SilverHairsClub

Hi Members

We are proud 2 annouce that we had received an invitation from a Straits Times’ reporter who would like 2 interview our members on their interests n likes. Here’s the invitation :

"Basically, I’m working on a special report on the Silver Dollar Industry. We want to highlight that this group of people (babyboomers in their 50s and 60s) are a very viable group of people who are willing to spend on their hobbies, interests, and things like traveling. Too often they are forgotten and neglected when actually they are the people with the spending power as well as the ones providing demand for niche services or activities.

So I would be curious to interview members of your club who are very passionate about certain hobbies, e.g. appreciating wine, collecting luxury items, painting, gardening, skiing, extreme sports or even chasing idols – most importantly they must be people with a passion who are willing to spend and invest on their interests and hobbies.

Would really appreciate it if you could put me in touch with a few like minded people who are willing to be interviewed and photographed, in a group if they prefer.

Now for the questions:

What is the median age of members in the Silver Hairs Club?
Why was it set up, and by whom, when?
Besides sports, what other activities are organized by the club? Are there wine and dine trips or food appreciation, art appreciation, golf trips?

And for those who are willing to be personally interviewed, What are your spending habits like? Are there hobbies you spend on, for example, collecting figurines, gardening, golf, or fishing? How much do you spend on your hobbies in a month?

Apart from the daily necessities, what kind of items do you spend on on a regular basis?

Has the current recession affect in any way these spending habits? How? Do you find that you travel less or is travel considered a must-do for you?

Do you think that companies out there have are selling products that look into your needs as an older person? Why and how?

What are some of the products that you wish you could buy but are not available in the market? (eg. big sized font books.)

If you are interested, please give your names n topics here. Successful members will be notified. Closing date Mon, 13 Apr 2009.

YK (Admin)

1. Francis (Dancing)

National Runway Cycling & Skating 2009 is an annual event that will be held at the Paya Lebar Airport (years before Changi Int’l Airport came into operations).

Registration fee is "ZERO" if u sign up as a participant. Of cos, u will also receive some goods 4 your efforts. Registration starts from Thu, 9 Apr 09 wif registration forms available at all SAFRA club houses as well as online registration. Sign on early, especially the challenge categories 2 avoid disappointment.

More information available here – http://www.safra.sg/

If u don’t have a bike, rental bikes are abundantly available at $19.20. U need 2 make own booking. Just go there early 2 pick up the bike on event day.

I will be signing up for the Shimano Endurance Challenge of 45km ride. Only for the first 1000 persons who sign up. If u are interested we can register 2gether. Once confirm, u have to opt in 4 a strict training schedule conducted by our training regime. Will leave u 2 guess the boss.

Besides the hard work, there were lots of fun during the event at the event ground. Those who had participated last year will definitely agreed.  

Who are going –

1. YK (cycling 45km)
2. Douglas (cycling 45km)
3. Lawrence Lee (15km cycling)
4. Ah Nee (skating)
5. Susan Chang (skating)
6. Lina Ng (skating)
7. Norlinda (skating)

Hi Terence 

Firstly, its heart-wrenching being unable to attend Saturday’s annual D & D, because another colleague had earlier than me applied for a weekend day’s leave.  Only one from each of the 4 services’ staff section is permitted to take a weekend leave of ONE day only.  Glad you guys had a good time and several new faces were welcomed.

Your flattering confidence regarding my expertise in outlying Indonesian islands’s potentiality for retirement living do overwhelm me.  As stated in my previous remarks, the crucial factor is one must be quite conversant in Bahasa Indon/Melayu so as to gel comfortably with the locals and thus it is due to my proficiency in BERCAKAPAAN Jawa dengan Melayu which easily integrate me into the local scene unlike my sheer incompetence to pick up the Thai language or Teowchew dialect during my frequent sojourns in peninsular Thailand re: Satun, Betong, Hatyai, Songklah, Ban Upai, Rayong & Hua Hin during the early 70s to early 80s.

Next year, probably in July will arrange a 2days/2nights trip to(50minutes flight from Batam) to Bangka island, nearly centrally in the Java Sea, a big island more than 4times the area of Spore.  The island with its one-third sized sister island(more than 20 others in this group of islands) Belitung island are for the past century till today, producers of more than half the tin output in Indonesia.  There are beautiful beaches (Pantai Parai Tinggiri at Sungailiat, a smaller town) plus for me am attracted to the jagged peaks and aura of the 3000ft plus Gunung Daik.

