43 minute read
ANZA Action
Peace and kindness happens year-round for Happy People Helping People (HPHP), a notfor-profit foundation who dedicate their time to caring for the elderly and less privileged in Singapore.
While growing up in Singapore, Nafiz Kamarudin, 40, had always been acutely aware of the senior community. He’d spot them enjoying a Teh O at the kopitiam, playing mahjong on the void decks of local estates, and frying up a heavy pan of bee hoon at hawker centres without breaking into a sweat. But mostly, he noticed the elderly who were combing through rubbish bins under the hot sun and pushing heavy trolleys piled with cardboard across dangerous roads, a glistening condo on the right, construction plans for a new hotel on the left.
The first photo Nafiz uploaded online which went viral
Nafiz wanted to find out more about these seniors, but he wasn’t sure where to turn. After working as a paramedic in the Singapore Armed Forces, in 2012 he moved into freelance first-aid work which gave him the opportunity to volunteer in KL and Johor Bahru. There he saw first-hand how Malaysia was dealing with poverty and homelessness. When he returned to the red dot, he felt compelled to help those in need in his homeland.
“Back then, life in Singapore felt very monotonous; you work, come home, sleep, repeat. I wanted to do something more meaningful. I knew there were homeless people here, but they’re not like those you witness living on the streets overseas. It’s difficult to find out about their circumstances and they are generally harder to see.”
In 2013, Nafiz decided to try and befriend some of cardboard collectors he’d watched over the years, to learn what could be done to make their lives easier. He started by visiting Toa Payoh estate, one of the oldest estates on the island. It was here that he encountered Mdm Aw. In her late 70s, the first thing Nafiz noticed about her were her sandals which were worn down and too big for her feet as she pushed her heaving trolley of cardboard boxes.
He discovered that Mdm Aw trawled the neighbourhood daily for discarded cardboard from dumpsters, wet markets and hawker centres. When she’d gathered enough, she lugged her findings to a dedicated warehouse in an industrial estate where she could sell her collection for ten cents per kilogram.
“At first she wouldn’t tell me why she was spending her time collecting old cardboard,” Nafiz shares, “it took her a long time to open up to me.” At first, she said she was doing it for ‘exercise’, but after a year of regular chats with Mdm Aw, she finally revealed that her cardboard collections were her survival. “How can I tell people that my own son is not taking care of me?” she said.
Home-cooked, warm and fresh Nafiz admits that in the beginning, he wasn’t exactly sure what to do to assist, but he knew it was important to Auntie Ah Yang and Auntie Muthu giggling on a day trip
Life in
Singapore felt monotonous, and I wanted to do something meaningful
Volunteers delivering food to the estates
We took them for a picnic in Botanic Gardens, then to see the Christmas lights on Orchard Road
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get stories like Mdm Aw’s out there. After visiting an estate one night with a photographer friend, he loaded a photo they’d taken onto Facebook. “What can we do about this?” he asked. A local newspaper chanced upon the picture, and people began coming forward offering suggestions and support. Happy People Helping People (HPHP) was born.
As many elderly cardboard collectors in Singapore are given shelter in rented accommodation, Nafiz realised that it was essential to provide them with something that they didn’t already have.
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“With the help of volunteers, we set up an initiative called ‘Happy Sundays’ – a first-Sunday-of-the-month gathering where we’d provide those in need with a fresh and filling meal,” he explains. “We relied on volunteers to do the cooking and placed ourselves near to the industrial estates where the aunties and uncles were selling their goods. This way, they could get to us easily, have a chitchat with others, and be fed.”
What started with Mdm Aw and a small group of around 15 other seniors arriving for food donations on a Sunday in Toa Payoh, soon expanded into a daily initiative which today distributes food to more than 200 seniors across five more local estates in Singapore including Little India, Chinatown, Geylang, Bedok and Ang Mo Kio.
It was obvious that there was a demand for help. “Everyone at HPHP soon felt that feeding people one day a month was not enough, and we all wanted to do more,” Nafiz explains. So, he made a deal with some of the food stalls in the estates. Thanks to public donations, he had enough cash to pay the stalls to provide those in need with one meal a day – something home-cooked, warm and tasty. “I would give each of the
beneficiaries thirty-one paper meal vouchers at the beginning of every month, they would take the voucher to the stalls, then they’d be torn off upon collection of the meal,” he says adding, “yes – it was a very tedious process!”
Secondmeal.sg everything changed
In 2017, a kind volunteer offered to create an app specifically for HPHP, and their mission became a whole lot easier. “Casper wanted to develop his tech skills as well as help a good cause, so it was the perfect collaboration,” Nafiz says. “The vision for his app, secondmeal.sg, changed everything. Rather than provide the seniors with paper vouchers to claim their food, Casper created a unique QR code to stick on their IC cards. “Now when they go into the store, the owner uses the app to track who has picked up their dinner,” he continues, “it also allows us to monitor everyone. If we notice that someone hasn’t taken a meal for while, we can check on them at their home.”
