Month of August 2026

As my car's COE wind down, the stubbornly high price of a new COE bugged me for a long while (See here). Since last year, I attended the motor show and visited several showrooms to test drive various models. Keeping in mind there would be no new registered ICE cars after 2030, I had to make a decision. One of the EVs I tried almost convinced me but the price was still a hurdle. Eventually, it came down to a few points; a SUV/MPV with decent bootspace, no odd colors, no engine capacity bigger than 2000cc and an annual depreciation of $20000. New or resale didn't matter. The Toyota Noah and Honda Stepwagon were strong contenders but my wife disapproved. One morning, I was browsing through the webpages and saw a secondhand Audi Q3. I hadn't considered it before and called to make an appointment for viewing. The salesperson, J,  gave a good introduction and we sat in the car, fiddling the buttons while stating my requirements. I liked it yet in terms of quantum, it caused me to hesitate. We continued exploring other cars and came across a high spec BMW X3 within my budget. Every box was ticked but if only for its reputation. More than two hours passed and I was ready to leave. Walking towards the lift, out of the corner of my eye, a new car parked into the lot that was empty an hour ago. Oh, it was a Mercedes GLB, likely beyond my affordability and since no information sheet was available, I requested more from J. Turned out this was the 200 Sport variant that just arrived, still unadvertised. I might as well looked at its interior for reference. As J flipped multiple sheets to find its price, I was quite impressed by the condition and feel. Finally, he quoted me a depreciation of $22500. My heart flinched, it was out of reach. Never mind, he said, let's try to work something out. We took it out for a ride and he was inspecting the car, like me, for the first time. This felt right at home. Then we sat down and he wrote out the numbers. Given a small discount, trade in and a year's warranty, I decided to just YOLO. It's living out a little dream albeit with a cost. I'm so excited and can't wait to get driving, so what if it's only a few more years. Meanwhile, I bade a sad goodbye to my trusty X-trail who accompanied my family for the past 9 years and 8 months. It carried baby seats, stroller, golf bags, fruit boxes and the occasional Christmas tree without fuss, never gave a problem or let me down.

The National School Games have reached its conclusion this year. My youngest son was heavily involved after being a substitute the previous season. I didn't manage to catch all his rugby games and relied on a supportive parent's recordings for highlights. Generally, he's become a dependable team member known for quick recovery pace and often brave in his tackles. Well, I think his speed is thereabouts and can improve, however I am delighted by his courage when taking opponents down, often much bigger and many of whom play for clubs. It pleases me to watch his development, even his former coach (who is now a rival) was surprised by the unexpected transformation. Let's see in two years, with more training, how his broadening shoulders and increasing height will make him a menace on the field.

Tip: Shirakabegura Kimoto Junmai, soft apple and very dry, pair with oily fish

Month of July 2026

The kick off to the second half of the year had been furious. It felt many things happened and the days were compressed especially at work. Maybe it's due to a sense of urgency since business had been rather muted. I spent a week in Jakarta for a work trip, met new faces and enjoyed the local cuisine. My last visit was four years ago and while most things remained the same, the noticeable change was the airport. It seemed to have been upgraded with new flooring and many retail shops in both the public and departure areas. Even on the route towards the boarding gate, there were plenty of options along the way. That's even more than what Changi airport offers.

A friend recently went jobless after selling his shares in the company he co-founded. We met for lunch and I was keen to find out more. Citing differences in opinion on the company direction, he sold out in order to focus on a side line dealing in car parts. He asked whether I have space in my office or home to help store of the parts he recently acquired. I thought these items were traded and mostly for immediate use, eliminating the need for much inventory. Then he revealed an interesting bit of information. As his clients are the car repair shops, there will be standard items to keep but this time, he received an order for a particular part of a certain Chinese EV brand vehicle. As he couldn't find locally, he contacted his China friend for help. The price was about $1500, including delivery. Instead of buying this, he decided to ask the friend to buy a brand new car and strip down to its bare bone, harvesting all the various parts. So instead of a box, now there were a few pallets of goods to ship and store. Was it worth it? After selling the car body and tyres, his net expense was about $7000. Cheekily, he mentioned an accident that requires a battery or motor change would be enough to justify this cost.

