Turnaround

I always pride myself as a turnaround specialist.  Today, my sales has finally go over same period last year.  I just calculate the time it takes and yes, it is only 5 months.  I am glad that once again in six months or less in my new job, I grow the business. 

The first time, I did a turnaround was in probably 1997.  It was local company with with 8 or 9 staff.  Creative Technology was the biggest customer and decided to stop buying the company.  The company was bleeding badly.  We were getting GST back from the government every quarter.  I still remember this very well...one day, my accounts clerk, Carol came into my office.  She says we have to pay GST!  I stared at her for a while in surprise and was looking for words.  Then I asked why...she started grinning from ear to ear.  It is a good thing!  We are finally making profits. 

The 2nd time was in 2002.  The sales and profit margins were low.  Sales was high at the end of every quarter.  This is due to the sales incentive program which was paid quarterly.  While I did not change the incentive program, I change the way selling was done.  We start selling to the endusers and use the pull through strategy.  I also make sure we do not push products to distributors and ship to them only when they demanded for the products.

In this new place, the sales is still growing year over year on a 12 months rolling basis.  However, one product was obsolete creating a hole for the fiscal year on year comparison.  Today, the sales report finally showed growth.  Time to celebrate!

I have to start a celebrate our success program!

Next Week

I will be in Australia next week and will miss our National Day.  It will be a day of parade, celebration and firework.  I will be in the cold winter.  It is going to be a nice change from our current heatwave here at home.

I have my brother and his daughters coming over for dinner on Sunday before I leave for Australia.  Another niece is in India now and should be back by then.

Today, it is just work and organising for the trip.  The thermometer is rising and I have to drink of lot of ...I shall say fluids.  I know I should be drinking water that is zero calories and no sodium.  This is my weakness.  I always have flavored drinks.  It is definitely an unhealthy habit!

A Regular Sunday

We have a regular Sunday.  B1 and B2 have their own programs in the morning and afternoon.  B3 had his last Chinese tuition in HCL, Bishan.  After his tuition, we went to Marina Square to see the science exhibition on today and yesterday.  B3 does not think highly of science demo by the "mad scientist".  Maybe it is because he knows all the tricks.

We have nasi bryani again and the leftover curry chicken.  B2 had a good day in the pool competition.  He lost in the first round but gain an order for his cue and two potential orders.  He is happy with the outcome.  B1 has to go back to camp. 

B3 is happy to finish his Great Expectations.  It is required reading for him in Pei Chun Primary.

Made-in-China con't

This morning I brought the sound box to Sim Lim to fix the problem.  It is actually the cable for charging the battery.  The cable was not working.  The girl in the shop gave me their demo machine cable instead since the sound box are kept for their moved from sixth floor to 2nd floor.  Hopefully, this time, the cable and sound system work for longer time.

Bryani Rice

We bought basmati rice, raisins, cashew nuts and saffron to make Nasi Bryani.  My wife does the cooking.  The boys like it.  We cooked curry chicken using the curry paste from KL, typical Chinese cold dish of lightly seasoned cucumber and stir-fried greens.  Mummy is so happy the kids love her food.  They also gave good feedback on the clothing she is wearing.  She sew it herself.  She is feeling on top of the world during this dinner.

Beautiful Sunset in PCN

General Tso Chicken

Seletar Hills Resturant is just down the road.  We decides to eat out tonight for a birthday treat.  This resturant has been around for maybe 30 years.  We always ordered their signature dishes every time.  Tung Ko Pork with fried buns, General Tso Chicken, Stir Fried French Beans, Campor Tea Smoked Duck and Pig's Stomach Soup.  The boys enjoyed the meal.  We were all alone in the resturant until we are having our desserts.  So it is like having dinner at home.  It is good for relationship building and we have plenty of conversations.  The boys with us and among themselves. 

Dinner time is family togetherness.  Good delicious food, sweet desserts make it easy for our boys to talk.  We are very lucky that we have this dinner together ritual.  It helps us foster strong relationship with our boys.

I have no idea who is General Tso.  I know his chicken is very tasty.  It is a little like Kungbo Chicken but the chicken pieces are deepfried. 

Poorly Made-in-China?

