Issue 13

WWW.FAMILYANDLIFE.SG SINGAPORE ISSUE 13 OCTOBER 2014

Your FREE guide

PUBLISHED BY COGENT MEDIA

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stry

a s r e v i nn

MCI (P) 114/08/2013

Contents 4

SPECIALFEATURE 4

The Sound of Silence

Happy Birthday to Us!

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We explore the amazing engineering that goes into a piano

in the past year and we’ve certainly had a lot of fun ime flies when you’re having fun e to you month ugh deadlines to bring this magazin working late nights and rushing thro g to take a look back Issue, we thought it would be fittin after month. For this Anniversary ities (page 12). onal ting our past cover page pers and bring you on a journey documen

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SNIPPETS 6

Products, Services & More!

Boy oh boy, do we have a bumper spread of stuff for you!

apore - the mothers, issue to the strong women of Sing We’ve also decided to dedicate this gth, not just physically ladies who are the epitome of stren the wives, etc. - and feature two a woman who needs no y to bring to you an interview with but mentally as well. We’re happ the age of 30, that she 14) and a woman who decided, at introduction, Ivy Singh-Lim (page fashion line, Dorothy Loh to school and then, start her own was going to quit her job, go back

COVERSTORY

12 A Nostalgic Look Back

14

It’s our Anniversary Issue! We take a look back at the past year

(page 16).

FOCUS

), we’ve put together a children as well (Children’s Day! With October being the month for ly see. These are the of Singaporean children you rare photo spread that showcases a side gth, encouragement neglected and who have found stren kids who have been abandoned or k it out on page 18. ng heroes i.e. foster parents. Chec and bravery thanks to a bevy of unsu

14 The Farmer, The Patriot &

The Future Politician

Ivy Singh-Lim wants to start something new

ed up a couple of s, well, we’ve gone around and pick And if you’re looking for home idea it spick and span make your home look good but keep beautiful products that will not only month is the this for monthly giveaways and the prize as well (page 26)! As usual, we run page 31. to e hast We have 10 to give away, so make gorgeous Corelle dinnerware set.

16 Threading a Fine Line

Motherhood ain’t slowing down this entrepreneur

NURTURE

free to drop us an email , opinions and more, please feel If you have any questions, thoughts we will love to publish your views. at editorial@cogentmedia.sg as

18 A Different Sort of Fairy Tale

We reveal a side of Singapore’s children you’ve never seen

y reading!

We hope you enjoy this issue. Happ

20 New Kid on the Block

They might be new but this pre- school is all set to rock your world

Managing Editor Gerald Woon

21 Laying the Foundations for

22

Future Success

The qualities your child needs to succeed in the future might surprise you

18

HEALTH

22 Allergies Begone!

12

What can you do when your child is struck down with allergies?

familyandlife.sg MANAGING EDITOR

EDITORIAL

CREATIVE

24 Brain Booster

SALES & MARKETING

We spend a day in a middle brain training class

Gerald Woon gerald@cogentmedia.sg Writer | Farhan Shah farhan@cogentmedia.sg Designer | Zach zach@cogentmedia.sg Senior Marketing Executive| Emily Choo emily@cogentmedia.sg Sales Administrator| Michelle Lee sales@cogentmedia.sg

RELAX

CONTRIBUTORS

Elizabeth Wu Tim Meijers

PHOTOGRAPHY

Benjamin Lim Daniel Chan Glenn Lim Koh Sze Kiat

25 What’s Happening?

Upcoming events for you and the whole family!

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

26 Your Home Just Better

Products you need to make your home that bit smarter and prettier?

BITES

CONTACT US

28

28 The Ruffian Makes Good

The former star of local movie 15 is now cooking up a storm

Our fine dining chef has a family- friendly seafood recipe for you

Distributed by Region Periodicals Distributor Pte Ltd 20 Bedok South Road Singapore 469277 Tel: +65 6846 0797 Fax: +65 6846 0798 All materials printed within Family & Life are Copyright 2014 © and protected under the Copyright Act. All rights reserved 2014.

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We take a look at the humble grain - rice - with YES Supermarket

LASTWORD

30 The Running Mummy Diary

2

Who says mummies cannot be fit and caring at the same time?

Family & Life • Oct 2014

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Colour Separation & Printed by Times Printers Private Limited 16 Tuas Avenue 5, Singapore 639340 Tel: +65 6311 2888 Fax: +65 6311 2801 Licence No. L021/09/2012

29 Rice, Rice, Baby!

Editorial Enquiries editorial@familyandlife.sg

MCI (P) 114/08/2013

28 Roasted Tuna Recipe

Manager | Jessica Ong jessica@cogentmedia.sg

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No material of this publication can be reproduced in any form or means – graphic, electronic, mechanic, photocopying, recording, videotaping, etc. – whether in part or in whole, without the written consent of the Publisher. Family & Life will not be held responsible for any infringements of Copyright material in articles submitted by contributors. While every reasonable care has been taken in the compilation of information contained in this publication, the Publisher, editors or their employees and agents shall not be liable for any errors, inaccuracies, and/or omissions howsoever caused. All views expressed in all articles are solely those of the authors, and are not necessarily those of the Publisher and editor. Family & Life reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or advertorial for any reason and are not liable for claims made by advertisers. The information provided in this publication is solely for reference only. Readers are advised to seek the professional advice from the appropriate advisors, professional or institution for advice and instruction with regard to their personal health issues.

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Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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SPECIALFEATURE

The Sound of Silence With a storied history spanning more than three centuries, the piano has been a significant force not just in the global cultural and artistic landscape but within the engineering field as well. The Yamaha folks give us an insight into the engineering involved in their musical tour de force.

The idea for the modern piano was first conceived sometime in the late 17th century. The stringed instrument builders at that time were trying to combine the “expressive control of the sound volume and sustain” of a clavichord with the “sufficiently loud sound” of a harpsichord, but most of them were unable to solve the engineering conundrum until the Italian that could, Bartolomeo Cristofori, came along and solved the mechanical and design problem. Even until today, his elegant solution is still present in the pianos of today, albeit in a more complex and evolved version.

Yamaha have cleverly devised a system that prevents the hammer from hitting the piano string while still maintaining the tactile feel of an acoustic piano.

A few continents away from Bartolomeo Cristofori’s place of birth, Yamaha began life in 1887 as a reed organ manufacturer before expanding into pianos in 1900. In fact, it was the first company in Japan to produce Western musical instruments on a large scale. Over the years, Yamaha progressively branched out to other fields, manufacturing a wide variety of products that include motorcycles, electronic products and even golf cars. It never neglected its musical roots though, consistently churning out innovation after innovation – CD recorders, the SILENT Piano™, etc.

– that propelled the company to the top. Yamaha is now one of the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments.

EXPERIENCING THE SILENT PIANO™

Words Farhan Shah Photos Yamaha & Shutterstock

Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing first-hand the engineering marvel that is the Yamaha SILENT Piano™ and the subtle touches that Yamaha has introduced into the range thanks to Hemendra Raj, one of the many piano-playing Yamaha sales experts in the flagship store. First appearing on the musical landscape in 1993 in a Yamaha upright piano, the Yamaha SILENT Piano™ then made its way into Yamaha’s grand piano range in 1995.

Unlike what its name implies, the piano is not literally quiet. Rather, the engineers at Yamaha have cleverly devised a system that prevents the hammer from hitting the piano string while still maintaining the tactile feel of an acoustic piano. It’s especially useful in urban Singapore, where the sonorous and full notes emitted from a piano can be an annoyance to the next-door neighbours or even your own family, especially in the middle of the night.

This was the overview given to me

by Raj, while he was sitting down and caressing the Ivorite keys of the upright YUS5-Silent, one of the many models showcased at the Plaza Singapura outlet. Of course, being a non-piano-playing writer, his technical jargon flew over my head. Raj, noticing my glassy-eyed look, motioned me to move to the side of the piano before opening the cover that protected the instrument’s delicate innards, where the musical magic happened.

Besides the ubiquitous hammer and strings that produced the melody, this particular silent model also featured a curious metal bar that moved in between the hammer and strings when Raj pulled a lever underneath the keyboard. It all clicked into place when he then delicately pressed on the black-and-white keys. The hammers stopped just short of the strings thanks to the bar, thus preventing any sound from being made.

“When the piano is in SILENT mode, the sound that you hear in your headphones are samples from the Yamaha CFX full-size concert grand piano,” explains Raj. It’s a boon to pianists who want to know what their playing sounds like on a grand piano but are bound by space and budget constraints. If you’re wondering whether it’s a digital sound reproduction, which tends to have a screechy, metallic quality, let me

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

assure you that it’s not. The sounds (an Adele track Raj was playing, if you must know) that were flowing out from the headphones sounded luscious and full-throated. However, if you’re sceptical of the words of a writer who doesn’t play the piano, take it from acclaimed musician and pianist Jamie Cullum who says: “Put the headphones on and instead of feeling like the sound is being pumped into your ears, it feels so natural like the sound is dancing around you.”

THE YAMAHA SILENT PIANO™ The Yamaha SILENT Piano™ also presents a whole host of features, including the ability to record the song that you’re playing, a library of famous music scores, and a variety of different types of instruments like what you get from a digital keyboard, all of which are easily accessible from the control panel underneath the keyboard.

Unfortunately, if you already have a normal Yamaha piano that has raised the ire of your music-hating neighbours, Raj apologetically shares with me that these pianos cannot be retrofitted with the silencing mechanism, mainly due to the immense amount of work and financial resources that need to go into such an ambitious endeavour. You would probably be better off purchasing a new silent model.

But, if you’re in the market for an acoustic piano and can only practice at night due to your busy work or school schedule, check out the Yamaha SILENT Piano™, available as an upright or a grand model. The upright versions are priced as low as S$5,400.

Your neighbours will be thankful for the welcomed silence, and your piano proficiency, with its fortissimo, nuances, fingerings and expressions that need to be expressed, will have the space and freedom to spread its wings and soar.

SNIPPETS

MUSIC AT THE HEART OF THE PRE-SCHOOL CURRICULUM In 2010, scientists from Northwestern University discovered that music had an incredible effect on people. According to them, "the effect of music training suggests that, akin to physical exercise and its impact on body fitness, music is a resource that tones the brain for auditory fitness and thus requires society to re-examine the role of music in shaping individual development”.