In addition to the daily meals and Happy Sundays, HPHP also arrange various social events. “Before the pandemic, we expanded our service to not just help elderly folks who collect cardboard, but to anyone who was over 85-years-old, residing in a rented flat, or living by themselves,” Nafiz says. “My favourite day was when we rounded up 100 volunteers, rented out 100 wheelchairs, and had a picnic for all at Botanic Gardens. Afterwards, we took the elderly along Orchard Road up to to Somerset to see the Christmas lights. They loved it!”
Nafiz admits that while he doesn’t know all of the beneficiaries by name, he knows their faces, hears their stories, and is endlessly proud of the efforts that HPHP go to to look after them. “There is one lady, Ms Koh, who used to be a Chinese teacher at a school here. She is 80-yearsold and suffers from poor health, but she gets great joy in telling us about dates she goes on with her ‘boyfriend’,” he says.
He goes on to reveal how they discovered, after a few years of knowing Ms Koh, that she was sleeping on the streets because her home was filled with items she’d collected to sell. “She’d kept it a secret from us. After much negotiation with her, we managed to clean her house up and get her back inside.”
Pure goodwill Of course, Covid-19 restrictions have changed the service that HPHP can provide, but they have remained fiercely dedicated. “We stopped the Happy Sunday gatherings and instead we embark on home deliveries once a month,” Nafiz says.
He is keen to point out that HPHP would not be anything without his trusty core team of 10 regular volunteers, the ad-hoc people who give time and donate when they can, the few companies who provide financial support, and the
Founder of HPHP, Nafiz, with one of the first ever beneficeries, Chan Mui Lan fundraising partnerships that take place with the likes of local clothing company Obey, and the cosmetics brand, Lush. “We have a motto: ‘No-one can do everything, but everyone can do something’,” Nafiz says. “I am the founder, but I am not the leader of HPHP. All of our volunteers are unpaid and help out of pure goodwill. I do not want to micromanage, and they do a great job because we share trust.” Seven years on, he continues to be passionate about helping people and always maintains a happy demeanour. Today, the HPHP Facebook page has over 30,000 followers, an Instagram account @hphpcommunity, and both showcase stories of kindness and inspiration. Nafiz’s dreams for the future of the foundation are simple: “My hope is that one day we won’t have to exist doing what we are doing,” he says, “I hope people won’t need our support and that everyone will simply help one another out, regardless.”
Join Happy People Helping People every first Sunday of the month doing food deliveries. Due to the pandemic, volunteers are asked to cook food (any food, although it must be suitable for seniors), so your gift comes from the heart. You’ll then be allocated one or two homes to visit to drop off your meal. Look out for special initiatives taking place around Christmas and New Year.
Food sponsorship donations can be made via secondmeal.sg. You’ll find various good causes by HPHP which include fundraising for the cardboard collectors, disadvantaged children, and others in need within the community. For transparency, you can keep track of where your donation is, who it’s been used by, and when.
www.secondmeal.io/ www.facebook.com/HappyPeopleHelpingPeople instagram.com/hphpcommunity/?hl=en
Should I stay or should I go can be a popular talking point when you live overseas. We meet two ex-Singapore expats and ANZA members who reveal what the red dot means to them after leaving to start over elsewhere.
How many acquaintances do you know who have left, or are planning to leave Singapore right now? Chances are there’s a few. As the pandemic continues, one of the major topics of conversation (sometimes the only topic of conversation left available!) is whether we’re planning to stay, go, or are waiting it out to see what happens.
It’s completely understandable of course; the majority of expats miss their homes, families, friends and the perfect pavlova. According to CM Logistics Singapore, which handles relocations worldwide, there has been double the number of expats leaving since the pandemic started, compared with in 2018 and 2019. “The area in which we store our customers’ personal effects increased from 8,000 sq ft to 24,000 sq ft from the middle of 2020,” General Manager Arvin Gul Mansukhani told The Straits Times.
With so much uncertainty, it’s easy to get caught up in negativity and to lose sight of what we have around us here on the red dot. That’s why we spoke to two ANZA members who’ve left the island to reveal what it’s like to be back home and how Singapore feels from afar.
Whether your plane ticket is booked or you’re riding out the restrictions, read on.
Alannah Powell and her husband Ian returned to Queensland over the summer after three years in the city-state.
“As a recently returned expat, I have to admit that I can’t help looking at my Singapore experience with a little sadness. I’m not upset because I didn’t have a great experience – I’m sad because of the friends I miss and that my little red dot adventure is over. Of course, I’m enjoying being back home in Queensland, but the unbelievable friendships I made, and the journey that Singapore provided me and my husband with over our three years, will never be forgotten. Ian and I were late to jump into expat life and were empty nesters when we decided to move there. We lived in a little apartment with a 50-metre lap pool in Holland village which was central to my husband’s work, minutes from the MRT, and within walking distance to the Botanic Gardens (my happy place!). We also had our bikes with us and found cycling around the island easy and the drivers courteous. On weekends we hung out on Sentosa for lunch.
