No politics, religion, sex, race, direct selling & MLM. For Singaporeans & PRs, over 45.
The headline “Global markets plunge” appears in almost all newspapers around the world.
Fear of a US recession behind plunge. World waiting for the Fed to do an emergency rate cut. Analysts looking for a catalyst to turn markets around. Another black Monday. Has the world lost confidence? Is the panic mainly in the Asia market? Is this mass behaviour?
What do you think this mean to all of us? Share what you think?
Terence Seah
We had tried car boot sales but we failed because the venue was not approved. We also like to try flea market sales or push cart sales.
The idea is to give some SilverHairsClub members the opportunity to try ways and means to make some income and keep themselves active. I suspect and believe there are opportunities as a group. It can be organised during weekends, a festive period or even monthly basis.
Now, I am going to try again. Don’t give up. Mati Mati. Must succeed. As a group, we can succeed.
Do you have any experience organising or participating in car boot or flea market sales? If you have, plse raise your hand, and I shall contact you.
If you have a private condo, that will allow car boot sales or a garage sale or bazaar, plse raise your hands too. Let’s try it. It will cost some monies, but it can work.
Any ideas, most welcome. Let’s stay active, for fun, for the money or for the friendship.
Terence Seah
Hi KT Wong, You have been very vivid, sharing your thoughts on investments with fellow SHCians. I read your latest comment today, in Jeffrrey’s Post, and I wont let the opportunity slip. Timing is right. You should share your thoughts with us. Cut it short, you gave 3 scenarios on where SHCians can go, with their monies.
I have a timeslot next Thurs, 24 Jan, when I am back from overseas. Judging from the recent gathering at Hans Cafe, the time will be 6.30 pm, and you can start at 7.00pm. Over the next few days, I shall look for a venue, preferably with a overhead project and screen. Suggestions for venue welcome.
Can you be speaker and moderator? On this forum, I see other active an dlike-minded participants – Kenneth Tan, Dennis Har, Tim Liu and Jeffrey Lim. Can you come and share your ideas too? The topic can be "Markets are down. What are the options?".
Meantime, if SilverHairs like to come, please register your interest here. Strictly for SHC members only. No entrance fee, just buy your F&B at the counter.
Terence Seah
There has been frequent requests to have more discussions on business and investment on this forum. However, many members feel that since the club’s objective is to provide a platform to meet new friends, and that too much of business and investments issues on this forum tend to clog up this website, especially for those with no interests in business or investments.
I guess many members are still working, and many are comfortable with their retirement plans. Some have reacted strongly and negatively to pure business and investment discussions. A good number sees such discussions as advertising. Advertising is not allowed on this website. However, I am equally aware that there is also a strong desire by some members to develop business ideas and investment.
This website isn’t ideal to meet different group’s needs.
However, we can easily allow those who are interested in business or investment discussions, to view the thread, while those who are not interested, will not see the thread. The forum wont be cluttered.
I am not so sure how to do it yet; but for a start if you wish to lead a discussion on business or investments, please write directly to me. Leaders of such groups must be active, and keep the discussions or projects going. Examples: "An adverture club", "setting up shop", "investment seminars", etc. In principle, if a member has an interest to do something worthwhile to the SHC community, we will support the idea.
Terence Seah
Charles Wee has put up the pictures of the walk on Sat 12 Jan. See if you remember any of the walkers. And, the place Bishan Park and Lower Pierce.
Click here to see the pictures.
On behalf of Charles Wee and team.
From last night’s SHC Saturday Online, I think there is a topic which interests many people. This is about investments in anything else, other than savings, fixed deposits and insurance. Our newspapers carry many articles on seniors, and how to maximise returns in preparation for retirement.
Last night, though adhoc, the participants shared some of their experience on interest rates in Australia, bonds and exchange rates. We had a good discussion, although I must admit the discussion was not structured. I dont know if there is a demand for such discussions, although investments can be a pretty private activity. I use to believe that most SHC members keep their monies under the pillow. But, in reality, I see many SHC members do try to get more than 1 – 2%. Some make, but, of course, many do lose monies too.