Music has been a key learning component in Kinderland since its first kindergarten in Singapore was established in 1978. The school strongly supports the Ministry of Education’s latest direction to place more emphasis on developing children’s music and physical abilities at a young age.

BRAIN AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT In 2012, a paper published in Frontiers in Cognitive Auditory Neuroscience suggested that music enhances a child’s ability to acquire language and that music comes before language in childhood development. Studies have also shown that exposure to music at an early age helps to fully stimulate and engage both the left and right brains. By repeating sounds associated with words, they remember vocabulary and basic parts of speech.

Kinderland’s Twinkleland and Music Gems, conducted once a week for children at the nursery level, encompasses listening, singing, rhythm training, music and movement, music with story, and ensemble performance. These courses help children to improve their concentration, boost self-confidence, enhance their speech, better their expressions, and further develop sensory motor abilities, amongst others.

KEYBOARD MUSIC BENEFITS "Piano instruction is thought to enhance the brain’s 'hard-wiring’ for spatial-temporal reasoning, or the ability to visualise and transform objects in space and time," according to the late Professor Emeritus Gordon Shaw of the University of California.

Spatial-temporal reasoning is particularly important for the learning of mathematics and science.

Kinderland's Children Music Programme is taught by professionally-qualified music teachers. The curriculum has been specially structured to include songs and solfège singing, rhythm and harmony training, keyboard playing, music notation reading, and ensemble performance. Benefits include better concentration and memory, more attentive listening, ability to express feelings better, greater sense of rhythm, understanding of the basic rudiments of music, ability to read music scores and appreciation of teamwork.

ALLERGIES BEGONE!

IT’S JUST LIKE MAGIC!

Deviating from traditional music teaching methods, Magic Fiddler has developed a fun and holistic teaching approach to kindle a passion for music and music appreciation in your children. Their ensemble/band performance will teach your child to become a good team player while developing their confidence and self-esteem.

Magic Fiddler believes in using music to build good characters. The school’s holistic approach enables your child to develop a firm musical foundation while gaining knowledge of rhythm, pitch, dynamics and the history of world-renowned composers and their works. With lessons are conducted by highly experienced teachers, Magic Fiddler offers a variety of instrument courses for all ages and a range of classical to contemporary music classes. Their syllabus is carefully designed to suit a child's learning abilities, with an unfaltering mission to integrate the element of fun into all lessons for maximum musical immersion.

We’re also glad that the institute also has a new outlet at the new OneKM shopping mall focusing on the important artistic elements of music, dance and drawing!

Email them at class@magicfiddler.com, visit them at www.magicfiddler.com or check Magic Fiddler out at the following locations: DELFI ORCHARD 402 Orchard Road, #02-01/02/24, Tel: 6238 1833 JUNCTION 10 1 Woodlands Road #02-06, Tel: 6877 0993 ONEKM #03-03/04 Tel: 6735 9652 (Open October 2014) THE GRANDSTAND 200 Turf Club Road, #04-02. Tel: 6463 6586

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

Here’s a fun fact: allergic rhinitis, the medical name for the sniffles you get when you breathe in something from the environment that you are allergic to, affects one out of two children in Singapore aged between four and 17. This allergen could be anything – dust mites, cigarette smoke, plant pollen, haze, etc. While allergies cannot be cured (at the moment), the symptoms they trigger can be managed with antihistamines. The easy to take ADEZIO syrup, in Lychee Flavour, is a second-generation antihistamine, is alcohol free and sugar free that treats your child allergy & cold symptoms.

It is also available in tablet form. ADEZIO is a brand suitable for both adults and children that provides 24-hour allergy & cold relief.

ADEZIO is available at the pharmacy dispensing counter of Guardian, Watsons, Unity, Mustafa, independent pharmacies and clinics.

Like ADEZIO on Facebook (www.fb.com/ allergycoughcold) to receive health updates on allergies, coughs and colds.

N

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21 - 26 Oct : JEM, B1 Atrium

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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SNIPPETS

GOING NUTS FOR MORE NUTS You might have heard about the Tai Sun brand of nuts but did you know that the nutty company is also responsible for three other snack brands? If you’ve seen, purchased and tasted Nature’s Wonders, Treatz and UCA Cassava Chips at the supermarket aisles, then you’ve sampled the same quality taste that Tai Sun is famous for. Unlike the parent brand’s range, the other three brands are focused on different aspects – Nature’s Wonder is a snacking alternative for the health conscious, Treatz is for the young folks looking for the perfect party snack seasoned with rich, natural and fresh ingredients, and UCA Cassava Chips are for those who want to indulge but not on trans-fat, cholesterol, and gluten laden options that are widespread on the market.

From a small cottage company back in the 1960s, the local snack manufacturer has grown to become a behemoth with annual turnovers in excess of S$40 million, quite a feat for a family business that got its start supplying nuts to restaurants and hotels, the sort you found on tables acting as appetisers before meals.

MIDDLE BRAIN ACTIVATION COURSES FOR KIDS 儿童间脑启动班 Improving and Developing Children's Study Skills:  Memory Retention  Self - Confidence  Concentration  Reading Ability  Intuition  Focus Unique Blindfold Technique: Colour, Number and Word Recognition

Contact Head Teacher:

Ms Li Xiao Ru

H/P: 90279902 E: xiaoru.li@mltsg.com Skype: li.xiao.ru W: www.mltsg.com

Course Duration: Two x 5 hour days plus five x 2 hour refreshers Course times and dates by arrangement - for your convenience

MLT Workshop Centres at Tampines, Jurong West, Lavender & Balmoral Plaza Lavender 52, Horne Road #03-01 S209071

CHINESE CONGEE WITH PADDYKING Well-loved and widely eaten in Asia, congee is perhaps one of the easiest dishes to create yet also one of the most creative. Every country has its own variation of this rice dish – there are literally no limits to the ingredients that you can throw in. The only rule of thumb is that you have to, well, use rice. We’ve collaborated with local rice brand PaddyKing to bring to you our favourite congee recipe.

OM YOUR WAY TO FLEXIBILITY AN

D

HEALTH With a history spanning more tha n a thousand years, yoga has bec ome a popular form of exercise as peo ple seek relaxation, health and inne r peace in today’s fast-paced society . Updog Studio, founded by celebrit y chef Emmanuel Stroobant, is the perfect escape for stressed-out executives and professionals; it’s our favourite place too! What mak es Updog Studio stand out from the rest of the yoga studios in Singap ore is its hot practice and nutritional guidance workshops helmed by none other than Emmanuel himself.

The studio welcomes yoga practit ioners of all ages and sizes. Wheth er you’re a beginner looking to exp lore the ancient art, a pregnant lady wanting to keep fit or an experie nced downward dog, Updog Studio has a class just for you. They provide free trial classes for those interes ted.

Updog Studio is located at Big Spl ash 902 East Coast Parkway Block B and The Grandstand 200 Turf Clu b Road. For more information, che ck out www.updogstudio.com.

HONEST-TO-GOODNESS PINEAPPLE CAKES Near our office at Shaw Towers, located within the grand old dame of Raffles Hotel, sits a spartan, minimalistic café that sells quite possibly one of the best pineapple cakes in Singapore – SunnyHills. We discovered this little gem during a media event and then, repeatedly returned to it because we couldn’t get enough of those yellow, rectangular slabs of pastries. The cake is apparently already quite popular with Japanese expatriates and tourists, many of whom make the journey to the store and purchase the pineapple cakes by the box-loads, either to bring back to their country or to enjoy it with their friends and family.

SunnyHills is so adamant about its strict quality controls that it exclusively uses pineapples from its own farms and the freshest ingredients you can only find in farmhouse kitchens. Its dedication to perfection shows as each cake is not only delicious but truly a sight to behold. If you’re looking for a gift that will be appreciated by all or just want to let your palate experience something exquisite, we highly recommend that you head down to SunnyHills.

The SunnyHills café is located on the third floor of the Raffles Hotel. They open from 11 am daily.

For more information, check out www.sunnyhills.com.sg.

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

CHINESE CONGEE WITH MINCED PORK Ingredients • ¾ cup of PaddyKing Jasmine Rice • 9 cups of water • 1 teaspoon of salt • 250 grams of ground pork • 7 cups of chicken soup stock • Shallots and white pepper for garnish and taste Preparation • There are two ways you can cook Chinese congee – one is with uncooked rice and the other with cooked rice. For this recipe, we’ll be going with uncooked rice.

• Use a pot that has a deep thick base and add the water, rice and chicken soup stock into it. Bring the water and rice to a boil before lowering the heat to a simmer.

• Stir gently and occasionally for approximately 45 to 60 minutes until you get the consistency of porridge.

• During this time, prepare the shallots and ground pork. Cook them together with the white pepper and salt over medium heat and put them aside once they are cooked.

• Once the consistency of the congee is achieved, toss in the ground pork and shallots before slowly stirring and switching off the fire.

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GREAT FOOD AND GREAT FUN So, if you’ve always having problems coming up with weekend plans for the children because you have absolutely no idea where to go, well we’ve got you covered! One of our goto child-friendly cafes that we love to spend a day in is Treehouse Café, which offers an indoor treehouse and play area as well as a dedicated schedule of programmes and activities for children. While your children are being entertained in a fun and educational environment, you can savour delicious European and Asian fare that include favourites such as Braised Lamb Shank and Slow-cooked Wagyu Cheek.

LEARNING THE MAPLE BEAR WAY No, the famous pancake syrup from Canada hasn’t been eaten by a bear. Rather, the Maple Bear method combines “the best of Canadian educational practices with a child-focused system in order to bring Canadian early childhood education to students around the world”. The founder of the renowned Pat’s Schoolhouse, Patricia Koh, was the one who introduced the global Maple Bear Preschools brand in Singapore and it has been making quite a number of waves.

With a rigorous curriculum delivered in over 170 schools worldwide, the Maple Bear Preschools institutes in Singapore provides a robust English-Mandarin bilingual immersion programme. Children between the ages of 18 months and six years in sunny Singapore can now benefit from the finest blend of early education practices and experienced leaders in education from Canada.

Maple Bear Preschools is currently located at Bukit Timah, West Coast and the Bishan district. Visit www.maplebear.sg for more information, email enquiry@maplebear.sg or call 9631 8496 to arrange a personal tour at a school near you.