Friendships for life
We were told that Singapore was ‘Asia for beginners’ and a gateway to the experience of surrounding countries. We travelled to Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Europe, and Africa, most of which were closer than getting to from Australia. However, I wasn’t prepared for the culture, green spaces, history and
Geoff King moved from Vietnam to Singapore in 2012.
He moved home to Sydney with wife Marnie Watson and their children Malakai, 14, and Zakary, 11, earlier this year in January 2021.
“We didn’t leave Singapore due to Covid-19, we left to return to Australia to spend more time with family. Before we left, we lived in Braddell Heights, near to AIS. We started in a cluster-house but then found an amazing semi-detached place. The owners there were like family to us and invited us over when we were leaving for a feast of Singaporean specialties to remember. Our elderly neighbours also used to include us in their special events – they were all fantastic people and we were so sad to say goodbye.
Hidden gems
Having children, we lived a very family-orientated life, and our lives were intertwined within ANZA. During the soccer season we would spend Saturday mornings at ANZA Soccer, with Saturday afternoon for recovering from the exercise and heat. Sundays were for visiting new parts of Singapore. We were always interested in the more raw side of the island: the hidden food gems in hawker centres, the old-school outdoor shopping areas, the tropical walks in monkey-infested jungles. We were lucky to have a car (no waiting for 30 minutes in a taxi queue) which enabled us to sneak off to areas where there were less humans. Looking back on our time there, there are a few things I miss: the weather, our friends, the mixing
food awaiting me. If it wasn’t for Covid we would more than likely still be there.
As a member of ANZA, I signed up for monthly tours, Ladies’ Nights, Busy Bees and
Kill-O-Metres. ANZA wraps its arms around you and welcomes you as family. To this day I’m still on an ANZA WhatsApp group where the Singapore ladies and a few of us who have moved away still keep in touch, posting photos of our walks from around the globe. We regularly catch up on Zoom and the friendships I formed will be for life.
Always safe
Looking back, Ian and I both agree that we loved our Singapore experience. The cultural diversity was a constant education. I really enjoyed exploring the likes of Little India, the Arab quarter and Chinatown. Who knew life could be so different in just one MRT stop? I’m not sure if you can get that anywhere else. The nightlife and restaurants were so different from here on the Sunshine Coast. Rooftop bars are in abundance and the food is so diverse; having a casual hawker meal and Michelin-starred restaurants at our fingertips was a true thrill. Also, you can never take the safety of Singapore for granted. It lives up to its name, and I feel very fortunate to have always walked home late at night feeling safe.
I can’t explain the sorrow I felt as we rolled down the runway. It was a surreal experience saying farewell to our fabulous life, but I look forward to visiting once we are all travelling again.” and melting of cultures, and being able to travel. Being based in an airport city where you can get a flight quickly and easily shouldn’t be dismissed!
Lucky
Living in Vietnam prior to Singapore helped me to understand the trade-offs you make when living abroad. We were extremely lucky to have made it our home for a while, but I’m realistic about what was sacrificed to do that. It’s a place that seems to have it all under control from the safety on the streets to the very cautious and managed response to the pandemic. Leaving Singapore for overseas is not an easy choice for many expats now. Lots of jobs have changed or disappeared in the last year and a half. We were away from Australia for a long time, and visiting for two weeks in winter didn’t prepare us for lockdown in a small apartment with two older children.
Also, we were shocked by the price of real estate in Australia. We’d saved hard to be in a good position to buy a home, but we were not prepared for the insanity of the Sydney property market.
If you’re considering a move from any country, I’d say that there will be greener grass somewhere else, but you will never find it as well looked after and maintained as it is in Singapore.”
The end of the year can be a tough time for couples. If your relationship feels neither merry nor bright, here’s few things to consider if you’re contemplating making a change.
We don’t want to be all doom and gloom, but the final months of a year can be a strain for married couples thanks to the stress of the holidays and some new year realisations. Indeed, the first Monday back at work after the Christmas break is famously known as ‘Divorce Day’ – the day when divorce lawyers gear themselves up for a flurry of phone calls (beware Monday 3 January 2022). With this in mind, we spoke to two divorce lawyers from independent Australian law firm Lander & Rogers (landers.com.au), to provide insights into the trends that they see around couples, as well as to provide practical advice around the divorce process. Read on as Partner Eleanor Lau, and Special Counsel Monique Robb, both from Family & Relationship Law, uncover what you need to know.
1Beware the “returning home” conversation
Each relationship breakdown is different, but some triggers for separation within expats can be financial issues, or one party wishing to return “home”, particularly if there are children involved. We’ve seen a lot of separations as a result of the pandemic, as one party wishes to go back (usually the wife) whilst the other may not be willing or able to (usually the husband) due to work.
