Month: October 2010

Lunch for Opinion – The SG Association for the Deaf

Sorry to inform that this event will be postponed till further notice as while Karen is liaising with them on our proposed event and was told that the school is having exam and will be closed till next year.  Hence, I will be closing this post for further comment.  Thousand apologies… and we will check with them again Y2011 to activiate this event. 

Hi Fellow SHCians,
Couple of weeks back, I was invited by Karen, June to have lunch at the above.  I remembered the cost is around $10 inclusive of GST. 

The purpose of this lunch is provide valuable info for those that service us right from ordering, awareness and quality of food.  U may surprised at their request but pls dont as I m going to explain further.

This group of service staffs are from the SG Association for the Deaf, which the School mission is to assist the Deaf to achieve a better quality of life and to enable them to intergrate and contribute to society for what they have learnt from those volunteers.

The Lunch days and hours available are Mon to Wed, from 12noon to 2pm.  Thurs n Fri are those days that they are required to have their lesson in house.

Both Karen and I are trying to gather around 20paxs for the lunch session on:

Date : 2 Nov 2010, 12noon onwards
Venue: Mountbatten Vacational School, 225 Mountatten Road, Spore 397997
Cost : Around $10 to $12 (Set meal will include soup, main course, coffee/tea and dessert). However ala-carte will be charged differently.

However, for those that are willing to attend this event, kindly be advised that you will need to have alot of patience with the service staffs due to their handicap resulting in slow in ordering, need to verify details maybe a couple of times as well as presentation of food in wrong manner ok, kind understanding would be much appreciated to encourage them.. :)

This place have a very nice ambience and cosy in its own way which I felt that it is a nice way to hv a meet up session for SHCians.

FYI, our 2 SHCians, Kazay (not sure if I got her name spelt correctly, if not, sorry hor) and Billy Loh are volunteers for this Association – Very impressed the way that they are able to communicate with them via sign language – Bravo….

Those interested, pls start register from here:  The registration will automically ended at 20paxs and once committed, pls try your best to attend and not to cancel at the 11th hour as we will need to liaise with the Chef on the total headcount attending in order to avoid wastage of food over-prepared.

  1. Dolly Lim
  2. Karen Thio
  3. Sam Goh – need to confirm attendance due to current commitment.
  4. Bira
  5. Lilian Teo
  6. Ann Lim
  7. Anna Seet
  8. Richard Wong

Hope to see more members sign up… Dolly/Karen

Anybody likes to come to Bangkok IN 29 Oct OUT 01 Nov?

Hi everybody,

I was checking into the new IBIS Hotel on Soi 4 Sukhumvit Road this afternoon, when the counter lady told me that my prepaid hotel reservation is for IN 29 Oct OUT 01 Nov.  And, because this is prepaid, they cannot allow a change; but someone else can come in my place.  It is for 3 room nights for one or two persons.

Now, I am unable to make use of it.  Anyone likes to come to Bangkok this period.  Dates are not changeable.  The hotel is near the Nana train station; and is very central in Bangkok.  There are no floods in Bangkok.  Sorry, you have to buy your own flight tickets.  The voucher will be emailed to you, once you have secured your flight tickets.

Terence Seah

Starting an SHC trading group

The idea of an SHC trading group has cropped up a few times; so maybe it’s type we give it a kick or kickstart.  We can gather together, just for the purpose of discussing trading tips, trading platforms, and sharing knowledge.

To make it simple, we keep the group small and manageable.  Let’s meet at the MPH cafe, as usual 1500 to 1800 hrs.  The date is Thurs 28 Oct 2010.

Can we have an EO for this event?  Perhaps, to lead this through for one year.

Registration list:

  1. Terence Seah
  2. Weng Hon
  3. Dolly Lim
  4. SB Khoo
  5. Alice Seah
  6. Able Tan
  7. Simon Lee
  8. Jazz Soh
  9. Ronald Lee
  10. Andrew Thio

Terence Seah

China has just raised its interest rate; what does it mean?

Developing  countries have been seeing inflation, with cheap money coming in from the US.  We may have seen this with higher property prices.  Our US friends have been happily printing more money in the hope of getting its people to spend.  China has been doing well in its exports, while trying to contain domestic inflation too.

China has just increased its interest rates by a quarter %.  Is this just a small increase; and will more interest rates hikes follow in the coming months?  What does this mean to the Singapore $?  HenryY, Weng Hon, what do you think will happen to the world’s ETFs and equity markets?