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

We recommend heading down to the Treehouse Café on Sundays because numerous free activities such as face painting and balloon sculpting are held on that day for dine-in customers. The café also regularly holds special chargeable ad hoc events such as storytelling, creative writing, pizza making, craft making, LEGO workshops, and cupcake decorating. Check out their Facebook page at www.fb.com/treehousecafe.sg or their official website at www.treehousecafe.com.sg for more information on these activities. We’ll see you there on the weekends! We’re the ones putting crazy colourful stars on our masks.

The Treehouse Café is located at The Grandstand 200 Turf Club Road #0117. We highly recommend making a reservation as they tend to get busy on weekends. To make a reservation, call +65 6469 0282.

IT’S ALWAYS FUN AND GAMES AT KIDDY FUN! SLEEP EASY WITH SOMMEIL STRIPS! In today’s maddeningly fast-paced society, sleep is regrettably one of the first components of our lives to get thrown out of the window, as the demons of stress, jet lag or shift work keep our eyes wide open during the times when we need to doze off.

That’s why we’re glad to have been introduced to Sommeil Natural Sleep Aid Oral Strips, a supplement that combines five milligrams of melatonin with six natural herbs (jujube seed, poria, Sichuan lovage, zhi mu stem, licorice and luo han guo) to help you enjoy restorative sleep. Sommeil can be taken regularly or whenever you just need a bit of help to head into dreamland. The strips do not cause dependence and can be stopped at any time, so eat one without worry. Just pop it into your mouth 30 minutes before bedtime and you’re all set!

As parents, we’re always looking for new fun places to bring our children to on school holidays and weekends. Our editorial team is glad to introduce to you Kiddy Fun, a unique air-conditioned exercise and play facility that caters to families with children aged six and below. The colourful and interactive soft playground has several customised functional zones – Kiddy Play, Kiddy Studio, Kiddy Bar, etc. – and also features comfy lounges, healthy snacks and most importantly, free Wi-Fi for the parents!

We like how each zone has been carefully designed not only to maximise fun but also to make sure that your child’s psycho-motor and problem solving skills are developed while they’re gallivanting around the areas. There are also colourful ramps, fun sliders and climbers for the babies to build strength and learn about concepts such as cause and effect.

Kiddy Fun also recommends that parents follow their children around the different zones to teach them, so if Daddy is thinking about having a crack at the slide, then go ahead and be a kid too! Kiddy Fun is available for birthday and private party bookings. The centre also has special rates for playgroup bookings.

Kiddy Fun is located at 200 Turf Club Road, The Grandstand #04-04 Singapore 287994. They recommend calling in advance if you’re thinking of heading down as the centre only caters to about 60 children, so ring them up at +65 6463 7028. You can also check them out at www.kiddyfun.com.sg and www.fb.com/ KiddyFunSG.

Sommeil Natural Sleep Aid Oral Strips is available at selected Guardian, Unity and Watsons outlets as well as independent pharmacies and clinics. For more information, check out www.sommeiltherapy. com. Like them on Facebook (www.fb.com/ sommeiladvancedtherapy) to receive sleep health news updates and promotions.

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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c i g l a t s o aN Look Back COVERSTORY

Words Farhan Shah Photos Koh Sze Kiat, Glenn Lim & Daniel Chan

We’re a year old! What OCTOBER 2013 better way to celebrate JIM ROGERS Fact: There are no television sets this momentous occasion Fun in Jim Rogers’s house. He also cycles than by hitting the road of his children to school. nostalgia? We bring you a few memorable photos, “I was always against children. I quotes, and behind-the- thought children were a terrible waste of time, energy and money. I was scenes stories from the never going to do anything so foolish interviews and photo- as to have a child.” Jim Rogers on his shoots of our 12 cover initial thoughts about children personalities.

NOVEMBER 2013

LOH LIK PENG

Fun Fact: We held the photo shoot in the rather dark “Space”-themed room at Loh’s Wanderlust hotel, which caused our photographer to tear his hair out over the lighting.

DECEMBER 2013/ JANUARY 2014

SARA TASEER

Fun Fact: There are no fences encircling Sara Taseer’s Sentosa Cove bungalow. She makes do with a row of shrubbery. During the interview, a golfer was actually trying to find a golf ball that he had knocked into the aforementioned bush.

SEPTEMBER 2013

JOSEPHINE TEO

Fun Fact: A day before we were about to send this issue for print with this cover story, we got the news that Josephine Teo was promoted to Senior Minister of State! Cue the mad rush to stop the printing machines and change the designation in the article.

“The world we live in is so complex now. The choices I made growing up will be largely irrelevant in my son’s future generation. Professions such as doctors and lawyers will become less relevant 20 years from now and new trends will rise to take their places.” Loh Lik Peng thinking about the future

“Everyone has something they’re good at and our role as parents is to help our kids discover their strengths. It’s more important that my children have tried their best and develop life skills such as coping with failure and disappointment.”

Josephine Teo on parenting and children

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

FEBRUARY 2014

RICHARD EU

Fun Fact: Richard was quite the rebel in his youth, constantly breaking curfews and failing examinations.

“My children are quite spoiled but, at the same time, I believe they appreciate what they have. I suppose there is a fine line when it comes to spoiling or depriving your children.” Richard Eu talking about different parenting styles

“Singapore is one of the few places in the world that allows us to live without fences and boundaries, which adds to the quality of life and our peace of mind.” Sara Taseer explaining why she decided to plant her roots in Singapore

MARCH 2014

CHING WEI HONG

Fun Fact: Wei Hong’s home is liberally decorated with multiple art pieces that reflect his diversified and eclectic taste in art. Literally every available space on the walls were occupied by a painting.

APRIL 2014

MICHAEL AULT

Fun Fact: Michael’s son, Phoenix, came to the photo shoot riding a small bicycle with only one training wheel and often cycled to the different locations while his parents walked behind.

“One day, we came home and we realised that both Marianne and Christian were speaking Bahasa Indonesia! Their vocabulary was heavily weighted in favour of Bahasa rather than English and this caused us quite a lot of concern.” Ching Wei Hong talking about a time when he and his wife kept travelling and neglected the children

“I lived in a studio apartment and slept on a pull-out bed. I had virtually no money in the bank, which made my decision even more of an inconceivable risk. Of course, it was a super way to top models!” Michael Ault reminiscing about the past and how he got his start in the nightlife business

MAY 2014

BENSON TAN

Fun Fact: Benson installed en elevator within his two-storey bungalow at Sentosa Cove for the benefit of his elderly parents.

“Money should not be the value of your worth. It should not be the only purpose to drive you in life. If you are only driven by pursuit of having more money, then I guarantee you that you will burn out sooner than you think.” Benson Tan on what drives him in life

SEPTEMBER 2014

DESMOND CHOO

Fun Fact: Desmond bought a box of KFC fried chicken for us to enjoy during the interview, so after we finished chatting about his work and his life, we feasted on delicious fried fowl.

JULY 2014

BAEY YAM KENG

Fun Fact: We interviewed Baey Yam Keng while running along the Singapore River. Our writer was in his running gear and carried a backpack while holding a tape recorder on the left hand and a piece of paper filled with questions on his right hand. It was quite a sight.

“Our generation has the responsibility to shape the nation in the way that we want. We are becoming more diverse, and with diversity comes differences.

That is only natural and that is a good thing. We need as many diverse views as possible.” Desmond Choo is excited about the future

“One of my philosophies in life is that I would rather trust people first instead of suspecting them, then only step in if that trust has been misused.” Baey Yam Keng explaining his mantra in life

AUGUST 2014

SERGE PUN JUNE 2014

WEE WEI LING

Fun Fact: Wei Ling is an avid film buff and we exchanged many thoughts and recommendations about the best actors and actresses. She recommended us to watch Philomena.

“I’m an easy-going mother. I’m not a militant or a Tiger Mum. I do not believe in throwing my children into the deep end to fend for themselves. What’s the point? What am I trying to prove with this parenting style?” Wee Wei Ling explaining her parenting beliefs

Fun Fact: We took three days to complete the different interviews needed for the story. These interviews were conducted across two cities – Bangkok and Yangon – so that we could fully understand and appropriately cover Serge’s impressive personality.

“Let me tell you, Pun is the unsung hero of the Nargis relief efforts. While the UN could only arrange one flight in May, the man somehow managed to arrange 16 flights to come in and distributed US$65 million worth of supplies.” Andrew Kirkwood on Serge Pun’s unstinting generosity

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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FOCUS

&

The Farmer, the Patriot the Future Politician

The gentle warrior wants to make the world a better place.

I am somebody who respects any form of life as long as it is not evil. I respect homosexuals, etc. but unfortunately, not everybody sees it the way I see it.

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

Words Farhan Shah Photos Glenn Lim

About a decade ago, the Kranji countryside was merely an afterthought. It was a land of swaying lallang, occasionally pushed to the side by a young man in battle fatigues trying to find a comfortable place to rest, and roaming wild dogs who snapped at the heels of strangers or nuzzled up to them, depending on the time of day. Watches ticked slower, nature ran rampant, and the cool breeze caressing the farmers’ backs was the equivalent of modern airconditioning.

Then, she came – galloped into town at the turn of the millennium like a modern-day Clint Eastwood on petroleum-powered, fourstroked horseback. The countryside would never be the same again, its landscape permanently transformed by the sheer force of will that Ivy Singh-Lim wielded.

The feisty and opinionated sexagenarian never intended to become a farmer or the face of Bollywood Veggies, the bistro and farm she founded with her second husband Lim Ho Seng, former CEO of NTUC FairPrice. She was all set to move permanently to Australia and retire, and “probably get my money swindled by the white people”.

Apparently, the universe had other plans for the self-proclaimed gentle

warrior. When the husband of a close friend passed away, she returned to Singapore. Then, one day, the local newspaper beckoned her to open its pages. She saw the open tender for the unused piece of farmland where Bollywood Veggies now sits and decided to bid for it.

That was where I found myself on a sunny Thursday morning, munching on the bistro’s signature chocolate banana cake while engaged in passionate discourse with arguably one of the most polarising woman in Singapore today about politics, the evil that lurks in our hearts, and the perpetual state of unhappiness that all of us seem to be mired in.