Tip: Yamakawa Mitsuo 2023 Spring, fruity dry, refreshing to pair with oily fish

Month of June 2026

It was a packed month of events comprising of birthday celebrations, attending exhibitions, office opening ceremony and my son's BMT passing out parade. I looked forward to the last event as plans were made to give ourselves enough time to find the location and snag a good viewing spot. Two days before that, my son messaged that he needed a ride home from the ferry terminal. I was puzzled since the timing wasn't right. It turned out there was an episode of mass coughing in the platoon and he was one of those affected. The medical officer had sanctioned a departure from Tekong camp to avoid spreading, I guess. Worse, he was listed as ill and unfit for the parade. So his moment in the limelight got taken away while the enforced rest was in place. Fortunately, after about a week, his condition improved and subsequently received a posting notice to the Artillery unit. Now, he's on the way to become a gunnery assistant.

I had a dinner event that ended late. By the time I reached home, it was past midnight. As I walked through the door, the lights were still on. My wife and second son were getting ready to bring our pet dog to the vet. He had just vomited and experiencing diarrhea. They left while I went to wash up. When they returned 1.5 hours later, I learnt a new term. The diagnosis was Giardia, probably caused by ingesting something bad and upsetting the intestines. It's actually quite common, especially for pets that walked outside the house regularly. Some may carry the disease but remain asymptomatic, spreading the infection through fecal excretion. So the poor boy had to be force fed tablets and liquid medicine for three days after which, his stool became solid again and could begin the road to recovery. We are in a dilemma whether to resume daily walks or hold back for a while more.

Tip: Umegae Junmai Daigingo, tempered sweetness, soft and enjoyable on its own

Month of May 2026

In a span of few months, I had to deal with recurrent shoe related issues. Once, walking in the CBD area towards a meeting, the right sole came off midway and became like a diver flipper as I limped back to car. Fortunately, there was a pair of semi formal shoes in the boot that I could change into before hurrying back to the appointment. Another time happened when I was jogging and that sports pair suffered the same fate. Again, I could drag myself slowly back home, enduring some curious looks along the path. In total, I counted five pairs of shoes that either had soles which came off or already lost its grip. These averaged around five years of usage so have reached the end of functional lifespan. However, there was a pair of working shoe that I had great affinity. It was bought at a Japanese outlet during a trip because it had a nice brown tan and more importantly, cheap. Over time, I realized it was quite versatile for different occasions, lightweight and fitted very comfortably. I remember the store seller saying it was made of full pig skin leather and true enough, lasted so many years without peeling. It was a pity to discard so I decided to try to save it by bringing to Mister Minit. The quote was $60 which I checked was reasonable. Four days later, I got them back and have worn a few times. As for the rest of the damaged shoes, I tried to find recycling options but nothing came up. They are still sitting in the storeroom waiting to be disposed.

As of the January post this year, I had to manage the load on my knee by walking and running less. More time was spent in the gym to improve back and core muscle group. During this period, the issue seemed to have gone away although there were slight aches as I increased the weights and repetitions in the hope of gaining more strength. Feeling more confident, I accepted a friend's invitation to play five-a-side futsal with a group of casual players. The first two times, the aches returned and cleared after three days, without any cold/hot compression or other treatment. I thought this was a good sign of improvement. Then on the third time, it became noticeably worse as I couldn't walk properly. It's back to the drawing board and more stretches required. Looks like I'm still not ready after all.

