SWIM, HIT, SPIN… WIN!
The 2017 Sports Calendar at the Swiss Club
THE ZODIAC ZOO AND YOU
Light-hearted Horoscopes for the Year of the Rooster
COME INSIDE AND PLAY!
The Playroom Returns, Refreshed and Revamped
PIZZA AND PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS
Tasty Treats at Pergola
RELAX JA N UA RY/ F E B R UA RY
2 017
I S S U E
At Lumen Capital, it’s all about understanding YOU and YOUR needs
“Financial independence is the foundation for personal freedom. Therefore, safeguarding and growing the assets entrusted to us is what drives me and my team.”
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The LCI Value Proposition Providing a robust holistic approach to wealth management, we place paramount importance on understanding our clients’ needs and crafting individualized solutions.
www.lci.com.sg 24 Raffles Place, #17-‐03 Clifford Centre, Singapore 048621
Jan Dirkmann Managing Partner, CEO Tel +65 6634-‐0112 jan.dirkmann@lci.com.sg
Justin Lam Partner, Senior Advisor Tel +65 6634-‐0112 justin.lam@lci.com.sg
SWISS CLUB
CLUB MANAGEMENT, STAFF AND RESERVATIONS OFFICE
ADMIN & HR
Carsten Kjeldmann, General Manager E: carsten.kjeldmann@swissclub.org.sg
Joey Chaw, Office Manager E: joey.chaw@swissclub.org.sg / careers@swissclub.org.sg
DID: 6591 9421
DID: 6591 9422
Membership
DINING
Serene Yee, Member Relations Manager E: serene.yee@swissclub.org.sg
Adrian Vogt, Executive Chef/F&B Manager E: adrian.vogt@swissclub.org.sg
DID: 6591 9426
DID: 6591 9428
Finance
BANQUETS & EVENTS
Lydia Zhai, Chief Accountant E: lydia.zhai@swissclub.org.sg
Paulina Halim, Event Sales Manager E: paulina.halim@swissclub.org.sg
DID: 6591 9450
DID: 6591 9430
FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE
SPORTS & RECREATION
Ko Mun Wong, Facilities & Maintenance Manager E: komun.wong@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9457
Timothy Felix Rajadurai, Sports Manager E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9438
ADVERTISING & MARKETING Kumar Samy, Grounds & Housekeeping Manager E: samy.kumar@swissclub.org.sg
Christelle Taillens, Marketing Manager E: christelle.taillens@swissclub.org.sg DID: 6591 9455
DID: 6591 9451
THE GUESTHOUSE ROOM RESERVATIONS E: theguesthouse@swissclub.org.sg T: 6591 9420
DINING RESERVATIONS E: recept@swissclub.org.sg T: 6591 9420 F: 6591 9452
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Gerda Gehrig (RELAX Magazine) E: gerda.gehrig@swissclub.org.sg Daniel Mueller (Sports) E: daniel.mueller@swissclub.org.sg
Martin Silberstein President
E: president@swissclub.org.sg
René Cotting Deputy President
E: deputypres@swissclub.org.sg
Max Schweizer (Buildings & Infrastructure) E: max.schweizer@swissclub.org.sg Adrian Jacklowsky (Marketing) E: adrian.jacklowsky@swissclub.org.sg Felix Kobel E: felix.kobel@swissclub.org.sg
Markus Blattmann Treasurer
E: treasurer@swissclub.org.sg
Patrick Regamey Secretary
E: secretary@swissclub.org.sg
Anantha Ayer E: anantha.ayer@swissclub.org.sg Fritz Horlacher E: fritz.horlacher@swissclub.org.sg
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SWISS CLUB
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
FROM THE EDITOR Dear Members,
GENERAL
3 Club Management, Staff and Reservations 3 Committee 4 From the Editor 6 A Word from the Committee 7 A Message from the General Manager 8 Welcomes and Farewells 8 Opening Hours DINING 12
Wine, Dine and Unwind in January and February
EVENTS
14
Hey Kids, Welcome to the New Playroom!
SPORTS 16 17 18 19 20 22 22
Happy New Year Fitness Fun Swiss Club Sports Events 2017 Calendar Make 2017 Your Year of Playing Tennis Green Court Turns Silver! Swiss Sharks’ Winning Frenzy Spotlight On... Aquabiking German-Swiss Golf Club Competition Schedule
INTEREST 23 24 26 27 28 28 29 30 32 33
Make Yourself at Home at The Guesthouse Switzerland and Singapore Celebrate 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations Deepavali Lights Up Kindergarten! Meet a Member: Great Serves – From Tennis to ‘Penne Bolo’, the Pollina Family Love Everything at the Swiss Club First Impressions: Why Nikki Chose the Swiss Club – Food Fixes and Tennis Lessons Meet a Staffer: We Are Family – Why Gary Neo Loves His Job Kids’ Space Cock-a-doodle-do-what? – Your Chinese Horoscope for the Year of the Rooster What’s Your New Year’s Resolution? Fitness, Friends, Fun! Programme of Activities in January and February
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with family and friends, either here in Singapore or in your homelands or holiday destinations. In this part of the world, it seems that the festivities never end. Hot on the heels of Christmas and the New Year celebrations comes Chinese New Year. As a Singapore resident of more than two decades, I urge you to immerse yourself in local culture. It certainly renewed my sense of wonder, which had become a little faded and jaded over time. My eyes still open wide (and my hands fly over my ears) whenever I chance upon the rowdy, colourful spectacle of a lion dance. Be sure to catch the annual lion dance at the Swiss Club on 5 February! Of course, the special day for lovers falls shortly after the traditional fifteen days of Chinese New Year celebrations. I hereby wish all couples, singles and hopeless/hopeful romantics a very Happy Valentine’s Day. I can think of no lovelier place to celebrate the occasion than at the Swiss Club. Book early for your choice of three special festive dining promotions. As the Editor of your magazine, a highlight of every issue, for me, is interviewing Members. (I use the term very loosely, because all we really do is just sit down and chat.) New Member Nikki Muller is a Swiss-Filipina citizen of the world, and a regional television celebrity to boot. She could not have been friendlier. Likewise, the beautiful Pollina family were a joy to behold and a pleasure to meet – an Italian family in the Swiss Club in Singapore. Read all about these delightfully diverse Members in our regular sections, Meet a Member on Page 27 and First Impressions on Page 28. Good luck with your New Year’s resolutions – if you’re the type to make them, that is. Be inspired, or amused, by the resolutions candidly shared by Management, staff and Members on Page 32. Happy New Year, ‘Gong xi fa cai’, Happy Valentine’s Day and happy reading! Best wishes,
RELAX is edited and designed by SPEcial Pte Ltd. Suzanne, Copy E: suzy@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 9820 9520
Pam, Liaison
E: pam@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 9871 0666
Edwin, Art
E: edwin@spe-cial.com
T: (65) 8500 2975
swissclub.org.sg MCI (P) No. 047/03/2016
/swissclubsingapore
Suzanne Lauridsen Editor, RELAX
@swissclubsingapore
@SwissClubSing
SWISS CLUB
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SWISS CLUB
A WORD FROM THE COMMITTEE Dear Fellow Members First of all, let me wish you all the best for 2017. Having been founded in 1871, the Club will this year celebrate its 146th birthday – a respectable age and time for some visible change. As you will have most likely heard by now, the Club ran a successful auction in October 2016, selling parts of its land that were of no use (and would never have been of any use to the Club) at an amount of SGD 15,222 million.
These investments will shape the Club’s appearance for the generation to come, namely by completely rebuilding and upgrading the Pergola as well as the Jungle Bar and their surrounding areas.
The funds subsequently obtained give the Club the unique opportunity to think about and actually tackle necessary investments and upgrades in a more holistic manner than what was possible in the past. These investments – if made – will shape the Club’s appearance for the generation to come, namely by completely rebuilding and upgrading the Pergola as well as the Jungle Bar and their surrounding areas. Should you be interested to learn more about this and also provide your thoughts and suggestions to this project prior to its finalisation, please make sure you block off some time on 10 January 2017. On this date, the Pergola/Jungle Bar project proposal will be presented to all interested Members. The presentation will not just consist of plans and drawings but also of a three-dimensional model, which will provide a better understanding of what the realised project will look like. It will also be a unique opportunity to directly address any questions you may have to those intimately involved. As you can imagine, remodelling of Pergola and Jungle Bar will not happen free of charge. We intend to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on 27 February 2017 to obtain the approval required for an investment of this magnitude. Hopefully, as many Members as possible, including you, will attend that EGM to jointly decide the future look of the Club. The realisation of the above investments will only require a fraction of the funds resulting from the land sale. The remaining majority of these funds will be kept segregated from the general funds of the Club and be managed by a designated group of fellow Members with strong investment expertise, in order to ensure the Club’s sustainable future.
