SimonSimple

In the race of life, finishing well is most important.

Hi People

Last year I took part in a special mini triathlon - each team of 3 needed at least to have someone with a diabetes related medical condition. My team was made up of an able bodied secondary school boy, my very fit daughter and me, the chap with diabetes.

On my epitaph I want these words to appear: “Here lies a sweet man.”

Having lived past the CPF-able age, I have come to believe that whilst it is important to start well, it is more important to live well and most important to end well.

I have said it before and I will say it again. How are you doing in your Third Age? Is it a long one? (Preferred answer is at least 25 years, First Age being the first 25 years of your life spent educating yourself, the Second Age being the next 25 years spent earning a living, and the Third Age should be at least another 25 years enjoying a well deserved time doing exactly what you enjoy most - it could be work or something else).

See Eugene O’kelly’s story in ‘Chasing Daylight’. He was the CEO of KPMG worldwide. He managed to complete his book before he succumbed to brain cancer a few years ago at age 53.

As the Beijing Olympics closed last Sunday with a resounding success I thought it apt that we take time to reflect on the race of life. We are well into the second half of 2008. In a way you can likened it to a life half spent and wonder if there were errors made and a new resolve to live the second half of the year or life in a more productive and meaningful way.

In any race, last is not so bad, if you did it well. Don’t count the years. Make your years count. It’s always best to do things that will last!

Hi People

Within a week I visited the Civil Service Club twice. And had a wonderful time. On Thursday 7 August it was bowling with my eldest daughter in the evening. My score was credible, averaging 125 for my 3 games with a high score of 131. My daughter’s game was improving by the week. She has great style and accuracy. If only she hits the 1st and 2nd or 1st and 3rd pins. Anyway, the main point is that father and daughter had a swell time together. We had cycled there and parked and chained the bikes at a lamppost. However, it was raining cats and dogs when we finished our bowling game at 10 pm and we decided to hail a taxi home.

The following morning at about 10 am I took a brisk 15-minute walk over to the lamp post and retrieved one bike and cycled home. Then later in the evening at about 10 pm I took another brisk 15-minute walk over and retrieved the other bike and cycled home, stopping at the neighbourhood supermarket to buy some groceries. With too many bags of goodies with me, I decided to park and chain the bike at the staircase railings on the ground floor.

Big mistake! The next morning when I walked the dog, I discovered that the bike was gone. Object lesson. Never retrieve your bike in the evenings. OR never chain your bike close to home but at a place further away from home. OR don’t return home without your bike!

Surprisingly there was not a trace of emotion like being disappointed over the loss of the bike. If at all, I felt that we are in desperate times and perhaps the thief needed the bike more than I. What was touching was the reaction from my daughter. She said, “Never mind dad, we’ll get you a new one as a present”.

Then on Monday my daughter had a day off (in lieu of the public holiday, our National Day, that fell on Saturday, a non working day for her). This time we had my wife join us and walked over to the club. We also had our Mongolian friend and his 2 daughters and a nephew join us in the swimming pool. What was satisfying was observing my daughter having a great time with her mother, no doubt receiving all the motherly advice in preparation of life ahead with her dearly beloved.
-
We rounded off the day with a wonderful lunch and ice cream (for the little kids and big ones too). We parted company with our Mongolian friends and the 3 of us adjourned for a movie. My daughter had thoroughly enjoyed the day with 2 mummies - her mummy, my wife, and the other Mummy, the movie.

What was the object lesson for the last few days? We lost a bicycle but found the simple pleasures of family bonding through spending quality and quantity time together - cycling, bowling, walking, swimming, chatting, sharing a meal and watching a movie.

Lose the need to work all the time and find the time to enjoy the simple things - a new meaning to Lost & Found.

Hi People

It has been 2 years since I first started blogging in August 2006. I have not reached the magical ‘100′ yet but am close to it. I believe then the ‘tipping point’ will follow and my blog will register ‘hits’ by the thousands each day like some young ladies we know. Somehow one needs to set targets and then when we take stock we can gauge how we are doing.

I wanted to launch my book on 08.08.08 but must admit that though the bulk of the book is completed the finished product is yet to come. Another launch date is planned for October, if not then there is 31 December 2008. The beauty of being ‘retyred’ is that you are accountable only to yourself and deadlines are not a matter of life and death!

August is a time to feel proud that I am a Singapore citizen. For many years I joined the throng of eager Singaporeans and non Singaporeans at this annual event. I have witnessed the National Day Parade (NDP) at the National Stadium and the Padang.

Last Saturday my wife and I had the good fortune to have 2 coveted tickets to the NDP preview at the Marina Bay. We used to bring our children along when they were younger. Some years back when they were in their late teens somehow the military parade, massive displays, including the aerial ones and the fireworks no longer ‘fired’ them!

Minus the kids, my wife and I enjoyed the Red Lions (parachute drop by the commandos), F-16 Fly past, Black Knights Aerial Display and the amazing fireworks still worked for these 2 oldies! I felt a sense of pride to be a Singaporean singing the national anthem. Do you remember the lyrics?

When we were holidaying in Australia 3 months ago our bus driver cum tour guide to Phillip Island to watch the Penguin Parade got the whole busload of tourists to sing their national anthem. The Americans, the British, the Chinese, the New Zealanders, the Irish, the French all belted out their national anthem with gusto.

The only 2 Singaporeans were my wife and I. Thankfully I was seated at the very rear end of the bus and was able to mouth some of the lyrics where I had a temporary lapse of memory as my wife sang out loud. I did feel a little disappointed at myself although I consoled myself that I left high school some 40 years ago and had not sang the Majulah Singapura on a regular basis. I submit to you Singaporeans: do learn the lyrics of our national anthem as a true blue Singaporean.

Now stand to attention and proudly sing out loud these lines below.

Mari kita rakyat Singapura
Sama-sama menuju bahagia
Cita-cita kita yang mulia
Berjaya Singapura

Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru

Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura

Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura

God bless Singapore!

Have a Happy National Day on 09.08.08!