Weekly Blog for a family man in Singapore

Frozen is coming to Changi Airport

This post may have come late. But better late then never. It is still a journey for mi as a Father.

Looking at the Frozen 2 characters brought back the child in me. The adventures, the passion and the drive. I do recommend for people to watch it. It is magical just like like Disney. Here are the photos of my journey with my family at Frozen

There's Anna and Elsa with my daughter in the center.

That is me wearing Olaf with my family. Best thing we got a picture taken free as well. Kept as a souvenir.

We took a picture in front of the Frozen house at Changi. Notice my young one is still sucking her pacifier. So cute

That is kristoff

Our whole family in the woods of Frozen 2

My daughter posing at

CPF for Ordinary / Special / Medisafe. To max it out for our Retirement

I would like to share on my knowledge for the CPF on Ordinary / Special / Medisafe. In times like COVID19, we should made our savings work harder. If you are a Singaporean just like me, you will definitely be interested on this.

Do you know that as of current the

- Ordinary is earning 2.5 - 3.5%

- Special is earning 4 - 5%

- Medisave is earning 4%

In times like this, won't it make more sense to invest into CPF special account? By pumping cash into special account, you will earn more interest and also gain more buck for your special account when you reach 55. When you reach 55, it is mandatory to have a retirement account whereby you can opt for 3 options. If you are able to accumulate $181k by age 55 with combination of ordinary and special account, this amount can be set aside to retirement account whereby you can get your monthly retirement savings when you reach age 65. Depending on the options you choose, you can get around up to $1500 per month. With 4% interest rates, it is definitely an option to boast the savings.

And if both husband and wife set aside this minimum sum, imagine you have $3000 per month to spend without doing anything for the rest of your lives. This will lessen any burden to your children as well as your next of kin.

Those who are cash rich can pump cash into the special account and enjoy tax savings.

Those who are not cash rich but who have no use of the ordinary account can transfer to special account but do take caution. Once you transfer from ordinary account to your special account, it is non-reversible. Do consider carefully and clearly. I myself will definitely want to allocate more funds to my special account if situation permits and enjoy the additional percentage interest gain from special account.

My 2 lovely Daughters

My 2 beautiful daugthers. They are 2 years and 5 years old. They give me joy and motivation as i watch them grow as i aged. 😊

Both Hand in Hand

My Eldest Daughter 5 year old birthday in 2020

Showing off her Glasses with 2 rings. Very innovative

Wish that my daughters will always be happy and enjoy life with the ups and downs

Project Management of Injection Molds for Entry Project Engineer

Journey of a Project Engineer

It has been a while since i post from year 2013 till now 2019. I always wanted to do a post on sharing of my experience back when i was working as a junior project engineer in my ex-company.

I can still remember back in year 2004 when i join a SME in plastic injection mold company. My friend who was my Master's classmate roped me in as he need people to join as the current batch of project engineers are serving notice. You can imagine my surprise when i join the company thinking that i will be learning from my seniors but most of the seniors have tendered or serving notice. It didn't help that my classmate who is also my boss was busy with fire fight and i was left to fend for myself.

I recalled very fondly that i will be taking over from a colleague who is serving notice. He shared with me the projects that had on hand and tried to guide me as best as he could for his last week. I tried to learn as best as i could. However 1 week is really too short and how i wished that i could have a mentor to guide and show me the way so i can make less mistakes. I was 27 years old, not too young but not too mature.

I compiled the Journey of a Project Engineer so that any new Project Engineer could understand and relate on and perhaps it can also help you in understanding how projects are run in SME company.

Let me start the clock back in year 2004. I remember i was playing MU online when i got a call from my ex-classmate (Alan). He invited me for an interview in a local SME doing plastic injection toolings. I went for the interview and was shortlisted. I half felt that it could be basic pay was low and they don't mind to give me a opportunity. Off i start my career in a SME in May 2004.