Why are we always so unhappy, Ivy? Simple. It’s because politics and religion create fear in people. I call it the 3Gs – the Government and Gods create Ghosts. Every day, you hear your government telling you that we must defend our country, so we buy a lot of guns and bombs and live in fear that our neighbours are going to shoot at us.

When we were young, our neighbours loved us and we loved our neighbours! We knew that we needed each other to survive. Now, the politicians are telling everyone

that there is a Ghost trying to shoot them. Religions are the same – religious groups quarrel with each other because each of them believe that it is the one, true belief.

I don’t understand why we are making people insecure. The creation of insecurity makes people fearful and unhappy. I’m not insecure. I’m not frightened. I’m always happy. Yet, I see all this unhappy people around the world, which makes me unhappy.

This problem is so entrenched in the world and it’s very hard to do something about it.

What would you do about it?

If you create an environment and a value system in which people are treasured and loved, then the people will not be worried, fearful or insecure every day. It’s so simple.

Ensure that they have an education so that they can get good-paying jobs. Ensure that they have a good transport system so that they can get to work. Ensure that there is a robust and affordable healthcare system so that they can be fit. Why do we confuse life so much? I am disappointed and disgusted with what is happening around me. If I started a crusade, I can easily form a revolution. It’s not about going to arms. Rather, I want to create a

revolution of ideas and thoughts. I want to create an enlightened society.

guess the only thing we both agree on is sex! We both think it’s important!

Just like the all-women political party you want to create.

Like a lot of people in Singapore, my husband is a compromiser. For me, if I do not like you, I will never like you. And I guarantee you that there is a solid reason for me not liking you.

For example, I never liked the man whom my stepdaughter married. I never went to their wedding because I do not trust that man at all. Trust and integrity are the two biggest and most valued assets and if you’ve lost these two, then you have a big problem.

Exactly. I want to make the world around me a better place. At 40, I thought I was ready to go into politics – you cannot go in when you’re too young because you know nothing. Then, my father passed away, so I had to quit my job in the tobacco company and return to the property development property business. When I was 50, I again considered the idea but I reckoned that they would have invited me in if they wanted me, so I decided to retire in Australia. That was when my friend’s husband passed away.

At 60, I wanted to start a party, so I started investigating what I needed to accomplish this. Apparently, you need nine other people to register a political party and at my age, 65, how would I be able to find nine people who have the same values as me?

What are these values?

I am somebody who respects any form of life as long as it is not evil.

I respect homosexuals, etc. but unfortunately, not everybody sees it the way I see it. You can essentially break down life into four components – travelling, money, religion and sex.

How can I find people who will have the same thoughts as me when it comes to these four topics? Even my husband disagrees with me. He loves travelling, I hate it. He thinks money is the most important thing in life but I don’t think so. He doesn’t believe in God while I believe there is definitely something or someone out there. I

Do you think this is the reason why Singaporeans are discontented?

I swear, we have so many hypocrites in the country. I call a spade, a spade, and not a giant spoon. Look at the Progressive Wage Model.

I don’t call a terrible salary a progressive wage! If you are paid millions to run this country and you tell somebody that you are giving him a progressive wage by raising his salary from S$850 to S$1,000, then I honestly think you are not fit to run this country. You can say to the people that you are trying your best to pay them well but, please do not assume that Singaporeans are so stupid that you can call that raise a progressive wage. The common people are losing their faith in our leaders because of this.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Singapore.

I have lived a fortunate life because I was born in this country. My father came here as a poor, uneducated Indian and this country was able to transform him into such a wealthy and enlightened man. A lot of people

I’m always happy. Yet, I see all this unhappy people around the world, which makes me unhappy. have asked me why I bother or care so much about this place. Let me tell you why. I do not think I have lived this fortunate life by accident.

The universe must have a bigger plan for me. The universe believes that my views are powerful and I can make a change.

You’re not like most women.

Most women are not in a position to exercise their minds while the few who are in positions of power are not doing the right things. We sit down, put our heads in the sand, and are happy to buy our material possessions without rocking the boat. I want to create a group of intelligent, powerful women who can change the world.

It was what I did for netball in Singapore back in the day. I joined not because I was passionate about the sport but because I saw all these strong women who worked incredibly hard to get a spot in the team. My father had left me enough to make me powerful and he had groomed me to be a warrior. So, I had to use this power to not only help make the game strong but to let it become a fraternity for women.

We must make women in Singapore powerful. If women are powerful and are empowered to lead a good life without having to cower to men, that would be the ideal.

What about marriage then?

Do you believe in it?

You know, marriage is just a piece of paper. But, I’m old-fashioned and stupid lah. I knew my first husband for only a few days before we decided to get married. I was only 21 at that time. He was poor but is a good person. My father, one of the richest landowners in Singapore at that time, actually asked me why I decided to get married since I was young and had everything a lady at that time could ask for.

After seven years, I realised that I had married far too early in my life and we both decided to get a divorce. I became single for seven years and was doing all kinds of evil things such as drinking and smoking. Then, I went to the supermarket and there he was, standing in the aisle. He wasn’t the CEO of NTUC FairPrice at that time. We also decided to get married within three days of meeting each other. I always joked that he came in a package – him and his 16-yearold daughter. What I respected about him was that, despite the questionable paternity, he had no hesitation in bringing her home and raising her.

I think this marriage has lasted because we married at the right time and at the right age. Both of us had sowed our wild oats and were looking for soul mates.

What do you think is the main problem about marriage and divorces in Singapore?

People are getting married for the sake of getting married and for the wrong reasons. Nobody really sits down and says they want to get married because they want to get married. Many of them also don’t realise your finances and your time are the two biggest hurdles of a married life.

One of my suggestions for a happy marriage, which I shared before with a news radio channel, is for men to work until they are 40 before marrying someone. You’ll have no divorces with this! In this day and age, we must start exploring different models of marriage.

What do you think is the most significant thing that you’ve done in your life?

That I am still living a good useful life at the age of 65. I put everybody else above me. A lot of people have asked me why I do all of this – the farm, the bistro, etc.

– when I can relax and do nothing the whole day. Well, I still have the fire in me to make this world the paradise that it should be.

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

15

FOCUS

Fine Line

Threading a

Words Farhan Shah Photos Glenn Lim + DOTE

the piece of paper, cracked open the brown envelope, and gingerly slotted in the defining moment of her life.

This is the story of a woman who decided to sacrifice what she had built for a dream. Today, that vision is a global fashion business. Meet Dorothy Loh, mother, entrepreneur and a symbol for all women out there.

Dorothy Loh read her carefullypenned resignation letter again, a thousand thoughts whirling in her mind. This was not what women her age did. In 2005, the typical script was for her to continue working hard and climb the rungs of the corporate ladder before starting a family. Life, it seemed, had other plans. She folded

The 30-year-old banking executive was going to become a full-time student again, exchanging dollars and cents for threads and needles, chasing a dream not recommended in the metaphorical Singapore handbook. Dorothy had enrolled herself in a fashion design course at Raffles Design Institute. It was a nine-month-long undertaking, an attempt to “try something completely different” while she still had the freedom to do so. “I thought it would be hard to do something like this once I was married with children,” shares Dorothy.

After graduation, Dorothy started her own women’s ready-to-wear label named Dotted Line. Two years later, in 2007, the fashion designer

FAMILY & LIFE’S PICKS We pick out our favourite Dote dresses from the extensive collection.

Check out www.dotestudio.com for more.

TWINKLE DRESS They say you are what you wear.

Well, you’ll be twinkling from head to toe with this empire style dress made from rayon spandex. It also features an empire band to allow you to discreetly nurse your bundle of joy wherever you are.

NADIA DRESS In permanently summer Singapore, there’s no better option than this one!

We love the polka dotted tulle panel at the bodice and the skirt for that touch of whimsical sophistication. Nursing access is via two hidden openings along two vertical seams at the bodice.

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

gave birth to her first child and was incredibly excited to nurture and raise the two babies – Dotted Line and young Ellis – in her life. Her plan was to breastfeed Ellis for a year. Unfortunately, her quest to find fashionable nursing clothes proved fruitless. “I could not find anything that felt remotely true to my prepregnancy style,” says Dorothy.

“The options were limited compared to regular clothes and it was frustrating having to pass by gorgeous clothes because they were not nursing-friendly.”

THE BEGINNING What was a talented and resourceful fashion designer to do? Why, begin her own nursing wear line, of course. That was the genesis of Dote Nursingwear.

It wasn’t a smooth-sailing journey though. While other fashion

DOROTHY ON…

…the creation of a women-friendly business environment In general, Singapore has been quite good for small business owners.

It’s fairly easy to start a business and information is readily available with grants that can be taken advantage of. Women may also gravitate towards doing a business because of the perceived increase in flexibility to spend time with their children. However, they may be daunted due to the lack of financial support for the initial years, and the lack of family and/or childcare support. If family policies can be improved e.g. better subsidies for childcare, that would give mums the freedom and peace of mind to explore and act on various business ideas. …advice for Singaporean women and mums who are interested in business Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that, “if you build it, they will come”.

Before you even start, do the proper research to make sure your business idea is sound. Then, be prudent with how you spend your funds.

Although it is important to look professional and credible, don’t spend your money on frills that add no or little value to your business. Always chase after a good product or service and not just profits. Your desire to deliver a product that adds value or solves your customers’ problems will naturally bring customers to you.

CONTRAST SWING DRESS A smart option for the office that can transition to a fun dress for those casual evening dinners with friends and colleagues, the Contrast Swing Dress is definitely something we’ll be pulling out of the wardrobe time and time again. Nursing access is via the concealed empire line in the middle of the dress.

start-ups possibly enjoyed the luxury of a financial war chest, a dedicated working area, and a team of people working towards the same goal, Dorothy was just one person juggling two fashion lines and a newborn baby, working in a living room that doubled up as her office. While she had the relevant contacts and a rough idea on the costs involved in starting a fashion line, she did not have any prior experience in breaking into the international and wholesale market and struggled for a long time. “I didn’t have anyone to ask, so I read business guides and did research on the Internet, which proved to be a great resource and teacher. I put together a simple sales pack and started cold emailing prospects.

Many ignored me but thankfully, we had a few retailers who saw the potential and gave us a chance,” remembers Dorothy.