2It’s true – Covid-19 has raised divorce rates
Unfortunately, in our experience the pandemic has seen an increased number of families going through separations and divorces. Along with one party wishing to leave, the financial insecurity that families
have experienced as a result of Covid-19 are also an issue.
3New school terms are tricky periods
If an expat couple have children, the wish to leave the country can coincide with the time a child is due to start school or high school, but there is no obvious pattern to when parties might separate. Likewise, there is no clear pattern for separating couples where there are no children (or no children under the age of 18) involved. Another common trigger for divorce is the famous “empty nest syndrome”, where the children have grown up and left home for good.
4A divorce is separate to financial or custody applications
One of the most surprising issues for separating couples is that under Australian law, cohabiting (de facto) couples have rights that are equivalent to those of married couples in regard to property settlements. This includes same sex couples. It’s also often a shock to parties that in Australia, applying for a divorce is a separate case to making an application relating to financial and parenting (custody) matters. Parties do not need to first obtain a divorce order before they can apply for orders for financial or parenting issues. Neither do they need to first have financial and parenting matters resolved before applying for a divorce. If couples agree on parenting and financial circumstances before they’ve been separated for 12 months, they can finalise any issues well in advance of filing for divorce and obtaining a divorce order.
5Be prepared to stop spending Step away from the fancy brunches – it’s always sensible to consider the fiscal implications of separation before it happens. If possible, speak with a lawyer and a financial advisor about what life might look like once the family income is divided across two households. Doing so can help both parties to have a realistic understanding of what their respective lifestyles might be like in the future and avoids (often unpleasant) surprises later on. For some, there is sufficient income and assets for everyone’s lifestyle to remain unchanged. However, for many people, having the same income and assets divided across two separate households may require a couple to decrease spending and adjust their spending habits accordingly.
6Getting advice in Singapore and your homeland is savvy Couples should obtain advice from lawyers in both Singapore and Australia, to determine the appropriate jurisdiction to deal with parenting, property, divorce and child support issues. As the outcomes for these can be quite different, it’s important to obtain this knowledge as soon as possible as it’s important to commence proceedings quickly, and to “lock in” the country whose law will apply. Wherever possible, it’s preferable to take steps quickly to avoid later legal arguments. Under Australian law, parties must be separated for 12 months prior to filing for divorce, but parenting, property and child support matters can be dealt with, either by negotiation or through the court, prior to parties filing for divorce.
7Divorce won’t happen overnight In Australia, if court proceedings are required to determine financial matters and/or parenting arrangements, and particularly if the matter needs to go to a final hearing, it can take several years to finalise. But if couples can reach an agreement, either through negotiation or mediation, matters can be finalised within three to four months of the divorce application being filed.
8Choose your lawyer wisely While you may be tempted to seek help from your mate who did law at uni, it’s important that your divorce lawyer is someone who has the experience and expertise required to advise you on your situation – usually this is a specialist family lawyer. In Australia, lawyers with a certain level of experience who specialise in family law can obtain accreditation from The Law Society (lawsociety.com.au). It’s imperative that you chose someone who makes you feel comfortable, and who you trust to give you clear advice. 9You can make our job easier One of the most useful things couples can do is have their financial information organised. Prep tax returns, investment statements, bank account and credit card statements, and other financial documents that show both parties’ financial affairs at the time of separation (and in the lead up). Having a timeline of major events in the relationship, such as when you started living together, when you married, dates of major financial transactions and the births of children is very useful. Once you’ve engaged a lawyer, it’s helpful in terms of cost to send questions in one email or make one phone call, rather than several.
10 Consider a lawyer . . . and a therapist
Couples going through separation are usually highly stressed with heightened emotions, and it’s understandable that some people do lean on their lawyers for more than just legal advice. Clients usually benefit most by obtaining legal advice from a lawyer, while also getting support from a psychologist or counsellor. This is often a more costeffective option too – in our experience, therapists are generally less expensive to consult than lawyers!
Australian mortgage know-how by the experts
Looking for a new home or investment property down under? The team from Odin Mortgage can help you with that.
Securing a mortgage in Australia as an expat or overseas resident can be an overwhelming task. From loan structuring, tax residency considerations, maximising borrowing capacity and foreign income bank policies, it’s important to have an expert on your side to guide you through the process and assist you with making the best decisions to suit your needs. That’s where Odin Mortgage comes in.
Who is Odin Mortgage?
Odin Mortgage is a leading and welltrusted Australian mortgage brokerage for Australian expats and overseas residents around the globe. They work to provide you with insightful, expert advice so that you can make the best decision when it comes to purchasing a property or refinancing your mortgage while overseas. Whether you’re a first-home buyer or a seasoned investor, you can feel confident when applying for a loan with them.
Why use Odin Mortgage?
When you apply for a loan with the assistance of Odin Mortgage, the team will guide you through the entire loan process, wherever you live in the world. Once they’ve understood your individual circumstances and requirements, they will provide a comprehensive assessment with real numbers, interest rates, and valuable and insightful expert advice.