Picking up from this evening, i think we can have a similar activity, a SHC investment chat online. We pick a date and time, and if it works or is interesting, we can have a regular timing. For a start, I would suggest 1000 to 1100 hrs on Wed 16 Jan 2008. You can participate without leaving your home or your office, just infront of your computer. It’s live.
For this event, we welcome the newbies investors, those who lost monies, and those who make some monies. If you are a small or part-time trader, has some experience in equities, forex, bonds, etc, come join in too. After this event, we shall develop further into more specific groups, if there is interest.
If you like to participate, please register your name here. Here’s how to enter the conference. https://silverhairsclub.com/monthly-sunday-meeting/. This is a live event, and participants must be on time.
Strictly for registered SHC members only. Not for institutional traders.
Terence Seah
I read the Straits Times today. The heading "Retirement means death" and the sub-heading "Urging seniors to stay active" and that "those who lead sedentary lives after retirement die quickly". Pretty gloomy; but the message was strong. Don’t retire, work. People must remain active. Use all your faculties. Use them or lose. When a person retires, he must have a second career.
For many of us, at our age, we do have strong views on retirement. We have experience 45 years living on this earth.
Do you agree? What do you think? We can shout and we can complain. Many of us have a good feel of the situation each of us are in today, and maybe tomorrow. What can we do? What should we do? And, maybe as a club, what can we do?
Terence Seah
This question has been posed to me a number of times, ever since SilverHairsClub got started. However, I must admit we have not got anywhere. One member refers to SHC as a portal, others call it a website or a forum. We do have sensible rules; and our objective is well known. SHC caters to the over 45s, and its needs to meet new friends. So far, I think we have stayed well within the laws of Singapore.
Earlier discussion? Click here.
Of course, there are occasions some of us like to stray outside club rules; but whether we are a registered club or not, the laws of the country still apply.
Like many of us, and I know this very well from discussions, the majority prefers keeping our entity simple, flexibile and no-nonsense. I too prefer the existing style and mode of operation.
Now, 2008 is here, and I like to highlight some points, hiccups and complications which were raised last year. For everybody’s benefit, I point them below:
Interesting, SilverHairsClub does not have a management or committee structure. We have no venue, and we do not collect funds. We have no constitution, just one objective and a set of taboos. No AGMs, etc.
But, we do have dedicated Event Organisers, and an active community of SilverHairs.
I like to take the next few months (until 31 March 2008) to hear from you. And, would continue to maintain the following position.
The founders have never envisaged SilverHairsClub to this size and activeness. But, fact is we have grown, and we have to review how to manage this. I will not call an open meeting to discuss this issue; but let’s use this forum to discuss and offer feedback. Can we or do we need to formalise SHC as a society or a company? You may have ideas, let’s hear them.
Terence Seah
As you all know by now, I spend almost all my weekends in Thailand. And, over the Christmas period, I travelled one week to Chiangmai and Mae Hong Son. Temperatures were 5 – 18C, lower if you are up there in the mountain tops. Visited the National Parks & resorts, enjoyed the fresh air, dry season, mists, mountain views, rivers and reservoirs, and nice people.
A number of Singaporeans enjoy great holidays in 5 star hotels and fabulous buffets. For a change, I like to share with you another type of holidays. Camping and tenting in the mountain and national parks of Thailand’s north. No hotels to stay. Clean and safe, with toilets (no hot water) and good roads. Two persons in a 4 persons tent. Enjoy the scenery and air. Eat only fresh vegetables from breakfast to dinner.
Two years ago, a few of us including Oi Cheng and Ann Giri went up to the above described places. We enjoyed it, because there was no shopping.
