Author: edwinchen

TEA TALK

Do you know your tea?

In the western world, generally speaking, the folks know their wine. In the east, we should know our tea. This is especially so among the early Chinese scholars and the elite, they really know their tea. How about you, do you want to know?

There are six types of teas consumed by the Chinese :

Green unfermented green leaves that produce a pale and slightly astrigent infusion.

Red fermented, producing a strong infusion but much less popular than green tea.

Black fermented black leaves that produce a reddish infusion with a strong flavour.

Oolong semi-fermented with flavour of green tea and the strength of red.

Brick mixed teas pressed into a block and popular with Russians,Tibetans and nomadic tribes in the north of China

Flower scented good quality green tea mixed with dried fragrant flowers, such as jasmine, rose and chrysanthemum.

In a traditional tea house, “Yum Cha” is not just about having your “char siew pau” and tea. In real terms it is having tea in the traditional Chinese way. A number of factors are involved in making a good cup of Chinese tea. The blend,freshness,quality of the leaf,hardness and the temperature of the water comes into play. The initial temperature of the little tea pot, time permitted for the infusion etc. A good cup of tea should not have milk or sugar added to it. It is almost as taboo as putting ice cubes into your mug of beer!

I would like to organise a talk in a tea house if there is enough SHC members who are interested. May I have your response, please.?

Edwin Chen

Aloha!

Mahalo Everybody,

I love the sea, the beach, the sun, the surf, the breeze and most of all, the sport activities related to them. However, like some others , I am too old to be engaged in these physically demanding activities. I love exotic places like Hawaii or any other look a likes. Beautiful clear blue skies and surf boards catching the wind. Romantic nights with caressing melodious Hawaiian music and camp fires on the beach. But then, Hawaii or Tahiti is so far away! Koh Samui is a good second choice, but “tourist” spoilt!

On my usual morning walkabouts, I chanced upon this ski club along the EC park. Looks like an ideal place to do a mini Hawaii but the proprietor is more concern with his Chinese restaurant operations. Next, chatted with the Chinese swimming club along Amber road. Unfortunately, their function rooms looked like they need a revamp very badly! Finally, went to have a look see at the Raffles Town Club. Their function rooms looked a little too posh for comfort. Black tie affairs are fine but not too conducive for a Hawaiian scene.

So, my dear SHC friends, I am really in a limbo. How to bring Hawaii,its music and romance to you?

If you have some ideas or have a local venue worth due consideration, do write.

Aloha!

Edwin Chen – Profile

Hi, I am Edwin Chen. Already a corporate dropout at 61 but still pumping iron like Governor Arnold of California, dying to emulate him but can managed, maybe, catch the tail of governor of Bedok only!

A little career history……. I was a ……

Reinsurance Underwriting/Claims Specialist : Facultative and International Treaty Portfolios.

Lecturer: On an adhoc basis at the Insurance Institute of Singapore(now Singapore Insurance Institute) . Pet subject motor insurance physical/property damage and third party liability risks portfolios.

Member: Motor Insurance Policy committee of the General Insurance Association of Singapore. Responsible for public complaints. Drafts and amendments to the local Motor Insurance Policy and matters pertaining to the local Act.

Councillor of the Insurance Institute of Singapore for a number of years. Organizer/Moderator of international insurance seminars and conferences before my retirement.

Director of the Metropolitan YMCA/Stevens Road for a number of years. Organizer/Moderator of Plain English Speaking Contests for Secondary/Pre U Schools 1980’s

Singapore Representative: SSEAYP 1974 ASEAN / ASIAN Youth Leaders Program, Japan

Singapore Representative: Youth Leaders Worshop, Sukabumi,Indonesia 1970

Music Director/Trainer: Telok Blangah Constituency Choir (Winner Intercon Choir Contest 1990s)

 

After a roller coaster ride through life ………. Arriving to present and now a …………

 

Part-time: Church/Social Worker

Part-time: Musician/Entertainer

Part-time: Martial Arts (Nan Chuen)Advisor

Part-time: Handy Man (Repairing/touch up musical instruments)

Full-time: Home Keeper/Laundry Man

Full-time: Kamikaze Driver

Full-time: Rent Collector/Mow the Lawn/Clean the Pool(Ozland)

No-time: Still wasting time!

