Voltaire on Knowledge

 

In many ways, this quote is so true. The fact of the matter is that with more 'learning' and knowledge we acquire, and since knowledge is an accumulation of facts and hypotheses, the issue then lies for, facts to be facts, many a times, the fact may in actuality is an 'assumption' which has not proven wrong until someone challenges it - like Darwin's theory of evolution, till today it is not universally accepted and that is why it is still postulated as a 'theory' !

So, the more you learn, the more you realise that there is so much that you do not know and hence, in the overall universe of things, you actually know next to nothing with the exception of your area of specialization.

That area of specialization can and will be obsolete the moment you do not practice it and you retire into the wilderness of passive brain function.

Thoughts on a sweltering May Day 2024 (1st May)

 

In the Car after a daunting 6 Km run at Dalvey Estate Road 

Today is May 1st, it is a public holiday in many countries including Singapore. I used the opportunity to sleep in till about close to 9am and then I took to the roads for a 6 km run at Dalvey Estate Road.

I am in my early 60s and I am blessed tremendously with good health, both mentally and physically. Here are some advice I can give to people who are turning 55 and older.

a) Go for a full physical blood tests, stool tests and urine tests  every year. I have been doing so for over 25 years already. I have no regrets. Early detection of serious illness saves and prevents a lot of pain and discomfort later. 

b) Get covered with comprehensive medical insurance upon turning 50 or latest 55. The incidence of diseases such as :

- diabetes

- arterosclerosis 

- stroke

- migraine

- cancer (breast , colon and prostate) 

jumps after you turn 50. So it is prudent to get covered if you want to live with some dignity your 'golden' years.

c) Get colon cancer screening every 5 years or in my case, every 3 years. I have had 4 so far.

d) Eat healthily and cut back on alcohol drinking (1  - 2 glass of wine is OK)

e) Exercise as much as 5 times a week  

f) Sleep 8 hours

g) Laugh at yourself.

i) Keep a circle of friends and keep the circle growing and not shrinking - people pass on with each passing year, so our mental health needs to stay relevant and healthy with positive social connections.

j) Try to meet with young people either at work or through social networks ; the 21st century presents itself with tremendous challenges for the young elderly like myself so I need people to assist me with the latest social media tools and apps to function effectively. Apps like AI ChatGpt are a must for us young elderly if we want to remain relevant and connected with the Gen Z in our midst. We, the Baby Boomers will be the shrinking class and they will be the mainstream class in less than 10 years time. 

k) Save as much as I can - for me that means putting up as much into my Retirement account so that I can slowly draw down from it X years in the future.

l) Live below my means. - If I want to live comfortably for as long as possible. I should not blow money on meaningless ego busting ventures which impact me the most, and impress the most useless people on the planet, for people do not care if I lose money.

They all want to enjoy the ride at my expense, success or failure.  

m) Save the pennies, and reinvest the profits in your business or assets in other assets. 

Lunch with my financial mentor 

Dempsey Cookhouse 27 April 2024

 

Caramel Ice Cream with Popcorn (11/10)

Our once weekly dinner with the family last week landed us at the famous Dempsey Cookhouse at Block 17D Dempsey Road. We had the following dishes, some of which we pretty good and a couple were just, mediocre.

Starter 

Kale lettuce and broccoli salad

Crispy Calamari with Yuzu Sauce

Mains

Fried Crispy Chicken

Veal Milanese

Mushroom Encrusted Sea Trout

Dessert

Pannacotta (on the House)  (Excellent !) 

Warm Chocolate Cake

Caramel Ice Cream (3) with Popcorn (Star of the Show !)

While we were halfway dining, it poured very heavily. And as we sat outside, the roof started to drip and we made a request to change tables and this was speedily done.Kudos to the service team !

Kale and Broccoli Lettuce with Half Boiled Egg 

(8 /10)

The starter of kale lettuce and fried calamari were quite good and flavouful. The calamari was chewy and tasty while the kale lettuce and broccoli with the semi boiled egg was outstanding.

Crispy Calamari wit Yuzu Dipping Sauce 

(7 /10)

Panacotta was really outstanding with fig, strawberry, kiwi fruits garnishing adding to the flavour

9.5 / 10 

Mushroom Crusted Sea Trout with Lemon Emulsion Herbs

From the looks of it, it looks divine but I did not eat so I cant comment on the dish above. 

Veal Milanese with Tomato and Argula Salad Red Wine 

(4 / 10)

This dish tasted rather bland and there was no veal aroma. In fact it tasted like chicken.

Rather disappointing I must say. The $ 38 price tag while not cheap we may try the steak (at $65) the next time we dine there.

Crispy Fried Chicken with Herbs 

(9.5 / 10)

The Crispy Fried Chicken was outstanding amongst the main courses. The Sea Trout my wife ordered I didn't eat as I was three quarters full and the Veal Milanese tasted more like chicken. 

The skin was really crispy and the meat inside was tender and super flavourful. The price of $36 is not cheap for a white meat dish but it is worth it as a mains.

The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar

17 D Dempsey Road

Singapore 249 676

Please make bookings prior to coming to avoid disappointment. 

