Month of January 2026

In this era of advanced technologies, many aspects of our life can pretty much be automated. Remember Alexa? It appeared in movies, heralding a future of home appliances commanded by a voice, providing weather updates and playing music suitable to the owner's mood. Many years have since passed, how many people actually use such a device? I have one sitting somewhere in a corner at home. Luckily it's a freebie. My take is, don't rush to use a technology until it's proven. When the Iphone was first launched, I also waited for about a year to let the bugs be resolved. This approach is what I took with regard to digital door locks. Samsung and some Korean brands were the early frontrunners. At one tradeshow, I was tempted to buy but retreated due to the $2000 price tag. Since then, many new brands have sprouted, from China to Europe and even Singapore. Early this month, I asked my second son to do a market research. In one visit, together with my wife, we decided to purchase his recommended choice, Kaadas Q9 that costs close to $800. Within a week, the installation was completed. I don't have to carry keys in my pocket anymore. It's been a smooth transition for a good price.

I met up with a couple of friends from school over dinner. We last met about six months ago and as usual, the conversation doesn't stop. A topic that came up was the soon-to-arrive expected bonus. Public servants received 2.7 months (1 AWS, 1.7 AVC) for last year's work. For the private sector, things are more variable, depending on the industry. My company should be giving 2 months even though market condition was not easy. My friend's husband is a pilot with the national airline, so we gave our congratulations in advance to her. The aviation sector has performed well since Covid as I'm sure people can attest to the deluge of tourists everywhere especially in Japan. Her response was quite shocking. Even though it's reported that aviators should get around seven months of bonus, she mentioned it felt more like three months. Bonus is based on the underlying basic salary and a widely accepted norm. In this instance, her husband's pay has not been restored to the pre-Covid days. She estimated the pay cut he took was around 50%. Adding to his woe is that he missed out on an upgrade (which was due) during the pandemic period. Therefore, the "lost" amount is effectively half of the bonus issued and still counting.

Last month, I mentioned about my aching left knee that's still in recovery mode. It's not gotten worse but neither much better as I dare not place much weight. Instead, the focus has been on stretching and no cardio activities (I don't fancy swimming). Then, after school barely started, my second son sprained his ankle while playing frisbee. Ah, another familiar injury that I used to get playing soccer. I've had at least two sprains per ankle along with a few fingers. My son's condition didn't look that bad but an Xray was taken as a precaution. The RICE method was applied and it looked better after two weeks. For now, he probably has to continue on crutches for a while. If not, next up is the Sinseh where I had my limbs straightened out a few times. In Chinese saying, misfortunes usually come in pairs. I hope no more health concerns for the family this year.

Tip: Marcus Molitor Riesling 2022, good mineral uplift, lingering musk melon, balanced acidity

Month of December 2025

This month started with a trip to Johor Bahru for a short family holiday. We drove and stayed at Talula Hill resort on the first night. It's a small and lovely farm with some animals, a fishing pond and vegetable growing area. We were right on time for the evening farm tour and fed the goats, chickens and ducks. Being a rather isolated location, there was only one restaurant on site for dinner which served decent asian and western meals. We ordered a bottle of wine to enjoy the view of the setting sun overlooking the valley below. It felt like the day's stress was over and the mind got recharged. The cabin accommodation was cosy and sufficient, highlighted by a full bay window. However, the breakfast is not worth a mention and we checked out under cool temperatures after it rained overnight. Then, we headed to Kluang Rail cafe for a quick bite before making our way to Mid Valley. For the next two days, we just hung out at the shopping malls, did a foot massage and ate lots of good food. Overall, I think we wouldn't mind such a stay drive vacation the next time.

My wife has always been fond of animals, big or small. Four years ago, our pet rabbit passed away and since then, we kept an aquarium. It was small maintenance and aesthetic, something to look at the dining table. I wished it was bigger though, like one that stretched across an entire wall. So every now and then, we would visit pet shops or glance through grooming areas to admire the furry ones. Once around Covid period, my wife mentioned a particular dog breed coming from an Australian farm that costs $10000. That's insane, I wouldn't even consider for a second. Pets used to be more affordable but now has gone way above inflation. One fine day, another cute picture appeared in my wife's social media feed. Price looked reasonable and we went to have a look. The dog was big boned and very active. While adorable, it would probably cause anxiety on my second son. The shop owner said a new batch was coming in a week. Our next visit introduced a litter of four Cavapoos, two boys and two girls. They arrived from the UK and one of the boys had already been taken. My wife had her eyes set on the other boy. We brought the kids twice to see the puppy and check its interactive mannerisms. That was it, I sensed the timing was right, every considered factors were addressed and on that third visit, the deposit was placed. My wife couldn't contain her excitement as she went about preparing for its arrival. One of her lifelong wishes had been fulfilled. The little furball is now the most pampered one.

I have been nursing a sore left knee for three months. It hurts especially when I squat. This condition appeared after I did an unusually longer running distance and sprinted for short intervals, with the intention to improve stamina. Two aching days later, that knee did not fully recover and I aggravated it with another more gentle run. This prompted me to give it a complete rest but meanwhile, I switched to gym work, focusing on upper body and stretching exercises. It seemed to work so the runs gradually resumed. Then the familiar ache returned. I consulted a friend who does marathons. He confidently pointed out that it wasn't the knees but a weak glute issue. I need this to be sorted out soon.