Tip: The Grand Spring Premium Grain, first of its kind crafted Baijiu from Singapore, smooth and non spicy, will be a hit

Month of April 2026

On a warm Tuesday morning, I was at Pasir Ris bus terminal together with my wife and eldest son. It was his enlistment day for National Service. Many had turned up with shaven heads, some came with grandparents and friends. The chatter noise was incessant, mostly laughter and a few worried looks. We took a twenty minute ride to the ferry terminal where we were transferred to Pulau Tekong School 4. The last time I set foot here was also for military related activity, a field camp. The place appears to be much more built up than before. We were given a tour of the facilities while the enlistees got registered. I thought the army really did well to allay the fears of parents by explaining the sleeping conditions, equipment and leisure matters. One lady picked up the field pack and expressed disbelief at its weight. The attending sergeant was calm in his reassurance. Carrying 15kg (low load) and running is expected. With training, the boys will be able to handle comfortably, eventually. Then, we went through a history tour before ending up at the auditorium. After a speech and oath taking, lunch time approached. Cookhouse is now only manned by outside operators, gone are the days where the cooks wore uniform, had a little potbelly and tattoo. Heavy rain had started pouring. My wife's first army meal tasted fine. We agreed it was a good effort to leave an impression. Three hours had passed since the bus ride. It was also time to say goodbye. A speaker voice called for the enlistees to line up. My son faded to the background, along with a neighbor's boy who was coincidentally here. He gave a wave as we walked towards the waiting bus. As a parent, I guess it's natural to feel worried even though I've been through this before.

During the period of confinement, I was quite surprised that recruits were allowed phone communications almost every day. So my wife and I received messages every two to three days. The first week was mainly administrative and learning basic marches and commands. Then the physical training schedule commenced along with tactical and combat lessons. Fast forward 18 days, the long awaited book out arrived. I couldn't recognize my son as he stepped out among a mass of uniformed bodies. He was darker and still skinny, had a bit of skin rash but otherwise fine. Happily, he introduced a classmate from primary school who happened to be in the same bunk. Familiar faces always help to settle down faster and in this short space of time, some of them had noticeably forged close bonds. In the car, a barrage of questions was launched as we gave a ride to another bunkmate to a location near our house. So it seemed the trainers had to abide a strict code of conduct. Those days of change parade, throwing things on the ground, being put in push up position for minutes etc are gone. My son's biggest challenge was not the laundry, physical exertion or lack of sleep but tying boot laces. I was laughing at how he got away by twirling them and just shoved above the gutters. In all seriousness, it was a basic skill that cannot be sidestepped. Exhaustion caught up as he opted to rest during the weekend but we managed to resolve the boot lace issue. Then I sent him back on Sunday afternoon to begin the cycle of BMT routine.

Tip: Chateau Nenin 2020, raspberry nose, good weight support, unassuming, drink now

Month of March 2026

As expected, petrol prices have shot up due to the ongoing Middle East conflicts. I'm trying to ration the number of driving trips, eat less outside, consolidate online purchases and spend more prudently. It was a surprise then, when my wife informed that certain air tickets around year end were still going at good early bird prices. Did demand for overseas travel drop that much? I can understand if it's regarding flights to and from the volatile regions. Within a day, I managed to snag tickets from Singapore to Sapporo (with one transfer) and Tokyo to Singapore for $580 each. There was no additional fuel surcharge indicated so probably got lucky there.

After years of inaction and inertia, a dinner date was set in Katong with three secondary school friends. I had no idea how they looked like now even in this age of social media. Good thing they were still recognizable as I arrived earliest. Interestingly, all of them were working for various banks in different areas. One was in payments, another in events and the last was doing product launch. We spoke like the old days, without inhibition and casual. Everyone has a family member who either is suffering from cancer or severely impaired due to age. Since we're of the same age, it's easy to relate how our lives have evolved even if the trajectory differs. The reason we came together boils down to a friendship forged many years ago. It was also to remember a classmate who, two months ago, slept and never woke again. No visible cause, no sign and no word left behind. I was at the wake and saddened to see his mother, a broken lady who lost her only son. He was the first among forty friends to fall. My heart aches whenever I think of him. Don't wait, go reconnect with people you love or once shared a fond memory with.

I was a proud parent after attending the graduation ceremony of my eldest son. He had completed a Diploma in banking and finance from SIM University. Being one of the youngest in the cohort, he held his own and in the process, I saw his development from being extremely shy to now having some friends to hang out with. Academically, there was not much to fret as he comfortably attained GPA 3 out of 4. He also found motivation to build up physically, from a failing 2.4km runner to being an average one now. Next, he heads to the army where as a Pes B soldier, there will be more challenges ahead. I await to hear the stories about this phase of life. 

