BEAM - British Association Singapore

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORERegistry of Societies number UEN S61SS0152B

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATIONOF SINGAPORE

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Centennial Business Suites, 15 Scotts Road,#04-08 Thong Teck Building,Singapore [email protected] 9773www.britishassociation.org.sg

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Sep/Oct

2020

www.britishassociation.org.sg


AT HOME WITH

GHOSTSHUNGRY

MotivationMatters15

16283436

Balcony toTable

Thoughts uponSeventh Month

VacationStaycation

BA BeachClean-Up

THEO�cial Magazine of theBritish Associationof Singapore BEAM

TEditorial eam

Publishing Director Dr. Rosalind Lui

Editor-in-Chief/Chair Edith Blyth

Sub-Editors Rosalind Arwas Carolyn Perkins Helen Woodhall

Contributors Claire Abbasi, Rosalind Arwas,

Siân Brook Gillies, Edith Blyth, Ishra Giblett,Edna Glennie, Jo Harding, Carole Jenkins,

Jane McDermott, Carolyn Perkins,Neil Perkins, Miranda Thomas

and Helen Woodhall

The BEAM Permit Number MCI (P) 061/07/2020

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE: The British Association of Singapore does not endorse or promote any product, service or view offered through any advertisement or activities that may appear in the magazine. We do not hold any responsibilities, opinions or claims by the advertisers, writers or contributors. The views and opinions expressed are entirely the owners’.

We reserve the right to change copy for reasons of space, style or accuracy.

All copyright reserved.

PublisherThe British Association of Singapore

15 Scotts Road#04-08 Thong Teck Building

Singapore 228218

MarketingDr. Rosalind Lui

[email protected] Office: 6716 9773

CirculationCarole Jenkins

[email protected]

Websitewww.britishassociation.org.sg

PrinterWin & Win Printer Pte Ltd

629 Aljunied Road #05-19/21Cititech Industrial Building

Singapore 389838www.winwinprinter.co.sg

Licence No. L001/05/2020

BEAM Team MemoWelcome to the re-launch of The BEAM! It is great to be back!

It feels as though we are slowly emerging from hibernation, blinking as we look around us at a world somewhat different from the one we saw before we went for a nap. We are fortunate, in many ways, to be in Singapore and in the spirit of making lemonade (or limoncello) when the world gives you lemons, we optimise the opportunity to take a closer look at our home nation while on ‘staycation’. We invite you to explore lesser known corners of the Little Red Dot and try something new, and we have another quiz that might make you wonder how often you have walked past these sculptures and not noticed them. The significant fifteenth day of the Hungry Ghost Festival, a key celebration in Singapore, is in September this year and so we take time to ponder the mysteries of the seventh month in the lunar calendar.

Many of us are cooking more at home and The BEAM presents some recipes for Korean cuisine (inspired by watching a lot of K-TV), how to grow your own vegetables from your balcony and another in the popular series of virtual cookery lessons. On the subject of food, we also investigate the measures taken in food security to ensure safe and nutritious ingredients at all times, even, or especially, when borders are closed.

We create a welfare web linking the diverse features in our social responsibility section. Look out for a youth art competition for the empowerment of young women, our clean-up campaign on the beach to protect endangered turtles, a motivational leg-up for us all to get moving and an open door to those with illness and disability in an inclusive society.

Regarding social activities, we focus in this edition on the written and spoken word as we turn our spotlight on to the Cinema Club and the Book Clubs. It is fantastic how these and other groups have adapted to the changing times and, in some cases, now have more participants as they can join virtually from different time zones.

Our mission at The BEAM is to publish a magazine that is for and about all members of the British Association of Singapore. We are always extremely grateful to everyone who shares their experiences with us and the contributors to this BEAM are listed left as a token of our appreciation. We hope you enjoy reading the different viewpoints. If you would like to see yourself in print, or if you have ideas for future editions of The BEAM, please do drop us a line at the email address below.

BEAM Editorial [email protected]

Rosalind Arwas Carolyn Perkins Helen Woodhall

3THEBEAM | Sep/Oct 2020

Contents // September - October 2020

The British Association of Singapore is looking for an Honorary Secretary to join the BA Council. The role of Honorary Secretary involves:

Liaison with the Chair to compile and distribute the monthly council meeting agenda

Attendance at council meetings to take minutes including updates on open actions

Organising minutes and member reports for reference

Liaison with the Chair and Treasurer to ensure compliance with ROS (Registry of Societies)

Can you bring your experience to our not-for-profit organisation and enjoy the benefits of BA membership? For more information about this vacancy, please contact Edith Blyth at [email protected].