Still wasting time!

Anyone of you with similar CV, to my past or present, future?? can join me on my “yum cha” days, Tuesdays or Thursdays. Money of course still not enough but still can afford and occasional splurge with fellow Silver Hairs!

Life is to be enjoyed, be cool and stay cool!

Edwin Chen

SHC Concerts

Dear SHC Members,

I feel honored to be given this task of organizing SHC the concert. All this while, I have been toying with the idea of a big bang showcase of talents from within SHC and also the hiring of a large auditorium etc. It was just awhile ago that a little “tweety bird” flew by and whispered that we could start off first with mini concerts at old folk Homes. Thanks, little birdie!! The task suddenly became easier to fulfill!!

With this in mind, I am redressing my outlook and am now embarking on looking for artiste/s within our midst who would like to volunteer their time and services to come and start the ball rolling.

For ease of stage presentation, I would like to name this sub-group as… SHC Music & Dance Troupe. Sounds a little old, never mind lets just move along and see what happens next. Right now, the priority is to round up as many interested members as possible and we shall see how we could program an exciting showcase with whatever we have….mini bang!!

1. Dancers. I need all types, give me your names. Tell me what steps you know. E.g. Tango, Rhumba, Cha Cha, Fox etc. Do you have a partner for serious ball room dancing demonstrations or do you Line Dancing only…if so, can you do simple choreography? Square Dance/Country Style? Hawaiian Hula? Tell me more.

I need all types, give me your names. Tell me what steps you know. E.g. Tango, Rhumba, Cha Cha, Fox etc. Do you have a partner for serious ball room dancing demonstrations or do you Line Dancing only…if so, can you do simple choreography? Square Dance/Country Style? Hawaiian Hula? Tell me more.

2. Guitarists. Play solo/accompanist? What style? Pops, Classical, Jazz etc. Do you strum only, pluck? Solo on lead electric guitar? Comfortable on accoustics or electric guitar? Can you play the electric bass guitar or accoustic double bass? Familiar with Amps. Gadgets? Tell me more.

Play solo/accompanist? What style? Pops, Classical, Jazz etc. Do you strum only, pluck? Solo on lead electric guitar? Comfortable on accoustics or electric guitar? Can you play the electric bass guitar or accoustic double bass? Familiar with Amps. Gadgets? Tell me more.

3. Pianists. What style? Blues/Rock/Jazz or all Contemporary stuff or classical? Comfortable with electric piano? Familiar with Amps? Tell me more.

What style? Blues/Rock/Jazz or all Contemporary stuff or classical? Comfortable with electric piano? Familiar with Amps? Tell me more.

4.Keyboardists. Accompanying strictly on strings only or on full board gadgetry? Familiar with Amps?

Accompanying strictly on strings only or on full board gadgetry? Familiar with Amps?

Tell me more.

5. Drummers/ Persussionists. Playing full jazz set or congas, bongoes, timbali etc. electronic /drums pads? Others

Playing full jazz set or congas, bongoes, timbali etc. electronic /drums pads? Others

6. Singers. Languages? Mandarin/English/Malay? Dialects Hokkien/Cantonese?? Others. Comfortable with live music accompaniment? Tell me more.

Languages? Mandarin/English/Malay? Dialects Hokkien/Cantonese?? Others. Comfortable with live music accompaniment? Tell me more.

7. PA Technicians. Familiar with modern roadie works. Set-up mobile sound systems and disengaging.

Familiar with modern roadie works. Set-up mobile sound systems and disengaging.

8. MCs /Comperes. Road Show experience? Languages? Knowledge of Microphones? Tell me more.

Road Show experience? Languages? Knowledge of Microphones? Tell me more.

9. Transport / Co-Ordinators Some relevant experience in road shows.

Some relevant experience in road shows.

10. Others

For the interim, I would like to have Ron(Allrounder) and Clara as my firm left and right hand front line buddies for this entire exercise. However, should they decide to abandon me, for some reasons or other. I will bear no grudges but will not accept it till a blue moon appears!

So let’s go, drop me a note on this thread, I will be happy to hear from you, Cheers!

Regards, God Bless,

Edwin Chen