 

Good Day Cafe - Affordable and Healthy Fare in NUS

 

The front of Good Day Cafe - it is Inside Medicine Library at NUS ; Beside Block 27 Medicine Faculty.  

I have the privilege of driving a car. After dropping my wife somewhere in the Western Part of Singapore, one of the stops I make is at the NUS Faculty of Medicine Library, for 2 reasons

a) out key client is located there

b) the Good Day Cafe service healthy and affordable health conscious people like me. 

For parking, there is a public carpark just opposite the Medicine Library - just note, that this carpark get 100% full by 9.30 am so it is advisable to get into this open air carpark before then. The rest of the adjoining carparks are all meant for University staff and season car park holders - whatever that means.

A little slice of Heaven for $ 7.20 

(US$ 6) 

I will normally buy the tuna Gilgeoli toast for $ 4.50 which serves nice brown toast

with the filling of large onion, some coleslaw sauce and generous toppings of tuna. Be prepared to pay in either cash, PayNow, Paylah or debit card. They do not accept any form of credit cards.

For a nice lunch, i will buy a bento set for $ 5.50 - $ 8.20 which is nutritiously made and stored in hot plates at the counter. There are basically 3 sets, 

a) Grilled Chicken Kebab

b) Pan seared Salmon 

c) Vegetarian 

You can have a couple of sides ranging from $0 and $ 1 each side. So I normally choose between any 2 of these 5 :

a) Broccoli

b) Cherry Tomatos

c) Omelette

d) Cole Slaw

e) Baked Corn

So after a nutritious breakfast, I will occasionally pack a kebab lunch which is light and healthy to eat in the office.

Good Day Cafe - located inside NUS Medicine Library Building

Nearest MRT : Kent Ridge (exit A).

Walk By : NUH Dentistry Block, past mortuary and towards NUS Medicine Library Building.

It will be a serendipitious experience to the first time diner. 

Carpe Diem 

 

My Last Visit to Beijing Sept 2010

 

The date was Sept 2010, I had visited a trade show in Beijing and decided to treat myself to visiting the Tian An Men Square. There. is an underground station which leads all the way from the hotel to the square so it is very easy to get to.

The weather was clear and visibility was easily 1000 meters, a rarity for Beijing. 

I looked pretty young then - 14 years ago. The sunglasses I had on were also not the brand I have become very accustomed to. 

Visit to Beijing June 2009

 

Precocious at 12 years of age. 

The tween years for my second son, Andrew is shown here,in a short holiday to Beijing China in 2008. My wife and Andrew did a mother son bonding trip for 5 ot 6 days to the Chinese capital.They followed a group tour which covered, Tian An Men Square, the Bird's Nest Stadium, the Great Wall and lots of visits to the old city, 

In the Tour Bus

My wife's views at that time were that, China's history is so rich and plentiful (over 2000 years) and we living in Singapore have been brought up with a Western style education and a Western outlook. We always thought that the East, particularly China was a backwater and we had limited knowhow and understanding of this great country. 

The Bronze Lion at Tian An Men 

Therefor, this is an anomaly which we, who are living in S.E.Asia in this period of Chinese renaissance and economic rise will hope to correct. That said, our attitudes, focus and and perspectives should be looking East rather than all the time to the West in the decades to come.

May and Andrew at the Hou Hai Lake 

The fact of the matter is that China is destined to be the world's  economic superpower within 30 years, I hope it is within my lifespan. 

Western powers may try to slow down its progress, but the day will come when China's purchasing power will drive most of the world's consumer spending patterns - if it hasn't already. From cars, fashion brands, watches and property Chinese buyers are dictating preferences and setting consumer behaviors.

Many top boutique houses and brands from Milan, Paris , London and New York are pandering for over 2 decades to the well heeled Chinese buyers. And there are plenty of them.

There are increasing numbers of Chinese food establishments in Singapore like Hai Di Lao, Din Tai Fung (OK Taiwanese) and all the Mala Hot Pot Restaurants sprouting all over the island catering to the Chinese palette.

Mum and Son at the Great Wall 

I have visited Beijing once in 2008 and the pictures are shown below. It was a clear blue sky in Tian An Men Square and the weather was beautiful. Everytime I visit China, my perspectives change about this country, which is destined to be the next big superpower.

The doors of the Tian An Men open to a grand courtyard 

Frog Porridge at Chinatown

 

One of my food indulgences must be  Frog Porridge. The coffeshop is called Tong Shian at Chinatown off Keong Saik street. The address is 265 New Bridge Road off New Bridge Road and adjacent to the My CK Department store.

I am normally there the odd Saturday when I am not running at East Coast Park.

You can park your car just beside the coffeeshop if you are lucky, else, go to the nearby Shaw Building where there is a basement car park. 

The coffeeshop has curbside seating, so its "Singapore style Al Fresco dining. "

The frog is cooked very deeply in sweet oyster sauce, with ginger and spring onion and presented piping hot in front of you atop a rattan type basket.

The porridge is served together with it and I normally have a 'you tiao' or dough fritters to dip into the sweet sauce.

Heavenly taste on a hot Saturday morning

Total Price : S$ 12.80 for claypot frog (small), dough fritters and porridge. 

Tong Shian (open from 8 am till 4 am most days).

Tong Shian Porridge

265 New Bridge Road

Singapore 088745