This year, I am pretty determined to organise something bigger for SHC members only. Fly Singapore/Chiangmai, arrive at 6am at Chiangmai airport. And, immediately whisked to the mountain resorts. Hopefully, the return flight will cost us $180. There are no hotels to book, I suggest you start to look for a 2 – 4 person tent (costing around $40 – 50) and share. For tent mates, make sure you find acceptable snoring partners. Sound travels far at night, even in different tents.
Food and fruits, we share, cannot cost a bomb. If we cannot cook, I might look for a local cook to travel with us. And, last depending on numbers, we will travel in 10-11 seater vans. We share cost of transportation.
For those who loves cycling, walking, fresh air, quiet surroundings, waterfalls, and consider. And, we will be comfortable, have fun and safe. Even, if the trip is just to chat among friends, consider join this trip. The date Tue 18 – Tue 25 Nov 2008. Your thoughts?
Here are the list of dreamers. The ones who wants to see the stars, be a veg for a week, bathe in cold water, wants fresh air, and a comfortable tent. This list is tentative until 31 Aug 2008.
Terence Seah
Reading the Trivia thread, I see many of us love music. Maybe you have a song, an old song in mind, English, Chinese, Hokkien, Thai, Malay, etc. and you like to dedicate it to all of us, who cannot sleep before 1am. Well, we do have many late birds.
I started to love youtube.com after Charles, Susan and Yew Kwong help me look for my Talent-Time song. If you have a song, pick one up from youtube.com. you can play it for all of us to hear. Don’t know about youtube, but you have the song name, I guess we can find it for you.
Join us tonight 1100 pm to 0100 hrs for Saturday night Online". You need to log in here. You can also chat online.
Strictly for SilverHairsClub members only.
Terence Seah
During this Chinese New Year month, how about having something different? Dim-sum, raw fish or go easy on Chinese tea? Name a place, somewhere where the venue wont mind our noise. We can decide by Jan 17. Cheers.
As of 8 Jan 2008, the tentative (99% confirmed) venue for the Chinese New Year event is "Fortunate Restaurant at Toa Payoh (Block 181, Lorong 4, next to the Toa Payoh libary). We will have a small dim sum menu for lunch, starting at 1100 hrs and finishing at 1400 hrs. I plan to block 6 tables of 10 each. The date is Sat, 16 Feb 2008. More details after Jan 17.
After the lunch, cyclists can proceed to the East Coast for their cycling event at 4pm. Yew Kwong thinks this arrangement is workable. Let’s try it out.
List of SHCians bringing Mandarin oranges (Confirmation by 31 Jan 2008):
Terence Seah
Here are some reasons on why your Posts and Comments are NOT approved.
If you have any doubt, please clarify with admin@SilverHairsClub.com.
Terence Seah
This morning at 7.10 am, I had a tele-interview on the BreakFast club 938 LIVE radio with presenters Bharati Jagdish and Keith DeSouza. Some of you have heard the interview while going to work. As a result, we have a number of new members enrolling to join the SHC membership. I like to welcome the new members.
Terence Seah
Now, thinking ahead, with all good ideas from SHCians, and flowing in before 31 Dec 2007, we have now scheduled a day fishing trip to a kelong on Sat, 19 April 2008.
And, for those who love fishing ikan with reel and line, like eating fish porridge with kanna, chye poh, kiam chye, play cards or mahjong until the wee hours of the morning, coffee round the clock and able to sleep on wooden planks, with rats and cockcroaches running around, you can also stay overnight on the kelong.
Let the fresh sea breeze flow past your face, enjoy the quiet away from the city, and have a chat, a long chat, with fellow SilverHairs over the weekend.
If you are prone to sea sickness, we shall prepare some cough mixture for you. They are proven to calm you down. In April, the seas are calm too.
However, only the date is finalised. The place has not been found. I found a classified travel advertisement in the Straits Times, spoke with them, and found the program interesting. Haven’t got an Event Organiser to raise her/his hand yet. But, the gathering is ON. So, keep this date in your diary.