My first day of work and my ex-classmate (Alan) who is my Manager assigned me to a project Engineer. He told me to learn from him. Little do i know that he is serving notice and he will be going off in 1 week time. That 1 week was the most intense week that i endured. Besides meeting local customers and Overseas customers (Tyco Electronics, Avaplas, Philips, Kodak), i was busy trying to absorb whichever things that my fellow colleague was throwing to me. I took down as best as i could. After the 1 week of honey moon period, my colleague left.

Fast forward 4 years + in the company 2008 before i left to go my operation on my shoulder. I had handled more than 200 toolings and handle 30 toolings in production as well.

Let me share my experience and insights for managing plastic injection molding projects well in SME company.

I had zero experience in injection toolings when i first join in 2004. Along the way as i was managing the projects, i read up and pick up the skills. From understanding what is cold runner & hot runner toolings, cycle time, mold size, machine size, shot size, cooling time. All these built up my confidence and enable me to be able to liase and coordinate with my internal and external customers.

What is cold runner tooling? Cold runner tool can be 1/2/4/8/16/24/32/64/128 cavities. 3 plate tooling. In my experience dealing with cold runner tooling, balancing of the runner is always a challenge when it goes to 16 cavities and above. My experience is using Meltflipper. with http://www.beaumontinc.com/meltflipper/

You can be sure for the amount of money that is being paid, it will be worth while then keep on tweaking the insert, tooling or runner. Imagine you only need to test the tool 2 times at most. It is a based in US and they use UG. The runner solution that they provided are the best so far that i have encountered.

What is hot runner tooling? It is basically a runnerless tool. It helps in saving material and cavity balancing. There are 3 hot runner brands that i encounter before. Not in order of preference.
Moldmasters / Husky / Maenner. These 3 brands are top notch in Singapore and most tool makers look for them for supply.

I still can't believe that i have hang on to my project engineer. The only thing that kept me going was i believed that tomorrow will be better and the experience that i gain now will put me in good stead and i will be able to leverage my experience for my next job. After which i got another offer by my ex-customer who introduce me to another top notch injection tooling company in Singapore. Till this day i am still very grateful to my customer. My advice to junior engineers working in project engineer field is to keep you eyes open and work with everyone you can. This will enable your experience to build up and at the same time network with people. I kept an open mind and work with anybody. I love working with people who don't mind hard work and i constantly remind myself that do not efforts that put in today will be realised tomorrow even though the tomorrow may not come soon.

In a local SME setting, there will be people in key positions that warrant your attention as they are key to getting things done. Some may be old timers, may know how to network, may know how to boot lick. Depending on your character, you can choose to learn from the old timers (experience gain is alot), network (learning the skills of communication), boot lick (to position yourself in front of your bosses). I am very poor on the boot lick part and it has set me back on promotion. Besides that whenever i want to gather support or resource in my project, it was very tough.

For the first 2 years that i was in the company, i only gain a $60 increment. Total $120 for the 2 years effort.Other people would have quit and move on. I did not mind the increment as i know the indirectly the company is sponsoring me to manage the projects on their behalf and i was gaining the experience (old timers) and network (suppliers / customer). Little by little as my work rate and project completion goes higher and higher, i was given more projects and handle more difficult customer. Besides learning from the old timers, i read up all i can on plastic injection molding and practice it. The more practice i did, the better i become and i was able to determine the root cause in a fairy fast time. In a SME company if you do well and your customers and suppliers speak of you highly, your boss will definitely take notice and will support. Although i struggle in my first 2 years. My third year in the company, my boss give me a 6% increase however knowing the leverage i had and my work rate. I ask for $500 increase. I got it and i know that they needed me due to my customer/supplier/old timer relationship. At that point of time i was getting 3k+ before i left my the SME company in 2008.

I want to share in SME company, as a project engineer, you must work with the team and create a team effort to showcase the customer and supplier that there is a company working with you to deliver the end product. I will get the team to play football together (Prod, QA, Testing) These will assist to break down the barriers of communication and everyone can work together. It is important to note that working hand in hand is better than doing it alone. Besides that must be open to communication, that means let others do the talking and you listen. Too often the project engineer that comes under a mentor that don't practice communication will be in deep trouble as when you need to get things done, you need support.