My portable sound system with FM radio has stopped working this morning.  I tried different way to charge it but it refuses to work again.  So it works only for 3 days.  Yuk!  This gadget is made-in-China.  There is a book with the title "Poorly Made-in-China".   The quality of my portable sound system is terrible.  It stopped working so quickly.  I wonder if I can get it replace from the shop I bought in Sim Lim.

The other gadget, the solar battery backup for iPhone is not really used yet.  So I have no idea it will stop working.  China is the workshop of the world.  With this kind of quality, we will have to throw away more stuff.

Chinese Sinseh

Today, I went to the Chung Hwa Free Clinic to consult Chinese Sinseh.  It is my first time to this clinic.  I have to register first and pay $3.  The reception asked me what do I want to consult the sinseh for.  I told her my heart.  She told me to wait at room 7.  There was a couple of patients ahead of me.  The wait is about half an hour to 45 mins.  Not bad compared to GP or hospital emergency dept.

The sinseh asked me a whole bunch of questions.  Then she feel my pulse with three fingers.  After that she prescribed medicine for 6 days.  I have to pay $12 for the medicine.    Total cost is only $15.  It is very affordable although it is no longer "free".  It was probably free when it first started.  A "short" consultation for GP is $25.  This does not include the drugs he prescribed.  So the Chung Hwa Free Clinic is doing a good social cause.  There is no question on financial ability or financial "test" required in order to go "C" class(subsidized class) in government hospital.

The place is run by volunteers and donations.  So it is generating good karma.  I am taking the medicine religiously so far.  I hope my conditions improved.

Portable Speaker Box

As you know by now cycling is my latest passion to keep fit.   I am looking for gadgets to fix on my bicycle.  It is a long for time for me to find a cellphone holder.  Finally, I found it in Sim Lim Square for $25.  I then found another cellphone holder in Changi Point for $10.  Quality is different but both worked well. 

It is interesting to wander about Sim Lim Square.  It is gadgets galore.  I decided on portable speaker box to mount on my bicycle.  I used earphones all time and it can be dangerous on the road as I cannot hear the cars coming from behind well.  Also I like to have loud music to let the pedestrians and joggers know I am coming up from behind them.  There are quite a number of different speakers available.  They have different functions.  I got one with FM radio.  The sound quality is not bad for the spiffy little thing.  It come with a rechargeable battery and the sales girl says it will play for about 4 hours after full charge.

In the shop, there were several backup batteries for iPhone.  I bought one that has solar function.  It is good value at $9.  However, the battery storage is rather small.  Still I like it that I can used the sun power to charge it up although the solar cell is probably too small to give enough output to charge up the built-in storage battery.

My bicycle now has a dynamo with front and rear lights with a sound system!  It is fun to ride!

Auntie J have dinner with us

Auntie J was at the poolside watching over her kids while they are playing with B3.  We do our usual neighbourly thing - talk.  I asked her girl if she like my food.  She nodded her head.  She had roasted marshmallow with B3 two days ago.  So I invite the girl, B for dinner.  Meanwhile my wife got a little excited and told Auntie J about Foodie Marketplace.  She showed her what we planned to have for dinner - bbq baby back ribs.   Then I told Auntie J I have invited her girl for dinner to try our ribs.  She asked how about her boy?  So we invited boy, girl and mummy over for dinner.  Auntie J is a single mum. 

This is the beauty of living in a small estate.  It is like a kampung.  We had bbq ribs, blanched sweet peas, french fries, leftover braised chicken from Chinatown, and leftover mutton from roti prata shop in Upper Thomson road.  After dinner, we did out regular fruit thing.  B2 left the table.  He does not take much fruit.  We had Hami-melon from China.  It was very sweet and juicy.

It is nice to have adhoc party.  I love to share the food I like.

NDP Rehearsal

B3, our baby is in Primary 5 this year and therefore get to go for "National Education" in the National Day Parade rehearsal.  All Primary 5 students get to attend the rehearsal for the Parade every year.  B3 always want to go for NDP.  He says it is very exciting and he loves the fun pack.  Well, finally it is his turn.  I just picked him up from school at about 9:45pm.  He left for school at 1:45pm.  So it is 8 hours in the hot sun.

