The First Years 11 - Swimming Club Days ; training times

At the Singapore Swimming Club, circa 1975. John and I with our 

maternal cousins Wendy and Angela

       Palma Qui Feruit - the motto of Singapore Swimming Club. Our parents signed up the family membership with the Singapore Swimming Club in late 1974. We (my brother and I) still continue to be members (thats a total of 43 years including 2017!). My Dad Geoffrey very soon after that (1975) was elected into the Management Committee of the SSC and appointed as its then legal convenor, first under the President of Mr. Henry Chan, followed by Mr. Cheong Boo Hong and finally Mr. Teo Khiang Hwee. 

     I was 12 and John was 9 then. We signed up for the swimming programme under the well known coach, Mr.Neo Chwee Kok. The other assistant coaches were Mr. Mohammed Salleh and Mr. Chan. Mr. Neo very sadly passed away in the late 80s due to cancer while the other 2 I have lost contact decades ago. Mr. Neo was an Olympian representing Singapore in the 1950s and early 60s and was known then as the 'Flying Fish'. High praise for such a warm hearted and humble man. I remember him as a strict coach who would yell and sometimes beat out heads with a kick board (styrofoam) if we did not swim according to the speed required or do something stupid like swim against the stream of swimmers 

   Mr. Neo had a much gentler and kinder side to him and he would always offer to drop my mother and us back on days when Mum's car was in service or when she didn't opt to drive.

Regarding swimming training the schedules were such :

Monday  5.30 - 7.00 am or 5.00 - 7.00 pm 

Tuesday 5.30 - 7.00 am or 5.00 - 7.00 pm

Wednesday  - Off day

Thursday  5.30 - 7.00 am or 5.00 - 7.00 pm

Friday   : 5.30 - 7.00 am or 5.00 - 7.00 pm for either the morning or evening children 

Saturday : 6.00 - 7.30 am 

Sunday : shorter training from 6 -8.00 am in mornings and then followed by water-polo (friendly) ; only morning sessions on Sat and Sundays

     My mother was an extremely active member of the swimming club, she would be very active in many activities. After work on weekdays, she would go for the following : swimming (first) and perhaps a game of badminton (after the swim) while waiting for us to finish the training.

Mum, Anna and me, 1964

    Over the years she was an active member taking part in the following ; badminton, swimming, kong chian (some Chinese martial art), tennis, jogging, jazz ballet (the group even performed overseas at some stage) and squash. I owe my massive interest to sports and many outdoor hobbies to my mother's insatiable interest in the 70s right up till the last few years of her active life.

Mum's Jazz Ballet friends from SSC 

    

  

The Shallow President

   

The Wall 

      Everyday we are bombarded in the news, real and fake about how President Trump has signed a number of Executive Orders. Most controversially, an Executive Order first to ban temporarily refugees from 7 Muslim nations, only to have the order withheld by a federal court judge pending more states filing against the ban and the Government's relentless bids to overturn the judge's decision. The Court of Justice representing the Government has appealed and a 3 judge hearing has been completed with both sides presenting their cases.

      It is almost certain that the case will be taken to the Supreme Court and people all over the world are aghast, enthralled, disgusted, enraged and bemused all at the same time. The White House has never seen such a tumultous 1 month let alone 100 days in its entire history, I dare say.   

       The reality show that is the Trump Government versus everyone else has kept people the world over spellbound. Its as if he wants the world to always to be talking about him, good, bad and ugly. The groundswell against the ban is really taking steam with numerous Fortune 500 companies coming out against it in a court paper. 

     It doesn't mean that the companies totally disagree with everything the Trump administration is dishing out on a daily basis, without consulting or even appointing a Select Committee to deliberate the pros and cons of each EO. The bipartisan system between the GOP and the Blues (Democrats) are showing up serious differences in views leading to a very divided "so called" No. 1 country. 

    Will it impact the ordinary citizen from Afghanistan to Azerbaijan, from Zimbabwe to Zambia ? Definately, but not so soon. Its too soon to see the effects the Trump Orders and his intentions have been debated and argued at all levels from the Senate, House of Representatives to the working Government officials. Every organization is undergoing tremendous scrutiny and change at all levels.

     The US is the largest industrial economy in the world for the last 100 odd years and it is the strongest militarily, while it has record levels of debt, US$ 25 trillion, its currency the US$ is the reserve currency of the world, so that means that in the event of a currency meltdown, US$ still holds as the only currency which countries of the world will still trust and trade. Such a contradiction, the world's greatest debtor nation is also the country whose currency which the world needs to in the event of a global financial collapse. Her constitution encourages the 'poor, huddled, teeming masses running from persecution and poverty' to flock to her shores whatever their race, religion or ideology.  So this latest 'ban' flies in the face of the US Constitution in the name of 'pre-emptive control against potential terrorists'. 

Mexicans not wanted ; but this is Garbine Muguruza from Spain. World No. 5

     It is, however, totally unnerving and unecessary a playout of discord within the corridors of power, between the Government's inner circle, the Government servants, the judiciary and the legislative powers of the US. The past 2 and a half weeks have been a roller coaster of the Government accusing the media (some newspapers in particular CNN, Washington Post and NY Times) of biased reporting, blanket coverage of atrocities and then, coming up with their own version calling it 'alternative facts' !  I am speechless, but can still put this down to utter stupidity, a global embarrassment and chaos in action from the you know who's administration.  Fox News which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, is unsurprisingly pro Trump given the 2 families close personal connections. So every news media is biased, to a certain extent. 

