I'm Back to Running after a 2 and half week break due to injury

At start of 10 K run with Running Kaki Filipe Cunha at B1 carpark ECP (31 Dec 2020)

 

10 K Done and Dusted 

I'm very pleased to report that I have resumed running after an almost 3 week break, after I strained my Illiotibial Band Tendon on the outer part of my left knee. I was doing a hard 10 K run (mid January) on  Saturday at around 10.30 am and after I had reached the Ski360 waterski park, 5km mid point, I decided to turn back.

Shortly around the 6 km mark (between the Ski360 and the Bikestation), I felt a sharp pain on the outer left  part of my knee. It had pulled, and I ground to a stop. The pain while not excruciating, was enough for me to stop my complete run, and even putting some weight on the left leg was a challenge. Later, I found out that I had strained my Illiotibial Band, a tendon running on the side of each leg and the pain is felt on the outer rim of either knee.

The next few nights were a strain as my knee was hurting, alternately throbbing and receding in pain - ranked at a scale of 5 upon 10 ; 10 being eyes tearing pain, 0 being practically no pain.

I can ignore pain levels of 0 to 4 I estimate. But from 5 onwards, its best I use ice or some Counterpain gel to numb the affected part.

Well I can pat myself on the back for an achievement of sorts. Getting back to my running routine with a new lease of life.

Chinatown in New York is Hurting

This video is heartbreaking, yet so heartwarming. People are coming together to help each other when they themselves are at the brink of despair.

Partick Mock is a 3rd Generation Chinese young man, who is an example of what a Hero is like in these tough times. A fighter who shows love and care for his community. 

Amazing what we can do when we stand up and be counted. 

To make a difference in the society we live in

The spirit of survival will see us through even the toughest of days.

What can't kill us will eventually make us stronger.

Keep Going Patrick ! A hero in our midst of despair. 

Carpe Diem my readers.

Tough Times bring out the Best in Teams. Go Wolves !!!

 

In an extraordinary season, No Fans, Injuries Aplenty, Nuno's Dream is severely Tested

The EPL season 20 - 21 is a really 'blah' one for me. Two of my favorite players have been sold ; Diogo Jota to Liverpool, and Matt Doherty to Tottenham. There have been injuries aplenty to many key players. They are :

a) Raul Jiminez (head injury)

b) Jonny Otto (Ankle injury)

c) Michael Podence (Adductor injury)

d) Ryan Ait Nouri

e) Leander Dendonker (Thigh)

Several are also underperforming :

a) Conor Coady 

b) Reuben Neves

c) Adama Traore 

We really need the new strikers like Jose and the established ones like Neto, Traore to step up their games. The youngster Fabio Silva is a flop. 

Tonight they face 3rd place Leicester in a MUST WIN game. 

Go the Wolves ! 

 

The Social Place ; 6 Feb 2021 Forum Shopping Centre

Crispy Crackling Seafood Soup with Rice 

Yesterday we went to try out this new 'Fusion' Dim Dum restaurant at Forum Shopping Center. Called the Social Place, it originated in Hong Kong 2 Floor, Queens Road. It did so well they opened an outlet in Singapore at the Forum Shopping Mall. Here are some of the dishes we tried, and my review is below.

Top 3 dishes  

1. DouFu with Century Egg and Sesame Sauce Seasoning. The DouFu is cold, smooth, thin in slice, with the fusion of Century Egg, and a dash of spring onions. Its an excellent 'cold dish' and great for starters.  

2. Crackling Mala Chicken with Mango PuddingAnother superb twist to the tale, the chicken is fragrant, fried to a crisp like Popcorn Chicken. The mango pudding looks exactly like an egg yolk, the viscosity, the texture,the color everything. Amazing taste.

Chinese Vegetable with Wine 

3. Crackling Seafood Soup

For comfort food, this is a must eat. I will bet my last Ren Ming Bi, this will taste even better in the cold climates up in North Asia. However, as it is in sultry humid Singapore, this dish is 98% out of 100% comforting and tasty. The crackling taste of the shallots / small carckers gives it a unique twist to the seafood rice soup. 

Service 

Pefunctory, nothing to write home and tell Grandma about how warm and friendly the place is.  The wait staff are rather curt, like in Hong Kong, and it is best to reserve the restaurant at least a couple of days in advance.