I asked him what is his opinion of the experience.  He says it is okay.  It is not as exciting as he thought.  So I says "now you understand why daddy is not keen on the NDP".  It is so hot and sweaty and just a long waiting game.  Worse, going to toilet is controlled.  I do not remember anything else about my NDP experience except all the unpleasant waiting for the VIPs to arrive.

Thinking about Death and Mortality

With my brother and father-in-law just did their open heart surgeries.  I suspect my coronary arteries are probably clogged.  I can feel the pain and always attribute it to muscle strain.  I am always in denial when it comes to the affairs of my heart.  Luckily, my wife insisted on buy health insurance even though I was covered when I was employed.  Now, with no employer's coverage, I need not go for checkup to qualify for insurance.  My wife does have foresight and always prepares for uncertain future.

I have been thinking too that in order not to drain family's finances, if it is time for me to leave this world, I like to leave quickly and with minimal fuss and costs.  Everyone of us have to die the moment we are born.  Where there is life, there is death.  Death is a taboo subject.  No one like to think or discuss our mortality.  Everyday is a blessing and I am enjoying my life, work and family.

Many a times, I try to imagine, after I transition from my physical existence on Earth and go to the Hall of Memories to review the life I just left behind, what accomplishments do I have.  I have not save any life or done any heroic act that is news worthy.  I just lead an ordinary life, with an ordinary career, have an ordinary family and an ordinary lifestyle.  "Ordinary" is the key word and I worry I have to be reincarnated to Earth again.  The cycle of rebirth and karma will continue.  I wish I meditate and able to move to a higher plane of existence.

Footnote:  Many of the terminology I used in this essay is from Lobsang Rampa.

Daughters

My father-in-law is schedule to be discharge tomorrow.  He will have his sutures removed as well.  We are wandering how to deal with the cost of the operation.  The siblings share equally?  It is a loaded discussion and potentially emotional.  I wonder how my wife will deal with this.  How her siblings will react?  Would they volunteer to pay.  So far I know two sisters have agreed to pay part of the bills.  The youngest sister seems reluctant and avoid discussing the issue.  I have no idea what the only son's position is.

I also read somewhere that research found that the highest medical expense a person has is in the final year of his life.  Since my FIL has a few more years, I guess the high medical cost this time may be just the beginning.

Based on what I know so far, the 3 eldest daughters have promised to pay for the cost.  While it is not 100%, I can see what daughters will do.  My wife has been bringing her father to the clinics.  She also make sure he get the right medical care and asked all the right questions to make informed decisions.  The eldest and 3rd daughters took a day leave and accompany their mother.  My mother-in-law is incredible.  She is in the hospital all day long.  She has been in the hospital everyday since two Wednesdays ago.  She just keep going and going, a steadfast partner for my father-in-law. 

The baby sister-in-law visits frequently too.  Sons are not so caring.  I also do not visit my mother often or talk to her.  I believe my brother-in-law will be like me.  Although I may be totally wrong about him.

Looking at what happen in the couple of weeks that passed, I wished I have at least a daughter.  Granted not all daughters will be filial.  The chance is a lot higher than sons.  My mother stays with her daughter when she is here.  All her daughters will visit her everyday.  Meanwhile, I only visit her twice or maybe three times in the two months that she was here.

I wonder if my boys will be as caring when I need to be cared for.  Only time will tell...

REITs

After reading the Business Times on Reits, I am keen to acquire some.  The yields looked good and far better than time deposit in the banks.  The dividends are paid regularly in short time of two or three months.  So I think it is a good way to get regular income.

15 Biggest Malls in the World

Yahoo just published the list of the 15 biggest malls in the World.  I made a count and I have been to 9 of the 15!  It is the new malls in China that I have not been and those in Middle East or Bangladesh. 

I love malls.  I hangs around malls on all my trips.  Those in Manila - SM Megamall, Mall of Asia and SM City.  Those in KL - 1 Utama, Sunway Pramid, Mid-Valley and Times Square Bejaya.  I went to the Edmonton Mall when it was the biggest in the world and stayed in the theme hotel there before it was dethroned.  In Bangkok, Central World.

I usually frequent the bookshops in the malls.  Philippines is the National Book store.  My favorite is Borders and  Kinokuniya.  But Kino is only in the Twin Towers.  In Bangkok, it is Page One and BS or something.  In terms of breadth and range of books, Kino in Takashimaya is still the best.