As a project engineer, you will face countless decision making, knowing your boundary to make decision is important as you gain more experience and leverage. For the start will recommend to learn from past projects as a guide, if there is not past project as a guide, ask from the tool makers / tester / QA. With that you formulate a plan whether which can deliver the project best. My experience tells me testing is crucial, from each test of the tooling, you will know whether do you need to open up more vents, open up more tolerance or tweak the tool. I relish all testing as every tool is different even though you may have the same design, same machine testing. There will be things that will be missed out. Last but not least do not give up. At least 3 years to gain the experience before moving on. Hope that it will give you confidence by my story.

Internet Business in Singapore by Derek GEHL

Setting up of internet Business in Singapore by Derek Gehl

Ever thought of being your own boss, dabble in small business. Trying out. The internet gives me a chance of that. Any idea of solving problems might turn out to be a potential $. Most important to have learn and have fun in the process.

I went to a Seminar on that yesterday at Tanjong Pagar Amara Hotel. It is by internet millionair person name Derek Gehl, he is featured in Channelnewasia, talk show and newspaper. If you google it you can find him. What can i say. He is impressive. He conduct the Seminar in a high jibe and vibrant and energetic manner. Very inspiring after hearing the success stories and also the concept.

The concept is easy. 4 steps only.

1st STEP TO generate / have a an Anti-Millionaire product ideas. To futher elaborate in the market there are a lot of products with alot of competition. The concept of it is to have is to identify the needs / solutions whereby normal people like you and me requires but is not readily available. Market Samurai provides data information on the statistics of people surfing the internet for information, it categorises the information and also provide information on business or websites or blogs providing this information. That's where identifcation of the needs comes in. I can write an Ebook or video with no capital cost, just my time and a computer and of course an internet connection.

2nd STEP To Create a website : This is fairly simple, there is google, wordpress, which can customize the webpage. There are also free themes to download. In case you are wondering what is themes, there are the webpage cover which makes the website looks attractive. Right now there are tons of free themes to download and you can put it in google or wordpress or you can design your own using microsoft page maker. The importance is on the content and the reliability of that contents.

3rd STEP Driving Targeted Audience Traffic to your webpage : #1 source is of course google. Optimizing your webpage so that your targeted audience will be able to find your web page through google. Updates on your webpage so that it remains fresh and updated. Use backlinkes like forums, afflitates, facebook, twitter, youtube

4 th STEP

Create other websites and repeat from step 1.

Derek Gehl is also available on Tuesday at the Amara Hotel however you would need to sign up first. Do register. It gives me some insights and i really am inspired. I will embark on my journey to create my first website. Hope to have everybody support.

Books on financial intelligence

I am recommending the Financial IQ from Rich Dad and Poor Dad Author. It has given me alot of insights.
Increasing the Financial IQ, this will enable people like me to become a better invester, better business man, better budget control. Why i say this, the book shows that Currency the way we know it has change from our Forefathers time till now. Right now this is the CREATION wave. Whereby people who creates will best benefit from this unsettling time.

What is creation. Creating intrinsic value or perceive value and create a demand for it.

Developing the Financial Genius in oneself to better handle this 21st century Economy.

For mi i'm contemplating and thinking of setting up a social business for gathering people, organising activities to get people to mingle. That's my strength as i'm in the project field. I like to organise events / activities and plan. It gives me tremendous satisfaction that the work i do, people appreciate it. That's why i'm thinking of going for this. Starting small first and slowly build it up.

Feedback from Union with regards to the ProBaby

I receive an email from Union with regards to a survey to be done. As a passionate Singaporean, i oblige and happily do the survey. However i find the survey is only categorizing the needs and it attempts to separate Singles and Married personnel with only few options available. In other words it is doing a survey and base on the options available tilting towards the objective of what the Government wants to do. Not asking the people's thoughts of it.

I propose that there should be a blue print and Singaporeans need to know the PROS and CONS of it so that they themselves make a decision. From the blue print of the Government, a frame work of it. Let there be a debate or ideas to challenge the blue print and frame work and fine tune it to suit 90% of the population needs. This can in the form of debate for representatives in category of

low income / low education
low income / high education
middle income / low education
middle income / high education
high income / low education
high income / high education

It may not be perfect but at least there's a platform to start. Start from small and slowly fine tune on it. If it is too complicated and challenging, people would just ignore and treat it as another one of the gimmicks.