What she didn’t have in resources and experience, she made up with spools of determination and a supportive husband. The man in her life stood by her side, helping to solve any teething problems that popped up, which ranged from solving technical problems with her work computer to babysitting the children while she headed out to do photo shoots. In fact, he was also the one who came up with the brand name, a combination of Dorothy’s nickname– “Dot” – and E, the first letter of their children’s names. “He was, and still is, my greatest source of support. He believed in my vision and allowed me to take the risk of starting a business,” says Dorothy.

…the characteristics of the modern and successful Singaporean mother She is flexible, multi-tasks, and knows how to take care of herself. She knows that for her family to be happy, she first has to be happy, so she knows how to take time out to pamper herself in small ways or even just spend some quality time on her own. She is able to balance constantly changing priorities throughout the day and adapts brilliantly whenever life throws her a curveball.

Unfortunately, reality can be a tough taskmaster, and Dorothy decided to close down Dotted Line and focus her creative energies on Dote instead, after realising that she was unable to confidently manage one without sacrificing the quality of the other.

The move paid off.

FAMILY AND FASHION

Today, the Singapore-based Dote is stocked in over 95 multi-label stores and boutiques across 20 countries and has been slowly garnering a fervent following of fashion-conscious mums who enjoy the subtle and nifty design touches – cleverly concealed nursing openings, specially stitched empire bands, etc. – Dorothy has introduced in the clothes, many of which are an incredible boon for pregnant ladies and nursing mothers.

Dote’s clothes are the antidote to the scourge of inconvenience that many nursing ladies face when attempting to enjoy a day out. For all the modern amenities that many malls and buildings offer today, a well-placed nursing room is a rarity, so many breastfeeding mothers would rather stay at home instead of having to brave the stares of the public and battle ill-designed dresses.

During the journey, the fashion designer and businesswoman also found the time to give birth to two more children – Erin and Eoin.

Growing a small business already

occupied Dorothy’s waking hours.

Now, she had to contend with two boisterous infants who were proving to be more than a handful. Don’t get her wrong though; she would never have wanted her life to turn out any different. “I schedule my work around my children’s hours. I work while they are at school and after they go to bed at night. I also try to squeeze in some work – sketching designs, writing cheques or calling suppliers – while waiting for their enrichment classes to finish,” says Dorothy. It’s a tough slog and she admits that the growth of her business has definitely slowed down but, to her, “that is okay”.

She confides: “The secret is not to expect everything to be done on time.

Juggling a family and a business involves compromise and sometimes, something has to give. I have learned to relax and not expect perfection all the time.”

At the end of the day, Dorothy is just glad that she has been given this opportunity to earn a living while still having the flexibility to be with her family. “When I feel discouraged about work, I’m reminded of how thankful I am to be able to do what I do as well as be around my children during their formative years,” she says. “When things don’t always go as planned, I tell myself not to take it too hard as there are more important things in life, like my family.”

After all, that’s the reason why she launched Dote – to make life easier and more fashionable for mothers and families.

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

17

NURTURE

a

DIFFERENT SORT OF

FAIRY TALE Words Farhan Shah Photos Glenn Lim

With perseverance, dedication and love, any bad hand can be turned into a winning combination.

We spend a day with two foster families who have opened their hearts and homes to children who have been abandoned, neglected or ill-treated by their parents and guardians. *Due to confidentiality and privacy reasons, names of the foster children have been changed to protect their identities.

MADAM CHOO KHENG KUAY, MARCUS & JOEY Twelve years ago, Madam Choo’s daughter showed her a newspaper article about a child who did not have a safe home. Saddened, Madam Choo researched the different ways she could help to better the lives of disadvantaged children and was ecstatic to discover the Fostering Scheme by the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Today, Madam Choo is making a difference in the lives of two foster boys – one cheeky and boisterous, the other quiet and shy – and has significantly impacted 14 other children since 2002. We salute Madam Choo and her unstinting generosity and boundless love.

A DAY IN MADAM CHOO’S HOME Right from the get go, you can feel the love and warmth emanating from Madam Choo’s home, with the joyful presence of multiple laughing grandchildren and the two boys, Marcus and Joey*. While my photographer positions the obedient children (a welcome treat, as most of the time, children are incredibly hard to control during a photo shoot), I’m willingly dragged to the toy room and made to play with My Little Pony figurines with one of the grandchildren. The younger foster boy, three-years-old, is clearly incredible attached to Madam Choo and refused to be photographed alone without her by his side.

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

ROBERTO AND KATHRYN ORTIZ & DANNY It was a simple church talk that touched on foster children and how there would be so many loving homes available if everyone decided to make a small difference, but it dramatically changed Roberto and Kathryn’s lives. They decided to become volunteer foster parents and welcomed Danny* into their cosy place two years ago. Today, Danny is three-years-old and has warmed up to Roberto and Kathryn, much to their happiness and delight. Previously, Danny would wail non-stop for hours on end and could not be calmed down no matter what they did.

AN EVENING WITH DANNY AND THE ORTIZES Unfortunately, on the evening of our photo shoot, Kathryn let us know that Danny was rather unwell and might be an unwilling subject. She was right on the money as Danny lounged on the beanbag and refused to be in the photographs, despite being coaxed by his foster parents and bribed with toys. I decided to take a gamble and began juggling the miniature soccer ball by myself, hoping he would be intrigued and subsequently, join me. The trick worked and he laughed before rushing over to play with me. We had a short kick-a-bout and my photographer managed to get the shots he wanted from the shoot.

I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts.

Otherwise, there is no true love in me, and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me.

Mother Teresa

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

19

NURTURE

New Kid on the Block

Words Farhan Shah Photos The White House International

There is a short stretch along Dunearn Road, just past the Eng Neo Road exit, that houses some of Singapore’s top preschools. Joining the academic mix is The White House International, a new pre-school with big ambitions. We check out their cosy premises.

The former principal of Kinderland Kindergarten is now applying her incredible aptitude within the walls of The White House International.

Past the pumpkin- and frog-themed House International believes in getting She understands the importance sand pits is a miniature climbing wall, children to experience the outdoors. of preparing young children for the pockmarked with colourful child-sized This is why the pre-school is in the foot- and hand-holds, that got the adult current location. “I wanted a spot where rigours of primary school and has therefore built a sturdy pedagogy me really excited. I was an active child our young students can learn while growing up, clambering up anything enjoying the outdoors at the same time, centred on the International Preschool Curriculum (IPC) while introducing that looked remotely climbable while and a shopping mall unfortunately various interactive programmes my parents encouraged me each doesn’t provide such a luxury,” the tailored for the local environment. time I fell down. Today, technological founder explains. innovation has trumped physical Judy’s philosophy is simple – every development and it’s not uncommon Besides the thematic sand pits and child deserves the best education to see young children with their heads the climbing wall, The White House because each of them has the potential bowed down, their faces bathed in the International also has a gardening to succeed. For this goal to be realised, blue light of a digital device. So, I was corner and a small grassy pitch with Judy has assembled a team of loving ecstatic to see the importance The miniature goalposts for budding and nurturing teachers. Judy also White House International had placed Neymars. There is also a large believes in building strong relationships in the power of play. playground that looks like it sprung with families, parents and the from the creative mind of a child community to enhance the children’s Numerous research studies have unhindered by the constraints of lives, learning and experiences. demonstrated the importance of physics and engineering. It also looks playtime in developing a child’s mental, like a lot of fun.

The two-storey air-conditioned physical and social capabilities, and it cosy bungalow where lessons are was refreshing to see a pre-school set But it’s not only play within the preheld is comfortably divided into five aside a substantial amount of space school, led by the passionate veteran for outdoor play. In fact, The White early childhood educator, Miss Judy Ng. classrooms, each of which can easily

house between 10 and 12 students. The walls are cheerfully decorated with arts and craft pieces while the floors are thoughtfully clean and tidy, the work of hardworking and passionate staff. The school has also installed air purifiers in every classroom. They say the devil is in the details, and little details like these made me realise the amount of effort the school has put in to make children feel welcome, have fun, learn, push their boundaries, and keep healthy at the same time.

The White House International is holding an open house for interested parents on 25 October 2014. We highly recommend you swing by to check the preschool out! Give them a call at +65 6464 6088. You can find them at 644 Dunearn Road Singapore 289627 or at www.thewhitehouse.com.sg.

WELCOME TO THE WHITE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL We understand a child’s formative years are critical to their development and early success. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing each child with the tools and skills necessary to prepare them to become future leaders of tomorrow.

An exceptional curriculum that will empower your child to become a self-assured, successful, lifelong learner.

Passionate staff dedicated to the highest standards in child care services, development and education.

A safe, nurturing environment where your child’s happiness is guaranteed.

644 Dunearn Rd Singapore 289627 +65 6464 6088 • info@thewhitehouse.com.sg • FB.com/thewhitehouseinternational 20

Family & Life • Oct 2014

Laying the Foundations for Future Success

More Than a Decade in Character Building

What are the three most important qualities that children need now so that they can succeed in the future?

Some years ago, a father whose eldest son was enrolled in one of our centres asked me why we don’t focus on children’s leadership capabilities. I replied that the character traits we emphasise – respect, responsibility, self-control, etc. – are qualities found in all great leaders. After his son went on to Primary 1, he was beaming from ear to ear when he next met me because his son was selected for leadership positions from the start.

“The belief that one person can do something great is a myth.” John Maxwell A successful person must be able to work in and lead a team. If he is able to do this well, whether in his workplace or his personal life, he is likely to find success.

Success at home or work hinges on building good relationships. Respect for self and others, which includes valuing others’ opinions and considering the needs of others before your own, is a core attitude that must be cultivated from childhood.

When a three-year-old is able to dress independently, he takes responsibility for himself and builds confidence at the same time. A pre-schooler who shares the responsibility of improving and maintaining the quality of his class environment develops a sense of competence. Learning to take responsibility for one’s mistakes from young and making the effort to ensure that it doesn’t recur, trains children to see failures as opportunities for growth.

As a child grows in gratitude, he is likely to become more gracious as well.

Self-control is a character trait that leads to qualities such as patience, perseverance, diligence, kindness and respect. The child who has the discipline not to switch on the television until the specified time is cultivating a behavioural pattern where she manages her impulses and not throw in the towel in face of challenges in the future.