Not a member yet? Annual membership is only S$150 and new members can join the BA by visiting www.britishassociation.org.sg/ member-benefits and clicking on Become a member. For more information, please contact Carole Jenkins at [email protected]

HONORARY SECRETARY

September heralds the start of autumn and reflections on the summer holidays we have enjoyed. 2020 was somewhat different as many of us were in circuit breaker situations and could not leave the Little Red Dot. There was a sad undercurrent in not meeting up with friends, postponed weddings and not being able to say farewell at funerals. Our events, activities and the production of The BEAM all had to be cancelled. The sorrow of losing friends and colleagues is still firmly with us as we have had to say goodbye to members of the Council: Jules Murphy, Miles Murphy, Carole Allen, Philippa Goodger and Diane Price. We sincerely thank them for their commitment and enthusiasm, and wish them safe travels and happiness in their new homes around the world. We also had to say a final farewell to a long-term member, a charming gentleman, Philip Duckworth. We send condolences to his wife, Christiane, and their family. Rest in peace, Philip, it was a pleasure to know you.

The first BEAMs of 2020 were so full of spirit and upbeat themes that the COVID-19 pandemic was a hard knock to take. However, not to be daunted, the social activities leaders have pulled out all the stops to keep members informed and to start up activities on a small scale as soon as allowed in Phase 2 of the circuit breaker. We delved into social media, connecting through WhatsApp, Teams and Zoom, thus enabling members to keep in contact through difficult times. Thanks to our Events Coordinator, Claire Abbasi, for her popular online cookery classes. I hope you have found some new interests to pursue and can write about them for the next BEAM. Thanks also to the BEAM Team for their diligence in producing a magazine in difficult circumstances.

The electronic AGM was a new venture for us. Thank you to all who attended and to the Council members for their help in getting it completed.

No more dwelling on the past, let us all be positive and look to the future. Welcome to our new members, we look forward to personal meetings soon. We continue to keep in touch via the EDM. If you do not get this weekly newsletter on Friday mornings, please let the office know at [email protected].

Thanks to all the frontline medical staff and other workers striving to help Singapore thrive. Stay safe, everyone, and I look forward to seeing you very soon.

Edith [email protected]

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE WARMLY WELCOMES:Marc Hemsin and Diana TurcaAlan and Susan LeddraMartin and Marie NygateJan-Peter Onstwedder and Carol Hamcke-OnstwedderDavid and Marisa RhodesSimon and Lesley ShawShiv ThakkerIf you are not a member yet, you can register online via our website www.britishassociation.org.sg. The annual membership fee is $150.

COUNCIL MEMBERS

SUPPORT TEAMS

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES LEADERS

Chair Edith Blyth

Vice Chair Carole Jenkins

Hon Secretary Vacancy

Hon Treasurer Derry Blyth

Editor-in-Chief Edith Blyth

Membership Secretary Carole Jenkins

Events Coordinator Claire Abbasi

Social Activities Siân Brook GilliesCoordinator

IT Coordinator Michael Davidson

BEAM Coordinator Carolyn Perkins

Marketing Dr Rosalind Lui [email protected]

Events Claire Abbasi, Michelle Dawson, Kay Morley and Claire Ormston [email protected]

Beach Clean-Up Siân Brook GilliesBook Groups Jane Walker Belinda Fowler Jo Harding Marion Lang Anne Roberts Bunco Anne Roberts Jo CockerillCinema Club Siân Brook GilliesDrop-In Coffee Edith BlythGolf Edith Blyth (18-Hole) Nancy Peirson (Beginners)Handicrafts Jane McDermottLadies’ Night Claire Abbasi

Mahjong Jane McDermott Sam Blundell May I? Sally Harris Anne RobertsMonthly Meanders Miranda ThomasNewcomers Jo CockerillPhotography Carolyn PerkinsSketchers Joanne BullTennis Davina Borton-Sutherland Martin Wigglesworth Walkie Talkies Miranda Thomas (Botanics) Julie Avery (East Coast) Tara Codling (Bay)