Share your thoughts o the US$ and Euro pair.  Will China continue to boom?  Abel, do you see any fast drop with your counters? Still a good time to go to the US will cheaper USD?

There will be a SHC trading club meeting, scheduled for Thur Oct 28, 2010 from 3pm to 7 pm at the MPH cafe, along Robinson Road.  Strictly for those with interests in equities, ETFs, currencies, trading platforms and other  trading instruments, and SHC members only.   Limited to 40 pax.

Terence Seah 

A dance competition

This may sound like a joke from someone who cannot dance and who cannot tell one dance from another.  Well, I have been thinking that if we have a dance competition, it might be something different, from the regular dance events.

Assuming we dream on, and if we have a dance competition, I would think we should have a big round or square dance floor.  Smooth, flat and supposedly for dancing, and contestants gliding and sweeping from corner to corner.  Guests would sit around the dance floor, with the judges somewhere right in front.

Maybe we should have two hosts – a guy and a gal, to introduce the contestants and the judges.  Music would be played in the background.  Then, it would be nice to have an interval where perhaps the guests can dance too.

Now to the dancing bit.  Since there are so many different types of dancing, I would think we can keep this variety open.  So, the Russian dancers and the turkish dancers will get a chance to compete too.  Contestants get a chance to pick their own music.  Great, exciting, how about the taiwanese drama theme song LOVE.  The judges decision is final, altho I think some audience participation is always welcome.

Hmm, must have prizes too.  But, we cannot afford expensive ones.  We have to think about it.  Perhaps, three trophies – diamond, platinum and crystal.

So, we need judges, the two hosts, a dance floor, 3 prizes, some cassette tapes, aiyah no food, just some tea and cocktails, a video camera, and a planner so that the schedule turns out in the right order.  What else do we need?  Oops, I forgot we need the participating dancers.

No date yet, no place yet and no committee yet.  No EO yet.  Please share your ideas?  the crazier, the better.  Dont have to be professional.  Do it the SHC way, some disorganisation is always fun.  Like they say, some cock up is good.

Terence Seah

Registration List:

  1. Terence Seah – EO
  2. Geraldine Ting – Judge
  3. .
  4. .

Countup 2011 party

UPDATES AFTER PARTY : 

Everyone enjoyed.. and look foward to the next countup 2012… sorry .. photos not available for upload.

Hi guys & gals,emoticon

Venue :   Changi Golf Club  (check out the exact location on changigolfclub.org.sg) .. good ambience .. best priced countdown in a relaxed ambience… no need to dress up!  No need to wear high heeled dance shoes!

There’s a direct bus no. 29 from Tampines Interchange.  Transport arrangements can be sorted out.

Starts @ 6pm on 31st December;  dinner will be served at 7:30pm.  But you can come in earlier to soak in the fresh sea breeze and fresh air, or walk along the Changi Boardwalk.  For those keen on karaoke, you may come in as early at 3.30pm to sing your hearts out. 

Mouth watering chinese cuisine will be served by the Club’s very own top class chinese restaurant.  Halal food can also be arranged.  

Live band by the "Evergreens Band” with the Changi Belles, and dynamic mobile disco to blast you away till countdown.

Games, games, games …  dancing…dancing..   good company..  good food…   welcome 2011 with Changi Locomotion … in style.   Lucky draw and door gifts included.
Let me know if you’re keen.  You can also book for you non-SHC frenz.   emoticon

Cheers, Lydia Chinemoticon

SHC November monthly gathering – Hans Cafe

Time to plan the Nov and Dec 2010 monthly gatherings.  Would you like to play your part as the EO for either the Nov or the Dec monthly gatherings?  Of course, you get to choose your assistants.

If you have attended our monthly gatherings before, it’s time you give this role a try.  Please raise your hands.

Terence Seah

Silverhairs’ Singlehood, a boon or bane

Hi SHCians

 With due respect, do pardon me if my comments on the above ruffle some feathers.

 There are a few hundred University-educated Malay women now in their mid-30s and older whom are resigned to the fate of being lifelong spinsters unless they are willing to become second or third wives because their age group has a disproportionate ratio of three females to one male with a university/higher learning education.  Many of their parents are on-off distressed because it is the Malay culture to "berumah tangga"-get married.   Now the university/polytechnic educated Malay males below 30yrs old are equal in numbers with their female counterparts.

 Singlehood is a boon as there are no family-vines hindering our mobilityparticularly if one lives alone.  But on the other hand living alone means that if one decides to stay indoors the whole day and it happens that one does not make a phone call throughout the whole day and neither is a incoming call received, then one becomes dumb for a period of 12/13hours.