Tip: Chateau Montlandrie 2022, mixed berries perfume, medium finish, enjoyable

Month of November 2025

An unexpected message came through one day from someone I have not seen since Covid. It was cousin J, a distant one considering our parents are cousins and our families had never hung out together before. Yet J and I had a rather special bond. We only knew of each other's existence when we were 17. It happened at an event and my dad recognized her. By coincidence, we enrolled into the same school and studied similar subjects. Our classrooms were side by side, so from that moment on, we interacted often. J was a jovial girl, fiercely independent and resilient, partly because her mother passed away at a young age. She would defend those close to her, step forward to lend a hand and yet maintained a low profile all the while. We confided our first loves, exchanged lecture notes and backed each other. After graduation, we kept in touch. She went to university while I had to serve national service. Later on, fate brought us back again in school as our faculties were adjacent, although this time she's the senior who helped me to settle in. Over two years, we held conversations at the school canteen or sometimes along the corridors on the way to class.

In our working lives, she chose the pharmaceutical industry while I went a different pathway. That didn't diminish our relationship as there's a feeling of kinship that cannot be broken. Over a decade, we caught up sporadically but the conversations were always unrestricted, maybe because of our easygoing characters. Then, I switched jobs and contact frequency increased slightly. Our workplace were ten minutes ride away which created lunch opportunities, much like the university days. This went on until Covid and before you know, we lost touch.

So when I received that message from J, it was over an issue that we discussed long ago and she just wanted to update me. I was curious to find out what she had been up to over the last few years. The first thing mentioned was she had retired and doing the things she love, especially travelling. She used to travel to a Scandinavian country every Christmas because her aunt worked in the national airline and got discounted tickets. I jokingly asked for her advice and her next reply was, "...but I don't know for how long." Something's amiss and I pointedly told her to spill the beans. Without hesitation, it was the big C and a really terrible one. Cancer of the thymus gland. A quick scroll of my biology knowledge came to nothing. J is classified as one of the tiny percentage and she proudly proclaimed to be in the top 10 patients of Singapore with this rare type, having "achieved" terminal stage. I met her a few days later, with a cap concealing hair loss but otherwise looking well, the usual cheerfulness and enjoying her food. It’s been months that she's on an experimental drug and chemotherapy. She’s become a treasured living specimen for research. Yet, we both know her compromised immune system cannot repel the persistent mutated growths in the organs. Costs had escalated since insurance did not cover her unapproved medication. She will have to stop eventually as savings are limited. Therefore, her funeral plans have been prepared, her will written and more travel trips are in the pipeline. As the only child, she worries for her dad who's immobile. In that moment, a quiet tear was shed for my brave cousin. Hope she gets her wish to outlive him.

Tip: Boksoondoga Sparkling Red, strawberry cream, fizzy burst of milky rice

Month of August 2025

Ever since I returned from the Bali trip in June, there had been few episodes of stomach upset. I could wake up in the middle of the night to clear the bowels, experience contractions in the daytime, feel bloated and nauseous. There wasn't a change in diet or lifestyle and these symptoms presented themselves every now and then, making it difficult to find a trigger point. The first trip to the clinic yielded slight improvement after a course of Pariet but that was the most the doctor could do when I still felt unwell. By then, I had reduced spicy food and alcohol intake. Thus, a specialist visit was the next step and antibiotics were prescribed. The diarrhea runs became lesser but I just didn't feel right. That discomfort hung around in the shadow, ready to pounce. Next, an endoscope and colonoscopy were performed. After waking up from the sedation, the first thing I asked was whether the doctor had found the problem source. Thankfully, he found nothing of significance except a slight inflamed stomach lining which is common among his usual patients. So the last part was to wait for lab results. Even a search through the internet yielded no clues. Meanwhile, the nausea feeling continued as if I was in a first trimester except no vomit. Interestingly, it can be suppressed by eating small portions which seemed to go against logic.

A friend commented I could have been under stress which then compromised the immune system. He suffered from acid reflux previously and led a much healthier lifestyle than me. The next consultation revealed there were traces of H Pylori, in scanty amount. Apparently, it was the number one stomach cancer causing agent and even in today’s advanced research, there’s no conclusive evidence of how a person could be infected. The guesswork pointed to a probable childhood episode, exposure to poor sanitation or maybe just an ingestion of unclean food. The doctor prescribed 14 days of medicine that included two types of antibiotics, likening it to a nuclear option to blast out everything in my gut. Unfortunately, I did get the side effects of mild diarrhea and stomach pains.

While still in the treatment cycle now, looking back, some things seem to connect. Since young, my gut has been a living litmus test of water hygiene. It is sensitive to changes in quality and proven time and again when overseas. Nearly every TCM I visited, the sinseh cautioned digestion issue as a case to resolve. So for example, as much as I like prata, it’s unlikely I’ll have it for consecutive days due to its oiliness and curry. Milo in the morning also usually lead to a toilet visit soon after. Till today, I prefer ketchup Bak Chor Mee. Perhaps the root cause has finally been found. But as I was informed, some people just have a hyper sensitive stomach that they got to live with, I am probably one of them.

Tip: Nichinichi Yamadanishiki, delicate rice expression, natural touch with fizz

Month of July 2025

Home was perpetually dusty as the renovation works continued. We walked around in slippers and stayed within the rooms that were untouched. After a month of eating takeaways, I craved for home cooked food. Finally that happened, after the kitchen was done and the refrigerator could be restored and restocked. Due to a lack of physical activities and unhealthy diet, I gained 2kg, undoing my efforts over the past year. A health check up is also due so I better go back to being disciplined on the workouts.