The other things about malls is it is fun just to walk around and do window shopping.  I hardly buy anything except for books.  I try not to increase my carbon footprint.  I usually minimise my material acquisition.  I remember Edmonton Mall was so big that they have two of everything.  I think Canadians run out of ideas for retails.  Most of the shops are franchised.  Whereas in Asia, there are many quiky shops.  Retail therapy can be relaxing and fun.  There are deals to be had.  Many different types of cuisines in the resturants.  Choice of cafes and desserts.  Ah!  It is a good way to pass time.

Good Outcome

My FIL has his ICD cum pacemaker installed this morning and so far so good.  He is allowed to eat immediately after the operation and this is critical for him.  He is always worrying about his meals.  It is like a man's thing.  Personally, I am obsessed by meals too.  However, I think he over-reacts to the bland food the hospital served him.

We did not visit him today and so my MIL is asking her daughter.  I think it is good to have daughters as they are pretty good in visiting their father when he is in the hospital.  My in-laws have 5 girls and a boy.  The fourth daughter has a brain aneurysm on the way to visit us in Canada when B3 was born.  She died when the plane was landing on Narita.  It was a shock for my wife as she was looking forward to their visit.  Let's not delve on the past tragedy.

With the pacemaker, I think he can be discharge from the hospital pretty soon.  Medical advances has allow man to extend his mortality.  This is the reason why the average lifespan of mankind keep extending.  Eventually, man may live average age of 100 years.

Family Day

It is a good day with all three boys.  We had Teochew Porridge for lunch together in AMK hawker center.  The queue was incredibly long even though we were early i.e. 11am.  There is a construction going on.  Huge long line of construction workers love this stall.  I think it may be because it is the best value stall as those ahead of us paid between $2 and $2.20 for a big plate of rice with two items.  We bought a pack of red fishes to feed our arowana.

My wife and I go to the hospital to visit her father.  He is very happy to eat the dessert she prepared for him.  Her mum has a bowl as well.  We also heard that her sisters prepared food as well.   So her sisters are quick learners and immediately make sure they win their place in their father's heart.  Even among family members, there is politics.

Since Foodie Marketplace is nearby, we make a stop and BBQ baby back ribs are in stock.  We bought probably 8 racks!  We have two racks for dinner.  I also cooked American-style chilli.  It is minced beef with kidney beans.  I am a little light on the flavoring.  So it did not taste like in the resturants.  I like it!

After dinner, we sent B1 to his camp.  This closed my day with my boys.  I am a lucky father.

Night Run at PCN

There is a night run tonight at the Punggol PCN.  The notice just says the park will be used but did not state what kind of run it is.  Right at the starting point of the PCN in Gerald Drive is the turnaround and there is a ambulance standby in case of any emergency.  There are quite a lot of runners.  I have not been running for a long time.  Running is still a very popular sport!

My left knee is sore and I think it may be arthritis.  So running is out of the question for me.  The other thing that worries me is how many of my coronary arteries are blocked and to what degree. Healthy living is difficult with BPA in plastic i.e. takeaways from hawker centers, white rice, refined carbohydrates, sugared drinks in plastic bottles, fried chicken, fried fritters, transfat just name a few.

I have been religious in exercising. Before PCN, three years ago, it was swimming.  Today, it is cycling.  However, I am still unable to restrict my diet.  My poor father-in-law was so upset with his meals at the hospital.  He made a huge fuss everytime and my mother-in-law is all stressed up each time.

Life is so unpredictable.  So, I should not worry too much and live life as full as possible.

Shocking Cost of Medical Treatment

As you know, I have been talking about my father-in-law's open heart surgery since last week.  My wife got a call to top-up the deposit.  My father-in-law had some post-operation issues.  The heart rate was not stable and keep increasing.  So he has to have temporary pacing.  Now he needs to have a pacemaker with implantable cardioverter device (ICD).  This little gadget cost $21,000!!  We were shocked by the price.  This does not include the surgery fee of $4,900. 

 The cost of his hospitalisation for Open heart surgery to date is $40,000!  Luckily, there is Medishield which will pay for a portion of all the bills. 

