cooking healthy, nutritious food which is tasty too. I have been slow off the mark - just like our Govt has been slow off the mark to stop the spread of the tricky COVID - 19 spread amongst our foreign workers living in cramped dormitories. Hopefully things will be much under control in the coming 1 - 2 weeks. 

Getting back on point, Bruschetta is an Italian dish which is easy to prepare and cook. Look at the picture above. The ingredients for this simple dish are as below :

a) Grated cheese (Parmesan) 

b) Cherry tomatoes (2 per slice of bread)

c) Baguette bread (2 slices)

d) Basil herb leaves.

e) Black pepper seasoning

f) Olive oil.

Calories per slice : 60 ; Total 2 slices : 120 calories.

My own dish is slightly different. I use Multi-grain bread as the base. So here is my version of this much loved dish for this morning 5th May 2020. 

a) Emmenthal cheese (sliced)

b) Cherry tomatoes (2 per slice of bread)

c) Multi grain bread (2 slices)

d) Basil herbs (from bottle)

e) Black Pepper seasoning 

e) Olive oil (1 - 2 teaspoons per slice)

Calories per slice (my estimate) : 100 (due to more cheese :))  Total 2 slices : 200 calories.

Preparation

1.Cut the cherry tomatoes into small slices (I dont have a grinder or mixer)

2. Add olive oil to the bread

3. Place the cheese onto the bread

4. Add a dash of basil grated herbs and black pepper. (can be after the toasting). 

5. Place inside oven for 10 minutes.

6. Watch as the bread slowly browns out and the cheese is slightly melted.

Voila ! What you see above (sans the basil leaves herbs) is the end product.

It was washed down with my morning coffee. Perfect !! 

Just this last weekend, we had the privilege from ordering takeout from Garibaldi (1 michelin star) restaurant and I must say, their bruschetta is really top billing and super tasty.  It is reminiscent of the top picture with super crunchy bread (almost like a rusk).

More pictures of the Garibaldi dinner in another post.

Breathtaking video of the Cote d'Azur or the Blue Coast Dec 5th 2018 Wednesday

Here is another video of the 16 day holiday we took just 2 years ago of the road from Nice (where we were based for 5 days) leading to Monaco (Monte Carlo is just a precinct or suburb in Monaco) and our guide, Carla (from Brazil) was giving us the history of the region, where the Romans used to enjoy the mild winters overlooking the Cote d Azur. 

Below is a photo from 7th December 2018 ; Monaco (Monte Carlo is a suburb of this land locked super rich kingdom). 

View of Monaco from the Hillside

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) 1986 TV Debates NTI Team

At the appreciation lunch hosted by the then President Cham Tao Soon 

L-R : Yours truly, Richard Pereira, Philip Lim, Sukdeep Singh, Jaspal Singh.

I'm digging up the past I must admit. After I finished my National Service committments from 1981 - 1983, I pursued the undergraduate course at the National University of Singapore from July 1983 - June 1987.

During those salad days, I was fortunate to represent the Nanyang Technological Institute (which was then the Engineering arm of the National University of Singapore) twice, once in 1984 and the second time in 1986 for the TV debates for tertiary institutions. The debates were held in front of live audience of 200 students, undergraduates and members of public and the telecasts were shown 1 week later on the then Channel 12. 

In the 1984 series, we reached the semi-finals before losing to NUS Team 1 the eventual winners. In 1986, we beat 2 teams, firstly the National Institute of Education and then the NUS Team 1 in the semi-finals. We emerged as runners up in the 1986 series of televised debates. 

My father (see below picture) who was then 65 years of age, was a very enthusiastic advisor, as he gave us plenty of debating tips as a successful practising lawyer in criminal, and subsequently corporate law, and was managing his own law firm Abisheganaden and Company, Our chef de mission was a Dr Koh Moy Yin, and we had help from several other lecturers such as Dr Stanley Richardson and Prof Koo Sai Kee.During the course of our preperations for each stage of the competition, we had the privilege of interviewing Dr Chan Heng Chee, and Dr. Paul Koh (Chief Statistician).

Geoffrey Abisheganaden circa 1985 

We prepared very hard and enthusiastically for both sets of debates, reaching the semi-finals for the 1984 series and the finals for the 1986 series. I believe we helped put NTI on the map as engineering undergraduates were then not known to be outspoken and fluent in the cut and thrust of intellectual debates - something which was more the domain of law undergraduates.