View from the Chair

Your BA Team

Welcome New Members

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Photo courtesy of Neil Perkins, BA Photography Group 01Dr Florence Li and Associates Dental Clinic 04View from the Chair 05The BEAM Meets... Paul Friend 06BA Diary 08Monthly Meanders 09BEAM Voice 10Scouting for Sculptures Quiz 12Chartwell Associates Pte Ltd 14Poetry Competition Winner 14Motivation Matters 15Balcony to Table 16BA Cinema Club 18Charity Chat 20From Solitary Sofa Reader to BA Book Clubber 21BA Book Clubs Round-Up 23Unlocking Closed Doors 25She is More 26Thoughts upon Seventh Month 28A Taste of Korea 30Food Security 32Vacation Staycation 34Launching the BA Beach Clean-Up 36(Zooming In and) Out and About 37BA Benefits 38Sports and Activities 40Singapore Yacht Show 42British Association Members’ Use of the British Club 43BA Sponsors 43

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5THEBEAM | Sep/Oct 2020

In July, I met up with Paul Friend, founding principal of the newly opened North London Collegiate School, to chat about his new school and his experience of the country so

far. The NLCS group of schools has a long and distinguished history dating back to Victorian England. The original school is in Edgware, UK. It was set up by pioneering educator Frances Mary Buss and is still a leading example of girls’ education today. International expansion started a dozen years ago, first with South Korea then with Dubai, and now Singapore. The new campus is on Depot Road in Bukit Merah and has a maximum capacity of 1200 pupils.

Paul has been in the teaching profession since 1992, and has spent twenty-one of those years abroad (in a story familiar to many of us, he went abroad for two years and still hasn’t gone home). He has been a principal for sixteen years, so this posting is not Paul’s first rodeo when it comes to leading a school. The new school was four years in the planning and Paul was in at the ground level, doing everything from planning the curriculum, to ordering the furniture, to talking to prospective parents, and was even able to influence the design, based around three different libraries, to reflect the values he believes are important. Like everyone else he was far from imagining, when he arrived in Singapore in August 2019 to finalise plans, that the world would soon be a radically different place.

BEAM: So what’s it like opening a new school during a worldwide pandemic?PF: In years to come, we’ll certainly look back and remember the time we set up a school from the corner of a bedroom! The school campus was just two weeks away from completion when the circuit breaker was announced. Luckily we have a great contractor and up until that point we had been ahead of schedule. In fact it’s the only building project I’ve ever been involved in that was consistently ahead of schedule. We got some workers back on site in Phase 2 and were able to get all our staff in place. There’s obviously some uncertainty where some of the children are concerned; families who were planning to move to Singapore might not be arriving when they thought they would be, or at all, for example.

BEAM: How did you find working at home?PF: My office has been in the corner of the bedroom for the last six months and it’s been very challenging. I have a team of 16 support staff and so we had frequent team calls, both to keep track of schedules and to keep the team spirit and positivity going.

It was disconcerting to work with no external routine and I often lost track of time, finding myself still working at 8 in the evening. The loss of day-to-day interaction was tough, and I hope that when we get back to normal, whatever that will be, that we will appreciate those small daily interactions, over a coffee or round the water dispenser, that we usually take for granted.

BEAM: What do you think the new school will add to the Singapore scene?PF: An outstanding school is not just in the business of getting children through their education with the aim of getting the highest grades possible and being admitted to the best universities. We want our children to move out into the world with a sense of ambition, adventure, and an understanding that there are different ways of doing things. We are doing a disservice when these are called soft skills, and undervaluing their importance.

BEAM: Is there such a thing as an international child?PF: There is a product of international education, and you will often find that they are more accepting of difference and see the value in diversity. The flipside is that it’s easy, depending on location, to exist in an expat bubble and, if you are not careful you can reinforce children’s misconceptions about the world. One of the school’s roles is to break down those barriers and make sure the school is connected to the local community.

BEAM: What are your first impressions of Singapore?PF: I arrived in August 2019 with my family. My previous post was as principal of NLCS in Jeju, South Korea, and Singapore is a huge contrast to the rural location that we were used to. Jeju is a magnificent location that everyone should put on their ‘must visit’ list, but there was certainly a culture shock when we first arrived. But at the same time, we have been in Asia for a long time. We were already familiar with Singapore, and from a family perspective, this move has been the easiest and smoothest transition we’ve had. Both logistically and personally we’ve found it very easy to settle in here. Then came COVID, and despite the challenges of the circuit breaker, we were very pleased to be here during such a difficult time. I can’t speak highly enough of our Singapore experience so far.