Tip: Fleur de Clinet 2013, cassis with a little tobacco, easy and light, nose was underhit

Month of February 2026

Right before Chinese New Year, I made two working trips. The first to China was a routine one so as to celebrate the festive season with friends and colleagues before they break off for the holiday. The second to Malaysia was a last minute request by a client who wanted to have a meeting in person. However, this was easier said than done. As flights were typically full during this period, my colleague and I scrambled to find tickets to Kota Kinabalu. The number of flights out of Singapore were few and didn't match the timing we wanted. Another option was to go via Senai airport but that meant having to navigate the Causeway congestion. So we settled for the last resort which was to fly from Singapore to KL and do a transfer. Upon arrival at KL, we needed to obtain the next leg's boarding pass and went to the transfer counter. The service staff said it was available in the mobile application. My colleague had no issue. So I opened the AirAsia app and showed him that my details couldn't be retrieved. Therefore, I requested for a printout. He mumbled something into the walkie talkie then told me to go past immigration and check in again. There was about an hour before the next flight. Instead of spending time to go through passport control and security checks, I suggested to the staff to check his ticketing system and try to print out the boarding pass. He reluctantly tried and repeatedly toggled my mobile app. This went on for five minutes. A long queue had formed behind. He consulted his fellow staff seated beside and voila, a printed boarding pass appeared! The level of competency is well, on the next level and I was just glad to walk away. The day had just started and worsened with the aircraft coming in thirty minutes late. Our meeting was to start at 1500H and whatever buffer built in wasn't enough. It became a rush from touchdown, being late by twenty minutes and completed the meeting in two hours. Thereafter, we were on the road back to the airport, this time for a direct flight home. Finally, to hear the stewardess' voiceover, "To Singaporeans and residents of Singapore, welcome home", that always evokes a feeling of comfort, never mind even if it's already 2300H. It was also the first time I ever had breakfast, lunch and dinner in an airport on the same day.

After coming home from the above trip, the feasting period officially began. From reunion meals to buffet lunches, it was crunch time for the stomach. I had a number of irresistible hotpots and five loheis where I proclaimed Jade Palace's to be the best this year. In between, I tried to sneak in a bit of gym time and ginseng tea. At this point, I don't dare to step onto the weighing scale.

Tip: Benriach The Sixteen, butterscotch, apricot, honey, faint peat and creamy spice

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 October 2025

What is the longest and loneliest marathon?

It starts with a gasp of air and ends with a last breath.

That's finite and expended in a living body where

There's joy, tears, exhilaration, heartbreaks and a bit more.

Some you remember, others you choose to forget.

Each moment is made up of decisions.

Whether it's to college or be married to a first love.

Because no two persons are the same.

There will always be different viewpoints that

Brings pain from being misunderstood.

Sometimes you strive hard to make things right.

Only to fall short in the end.

Perhaps it's better to give and take.

The mundane, chaos and stress are frenemies.

What matters is the experience learnt since

This is a journey of never ending dilemmas.

Till when the head is full of white.

Then it's time to let go.

For the curtains to come down on the marathon of life.

Tip: Tignanello 2019, cold nose, surprise flower petals upon decanting. Young but ready

Month of September 2025

Have you seen AI generated videos or photos of ordinary people with celebrities? It's so real that it's almost impossible to determine its authenticity. That got me thinking how scary things could get with the continuous technology improvement. I imagine severe implications in law and order enforcement. How would a judge admit photo evidence and ensure proof of irrefutability? Similarly, immigration control's problem would be to discover identity fakes. In many other aspects, AI will change the way we see or value things. An AI persona can mimic a singer's style and create new songs, throwing musicians and copyrights out of the window. The interior designer probably needs to find a new role. Even the burger flipper might be out of job soon. Those affected naturally would feel threatened. Livelihoods are at stake. The resultant discord among people would lead to a less trusting world. The future horizon is more stress, ironically caused by a smart technology that was supposed to bring better quality of life.