Being a specialist brokerage, whose sole focus is Australian expats and overseas residents, they understand the nuances of working with different lenders and how they deal with foreign income. They are experts in the field to help you make an informed choice on your lending options and secure the best deal possible.
Whether you need a full approval or would just like to make a simple enquiry, the team is accesible to take you seamlessly through your home buying or refinancing journey in-person, over the phone or via virtual consultations seven days a week, at a time that suits you.
Best of all, the service they offer to clients is completely free of charge. They’ll see your loan recommendations, get your loan preapproval and oversee the process of your application through to settlement at no cost to you. They are paid by the lenders, which ensures that you will receive the most transparent, impartial and objective advice available.
Who is Odin Mortgage for?
Odin Mortgage’s services are suitable for Australian expats, Australian PR’s and nonresident foreign nationals who are based overseas and want specialised crossborder advice. The team will walk you through the entire mortgage process from start to finish. When you’ve decided on a product and loan structure, Odin Mortgage will provide all the tools you need to make your plan a reality.
A SIMPLE PROCESS
1Get a free assessment from your dedicated broker over the phone, in-person or via email 2Select your preferred lender from a specific personalised list and finalise your loan structure 3Upload your documents to our secure online portal quickly and easily 4Receive the final approval and sign inperson or electronically 5Enjoy the entire service completely free of charge (they are paid by the lenders)
SPEAK TO ODIN MORTGAGE WHEN YOU
Need assistance with a pre-approval Have signed a contract or found a property you would like to purchase Are considering refinancing your existing home loan and want to find a better deal Want to do an equity cash-out for further investments
Should you get a pre-approval?
A pre-approval is an important step in getting you closer to your new home or investment property. A pre-approval means a lender has agreed, in principle, to lend you an amount of money towards the purchase of a property. It lets you know your maximum available funds so you can narrow down your search and negotiate or bid with more certainty. While you don’t need to have a preapproval (often due to time restraints), if there is time, knowing with certainty where you stand with your bank will provide added confidence and peace of mind to move forward.
Ensure you have an expert you can trust when buying or refinancing property while overseas. Contact the team at Odin Mortgage today at odinmortgage.com
Add a touch of magic to your gifts with decorations that will make them the best-dressed offerings under the tree.
There are two kinds of people in this world. Those that leave their Christmas wrapping until the very last minute when the Sellotape has long run out and the only papery items in your house are pages from the weekend newspaper; and those who are wrapped and ready to roll somewhere around the end of November (after popping their last batch of homemade mince pies into the freezer).
No matter what category you fall into, nothing says love at Christmas more than a carefully concealed gift that’s been tailored to suit you and wrapped with attention and creativity (and perhaps a few droplets of sherry). But going the extra mile with the look of your presents doesn’t need to mean lots of time, big expense, and an online night course in crafting.
“Wrapping gifts with neat folds, crisp edges and carefully tied bows indicates that you’ve put in effort and value the person you’re giving it to,” says stylist Juliet Harper. “It also hides the surprise within the package.”
Indeed, studies published in Science Daily found that presents “which are nicely wrapped suggest that the gift giver views the relationship as important, and this positivity increases the chances that the recipient will like what’s inside.”
“Be careful though,” warns Juliet, “as it can also raise expectations. It’s important to place just as much focus and thought on the the gift inside as well!”
To get the balance right, we recommend imagination, a healthy drawer of bits ‘n’ bobs (we all have one!), and some good old slices of potato.
Expensive ribbon is not always needed as natural unbleached twine looks great Juliet’s genius wrapping ideas
So many things we buy come in
Make the outside as little boxes; candles, watches, secret Lazada purchases, so keep these meaningful to wrap your presents. It saves on using as the extra paper which is both expensive inside and detrimental to the environment. Complete the look with a neat bow and small accessory Expensive ribbon is not always needed as natural unbleached twine looks great when tied with the likes of a few crayons for young kids, or wooden letters of their name to colour Cookie cutters in the theme of the season make an attractive tag, or slices of dried fruit look stunning. Old socks can be transformed into decorations, and an unravelled woolly can be made into pompoms A little pop of greenery is always a good idea in a home and the same applies to gifts. At Christmas, a little sprig of pine, mistletoe or thistle will give a present a botanical lift. Twigs and dried berries, or even little birds’ feathers can be used. Add a small, tied bunch of fresh herbs or a bouquet garni to a bottle of wine with a standout ribbon as a gift when invited to a celebration dinner Of course, not every gift we give to children needs to be wrapped with chic flourishes. Wrap a few in plain paper, then tie them altogether with one bow beautifully tied at the top Gift bags can be purchased in all sizes and they save on time and Sellotape. Keep bags once opened so you can reuse them later Reusing wrapping paper is sensible and sustainable. Start by buying unbleached recycled paper to create D.I.Y designs with potato prints and cookie cutters (remember to teach recipients how to unwrap gently!). Ribbon can be pricey, so always keep some from presents given to you. Combining colours, patterns and widths instantly makes the gift more personalised
A step-by-step guide to adding personality to your package
COOKIE CUTTER STYLE
Small cookie cutters/silver bells Twine Brown paper Craft Christmas stickers
Take very long pieces of twine about six times the length of your gift. Hook the twine on one end of the cookie cutter then keep wrapping it around the gift until you can hook the other side of the cookie cutter and tie the twine together at the back. Space out the twine so it’s spread over the gift. Add a festive message in the corner by handwriting or using craft stickers.