Price 

Pricey for Chinese food. Most dishes are above S$25 and the soft drinks (we had Pear Juice) are $3 to $4 

Review 

Social Place Singapore

FORUM The Shopping Mall

#01-22. 583 Orchard Road

Singapore 238884 

Food : 4.8 out of 5 

Ambience : 3.5 out of 5 (chop chop eat and go ; no cosy dining)

Service     : 3.5 out of 5

Price         : Above Average 

Total : 11.8 out of 15. 

            3.9  * out of 5 *

Good for : Company 'goodbye' dinners ; casual friends gatherings, ex-

                  colleagues  

Debates '86 - My teammates

 

from left : Me,Richard Pereira, Philip Lim, Reserve Sukhdeep, Jaspal Sidhu 

This is the victorious NTI debating team which garnered 1st Runner Up at the 1986 Tertiary Institutions Televised Debates (on SBC channel 12) . We had triumphed in the QuaterFinals, beating the National Institute of Education (NIE, now the teachers faculty of NUS). In the Semi-Finals, we beat the NUS Team 1 debating team (comprising of 4 law undergraduates) and we faced the NUS Team 2, the 'star' team of the National University of Singapore - again featuring 4 star undergraduate lawyers.

Our team comprised of yours truly, Richard Pereira, Philip Lim Feng, and Jaspal Singh Sidhu.

For the record, we were the First Runner Up in the entire series, and Philip Lim was the Best Speaker of the Night and Jaspal Singh, the best speaker of the entire series !. 

Recently I had a check on how my ex-team mates were doing and I was pleasantly surprised that they are all very successful in their own spheres. I am considered the 'underperformer" !

Richard Pereira - he was an SAF Air Force Scholar, who rose to the rank of Brigadier General and now runs a vibrant consultancy firm advising the aerospace industry.     

Philip Lim Feng - he also was an SAF scholar, rose to the rank of Brigadier General, became the head of Singapore Foods Industry and is now CEO of Exploit Teachnologies, an AStar company dedicated to commercialising AStar developed pantented products.

Jaspal Singh Sidhu - he is currently the CEO of SIS International School in Jakarta, and the largest private International School in whole of Indonesia.

My heartiest congratulations to my ex-debating mates !

I am so motivated to make a name for myself too ! I hope I am not too late.  

Basic Military Training 1981 Charlie Company Platoon 4

 A good friend of mine Dr Chan Yue Meng, sent me this photo today. This was taken 40 years ago ! 

This is Section 3 of Platoon 4, led by LTA Chua Tee, 2LT Phua in Terror Barracks, in Marsiling area.

At the back L - R : Lau Wing Tai, Dr Chan Yew Meg, Sasi Kumar (those I can remember anyways)

At the front : Yeo Lay Wee (extreme left), Wee Liang Chee and myself. 

I wish I could remember the names of the gentlemen those 40 years ago.

This was such a long time ago. The guy next to me is a Dr Wee Liang Chee, who is a really established gentleman who has settled in the USA (Iowa I believe).

My friend reminded me of the days, when I was reed thin, had Nana Mouskouri spectacles and could run sub 9 minute 2.4 km runs !

Oh, the memories !

A Belated New Year's Post - My Raison D'ete.

2021 started off quite awfully for many people all over the world. The spectre of the COVID -19 is still above all our heads. We have to be mindful and adopt safe practices for all of our wellbeings and for our safety's sake.

On 20th Jan 2021, there will be the inaugartion of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the USA. There will be maximum security and the losing Trump supporters will surely be sulking not so quietly.

I pray for a peaceful transition of power.

On the business and personal front for me, I am grateful to be living in  the safe and secure Singapore, which after the first missteps in the early days of COVID, our 4G leaders seem to be putting numerous safety nets to trace and track, isolate and treat the COVID carriers who can be non-symptomatic or symptomatic. 

2021 started off uncertainly, but I am 110% determined to make the most of a rather uncomfortable year. I wish to state my Raison D'ete (reason for living) in this most public domain 

My cognitive success will be fuelled by setting and achieving goals,large and small as often as possible.

Simple day to day goals (for example) :

a) make my own bed

b) tidying up after myself (plates, utensils, glassed)

c) Proper time management ; setting and keeping proper appointment times 

d) Saying 'NO" effectively

:My business will be the extension of my universal and corporate persona. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will be the cornerstone. Profits coupled with an altruistic view. 

My personal life will be driven by maintaining a happy family, exercising frequently,eating wisely and maintaining a wide spectrum of  family, friends, business associates, classmates and acquaintences for the betterment of our collective experiences.