Streets of Hong Kong

Together with Lynda and Matsumoto, the team proceeded for our inaugural meeting with the Hong Kong Marine Department who are the co-host of the 2nd Capacity Building Workshop, to be held in November 2008 @ "Hong Kong" (of course !!!). In between the official discussions and visits, the team had the opportunity to walk the Streets of Hong Kong, as they gear up for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games of which Hong Kong will be the venue for Equestrian Events.

These equestrian events are the only competitions in the Olympics in which a person partners with a horse. It is also one of the very few events where men and women compete on equal terms. The Olympic Equestrian Events comprise three disciplines - Dressage, Jumping and Eventing - with individual and team competitions in each, so riders are competing for six sets of medals.
Large, life-size mascots for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games were displayed in most major Shopping Mall. The team decided to be associated ourselves with one of these mascots. Took one with NINI, whilst Lynda took with HUANHUAN and Matsumoto with YINGYING.

Among the many other decorations that were displayed around the city were GOLDEN (Earth) RATS, to usher in the Year of the Rats (Probably will raise the happiness level of Micky & Minnie Mouse @ the new Hong Kong Disneyland !!!). Festive level was certainly in the air with lunar new year goodies in almost every store.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2008 is a Year of the Rat (Earth), which begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009. First in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, Rat Year begins the sequence and recurs every twelfth year. It is a time of renewal in so many ways. From New Year to Valentine's Day, to the arrival of spring, may all the blessings and delights of the New Year be yours.

So, what does it means ? ... well, according to the zodiac ... "A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find. People born in an Earth Rat are said to be logical realists, shrewd, charming, ambitious, and inventive".
Braving the light drizzle, the team just had to take a couple of shots with the hard-working rats of 2008 ....

Another Crazy Evening with ELF United

Put Ex-Scouts and Ex-Guides together is already explosive. Combined them with Ex-NCC and its lethal. That's what happended at Tan Sim Boh Road @ the Post Godpa/Godma 50th Anniversary party. Complete with an open air video review of the 26 Dec 06 celebration on Principal Elf's 2003 laptop, the gang after some exchange of good old school days tales realised that there were generally 2 groups of uniformed groups present that evening. Benedette, Noami. Margaret, Godma, Nick and Noami's better half were all ex-Scouts/Guides (with Aaron-James, Clarissa-Anne and Naomi's children - current Scours/Guides plus some ex-Brownies as well) whilst Sylvia, Irene, Elsie and Patrick were all ex-NCC members. At the ELF appreciation presentation ceremony by Godma, the good old days certainly manifested itselfs with all kinds of salutes, hugs and goodness knows what display of acknowledgement.
Looks like the occasional X'mas and CNY night get together membership have just been expanded. It will now include 3 more new ELFs to the gang. Welcome onboard !!!

SNC Retreat

The organisation of the Annual Grassroots Organisation's retreat this year has been decentralised to the GROs level. Some took the opportunity to hold it abroad (in Batam), others held it closer to home at resorts or just at the CC. Serangoon NC held theirs at the Serangoon Gardens Country Club (SGCC). It started with a lunch followed by a review of 2007 activities and charting of workplan activities for 2008. Once the serious stuff was over, the GRLs proceeded to the Karaoka Room to blast away.
Thomas Tan (President of SGCC) open the session by stating that there are 3 groups of people who goes for Karaoka. The group that CAN SING, the group that CAN'T SING and the group that THINKS THAT THEY CAN SING. It was up to the rest to decide which category they falls under.
Margaret of course had a field day. Singing both within the designated room as well as the larger hall outside, picking all the hot/fast numbers. Whilst most attempted English Songs, a couple of Chinese and Hokkien numbers were also attempted. It was really a test for the ear-drums by the evening.
Whilst Edward & Serene attempted a duet; Saleem, Nick and Randy happily keyed in whatever songs that comes to their mind, Margaret took on most of the numbers complete with twist and turns, amidst the narrow space of the Karaoka Room whilst Kim Boon, Sally and John silently watch in amusement. The day ended with a BBQ Session.

1st Batch of CJCian @ 50

After some 32 years since the 1st batch of CJCians stepped on the premises of the Catholic Junior College, they returned on 15 Jan 2008 to jointly celebrate their 50th Birthdays. With NAME TAGs printed at Font Size 18, the evening was a major face recognition exercise. Whilst much has changed with more fore-heads, rounder silhouettes and reading glasses, some remained as "young" as ever. Memory lapses was no longer an excuse but a reality in some cases.
There were also a few shockers .... Discovered among the 1st batch of CJCians were people whom I have interacted along the way ....my neighbour of 8 years (Bernard Foo), father of my Sarah-Marie's close friend (Jeremy Tay), church warden and some who have met the family but did not realised the long time connection.
Some were still within the recognition range but some were really beyond the memory sector. (Drats !!! Age caught up and has overtaken !!!)
Great evening on the whole. Way to go !!!

Just not my day

Whilst enroute for the CJC 50th Birthday Party, vehicle accident struck near the entrance of MacRitchie Reservoir (along Lornie Road). Stationary owing to the peak hour traffic, a Maroon coloured Mitshibishi Grandia driven by Mr Ricky Tan Boon Park (SFF 9587L) hit the rear of the Toyota ISIS. Though no visible damage to Mr Tan's car, the poor ISIS' bumper and back flip door was damage. Mr Tan apologised for the momentary lapse of concentration as he was very tired that evening. Guess it just wasn't my day !!!