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In January, we expect the resurfacing of tennis court 2 and padel court and the improvement of levels to be completed. The upgrading works (painting) on the leisure pool should also have concluded by January 2016. Despite all these exciting prospects, it should be noted that 2017 will most likely constitute another challenging year for the Club, as in line with the old Roman saying per aspera ad astra, the way to the upgraded Club facilities will entail a significant amount of construction work, which will cause a degree of temporary disruption at the Club. Namely the Pergola and Jungle Bar will have to be temporarily closed or relocated. Furthermore, the challenges that the Club has had to deal with in the recent past will not disappear over night. These include the fact that the number of expatriate families is unlikely to increase, and the fact that expatriation packages will not suddenly become more generous, if still granted at all. As a result thereof the Club will have to sustain its operations on a smaller Membership base compared to the past. This leaves the Club with two choices. The Club could cut costs and reduce its offerings – which would most likely lead to a further decline in Membership numbers as well as a reduction in engagement of the remaining Members and is thus not a viable option. Or, the Club could continue to strive for excellence in all of its offerings, including activities, services and culinary delights, and so keep its current Members engaged while attracting new Members. Hence please take this as an invitation to stay engaged as a Member and to continue visiting the Club, making use of its culinary and other offerings as well as breadth of activities throughout 2017. Please do remain tolerant in the event of some of temporary inconveniences. Also, should you have any feedback or suggestions on how to improve Club life even further, please feel free to reach out at any time to the Club Management or the Committee. With this I wish you and your families, once more, a happy and prosperous 2017.
F. Kobel Felix Kobel Committee Member felix.kobel@swissclub.org.sg
SWISS CLUB
A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER Dear Members, Welcome ‘home’ and welcome back to the Swiss Club. I hope you all had a fulfilling Christmas with family and friends, enjoying the Yuletide magic and the many enjoyable moments it brings. Also, best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2017. I trust you have all enjoyed a good start to the year. The Club had a busy December with lots of activities. Thank you to all Members who participated in the various events. A new item on the festive calendar was the Christmas Tree Lighting held on 3 December. What a lot of fun that was, with kids covered in ‘snow’ while the adults enjoyed Christmas carols, ginger cookies and mulled wine – even Santa stopped by for a quick visit on this festive occasion. Going by the feedback received from Members and kids, this looks likely to become an annual happening. Over the past months, our Property, Sports and Main Committee, together with the Management, have discussed developments, infrastructure and other Club-related amenities to serve our Members better. Upgrading projects are on the horizon in many areas of the Club, so keep up-to-date via @-correspondence circulated, as well as by information mailed to you or displayed on the Club News notice board. We seek and value your feedback, so do participate in these discussions. These improvements are obviously meant to enhance the Swiss Club so that it remains a great Club for many years to come.
With changes and ongoing tweaks, the Swiss Club will continue to be a fantastic social and recreational venue for you and your family. Our new Aveda Hair Salon has proven popular, and once approval has been granted for our Spa to open, the overall Club experience will become even better. As usual, the food and beverage calendar is packed with exciting promotions over the next few months. Do not forget to book for your ‘Valentine’. This year we have deviated slightly from tradition by offering three dining options. You can find out more about these romantic treats inside this issue of RELAX. On behalf of the Swiss Club, Committee and Staff, we wish all our Members continued success in 2017. A prosperous New Year greeting also goes to our Members celebrating the Chinese New Year. Hopefully the Rooster will bring exciting new opportunities ahead. Our annual Lion Dance is scheduled for 5 February at 11am. Do join us and bring the family – this fantastic spectacle is always a favourite with the kids! As always, I look forward to welcoming you at the Swiss Club.
With changes and ongoing tweaks, the Swiss Club will continue to be a fantastic social and recreational venue for you and your family.
Warmest regards,
Carsten Kjeldmann General Manager carsten.kjeldmann@swissclub.org.sg
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SWISS CLUB
Welcomes
and Farewells
The Swiss Club welcomes: Name Christoph & Diana Denk Omamgbe Ikpa-Grieb & Sebastian Grieb Fraser & Susannah Wilson Alexander Hoffmann Victor Clavell & Alejandra Rovira-Clavell Olivier & Catherine Jouny Cedric Retailleau & Gabriela Salgado Florent Morin Mathias & Sheraine von Bescherer
Type of Membership Ordinary Ordinary / Associate Transferable Associate Transferable Term Term Term Term Visiting Visiting
The Swiss Club farewells: Name Martin Thomas & Beatrice Ruth Braun Sven & Nadja Oesch Eduardo & Ulrike Ciliendo Francois De Moulliac & Loke Jee Kwun Judy Heinz & Desi Gimmel Didier & Meriem Ballenghien Giovanni Bussu & Charlotte Clewing-Bussu Gebhard Martin & Agnieszka Giselbrecht Christof & Talita Jaeger Khor Teik Heng Dex & Khor-Lin Wanping Natalie Patrice Mauger & Benedicte Herisse-Mauger Patrick & Sylvie Pennamen
Type of Membership Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary / Associate Ordinary / Associate Ordinary / Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Transferable Non-Swiss Nominee Non-Swiss Nominee
OPENING HOURS OFFICE
RECEPTION AT THE GUESTHOUSE T: 6591 9420 Daily: 10:00 – 20:00
DINING OUTLETS ARBENZ Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays T: 6591 9424 Lunch: Wed to Sun, 12:00 – 15:00 Dinner: Wed – Sun, 18:30 – 24:00 (Last orders at 22:00) Dress Code: Smart Casual, except Sundays PERGOLA T: 6591 9431 Sun – Thur: 07:00 – 23:00 Fri & Sat: 07:00 – 24:00 (Last orders at 22:30)
TANDOORI CORNER T: 6591 9431 Lunch: Mon – Fri, 11:00 – 14:30 Dinner: Mon – Fri, 18:00 – 21:30 Sat & Sun: 11:00 – 21:30 (Last order at 21:30) JUNGLE BAR Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays T: 6591 9433 Wed – Fri: 11:30 – 23:30 Sat & Sun: 09:30 – 23:30
SPORTS FACILITIES Daily Tennis Court 07:00 – 22:30 Football Field 07:00 – 22:30* Leisure Pool 07:00 – 22:00 Gym 07:00 – 22:30
Mon – Fri Lap Pool Sports Hall
For restaurant reservations, please call 6591 9420 between 10:00 – 20:00. After office hours, please call 6591 9431.
06:00 – 22:00 18:00 – 22:00
*Can be booked for exclusive usage
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Weekends, Public and GESS School Holidays Lap Pool 07:00 – 22:00 Sports Hall 07:00 – 22:00**
Outlet opening hours are subject to changes. **Fees apply for usage of Sports Hall. Prior booking is required.
SALADS AND APPETISERS
Prosperity Feast Reunion Dinner Arbenz | 27 Jan 2017 | 17:30 - 21:30
Family of 4* $160 Family of 10* $380 Subsequently $40 per adult/ $20 per child (aged 5 to 12) *Non-members will be charged an additional 10%.
Usher in the Year of the Rooster with a lavish feast of auspicious dishes. For reservations, call Reception at 6591 9420, visit http://bit.ly/SCCNY17 or scan the QR code by 19 Jan 2017.
Yusheng Salad Smoked Salmon Platter Assorted Sushi Szechuan Spicy Jelly Fish Chinese Sliced BBQ Pork Home-made Prawn Balls Shredded Chicken with Sesame Peanut Sauce
Soup
Hot and Sour Soup
HOT DISHES
Braised Pork Trotter Steamed Red Snapper with Light Soy Sauce Braised Dried Oyster with Black Moss Braised Egg Tofu with Crabmeat Hong Kong-style Roast Duck Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables with Mushrooms Steamed White Rice
DESSERTS
Fresh Fruit Platter Tiramisu Cake Assorted Nonya Kueh Chocolate Mousse
Full payment will be charged for no-show. 50% cancellation fees will be charged for cancellations made 3 working days prior to the event. 100% cancellation fees will be charged for cancellations made 24 hours or less prior to the event.
