Here is an update by Ronald Wi. We must all congratulate Ronald Wi for taking effort to participate in this Starhub challenge. And, also to all the participants who would make the winning possible. Please review and give your newest and latest comments to Ronald.
Hi everybody,
Yes we have been getting some excellent commitments and good responses, and the idea of having the starhub $50k to help start our SHC Clubhouse ( although only on rental lease of 2 years – to cover rent, utilities and basic maintenance ) seems a possible reality.
Let us look again at SHC objectives, so that we can all have a clearer picture of what our SHC clubhouse should be like and be promoting.
The SilverHairsClub is a platform for us to meet new and more friends. The objectives of SilverHairsClub are:
* Find new and meet more friends.
* Share common interests.
* Exchange knowledge and information on retirement, and
* Enjoying a fruitful and meaningful retirement.
And also Starhub Challenge http://app02.vocanic.net/draw/dreammachine?cat=1
OVERALL THEME – Our Passion is to make retirement as refreshing and rewarding as possible to all Silver haired members, by sharing whatever they are good at with others, learning new interests, knowledge and hobbies. We also have monthly nature walks, group cycling, karake sessions, Investment and Retirement Village group meetings and am also promoting art, handicraft ,costume jewellery making, cooking and cake making classes. We feel that with the $50,000 we can rent a place for 2 years ,for the display of some of our members’ passion of forgottten art, paintings, crafts of handiwork. This venue will be designed to serve as our classroom, workshop, kitchen, cafe ,library, exercise room and also as a guest house for SHC friends from overseas. Visitors and memebres can discover the rich heritage of Singapore forgotten pasts of simple arts like porcelain painting, jade oranamental collection and designing, paper origami,and old crafts , and not forgetting reliving culinary skills of forgetten recipes of food dishes, cake, and desserts long forgotten. We hope after the 2 years of Starhub sponsorship ,this SHC Clubhouse can be self sustaining by charging a minimal fee that is as close to the good old days as possible, providing an escape down memory lane.
Details of our Anchor Tenants, in the SHC Clubhouse are as follows:-
1. Adult learning and Training Centre – by Thomas Kuan
For info Thomas Kuan is the president of SACE, Singapore Association of Continuing Education, and currently they are exploring Adult Education and Lifelong learning.
2. Passion for Forgotten Arts & Crafts –
a. Jocelyne Soh’s Art Collections and Classes
b. Daffydil’s Collection and Design of Jade Ornaments
c. Patricia Ng – Paper Crafts , Jewellery design
d. Anne Low’s – Collection and Design of Crystal ornamental Jewellery
3. Patricia Ng – Passion for Reliving past recipes of food , cakes, deserts and also rediscovering healthier
ingredients for a healthier recipe. Patricia Ng has been experimenting quite alot in this area and she is also willing to teach anyone who is interested. I have tested many of her new healthier recipes of cakes and
Thai salad which is a must for everyone who is a cook to learn how to make it. For info, the Ministry of Health is promoting healthier lifestyle and giving grants to those who want to open up such cafes. Hey, who knows with Patricia help and other cooking enthusiasts in SHC , and with the large number of food critic wannabes in SHC ( CC , is one definitely the first one who will turn up for any kind of food ), we can have a good food recipec experimentation and research group.
4. Suggestion of having a Karaoke Area in SHC Center, by Swee Loke
Swee Loke – Glad to hear from you , yes, it will be good if it can help to generate income so that in the long run we can keep the SHC Clubhouse not only self-sustaining but if possible profitable, so that more ventures can be explored. So far a start if we do get that $50K, can i have you to look into this area, as i do think having a Karaoke facility is a defintely suitable, but i would think we can try to build it up as cheaply as possible. Maybe we can get contributions from anyone of any equipment they have either to give or to loan etc, or we can also buy cheap 2nd hand equipment from the Converter Shop. ( I do see some good equipment there )
5. IT training, and Phototaking section – i hope Yew Kong and Benson can continue running courses (free lah) from time to time.
6. Guest House with basic kitchen – maybe just 1 room and some Sofa folding beds – ( really meant for Guest of SHC from other countries ) – to help generate income , and be for short term stay booking. Teofirst, has had experienced and can surely help us out in this area, also Gary to recommend all his SHC friends from Hanoi.
7. Health Execise – Meridian point 312 – we have Ronald Lee , who is a certified instructor , to be our resident instructor and teacher .
8. Other acitivies – Monthly walks, cyling activities.
9. Library and Cafe section – Oi Cheng , Christina Chan
10. Retirement Village – I must say our retirement village seems to be quite the opposite , as we seems to want more out of life when we retire. Our expectations after our recent trip to Gunong Ledang & Malacca , seems to be confirmed that though we may want to travel and stay for a short term elsewhere, home is always where our hearts can find peace.
Observations from Trip to Malacca, Gunong Ledang private and public resorts and Eco – Village in Senai (Green Valley Eco Village )
a. On the positive side, as Spore progresses and cost of living has increase, the quality, facilities and expectations of our living style has also increased. So unknowling ,we do expect much more even though we may want to retire in a cheaper place. Sad to say, that even though we can lower our expectations, the quality and development of the our neighbours seemed to be quite a gap apart, and this gap seems to be
increasing even more.
b. Green Valley Eco-village, seems a little small with only 20 acres, and though it has been started 10 years ago, the progress seems quite slow. There are some farming or Roselle , Vinegar ,etc in collaboration with the UTM (University of Technology of Malaysia) but the variety is quite limited. There is also no paved road to the farm , and though the Main Building is quite big and nice , it is not yet furnished with basic needs of an air-con or ceiling fans. ( On the positive side, it needs a lot of help, financially , ideas, and marketing , so a good investment opportunity for those who wants to build form scratch )
c. Condos in Malaysia – we went to look at two Condos belonging to a friend, and these are our findings-
d. Selat Horizon – along Klebang Besar, just acceptable with basic security and a swimming pool, not something you will be impressed. ( Like i have stated , our expectations are always moving upwards while theirs do not seemed to be moving in the right direction ).
e. Golden Showers – also along Klebang Besar just beside Selat Horizon, – from the outside we did not even feel like going in, looks worse than any 1 room HDB block,especially the external paintwork and surroundings.
Please feel free to send me your comments, suggestions, ideas and dreams even.
At the same, Happy Holidays, Merry X’Mas and a Happy and Prosperous 2007 Year ahead.
Cheers
Ronald Wi