BEAM: Have you had a chance to check out Singapore yet?PF: As a family we love travelling, but I’m always a bit embarrassed to say that when we visit a new place we’re more focused on exploring the culture through food than we are about seeing the sights! And certainly in the first few months of being here we were happy to be able to explore the huge range of Singapore has to offer. The hawker centre on Adam Road is one of our favourite hangouts for trying out great food. Food and work are both very important to me!

The BEAM was represented by Helen Woodhall for this feature.

The BEAM Meets…

Principal of North London Collegiate School, Singapore

Paul Friend

76 THEBEAM | Sep/Oct 2020 THEBEAM | Sep/Oct 2020

AROUND THE WORLD LUNCH 4: INDIANDate : Friday 11th SeptemberVenue : Shahi Maharani, 252 North Bridge Road, #03–21B Raffles City Shopping Centre, 179103Time : 12.30pmCost : Please settle your own bill on the day

Join us for lunch around the world in 2020. We shall try a different restaurant each time, offering cuisine from six different countries.

(If you manage all six restaurants, you will be entered into a fantastic prize draw.)

Shahi Maharani was established in 1997 and relocated to Raffles City in 2001. Shahi Maharani is owned by Mr Kishore Mirpuri and it is run by his daughters. Recognised as one of the prominent Indian restaurants in Singapore, Shahi Maharani continues to deliver traditional Indian cuisine passed down from the yesteryears of the maharajas.

Please book via the BA website.

All bookings subject to MOH guidelines.

AROUND THE WORLD LUNCH 5: THAIDate : Friday 9th OctoberVenue : Sabai Fine Thai on the Bay, 70 #01-02 Collyer Quay, Customs House, 049323Time : 12.30pmCost : Please settle your own bill on the day

Join us for lunch around the world in 2020. We shall try a different restaurant each time, offering cuisine from six different countries.(If you manage all six restaurants, you will be entered into a fantastic prize draw.)The Sabai is located in Singapore Customs House which excels in Thai cuisine. Outside seating also available for views over the Marina. Enjoy exceptional service that also includes vegan and gluten-free dishes.Please book via the BA website.All bookings subject to MOH guidelines.

GAMES NIGHTDate : Wednesday 16th SeptemberVenue : Via ZoomTime : 8.00pmCost : FREE

Game Breaks can help organise corporate team bonding events, birthday celebrations for adults & children, farewell parties, school and camp sessions and more.

You are invited to have some fun and de-stress trying them out at a BA Games Night. Match wits against others in the BA community in an assortment of Zoom-friendly party games, including trivia and more. This event will be hosted by Game Breaks, an online entertainment company that was launched in Singapore during the circuit breaker period to allow friends, family and colleagues to engage and stay connected in a virtual world.

Please book via the BA website so that we have an idea of the number of participants.

VIRTUAL COOKING WITH CLAIREDate : Friday 16th OctoberVenue : Via ZoomTime : 3.00pmCost : $10

Following the success of two virtual cooking classes this summer, Claire Abbasi invites you to join her via Zoom for a new masterclass on creating a classic of Asian cuisine, Chicken Biryani.

You can cook alongside in real time or simply watch and take notes. If you do plan to cook with Claire from your kitchen, she will message you a few days beforehand with the ingredients required. Then you will be all set to follow Claire as she prepares the dish.

If you are interested, please message Claire on 9189 8575.

BA DiarySEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2020

Date : Friday 11th SeptemberTime : 9.00am - 11.30am (approximately depending on everyone’s pace)Length of walk : 10kmMeet point : Kent Ridge MRT Exit BEnd point : HarbourFront MRT

Starting at Kent Ridge MRT, we walk through Kent Ridge Park, then beautiful Hort Park with its landscaped gardens, across Alexandra Bridge, through the Forest Walk and then cross the impressive Henderson Waves Bridge and on to Faber Peak, where we can stop for refreshments and admire the amazing view (don’t forget to visit ‘the loo with a view’) before walking for 10 – 15 minutes down the hill to finish at HarbourFront MRT.