F rtunately,
the Annual Lion Dance is Back Again 5 February 2017, 11am The Swiss Club Clubhouse All are Welcome! The Chinese lion dance is an unforgettable spectacle of sights and sounds and a harbinger of good fortune. In accordance with Chinese and Club traditions, the Swiss Club will once again be hosting a performance to usher in the Lunar New Year. It’s free for all, and will commence in front of the Clubhouse before prancing around our premises. Be there, take some photos and make some memories!
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SWISS Z’MORGE 5THMAR17 | SUN | 9AM
10
RSVP by 24th Feb 17 Visit bit.ly/SCzmorge17 or scan the QR code to RSVP now. swissclubsingapore | swissclub.org.sg
DINING
Wine, Dine and Unwind in January and February
After the Christmas feasting comes another round of celebrations for Chinese New Year, followed by Valentine’s Day. Why not make the most of your time in Singapore by joining in the cultural festivities and organising a Chinese New Year gathering at the Swiss Club? We look forward to welcoming you and your guests as we welcome the Year of the Rooster! AT PERGOLA
Pizza Parade What:
Pizza is perfect for sharing, requires no cutlery or ceremony,
and always hits the spot. Enjoy this array of traditional and
fusion types, served piping hot all through January.
Pizza Provençale Olives, Fresh Tuna, Rocket Leaves, Goat Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes $13.90
Breakfast Pizza Bacon, Cooked Ham, Egg, Baby Spinach
$12.90
Tandoori Pizza Tandoor Chicken Cubes, Sliced Red Onion, Mint Yogurt, Coriander $13.90
Swiss Cheesy Pizza Raclette, Gruyère and Emmentaler Cheese
$12.90
Roasted Duck Pizza Black Pepper Sauce, Spring Onion, Sour Cream
$13.90
When:
1 – 31 January 2017
Picture for illustration only
In Praise of Portobello Mushrooms What:
The ‘vegetarian’s meat’ takes centre-stage this month with a
United Nations-style lineup of international dishes starring
portobello mushrooms.
Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Dill Mustard
$16.50
French Smoked Duck Breast, Provençale Herbs, Truffle Oil
$15.50
Italian Gorgonzola, Zucchini, Salami, Herbs
$15.50
Swiss Bacon, Tomato, Raclette Cheese
$15.50
Swiss Club Special Creamy Portobello Ragout, Rösti
$15.50
When:
1 – 28 February 2017 Picture for illustration only
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DINING
Tandoori Friday Feast (every Friday) What: When: How much:
A lavish spread of Indian cuisine, lovingly prepared by our Nepalese chefs 6.30pm – 9.30pm $29 per person
Raclette Nights (every Wednesday) What: When: How much:
Authentic Swiss raclette (grilled cheese scraped from the wheel) with traditional accompaniments 6pm – 10pm Portion – $16.50 each Buffet – $46.50 per person
AT ARBENZ
Executive Set Lunch What: 2-course Executive Lunch When: Weekdays, 11am – 3pm How much: $26 per person Picture for illustration only
CLUB-WIDE
Wines of the Month for January and February What: When:
Viña Pomal Viura Malvasia 2014 1 January to 28 February 2017
How much: $68 per bottle $12 per 125ml glass Tasting Notes Region: Vintage: Volume: Alcohol: Grape variety:
Aging potential:
Tasting notes:
Food pairing:
Viña Pomal Reserva 2011 1 January to 28 February 2017
How much: $68 per bottle $12 per 125ml glass Tasting Notes
D.O.C. Rioja 2014 750ml 12.5% 70% Viura, 30% Malvasia This wine is now at its optimum consumption time and will gain in complexity if kept for one more year.
Serving temperature: 8 - 12°C Colour:
What: When:
Pale yellow with slight steel hues A rich aromatic bouquet. Notes of white fruit, citrus and fennel with light toastiness from aging in oak. A supple fresh and balanced mouthfeel. This wine matches perfectly with fish and seafood dishes but also with mild dishes such as vegetables, purées and cheeses.
Region: Vintage: Volume: Alcohol: Grape variety:
Aging potential:
D.O.C. Rioja 2012 750ml 13.5% 100% Tempranillo The wine is at its optimum consumption time but may develop favourably until 2021.
Serving temperature: 13 - 18°C Colour: Tasting notes:
Food pairing:
Special Prices for Take-home Purchases
Deep Picota Cherry Red with an intense ruby rim Intense and aromatic black fruits with hints of liquorice and balsamics. Expressive and balanced. Well structured, elegant and long finish. This wine matches perfectly with lamb dishes, grilled pork and beef cuts. Also suitable for charcuterie or cheese boards.
6 bottles of White Wine 6 bottles of Red Wine Mixed case:
$215 $270
3 bottles White + 3 bottles Red $240
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EVENTS
Swiss Club Members’ Exclusive
DOOF Beanbags for Sale Enquire at Reception for Special Members’ Prices
Hey Kids, Welcome to the New Playroom!
Operating Hours Mon – Thurs: 10am to 7pm Fri – Sun: 10am to 8pm
After a fresh coat of paint and new lamps and beanbags, the Playroom reopened on 27 November 2016. A place to rest, daydream and play, it has received rave reviews from our young Members. YOU SPOKE, WE LISTENED The decision to reopen the Playroom was based on Members’ feedback in our annual survey. Scattered with cheerful DOOF beanbags, it’s a cheerful chillax lounge for the kindergarten and preschool set. Christelle reported some discontent among older children upon hearing that they exceeded the age limit of five years old. Apologies to those ‘big kids’ who peered in wistfully at their younger fellow Members lounging on the beanbags!
The Playroom
ENCOURAGING BIG DREAMS IN LITTLE ONES Christelle explained the visual cues of the Playroom’s layout and décor.
Much passion and effort was invested in the revival of the Playroom. It is the hope of the Management that due care will be taken to look after this lovely ‘room of dreams’. Please do make sure that your child is accompanied by an adult, and abide by the rules reproduced on this page.
Please take care of this room of dreams!
“The right side is for the sleepyheads to rest under the moon and star lamps. The left side is for the active ones to draw Christelle Taillens and read in the light of the sun, and dream in the glow of the cloudy lamps,” said Christelle. “Please take care of this room of dreams!”
So, children, play on (don’t play up!)… and dream big!
Rules and Regulations The Playroom will be open from 10am to 7pm/8pm daily • No footwear is permitted. Shoes shall be stored at the racks provided at the entrance to the room • Dry, clean casual wear shall be worn at all times. Swimming costumes are not permitted. • Children shall be accompanied and supervised at all times by an adult • No Member who has left his/her child in the Playroom shall leave the Club premises whilst the child remains in the room • Children who are unwell or showing any signs of communicable illness may be refused entry or asked to leave the room • Club Management reserves the right to deny access to any child as a result of violent or inappropriate behaviour • For safety reasons, in the event of the Playroom being over-crowded and exceeding its safe carrying capacity, a 'Time Limit' will be introduced using the 'First in, first out' rule. This is controlled by Club Management • Any person committing any act of vandalism or damage to the Playroom, its equipment, furniture and fittings will be asked to leave immediately and the Member concerned shall be charged in full for the damage and/or replacement cost of any equipment damaged • No equipment is to be removed from the Playroom at any time • Report any room defects or damages to the Receptionist. 14
Make Your Private Event Memorable for All the Right Reasons
Traffic jams in town. No parking. Cramped space. Poor service. Mediocre food. All the usual problems that commonly afflict private events, and indeed jeopardise their attendance, do not apply to those held at the Swiss Club. Whether you are holding an appreciation dinner for your top customers, a thank you lunch for your most loyal staff, or hosting overseas guests at a conference or seminar held over several days, the Swiss Club has the ideal venue for your private event. You will enjoy the attention of a dedicated Event Manager from planning to post-event follow-up, and your guests will feel like VIPs from start to finish.