In order for everyone to participate. I would think that the blue print have to be printed out and send to every household. Give people channels to offer their ideas and offer them publicity to challenge the blue print. Get people to be motivated and fired up to participate in the policy. Mass marketing campaign is a must for this to succeed as people need to be constantly reminded and steer towards the right direction.

How to get people fired up and motivated. Get the PA involve in doing rounds and a personal touch to the people living in the constituency. Show them the passion and people will get ignited. Once the ignition is started, the passion of fire need to be kept constantly alive. Creating the habit takes time (making more babies) Incentives and Rewards would come in handy in order for the habit to slowly take root. Over time it will become a habit and people will get addicted to having babies.

Blue Print of Developing Babies

Blue print of developing babies

Let's start from the 1st flow chart to the 2nd flow chart
After a woman gets pregnant, there will be happiness of course. There's where the truth will sink in. There is hospitalization cost to be incurred, medical check ups, insurance etc. These cost in short will take up almost $10k for that 9 months. It could be more but consideration more on budgeting. During this period, the woman's body undergo changes, mood swings.

3rd Flow chart onwards
- Time to accompany the child, nurture the child, this is where if there's constant supply of cash flow whereby a couple does not need to worry for. Just for the child basic needs. In terms of dollars, i am calculating at $8k per year fixed expenses.

4th Flow chart onwards
- This is where a child starts to understand and pose a lot of questions and also at this age, the child learns about values and morals. This is critical. In terms of dollars, i'm calculating at $5k per year

5th Flow Chart onwards
- Primary School, time is even needed more to guide and let the child run on its own. Discipline if necessary.
This is even more crucial as the different social norms and levels start to show with mixing of different children.

6th Flow Chart onwards
- Secondary School, perception of money and cash flow and teaching the kids to value money and understanding of the Society.

New Initiatives from the Singapore Government

Recently Singapore Government has announced to look into the declining birth rates of babies. We Singaporeans are encouraged to make more babies.

I am expressing my view.

Concerns of having more babies.
- Current Economic environment is very competitive
- Bringing up a child in the 21st Century is different, back then it was only to put food on the table and live day by day which is more than enough. Back then a lot of unpredictability. After the World War 2 in 1945, many people start to rebuild their lives and there come the industrial age. Singapore has come a long way since from then. From industrial to informative and now to creation.
- Time to take care of the babies and nurture them just like playing online RPG, if you don't nurture your character, it stays where it is and there's no development. Time is of utmost importance for taking care of a child from birth till 12 years. I say that as during 13th onwards in Secondary school, the child more or less has their own ideology and social norms
- In total 12 years of time to commit and develop a child.
- No blue print for parents to follow (Having a blue print makes first time parents in the creation Age (21st Century) easier. It can be in the form of categorization. I'm thinking in terms of the child in achieving their potential with taking into consideration of the parent's affordability. Of course this is just what i think. Need to formulate a plan and to stick with it. Except for a few, i'm guessing that most people in Singapore don't have a plan for taking care of kids. Maybe most have the economic aspect of it but most don't have any formulation plan for developing a child. Maybe the government can take that into consideration. Considering having a blue print structure and every 4 years the structure evolve and people adapt to it.
- Education in sex for the new Generation. Teaching them concepts on the pleasure and joys of having sex but not pre-marriage sex of course.
- Government Concept of having a subsidized housing only when you are married or going to be married. Some People will never budget for that unless marriage looms and even before marriage looms. By that time, couples save up for their marriage and delay in having babies as they do not have a roof over their top. I would say that for people who are married and staying apart, the Government can do the part of renting HDB flats out to these couples until they have saved up for BTO or Resale flat or consider giving me more rebates to Couples that are starting out.
- Affordable day care and child care centers. This will definitely help couples to decide having babies. However Budgeting for it is another story.