During the one week school holiday, a few friends and I took off to Batam for a quick weekend trip. They had previously taken part in a local golf tournament and lauded its smooth organization. Reporting to the ferry terminal at 730am, storm clouds brewed overhead. The writing was on the wall. Expectedly, a heavy downpour accompanied our journey to the island. Tee off time was immediate upon arrival, around 930am. Amid a drizzle, we got dressed, took the customary group photo and proceeded to the first hole. The thing about golf is, you make merry regardless of the weather as everyone came with little expectations but just for an enjoyable game, mindless chatter and a good dinner afterwards. The course condition was water logged with soft ground and patchy grass areas. Our fortune turned for the better after the third hole as the weather eased off. The scorecard looked brutal even though the caddies were giving positive encouragement. We managed to complete the game, had a buffet lunch (bee hoon, stir fried vegetable, fried fish fillet and sambal chicken) before heading to the hotel for a rest. Since there was time before dinner, we decided to go nearby for spa. A good choice since I fell asleep barely twenty minutes in. The dinner spread was exactly the same as lunch, catering to about 250 golfers from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. We sat with a group of older couples and they were repeat participants of this event. Everyone seemed to know what's coming as they waited patiently for the golf prizes to be given out, enjoyed a musical performance and finally the lucky draw started. Last year, there were electrical appliances, golf accessories and vouchers. This year, it was all cash, starting from about $50. I must say, the sponsors were generous, top prize was $1000. Amid the noise and anticipation, one name after another were called. My friend won $100 for a "consolation" prize. As the draw came to a close, there were tired faces, it's nearly 10pm. The evening ended on a high when I got picked for third prize, $500 gift! The next day's golf was as casual, ate the same lunch combination again and departed for home. Indeed, the entire program was well executed with expedited immigration, logistics and attractive prizes. We should be back next year.

Tip: Hyakumoku Junmain Daiginjo, delicate sweetness, clean undertone to have on its own

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 2025

The first day of the month brought about the start of school holidays. It's also when home renovation started while my family flew off to escape the noise and dust. Our hideaway was two hours away, at the sunny paradise of Bali.

We went with no plan, only a broad idea of splitting the entire trip into three blocks. It began at Canggu where our temporary home was a three bedroom villa. The housekeeper waited for us even though it was almost 9pm when we arrived. Yet, our main concern was to tame growling stomachs. The cafes nearby typically close at 11pm and as we were to discover, most are like that throughout the island, probably to cater to tourist nightlife. It was the high season and crowds were visible everywhere. We took in a day trip to Ubud, hung around in Monkey Forest, visited rice plantation and a waterfall. Other activities included La Brisa, massages, haircut and lots of coffee. A highly recommended one is Baked. It's quite the life waking up at 10am, decide on a cafe and then do whatever you feel like.

That changed slightly when we moved to Nusa Dua. Here, the accommodation was an apartment within a hotel premise. Location wise, the roads are better paved and ideal for a quiet retreat, meaning not much within walking distance. The beach was average with lots of seagrass washed ashore, making it look rather dirty. The street outside had a number of restaurants but they were similarly priced like the hotel. Good thing that food delivery was easily available and certainly cheaper. An interesting bit is the delivery riders will message us to inform that they have received the order, thank us for being patient and then, some directly asked for a tip. If the distance was further, we gave 10 - 20k IDR. Most times were spent at the pool and gym. We also had a day at Tanjong Benoa to do watersports. Very importantly, the rooms were so comfortable that at the end of each day, I could lie in bed with a cocktail and just watch Netflix.

Our final stay was at Jimbaran where we had two hotel rooms on the same floor. The famed beach restaurants were right outside our doorstep and the main thing was to catch the sunset. By 4pm, tables were set as the tide receded. Horses appeared to give a ride for fee paying customers. The BBQ smoke was omnipresent no matter where one sat. Amid a man made fog and fading light, the evening view was worth the wait. Another enjoyable place was Waterbom Bali. The resort featured more than ten waterslides, each having a degree of thrill for different ages. The kids played for five hours straight. Other times, we lounged at the beach from late morning with a beer in hand and dipped into the sea which had the best sand and medium waves. Before you know, time just flew by.