Things to bring: sunhat, mosquito repellent, sunscreen and some money for well-deserved refreshments. Walkers will also need to bring a water bottle but there are several places to refill on route and it’s an easy trail so trainers will be fine.

If restrictions on group sizes are still in place in September, we will divide into fixed ‘bubbles’ of five people.

Please register through the BA website.

Closing date for registration: Monday 7th September.

Date : Monday 12th OctoberTime : 9.00am - 11.30am (approximately depending on everyone’s pace)Length of walk : 10kmMeet point : Bayfront MRT Exit DEnd point : Rochor MRT

Taken from ‘The Book of Walks’ we first pass through the beautifully landscaped Gardens by the Bay and on over the Marina Barrage to the east side. We follow the waters off the Kallang Basin, past the National Stadium and on to the track alongside the Rochor Canal to our destination in Jalan Besar. The walk is about 10km long but there are many transport options on the way for walkers to finish early if needs be.

Things to bring: sunhat, mosquito repellent and sunscreen. As usual, walkers will also need to bring a water bottle but there are several places to refill on route and it’s an easy, paved trail so trainers will be fine.

If restrictions on group sizes are still in place in October, we will divide into fixed ‘bubbles’ of five people.

Please register through the BA website.

Closing date for registration: Wednesday 7th October.

October:

Singapore WatersSeptember:

Along the Ridges

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Regular Events• Walkie Talkies• BA Joggers

Regular Events• Walkie Talkies• Sketchers• Mahjong

Regular Events• Walkie Talkies• Mahjong• 18-Hole Golf

Regular Events• Drop-In Coffee• May I?• Handicrafts

Regular Events• Walkie Talkies• Tennis

Special Events• 12th October:

Monthly Meander (see p9)

Special Events Special Events• 16th September:

Games Night

Special Events Special Events• 11th September:

Monthly Meander (see p9)

• 11th September: Around the World Lunch 4

• 9th October: Around the World Lunch 5

• 16th October: Virtual Cooking with Claire

SATURDAY/SUNDAY SAVE THE DATE• Friday 6th November: Around the World Lunch 6: Spanish• Friday 4th December: Christmas Carols at Eden Hall• Tuesday 8th December: Christmas Lunch

Please book online via the BA website or contact [email protected] for further details of the above events.

All information is correct at the time of publication. To make sure you have the most up-to-date information on all our events and activities, go to the BA website at www.britishassociation.org.sg or sign up for the members’ e-newsletter.

Monthly Meanders


BEAMVoiceWho would have thought virtual would become the new normal? The advantage and joy of this was that Miles and Jules Murphy could organise a fun quiz night for the BA from Thailand. It was lovely to see so many people join and I have to say the addition of the treasure hunt was a particularly good idea. Watching everyone dash around their apartments trying to find items within a set time and all to be back at their computer with their sunglasses on was so much fun. Definitely an idea for a future event! Huge thanks to both Jules and Miles for all their time organising events whilst in Singapore and more recently from Thailand.

Over lockdown Jo Cockerill taught virtual Pilates classes from the United Kingdom, which between six and 14 people joined each week. She then taught some more virtual classes while she was back in Singapore during her 14-day quarantine. There was no charge for the classes but participants made donations and Jo is making up pamper bags for the migrant workers working closely with @itsrainingraincoats. Jo is now back teaching in the Line Pilates Studio. Please feel free to contact her on 9069 5748 if you would like more information.

How do you go for a virtual meander? Miranda Thomas had the excellent idea of adding together the kilometres from our daily exercise in our respective domicile areas so that we could collectively complete a set walk. We rattled through the 290 km of the Offa’s Dyke Path in a matter of days and so Miranda set us a tougher challenge: to complete the 1,014 km of the South West Coast Path from Minehead in Somerset, around Devon and Cornwall and into Poole in Dorset. As well as daily updates and photos from the Botanic Gardens, River Valley, Labrador, MacRitchie et al, Anne Roberts was able add her kilometres into the pot from Derbyshire, where she grew up (see collage right). All together, we completed the SWCP in about a week – great motivation to get some exercise.

