There is a Time for Everything. Now is the time to be Brave.

The COVID 19 has hit Singapore's economy hard. People are reeling from the statistics that thousands are infected daily with the virus. Whilst a great percentage of them have very mild symptoms, the number of deaths have gone up, as a proportion of those who caught the virus.

Take for example, last year, we had a total of 32 deaths per 60,000 infected. Now, with the caseloads reaching 3,000 daily, we see everyday, deaths of people from all ages. 

Now is the time to be brave. Our Government has kept on flip flopping on the opening and shutting of the  economy, with dining restrictions ranging from 0 to 2 to 5, back to 0 then 5 then 2. There are too many clusters and asymptomatic carriers all over the place.

It makes for a bad  impression, as once we were held as a model for COVID-19 containment and control and now we are practically the highest in the world in terms of infection per 100,000 population.

Why did our Government drop the ball, and so badly ?

I don't have the answers only questions, and the sentiment on the ground, to put it mildly is sour.

So in this time of economic uncertainty, global warming and general gloominess, lets take stock of our 'lot'.

1.We have a very high percentage of fully vaccinated people (over 80% of the total population).

2. Many (slightly more than 98 %) will experience no or very mild symptoms if they catch it and they will recover, just like the common 'flu.

3.The 1.8% or so will need medical care, hospitalisation and oxygen. Some will require ICU attention and some will be overwhelmed by this disease and pass away. Whilst the majority of deaths are above 60 (I am perilously close to that "magic age") the overwhelming majority of cases had pre-existing co-morbidities so, their immune systems were weak to start with.

The COVID 19 was the tipping point of the equilibrium.

This makes for very sober reading as all of us, as we age will encounter illness, some mild and some life threatening. Cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure are the most common diseases which have established themselves into our everyday vocabulary.

So, what do we do ?

We need to study the science and decide for ourselves whether vaccines DO or DO NOT protect us from this terrible disease. For the most part, most reports conclude that they DO.

So, please go and get vaccinated.

We need to take charge of our own health.

1. East nutritious foods

2. Exercise regularly

3. Sleep well and have enough sleep

4. Go for our 'flu and 3rd booster jabs when they become due

5. Release stress as best as we can.

We need to be brave to carry out our daily chores and NOT be afraid to go about and do what must be done.

                                                    My did my annual 'flu jab recently  

  

Belief - Words - Actions ; Hot Mike Aftermath

                           I may be illiterate but I am a man with a good heart 

Recently during a Parliament session, we watched with amusement when the PSP candidate was raising a point about the number of foreign employment in Singapore and whether Singaporeans benefitted or we actually disadvantaged by certain Free Trade Agreements.

During the back and forth of the debate, one minister uttered certain things which were cringeworthy about the Non Constituency MP's education and his comments were caught in the microphone which was not switched off.

"Illiterate, and lousy school" were the words uttered.

To be sure, many people were shocked at the utterance and this has ascertained that the MPs and Ministers of a certain party are elites and have all along held elitist views about people in general. Their mindset has always been as such and it is impossible to change that.

Well, since this is the Government we chose, we the people have to think carefully if indeed this is the kind of leaders we want to govern us.

Its not necessarily a bad thing, but empathy, compassion and walking a mile in the poor man's shoes are not what I would associate with the ruling party leaders. They mean well, by and large, but the bridge that divides the ruling and the ruled is one of class and wealth.

Time for a rethink ?  

Living with the COVID - 19 in our society.

Recently, Singapore announced that it is preparing to handle COVID - 19 as an endemic. This means that with the population at roughly 80% vaccinated, we will be encountering up to several hundreds of cases each day.   

This means in a nutshell, the employment of some or all of the following, proactive swab testing, speedy and accurate test results, society generally has to cooperate and agree to be tracked through AI and TraceTogether, quarantine orders, stay home notices, community hospitals and dedicated care facilities for the sick. Limits to the number of people gathering for all manner of social events. Travel will be slowly restarted and will never be the same again.

 All these  will set into the mindsets sooner or later for our population.

The faster we accept these infringements to our civil liberties, the quicker life can return to some semblance of the past.

All in the name of healthy recovery for both the population at large and very importantly, the economy. 

Now We are Free - Title Song of Gladiator

A fast run to end a rather uneventful week.

 Today's run was eventful for a variety of reasons, I was waiting with frustration for some delivery of our company's equipment, which was delayed by several weeks. As I was in a no-win situation, I decided not to dwell on the negative but rather focus on the positive for the week.

The new office renovations were dragging on. Fortunately we should be able to kickstart Phase 2 of the office renovation, put in all our equipment which were meant to be there in the first place and get on with my plan of action. All this SHOULD start and finish within the next 2 to 3 weeks. although based on experience, shit happens, and I need to find a shovel handy to clear that because no one else in the company is capable or has the means to do so.

Back to this evening's run. I decided to forgo my weekly karate session, as I am waiting for the 14 days lapse after my 2nd Sinovac vaccination before I can be certified fully vaccinated. This means, that I can afford to go out and dine at restaurants, malls, everywhere where there is covered or airconditioned dining. Such is the tough regulations meant to control the spread of the dreaded COVID 19 Delta Variant. Everyone needs to play his or her part.