Bangka was promoted as a inter-country tourism of Indonesia during the former presidency of Megawati 2001-04.  The development of Pangkalpinang the biggest town of less than 100,000(propably 25% Chinese Indons) amazes me in May 2007 with a couple of nice hotels and the attractive El John(what a name) shopping plaza.  Unlike Thailand(spurred by the American GI’s R & R during the Veitnam War days), my take is Malaysia, Phillipines & Indonesia are not overly keen in drawing tourism perhaps due to the locals abhorrence of brash and uncultured foreigners eg the backpackers whose unkempt appearance and tendency to nude sunbathing is disturbing re: my conversation with a few Kelantanese at Pantai Ser Tujuh(Beach of the Comely Seven), Tumpat, Kelantan, in the early 90s and with one English-speaking Mindanaon in Butuan 1995, north-east coastal town in Mindanao, southern Philippines.

Overlooked to mention that Kuching, Sarawak can be considered by the Sporean retiree as well as Labuan.  Unlike Indonesian islands, nearly all Malaysian islands are more than 95% populated by native Malays and comparatively less developed too.  Smaller Malaysian towns like Teluk Intan & Sitiawan(Perak), Segambut & Rawang(Selangor), Bentong(Pahang), Muar, Batu Pahat, Segamat, Keluang and Mersing(Johore) with significant Malaysian Chinese residents are considerable choices too.

Regards 

Abel Tan

Are you a “handy-man”? Are you a “fix-it enthusiast”? Do you enjoy the challenge of repairing household items and getting them to work again?

If you answer "yes" to any of the above questions, here is good news!

I have several household items that need to be repaired, and can be put to good use again.

If you are "Mr Fix-it", and you can repair TV, washing machine, stand-fan, microwave oven, please come and take them away. FREE.

OR – If you know someone who is connected to an old-folks’ home or orphanage, that has an in-house handy-man who could repair and put these items to good use, please ask him to come and take them away.

The external conditions of these household items are well-kept, and look better than the ones you’d find in second-hand dealer’s stores:

Washing machine, fully-auto, Samsung 5 litre load.

Problem: It moved very slowly and made a groaning sound as it tried to swirl clothes.

TV, 32 inch, Toshi, color.

Problem: Went blank. One small dot of white light.

Microwave oven, Farfella.

Problem: inside’s turntable and light work fine, but “no heat”.

Stand-fan, Mestar, has timer and speed control.

Problem: fan blades rotate slowly.

Please email jacqhan@gmail.com for “collection address” or queries.   

Hi All

I believe most of us now welcome the time we have and the opportunity to do things we missed out. I am wondering how to fill my time now with activities that can still allow for new learning or relearning what was forgotten. Some have found their niches, some like me are still looking. I wonder if any who share this view would like to learn new things or teach things/skills they know to other SHCians.

For the time I’m in S’pore I would like to meet members to discuss this with the objective that perhaps we can get together to hold some of these activities at various locations. An example can be hand quilting which I like to learn or even making sushi/dumplings/mooncakes. Other areas can be conversational Japanese, swimming, ebay buying etc. If there are some who can teach these and some who are keen to learn, we can start lessons. Who knows, this can turn out to be business opportunites for some.

Regards

Joan

 Hi Guys ie. Lily, Bira, Norlinda, Ah Nee, KC Lau & Tian Soo, am pleased that all of you had a nice time.

 Probably when the "round island" road in Karimun is ready in a year’s time hopefully (you guys would have notice that from the incline of the hillside Hotel Gloria, the new road is less than 50metres ready) we shall make another trip to Karimun.

 Meanwhile, as soon as the travelling logistics are correctly certain, Lily will assist in organising a ONE DAY/ONE NIGHT Free & Easy trip to Segamat town, central Johore state.  Maximum pax is TWENTY persons including myself and with AT LEAST Seven males in the group for the purpose of "showing off muscle".  This excursion is slated for mid or end July where we can savour seasonal fruits of durians and mangosteens.