There's a disturbing trend that I noticed. More and more, I hear/read of seemingly healthy people falling seriously ill out of nowhere. For example, I'm sure most would have heard about people who suffered cardiac arrests while exercising. Within my second degree contacts, there were four occurrences over the past few months. They ranged from teens to early fifties. Some were unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer and three have since departed. Theories related to diet, vaccination and pollution had been suggested. How about climate change? The excessive use of earth's resources caused a vicious cycle of environmental degradation and now, we struggle to adapt. An unbalanced ecosystem creates new diseases, changes weather patterns and tweaks the unseen atmospheric conditions such that the human body can’t cope. Just look up the record breaking temperatures and its consequences. Even in clean Singapore, my nose is mostly irritated whatever time of the day. This month reminded me to stay focused on good financial outcomes so as to leave the working world before an unfortunate event strikes.

Tip: Saffredi 2015, purple ink, well rounded body, sleek execution

Month of June 2024

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

I took time off on a Friday, aiming to do some activities with the kids before school reopens. The weather looked good so I proposed to go cycling. The younger two were keen while the eldest had to attend school. After fifteen minutes preparation, we drove towards East Coast Park but after considering the crowd situation, the idea got dismissed. So I detoured to Safra Punggol as there was ample parking, breakfast choices and bicycle rental facility. It was already 11am when we finished a simple meal at Heavenly Wang. The sky shone brightly when we began the journey and there was a three hour limit before the bicycle return. I sketched out the plan to the boys i.e Punggol PCN, Paris Ris Park, Changi beach and U-turn with a stop in between for lunch. We looked at the signboards and took off. After an hour, I realized something was amiss. The GPS indicated we were off track and in the direction of Sengkang East. That's odd as we followed the route closely. On backtrack, we had missed the turn towards Paris Ris due to construction reroute. Since it was unlikely to complete the original plan in time, I decided to loop around Coney Island and back to Safra. Once past the island gate, there was no turning back. We had to pick up pace as grey clouds gathered. The path was gravelled, unlike the smooth paved PCN. Under tree cover, we could feel increasing tiny water droplets on our faces. It became a race against the incoming rain and we barely made it into a shelter before the downpour. A heavy lashing for twenty minutes. Once it was safe to continue, we made our way back with half an hour of rental time to spare. Recalling now, we were lucky with the weather. The sun was mostly covered in the beginning and breezy throughout. There wasn't much crowd and we rode leisurely, enjoyed peaceful nature views and fortunately didn't get too far from the start point. The boys stayed calm especially the youngest one who was doing his third and probably longest cycle. More importantly, besides some dirt, there was no injury and we even discovered a great fried rice for our belated lunch!

It's officially half a year gone. How do you feel so far? Has there been any new discovery or just the same old routine? I had been busy like a squirrel preparing for winter. It's not just work. In order to help my son, I started to watch a series of youtube lessons to relearn accounting basics, hoping to tutor him. Associated with that is to utilize Copilot to improve recording of important notes for quick revision. Meanwhile, there's also an upcoming holiday trip and quite some time was spent to research the itinerary. Health wise, more golf practices were taken in while I managed to break 5km run (without stopping). The last time I did this was during army days. Though the pace had slowed considerably, I'm relieved there's been no knee or other joint complaints.

Tip: Duhart Milon 2019, mixed berries, menthol, eucalyptus, better with more time

Month of March 2024

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

I was privileged to be invited for lunch hosted by a prominent local businessman. Among the twenty attendees were mostly seniors in my industry and a few of my age group. We were brought to the penthouse level of a building that gave a bird’s eye view of the city landscape and served a proper Bordeaux amid six courses of wonderful modern Chinese cuisine. But to me, there was something even better. Candid sharing by everyone which was facilitated by the host asking simple and direct questions related to business challenges. He wanted to know how well Singapore’s SMEs are holding up. The often heard remarks such as lack of labour, input costs, inflation etc were presented. Those are problems but what are the counter measures, he asked and then added, sustainability mindsets could help to frame everyone’s next business decision better. To that, the older gentlemen became uncharacteristically silent. The bright and airy room suddenly turned gloomy. What an effective comeback, to the point and might have hurt a few resistant souls. He rattled off a few concrete examples from his business operations to complete the story. It felt like a teacher schooling children except the teacher addressed several of his students as elders. I was just taking mental notes and observed the posturing each took. Like the saying goes, there's no free lunch in this world, yet I enjoyed a lunch that was not only free but one that also provided honest feedback and meaningful conversation.

Since my nose operation last June, I was due for a final review. The doctor noted my slight weight loss and recommended to stay away from egg and dairy related products. After a quick scan, he declared himself satisfied and cleared me in a medical sense. It's a relief and what happens next depends on my discipline and luck, hopefully there's no recurrence for the rest of my life.

The National School Games has returned once again. In the sweltering heat, the children competed for honours while parents watched on. I could see the youngest son performing well alongside his rugby teammates and their progress was clear. In fact, most schools showed improvements. However, the local sports scene is poor. With twenty schools in the competition, there were about seven head coaches (excluding teacher in charge) doubling up for referee duties alongside some paid ones. Essentially, one could referee a subsequent game opponent. Some of the coaches even worked for various schools that could potentially meet in a match up. When I asked my son's coach on his view, he lamented that the career as a sports coach was not great and the number of coaches decreased during Covid. He's in his early forties and doing this out of interest. In Singapore, there's only around fifteen full time rugby coaches and this pool is aided by part timers.