How are the teachers in Character Montessori different from normal preschool teachers?

Every teacher who enters a Character Montessori centre is told that our objective in character building is that children desire to do good rather than avoid punishment. At that point, most teachers will look worried or wonder if I am talking nonsense.

To achieve this objective, character building is part of life in all our centres. Teachers need to believe in it, love it, live it and engage children and peers in it conscientiously. They need to understand how it is integrated into the academic curriculum and enrichment activities, the daily operations and culture of the centre, at all levels.

Grace Yong is the founder and current principal of Character Montessori, and is the first certified Singaporean Character Education Practitioner, accredited by The Abraham Lincoln Centre for Character Development (USA).

Grace also holds a Master in Education from James Cook University.

This is not just hopeful thinking but is implemented based on the research-based models and approaches developed by Professor Thomas Lickona.

Teachers therefore need to be trained to understand his work and in the right skills so that they know how to engage children appropriately, from using the language of virtue in their daily interactions to being firm yet positive in disciplining children, to training children in skills like conflict resolution, expressing an opinion respectfully, being able to look at a situation from another person’s point of view.

Call

65070 444

enquiries@cm-preschool.com

www.cm-preschool.com Join our facebook group parents4character

A Beautiful Transformation Counts

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161 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4

420 Punggol Rd

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2 Yishun Ind St 1 Northpoint BizHub

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Oct 2014 • Family & Life

21

HEALTH

Allergies begone!

Words Farhan Shah Photos Xepa-Soul Pattinson

Childhood is an amazing period of fun, learning and discovery.

Unfortunately, the bane of allergies can dampen this vibrant growing years. We explore the world of sneezes, rashes and itches with pharmaceutical expert Xepa-Soul Pattinson.

We’ve landed a man on the moon and learned how to split the atom. But, with all of the scientific breakthroughs we’ve made in the past few decades, we still haven’t come to a conclusion about the origins of one of nature’s most mystifying conundrums – childhood allergies. Most scientists agree that our unique genome sequences are responsible for making us susceptible to developing allergies but are unsure about how these genes interact with the environment they grow up in.

BREAKING THE MYTHS Due to their mysterious nature, many myths have sprung up concerning childhood allergies. Here are the two most common untruths:

1

CHILDREN WILL OUTGROW ALLERGIES While there are some children who will outgrow allergies, most will still retain the allergy even in adulthood, albeit in a milder form. Typically though, allergies to nuts, fish and shellfish tend to be a lifelong condition. Furthermore, some children might outgrow one allergy only to develop another.

A MOTHER’S DIET DURING PREGNANCY CAN PREVENT OR EXACERBATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD ALLERGIES There have been numerous studies but scientists are still divided over whether the avoidance or incorporation of certain foods while pregnant or nursing can influence an infant’s allergies. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages mothers, whenever possible, to breastfeed until the baby is six-months-old as there is a statistical trend of such babies being unaffected by allergic diseases.

ADVICE FOR PARENTS So, what can parents do to help their children who are already suffering from allergies?

The best strategy is proper diagnosis. Understand the specific types of food that trigger the allergies and do your best to make sure that your child avoids them.

Accidental reactions are mostly

unavoidable – half of children diagnosed with a food allergy will have an accidental reaction within 18 months – so, be ready to act quickly if it does occur.

You can also stock up on antihistamines. These reduce or block the chemicals called histamines that your child’s body produces when it comes into contact with the allergic trigger, thus stopping the allergy symptoms.

One of our top choices is ADEZIO, a second-generation, non-drowsy antihistamine, which is clinically proven to provide fast acting relief for allergy and cold symptoms not just for your child but you as well.

The best bit: it comes in tasty lychee flavours, making it easy for your child to consume. ADEZIO is available at the pharmacy dispensing counter of Guardian, Watsons, Unity, Mustafa, and independent pharmacies and clinics.

MAHP 1300564

The number of children suffering from allergies not just in Singapore but around the world have been increasing and doctors are not exactly sure why.

The scientific community has centred on something called the hygiene hypothesis: “our immune system is not

being stimulated the way it used to be, thanks to cleaner living conditions and the widespread use of antibiotics, and is starting to react to proteins that are not actually a threat to humans”.

2

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

*Ideas can be found on the advertisement on pg 22 and Snippets on pg 6.

Rules and Regulations 1. This contest is open to parents with kids aged 6 to 12 years old (born in the year 2002 to 2008), and who are residing in Singapore only.

2. There is no restriction on colouring materials used. This includes crayons, colour pencils, colour pens, markers, paint, fabric paint, glitter glue etc.

3. Adults can only assist in filling in the speech bubble.

4. The entries will be judged based on creativity, originality and neatness.

5. All entries must be submitted before 30th November 2014.

6. Only shortlisted entries will be posted on Xepa sp Allergy Cough Cold Facebook Page. Voting will commence from 8th December 2014 to 31st December 2014.

7. Participants must ‘LIKE’ https://www.facebook.com/allergycoughcold to qualify.

8. Voting is done through Xepa sp Allergy Cough Cold Facebook Page. The number of ‘LIKES’ corresponds to the number of votes.

9. Any attempt to cheat by means that are contrary to the terms and conditions of the contest or unfair to other participants (i.e. creating fake profiles or spamming messages etc.), as determined at the sole discretion of the Family & Life Team and/or supporting sponsor, will result in immediate disqualification as well as other possible consequences, including disqualification from any and all existing and future contests.

10. In the event there is a tie, the Family & Life Team and Xepa-Soul Pattinson (S) Pte Ltd reserve the right to choose the winner at random.

11. Results will be announced on Xepa sp Allergy Cough Cold Facebook page.

12. The judges’ decisions are final and binding. No rude email, private message and phone correspondence will be entertained.

13. 1 top prize and 10 consolation prizes to be given away.

14. Prizes are not transferable, not refundable, not redeemable for cash, and will not be extended under any circumstances and must be accepted as offered.

15. Entries submitted are non-returnable and will become properties of Family & Life and Xepa-Soul Pattinson (S) Pte Ltd. Upon submission, participants agree to grant Family & Life and Xepa-Soul Pattinson (S) Pte Ltd the right to use the materials and entry information for all forms of future media and marketing activities.

16. The Family & Life Team and/or supporting sponsor reserves the exclusive discretion to amend, add, delete, alter or otherwise change any rules, terms, and conditions relating to the contest at any time, without notice, if deemed necessary.

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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HEALTH

BrainBooster Words Farhan Shah Photos Benjamin Lim

We spend a day in the classrooms, spotting faces and counting dots, because our middle brains, just like the muscles in our body, need to be trained. It’s actually loads of fun.

The four young children are staring intently at the projected image on the large screen, their juvenile brains slowly creaking to find the clues, before their hands inch their way up to the sky, some with two fingers sticking out, others with three. I inspected the picture again, making sure that my eyes weren’t deceiving me before also extending three fingers out to indicate the number three.

All five of us are in a small cosy classroom – the children ranging in age from four to nine while the premature grey hair on my scalp betrayed my advancing years – and we were looking at one of those mind-altering pictures that had multiple faces hiding within.

I was right. There were three faces – a young lady, an old woman, and a man with a funky handlebar moustache.

Li Xiaoru, the Singaporean instructor running the show, verbally pokes and prods the children, guiding them to visually identify the different faces.

As the lesson goes on and as more images are flashed onto the screen, the children become incrementally better at spotting the hidden patterns and concealed shapes. Ashamedly, I fall behind. My first face-spotting success

soon proves to be my only one while the kids become better and better, laughing and enjoying themselves at the same time. Apparently, it’s not really my fault.

According to Xiaoru, the brains of young children are still malleable, unlike my fully formed grey matter, and are therefore, more receptive to her training.

Xiaoru and her British co-founder, Chris Hedger, are the brains behind Mental Literacy Training, an educational outfit that specialises in training the middle brain. Using a finely blended combination of pictures, encouragement, flash cards and other games, Xiao Ru and Chris aim to enhance children’s memories, unlock their imaginations, improve their concentration and focus, and ultimately, groom them to perform better in schools. They do this by helping the children to simultaneously activate both sides of their brains while working on a solution to a problem. This is done by using the middle brain as a conduit of sorts, a bridge that connects the right and left sides.

Associated with vision, hearing, motor control, alertness and temperature regulation, the midbrain or mesencephalon is an important component in relaying visual and auditory information to your eyes and ears. Dopamine, a chemical released by our nerve cells that plays a major role in reward-motivated behaviour, is also produced in the midbrain – interestingly, a 2013 study conducted by a group of scientists discovered that

mice that were selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running had larger midbrains, supporting a model of brain evolution given the right conditions, and an altered response to the produced dopamine.

What does this mean for children?

To put it in layman’s terms, training the midbrain also subtly alters your children’s behaviour due to the enhanced reaction they will have to the natural dopamine produced in the cells. They will most likely become more motivated to complete certain school- and home-related tasks and will find more pleasure in studying and learning. While it’s not the same across the board, Xiaoru explains that more children also become more sociable and confident, two definitely welcome characteristics in our school system.

Did I become more confident during the time I spent in the classroom with the four children? I definitely felt primed to tackle the day ahead, perhaps due to the enjoyment I derived from laughing and thinking at the same time, as the dopamine coursed through my body.

I could tell that the children too were having loads of fun. And perhaps that’s the most important thing – to tell the youthful generation of the future that learning can be fun and exciting, without the need to compete and step on their peers just to reach an ever shifting benchmark.

For more information on the courses run by Mental Literacy Training, check out www.mltsg.com, give Li Xiaoru or Chris Hedger a call at +65 9027 9902, or email them at xiaoru.li@mltsg.com.

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

RELAX

WH? T’S

HAPPENING

KIDSFEST 2015 Our favourite children’s theatre festival is coming back in January 2015! The folks at ABA Productions are collaborating with heavyweights such as The Birmingham Stage Company, ERTH Visual & Physical Inc., etc. to bring a literary smorgasbord of world-class performances that will appeal to children and families of all ages, shapes and sizes! Enjoy the performances of compelling characters brought to life and scenes from well-loved books enacted vividly on the stage. The 2015 edition will feature returning favourites such as The Gruffalo and The Snail and the Whale as well as new shows such as The Princess and the Pea and ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo. Our personal pick is The Tiger Who Came to Tea, a popular production that recently ended its run at London’s West End and is now coming to Asia to enthral viewers with its brand of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. The show starts off innocently enough – Sophie and her mummy are sitting down for tea when the doorbell rings. Lo and behold, a tiger is at the door!