Competitive Prices, Flexible Spaces Meeting/Seminar
from $40 per person
Social Events
from $50 per person
LIKE A QUOTE FOR YOUR NEXT PRIVATE EVENT AT THE SWISS CLUB? Please contact our Banquet & Events Manager Paulina Halim at: E: events@swissclub.org.sg
SPORTS
Happy New Year
Fitness Fun
Happy New Year, everyone! It’s January again, we’ve had our fill of Christmas goodies and the holiday mood lingers. Let’s hang onto that positivity and make some resolutions for positive change in our lives. RESET YOUR MINDSET Most of us hope for some new beginnings in our lives every New Year. Staying positive and feeling optimistic about making the right changes in one’s life can yield great rewards. While we often aim to make positive physical changes in our lives, these well-meaning resolutions will be more effective if we make a decision to first have a mind-set switch. Often, for many people, the idea of getting fit seems like a chore. Denying oneself chocolate and wine feels like hardship. Swapping fast food and overly rich cuisine for balanced meals of vegetables, meat and good carbohydrates, followed by healthy helpings of fresh fruits, seems more tedious than helpful, and more dull than delicious. See, the idea of becoming a healthier and fitter you must stem from a place that says – doing this will make my life better and it’s actually enjoyable. That will lead to a positive mind-set change that will enable you to find motivation. Seeking motivation from within and surrounding yourself with a positive environment will better enable you to find the motivation you need to keep on track. MIX IT UP To keep exercising regularly really interesting, vary your exercises. Gone are the days where the idea of going to the gym or working out is an hour on the treadmill. If that is your idea of a workout, scrap it! Here are a few fun and exciting exercises to keep you pumped and keep you going.
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WANT: Get rid of those love handles! TRY: Viper dead lift, Side Shuffle, Touching Cones or Russian Twist
WANT: Get your heart rate up and gasp for air! TRY: Jump into a pull-up
Viper Dead Lift
WANT: Tone those flabby arms! TRY: Shadow boxing (yes, you can do it without a partner!)
WANT: A perfect body! (Hey, aim high!) TRY: Hip bridges (They work just as well for men as they do for women!)
BODY OF BENEFITS Every body can be better – and everybody can benefit from body pride and fitness in so many ways. The benefits include – self-esteem raised, energy levels boosted, love lives enhanced, medical bills reduced… the list goes on. Let’s get going in 2017! INTERESTED IN PERSONAL TRAINING OR JOINING A SPORTS ACTIVITY? For more information or to register, please contact: Timothy Felix, Sports Manager, Swiss Club E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg Article courtesy of Timothy Felix, Sports Manager, Swiss Club
SWISS CLUB SPORTS EVENTS
2017 CALENDAR Get organised and get active in 2017. Check out our year-round programme, zero in on your favourite sports, mark your calendars and save the dates! January
13
Pool Party
January
14
Welcome Back Social
January
21
Wellness Day
February
TBC
Mixed Padel Tournament
February
17
Jass 1st Round
February
24 – 26
Gess VW Cup
March
3–5
Gess VW Cup
March
TBC
40XV Junior Tournament
March
TBC
Tennis Holiday Camp
April
TBC
Tennis Holiday Camp
April
21
Jass Tournament
April
TBC
Swiss Ambassador Cup
May
TBC
Swiss Club Singles Tennis Championship
May
TBC
Junior Tournament
June
3
Soccer Summer Cup
June
9
Jass Tournament
June
TBC
Tennis Camp
June
TBC
Tennis Family Day Tournament
June
TBC
Summer Swim Camp
July
TBC
Tennis Camp
August
TBC
Welcome Back Social
August
25
Jass Tournament
September
TBC
Padel Ladies' Tournament
October
1
Swiss Club Swimming Championship
October
13
Jass Tournament
October
TBC
Tennis Social BBQ
October
TBC
Tennis Camp
November
TBC
Swiss Club Junior Tennis Champ
November
TBC
Padel Swiss Club Championship
November
1
Jass Tournament
December
TBC
Family Day Tournament
December
TBC
Xmas Swim Camp 17
JUNIOR SWISS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Make 2017 Your Year of Playing Tennis We look back on a great year of tennis, and we look forward to a thrilling year ahead. Pick up a racket and play! HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR No doubt most of you will have partied a lot over the holidays. So why not join us on the tennis courts to burn some calories and enjoy some fresh air! On Saturday 14 January we are organising a Tennis Welcome Back Social from 4pm to 7pm. It’s a good opportunity to meet new tennis partners and friends. We will be hitting some balls and tucking into a hearty barbecue and ice cold drinks. For the juniors, the training programme restarts on Monday 9 January. We can't wait to play with them again. FLASHBACK TO THE END OF 2016 Here’s a little flashback to what happened at the end of the year 2016.
November was a very busy month with two tournaments: the Junior Swiss Club Championship and the Adult Doubles Swiss Club Championship. We really enjoy seeing how much the kids improve, tournament after tournament. Thanks go to the children and parents for making the tournament a success!
Category 10 & Under Champions Winner: Julia Koehler Runner up: Lukas Cotting Category 10 & Under Winner: Kai Chuen Phay Runner up : Jasper Henrichwark Category 12 & Under Champions Winner: Fabian Reut Runner up: Alex Hakime Category 12 & Under Winner: Janick Arm Runner up: Philipp Koehler Category Open Winner: Federico Ghersi Runner up: Sebastien Helms ADULT DOUBLES SWISS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS Category Mixed Main Draw Winner: Sophie and Laurent Simon Runners up: Stephanie and Alain Perrot Category Mixed Plate Winner: Jennifer Timmermann and Florent Morin Runners up: Mirjam and Dieter Vranckx Category Ladies Main Draw Winner: Stephanie Perrot and Sophie Simon Runners up: Theda Haushofer and Stephanie Monteith Category Ladies Plate Winner: Gabriela Hetzler and Stephanie Lauber Runners up: Rita Spalinger and Christine Kobel Category Men Main Draw Winner: David Spooner and Harry Boot Runners up: Ruediger Prenzlin and Pierre Lorinet Category Men Plate Winner: Sebastien and Nicolas Defauw Runners up: Rohan and Naveen Menon
We enjoy seeing how much the kids improve, tournament after tournament. The adult tournament miraculously finished on time, despite the rain. Thanks to everyone for your patience and participation. We had great fun.
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Let’s all look forward to a year of playing great tennis at the Swiss Club!
Article and photos courtesy of Pierre Capdeville, Swiss Club Tennis Director
SPORTS
Green Court Turns Silver!
The Swiss Club juniors brought it home once again, bringing pride to our small club by winning two silvers. The second season of the Lacoste JTTL saw our four junior teams battling it out with over 80 teams across Singapore.
WE SALUTE OUR SWISS CLUB JUNIOR TEAMS Congratulations to each and every player on a great season of teamwork and trophies! 14A – Swiss Club Spinners Ben Wiegele Federico Ghersi Lucas Parilla Yago Parilla Rohan Menon Hippolyte Chesnier 14A – Swiss Club Fighters Luke Koehler Kieran Davies Felix Parker Caspar Eichelberger Sebastian Helms 12B – Swiss Club Warriors Sebastian Halbach Janick Arm Paul Klingenberg Octave Lebard Juliette Demierre 10A – Swiss Club Slammers
GOLD FOR EFFORT Finals day dawned crisp and clear, despite it being the monsoon season. Both 12B and 10A teams were under pressure as they were almost head to head in points with their opponents. Even though they gave everything they could on court, 12B missed gold by five games, and 10A missed gold by a mere four games. Both teams were naturally disappointed that they were so close to gold only to lose it. But the kids played like champions, worthy of the gold accolade. The 14A teams had a difficult season, unfortunately, and didn’t make it to the finals. The Spinners suffered the loss of two of their players mid-season after their family repatriated to their home country.
Lucas Aschwanden Sebastian Wiegele Akshay Menon Mason Christiansen Kai Chuen Phay Aiden Thng
HUSTLE AND HEART Hustle and heart set these teams apart from their opponents. We are proud of all of them. We thank all the managers of the teams, the Swiss Club, and 40XV for their hard work and support. After so many successful seasons in the league, our junior teams have certainly put Swiss Club on the Singapore tennis map. The Club is delighted to continue investing in our junior tennis programme. We are on the constant lookout for budding tennis stars, so do encourage your children to join us. We are a team above all, and above all a team!
IS YOUR CHILD KEEN ON JOINING A JUNIOR TENNIS TEAM? Please contact Pierre Capdeville at: E: pierre@forty-fifteen.com
Article and photos courtesy of Aileen Aschwanden 19
EP S VO EN RTS
Swiss Sharks’ Winning Frenzy Our Swiss Sharks compete in several races and tournaments throughout the year. Recently, they made a splash in the Gold League Round 4 and the Neptune League. They did us proud, and brought home a slew of medals. GOLD LEAGUE ROUND 4 2016 The fourth round of the Gold League took place on the evening of 11 November 2016. The weather was great, and the Swiss Sharks were in fine form to compete with the aquaDucks Cyclones and The Dutch Dolphins. The gathering of parents and spectators contributed significantly to the success of the evening. Their cheering charged the atmosphere and spurred on our 21 swimmers to come in first overall with a total of 765 points! NEPTUNE LEAGUE The Neptune League is held five times a year and rotates around club locations. The Swiss Club participates along with the Tanglin Club, the Dutch Club, the Singapore Island Country Club and the British Club. The last round is held at the Swiss Club.