In summary i would propose the Government to come up with a simple Blueprint for Parents to have babies, to develop babies. This would definitely help for first time Parents. After all we are living in the Creation Age of the 21st Century.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming.

This is a customer service course which i have attended before. We were brainstorming on the ideas and stuff to what our company stands. What makes a difference and what our products and quality says for ourselves. Our course lecturer is a ex SIA Cabin crew Manager with 20 years of experience. To him it is the first time he's teaching about customer service to MFG company.

At the end of the course, i have gain insights to how a SIA company operates with emphasis on customer first. To make an impression to a customer, besides performing the standard operating procedures, you need to perform it with sincerity and a smile. Make a difference to the customer, make his journey as least hidcup as possible from take off to landing. The journey is smooth and enjoyable that's why SIA is no. 2 best voted
Airline in the World.

In Business it can also be applied. How can we make the journey that means from start to end to be as less hidcup as possible. Make it as smooth as possible. Make it a memorable experience to the customer and customer will always remember it. Offer alternatives and solutions as best as you could

It is an invaluable lesson to me.

Start small in anything

To succeed in anything with the best of the potential. You need to start small. Take for example, baby crawl around and when they are confident, they walk. It is the same for any endavourers we take in life. Always start with small baby steps. From there build up the confidence to take bigger steps but don't ever forget baby step. Venturing into the unknown like business, chasing girls, starting blog, stocks, etc....

It starts with a single baby step. Once you start, act on it and repeat and try again and again and again. The process of doing it will be faster and faster the next time you do it until you are proficient. So don't be afraid of that tiny baby step.

Scams in the world(Quick rich and illogical)

I would like share with everyone about the scams and i hope after reading it you have gain some insights and information.

I will relate my story. It begins with a desire to be financially free where i first blog about being financially free. I was searching information on the web on how to be rich, how to get there and in the process of it come across of some websites that promised returns of unbelieve amounts of 1000% with minimum effort. Of course playing on desire of being financially free in mind. I pay for some information (which says you can be a distributer of MLM) and you will get support from the organisers and best of all online also. With every product you are selling and every member you get under you, you will get streams of income under you. The products looks good and there are people getting pay cheques from the downlines and products they sold. I didn't buy into that as i was more interested in the business system as i know that it is impossible for the downlines to grow as sooner or later you will run out of personnel. The business system works in a way of pressuring techniques like (if you buy now, you will enjoy discount of up to 40% of the pricing, warning sign 1, you will have product support from the supplier, warning sign 2, bring the person that you want to recruit to the office, warning sign 3)

I question that need of discount up to 40%, most likely the product has been mark up by 500% or more to create the impression that as a buyer you are getting a good deal. Another thing, if the product is so good, do you need product support? Even the hospitals or people down the street would have created a demand for it. Bringing the person down is another warning sign. In that type of environment where some people (actors/actress) will act as a buyer and purchase stuff that in your normal sense will be out of ordinary and you will question (are they out of their mind? or are they buying the product that will create wealth?) This will create a hype that in that instance at that moment, you lose all your senses and you will sucumb to buying.

I would urge people to really question and do research and have a common sense when you do any purchasing, especially with regards to big ticket items (it can be anything) Whatever the seller is selling to you, always remember that they earn commission on it and to them they are only concern of getting you to buy the product. Evaluate for yourself with the product that you are going to purchase, would you still want it in half year time, would you still need it in half year time, is there a need, employing the rules of 5Whys and 1H.

In this world, 3 primary stuff most people are concern are health, money and love. These needs also create a business for scammers (it can be companies or people) and fabrication of lies and stories revolves on these 3 primary stuff. Do be logical and mindful when you need to fork out your own cash.

Weddings and Weddings

Woo man, i just came back from the Library at Bugis. Wow there are 4 weddings showcase in the library. If you are at the library, you will see what i meant was 4 minatures wedding showcase. There is Indian, Malay, Chinese, Eurasian Marriage.

I think this is to create more awareness to the races and to ensure that the tradition do not lose touch.