This trip was blessed by excellent weather, wonderful cuisines, top notch service, convenient laundry shops, friendly street roaming dogs... the list goes on. Except for a short episode of Bali Belly, even the volcano eruption at Mount Lewotobi didn't matter, we just relaxed and went with the flow.

Tip: Torres Reserva Real 2018, punchy oak, graphite and dark mocha, ready to roll

Month of May 2025

Many of us often find ourselves deep in work and family duties mode, leaving maybe the weekend for a little time off. A friend commented that her job is fully flexible with a laptop yet she ends work typically after 8pm, so her social circle evolved to people whom she could meet during pockets of free time during a day. She seemed content with the ability to maneuver her activities although our conversation was occasionally interrupted by incoming phone calls seeking her inputs. Is this arrangement doable in most companies? Within a company setup, I think it's too difficult for certain functions such as logistics and customer service. The problem is how to provide enough options across different departments and ensure a level playing field. Even though the government promoted flexible work for some time now, I still don't see adequate solutions. My friend is fortunate to have found a suitable compromise.

There was a reunion with secondary school classmates where our last gathering was three years ago. It was interesting to find big contrasts in the individual circumstances. One went jobless last year, took up PHV license and currently works in a construction company. Another is a car salesman and just glad he didn't end up in the bottom five performers during the last review. He provided an intriguing observation though. Due to the pay slips he has access to, clients are better remunerated now and general spending power is strong. That goes against another friend in HR consultancy who commented that most residents are finding expenses tough. Then, everyone focused their attention on the friend who needed to borrow money from $5000 per person. A recent period of market volatility caused his trading account to be suspended. Probed further, he revealed an unknown broker name that traded in crypto leveraged products. The mechanism is, when a person puts funds in, it becomes part of a pooled liquidity. Basically, over few months, he made and withdrew more than $500k, so it seems legitimate. One fine day, margin call came, the platform froze along with its funds and requested everyone to top up. It's like a one for all, all for one scenario. The total sum required is $235k. We vehemently stated it was a scam. He stands to lose $2m in profit if it remains in limbo and I hope he will just let it go.

A cousin turned 50 and threw a mega celebration onboard a yacht. I wasn't keen to go as I had bad episodes of sea sickness before. The first time it happened was on a navy ship. The doctor prescribed a wrist aid and medication, none worked and I endured five days of headache and vomiting. As I got older, being a car passenger sometimes induced motion sickness as well. So I was very apprehensive before this birthday cruise trip and took medication while hoping for the best. As it turned out, I coped well and enjoyed the evening sunset. My wife fared worse as she drank a punched out mixture of alcohols and threw up. While heading to shore, there was more drama. The boat's power steering malfunctioned and we were left stranded at sea, drifting along with the waves. Rescue boats were activated and arrived to ferry us back on land. This added two extra hours and I was just happy to reach home and settle the wife in bed.

Tip: Charly Nicolle Chablis 2022, autumn pear, honeysuckle, young and fresh minerality

Month of April 2025

My father looks to be in better shape than his peers. He's been known as an avid exerciser for many decades and leads a disciplined life, waking up at 4am while being in bed by 10pm. As he got older, health issues such as high cholesterol and backaches started to appear. That's quite normal. Health checks over the years more or less gave the same reports and I guess it enabled him to feel assured even though they were not great results. About fifteen years ago, he was scheduled to have an angioplasty due to blocked arteries. Unexpectedly, on the procedure day, the doctor called it off as he couldn't find the problem that had manifested just weeks earlier. My father attributed it to his exercise regime and a homemade supplement which I call it the super (smelly) vinegar. Earlier this month, he met an insurance friend who recommended a policy and that provided a free health check. Coincidentally, the same heart specialist mentioned above was the panel doctor and since he knew my father's health history, suggested a CT scan. Together, we went for the results review. The doctor's opening statement went something like, "Your calcium score is very high." We were partly surprised because his ECG treadmill test was tip top. I learnt something new; calcium indicated the presence of fatty deposits. Then the breakdown of information came and to put it simply, there were two arteries flagging danger. It's deja vu as an operation has been fixed for early May.