OUR TOP MEDAL WINNERS IN THE GOLD LEAGUE
The race kicked off at 8.30am with the backstroke event from the 7 & Under category. It continued in order of ascending ages, moving on to the breaststroke event followed by the exhilarating medley relay event, the butterfly event, the freestyle event and concluding with the freestyle relay.
On the morning of 27 November 2016, participants and families started arriving at 7.15am, with the warm-up starting at 7.30am. Thanks go to our ten wonderful volunteer timekeepers – all parents of swimmers. The medals were presented immediately after the final race, with everyone crowding around the podium to watch. The Swiss Sharks came in second place, falling short of first place by just a few points difference. Go, Swiss Sharks, go. Your ‘thirst for first’ will soon be satisfied! Article contributed by Chantal Windley. Photos courtesy of Yang Lay. 20
Hannah Spalinger (6&U Girls) – 3 Golds and 1 Silver (swam 4 events; first-time participant) Lukas Spalinger (8&U Boys) – 4 Golds (swam 4 events) Maisie Cornell (12&U Girls) – 4 Golds (swam 4 events) Niklas Kronshage (14&U Boys) – 2 Golds and 2 Silvers (swam 4 events)
OUR TOP MEDAL WINNERS IN THE NEPTUNE LEAGUE Jill Meines – 1 Gold and 3 Silvers (swam 4 events) Jakob Gerber – 4 Golds (swam 4 events) Vincent Odenwaelder – 3 Golds (swam 3 events) 13-16 Mixed Age Group – Swiss Sharks Team A and Team B won a gold and silver consecutively for the medley and freestyle relay
IS YOUR CHILD INTERESTED IN SWIMMING? Please email the Sports Manager, Timothy Felix, at timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg or contact aquaDucks at: M: 9487 5183 E: swiss@aquaducks.com.sg
FREE FREE ENTRY ENTRY SPORTS
ST 21 21 ST JAN JAN 17 17 9:00 9:00--12:30 12:30 SATURDAY SATURDAY
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SPOTLIGHT ON...
Aquabiking Aquabiking, has been offered at the Swiss Club since February 2016. We spoke to the energetic and energising coach, Kristel, about its multitude of benefits. A ‘COOL’ WORKOUT AND A CELLULITE TREATMENT IN ONE There are a multitude of benefits to be enjoyed from aquabiking, the waterbased workout that sees people of all ages spinning their hearts out on semisubmerged aquabikes. Besides intensive calorie-burning, aquabiking stimulates the circulatory and cardiovascular systems by pushing oxygen-rich blood around the body. This aids in the removal of lactic acid from the muscles. Since lactic acid causes muscle fatigue and post-exercise soreness, its removal means that the participant will feel significantly less soreness and muscular pain after the workout. “Aquabiking has been shown to improve strength, stamina, and cardiovascular
TEE FOR TRIVIA The highest golf course in the world was the Tuctu Golf Club in Morococha, Peru, which sat 14,335 feet (4,375m) above sea level at its lowest point. However, it was abandoned in the mid-1990s. Today, the record is held by the Yak golf course at 13,025 feet (3,970m) above sea level in Kupup, East Sikkim, India.
endurance, which improves performance in other sports and activities,” shared Kristel. “Best of all, the constant movement of water over the body acts as a massage to soften the skin and get rid of cellulite.” A BUOYANT PERSONALITY Being an aquabiking coach allows Kristel to combine her love of exercise with her love of music, and permits her to indulge in her other passion, food. “I’d like to think I’m full of energy, and that I bring that energy with me to the classes I teach. I love music. My taste is pretty eclectic so being able to explore Spotify and call it work is a major plus!” reflected Kristel. “Aquabiking is the coolest way to work out, literally!” enthused Kristel.
Aquabiking at a Glance When
Wednesdays, 7pm Saturdays, 9am and 10am
Where
Swiss Club pool
Who
Everyone – including those keen to improve their endurance in other sports, and people recovering from injury
What
An hour of (literally) cool cardio that burns 600 – 800 calories with significantly less stress on joints than other workouts
INTERESTED IN AQUABIKING? Please email the Sports Manager, Timothy Felix, at timothyrajadurai@swissclub.org.sg or contact Kristel at: E: kristelactivefitness@gmail.com
German-Swiss Golf Club
COMPETITION SCHEDULE January 2017 Medal Round & Gold Medal 2016 Date
Saturday, 21 January 2017
Tee-off commences
12.30pm
Venue
Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, Nusajaya, Johor
Format
Stableford
Registration by
16 January 2017
February 2017 Medal Round Date
Sunday, 19 February 2017
Tee-off commences
12.30pm
Venue
Palm Resort Golf & Country Club, Senai/Johor Allamanda Course
Format
4BBB Stableford
Registration by
13 February 2017
INTERESTED IN PLAYING GOLF? If you would like to join our golfing group, or take part in one of the competitions, please contact: Dieter Gumpert, Golf Convenor M: 9754 1907 T: 6465 5250 E: dieter.gumpert@gmail.com
In-Room Amenities • Free WiFi
• Hair dryer • In-room safe • Small fridge • Mini bar • Flat screen TV • 1 King bed (Suite) • 2 Single beds (Deluxe room)
Make Yourself at Home at
The Guesthouse
When your home cannot accommodate extra guests, when clients and overseas colleagues visit Singapore, when your home is undergoing renovations… look no further than The Guesthouse, the private boutique hotel-like accommodation at the Swiss Club. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Many newcomers to the Club are surprised to see that we have our own little ‘hotel’ within the Swiss Club grounds. Far more exclusive than a public hotel, it may only be booked by Swiss Club Members. However, Members are welcome to book rooms on behalf of their guests.
Several Members use The Guesthouse as an extension of their own home when guests outnumber beds. Others have used it to accommodate wedding guests from overseas, or small delegations of conference-goers. For business or pleasure, The Guesthouse is the epitome of understated elegance and luxurious comfort.
HEAR WHAT GUESTS SAY ABOUT THE GUESTHOUSE… Our stay at the Guesthouse in March was like being in a home away from home. We had a comfortable stay, and appreciate the care and attention that we received from all members of the staff. Thank you. Bruno Rossi and Norizah Rossi (Absent Member) After leaving Singapore three years ago, we greatly enjoyed our return. The Guesthouse is the perfect place to be! Anna, Toni and Sophie Van Ijzendoorbn (Absent Member)
Check-in/Check-out Information • Room booking must be made by Swiss Club Members only. • The Guesthouse provides non-smoking accommodation in all rooms. • Official Check-in time: After 14:00/ Check-out time: By 12:00. Late check-out/early check-in charges apply. • The room rate is on a per room per night basis; includes GST and à la carte Continental Breakfast. • Confirmed room reservations not cancelled 48 hours before arrival will incur a retention charge equivalent to one night’s room rate. • Guests are requested to settle their bills directly at the reception before check-out unless prior arrangements have been made in writing. • 10% Service Charge will be added unless paid through an active Swiss Club membership account. • A Membership Fee of $10 per person per day will be charged to all guests (above 6 years of age) who are not Members of the Swiss Club. • Extra bed will be charged at $70 per room per night; a baby cot can be arranged at no extra cost.
Peaceful and quiet accommodation with very friendly and helpful staff. I enjoyed my stay very much.
INTERESTED IN STAYING AT THE GUESTHOUSE? E: theguesthouse@swissclub.org.sg
Peter Thomé (Guest of the German European School in Singapore)
For more information, please approach the Reception at the Guesthouse. 23
INTEREST
Switzerland and Singapore Celebrate
50 Years of Diplomatic Relations The year 2017 marks Switzerland’s 50 years of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Singapore. In celebration of this anniversary, the Embassy of Switzerland is hosting a year-long programme of special events at iconic local venues. CALENDAR OF ATTRACTIONS For starters, there will be a free public piano concert at the Botanic Gardens by Rahel Senn in January; a special Football Festival in April; a photo exhibition by Swiss photographer Mario del Curto at
the Gardens by the Bay in October; and a Swiss-Singaporean chamber orchestra concert at Victoria Hall in November. We are also launching a postcard book with iconic pictures of the Swiss presence in Singapore from the 1900s until today.