 Regards 

 Abel Tan

Lim Geok Suan (EO)

Date of Visit: 1st May 2009 (Friday) Labour Day. Time: 9.45am to 12.30pm.

Location: St. Joseph’s Home. 921, Jurong Rd, S’pore 649694. Tel: 62680482. Fax: 62684787.  From Boon Lay Interchange, take Bus 157 and alight 4 bus-stops away at back gate. Those going by car are requested to car-pool due to shortage of parking space; about 8 lots only.

Website: www.stjh.org.sg

Helping the less fortunate in society is a blessing. In this respect EO Lim Geok Suan, on behalf of the Cannosian Alumni Mission is undertaking a project to visit St. Joseph Home to provide 100 residents with a Lunch treat and some form of entertainment for their enjoyment and happiness.

We hope like-minded SHCians will volunteer to come forward with Cash donation or volunteer their time to this good cause. 

To  begin with, we need 10 volunteers to help to serve the residents. 12 volunteers to help feed the residents who are unable to eat by themselves.

SHCian LIM TIAN SOO has generously agreed to give a $500/- cash donation to start the ball rolling.

Oi Cheng will be the appointed member assigned to take care of this cash donation drive.  Bank details of Oi Cheng as follows:

Name : Lum Oi Cheng
POSB Saving A/C# 117-00132-6 
The closing date for the transfer will be set on 21 April 2009.

Apart from the lunch treat to be given to 100 residents of St Joseph Home, whatever balance left over after deducting this expenses will be donated to St Joseph Home at the end of this event.

We hope this good deed will receive a good response from all the kind-hearted SHCians. We need everyones’ support to make it a success. In giving happiness to others is a joy to ourselves. Thank You.

To begin with, the following has consented to help on that date.

Volunteer Helpers and Donors: 

1. Lim Tian Soo – $500 (Rec’d)
2. Dolly Lim – helper and $100 (Rec’d cash)
3. Oi Cheng – Appointed Treasurer
4. Patrick Chan (music and singing )
5. Ronnie Sow (music and singing)
6. Jennifer Lim – helper and $100 (Rec’d cash)
7. June Lim – helper
8. Lilian Chua – helper
9. Jassmine Teo – (hokien CD for loan) and $100 (Rec’d)
10. Wee Chin – helper
11. Maria Tan – helper
12. Chan ChristinaWH – helper
13. Charles Chua – helper and $100 (Rec’d)
14. Boon Liang – $50 (Rec’d)
15. Tan Seok Wah – helper
16. Jean Ong – helper
17. Lee Peng Peng – $50 (Rec’d)
18. Thomas Loh
19. Jane Tan
20. Nelly Soh

Click here for photos

Calling all shutterbugs……there will be a free practical photography at Singapore Botanical Gardens on 11th April 09 from 9am to 12 noon.

This will be conducted by my instructor who is an avid and experienced photographer for many years. He had just led and group of us to Java and Bali for 11 days of photography trips where he also shared a lot of tips with us. You can check out some of the photos taken during this trip at http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii240/sockie_sg/Indonesia-Feb09/?start=0

Topics to be covered:
Understanding the various funtions of the cameras, understanding P, A, S, M (Program/Auto, Aperture, Shutter, and, Manual Modes).
Basic compositions.

For those who are interested, please meet at the food court in the basement of the main entrance.

Sockie

Members confirmed to attend :

1. Sockie
2. Ronald Lee
3. Karen Thio
4. Lee Patrick
5. Dan Huang
6. Joy Chuang
7. Lilian Teo
8. Edwin Ong
9. Annie Loh
10. Lydia Chin
11. Ella Tan

Click here for photos

Hi Everybody,
I am Genet (simply pronounced similarly as “Janet”). I have been called “Gar-net”, “Ger-net”, “Ge-net”, “Jeanette”…the list goes on.

Now to introduce myself and hope that you will bear with me (for being so lor-soh) :

Personal
Marital Status : Married
Age : ermmm…dun say can? Shy shy lah but definitely above 45

My looks can be described as “1661” ie 16 when you c mi from behind, and 61 when u c mi from the front (hee hee) but seriously, please dun faint (from shock) when you c mi horr

My Home Sweet Home is in Clementi