On a work trip to Osaka, I had the chance to visit the ongoing World Expo. Miyaku, the mascot, was at the entrance to welcome many visitors, mostly locals from what I can tell. There were especially lots of students, probably a weekday excursion organized to let them appreciate the various countries' culture condensed within a pavilion. No matter where you go, queues of at least thirty minutes were common and mostly without shelter. Luckily, the temperature was pleasant although the place could do with more shades. Generally, each country tried to present a theme such as sustainability, city vibrancy etc. Unfortunately, it's not possible to even cover ten countries properly in a day. I liked the French vibe of fashion and aesthetics, the cheery optimism of Spanish colors and impressive technological advancements of the Saudis. Brazil and Indonesia were rather subdued. A cluster of smaller African participants gave a glimpse from a tourism angle. There's still five months before the site would be torn down and replaced by a casino resort, much like our MBS. Based on this initial impression, I would love to go again before it closes but worry over the summer weather.

As mentioned last month, I was on the lookout for new running shoes. In the same Japan trip, I visited Karuizawa for a half day shopping at the outlet. It's a first experience, one that's been on my mind ever since Terrace House appeared on Netflix. This quiet town is about an hour away from Tokyo and the outlet was just beside the train station. Super convenient and really expansive area, great for a day out with family. It's divided into east and west sectors with many prominent shop labels and some pockets of refreshments. Happily, I found what was needed at the Asics store, purchasing a Patriot 13 and Glideride Max for S$200 in total. Since then, I had tried once on both shoes and felt comfortable with the fit.

Tip: Alps Masamune Junmai Ginjo, smooth and easy, slight fizz, cleansing

Month of March 2025

There were lots of golfing done with four rounds played and a walkabout for the Liv event. The latter was the first time I watched live. Along with two friends, we gathered for the Saturday tee-off at Sentosa Golf Club. The heat started at 9am and stayed throughout. But the golf on display was even hotter. I witnessed from three feet away how a professional player could block out crowd ogling and launched one beautiful shot after another. Some of the plays were so ridiculously good that for the rest of us, it's only in our imagination. The margins are so fine at this level that you could also feel a player's pain at missing a crucial putt. The scenic course was transformed into a carnival atmosphere with music and screens placed all over. This enjoyable day was made even better when we ate a fine seafood lunch along with a cooling Chablis. My sunburnt neck and face were the only downers of a marvelous outing.

The weather's been playing games recently. One moment it's pouring heavily over days, then later switching to searing heat. This upsets my rhythm of a running routine as I couldn't slot in good intervals of rest. So to compensate for missing a run, I tried to go longer distance by 20% more. The consequence was immediate. Besides the usual tiredness, my calves cramped up and needed around two days for that feeling to subside. Shoes could be a contributing factor too. My current pair had been in service for three years so I thought to check out those suitable for 5-10km. Hope to find a cheap one over the next few months.

The youngest son suggested Haidilao for dinner over a weekend. Without reservation, we arrived early but were made to wait two hours. Good thing that we were not in a rush. While waiting, my second son completed a Rubik cube challenge and the reward was a free fried mantou dish. We were munching on freshly cooked french fries when our turn was called. The place was lively with many birthday celebrations and performances. I noticed there were several new food items and the soup base was cheaper. Final bill came up to 10% less than our usual spending.

Tip: Louis Jadot Macon Villages Blanc 2022, dry medium body, straight up day drink

Month of February 2025

For the first two weeks of the month, it was still CNY mood as visits continued for personal and work reasons. It wasn't plain sailing as I felt sick with sore throat and runny nose, yet knowing I have to turn up. On one occasion, after hanging around for half an hour, I left as the event had close to a thousand people. Too noisy and difficult to have meaningful conversations. There's no need to squeeze out of car park as well. Among other events, I got to make new friends and enjoyed a meal at Shangri La.