Tip: Bourgueil Gauthier Pere and Fils 2020, inky purple, sweet aroma and soft body

Month of February 2024

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

After receiving his O level results last month, I was more anxious than my son in going through the options available to him. He had set his mind on doing accountancy which I fully support. There's only one issue. His results put him on the borderline of qualifying for the course offered by the various polytechnics. By right, in the Joint Admission Exercise, it was a straightforward action to simply put the nearest school and fill up the gaps with other less desired courses. Even though this was done, we weren't fully convinced and signed up for the SIM Open House over the weekend. The 1.5h spent provided a different perspective. As the details became clear, we were amazed to find out that a student could go through a diploma in 20 months, complete National Service and return to finish a degree in another 24 months. This meant a time saving of about a year compared to the same cohort but the tuition fees would cost about $10k more. We signed up, submitted the required documents and waited about two weeks for the letter of admission offer. That's now accepted and school starts in April. If things go accordingly, my son would graduate when he reaches 22!

Health wise, it's been a bad month. I fell sick a week before CNY. It was on off fever, body aches and itchy throat. Laying in bed for two days while dosing medicines, it didn't feel like I could recover in time. Then the fever just disappeared one morning and I could participate in the festive visits. But my youngest son got afflicted next and he suffered the same symptoms which meant he had to miss school. The doctor mentioned that a trending viral fever was going around. Covid had caused people to be extra cautious with mask wearing so the general population immunity had decreased. It's made worse by mass gathering over meals so the infection rate was high. This turned out to be true, at least in my family's context, because the next victims were my wife and followed by second son. Till today, they are still coughing or easily fatigued. Hopefully they recover soon.

As per the usual CNY practice, I caught up with relatives not seen over the year. One had transferred to be principal of a special needs institution, one became the head chef at a Japanese restaurant, an aunt had a fall recently and likely needed back surgery, also enjoyed a steamboat lunch with another aunt etc. Many nephews and nieces had grown much since I last saw them. Unfortunately, I don't think they would ever enjoy the close bond I have with my cousins, established over many years of constant meetups since young.

Tip: Sogen Samurai Queen JD, nectarine with strong expression, like tasty spring water

Closing Out 2023

I closed my eyes to recall and the first thought that came to my mind was, "What just happened? A year has passed again?" Nothing in particular stood out as it felt like moments went by too quickly to leave a significant imprint. My colleagues recently commented my hair seemed to be greyer than before. That's probably right, it's been so gradual that I didn't notice such a change. Perhaps it's because my health was more of a concern. According to the app, things have improved. Number of average steps clocked have increased by about 500 per day, 80 more calories were burned daily along with higher distances. A drop of 3.5kg body weight is the result of the effort made. Considering that I was sidelined by a nose operation and post recovery period of two months, the overall state is quite decent.

At work, the team achieved its target once again. They celebrated and morale was high. Inside, I felt mental stress, nil excitement and waiting for the pay cheque. My mind often drifted to when the next break would come. Social engagements were less as I declined a number of requests. Maybe it's due to me being more discerning about meaningless gathering for the sake of it. Most people I met remained as corporate contact, there's hardly any follow up unless required. We usually add each other on social media and to me, it's just a method to keep connected although I have also stopped wishing others on events like birthdays, congratulations on baby arrival and anything of note. I can't pinpoint what's caused this change. All I know is my work tank is running on empty. Even a few holidays this year couldn't re-energize my spirit. Those were mere distractions.

On the other hand, my financial journey is on track. Watching online videos on financial independence provided some joy and ideas to apply. I'm happy there's been real progression. This is well documented in the other posts of this blog. Markets are complex so it's been a good experience this year to manage new investment products while trying to find a correct mix. It's a looping process and more shall be done. I've been blessed in this aspect.

Just hoping to discover the mojo in life and improve myself.

Tip: Le Petit Smith Haut Lafite 2018, ripe currants, inky flower petals, mild herbs, commendable

Month of August 2023

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

Having lost a few kilos and trying to reduce more, I was thinking how to keep myself motivated. It's tough having to eat less so I rather burn more calories. That meant more and higher intensity activities. I did badminton with new friends and was breathless after an hour. Also tried new jogging routes near home and at Botanic Gardens. The furthest distance achieved was 4.7km and the cramps lingered for a couple of days. Walking was easy but the time efficiency value wasn't great. Among the various exercises, the most convenient was planking. It started with one minute in the morning after I wake up and then increased to two minutes at which I'm maintaining for now. The weighing scale remained stuck when compared to last month.

There were a number of meet ups with friends and business associates from overseas. Somehow, they managed to spread out and there was lunch/dinner appointment every week this month. In between, I visited Batam for site survey with two of them and stayed overnight. It's been such a long time since my last trip there and much changes were in store. New department malls, outdoor cafes and industrial developments sprouted everywhere. For a while, it felt like Singapore, where construction and road digging were part of the landscape. But there were also many empty storefronts and factories. Cost of living was affordable.

The best moment this month was to celebrate my wife's birthday. By some luck, we sneaked in last minute and watched the latest Mission Impossible movie at a Gold Class cinema. It's amazing how this franchise lasted so long and able to keep us captivated for almost three hours! Ethan Hunt will have to retire some day so let's enjoy while it lasts. Fortunately, I managed to refrain from visiting the restroom after restricting myself to a cup of ice lemon tea. Straight after, we went for dinner at Claudine. We already had fries and chicken wings earlier, so decided to manage the portions and ordered a pork terrine, tomato salad, cod and scallops. They came well plated like a garden and tasted delicious. The masterful technique was certainly a French culinary display, with the Ponderosa tomato dish a standout. Despite our full bellies, the meal rounded off with two desserts and a lovely digestif. Sometimes, we just have to indulge ourselves a little.