When 2 person walk together to that journey towards marriage, it is not just the wedding itself. It is also being there for 1 another, their family, their friends and to build a rewarding life together and fulfilling life together. That's where the marriage vows are very important. It is for life when 2 persons decided to take the commitment to the highest level. To love and to cherish each other forever be it for better or for worse when the life comes. Is it that simple? Yes it is that simple. The love will grow stronger with both parties having the commitment. If 1 party do not have that, it will sure doom to failure.

That's my thoughts when i see the 4 different wedding customs. Is the same for all races. Utimately is to grow old together with someone you LOVE>

Love in the air for 15th Feb

I have always wondered myself what i've been doing for my life for the past 25 years. In case you guys don't know i'm almost 1 year behind to get my flat. I need to really get 50k before this year 2011. This is my target, after which i can use it to pay for my flat. As they say a man needs a flat, resources to attract people. I'm working towards that. Life is fair in that extent.

What am i talking about now? I guess i'm tired. Go rest rest.

1 day at marina centre

Talking about recycling, I came across this booth at Marina Centre. They have a theme on the recycling, is interesting to note. Some of the photos i have taken.

I'm back

What a nice way to start, i'm back just like in Terminator series. I'm back.

Singapore Flyer

I just went to the Singapore Flyer on Christmas Day. The setup was really like going on holiday where there's sensor device to check your stuff before you go in. Also there's a walk talkie that you can listen to as you go into the cubicle of the Singapore Flyer. All in all is a nice experience to enjoy the view of Singapore from the Flyer. Some of the photos i have taken. Do give it a try. The journey last around 45mins.

Above place was back in year 2009. Fast forward today now is Oct 2020. There are more things to experience at Singapore Flyer now then in 12 years ago. You can have a wedding in the flyer whereby drinks and finger food are served. Take note though guest is limited to 20 and may even be lower due to Covid19 now. More nicer pictures to take as alot of construction are completed and it will be sight to behold

There is the rainforest experience which stretch to about 50 meters. It is a short walk under the Singapore Flyer. Not to forget there are delicious hawker food, though it is much more expensive than the heartlands. However tourist would love it. There is also the F1 track and F1 vehicles. Not sure whether F1 will be held in Singapore this year. However for the past few years where F1 is held, the Singapore Flyer do experience more visitors due to F1 coverage. In a way it benefited from F1 night race.

Right now Singapore Flyer is doing a promotion for 2 paying adults and 1 child is free. My eldest is 5 and youngest is 2 year. This is my next in line to go to bring my 2 children as they have not experience the Singapore flyer before.

Brainstorm

It has really been some time since i last talk about anything. I got tons of things to write but don't have the tons of time. I just went holiday with my friend in Batam, he can be considered a local there as he has work there for 1 year + , but he did not go and explore so we took the opportunity of going there and explore the place. It is really relax and shiok there. I enjoy the pace of life very much. So relax and wake up, go shopping, go massage, go watch movie. I watch 2 movies on two days. 1 action and 1 romance. Ninja and New Moon. Both are nice. Batam is a very nice place for people to relax and take a short break and pamper your ownself. Some of the photos i taken.

Kites flying

So carefree, as you see the kite flying and soaring in the sky. It is really relaxing, imagine soaring in the sky, enjoying the breeze.

Tom N Jerry Chuck Fest

I went to chuck Fest on Saturady with my friend, it was a very sunny day, perfect day for kite flying, watching band., While the rest of the people in Singapore flock to the commex. i was enjoying the sun with my friend, taking pictures and enjoying the marina bay on a Fine Saturday Afternoon.

cute cute stuff in suntec

This shop i came across in Suntec, the stuff that they sell are really cute and great for couples. It feature 1 boy and 1 girl married in a car or seating on a sofa. The shop owner profess that so far it is the only shop in Singapore that feature this. I can't resist taking some photos of it as is really nice nd cute. Do go to Suntec Third Floor to check it out. You can also purchase for your love ones or friends

Mario Bros

Check out the mario bros. This is my first favourite game in nintendo. I really like playing it so much where you you eat mushroom and become bigger and stronger. This type of game at that point in time was so fun. You keep on playing it and won't be tired of it.