 As our hair recedes and turn more greyer when our age cross the half century mark and when we tend to become more homily, the spectre of loneliness creep steadily upon us, perhaps more pronounced for male Silverhairs as the womenfolk do not refrain/disdain  from participating in relativess organisational activities.  Usually two-thirds of the participants in CCs’ and social clubs’ activities are women.

 The "inducement" that triggered me not to remain single happened in early 1999 when a divorced pub-cum-mahjong kaki died of a heart attack and his corspe was undiscovered more than 24hours later untill three of the deceased mahjong kakis, including yours truly, called over one Sunday afternoon and by a fortunate coincidence the three of us arrived within seconds of each other at the lift lobby.

 Thus, it is compulsory for Silverhairs to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  A fit male single-Silverhair may wish to consider tying the knot by turning to marriage agencies depicting foreign women as increasingly more grey-haired male Sporeans do during the past decade.  Yours truly was quite fortunate in not having to "search here-and-there" as my Indonesian wife was a maid baby-sitting a family two doors away from my quite regular-mahjong-host cousin’s unit which was on the second level and where my wife often baby-sitted at the corridor, a position my cousin’s visitors would have to passed first.

 A "younger" female Silverhairs perhaps may wish to ape Julia Roberts’ "Eat, pray,love" and who knows?

The Babas, Malays, native Thais, Filipinos are not recticent in marrying later in life(mostly second marriages) perhaps they are more accomodating of the warts & moles of a spouse, albeit at times they can be quite blinkered.  They believed "Berkembah, bertaboh hiburan – twins create merriment"

 Abel Tan

You too can pick up card tricks from Thomas Lau

Many of us have always been amused by card tricks.  With a pack of aladdin cards, someone with one year’s practice and effort can easily get the young and the old, eyes focused and glued onto the table, hands and cards.  You too can learn card tricks, and win the hearts of kids and adults.

Today, I joined a small group and met Thomas Lau.  Although he claimed to start learning card tricks a year ago, he was very much an expert, fooling all around him.  Thomas entertains elderly seniors at daycare centres.  He is also a great origami paper folder.  Well, I remembered he said he could perform 150 card tricks.

Thomas volunteers to give a demo of a few card tricks; and he is willing to share with us how some of these tricks are carried out.  Perhaps, if I can learn a few card tricks, I can be an entertainer and maybe make $1000 per month entertaining the young and old.

Thomas will schedule two sessions, each group about 15 pax, on a Saturday, time between 11am and 2pm.  Place and date will be scheduled soon.  Thank you Thomas.

First session:

  • Date:     Saturday 23rd Oct 10
  • Venue:  Cafe inside MPH Book store at Robinson Road.  Nearest MRT is Tanjong Pagar station.
  • Topic:   Card Tricks and Origami for beginners
  • Participants need to bring along their own note pad and a pen.
  • Programme
  • 1100 hr      Introduction to simple card tricks
  • 1230 hr      Short break
  • 1300 hr      Have fun with simple and easy Origami

    • Terence Seah

    Participation list: Session 1

    1. Thomas Lau
    2. Gabriella Chua
    3. Jassmine Teo
    4. Ann To
    5. Francis R. Mangalam
    6. Daniel Ong
    7. Frisna Lim
    8. John Howe
    9. Yat Sing
    10. Jonson Tan
    11. Esther Mok
    12. Juliana Kok
    13. Weng Hon
    14. Ann Lim
    15. Janie Leong

      • Closed. 

      Participation list: Session 1 (Date not decided by Thomas yet):

        1. .
        2. .
        3. If you are keen to entertain your children, friends or someone interested in you, sign up here.  A lifetime learning experience.  Oops, Thomas has stressed not for the casino.

Lake Kenyir Resort and Spa, Trengganu – October 28-30, 2010

Trip to lake Kenyir cancelled due to poor response!

A special arrangement has been made with this resort for our member at discounted rates. This is one of the largest man made lake providing a tranquil and relax setting for a time of rest and recreation close to nature.

Not to be missed, take this opportunity to join us for a time of fun and adventure! Two person to a chalet with modern facilities and all unit faces the lake.