Absolute fun for the whole family, this one.

When: 21 January – 1 March 2015 Where: School of the Arts Singapore Price: From S$42 for individual tickets; discounts are available for group purchases Additional information: Tickets can be purchased at SISTIC outlets and www.sistic.com.sg

LOVE OUT LOUD – Enabling Families through Communication

MONKEY GOES WEST For the 11th edition of W!LD RICE’s annual mustsee musical pantomime, they’ve decided to look to the East for inspiration! “We felt that it was time to explore the wealth of literature and adventure available to us from sources closer to home,” explains Artistic Director Ivan Heng. Enter Monkey Goes West, a re-imagining of the Chinese fantasy classic Journey to the West. Instead of ancient China, Monkey Goes West takes place in modernday Singapore and will feature a cast of some of the most acclaimed local thespians working in theatre today such as Chua Enlai, Lim Kay Siu and Siti Khalijah Zainal.

W!LD RICE will also be bringing in the Thai award-winning design and fashion company, Tube Gallery, to design the play’s elaborate costumes, cementing just how incredibly awesome Monkey Goes West is shaping out to be!

So, join orphan Ah Tang and his three new friends – Wukong, the cheeky Monkey King; Pigsy, a brave but always hungry warrior; Sandy, a stubborn but loyal river ogre – as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime, fraught with trials and dangers aplenty. We’ll see you at Victoria Theatre!

When: 21 November – 13 December 2014 Where: Victoria Theatre Price: From S$45 for individual tickets; family packages are also available for OCBC card holders Additional information: Tickets can be purchased at SISTIC outlets and www.sistic.com.sg

Raising a child in Singapore can be both a fulfilling and challenging experience. There are various demands that need to be met, some of which can be incredibly stressful for both the parent and the child. The KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital understands this perennial problem, which is why they’re putting together a one-day event comprising an interactive play and six workshops that helps to promote positive communication between different family members and provides parenting tips and strategies, all in the name of positive family well-being.

Participants will learn the powerful act of mindfulness and the role it plays in our everyday lives, the ways to, gasp, outsmart your children in a technological age, and more. The best bit: these workshops are affordable and involve the whole family. We can’t think of a better way to spend a lovely Sunday.

When: 9 November 2014 Where: KKH Auditorium Price: Between S$5 and S$8 per person per workshop; the play is free of charge Additional information: For enquiries and ticket purchases, call +65 6394 5038

HI-5 HOUSE HITS 2014 It’s time for your children to put on their dancing shoes and wiggle along with everyone’s favourite dancing crew, Hi-5! The musical group is returning to Singapore again after enthralling thousands during their previous sold-out shows and have brought along a whole sheet of new, catchy tunes as well as a host of classics such as Ready or Not and Give 5. And who can forget their memorable puppet friends, Chats and Jup Jup? These two will also be joining in the fun!

Get ready for an enjoyable, family-friendly fun time as you learn easy dance moves and play the party games while getting up close and personal with the beloved cast. We’re sure it will be a memorable day out for you and your children.

When: 5 and 6 December 2014 Where: The Star Performing Arts Centre Price: From S$45 for individual tickets Additional information: Tickets can be purchased at SISTIC outlets and www.sistic.com.sg

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

25

RELAX

Your Home Just Better Looking for a bit of inspiration or just searching for great home ideas? We got you covered.

LG HOMBOT SQUARE Smarter than most robotic vacuum cleaners, the LG HomBot Square has an upgraded sensor and remembers the spots it has cleaned and the spots it hasn’t. Running low on power? It automatically goes back to its charging station. We kid you not.

S$1,299 (recommended retail price)

HUROM SLOW JUICER Our favourite slow juicer gets an upgrade with a brand new lever for better squeezing and many more new features. Revolutionise your life and your juicing experience today, and welcome a healthier you.

From S$600 depending on model

BANG & OLUFSEN BEOVISION AVANT Bang & Olufsen is synonymous with beauty and the Beovision Avant is exactly that. Plus it just works. Plug it in and you’re ready to start being entertained.

S$18,000 with BeoRemote One and the stand programme 26

Family & Life • Oct 2014

C+S ART PRINTS Beautify your walls with a bit of gorgeous typography from C+S Art Prints.

Or maybe use the canvas to remind your children of your family rules.

Either way, we love these to bits.

From S$250 for a small customised canvas (www.csartprints.com)

LG BEDDING CLEANER Dust mites, begone! The LG Bedding Cleaner removes even the most stubborn of dust mites on any of your bedding surfaces. Here’s to a better night’s rest.

S$399 for corded, S$499 for cordless (recommended retail prices)

CORELLE SNAPWARE Bake, serve and store with Corelle Snapware, featuring the signature Vitrelle glass and advanced Snapware technology that provides 100 percent airtight storage and maximum leak-proof security.

Corelle Snapware is available in major departmental stores. Visit www.worldkitchenasia.com for more information.

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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BITES

The Ruffian

great fun but also tiring, as the film was shot within the span of one month, from Words Farhan Shah day to night,” shares Erick.

Photos SET

Makes Good

And he also creates excellent cuisine as well.

Meet one of the stars of Royston Tan’s groundbreaking film 15 who is now whipping up a storm in the kitchen instead of on the streets.

Today, the reformed Erick still has the tattoos, an intricate work of art spanning across his entire right arm, but he has grown up and matured, with a son to raise and a rising career in the culinary arts. The 30-year-old helms the kitchen at SET, serving up an incredible spread of experimental contemporary cuisine at plebeian prices. There is the spirit of Ferran Adria on every plate attended to by Erick with a hint of his favourite chef, Gordon Ramsay – Asian molecularesque gastronomy with an attention to detail. It surprised me then when I found out that Erick had no official training. Instead, he honed his culinary chops at the different restaurants around Singapore.

his mother’s Chinese herbal soup with huai san, or Chinese yam, and he loves this dish so much that he’s crafted two contemporary recipes that have this traditional ingredient. Please see exhibit A, huai san Carpaccio and exhibit B, huai san jello. Now, who says local chefs aren’t as creative as their foreign counterparts? It takes a brave man to step outside the realms of safe mediocrity and to push the envelope but Erick definitely has the palate and bravado to surprise you each time another course comes out from the doors of his kingdom at SET.

“I started out as a kitchen helper at a local café chain before working my way through the different stations in Eleven years ago, a local film shot by restaurants serving different cuisines. acclaimed director Royston Tan created This has helped me to appreciate A five-course lunch goes for S$28.80++ a maelstrom of controversy due to its the various methods of preparation and a six-course dinner comes in at graphic portrayal of Chinese gang life in across both Asian and western S$38.80++ at SET, which is located on the Singapore suburbs. Instead of using cuisines,” says Erick. the second floor of the refurbished PoMo professional actors, Royston reached shopping centre. If you’re ready for your out to a group of juvenile gangsters to be Inspiration also comes from a place taste buds to be pleasantly surprised, go part of his main cast. One of them was close to his heart – his home, or more ahead and make a reservation by calling Erick Chun, a tattooed teenager with an specifically, his Mum. His favourite them at +65 6337 7644. interest in art. “Working on the film was home-cooked meal will always include

INGREDIENTS

Words Farhan Shah Tim Meijers Photos Daniel Chan

Roasted Tuna with Gazpacho Vinaigrette and Fennel Shavings At Family & Life, we believe that cooking can be a fun family-friendly activity. This month, we collaborate with fine dining chef Tim Meijers to bring to you a restaurantworthy dish, simplified but still as tasty, for the home.

ABOUT THE CHEF

Tim Meijers is a globe-trotting chef with more than a decade of experience working in Michelinstarred fine dining restaurants.

In Singapore, he worked for Saint Pierre before starting Tim’s Fine Catering Services, bringing the luxury of fine dining to offices and homes all over the island. Visit him at www. timsfinecatering.com

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Family & Life • Oct 2014

SERVES: 4 people DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Tricky but manageable PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes COOKING TIME: 5 minutes One of the world’s healthiest foods, tuna is incredibly easy to prepare and can be eaten raw or cooked, depending on your family’s preferences. If you are grilling the tuna, take note that the fish is prone to overcooking. The key is to make sure that the olive oil that you’re using is fully heated before you put the tuna into the pan. To test whether the oil is hot enough, toss in a tiny bit of tuna into the pan. It should sizzle the moment it lands on the pan. If it’s not immediately sizzling, it’s not hot enough.

As for the rest of the recipe that doesn’t involve fire and the frying pan, why not involve your children in the process? They can help to prepare the gazpacho vinaigrette by mixing the different ingredients together.

Fresh tuna Shoyu Japanese cucumbers Big red capsicum Momotaro tomatoes Shallots Garlic Fennel Lemon Vinegar, salt & pepper

320 grams 200 ml 2 1 5 2 1 clove 500 grams Half To taste

PREPARATIONS TUNA 1 Marinate the tuna in the shoyu for two minutes each on both sides 2 Heat up the frying pan and add a teaspoon of olive oil 3 Fry the tuna on both sides for no longer than 30 seconds each 4 Allow the tuna to cool down before slicing the tuna into thin portions with your knife GAZPACHO VINAIGRETTE 1 Cut three of the tomatoes into quarters and put them into the blender 2 Add 50 ml of water and the clove of garlic into a blender 3 Blend the mixture until it becomes smooth 4 While the mixture is blending, peel the cucumbers and cut them into fine cubes 5 Do the same with the capsicum, the shallots and the remaining tomatoes 6 You’ll need to remove the skin of the tomatoes a. To do this, make a cross at the top of each tomato before dipping them into boiling water for 12 seconds b. Following that, drop them into ice water c. This loosens the skin so that you can easily pull it right off 7 Mix the vegetables with the blended tomato mixture and add vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.

Rice, Rice, Baby!

Most of us enjoy it on a daily basis and it goes well with almost everything, from meat to seafood to vegetables. We take a look at Asia’s humble cereal grain – rice – with YES Supermarket.