Tip: Iyo Kagiya Black Junmai Ginjo, nice aroma, mild candy floss and pear, supple finish

Month of July 2023

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

The recovery from my nose ops is going well. I'm able to take deep breadths through the nostrils compared to perpetual stuck feeling previously. The doctor was optimistic that things should get even better after the scabs from healed areas drop off eventually. Yet, I have to live with reduced sense of taste and smell for now and it's probably at least two to three months later that I could enjoy an aromatic meal properly. At the moment, there's a weird dried blood and rotting smell lingering in the nasal cavity. Also, I was advised to lose at least 8kg in order to achieve a better outcome post surgery. Well, after being on a light liquid diet for almost three weeks, half of that was gone! The bigger challenge lies ahead.

The National School Games season started for the youngest son which took place over two weeks. His rugby team had to play nine games, each lasting ten minutes. Last year, due to Covid, the rules were tweaked towards touch rugby but that changed to full contact now. It was rather entertaining to watch the boys of various sizes going up against each other, in full sunshine and muddy conditions. My boy did pretty well as he started all the games, compared to last year when he was mostly a substitute. It was a swift transition from being hesitant to unafraid of going in a tackle. His ball handling improved and there was a semblance of tactical team play.

There was another business travel clocked as I headed to Jakarta with a colleague. We arrived on a weekday evening, had dinner and headed to bed early. The next morning, the alarm went off at 3am as I freshened up to go to the airport once more. We had planned a day trip to Palembang for a site meeting and plant visit. Our hosts were very kind to provide snacks and meals which were mainly fried and fish related as they were near the sea. Everything went smoothly until the evening when we encountered the notorious traffic jam, reaching the check in counter forty minutes before flight time. Dinner was a disappointment as we settled for A&W and got served a very dry beef burger while root beer was out of stock. The highlight of this trip was I took four flights in four days, using three different airlines where two were for first time experience (Batik Air and Citilink).

Tip: Marc Soyard L'Equilibriste Rouge 2019, light natural wine with mini bubbles on an inky palate

Month of June 2023

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

It's the school holidays and many families were heading out of Singapore, away from the heat as well. Last month, we planned for a trip to Desaru in mid June and after booking the hotels, then realized the eldest son's passport was expiring. Quickly, the renewal application was done in end May and we reckoned there was enough time. As for me, I had to make a different trip in the first week of June. Some cousins and I arranged to visit our Aunt C's family in Australia. She had passed away three months ago (as mentioned here). In the day time, we visited places like South Melbourne Market, Queen Victoria Market and Mornington Peninsular. At dinner, it was spent with one or more of the family members, depending on who was free after work. Our final night coincided with my late Aunt's birthday. So it was a large gathering with hotpot and BBQ, one of her favorite activity and a celebration of her life. But the tears would not hold back as we sang a birthday song for her, toasted using her self kept 30 year collection, a Martell Cordon Bleu. I think we achieved closure of sorts and my sister in Singapore later told me she dreamt of my Aunt that night who looked happy before walking off without a word.

After returning home, the email from ICA finally came to collect the passport. Alas, I had mixed up the passport renewal! Somehow, my blur self input the details of the second son and there was probably no time to make another one. But we tried and hoped for the best. In the end, it was futile and we had to miss the Desaru beaches. It's my fault, I should have double check. So I promised the kids there would be a trip at year end.

Since the above happened, with a week of break, an appointment to the ENT doctor was made to diagnose my snoring problem. It was a Friday morning when the visit was made, a quick half hour endoscopy and the doctor concluded I had to do a sleep test that night. A device was issued and I just followed the instructions before going back the next morning to submit the results. The two main points I heard were; my sleep breathing stopped an average 14 times an hour and oxygen level was terrible, not the worse but getting there. A reading below 95% indicated concern and my situation certainly belonged to the more serious spectrum. Medically, I had sleep apnea and affected about 30% (and growing) of local population, the doctor said. The options were clear, it was either machine assisted breathing or surgery. I chose the latter. This was scheduled two days later. It was my first surgery under general anesthesia as it involved straightening of the septum, shrinkage of turbinates and adenoids, uvula reduction and shaving of tonsils. Lying on the surgical table, I looked up at the many hands moving around and heard the quick commotion to set things up. Then, the oxygen mask was put on my nose and a voice said, "Now I need you to give me five deep breaths. One....two....three..." I didn't make it to count four. Recovery is now well underway.

It's been a wish of mine that kids need to at least learn swimming and cycling as life skills. While my kids achieved the former in their kindergarten age, the lack of bicycle and space delayed the other development. Starting four years ago, the eldest began riding. Today, they can hop onto two wheelers without fear after the youngest completed his lesson recently. Next, I hope to bring them together for short PCN rides to cafes and explore our sunny island.

Tip: Chief's Son 900 Standard Single Cask, balanced sherry with slight oak, noticeable spice and smooth going

Month of April 2023

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

There's an unpleasant theme being carried over from last month. My dad called me while I was in office. His eldest brother had just passed away in the hospital. Aged 74, leaving behind his wife, two married children and two grandchildren. Uncle H was a small built man with a healthy tan who worked the tough jobs in construction. As far as I could tell, he and my auntie went through a challenging life in raising their children. They could be considered below average income earners and Uncle H did odd jobs from his fifties after physical exertions took its toil on his weary body. Their livelihood was very uncertain and difficult. Yet, every CNY, they gladly welcomed us with a sumptuous seafood hotpot, until one year, we stopped visiting and I never saw them thereafter. That was about ten years ago. So I finally got to reunite with my cousins and auntie at the funeral. From them, it was established that Uncle H suffered from lung cancer that spread to the brain. One chemotherapy session later, he waived off further treatments and his condition rapidly deteriorated. From diagnosis to death was a mere six months. He was what a doctor call a classic case; heavy smoker and drinker since young who met his fate. Rest well, Uncle H, what's past is now over.