 The proposed itinerary will be somewhat like this:

Day 1. (Thursday)

1000 Hrs           Arrival at KT airport and transfers to LKRS

1100 Hrs           Arrive at Resort, check in

1230 Hrs           Lunch and relax

1700 Hrs           Visit to Pasar Malam in Kuala Berang

2100 Hrs           Free & Easy at our Jenangor Lounge for Live Music entertainment

2300 Hrs           Good night

Day 2 (Friday)

0730 Hrs           Breakfast

0830 Hrs           Lake Cruise Adventure – Taman Negara/ Caves exploration and picnic lunch (different menu)

1500 hrs            Back to the Resort

1700 Hrs           Spa and Massage treatment (great after all the leg work in the morning)

2000 Hrs           Dinner

2230 Hrs           Karaoke Session or Night Walk (to bring your own torch lights)

2100 Hrs           Good night

Day 3 (Saturday)

0700 Hrs           Morning Walk/ Water aerobics

0830 Hrs           Breakfast

0930 Hrs           Check-Out Hotel

1100 Hrs           Depart for Airport to Singapore

Cost of airfare by Firefly inclusive of airport tax and full board with includes all breakfast and meals at S$360.00 per person (Airfare inclusive of tax alone is S$280). Cost of lake cruise and spa will be charged separately.

Alternatively we go by coach at $260.00 per person from November 4-7, 2010 leaving Singapore on Thurday night on November 4, 2010.

Please book early if you you are interested!

EOs, Dan:& Joy 

Nursing homes in Singapore and nearby countries

I believe that some of you have experience seeing or sending your friends or relatives to nursing homes.  There are nursing homes in Singapore, JB, Malacca, etc.  We may not have seen them all.  If we dont get a chance to live and die in our own homes, we may have to be settled in a nursing home, either by our own choice or our children’s choice.

Just to keep this topic in perspective, by nursing home, I am not referring to hospice homes.   For some, a nursing home is a place to live our retirement days, to recuperate, to find friends and to live where there is nursing or medical care.  Our turn will come, or I mean, my turn will come; so I like to explore the nursing homes options while we are still alive.

What is your experience with nursing homes?  Where is it? where is it? what services do they provide.  And, importantly what does it cost to stay in a nursing home that you know.  To what extent does the cost include food, medicine, nursing care, the gym or swimming pool or even a trip to the hospital.  Is it convenient from where we stay, and are friends and relatives allowed to visit.  Are the rooms individual or are they individual houses.  If you have experience, please share with us.  If you have not been in touch with one, please do not point to any website/URL.  We rather hear from you directly.

Terence Seah

SHC Round Table

Following up on Terence’s post ( 25 September 2010 ) the inaugaral SHC Round Table event will be :

Date : 28 October 2010

Time : 7 pm

Venue : Moi Lum Cantonese Restaurant

Peck Seah Street/Maxwell Road (opposite URA HQ)

SHC Round Table like SHC itself will function with a minimum of rules and procedures. The main objective is to serve as a business network platform for SHC members who are in business. However, besides entrepreneurs, the group welcomes aspiring entreprenuers, people providing business services, people with an interest in business in general, in short anybody and everybody who feels that there can never be too many business contacts and friends.

The platform is simple. We gather once a month at a designated place, have a good meal (which is an excellent way to break the ice), get to know who is who, who is where, who is doing what and who can complement and synergise with you. Hopefully this free and easy business socialising will bear fruit for some members. If not, at least through purposeful networking, members will get to know one another better.

Later, when a critical mass is achieved dinner talks can be organised (ala Jaycees/Rotary Club). The group can also look into recce trips in the region, familiarising ourselves about the business terrain and different business culture in the surrounding countries, sussing out business opportunities, looking for regional strategic partners and eventually setting up our ‘second wing’.

Why ‘Round Table’? When we dine out in a group here, the table is usually round isn’t it?

Sign up here :

1. Jeffrey Lim
2. Terence Seah
3. Ronald Lee
4. Ivan Lim
5. Rosalind Lee
6. Jonson Tan
7. Primrose Kok
8. Sue Chan
9. Yatsing
10. Ong Kim Yin
11. KC Lau
12. Anna Seet
13. Andrew Koh
14. Dan Huang
15. Martin Lee
16. Wong Hong Jeng
17. Robert Ong
18. Marg Tian
19. Stephen Low
20. Jessie Teo
21. Sophia Lim
22. Paul Phua

Hands up for Dolly to be recalled as SHC’s Club Manager!

For as long as I have been a SHC member, Dolly Lim has struck me as a super duper capable lady. She quitted her post of Club Manager when she had to work in China. Since then, the post has been left vacant and Dolly is back for good in Singapore so I hope all members will join me in lobbying for Dolly to be reinstated as Club Manager.

Hands up!!!

Ros