I was at a mall and needed to wait an hour before picking my son from school. The food court was crowded and I had to share a table with a young lady. While eating, she was glued on the phone, intently focused on the drama. With the loud volume, I inadvertently became her audience. My lunch was over in minutes and I quickly left. But there was still time to kill. The problem with malls nowadays is there are no public seats for a short break. So I went loitering around and might as well clock some steps. The shop, kskin, soon appeared and intrigued me since it offered fast service for a reasonable price. As I scanned through the options, a skincare specialist came forward. In the end, I paid $50 for a cleanse and glow facial. It's been more than ten years since I had one and due to CNY period, there was a lucky draw and I won a reed diffuser! This was unplanned and turned into a nice experience.

Due to an upcoming school cross country event, the younger sons were a little jittery over their inability to complete it. Hence we found an afternoon and went for a trial run, along with the eldest as well. The objective was simple; target 2km non stop jog and time individually. We did warm up amid a light breeze. It looked like it might rain but we opted to continue. At the start, the two older ones sped off. I was amazed at their pace but since my role was to follow the youngest, I thought it was easier. Yet he also strode rather quickly, at least for a kilometer, until he gradually slowed down. The old man in me tried to keep up as this was above my usual pace. Feeling a bit breathless, I had to nonetheless encourage the youngest not to stop. He eventually timed a little more than 6min/km. That was the first time we ran seriously together. Our next objective is to do this at least once a week and evaluate after a month on the improvements made.

Tip: Hakutsuru Alternative Junmai Daiginjo, slight aged and caramel, mellow and medium body

Month of January 2025

I had coffee with an old friend, J, who just quit his job a week before the meetup. Our friendship journey started when he joined the industry and my company was the first client he met as part of his training. We formed a natural partnership due to work requirements and got together regularly, for discussions and drinks. When J got married, I was one of few invited who was neither relative nor colleague. Later on, he had two children. We progressed well within our respective companies and even though I moved on to a new role, we still kept in good contact through sports and meals. So it was a shock when J informed that he tendered his resignation at the beginning of the year. He got stuck with office politics even though he's a middle manager and had a good relationship with his boss whom I also know. Over the years, J was an astute investor and the reward now is that he could afford to leave work without worries. It helped that his wife is in a good paying and stable job. J joked that he's now a full time dad and had no plans beyond the next three months. I have been fortunate to witness J's life, from this first job, to marriage and child, purchasing his first car and property and going from head of hair to half bald. Let's see where life takes him next.

It's been raining much and the weather's cool on most days. There's a chill and comfortable feeling at home, especially over the weekend. Great for hotpot, jazz music and soft conversations. But somehow, I had also been in situations that made me fume on a number of wet mornings. With a continuous drizzle, it's understandable that road traffic may be a little slow. Just this month alone, I encountered several instances of inconsiderate and dangerous drivers. A Honda tried to squeeze (at speed) onto a merging lane, a Benz drove into the yellow box that caused a jam for turning traffic during peak hour, a Lexus made an abrupt lane change on an upslope, an Audi weaved in and out of traffic and the usual BMW tried to do last minute filter out of an expressway. Among these, four of them had a private hire vehicle label though I don't think they were carrying passengers. A while ago, around 630am, I saw an old man (around 70 years) going at 60km/h on CTE lane 2. He was unable to keep his car in line and kept veering to the right before correcting. That's simply an accident waiting to happen. I tend not to dwell too long on such things but some people just shouldn't be driving.

The LA wildfires is a tragedy as the scale of destruction is monstrous. It gained more media coverage due to its celebrity enclave. In the aftermath, crowdfunding to rebuild the area started. That's mainly because most of the houses were non-insured or had been dropped at least six months prior. Why did the residents not safeguard their assets? The excuse of expensive premiums is a lousy one. If one can live in a prestigious neighbourhood, paying that bit more can be expected. Or one could have spent money to fireproof the exterior. Months of dry weather had given them ample warning to take action, yet most chose not to. This incident reminded me of a similar situation happening in Singapore. Senior citizens who live in private houses who couldn't afford to pay property tax. They cite sentimental value and being cash poor as reasons to ask for help. Well, if one does not have a big head, then don't wear a big hat. Every decision has a consequence. These people just got to live with theirs.

Tip: Domaine Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc 2021, lemon, persimmon, fine acidity wrapped in white flowers