KNIT ONE
Small box Scrap of striped ribbon Christmas jumper decoration Craft Christmas stickers
Start by making a small decoration out of old socks, a paper cut-out, or if you have the skills, knit a little jumper as shown above (by ANZA member Janice Burns). Once the gift is wrapped, tie the decoration onto the front of the box with ribbon long enough to touch at the back. Fasten with tape. On the ribbon, place a few Christmas words or write a note using a fabric marker.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Brown paper Kitchen twine Wine cork White acrylic paint Dried orange slice Pine leaf
Take the end of a wine cork and dip it gently into white acrylic paint. Starting in one corner, make even dots on a large sheet of paper. Continue dotting in a neat row across the paper. Once dry, wrap the gift twice with twine and decorate.
TIP!
Cut the potato in an egg shape and paint it black. Let it dry, then add a white spot on the bottom, an orange beak, white feet and eyes and you have a little penguin!
White wrapping paper Potato Black acrylic paint Black and white twine Red cherry Thin red ribbon
Cut one potato cut in half. Draw a tree shape on the sliced end then cut around it,
JINGLE BELL ROCK
Three silver bells Twine White paper Christmas foliage
Wrap your gift and tie with twine of double thickness. Fasten together with three festive bells and add a pop of colour with sage leaves. about 5mm down, with a sharp paring knife. Alternatively, take a slice of potato and cut right though it with a cookie cutter. Use a paper towel or old rag to absorb any excess moisture. Apply a thin layer of paint and stamp on the paper (try doing this on plain ribbon too). Once the gift is wrapped, tie with a simple bow or red ribbon for a colour pop and add some artificial cherries for a festive flourish.
TO THE LETTER
White wrapping paper Small envelope (optional) Wooden letters Black and white craft twine Sage leaves White acrylic paint
Wrap the gift in simple plain white paper. Take a small wooden letter and paint part or all of it white, red, or green. A snow effect was added to the letter H, but using your finger to make little dots of snow is also effective. Once dry, tie the letter to the gift with black and white craft twine and set off with a sprinkling of foliage, a sticker, or a note in a small envelope. The letters can be used as tree decorations later.
Old glasses case or small black boxes
Recycled paper in a contrasting pattern
Assorted wide ribbon in black and white stripe or plaid
Foliage or feathers
Sprigs of pine or rosemary
Use a small recycled black box to wrap your gift. If it has branding on it, use blackboard stickers to cover the writing, or blacken it out with a Sharpie and cover the box in wrapping paper. Use a wide ribbon to tie the gift with a large bow - the aim is for most of the box to be covered in the tie. Adorn with colourful feathers, foliage, or even slide in a cinnamon stick.
FROM THE HEART
Brown paper
Chalkboard gift tags
Black and white craft twine
Craft Christmas stickers
Using black and white craft twine, wrap the gift from top to bottom and left to right and repeat. Tie at the back and evenly space out the twine so it appears in a neat grid pattern. Tuck the chalk gift tag in behind. Add some Christmas wording using craft stickers or write a note in chalk on the tag.
Where to find decorative bits
OUR FAVOURITE SG SHOPS FOR CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY
Spotlight (spotlightstores.com) is the mega-store for all things Christmas. We love their stock of large rolls of brown packing and white recycled wrapping paper Garden centres like Far East Flora (fareastflora.com) have an inexpensive range of ribbon. From October they start to stock winter foliage and artificial berries Try kitchen stores for cookie cutters which make interesting shapes. House of Anli (houseofanli.com) in Tanglin Mall or the local stores on Smith Street in Chinatown are great go-tos Daiso (daisosingapore.com.sg) has a fantastic selection of art materials, decorations and stationery like mini-cards and envelopes PaperMarket (papermarket.com.sg) at Great World City has an extensive range of cards and paper products
TIP!
Always have a roll of plain paper at home, particularly in natural and white along with a good selection of colourful ribbons. Plain gift tags are also essential. Consider getting a personalised family stamp to put your own touch on your gifts. Brands like axogram.sg and parademade. com have cute ideas
Your Holiday
Hazard Safety Guide
Is it even the silly season without a potential home accident on your hands?