    The ordinary citizens must be quite aghast at all this. I am. The personal and press freedoms of the US are being put on show and a stress test is being carried out at the moment.  

    Do we, the citizens of the free world really need this at this time ??  

      

Finally - we can get the real work done !

            


        Today the 6th Feb is the day we get everything to be moving. No ifs, no buts, no excuses. The year has finally started with both the Western New Year and the Chinese New Year well under way. Lets do it and well. Vision, Plan, Scrutinise, Analyse and Execute and Fine Tune. A revision of the Plan Do Check and Action of the old Management 101s.

Happy CNY from the 'A" families ! 

Visiting Por Por's 

        Lets make this a successful year.  

Worried about You - Rolling Stones side B 1981

   One cool song from the coolest band on Earth, and some say Neptune too 
I do not own the rights to this video, so all credits go to the official promotional video of the                                                       Rolling Stones 

   This is one cool song. The video, by the Rolling Stones starts off very softly with Mick Jagger doing his famous falsetto, which goes on for almost 90% of the song. At the start of the video, you can see another slot of promotional advertising, for Jack Daniels whisky. I'm not sure if its a promotional plug or not. The song carries on withthe 2 ugly front men, Jagger and Keith Richards hamming it up for the cameras. 

   The main guitar solo is done by Ronnie Wood, with Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts making cameos with stylish half-stoned (drugs ?) looks. Jagger dominates with his androgynous 
dancing and the rest is pure smooth,velvety coolness. 

    A classic which will go on for the longest time.    

Happy Chinese New Year 2017 - Year of the Rooster

Distribution  of Oranges and "Red Packets"

Happy Chinese New Year - from the 'A's family

       As we are into the 4th day of the Rooster New Year, lets reflect on all that is past the last Monkey year ; as a person born in the year of the Tiger, the Rooster Year is supposed to be lucky in terms of Money Luck, Love (family) and Career. This is welcome news for me, as a very small business owner, I am hoping and praying that the new steps I and my colleagues have taken will lead us in the right direction.

      We hope to build a global brand name, and I have only a short window of opportunity to 'seize the day' to make this happen. May the Rooster Year bring me such luck (and fortune!) 

100 m Butterfly Final - Joseph Schooling - a look back

This video will bring joy and pride to all Singaporeans, our very first ever Gold in the Brazil Olympics 2016 ; he broke the Olympic record in such an awesome fashion beating the legendary Michael Phelps (21 golds), Chad le Clos, Lazlo Chech amongst all the other top swimmers in the world.  

I do not own the rights to this video. This will give me the motivation to run my best in Paris !! 

Christmas 2009 at my place - Last Video of my Parents Anna and Geoffrey

        This is a link to my Youtube Channel where we had the last Christmas in 2009 with my parents still in relatively good health. My dad Geoffrey, passed away on 20th Sept 2010 and my Mum on 8th Jan 2011. The occasion was Christmas 2009 at my house and as the video pans around, there are the Lau family, Uncle Lau is standing with the striped shirt talking to his grandson, their children May (my first cousin,wearing black) standing by the table, 2nd sister Aunty Dona (seated at the head of the table, wearing black with white jacket) to her right is 3rd sister Aunty Mina 9wearing black with white motifs,Lau's wife), Aunty Dona's daugher Wynne Leong (taking a video with her phone), on Aunty Mina's left is Aunty Mona wearing bright yellow blouse, (4th sister) and her husband Uncle Phoon.  

    My mother is wearing yellow and my father is facing opposite her in the wheelchair. The door opens and sis -in - law Ken Wee enters with Hannah (my niece) comes in with a present. Hannah was 5 years old and her booming voice could be heard in the video. My Mum was rather bemused about some present from Hannah and after taking the present (in a plastic bag) put it beside her on the chair. 

    My wife, May is cutting the chocolate cake while the then maid Mary Jane lays some plastic plates (obviously for serving the cake which for celebrating Christmas Day AND my son Noel's 15th birthday).

   In the back on the other side white table are John with my Mum's good friends, Dr. Teo Hoon Cheow, John's friend Dr. Dale Heng, and my friend Patrick Chua. In the near foreground, there is my godbrother, Ramani Muniyandi speaking to David Mitchell, his wife Soo Hoo (in pink) and their daughter Priya.

    In the living area there is Noel (with white T- shirt standing), and Andrew (back facing camera in red T-shirt). The young adults standing by the table are Alex Phoon (Aunt Dona's grandson) pouring some wine, as well as Abigail (wearing the all black ensemble) coming up to Aunty Mona. My cousin May is to the left of Aunty Mina facing the camera at.

       It all seems so trivial and this video is very precious to me and my brother John. 

      Chinese New Year Traditions and Customs
     -----------------------------------------------------------
One of the hallmarks of any Chinese family during Chinese New Year is that the house is noisy and boisterous to 'chase away any evil spirits' as well as bring in the 'new luck'. The house of a Chinese family is normally spruced up, painted, all repairs finished, floors are varnished, good luck posters (like in our house) are put up and there is 'abundance' in the form of overflowing plants (I bought 4 new pots this year !), fresh sprigs of pussy willow, a traditional chinese new year plant and overlfowing oranges symbolising gold ingots (ie. money of course! )

     Well Happy New Year of the Rooster !!!!