We also requested to understand pacemaker better and talk to the cardiologist.  The cardiologist agreed that he can implant a lower cost model.  He says it is just older model but functionally does the two most important tasks - keep the patient alive and "wake up" the heart if it "forgets" to beat.  The cost of the device is between $10,000 and $12,000.  So the total cost is now between $15,000 and $17,000 for the pacemaker cum ICD.

So far, the cost incurred is at least $55,000.  The bill is not final yet.  If my FIL decides on $21,000 model, then the cost will $66,000 and up!  He has not discharge yet and the cost can continue to escalate.  It is expensive to have medical treatment in Singapore, our home.

Good Progress!

My father-in-law is making good progress recovering from his open heart surgery.  He was in CTICU for almost a week.  The hospital asked my wife to top up the deposit as the cost has now escalated to $38,000!!!!  The usual cost without complication or extended ICU stay is $26,000. 

Luckily, he has insurance. Together with Medishield, he will need to come up with cash of about $7,000.  It is still a lot to pay.  My brother did not have pay any money as he is covered by group insurance.

We must keep healthy.  Now, I am worried that my coronary arteries may be clogged as well.  To check or not to check, that is the question!

Panic!!

I just heard reports from my mother-in-law that the nurse in the CTICU called her to go to ICU.  So far, the nurses only chase us out.  Keep telling us that patient need to rest while they keep waking the patient up.  She panic and rush to the ICU. 

There she found out that the nurse was scolded by my father-in-law.  He is hungry and want to eat food of his choice.  Phew!  She thought something bad happens as this morning she was very worried as my FIL heart beat went up again.  We happened to meet the surgeon and he explained to us that 40% of the patients do get AT (atrial tachycardia).  This is not good but it is not life threatening.  VT or ventricular tachycardia will be more dangerous.  The surgeon ordered warfarin and potassium.  It takes a while for his heart to drop.  But it is going down after more than an hour. 

Back to the panic call... my FIL was upset he has no food for 5 days.  He asked the nurse for 3-in-1.  I thought 3-in-1 is the popular coffee mix where you add hot water to get a thick and strong coffee with cream and sugar.  No 3-in-1 is coffee, kaya butter toast and soft boiled eggs.  This is the traditional kopitiam breakfast set.  It is very popular in Ah Kun and Toastbox.  He scolded the nurse. And the nurse called my mother-in-law to pacify him.

I think he is on the road to recovery...

Saturday Night

We do not usually go out late at night.  We have some errands to run tonight.  Mummy needs to get a pair of shoes for her mother.  The current pair grandma is wearing is worn out and slippery.  B1 needed to get a haircut before he reports to camp tomorrow morning.  We need to replenish supplies for our helper.  She ran out of tea and bread.

Ang Mo Kio Hub is busy and full of young people.  Families are doing grocery shopping just like my boys and I.  My wife took a train to Takashimaya to look for the shoes.  We ended up late as the train was crowded and mummy get onto the train at 10mins to 10.  We are all so tired but quite happy with the outcome of our night's outing.

Arrhythmia

My father-in-law had arrhythmia last night.  This morning he has catheters inserted into his arteries to standby in case the doctors need to insert IABP again.  He is now concious and lucid.  He can talk but a little confused as the effects of morphine has not worn off yet.  The morphine has been taken out.  He is starting to feel the pain.  He still have heparin and antibiotics.  Only one chest drain left.  His urine output is low about 350ml.  Low urine output is not so good but he also did not have much fluid intake.  It is a balance of fluid intake vs blood volume.  He is not allow fluid to prevent blood volume from going up increasing the blood pressure.  So he is quite thirsty and hungry.

I hope he improve enough to go to stepdown unit, High Dependency.  His kids are all in the hospital to keep their mother company.

Open Heart Surgery

My father-in-law had a triple bypass and valve repair at the National Heart Center on Wednesday afternoon.  He had a IABP after the surgery to help his heart recover.  IABP or intra-aortic balloon pump was removed at lunch time today.  Ventilator was removed yesterday morning.  He is making progress and step-by-step the instrumentations was slowly removed from him. 