It’s fair to say that along with Christmas cheer comes an element of Christmas fear. As the silly season commences, the potential for danger increases as we deck the halls, prepare epic meals and start drinking Baileys for breakfast (just us?). Indeed, a report in the New Zealand Herald found that 4,000 Kiwis were injured every Christmas Day, and according to the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, nearly 5,000 Australians are admitted to hospital each year as a result of scaling a ladder. So, move away from the steps as Dr Charu Narayanan from International Medical Clinic, Singapore reveals how to avoid possible calamities and keep the holidays happy and trouble-free.
Christmas calamity: My husband had a fall while putting up decorations and has put his back out. How should he handle it? Dr Charu Narayanan: Unknown to us, we may have some wear and tear going on in the backbone and unusual activity can result in mechanical pain in the back. In these situations, pain relief such as paracetamol and if permitted, an antiinflammatory medication like ibuprofen, can provide relief from pain and muscle spasm. Pain on coughing and sneezing or sharp discomfort travelling from the back into the legs may point to a potential slipped disc in the spine. Strong pain relief followed by an urgent visit to a doctor is advised if you feel weak in the legs, numbness, or have bladder or bowel symptoms. If there are no concerning features, working with a physiotherapist over a few weeks can get you back in shape.
Australia news.com.au cited that 41% of festive injuries were caused by falls
Christmas calamity: I had too much mulled wine last night and now I’m suffering a killer hangover. What are the signs that I need more than my bed? Dr Charu: Red wine and sugar make for a deadly combination. Prevention is easier than cure so try to have some food before alcohol consumption to protect your stomach, and drink water in between serves of wine. Lots of water and a paracetamol will deal with the headache, however, if you’re vomiting and unable to keep fluids down, a trip to hospital would be advisable.
Christmas calamity: My toddler has swallowed a small plastic part of his new Christmas toy. What should I do? Dr Charu: Most small round and smooth toy parts which are swallowed are passed out in the stools. If they’re larger, there’s a concern about these getting stuck in the bowel. A sharp object or a metallic toy or coin can cause damage and may need to be located using an X-ray – removal may be needed as these can get stuck in the windpipe. In this circumstance, it’s safer to see a doctor within 24 hours for a check-up. Observe the stools to check for small round objects and monitor your toddler to see if they appear distressed; are coughing, vomiting or drooling; having difficulty breathing or have stomach pain. Symptoms such as these require urgent medical attention.
Christmas calamity: We’re experiencing a family bout of food poisoning. How do we get back to health, and what are the signs that we need to see a professional? Dr Charu: Most episodes of Studies found the loose stools and vomiting are second most common due to viruses and tend to settle on their own. However, injury on Christmas if this affects the entire Day in Australia is household simultaneously and happens within a few cuts from people hours after eating the same unwrapping gifts meal, it’s likely to be bacterial food poisoning. Keep on top of body fluid losses by drinking enough fluids with a balance of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride). Water, soups, congee, or shop bought
Christmas calamity: My young child has been eating holly. I rehydration sachets to maintain hydration are the main treatment. know this can be poisonous – Sports drinks can work should we go straight to A&E? and probiotics support Dr Charu: Berries of holly are recovery of the gut poisonous and children and pets lining. Inability to drink, may accidentally ingest these pretty lethargy, floppiness decorations. If this happens, it can result and sleepiness reflect in diarrhoea, vomiting, and then dehydration dehydration so visiting a in children. Drowsiness may also occur. It’s hospital is advisable. Most important to ensure that any remaining berries infections recover without are removed from the child’s mouth and first antibiotics but high fever aid, water or milk can be offered. Then head with chills, feeling very to a hospital for monitoring. Activated charcoal unwell and blood in stools may absorb toxins in the stomach in some cases. indicate that a trip to a clinic is needed.
Christmas calamity: I’ve just stepped on a pointy bauble and cut my foot. It really hurts, but I how do I know it’s serious?
Dr Charu: Remove the object from the floor to avoid further accidents. Give the wound a wash under running water, then check under good lighting to see if any broken shards of glass are still stuck there. If the cut appears clean, apply an antiseptic like betadine or antibiotic cream and dress it. If there’s still evidence of broken glass in your foot, apply a clean dressing and head to a doctor or an emergency ward who’ll be able to help which may include an X-ray. Make sure you’re up to date with your tetanus vaccine and have had one in the past ten years. If not, try to have the jab at the clinic you attend.