Then, I got to experience a surreal moment in a conversation with my wife. We were on the way to dinner and I was driving. She put down her phone after a series of texting and gave a little sigh. Our friend and ex neighbour just informed that she has stage 2 breast cancer that spread to the lymph nodes. Seriously, what is happening! She's in her late forties with two school going children. Fortunately, a treatment plan is in place and she's determined to follow through, even if it includes removing her mammary glands. There's a saying that bad news come in threes and I'm witnessing that within a month, all related to people whom I have known for a significant part of my life.

During lunch with a banker friend, he disclosed his recent medical check up results. It was part of his annual health screening that he passed without fuss for the last 20 years. This year, red flags were raised. He was borderline high on cholesterol and blood pressure but felt fair enough due to his nature of work and perhaps stress induced. What concerned him more was a similar pattern observed in blood sugar and that completed the trinity of the three highs! I could see his eyes getting a little misty, unbelieving of what was presented. He exercised twice a week, looked fit and was within acceptable weight. Absent of any signs, this was like suddenly falling into a deep hole without realization. Refusing medication, he's going to try to modify his lifestyle and watch the diet. I wished him the best.

Maybe it was coincidence that an insurance friend called me. We met up for coffee and she began by warning me that a newly revised policy on Medishield for cancer claims had been implemented. In short, coverage was restricted to MOH's cancer drug list and within individual claim limits. So a consumer has to decide whether to buy additional cover. My thoughts are the claimable amounts were too little and cancer seemed to be prevalent, even if medical advances meant bigger recovery possibility when detected early. Without hesitation, I purchased the Singlife Cancer Cover Plus (for my wife and I) which has an annual claim limit of $1.5m and allowed any medication. The official business was done and we enjoyed a great meal of rosti with ice lemon tea. I was impressed by the skillful cooking for a small cafe that focused on waffle and ice cream. My kids would love the many other delightful items and I hope to bring them soon. By the way, the name of the place is Carrara. A slight tongue twister and one that I almost mistook for the Porsche icon.

Tip: Kamimaru Junmai Daiginjo 40, good acidity, mellow scent and heavy body

Month of January 2023

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

It's been a bumpy start to the year. I got a new Apple SE Watch mainly for the health monitoring function and tracking my activity level. Another attractive feature was the emergency call function in the event of a fall detected. So I went on a jog on the first day of 2023 with determined thoughts for a fresh new year. It was a rather comfortable pace with 3.5km completed. I felt good and healthy. One week later, it was my company's annual dinner event. As was expected, it was lively and busy. The next day, my body showed signs of fatigue with heavy legs and dry mouth. I tried to overcome the tiredness by sleeping and drank lots of cooling water. Things seemed normal as I returned to work. That night, a fever began to appear and kept me tossing throughout. A doctor's visit was inevitable and I was prescribed medication for viral fever. One of these, Anarex, helped to relieve muscle tension and headache. It worked well for a couple of days until I noticed general muscle weakness when I couldn't even write my signature properly. So I stopped the medication but the fever remained and left me irritable. On the fifth day, I had to go back to the doctor. There wasn't much improvement and it was starting to get me worried. After an examination, the doctor decided to draw blood for dengue check. My instinct told me it shouldn't be as the feeling was more like a bacterial infection. Fortunately, the next day's result turned out to be none of them. 

The second son started his new adventure in secondary school. With the kids off to different schools, we are trying to work around the schedules and gaining new experiences in navigating the morning traffic. At the end of the orientation week, parents were invited to commemorate the finale with the school badge presentation and a campfire. It was a symbolic event to officially welcome the new students. Through continuous and enthusiastic singing, I could feel the bond being forged among them with healthy respect among the different house colors. Hopefully, this strong spirit can put them on the path towards fruitful friendships, mutual encouragement in studies and sports, growth in maturity and a rewarding four years.

The resumption of Chinese New Year visits was eagerly anticipated. Amid long hours of mahjong, lunch/dinner and playing cards, it was fun catching up with family members not seen for over two years. There were announcements on upcoming weddings for a number of cousins, updates on children and changes in job status or lifestyle. One of more notable mentions was my niece who's in dentistry and urgently looking for participants in dental procedures. She needed referrals so as to complete the course requirement. It's not easy nowadays as schools no longer provide such resources. It was at the same gathering that I saw two of my uncles, L and P, in their late sixties who suffered from stroke and dementia respectively. L was a high flying corporate executive for many years till he retired, got struck by illness and left incoherent, seated in a wheelchair now. P was once flamboyant with a loud voice, being the outstanding one in any party. Now, he looked mostly dazed and trying to figure out his surroundings, spoke in soft tones and slimmed down by half. This was a poignant moment to understand that life can get unstuck when you least expected it. So, live meaningfully, enjoy family moments and find happiness while lifting those around you.

Tip: Ardberg Grooves, charred smoke, pickled orange, bacon. A mouthful that lingers

Month of December 2022

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

As part of national service requirement, I get free basic health screening around my birthday each year. The result determines whether I'm fit to carry out IPPT and vocational work. For the last six years, it had more or less delivered the same verdict and that is, cholesterol level remained elevated and I'm cleared for all duties. That's about it and I had relied on this for an indicative state of health but do not know the details. This year, somehow in my peripheral view, certain advertisements kept appearing to remind me to go for a health checkup. It was this nagging feeling that an appointment at Lifescan Medical was made two months ago while pulling my wife along who had not done one for even longer. They provide various packages (both private and corporate) and after searching, I found a UOB promotion that cost $215, much lower than their website rate. On the day, we walked in at 930am to begin the investigative tests i.e blood, eye, chest and general consultation. I found the stool sample most difficult to provide as I didn't want to make an additional trip. Three days later, the result came out. There was a slight apprehension when I opened the email. It was well presented and neatly summarized in the first few pages before providing the details. So, the outcome provided a sense of relief as the cholesterol continued to be an outlier. My right eye needs further consultation for possible signs of glaucoma. Slight concern but probably nothing to worry about.