As we couldn’t have our usual Thursday morning get-togethers at Brunetti, we set up a BA Coffee Morning WhatsApp Group so that we could continue to keep each other entertained with banter, news and moral support. In between lamenting ever shaggier hairdos, sniggering at video posts and debating whether it is cream or jam first on a scone (and, indeed, which jam), Bob Collings (he’s the one on the left) was able to get a word in edgewise from his home in Cornwall. Bob put lockdown to good use with extensive DIY and gardening, and found self-isolated walks an absolute doddle in his remote but beautiful corner of the globe. The Meanderers may even have ‘walked’ past Bob’s house.

Fay Ford tells us about the fun she had making samosas via an online cookery lesson: ‘The kitchen is normally beyond my comfort zone but the chance to create a dish from the safety of my own condo was too good to pass up. Samosas are a deceptive little snack that actually required more careful steps than I had realised, including the origami element of successful ‘enveloping’ for the final product. We had all received the recipe and list of ingredients required and stood ready with our spatulas to go live at the appointed time. It was lovely to see chefs from around Singapore and Thailand, and the fact that we were on Zoom meant that more members were able to participate. Our ‘Masterchef’, Claire, took us step-by-step through the process, commentary from the various online kitchens provided much amusement and the results – which varied from slightly misshapen and overcooked (mine) to perfect golden triangles – were presented proudly by us all at the end of the session. I never thought that Zoom cooking could be so much fun but we all felt a sense of achievement and appreciated being connected for a common purpose, even though we weren’t all in the same kitchen. Everyone agreed we would jump at the chance to do it again – I’m already looking forward!’

The last laugh goes to Martin Wigglesworth: ‘Whilst some of us toiled with making pastry and toasting spices, others just watched while sipping their morning coffee (names available on request). In no time at all, Claire had us stuffing pastry cones with a delicious mash, sealing with a fork and deep frying. The result? Only the best samosas I’ve ever eaten and the satisfying sight of the ‘voyeurs’ gazing into their empty coffee cups and wondering what could have been.’

Good luck to Sharon and John McGinn who returned to Scotland in July. The BA will miss them both. Sharon was in the BA Council and the Marketing Team, and arranged events including dinner at Artichoke and a flower-arranging class as well as myriad members’ benefits. John was leader of the BA Photography Group and organised the highly successful photography competition with incredible prizes for the winners. He took groups to photogenic spots around Singapore from Jurong Lake Gardens to the Raffles Hotel. The Grampian countryside will be a change of scene and we hope to see some photos of their new surroundings after they have settled in. Lang may their lum reek!

Martin Wigglesworth (hazily) recalls a pub crawl from the comfort of his own armchair: ‘While Singapore was starting to relax Circuit Breaker restrictions, several hearty souls nevertheless joined the first (and – who knows? – last) BA Virtual Craft Ale Pub Crawl in June. Visiting six or seven ‘virtual pubs’, the attendees drank various IPAs, craft ales and stouts with a different beer selected for each bar.

With the usual treats of beer tasting discussions, very poor joke telling, several drinking games, dodgy football on the telly, a quiz, a kangaroo court fining session and even ending with a bit of raucous pub singing (which wasn’t pretty), the evening was great fun and just like the real thing but without the exercise. Thanks again to Miles Murphy, who joined us from Thailand, for a massive hand with the organisation. Until next time…’

QUIZ NIGHT

PILATES

MEANDERING ‘FROM’ MINEHEAD

COFFEE MORNING IN CORNWALL

SAMOSAS BY ZOOM

FAREWELL SHARON AND JOHN

ARMCHAIR PUB CRAWL

Compiled by Claire Abbasi


This is one of eight casts of ‘Homage to Newton’ by Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) and it can be found in the UOB Plaza near Boat Quay. It celebrates the discovery of the law of gravity and pays tribute to Newton’s open-mindedness and ‘open-heartedness’

as qualities enabling discovery and the success of human endeavour. Knowing how Newton discovered gravity, what does the ball falling from the hand represent?

In contrast to the ‘First Generation’, these children with their endless energy represent trailblazers of the next generation. ‘Budak-Budak’ (Children) can be found next to The Heeren, which was commissioned by the Chee family and is named after Heeren

Street in Melaka, where the family ancestral home is located. A typical heirloom in Peranakan families is the large, covered porcelain jar such as the one the children are clambering over. By what name is this jar better known?

This sculpture on Heliconia Walk in the Botanic Gardens draws its inspiration from the piano concerts in Warsaw’s Royal Łazienki Park. It overlooks the Symphony Stage surrounded by waterlilies and we would like to think the figures join music

lovers in listening to concerts in Singapore’s great park. But who is this composer known for his ‘Polonaises’?