Piano Concert by Rahel Senn Opening Event of Switzerland & Singapore – 50 Years Celebrations Saturday 14 January, 6pm Botanic Gardens, Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage The concert will feature Swiss-Singaporean pianist Rahel Senn who will perform a repertoire of classic and pop music, including her own compositions. Rahel played to an appreciative audience at the Botanic Gardens in 2012. We warmly welcome her back to her mother’s homeland. Come with your picnic basket and bring your
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Stay tuned for the latest updates. We wish you all a great start to the new year and look forward to seeing you at our 50 Years Celebrations events.
family and friends along for an enchanting evening of music under the stars. This concert was made possible thanks to the generous support of Main Sponsor Helvetia Insurance as well as Steinway Gallery and Swiss International airlines. About the Artist Rahel Senn was born in 1987 in Zurich to a Swiss father and a Singaporean mother. She started her musical career at the age of 17 and was hailed by the press and public as a child prodigy. She remains Switzerland’s youngest ever musical composer, and one of her five musicals was produced by the Raffles Institution in Singapore. Rahel Senn is one of the 50 artists holding the title of ‘Young Steinway Artist’, and has performed in Europe, Asia and South America. She has released three studio albums containing her own classicpop fusion piano compositions.
Article contributed by Murielle Henchoz, Cultural Officer, Embassy of Switzerland. Photos courtesy of Singapore Botanic Gardens.
GOLD CARD ACCOUNT HOLDER REWARDS PROGRAMME
INTEREST
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News from the
Deepavali
Lights Up Kindergarten! On 7 October 2016, the kindergarten students of the Swiss School in Singapore celebrated Deepavali. A cultural celebration rather than a religious one, it was a spectacular show of costumes, artwork and theatre. TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVIL Deepavali is a Hindu festival that commemorates the return from exile of the Hindu God-king Rama and his wife, Sita. The Hindu epic, the Ramayana, illustrates the triumph of good over evil as Rama – with the aid of the monkey god, Hanuman – battles the demon, Ravana. The tale is replete with fantastic scenes of valour and fantasy. At the end of the story, Rama and Sita return home to a jubilant welcome, accompanied by a display of fireworks and glittering oil lamps. On the day of our celebration, the children dressed in colourful clothes and carried diyas, small clay oil lamps, to the chanting of Gayatri Mantra Bellissimo. The colourful display of oriental motifs and music created an ethereal 26
otherworldly feeling. Each child placed his or her beautifully painted diya on the mandala in a festive restatement of the belief that good ultimately triumphs over evil. CHARMING PERFORMANCES AND SNAKE CHARMERS The children’s charming performance of the Ramayana story was a triumph in itself. They had rehearsed with great dedication in the preceding weeks, so much so that on occasions they had suddenly broken into song in their classrooms!
Next the children were treated to an enthralling snake charming performance. Clearly the show created quite an impact on them, going by their requests to the henna artist to create snake designs. The American python was a favourite! CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY It was a feast for the eyes to see the children sprawled on the floor creating mandalas, working with their peers and parents. Indeed it was a fitting image to sum up the day – a wonderful and colourful celebration of creativity, community and diversity. Article courtesy of Aditi Dastidar Photos courtesy of Camilla Businger
INTEREST MEET A MEMBER
The Pollinas’ Picks 8-year-old Edoardo loves… “the football pitch, the swimming pool, playing tennis with my Dad (he claims he routinely beats seasoned player Stefano), the hot dogs and the ‘penne bolo’”. Little known fact – London-born Edoardo holds the record for shotput in his age group at his school, Tanglin Trust
5-year-old Francesco loves… “the football pitch, the swimming pool, the tennis courts (he also enjoys thrashing his dad), the basketball courts, the ‘penne bolo’, the pizza margherita and the creamed spinach”. Little known fact – Francesco was born in Singapore and loves to sing!
Mum Roberta loves… “the lovely staff, the tennis courts, the gym, the swimming pool and the Thai beef salad”.
Great Serves From Tennis to ‘Penne Bolo’, the Pollina Family Love Everything at the Swiss Club Meet the beautiful Pollina family – fit-looking Stefano and elegant Roberta, and their handsome sons, 8-year-old Edoardo and 5-year-old Francesco. They have been active Members of the Swiss Club since October 2014. FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST LONGEST Stefano and Roberta share the kind of easy rapport that makes you think they’ve been a couple for some time. Upon gentle probing, we discovered that they had been a couple since their university days in Venice. Stefano hails from Padua, and Roberta from Treviso. Before settling in Singapore, Stefano and Roberta had visited Singapore in July of 2009 before committing to a posting with the Swiss bank for which Stefano worked at the time. A colleague brought them to dine at Arbenz, and they loved it. Seven years later, they love it still.
There is something for every member of the family here at the Swiss Club. Roberta Pollina THE BEST FIT FOR THE FAMILY When they were living in London, Stefano and Roberta had been members of a club. However, while living in a condominium in Singapore with tennis courts, a gym and
a pool, they never felt the need to join one – until they decided to make the move to a landed property in Tanglin Hill. Once again, they found themselves looking for a club to join.
It is more than just the facilities – there is a sense of belonging here. It’s our home away from home. Roberta Pollina Stefano recalled that they were immediately taken with the Swiss Club’s lush greenery, its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, abundant play areas, and the tennis – not only the standard of the courts but the calibre of the players. It soon became apparent that the Swiss Club was the best fit for the family. NO FACILITY UNUSED To date, the Pollinas have availed themselves of almost if not every facility at the Club. Stefano recalled that his company has held corporate events in
Dad Stefano loves… “the tennis courts, the recent crépes promotion at Arbenz, and the excellent steaks and soups”. the Rifle Lounge, they have held soccerthemed birthday parties for the boys in the Sports Hall, the boys play football at the Club, and every family member regularly plays tennis, both socially and competitively in inter-club tournaments. Roberta also visits the gym once or twice a week. “There is something for every member of the family here at the Swiss Club,” said Roberta. DINING IS A DRAWCARD The Pollinas dine frequently at the Swiss Club, and love Arbenz in particular. Even before the boys peruse the menu, the friendly staff smile and ask – ‘Penne Bolo or hot dog?’ (‘Penne bolo’ is penne Bolognese, for the uninitiated.) Roberta shared that the family routinely celebrate every birthday of every family member at the round table at Arbenz. “It has become a family tradition,” she said. A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE HEART Coincidentally, the day of our interview was the day of the Swiss Club’s second Open House on Sunday 27 November. Stefano shared that they had bumped into a couple of friends that day, and had urged them to join. Perhaps Roberta summed it up best when she said, “It is more than just the facilities – there is a sense of belonging here. It’s our home away from home.” 27
INTEREST FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Why Nikki Chose the Swiss Club
Food Fixes and Tennis Lessons
From a fix of fondue to a hit of tennis, TV presenter and new Member Nikki Muller found all she needs at the Swiss Club. FROM TV TO UN TO SG Swiss national Nikki Muller had wanted to join the Swiss Club since she landed on our shores for a second time almost six years ago. She finally got round to doing it in September 2016. This head-turning Fly Entertainment artiste and TV presenter is an exotic blend of a free-spirited Filipina mother, who now lives in Scotland, and a Swiss father. In her 31 years, she has lived in Switzerland, the Philippines, the US and the UK. In 2003, during her first time in Singapore, Nikki worked with Disney Channel. She moved to the US in 2005, and took a temporary detour from television to join
the United Nations in New York as an Executive Assistant. However, the world of entertainment tugged at her heartstrings and pulled her back to Singapore, where she soon found work as a sought-after presenter on FOX Sports. You can also catch her in ‘Food Detectives’, airing on National Geographic Channel.
The food here takes me back to the happiest moments of my life. Nikki Muller EAT PLAY LOVE Nikki openly shared her motives for joining
the Swiss Club, starting with the food. “The food here almost brings tears to my eyes. It takes me back to the happiest moments of my life – summers and Christmases spent in Switzerland," shared Nikki. The other strong motivation for Nikki to join the Club was to learn tennis. She regularly covers world-class tournaments and hopes to soon be able to speak about it from the perspective of a player. An added attraction was The Guesthouse, where she plans to accommodate visiting family members, beginning with her dad. Thanks for choosing the Swiss Club, Nikki. We welcome you and your family!