The World Cup in Qatar may have been controversial but that's another day for debate. For me, it was about living the moment as a fan. In the group stage, I caught a couple of games with the two younger ones at Macdonalds. Obviously, I was the more enthusiastic one while the youngest just wanted to have his ice cream and fries. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable. Then I managed to watch few more games partially onboard a cruise. The late night games were too much of a stretch. It wasn't until the final that I got together with a group of friends. I'm glad we did because it was such a great match. Our hearts raced along with the pulse of the proceedings as Messi and co fought hard only to be pinned back. The majority in the group supported Argentina (in spirit and in bets) as the voices grew louder with each exciting moment. Luckily we were at my place, freely imbibing sake and yakiniku as snacks. Imagine the joy erupted when the last penalty was converted. It was a happy late ending but the yawns were setting in. Even my wife who is not a football fan stayed throughout. I hope this atmosphere can be recreated again in four years time.

On a rare afternoon where most fathers could take leave, we gathered the children from 7 - 13 years old and went for the Ice Magic at MBS Bayfront. We were geared up for winter and fortunately did not underestimate the temperatures inside. It was freezing and any exposed skin would feel numbing in few minutes. My ears bore the suffering and yet, I saw a family of four (presumably foreigners) who wore shorts! The queues at the slide took forty minutes and the adults stood in line while the kids went running around. From the excited face of my youngest son and him rolling on the ground, it must have been really fun since he had wanted to see snow. We had to take multiple breaks just to keep warm. The good thing about going in a group is that the adults could take turns minding the kids. Thus we managed to stay for two hours before heading off for dinner with twenty pax without reservation. Quite a challenge but luck was with us as a Japanese restaurant took us in.

There wasn't much time left as I tore the paper tab off and contemplated the $20 worth left. I'm referring to the soon-to-be-extinct coupon that had served the public for so long. My remaining pieces showed the final year of usage as 2022. I remembered fondly the situations when a coupon's time was about to expire and had to run to insert an extension piece. Or the time when parking in the CBD for half a day, you got to sit in the car for a few minutes just to tear the required amount and display 50 cents (half hourly) coupons across the dashboard. Or just taking a gamble when parking overnight in the open at a HDB amidst a sea of cars and not using a coupon, hoping the attendant did not check. It proved there were hardworking ones who actually prowled the car parks even at 3am! Or the lorry drivers who put in the required coupon but shoved within a crowded windscreen of used coupons. I always wondered whether that was a deliberate tactic to dissuade an attendant from inspecting. It was inevitable that the coupon would be replaced by technology, a parking app. In one more day, what it holds would just be sentimental value that grew with me over two decades.

Tip: Ron Zacapa XO, sweet maple, gula melaka, medium bodied covered by little spice

Month of June 2022

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

For the past ten years until Covid struck, I used to frequent a coffee shop near my office that among others, housed a Teochew porridge stall run by a pair of early fifties couple. They were down to earth, got ready very early everyday for the morning workers and closed after lunch. My favorite breakfast was french beans, eggplant and braised tofu with a small bowl of porridge that cost $2.80. Such affordable and comfort food. During the WFH phase, I probably went to office about once a week and dropped by the stall twice in 2021. The price had risen to $3.30 for the same combination. The couple retained the same vigor and eagerness despite the slow business. Somehow, I did not manage to visit thereafter and early this month, made the long awaited trip. Getting off the car and looking in with excitement, what greeted me at 630am was a brightly lit frontage with many trays of food ready to be served. Not bad, it appeared things were looking up. When I got to the stall, the couple were not around, instead it was manned by three guys in uniform with various tattoos on their arms, looking dreary at proceedings. The signboard had also changed and the feel not as cosy as before. Unfortunately, I do not know the names of the couple (since they were addressed as Uncle and Aunty) and not taken a photo of the stall before. I walked towards another usual haunt for Ban Mian and the stall keeper was no longer the young Chinese man with a thick Southern accent. They are probably economic victims of the pandemic and needed an income replacement elsewhere. Sadly, these strangers whom I had not acquainted with left without notice after ten years of breakfast service and all I can only say is to wish them the best of whatever life brings them next.

Ever since I contracted Covid, one of the action item I wanted to tick off quickly was the annual IPPT. This year, I had to do it twice. In the first session, after completing the static stations, it was decided to cancel since the weather wasn't cooperative. When the announcement was made, you could immediately see a group of twenty inch closer to the trainer as if the instruction was not clear enough. They wanted to appeal the cancellation as it was their last chance before the test window closes. Of course, many disappointed faces emerged after. The booking system reopened a day later and I quickly secured the next available slot which was an evening one a few days later. My memory of the second session was running my lungs out in the 2.4km and scrapped through for a silver award by seven seconds! Very close shave there.

To round up, the last week of the month was spent serving this year's reservist requirement. Not much going on in the unit except preparation for the very important celebration of SAF Day on 1 July. Well, I just played a small part by manning the office area while the regulars get on with their work.