We eat a lot of rice in Singapore. Our small island, on average, imports more than 300,000 tonnes of this carbohydrate yearly. To put that number into perspective, that’s more than three million plates of rice consumed daily all over the country!

And yet, for a crop so widely seen on dining tables everywhere, we know very little about this puny yet powerful cereal grain.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RICE One of the reasons why the consumption of rice skyrocketed in popularity in Asia, compared to Western countries where wheat tends to be more popular, is due to its origins – a group of researchers in 2012 studied in detail the genome sequence of the ubiquitous Asian rice and concluded that it was most likely domesticated and cultivated about 8,200 and 13,500 years ago in China’s Yangtze Valley and the area surrounding the Pearl River.

Furthermore, the crop can be grown practically anywhere, whether on steep mountainsides or hill terraces, as long as there is a water irrigation system up and running. Couple this with its easy-to-prepare nature meant that rice was a go-to crop for civilisations going through an expansionary period. Even now, the developing region of Africa relies heavily on rice, accounting for the sharpest rise in rice consumption in the world during the last few decades.

Thanks to the industrial revolution, the coarse and silica-rich rice hull is also being used as a component of construction materials as well as to polish camera lenses and expensive jewellery.

long grain rice traditionally grown in the northern regions of the country.

Basmati tends to be aged and doesn’t stick to each other when it’s cooked.

That’s why the rice in your biryani dishes is unusually drier and separated into individual grains rather than clumped together. Basmati also boasts a low glycaemic index – 59 – which means that your blood sugar levels won’t spike after a meal with this rice varietal.

• THAILAND It’s the rice that many Singaporeans will know – the Thai jasmine rice, White rice has been garnering a bad sometimes referred to as Thai fragrant reputation, pinpointed as one of the rice. The Thai jasmine rice is available main causes of weight gain due to its in two types, white and brown. Brown high amount of carbohydrates. The jasmine rice retains the bran, which truth, however, is more complex. gives the grains that distinctive light Weight loss and gain is more tan outer layer. Bran provides many dependent on caloric intake i.e. if benefits, including vitamins, betayou consume more calories than you carotene and antioxidants. When expend, you’ll gain weight, no matter what your diet is. The key is moderation cooked, Thai jasmine rice emits a subtle jasmine smell and has a slightly and regular exercise. sticky texture. Unfortunately, unlike As the world became the healthier basmati, the Thai jasmine more connected, THE DIFFERENT rice has an incredibly high glycaemic Chinese traders would VARIETALS OF RICE index of 109, which is more than pure bring the hardy crop Over 90 percent of the world’s rice is glucose. on their travels, which produced in the Asia Pacific region. In was how rice and its fact, the only country outside of Asia in • VIETNAM methods of cultivation the top 10 rice producers of the world Rice has an almost reverent status spread throughout the is Brazil. Here is the full list: in the country, with some calling it neighbouring countries of 1 China “white gold”. It is said that if rice is not Sri Lanka and China.

2 India part of a meal, then what you’ve eaten 3 Indonesia is merely a snack. Vietnam grows a Most historians believe 4 Bangladesh massive number of rice varietals – you that rice was brought to 5 Vietnam can find more than 1,600 types just in West Asia and Greece by 6 Thailand the Mekong Delta alone. Generally, rice the armies of Alexander 7 Philippines from Vietnam is similar to Thai jasmine the Great around 300 8 Myanmar rice due to the two countries’ similar BC. Eventually, through 9 Brazil climates. However, Vietnam’s rice is trade, the folks in East 10 Japan plagued with many problems, including and Southeast Asia also pesticide residue and poor quality, started growing rice in In Singapore, our rice mainly comes although this is slowly changing the year 800. from three countries – India, Thailand and Vietnam. In the past, Thailand used as mechanisation and education THE to be top dog, accounting for more than revolutionises the agricultural industry.

50 percent of Singapore’s rice imports.

WIDESPREAD Just recently though, in 2013, India has THE BEST PLACE POPULARITY overtaken Thailand, supplying close to TO BUY RICE OF RICE One of the reasons why rice became 33 percent of Singapore’s rice imports. Our favourite supermarket, YES Supermarket, stocks a wide variety of such a popular agricultural crop is The Land of Smiles only supplied 30 rice including Royal Umbrella Jasmine due to its superior biological value. A percent.

Fragrant Rice, Golden Pineapple kilo of rice provides more energy and Thai Premium Fragrant Rice, New protein than a kilo of wheat and maize • INDIA Moon Premium Fragrant Rice, and and can thus support more people per Rice from India is more commonly PaddyKing Jasmine Rice. unit of land. During a period of rapid known as basmati rice, a variety of population expansion, it is, therefore, not surprising that rice cultivation YES Supermarket is at Blk 201B Tampines Street 21 • YES Marketplace @ Tampines became so widespread.

Mart 7 Tampines Street 32 • Blk 138 Tampines Street 11 • Block 829 Tampines Street 81 • 35 Hougang Avenue 3 Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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LAST WORD

RunningMummyDiary

the

Words Elizabeth Wu l Photos Elizabeth Wu + Great Eastern

Who says superheroes don’t exist in real life?

Elizabeth Wu, #RTLG influencer, full-time mother to three children, and budding heroine, shares how she prepares for the Great Eastern Women’s Run 2014 while still ably managing the other aspects of her life.

When I was presented with the opportunity to take part in the Great Eastern Women’s Run 2014 and be one of its Race Influencers, I felt my head nod before my mind actually registered what I was agreeing to. The last time my legs went faster than a walking pace (and when I am not chasing after my three children) was when I was in Junior College, which was more than a decade ago. I was very apprehensive and worried that someone would call out how unfit I was.

After much thinking and discussion with my husband, who encouraged me to start getting fitter, I decided to give it a shot. It was now or never, and when I was asked to take part in the #RunToLiveGreat programme that was launched for the first time this year, I knew that there was no backing out. I roped in my good friend, Kimmy, a fellow mother of three and good friend, who agreed to be my run buddy.

She’s been asking me to join her for runs, so you can imagine her excitement when I asked her to participate in the #RunToLiveGreat programme with me. That was sometime in early July, and between July and August, I’ve clocked in a grand total of three kilometres. Yes, a meagre three kilometres, as compared to Kimmy’s I-don’t-know-how-many-kilometres – she takes part in at least one run a month. It’s no excuse for me really, considering that we’re both full-time mothers with three young children under the age of 12 that require roundthe-clock care, feeding and nurturing.

But, I got off my butt, which is a start, even if it’s only been for 15 minutes every week. Time is a luxury I cannot afford regularly, as most full-time mothers can attest to.

I’m lucky enough to get time away from the children to shower, pee and you know, up-keep personal hygiene, so training for a run is not exactly my top priority.

A typical day sees me sending the two older kids to kindergarten and enrichment classes, and while they are in school, I head to the supermarket with my youngest in tow. We then head home, where I will prepare lunch and do some home learning with him, and then he’s off for a nap while I am off to pick the older ones up and get busy again with either enrichment runs or meal prep for dinner, and then more home learning and reading.

of varying intensity levels, like walk lunges and shuttle runs. Once I got into the groove of it though, I began to enjoy the process a lot more. The balmy breeze and city skyline along the Sports Hub didn’t hurt either. I was aching when I got home that afternoon and after whipping up a quick lunch for my children, I was so spent that my husband had to massage my aching body.

The next day, I felt relatively more energetic and less lethargic in spite of the body aches I had to deal with.

I’d experienced this in very small bouts after my own personal training and it felt great knowing that my hard work is slowly paying off. Losing the momentum would mean I’d be back at square one and would have to start all over again.

As parents, my husband and I are very hands-on. We do not have help to outsource our parenting and we make sure that we’re always there for our children.

It took me a while, at the age of 33 and three children later, to understand the importance of trying to keep fit because we have little ones to care for. They depend on us for food, warmth, love and lodging, and stay-at-home mothers like me simply cannot fall ill or suffer from chronic problems.

We cannot take MC, send our children to a caregiver or stay home and recuperate. It may sound miserable, especially to non-parents, but the truth of the matter is the children need us more than we realise. Controlling our health is within our grasp, so there really should be no excuse for us to squeeze in at least 15 minutes of our time to get in a little exercise. These can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the lift, playing with your children at the playground, stretching at the fitness corner in your estate or going for walks with your spouse after dinner.

Now, excuse me as I head out for my weekly run.

I’m also in the midst of starting my own business (yes, overachiever I am!), so in between managing the household and mothering my children, I have to find time to work at home and ensure everything is on track.

With training for the GEWR to factor in, I must admit that it can get a little stressful, especially on days when I feel harried by all that’s happening. Instances like this make me stop and remind myself that I am not doing this just for me, but for my children and husband too. Being healthier and fitter means that my family is able to get the best care and concern that I can provide and that means a healthier and happier them too.

The first training run – three kilometres – conducted for the GEWR was hard, partly also because I was preoccupied with thoughts of my children and how they would cope for breakfast without me, and partly because I didn’t expect that the training included doing exercises 30

Family & Life • Oct 2014

Great Eastern Women’s Run is happening 9 November 2014 at The Float@Marina Bay. For more information, visit www.greateasternwomensrun.com.

254mm x 170mm

new to our family

For stockist please visit www.babyjogger.sg

WIN A

DINNERWARE SET!

*Images shown are not representative of hampers

sets of the beautiful This month, we are giving away 10 nerware set worth $150! din pc 10 ite Wh t os Fr r nte Wi lle re Co It’s very simple to win: d point it to 1. Open your Internet browser an . http://bit.ly/WithWorldKitchen you less than 10 minutes. e tak l wil ich wh y, rve su the e let 2. Comp y will close at the end of 30 3. Wait for good news! The surve November 2014.

Oct 2014 • Family & Life

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YES035 35 Hougang Avenue 3 #01- 04/ 06 Singapore 538840 Tel: 6382 1989 Fax: 6282 1989

YES201 Blk 201B Tampines Street 21 #01-1091 Singapore 522201

YES829 Blk 829 Tampines street 81 #01-272/ 274/ 276/ 278 Singapore 520829

YES032 7 Tampines Street 32 #01-01 (Tampines Mart Wet Market) Singapore 529285

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YES138 Blk 138 Tampines Street 11 #01-108/ 110 Singapore 521138 Tel: 6781 0811 Fax: 6782 7588