The other tertiary institutes which took part were the Singapore Polytechnic 1 and 2, Ngee Ann Polytechnic 1 and 2 , The National Institute of Education (NIE), NUS teams 1 and 2 and NTI. 

I was chosen to be the first speaker, followed by Richard Pereira, Philip Lim and Jaspal Singh.

For the record, for the 1986 series, although we did not win the overall best team title, we (NTI) team won the best speaker for the night (Philip Lim)l, and Best Speaker for the series Jaspal Singh. We beat the NIE team in the preliminaries, the NUS Team 2 in the semi-finals (which was a major shock to the premier university) and finally took on NUS Team 1 in the finals. 

Truly, a tremendous accolade for a then only 3 years old academic institution of higher learning !

Carpe Diem. 

    

Bassai Dai Shitoryu Kata

The Japanese translation of this classic kata, Bassai Dai is to "penetrate the fortress".

This is second in the list during my Circuit Breaker (CB) confinment at home.

Sunday 26th April 2020 7.15 pm.

I will put the steps below, for purposes of completeness.

Carpe Diem ! 




Addendum, This is the same kata done by the world champion Rika Usami. Her moves are so crisp, powerful, aggressive and full of purpose.

I guess I have a long way to go to even be 30% of her standard.

I guess I have to keep practising ! 

A Post after a 5 KM run - COVID 19 new normal

Here I am, sitting in my attic, having done a full 35 mins or roughly 5 km run around my neighbourhood. I am still sweating out the effects of the hot morning run. I take a leaf from the great George Sheehan who used to run 5km to 10km and then pen his thoughts soon after his run when the endorphins have been realeased and the mind is at its clearest. He was a regular contributor to the magazine Runner's World.

I started at approximately 10.20 am and waited till all the people who went past my house to clear before I started my run. Today is April 25th 2020. 

This virus is a big  bitch. Life as we know it will be altered,for some, irreversibly until we can find a worldwide effective vaccine. The current measures which include lockdown in many countries, reduced movement coupled with strict social distancing and use of masks will continue for some time as far as I can see.

Even if we 'flatten' the curve of new infections so to speak,we as a country will still need to have the entire population tested for antibodies (5.5M) which will take about a full 6 months if we can test (for example) 20,000 people per day.Then again, that would cover some 3.5 million. 

2 Sentinels in tribute to Amenhotep III (Egypt Dec 2009)

The suggestion below is purely my own. 

The main issue after we test then, is what to do with the results. For those who have the immunity or antibodies, (I reckon at least 70 to 80%), they can safely move around with the "Green Health Cert" and continue with the New Normal of life. 

The 10% who are deemed 'at risk' will perhaps need to adjust to another shared space, BUT without ostracising them in any way. They may be the elderly frail , those with pre-existing co-morbities or with multiple health issues. Perhaps mandating that they have some special support sevices to buy food, at specially selected times, attend certain essential services like hair dressing or the barbers and other specially designed times for dining and the like.

My only fear is that we MUST NOT ostracise this group. They are the vulnerable and are not just the elderly frail.  

The 10% who have recovered can probably rejoin the workforce, and then some semblance of normal life will continue. It MUST. We as human beings are social animals first and foremost. We are so used to doing things and mingling with each other. That is pre-determined in our DNA. To include and serve everybody regardless of creed, sex, age, social standing and religion. It is enshrined in our National Pledge and we will continue to uphold the value of inclusiveness and rights for every individual. 

Of course, the issue is clouded with the caveat of 'protecting the greater good of society'. Which comes first in priorty ? Human right or the greater collective good of people in society ?    

I believe wearing masks in MRTs and even taxis, shared vehicles (Grab) will continue till the end of this year.    

The things we used to do for fun, in the past, can slowly re-open, such as dining in, provided the 'Green Health Cert' and on site temperatures are taken. Pubs, entertainment outlets and cinemas, theatres, and parks, gyms, pools, member clubs will be re-opened in phases with some degree of maximum seating in all establishments.

The contact tracing should remain, though it should never be invading into person's private identity and space. As can be seen, the Case Numbers normally do not highlight the individual's personal details as this will only cause massive stigmatisation even though he or she did nothing wrong except fall sick.

I am very hopeful that by end of this the 70 odd clinical trials which are ongoing from many countries will emerge at least 5 vaccines for the whole world and we will then be able to live life without masks and engage in the social norms, of course with some restrictions still in place.

We must surely succeed !