Tip: Gran Maestro Primitivo 2019, gooseberry, plum and menthol. Decent sample

Month of May 2022

I have a narrow nasal passage and mostly breathing through mouth when asleep. Hence, my throat typically feels very dry after a night's rest. On Mother's Day, I woke up feeling the same but my wife told me to do ART test because she thought my overall condition looked different. The result came back negative and we proceeded for a dim sum meal with the kids and her mum. The next morning, I thought to do the test again just to be sure. This time, it was positive! As I recall, the infection probably came from the office environment where I was present for 2 days. Soon, my second son joined me in the isolation room and we were together until I got the all clear. Now, I have this nagging lower backache and no matter what position I adopt, the discomfort remains. Can only hope this clears up soon.

The bi yearly CPR/AED course was due and this time, the first day theory lesson was conducted online. The trainer was very sticky to ensure the participant's face was visible throughout for audit purpose. Learnt some new updates such as no need for bandage if victim suffered from jaw dislocation, continuous chest compressions without need to blow air into the mouth etc. Second day was in the classroom for practical tests on bandaging, rescue actions and injury management. I thought the most meaningful takeaway was that as a first aider, you improvise during a situation so as to preserve life. If you are given a chance to learn, go for it.

By now, most people would have heard about the coming inflation environment or is it already here? For the unaware, the loose monetary policy of the US Fed led to cheap and easy money during the start of Covid. As companies and individuals went on spending spree, they racked up large amounts of debts. Now, with the global economy showing recovery signs, the days of almost free money are about to end. Interest rates are rising and coupled with a tightened monetary policy, there will be pain for those servicing debts accumulated earlier. Buying food has also become an expensive trip as price of ingredients soars, wages increase due to short labor supply and rental adjustments to compensate for higher mortgage repayments. India has halted sugar export, Malaysia did likewise for fresh chicken and I'm sure more to follow. The ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is now showing as they are major suppliers of wheat, fertilizers and energy which are impacting food and industrial productions. For the average Joe and more so the below average ones, I expect a tough time till mid 2023.

Tip: Umenoyado Junmai Daiginjo, off dry with a tinge of fruity and sweetness

Month of April 2022

So it has finally happened. After 2 years of valiant resistance against Covid, my wife became the first in the house to test positive. The usual tell tale signs were there i.e cough, sore throat and lethargy. She was very confident even though she had negative returns for the first 2 days. And she was to be proven right. The recovery process went uneventfully as she isolated herself in the room while the children and I continued with our daily routine.

With the almost full relaxation of Covid measures, it's definitely a relief although I previously mentioned here that life during this period was quite enjoyable as well. This month saw the resurgence of road traffic especially at the Causeway Link to Malaysia. While I do not have relatives there, I was happy to hear colleagues reporting their joy of being able to reunite with family after so long.

One day while driving, I brought up the topic of maturity to my kids. With the combination of different ages and characters, sometimes it really drives me up the wall with their nonsense. But after the car ride, I reflected on my tone and was appreciative that they were still growing up in a normal way. Time will hopefully mold them well.

Whenever I look in the mirror nowadays, there is the gradual realization that age has really caught up. This was the motivation as I arranged a photoshoot for an individual portfolio. It was over in less than an hour and 4 softcopies were given to me 3 days later for a price of $148. The pictures captured a nice life moment as I strive to make more meaningful memories.

Tip: Ohmine 3 grain Yamadanishiki, unami sweet, smooth melon and dangerously delicious

Finance Investment Movement 20

A quarter of the year has passed and it has been mostly about expending cash on recurring items such as insurance premiums, tax payment and CPF contribution.

One of those usual invoice came from Cordlife. It's for the preservation of stem blood cells of my firstborn and so far, 15 years of dedicated storage. But my wife and I decided to stop this on the grounds that we most likely wouldn't need to utilize in future, the sample quality might have deteriorated over time and there's no end to this payment if we chose to continue. While I appreciate the efforts of the service staff to retain the account, I rather move on and save the $267.50 annual fee, with a slight crossing of fingers that the decision turns out right.

This month marks a significant milestone whereby I have achieved Full Retirement Sum in the CPF through a combination of top up and OA to SA transfer. That also sadly means I won't be able to claim tax relief for SA top up next year onwards. In any case, doing this now just brings forward the achievement since job contributions would have done the same by year end. Now, let compounding work its magic!

Tip: 2nd Pez 2019, fresh fruits, slight chocolate with mixed berries. A little tight for now, wait

Month of March 2022

Updated finance page.

https://drinkingspot.blogspot.com/p/finance-sharing.html

I took my Pfizer booster shot at the start of the month. The side effects (or lack of) were much better than earlier rounds, just a couple of days feeling tired and a sore arm. But if given a choice, I wouldn't have wanted this. My reasoning is, having been fully vaccinated, the consequence would be rather mild if I fall sick. That also helps in building natural immunity. Also, there were already many close contacts who had succumbed and recovered. When the drug companies announced findings to support a fourth booster shot or perhaps even regular annual shots, I could see the dollar signs in the eyes and nothing else.

For this post's recommended drink, it came from a new japanese restaurant that my wife and I visited. It's called Goku Omakase and located at Robertson Quay. For the price point and quality of food served, it's value for money and we were so full at the end of dinner. Nothing too fancy was served but it shouldn't take long before we are back again.

Perhaps the best uplifting news of the month was the government's announcements of relaxation of Covid measures. They came earlier and were better than I expected. While the travel lane is open towards Malaysia, I'm not so sure as to how the implementation will be like. Thus, it should be much later that any consideration for travel is revived.

Tip: Harukasumi Green Label Junmai Ginjyo, rich and flavorful, slightly sweet