Please click on this website. Estimate cost for 2D 1N: SGD 100, inclusive of transport from a Singapore MRT, meals on the kelong. Have a look and see if you like it. If you like it, we go for it. We will limit to 42 pax only, to suit one bus.
Strictly for SilverHairsClub members only. Here is an earlier POST for those interested in fishing.
Terence Seah
The numbers are growing; and it has become pretty tight with a number of places we currently use for the monthly gathering. We cannot expand due to limited places. Do you know of a place with the following specifications.
Do you have a place in mind? But, not to rule out other places, your recommendation most appreciated.
Terence Seah
Hi everybody, I know many of you are eager to send your year-end greetings to other fellow SilverHairs. So, come share your wishes, your dreams and your greetings.
If you have not participated in this forum before, well this is a good chance for you to try out sending out a "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year". Remember to do so before you go for your holidays.
And, from me to all of you, "To a better and exciting 2008 for all SilverHairs. I wish you would make a few friends from within the SilverHairsClub within the next 10 years".
Terence Seah
Dan (Photographer) has posted the pictures of the 3 Dec monthly gathering.
Enjoy. Click here.
On behalf of Dennis Har & Dan Huang.
For members who know Benson Koh, a keen photographer and bowler, I have been told that he is now at SGH (ICU). I don’t have the details, but I have checked with his family member. SHC member Marissa Liem told me he is in a coma, and he has not regained consciousness since the weekend. Marissa visited him this morning, and reported that his condition is not good. Benson mobile is 9842-1204, Marissa is 9658–1338.
Terence Seah
Here’s the date for the first SHC monthly gathering of 2008. This event replaces "Stars in Concert" which has been postphoned.
To the new year. More details in December. Meantime, please keep this date in your diary. Let’s us know if you are making CNY kuehs or tarts. If you have plans for raw fish, share a date. Any quiet trips to JB for shopping to buy CNY goodies.
L H Jie
Usually, I dont spend much time in Singapore. And when I do, I like to find a place to relax. On this coming Sun, 16 Dec 2007, I am planning to go to the Changi Beach Club. It has a nice Olympic size pool, and a great facing to Pulau Ubin. Moons ago, I use to see submarines, with their scopes, swimming left and right below the water. Better still, the CBC members do not come in on a Sunday morning, so it’s quiet and relaxing. We can have a good chat, under the morning sun.
You are invited to come. Just bring your own nasi lemak and coffee. The F&B don’t usually have food so early in the morning. And, they dont usually allow to, so we have to be discreet, no potluck.
If you like to come, just add your name here. Come anytime between 0800 and 1300 hrs. No formalities, just bring your trunks or costumes, googles and suntan lotion. You can take a bus to Changi Village, and have a slow walk in along the boardwalk. Watch out for the dolphins though.
Terence Seah
Dan Huang has sent us the photographs for the Talent-Time. If you have other photographs of the evening, please email them to me. We will publish them too.
Click here. Enjoy. Which pictures do you see as interesting. Hope you can count all 79 turn-ups.
On behalf of Susan Chang, EO for SHC Talent-Time.
Immediately after 1997, when Asia was faced with the financial crisis, many people over 45 years were concerned with jobs.
But, nowadays, it seems that there is lesser concern for jobs for SilverHairs over 45. Maybe we don’t have many job offers in recent months, but from response to the Blue Helmet project, and job topics, the response is cool. In my discussions with some SHC members, we are now wondering if we should make jobs as one of our focus.
On the other hand, there appears to be more interests in small business and online trading.
Can you share your thoughts, and what you think, so that we can all get a good feel of what is happening? Every comment is a personal viewpoint. There is no bad view point. So, let’s respect each others opinion.
I look forward to hear from as many members as possible.
Terence Seah
We are in the process of launching our own sms server. The SMS number will be published soon.