Christmas calamity: My teenage daughter has come home drunk from a festive gathering and I fear her drink may have been spiked. What are the signs and how can I best look after her? Dr Charu: The symptoms would depend on the type and amount of substance consumed and her weight. Benzodiazepines, amphetamines and ecstasy (although hopefully not in Singapore) are some of the drugs added to spiked drinks. Symptoms may include appearing more intoxicated than expected, nausea, vomiting, confusion and loss of memory, slurred speech, seizures or muscle spasms. You may suspect spiking if she reported only having a small amount of alcohol and feels disproportionately drunk. First things first, move her to a place of safety. Provide her with fluids if conscious and then plan to attend A&E to determine the type of drug used and to treat the harmful effects. Spiking someone’s drink is a crime and must be reported to the police. Educating our teenagers on how to prevent these incidents, for example not leaving drinks unattended or accepting drinks from strangers is essential. Christmas calamity: I burned my fingers getting the stuffing out of the oven. Help! Dr Charu: Prevention of these accidents by wearing gloves is extremely important, but if this has happened, place your hand under cool running water for up to twenty minutes to reduce the temperature of the skin and limit damage. A superficial (first degree burn) is likely to be pink and painful without blisters and can be managed at home. Apply an antibiotic cream and a clean dressing. Second degree burns may be pink, blistered and painful. Do not break any blisters and keep it clean using cling film and dressing after applying an antibiotic cream. Third degree burns can look leathery white and are painless as the nerve endings are destroyed. Second and third degree hand burns are a concern because of scarring during the healing period resulting poor hand function so early medical intervention is advised. Christmas calamity: I’ve suffered an electric shock thanks to the tree lights. I think I’m okay, but not sure. What to do? Dr Charu: Thankfully, Christmas lights are likely to be low voltage and serious injuries are not as common as with high voltage sources. However, these types of lights can cause burns at the point of contact with skin or ground so check your hands and feet for signs of burns. Sometimes, an electric shock doesn’t leave marks of external injury but causes damage to tissues with low resistance such as the heart, blood vessels, nervous system and internal organs. The jolt can cause soft tissue injury, falls and fractures while the transmission through organs has the potential to cause an irregular heart beat, cardiac arrest, seizures
Festive food and even depression or personality changes. If you feel short of breath, dizzy, have chest pain, numbness, vision, hearing, poisoning affects confusion or speech problems, please seek medical help by an estimated 4.1 calling 995.
million Aussies each year Research reveals that champagne corks can fly out of a bottle at up to 27 mph
Dr Charu Narayanan is a UK trained GP based at IMC Katong. He approaches disease in a holistic fashion and places emphasis on prevention. Dr Charu completed her board certification with the Australasian College of Lifestyle Medicine. imc-healthcare.com
How to Beat Burnout
Are you burnt out? DR VALERIE DRUON from Osler Health International explains what burnout is, why it’s important to take a break and when to seek support.
Over the last 18 months our lives have been disrupted by multiple lockdowns, restrictions on travel, the imposition of working and schooling from home, in addition to the inability to see loved ones. For many of us, work has flowed beyond its previous boundaries. Ironically this has meant less time in the office, but more time working.
The situation has been compounded by the lack of dedicated holidays. Having a vacation allows us to recharge and reflect. Without designated time out in our diary, it has become common to simply keep on working. As a GP I’m starting to see distinct ‘Covid fatigue’. Patients are feeling stressed, burnt out and overworked.
WHAT IS BURNOUT?
Burnout is a state of physical and mental exhaustion. You may lose your ability to cope with normal daily activities, become disinterested or negative about work, suffer from poor performance, or lack your usual drive and creativity. Some personality traits, like being a perfectionist or a high achiever, and thought patterns like pessimism and high selfcriticism, can also contribute to burnout.
HOW DO I SPOT THE SIGNS OF BURNOUT? You may be burnt out if you find yourself:
Agitated and unable to relax or wind down Easily irritable Very reactive to trivial triggers Having severe difficulties concentrating and focusing Adopting unhealthy coping skills and stress reliever habits like alcohol, smoking, not exercising, more screen time, and a poor choice of foods (high in sugars and fats)
Experiencing poor to no motivation or energy to initiate healthy activities Mentally and physically fatigued and unable to make any decisions Sleep, appetite, and basic bodily functions are disrupted Prone to panic attacks, a constant state of anxiety and even depression
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Identify the causes that lead to being burnt out
These can be related to work or at home, workload, long working hours, the work itself not being compatible to your skills, your relationships and conflicts, unrealistic expectations, your home and work environment, the degree of support available, and your health (such as general illness or anemia). All of these can make coping with everyday life more challenging.
Schedule self-nurturing time regularly
With working and home schooling pressures, ensure that you’re scheduling some ‘me-time’ daily. It’s vital to make space that allows for healthy relaxation. This may include mindfulness, listening to music, running, yoga, dancing to your favourite music or just laughing with friends.
Reach out
Know that it is okay to reach out and seek help. Find support in a trusted empathetic loved one. It takes courage to admit that we can no longer cope and recognise that you may need to get some professional assistance.
Visiting a doctor can help treat and differentiate between stress, burnout, or an underlying deeper mental health condition like depression, anxiety or substance abuse. As a doctor I can offer a treatment plan. It may be seeking specialist support – for example, psychologists can help with improving coping skills, stress management and relaxation strategies that are lifelong essential survival skills.
HOW CAN A GP HELP?
Make an appointment on +65 6339 2727 or by visiting osler-health.com