We Are Family
MEET A STAFFER
Why Gary Neo Loves His Job
The Swiss Club’s Marketing Executive Gary Neo loves the way that Management and staff work together as a family, happily stepping outside of their job descriptions to help each other.
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FAST AND FURIOUS FUN Formerly a Sales Consultant with automotive brand MINI, 25-year-old Gary is always immaculately dressed and apparently unruffled. He’s been at the Club for less than a year, since February 2016, and reports directly to Christelle Taillens
“Christelle and I work very closely on day-to-day activities and back-to-back events. We have our fun times and we have our serious times,” explained Gary. “Most of the time I enjoy the environment, my colleagues and the serenity of the environment. Nature is a good counter to the inevitable stress.”
Currently I’m loving the new Vietnamese beef noodles. But the Swiss Club burger would be my all-time favourite.
PERKS AND PINNACLES Gary appreciates many things about his job – the team spirit and light-hearted camaraderie among colleagues, the two days off a week, and the staff meals.
Gary Neo
“Currently I’m loving the new Vietnamese beef noodles. But the Swiss Club burger would be my all-time favourite,” said Gary. As for high points, Gary singled out Oktoberfest.
“We all work round the year for Oktoberfest, and round the clock when it’s actually happening. The process that we go through is very intense and meaningful,” shared Gary. “We always aim to beat our best, and surpass the success of the previous year.” AFTER HOURS, UP THE WALL When Christelle is not driving him up the wall at work (only joking, Christelle), Gary likes to go rock climbing at the indoor wall at Kallang. He also does weight training at a gym, and spends quality time with friends and family – mum, dad, an elder sister and a younger brother. Passing by, Christelle interjected and offered some fitting last words for this interview. Like a loving older sister, she simply said: "We love him.”
INTEREST Kids’ Space
Get a copy of this page from Pergola staff and put your thinking cap on! For example: Q: Why did the rooster cross the road? A: To prove he wasn’t chicken. … or:
Why Did the Rooster Cross the Road?
A: To cock-a-doodle-do something. Now it’s your turn. Write your creative answer here:
The usual answer is – to get to the other side. In honour of the Year of the Rooster, get creative and think of a witty answer to this question. We’ll publish the best answer in the next issue of this magazine!
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GOOD JOB! Aryan!
Well done, Aryan Menon. You've won a Swiss Club cap for submitting the first-drawn completed and correct entry in our Kids' Space lucky draw for Nov/Dec.
Fun Festival W rd SeArch
We’ve hidden twenty words related to Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. They go up, down, across, forwards, backwards and diagonally. Get hunting! VALENTINE ORANGES MOON LOVE CHINESE RED LOUD GOLD COOKIES SPRING
WEALTH LUCK REUNION FAST HEART ROOSTER ROSE GIFT MYTH SIGN
WANT TO ENTER OUR LUCKY DRAW? Complete this page, provide your name, Membership number, age, phone number and email address, and hand it to the reception at the Guesthouse. You could be the lucky one to win a mystery prize every issue! Entries close 1 Feb 2017.
Name Membership No. Age
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INTEREST
Cock-a-doodle-do-what? Your Chinese Horoscope for the Year of the Rooster
The Chinese Year of the Fire Rooster commences on 28 January 2017. Here’s a light-hearted look at what’s supposedly in store for each of the 12 zodiac signs in the year ahead, together with some timely advice on wise dos and don’ts. ROOSTER Born in: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Roosters may not have too much to crow about in the Rooster year, since conventional Chinese wisdom states that every year is least favourable to those born under the same sign. Accept compromise in all your relationships, especially those of a romantic kind, and you should emerge not too hen-pecked. RAT Born in: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 The Year of the Rooster bodes well for Rats. You may find yourself attending many birthday and wedding celebrations, and possibly even your own wedding. Business luck is good, but take care of your health. To prevent burn-out, switch off your office laptop and mobile for a few hours a day. Nobody will ‘rat’ on you for snatching some me-time! OX Born in: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Oxen can finally take the bull by the horns and reap the fruits of their labours after enduring many challenges in the recent past. However, do not crow about your success, as it could incite jealousy among friends and colleagues alike. Be modest and discreet and enjoy your ‘bull run’. Love luck is also running hot, so go a-wooing. TIGER Born in: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Tigers may get their fur a little ruffled this year, so keep your claws out and be ready to pounce. However, it will be an easier year than 2016 and you can count on a trusted new or old friend to watch your back, either a colleague at work or a childhood friend who has re-entered your life. Be especially wary of other Tigers – protect your turf. RABBIT Born in: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Rabbits may experience frustration at intervals throughout the year ahead, caused by their apparent inability to take charge of situations beyond their control. It may pay you to lay low and stay warm in your burrow. If you go above ground, be on guard against predators and take care to land on your feet. Avoid new business ventures. DRAGON Born in: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Those born under the sign of the Dragon must be careful not to get their claws burnt by reckless business decisions. That said, new influential connections may open doors and supply much-needed funding for dormant projects that have been languishing. If you keep your natural impulsiveness in check, a calm and serene year lies ahead. SNAKE Born in: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Snakes will be shedding their bad luck of years past and slithering onwards and upwards to success. Creative and positive energy abound, and projects that have faltered in the recent past will suddenly deliver positive results. Family relations are especially good. A word of warning: don’t splurge what you reap, but save it for a rainy day or inauspicious year.
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HORSE Born in: 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Those born under the equine sign are neither in for a lame year nor galloping towards great success in 2017. Horses who wish to attract positive energy should work hard and work smart, stop horsing around, and never rest on their laurels. Try and resist the urge to champ at the bit and kick out when angered, and an otherwise so-so year could end well. GOAT Born in: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Those born in the Goat year are in for a very good year, filled with festivities and success. In fact, Goats will exude a positive energy that will spill over into all areas of their lives, 'baah none'. However, do not be too quick to open your wallet on every occasion, or two-headed snakes, greedy pigs and other beastly types may take advantage of your generosity. MONKEY Born in: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 The Rooster year bodes well for Monkeys. It’s a good time for networking, getting promotions at work and even starting new businesses. However, while you’re busy chattering and schmoozing, do remember to spend time with family. You will nimbly jump around obstacles and swing away from risky situations, turning challenges into opportunities. DOG Born in: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 The year ahead does not bode well for those born under the canine sign. Dogs should be careful not to let quarrels and disputes escalate, or risk being in the doghouse with family and friends. In general, lay low and sit out this period of unrest, content in the knowledge that your luck will be soon looking up in cycles to come. PIG Born in: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 Pigs are neither wallowing in good fortune, nor on the way to the slaughterhouse. A mediocre to moderately successful year awaits those born under the porcine sign. Brace yourself for sudden changes, and manage your expectations at work, since in salary and responsibilities are unlikely. Love luck is not favourable, but pigs can overcome romantic setbacks with their native charm.
Cock-a-doodle-doo Around the World The onomatopoeic sound made by a rooster, known as ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ in English, has a counterpart in every language. Here’s a sampler of how to sound like a cock in over 40 languages, compliments of Wikipedia. Arabic kookookoo-koo Bulgarian кукуригу (kukurigu) Catalan Co-co-ro-co Chinese goh-geh-goh-goh Croatian ku-ku-ri-ku Czech kykyrikí Danish kykeliky Dutch kukeleku Esperanto kokeriko Estonian kukeleegu or kikerikii Faroese kakkulárakó Filipino Tik-ti-la-ok Finnish kukkokiekuu French cocorico German kikeriki
Greek kikiriku Gujarati kuk-de-kuk Hebrew ku-ku-ri-ku Hindustani kuk-roo-koon or kuk-roo-kroon Hungarian kukurikú Indonesian kukuruyuk Italian chicchirichì Japanese ko-ke kokkoh Korean k'ok'iyo Lithuanian ka-ka-rie-ku Latvian ki-ke-ri-gū Norwegian kykkeliky Persian ququliqu Polish kukuryku
Portuguese Có có ró có Romanian cucurigu Russian ку-ка-ре-ку (ku-ka-rye-ku) Serbian ku-ku-ri-ku Slovak kikirikí Slovene kikiriki Spanish qui-qui-ri-qui' Swahili KokoRikoo koo Swedish kuckeliku Tamil ko-ka-ra-ko Thai yeki-yeki-yek Turkish üü-ürü-üüü Urdu kuk roo kroon Vietnamese ò-ó-o-o
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r u o Y s ’ t a h W s ’ r a e Y w e N ? n o i t u l o Res I will again serve our beautiful Club with passion and commitment. After 12 years, g I am looking forward to handin over the presidency at the end .I of September to a successor ers would love to see our Memb velop happy, and I wish that we de h new friendships and treat eac ss. other with respect and fairne
Martin Silberstein,
President
My 2017 resolution is to be a better person who learns continuously from my past.