With the sms server, members can send and receive information interactively via their mobile telephone. Only members, whose mobile telephone numbers are registered with the club, can use this service. Non-registered mobile numbers will not be recognised by the sms server.
We hope that with this new service, more members can easily participate in club ativities. Today, most SilverHairs carry a mobile telephone. The service will be available 24 hours.
More information will be available at a later date. Estimated date of launch: Jan 2008.
Terence Seah
We will be having a Dinner & Dance next year 2008.
Caroline Gee has volunteered to be the Event Organiser for our Dinner & Dance 2008. She will be setting up a committee, after the Nov 2007 Talent-Time.
The committee will be reviewing the venue, F&B, program, cost, etc. Tentatively, the date has been set for Sat, 22 Mar 2008. Please put this into your diary. We can be sure Caroline will give us loads of fun.
Terence Seah
Hi everbody,
Here are the pictures of the PotLuck, held on 10 Nov 2007. Click here. Please share your views and comments.
Dennis Wee (Event Organiser)
Some of us may be familiar with webchats. SilverHairsClub has its own "SHC Online", and it’s strictly for members only. From the October usage trend, members logged in between 9am and 10 am, & between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
Before starting the SHC online, we would like two to three members, preferably those who have retired, to serve as meeting moderators. Some training is required though. If you have time, and would like to learn how to be a meeting moderator in an online forum, please let me know. For an idea of what is needed.
Ideally, you need to love meeting and corresponding with other SilverHairs in realtime. Able to smile and have fun online. Can take all kinds of nonsense, without having to drink cold water. Some patience. Preferably, typing skills of 5 words a minute, some basic knowledge of powerpoint (although not necessary), and some fiddling with the PC. If you are smart, one lesson. If you are fast, two lessons. And, if you are keen, three lessons. Read what is needed; and if you are interested to be an online meeting moderator, we can start, even without getting to meet one another. Something adverturous. Yeah.
Terence Seah
I am going up to Mae Hong Son, highest and most northern part of Thailand from 23 – 28 Dec 2007. Along the way, I would be visiting villages, farms and hilltribes.
And, I hope to give away used toys to the children during the year-end festive period and Christmas season. Many of these kids have never had the chance to have a toy. I hope some of these kids will have something to cheer, as we cross 2007.
If you have any unwanted toys in your house, and you like to give it away, please do donate it to me. I am going to the Pot-luck this Saturday and the Talent-time on the 24 Nov, and if you are coming, I would ask if you bring the toys along. Sorry, wont be able to carry large heavy toys, as the airlines just charge too much for overweight luggage. Thank you.
Terence Seah
I guess many of you have big kids, and some have probably got married and living separate from the parents. But my son is small, 8. So, I want to be prepared.
Last few days, I spend some time with friends, and they were complaining about a problem which will concern me too, if not now but later. And that is their kids are spending too much time with computer games. This seem to be a runnaway problem with the new generation.
Our older days may not have the luxury of computer games and television. I have heard of tricks like "giving a time quota", "incentives to go outdoors", "punishment like no TV or computer for one week", etc. All these adds to the frustration of being the parent.
Can you share with me and us how you manage this problem? And, if you have other headaches, please write in, and others may be able to share their solutions with you. The "Reflections" category is about right.
Terence Seah
This morning, I was reading Business Times, 25 Oct 2007; and here’s some interesting information. In Singapore, 20% of our population will be 65 years or older by 2030. In Asia, this number is 1.2 billion by 2050.
The Silver Industry has identified four growth segments; and they are healthcare and wellness, travel and leisure, financial products and services, and assistive technology. New keywords are smart homes, easy laundry machines, auto power-off stoves, and elderly friendly devices.
Hmm, we are really a part of this picture. Do you know what is assistive technology?
Terence Seah
The SilverHairsClub website will be shut down for network and server infrastructure upgrade. As such, our forum will not be operational during the following hours:
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:00 hrs to Sat, 27 Oct 2007 02:00 hrs.
Catch up with you then, Terence Seah