Dear Folks,
We held our AGM on 10Mar09 next to the sea facing Sentosa and had seafood galore. There were 64 of us and 1 in 2 won CDs. The KAPAP demo was deadly and inspired some Bruce Lee wannabes to sign up for lessons. My take away? Don’t get into a fight and if you must, strike to stun, then scramble. Photos taken at event shall be posted at SnapFish. Photographer is old school, so this may take a while.
Next month, we are organizing a field trip to Pulau Ubin. (do visit www.nparks.gov.sg). We do require a minimum headcount of 15 to conduct this tour. Charges apply.
Pulau Ubin sensory trail
Experience Ubin’s wonderful nature through your different senses along our Sensory Trail. The walk is easy-going and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. This is an excellent introduction to the rustic and natural character of the island. You will be able to touch, see or smell fruit trees, spices and herbs for cooking, plants used in traditional medicine and native plants of the mangrove forest.
After the trail, we take another 5 min walk to visit one of the scenic view points at Pekan Quarry. On the way, we can show you one of the hornbills’ nesting sites. If you would like to go to another scenic view point at Ketam Quarry, which is a 20 min ride, you can hire a van at the village.
Getting There
Just a bumboat away…Take a bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal ($2.50 one-way). Boats will leave when there are 12 passengers but you can also opt to pay the difference for the boat to leave immediately.
Willing to be counted
I belonged to the 1st generation citizen army, completed my Basic Military Training on the off-shore island of Pulau Ubin (a bit like Alcatraz) in Dec73. Thirty six years on, at the same camp location, it’s my son’s turn to step forward, play his part. After a grueling 9 week course, he passed out a basic soldier, able to shoot, work as a team and care for other fellow soldiers.
On our way to his Passing Out Parade, my wife bumped into R, a colleague of Singapore PR status. We chatted and I soon learnt that his son of 22 yrs (after graduating from U of Chicago) volunteered to serve 2 years! R, a global citizen, worked in the UK, US and some other places. His son, A, is equally adept.
R was at first apprehensive yet intrigued because his son has never stayed in Singapore for any extended period, save for visits from time to time. Apparently, A acted on his own accord to serve to become a citizen.
I too was curious and engage A after the parade. We spoke. He felt the physical training was ok and that the mental segment was tougher. Although he speaks with an American twang, he was well adjusted. His commander’s only advice was simply to add to the end of each sentence a ‘LAH’ and he will be fine. We are a mixed bag. Our parade commands and our National Anthem are in the Malay language, our army expletives best in Hokkien. I am afraid vocabulary of expletives of 2nd G soldiers in Hokkien is on the decline!
R related something quite amusing. On the 1st day at site (we get to visit their barracks and taste their meal), he was walking alongside the camp commandant on his way to the jetty point. They spoke and after learning about A, the commandant asked if his son could sing the National Anthem. R replied: ‘I guessed not. But I think he is working hard at it’.
Exploit, HP alumni to sign MoU under AIM initiative
http://www.biospectrumasia.com/content/180209SGP8617.asp
Singapore, Feb 18, 2009: Exploit Technologies and the Hewlett Packard (HP) Alumni will announce at a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony that a strategic collaboration will be established under the Exploit Technologies Angel Investment Management initiative (AIM). This collaboration serves to enhance and accelerate Angel networking activity, and enable startups to have greater access to Angel investors in Singapore and in the region.
Under the new partnership, Exploit Technologies and HP Alumni Angel Networking Group will collaborate to organize Angel networking events and undertake joint marketing activities to promote Angel investments in local startups. In addition, Exploit Technologies will continue to channel a pipeline of startups from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) to Angel investors during its angel networking activities such as regular pitching sessions and coordinated luncheons and tea receptions.
Recession Rages
In the past few weeks, I have had cars overtaking me from the left, cut in my lane along highways without warning or signal.
One ex-HPite told me he was chased by a lorry driver all the way into his work place car park. The driver stopped in front of his car, waved his fist and waited for him to step out. He called security and subsequently made a report at the Police station.
Few Fridays ago, I was with 2 colleagues waiting for a cab. We flagged down what appeared to be an empty cab only to be disappointed that there was a passenger seated behind. We must have craned our necks to the driver’s displeasure! The cab cruised past us some 10 metres, did a fast reverse, stopped next to us, lowered his window, and screamed bast@!#. We were stunned speechless. We looked at each other wondering what the heck that was!
Welcome On Board HPA
HPA-Ed Cheong
HPA-Richard Wong