The ancient Babylonians were supposedly the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. Later, the Romans got in on the act by making promises to their god Janus, who lends his name to the month of January. This year, we asked around the Club to find out who’s promising what. Here are some of the wellintended New Year’s resolutions shared by Management, Staff and Members.
I hope to work with members and colleagues to look into Facilities Improvement in the Club. To bring down energy wastage with the help of everyone in a practical and sustainability way. To bring a better awareness of workplace safety so that staff can look out for one another to go back home safely. The above new year resolution will be the same for the year 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025… 2235. Wong Ko Mun, Facilities and Maintenance Manager
Paulina Halim, Banque t& Event Sales Manager
Read more books, lose weight and tone up… Joey Chaw, Accounts Department
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Eden, nt tme par De ion Recept
Stay healthy, work harder se and get great bonuses! Becau "Always do your best. What you r." plant now, you will harvest late
Gary Neo, Marketing Executive
Margaret Yapnanto, Member Relations Department
Be more awesome than last year :)
Need to be healthier and do more exercise; validate people in my life more; be more adventurous and travel more; be more comfortable g in my own skin; write more/blo more often; work out my new page in life as a wife. :)
No more need for that, at my age… (I’ve tried many times – it never worked, so I gave up after 70!!) Max Schweizer, Committee Member
for 2017
Be a more atte ntive and caring wife and lover =P Win 1 light spar ring boxing fig ht. 2 resolutions fo r 2017 is good enough. Christelle Taill ens, Marketing Man ager
Learn how to find joy in the little things, not let problems bring me ‘down’ and learn to be more grateful for what I have right now. Diana Susanto, Accounts Department
on n a marath I wish to ru rs. ithin 5 hou w it h is n fi and Controller Cost Dan Kok,
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Fitness, Friends, Fun! PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES IN January and February Join in our regular activities and form binding friendships as you keep fit. We have something for all interests, ages and levels of fitness. SOCCER FAMILY SOCIAL SOCCER Sun 15:00 – 16:30 (Soccer Field) Sun 16:30 – 18:00 (Soccer Field)
TENNIS Men’s Social Tue 19:00 – 22:00 (Courts 2 & 3) 21:00 – 22:00 (Court 4)
SWIMMING AquaDucks E: swiss@aquaducks.com.sg M: 9487 5183
SOCIAL SOCCER Mon 20:00 – 22:00 (Soccer Field)
Sat 15:00 – 18:00 (Courts 2, 3 & 4)
PARENT AND CHILD 30 mins sessions
Please register with Urs Lichtenberger (E: ulichtenberger@bluewin.ch) and Thomas Koechli (E: tkoechli@gmail.com) to get on the mailing list. An email is sent to Swiss Club members every Friday to get players registered for soccer on Monday. GERMAN TEAM SOCCER PRACTICE Tue 20:15 – 22:00 (Soccer Field) Rino Binder E: info@gas-sg.com (German All Stars) SWISS TEAM SOCCER PRACTICE Wed 20:00 – 22:00 (Soccer Field) League games on Saturdays
Sports Manager: Timothy Felix E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg LADIES’ CLINICS Mon & Tue 09:00 – 11:00
PRESCHOOL LTS 30 mins sessions
Mon: Court 1 – Open to all members Court 4 & 5 – WITS/LTS teams only
Mon – Fri 15:30 – 17:00 (Leisure Pool) Sat 10:00 – 12:00 (Lap Pool)
Tue: Courts 4 & 5 – WITS/LTS teams only Fri 08:00 – 10:00 Courts 4 & 5 – Open to all members, registration with 40XV is required
Heinz Braegger E: heinz.braegger@sc.com
Court 4 & 5: • Parent/child and tiny tots programme • Junior introductory/development programme • Junior intermediate/advance programme
Captain: Thomas Kaegi E: thomas-za.kaegi@ubs.com
For times and dates, please see the 40XV display at the tennis courts.
SOCCER TRAINING FOR KIDS Training on Saturday 09:00 – 10:30 U5/U6/U8 (Sports Field) Cosmo United Football Academy
FORTY-FIFTEEN (40XV) Tennis Director: Pierre Capdeville E: pierre@forty-fifteen.com
Coach: Urs Brutsch E: urs.brutsch@hpwm.sg
Olliver Marx E: info@cufa.com.sg W: www.cufa.com.sg M: 9821 3896
Mon – Fri 15:30 – 16:00 (Leisure Pool)
LEARN TO SWIM 30 mins sessions Mon – Fri 15:30 – 17:00 (Leisure Pool) Sat 10:00 – 12:00 (Lap Pool) COMPETITION & DEVELOPMENT CD1 & CD2 Mon – Fri 17:00 – 18:00 CD2 & CD3 Mon – Fri 18:00 – 19:00 CD2, CD3 & CD4 Sat 09:00 – 10:00 CD1 Sat 10:00 – 11:00 ADULTS' TRAINING Fri 08:30 – 09:30 (Leisure Pool)
Please check the tennis noticeboard for courts allocation for coaching and social tennis.
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AEROBICS BODY TONING Tue & Fri 08:30 – 09:30 (Aerobics Studio) STEP AND TONING Wed 18:00 – 19:00 (Aerobics Studio) Please contact Andrea Holzmann-Zaouchi at E: holzmann.a@hotmail.com or T: 9835 4674 for more details. AQUA BIKING Wed 19:00 – 19:45 Sat 09:00 – 09:45, 10:00 – 10:45 Please contact the Sports Manager, Timothy Felix at E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg Pre-registration of 24 hours is required for this class. BADMINTON Thu 20:00 – 22:00 (Sports Hall) Please contact Martin Goerg at E: badminton@swissclub.org.sg for more details. BIKE RIDES ON SUNDAYS Please check Newsletter for more details. BOOT CAMP Mon 18:00 – 18:45 (Soccer Field) (Note: During rain, Boot Camp will be held at the gym.) Thu 08:00 – 08:45 (Outside Gym)
GOLF German-Swiss Golf Club
PILATES Wed 08:30 – 09:30 (Aerobics Studio)
Please contact Dieter Gumpert at E: dieter.gumpert@gmail.com for more details or refer to page 24.
Please contact Christabel Lim at E: christabel_lyh@hotmail.com or T: 9619 5820. Note: Pre-registration is required for this class.
JASS Six rounds per year, usually a Friday night. Please contact Aileen Aschwanden at E: jass@swissclub.org.sg for more details. KARATE FOR KIDS Aerobics Studio Thu 16:00 – 16:45 (Mini-Ninjas, 4 - 6 years) 17:00 – 18:00 (Little Dragons, over 6 years)
SKAT Wed 20:00 – 23:00 (Jungle Bar) Please contact Hubert Nerlich at E: hubertnerlich@gmail.com or T: 6734 0034 for more details. VOLLEYBALL Wed 20:00 – 22:00 (Sports Hall) Please contact Steffen Koch at E: s.n.koch1@web.de for more details.
Please contact the instructor, Sensei Peter Robertson, at E: zendoka@yahoo.com or T: 9837 8637 for more details.
YOGA Hatha Yoga Sat 09:00 – 10:00 (Pavilion)
MAHJONG Mon 19:30 – 22:30 (Rifle Lounge)
Please contact Nadja Pizzo at E: pizzonadja@gmail.com or T: 9145 4408 for more details.
Please contact Jill Boschung at E: jillbos@yahoo.com or T: 9022 4605 for more details. PERSONAL TRAINING Please contact Timothy Felix at E: getactive@activefitness.com.sg, by appointment only.
Yin Yoga Mon 08:30 – 09:30 (Pavilion) Please contact Laurence Chehab-Fabry at E: info.letsyoga@gmail.com or T: 9170 8218 for more details.
Please contact the Sports Manager, Timothy Felix at E: timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg
GOT A SUGGESTION? If you would like to suggest a new activity, please contact our Sports Manager, Timothy Felix Rajadurai, at timothy.rajadurai@swissclub.org.sg.
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