My brother had his bypass operation probably a year ago now at the same place.  It seems like many bypass are done everyday.  All the patients are men.  Both times when I vist the CTICU, I have not seen any female patients.  Blockage of coronary arteries is a man's disease.

My mother-in-law spend the whole day in hospital waiting for her husband.  She is amazingly devoted.  She goes to the hospital early in the morning and return late everyday.  All she does is sitting at the waiting area all by herself just for a few minutes with her husband.

My youngest sister-in-law's husband and I visited our father-in-law at same time during lunch today.  I joked with my mother-in-law that she has two good son-in-laws. 

Fav - BBQ Ribs

My favorite food is BBQ ribs.  I acquired the love for ribs in my first trip to US in 1984.  My host brought me to a Ribs Resturant.  I was in Dayton, Ohio and I was hooked after my first try. I loved the fall off the bones barbequed ribs. 

I will order only bbq ribs in all the steaks and ribs resturants.  I hardly ate steaks even if the resturant is famous for the steaks.  We found frozen cooked bbq ribs in Foodie Market.  After testing one rack yesterday, we went there to buy up the balance in the freezer - 4 racks.  We ate 2 racks for dinner.  Mmmm, they are so good as they really fall of the bones.

Bright Hill Temple

This morning I have to go to Bright Hill temple to run an errand for my in-laws as my father-in-law is in the hospital waiting to have his open heart surgery.  I am usually a little trepid going to Bright Hill temple as the crematorium is there.  The atmosphere is dreadful if there is a funeral.

This time, I spent some time exploring the temple.  It is a big temple, very clean and airy.  It is on a hilly terrain and the different buildings are connected at different level.  The temple is very open and in a sense welcoming.  Visitors are free to roam about.  There do not seem to have a place that has restricted access.  Cars are allowed to enter freely.  After visiting, I feel Buddhism and Bright Hill Temple is very open.  In contrast to my experience in the churches in Italy.  Visitors are usually confined to the main hall.  Access to other parts of the church are restricted.  Maybe the Bright Hill temple is designed where the monks' quarters are out-of-sight and have secret access.  I only saw two monks on my tour of the temple.

As I explore the temple, it is easy to tell that it will require a lot of volunteers and administrators to maintain and upkeep the place.  The temple is huge.  The temple is very clean and all the statues are in excellent condition.  So the place is very well run.  I am very impressed!

Singapore, the little country that could!

I just catching up with Sunday Times.  Chan Heng Chee, Singapore's envoy US is retiring.  She is credited with the great relationship Singapore has with US.  In US, there is political deadlock in everything that they try to do.  So impressed by Singapore after the Asian crisis, they name it the little country that could.  Chan says it is better to make mistakes than to do nothing.  Many other countries do worse than Singapore.

Singapore is a great place to live and raise kids.  However, it is also stifling and stressful.  I guess you cannot have the best of both worlds.  It is so stressful that I sincerely believe that our Government need not be so paranoid and obsessed with growth and economy.  Less money and higher quality of life where friends and family is the cornerstone.  Money is good.  Lots of money better!  This is what the mass media promotes. 

We can use only one car at a time, sleep on one bed.  Yet most of us covet for more.  It is the financial freedom we are looking for.  Yet, it is never enough no matter how much we have.  Money is addictive and hard to get out of the rat race to say we have enough.

Yes, the little country that could but exact a price on its citizens.  Many citizens now crying out that enough is enough.

A Day with B3

It is Sunday and we signed up for B3 to go additional Chinese tuition yesterday.  So he has to go for make-up class today.  The venue is Fu Lu Shou.  So we kill time in the library and went to the Temple of Goddess of Mercy to offer our prayers. 

There is a bazaar on the walkway and we bought a bamboo chopping board which offers lot of benefits.  It costs only $30, a low barrier for trial.  Rochor is a busy place with Chinatown atmosphere.  B1 stay with us for the morning and in the afternoon went off to meet his girlfriend.  B2 has project meeting with his classmates.  He has lots of group meetings in Poly as there are many projects.

So only B3 spend the day with daddy and mummy at home.  He is always watching Youtube through his cellphone.  Kids nowadays have too much attention on electronics games and shows.  B3 show little interest to play outdoor games or swim or nature.

So some futurists predicted that humans eventually may lose their legs through lack of use.