Making it to half a century !!!

Following the “surprised party” the day before, the office also added their share of the celebration. Guess it’s difficult to past the “half a century” mark very quietly. ED with staff had a “Teochew Porridge” lunch at Tiong Bahru Plaza as part of the office monthly birthday celebration ritual. This was followed by a “birthday song + cake-blowing/cutting” part of the SOP with photo snap-snap for the record. Cecilia got hold of a Tiramisu Cake and it was good. When asked, what’s the secret of making it to the BIG 50 ? …. Simple-lah. Get to 49++ and live very carefully !!!

Surprise @ 50

• Apparently the conspiracy was conceptualised some weeks ago (X'mas day to be exact !!!) but the plot thickened over the week. The stage was set starting on the morning of 6 Jan 2008. Unsuspectingly, Clarissa-Anne had my birthday announced at the 7.00 am mass by Trevor but as I was late in coming in, did not managed to hear the entire announcement. Only hint that something was said was when Sr Agatha queried on "my mother" for she mis-heard "Nicholas Teo" for "Mrs Teo". It was only later when Clarissa-Anne's friends and other friends came up to extend their Birthday greetings (Apparently many of them have been briefed of the surprise party plot !!!) .... that it was clear that a public announcement was made.
  
  

After the usual morning breakfast and sunday grocery shopping, returned home and caught 40 winks. Clarissa-Anne, who was with me the entire morning did not even squeak a little (very unusual of someone who loved to talk !!!).

With the usual wake-up call, all were quickly off to the park car with a venue already in mind ... Novena Ville. (Should have realised that this was an unusual phenomena ... There were NO AGUEMENTS, ALL MOVED VERY QUICKLY .... and were concerned about TIME !!! AMAZING !!!!). There were also some "delay tactics" employed along the way (from parking across the road @ Novena Church to re-checking if the car was locked !!!). Daughter No #1 even took photo of me walking along the road (Hmmm !!! Must be for AAR, in case some evidences were required for failed attempt !!). Anyway, entered the restaurant (from the bright outside to the dark inside, took a while to focus/re-adjust). First person I noticed who looked familiar was Janet (Hmmm !! What a coincidence !!! and it donned on me ... everyone behind her also looked familiar !!!) ... NEXT came the "SURPRISE" and was suddenly the MAIN FOCUS for everyone in the place (Wished the earth would just open up and swallow me whole !!!). .... Was also greeted by 50 cup-cakes (specially ordered by Sarah-Marie and collected by her godma (Margaret Wee) .... and who were present to make it possible .... (34 pax ... + the birthday guy ... 35 in all !!!) .

Michael & Margaret Wee (with Marc & Shaun ... in picture below)

Pom with daughter (Barbara Ann)

Parents-in-law.

Richard & Julie Tan.

Aloysius & Joni (with Michelle, Amanda & Matthew).

Elsie & Clarissa-Anne.

Dave & Beatrice Tey ..... Beatrice (not in the picture as she is the main photographer !!!)

Albert & Shawnna (with Zachery & Timothy).

Eddy & Irene (with Ashley).

Allen & Janet (with Benedict ... Matthew was unable to join in).

Jared, Sarah-Marie & Aaron-James.

Yayuk & Hanti.

With a hearty meal, wine and good company (and some embarrassing moments), it was a nice prelude to being 50. With a few more hours to go (1435 hrs on 7 Jan 2008), have to move about slowly and carefully. (That's the secret to being 50. Get to 49+++ and move about very carefully !!!)

The Chief Planner, Conspirator, Organiser & Executor is no other than "THE WIFE". Taking advantage of my "high frequency hearing loss" and my lack of interest for "eaves-dropping". [Margaret Wee too played a major role in this plot. She recommended the venue]. That's what happened when friends & sibblings get together and talk behind your back .... and when topic suddenly changed when you show-up. Beware !!! A surprise party is brewing up.

Thanks everyone for everything .... the presents, your presence and the closely guarded "SURPRISE" @ Novena ville.

EDUSAVE Scholarship Awards

After waiting for about 3 hrs in a holding area (an air-con classroom away from the main auditorium), Aaron-James was among the last group of students to receive the 2007 Edusave Scholaship Award from Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister of State (Finance) & (Transport) at a simple ceremony held on 5 Jan 2008 at the Serangoon Gardens Secondary School. The heavy downpour outside, certainly helped to cool the environment considerably.

Kampong Fish Therapy

Thanks to Jovian, had a unique experience at having little fishes nibbled away the dead skin on my feet for 30 minutes. It was indeed very ticklish and stressful. The venue : Kampong Fish Therapy at Novena Ville. Kimberley who runs the place seem to enjoy watching me "suffer". The invigorating treatment of the Dr Fish is to provide a fun, natural, painless skin exfoliating treatment. Its to promote :

• Relaxing and effective method for removing dead skin cells, resulting in fairer, smoother skin.
• Improve blood circulation due to Micro Massages provided by the healing action of doctor fish.
• Therapeutic effect which generates a sense of well-being in users.
• 100% natural without any artificial chemicals.
• Prevention of hyper-keratin, corns and skin aging development.
• Reduction of skin illness symptoms like eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

On the whole it was a pretty smooth event (ie : for my feet !!!).

PS : The fishes sure looked hungry. Hope none float-up or performed the backstroke after my session.