I started at the Ski360 roundabout and went about at a  hard clip of 6.45 min / km. I pushed all the way, as it was a cool evening with few walkers, strollers,cyclists or other joggers. Just my perfect run environment !

At the 4 km mark, I decided to stop for a pitstop (near the Singapore Sailing Centre). After catching my breath, I continued again at roughly the same pace as the first 4 km.

At around the 7.2 km mark, I detected a twinge on my left hamstring and decided that was the end of the run. I was hoping to hit 8km but 7.2 km was acceptable, given that I was still recovering from a ITBL ligament injury which affected my mood somewhat.

The stats :

Average pace : 6 :43 min per km

Maximum pace : 5 :25 min per km

Duration : 48 mins. 15 seconds

Distance : 7.2 km.

I am enjoying the endorphine rush which comes from having partaken in a hard run to end the week, and having run fast enough to convince me that I can still run at a reasonable speed.

Carpe Diem my friends. 

Athletic Test Chamber. Presenting QRA's World Class Athletic Chamber with O2 control up to 5000 m in Australia

                       QRA's Athletic Chamber in Australian University                                                                                         2019

Research has shown the last 10 -15 years that training in High Altitude and then competing in Low altitude can enhance the physical endurance of elite athletes by up to 30%.

This means that middle to long distance runners, swimmers, and all athletes who are looking to boost  their performance (soccer players, rugby players, basketball etc) should employ this as part of their training regimen.

                                   Installing the Evaporator Fan Unit

It is reported that the great Michael Phelps sleeps in an altitude tent at 3000 m simulated Oxygen level or about 16.5% O2. The normal atmospheric O2 is 20.9% and the remainder gases are N2 (Nitrogen) at 78%. The rest of the atmospheric gases are CO2, NO2 and plentiful lesser known gases.

                                                The Simple Control Panel

In 2017, my company QRA was awarded the contract to provide Australia's first Athletic Test Chamber. Spanning 4.5 m x 4.5 m x 4.0 m, it is capable of performing the following parameters with 2 elite runners and 2 research scientists in attendance.

Temperature : 0  to 50 C

Humidity : 15 to 95%

O2          : 0 to 5000 m 

              Full sports scientific research inside QRA Athletic Chamber

   

World's Best Sushi - Kyubey Keio Plaza (6 F) Shinjuku Japan ) Oct 2014

 

The rather unpretentious sign outside Keio Plaza on the 7th Floor (Kyubey entrance) 

I am a rather easy going eater. Though my wife is the connoisseur of the of the family, I am the lucky recipient of her fussy tastes. This trip some years ago to Tokyo, Japan brings back wonderful memories of our little dining escapades in October 2014.

I did some days of research and it is no wonder that Tokyo, is the epicentre of GREAT sushi (no wonder, the country of origin must have the best and most tasty, right ? Like Portuguese Egg Tarts are best in Madrid, and the Shanghai Xiao Long Bao tastes wonderful in where else, Shanghai.)     

We happened to stay in the Shinjuku district and I tried unsuccessfully to contact the restaurant. On the day we arrived, I recall, after checking into our hotel room, it was a drizzly autumn evening and I said, "lets go and try our luck".

So using the omnipresent Google Maps to guide us, we walked some 3 blocks to the nearby 5 star  Keio Hotel and went to the 6th Floor. The lift landing led us out to the courtyand and on the left there was the rather plain looking sign stating "Sushi" in English and Japanese. I guess when your restaurant is world famous, you do not need much marketing and snazzy signs or even advertisements via Google, FB. The influencers will do all the marketing for the restaurant or eating establishment !

I went up to the front counter and in my broken Japanese enquired whether they had any dining as we had come all the way from Singapore to try the world famous Kyubey sushi !

(Their Michelin starred restaurant is located in Ginza business district and this is one of their branches in Shinjuku district).

Much to my surprise they said, "Hai !, but no sushi counter table, only dining table'. Beggers cant be choosers and we were motioned to a small table for 2 near the entrance.

 

                   The Omakase Sushi Set is as shown above - 'Sensational' !  

I have never tasted better sushi before or ever since 

We ordered the Omakase Sushi Plate (Chef's special at his discretion), what you see above.

Oh my word ! One bite and I knew that this was sushi heaven. The taste of the incredibly fresh fish, the tuna, yellow tail, tuna belly octopus, Uni (sea anemone) was indescribable. The wasabi was garnished straight from the root, the light soya sauce and the ginger garnishing were all perfect.

Fresh from the sushi master's hands the taste was to me, something like Manna (food from heaven). The warmth of the sushi after being squeezed and formed just right still resonates in my conciousness. I was chuffed ! Stunned into sushi bliss.    

Whatever little reservations I had about making the effort to get to Kyubey were all thrown out the window. 

The sashimi was another masterpiece 

The sashimi and the grilled Yakitori were also truly exceptional. I recall having a nice warm Sake to dissipate my jet lag (7 hours from S'pore) and my satisfied blissful picture shows me at the point - in sushi heaven.

            Grilled Cod with Japanese Sweet Sauce and Garnishing 

If you are ever in Tokyo, MUST TRY Kyubey - do let me know your opinion !