Eviltwin's "Final" Day on Earth

So here we are. After watching countless Doomsday, Countdown to Apocalypse and other related TV Documentaries, I still do not have the answer. One thing is for sure. I will make sure my last day is a good one and go out with a bang.

Some strange rumbling noises woke me up round 02h00 this morning and after doing some investigation outside I could for the life of me not sleep again and certainly not what you want to wake up to on an ominous day like today. Made some coffee and spend the next few hours watching my favorite programs that I have taped on my decoder. The dogs “Woke” the wife round five, so I took this opportunity to get some snuggle time and make sure I have all the boxes checked for this day.

Toasted Ciabata for breakfast as I have a serious final lunch planned. Took a nice long shower and drove to work without incident. The traffic was very reasonable as lots of people already on leave and the weather looking very “Promising” considering what we are to face. Killed some time to get to my 12 o Clock lunch appointment at Harry’s with the wife just down the drag from the office. The two of us finished a Bar Platter for 4 (Buffalo Chicken Wings, Mini Spring rolls, Samosas, Mini Deep Fried Fish, Beef & Chicken Satay Sticks and some fries) and I had my final Tiger Beer for good measure.

Have to kill a few boring hours until 17h00 then into the final stretch. Have a nice supper accompanied by some good wine, play with the dogs, play Angry Birds one last time and beat my “Annoying” sister, read my Facebook postings and do one last posting to my friends. Off to bed and hopefully some snuggles and off to Dreamland. No, I am not taking the easy way out but figure it’s not worth waiting up for this “Fireworks” Show, whatever it will be.

There is a glimmer of hope that all the hype will not turn out to be reality and I can continue to share stories with you all on the Blog. As one colleague put it this week on the smoking deck, “I have yoghurt in my fridge that expires in March 2013” hence 21/12/2012 cannot be the end of the world.

I have a few of those as well so let’s hope. Just in case we do not make this one. Thanks for your loyal support and it was a pleasure being at your service.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Singapore Vertical Marathon 2012

I always believed I am in the know about what goes on in the world only to realise the past 15 months that there is so much I do not know about. This coming Sunday will be the 25th time the Swissotel Vertical Marathon will be run in Singapore. What vertical marathon? Turns out there is a Vertical Marathon world circuit with nine participating countries.

The Singapore race will be run in the Swissotel Stamford hotel clocking in at 226 meters with 73 floors and 1336 steps. I have walked down some 12 floors for a fire drill, my wife and her team did the same down 28 floors taking some 20 minutes and that was seriously exhausting. Running up in a non air conditioned staircase and doing it in 7 minutes or so must be extremely challenging. It's also for a good cause, raising money for selected charities. Wonder where the spectators will be?

One thing is sure. I have not seen a marathon finish line view like this before.

Learn something new everyday.

Here is the link if you want to read up some more about the world wide event or be crazy enough to actually take part.

Swissotel Vertical Marathon

Singapore's "Pursuit of Happiness"

Nobody can dispute that since Singapore’s independence in 1965 the country has progressed in leaps and bounds to become the modern metropolis it is today. The country established itself in Asia and the rest of the world occupying top ten positions in many business and tourism surveys. With a multi culture society living in harmony, it is a safe, clean and extremely efficient country with excellent and above average housing and transport infrastructure.

 

 

 

Does this mean it has no problems?

 

 

 

On the contrary, based on my experience since moving here 15 months ago the country has its fair share of normal problems with drugs, gambling, isolated corruption and race issues. The bigger and more serious issue is where the country will be in 20 years and it seems like right now nobody really has the answer. There is ongoing engagement with the population in many different forums to ascertain what the Government should or should not include in the future Road Map. Should the future measurement of success continue to be the country’s GDP which is a global standard and has brought it to where we are today but does not mean it will be as successful in future.

 

 

Some of the current and pressing issues that face the Government and will impact it greatly in future are the Declining Population, Policy towards the Foreign Workforce/Population,   and the “Nations Happiness”. Personally, I do not believe the proposed measures to try and increase the population growth will have any real effect. The new generation has a totally different set of values and ambitions which does not include having either “Early” families or extended (more than one child) families. They are too busy chasing the world of success and all the worldly trappings that come with that and this will not change in the next 20 years. So, with a continued declining local workforce the issue of reducing foreign “Help” will not be a reality and the next 20 years will see the ratio of foreigners in the population increase. Better take note and start having a different view on this one.

 

 

So what about the Happiness Factor? I watched the Bridging Asia Debate the past week on this topic and the motion to include the measurement received a resounding 70% and I definitely agree. I always include my views only if I can base them on actual experience and in this case have some 50 years of learning on what is really important in life. I chased the same “Dream” for most of my time on this earth only to realise a few months ago that maybe I should have had more “Balance”.  Less of the worldly “get the better job, bigger house, more expensive car” type “shit” and a lot more focus on spending time with my friends and family and doing the things that actually make me happy.

 

 

And no, I am not saying do not be ambitious, contribute to economy and society in general but I am saying have a better balance and this is where the Singapore future and political direction should have some focus apart from the economic growth and GDP.

Maybe if the people have a better work/life balance there will be more time for making love, having families and a happy interactive and cohesive society in general.

Actually it is a fact and happy people are naturally more productive so it is a win for all.

“All Work and no Play made Johnny a dull Boy”