Samsui women, primarily from Sanshui (Samsui) in China, came to Singapore throughout the 20th century to look for work. Most were put into the construction industry and wore a distinctive red hat, not only to protect their hair from the

dusty conditions but also so that they were visible while labouring and thus less likely to have an industrial accident. They shared rooms in Chinatown shophouses and gained a reputation for being hardworking, thrifty and honourable. On 7th November 1987, Samsui women who had worked on its construction were invited to take the first MRT ride. From which MRT station did this inaugural journey begin, which now ends ours?

Soon after his arrival, Raffles wrote, ‘Our objective is not territory but trade; a great commercial emporium.’ European traders profited from the trade in silk, spices, rubber and more with the wealthy ‘towkay’ (from the Malay for ‘boss’) both

represented here as the seated figures. This prosperity did not, however, cascade to the standing coolies (on the left from India in the turban and on the right from China with a plait), many of whom ended their days in Singapore alone in penniless squalor. From which luxury hotel can you look across the Singapore River to this division of fortune?

Back on the south shore, Chong Fah Cheong created this joyful bronze entitled ‘First Generation’ to commemorate the immigrants who contributed to Singapore’s growth. Often unable to afford toys, their children would find their own fun

leaping into the heavily polluted Singapore River as if it were a giant swimming pool. Ironically, when the pollution was removed, immigrant families and their children were also moved out and so the sculpture encapsulates a moment in the river’s past. In which year was the river clean-up officially declared complete?

S ingaporean sculptor Victor Tan uses only one medium for his creations: wire. This work in stainless steel wire called ‘Reverie – Musical Journey’ shows music as a powerful, universal language that connects humanity and serves as a bridge

transporting us over barriers to reach our dreams. On which bridge, or boardwalk to be precise, can you find this musical trio?

Standing serenely, Master Yoda is in an oasis of calm below the futuristic high-rise hubs of digital and interactive media, innovation and ICT (information and communications technologies) that include the regional Lucasfilm headquarters.

That might explain why he is there but where is there? Or, as he might phrase the question himself, ‘Spotted in what park Master Yoda can be?’

We move on to the Chinese Garden (virtually as it is still closed for redevelopment) where we find a statue very few people know exists. Keeping with the cinematic theme, can you tell which Chinese warrior this is, best known through the

Disney re-telling of her legend?Following the sculpture safari quiz in the last edition and the success of the BA Virtual Quiz in the summer, The BEAM brings you another sculpture quiz, this time looking not at animals

but humans (and one humanoid) immortalised in stone, bronze, marble or steel around Singapore. Where can they be found and what stories do they tell? Answers at the foot of page 13.

AnswersHow did you do?1. Site of Raffles’ first landing in 18192. The Fullerton Hotel3. 1987 (2nd September)4. Sentosa Boardwalk5. one-north Park

6. (Hua) Mulan7. Apple8. Kamcheng9. Chopin10. Toa Payoh

7 – 10 points:Monumental – There should a monument erected in honour of your towering intellect. Bravo!

4 – 6 points:Statuesque – A fine achievement that merits your likeness in marble.

0 – 3 points:Some Day My Plinth Will Come – Well, a plinth is a start. Why not seek these out and build on your sculptural knowledge?

Let’s start with one of the more iconic sculptures. Sir Stamford Raffles (1781-1826) is best known as the founder of modern Singapore, which is represented here by the business behemoths in the background. Arguably Raffles’ statue could have been

erected anywhere in the Central Business District but this spot was chosen specifically. Why is that?1

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3

4

5

Scouting forSculptures

QuizCompiled by Carolyn Perkins


Motivation

Mattersby Ishra Giblett

When you’ve just finished a long and tiring day of entertaining your kids, or you’re exhausted after a frustrating work call, exercise can slip low down on the

priority list. You are not alone. Many people are struggling to find the motivation to exercise during this challenging COVID-19 period. Here are 7 simple solutions to this worldwide problem:

1. Any exercise is better than no exerciseEven if you only have 15 minutes, it’s better to do a bit of exercise than nothing at all. There are many easy ways to exercise at home: running up and down the stairs, cleaning, kickboxing with the help of a Youtube video (POPSUGAR Fitness is a good one) or yoga (try Yoga With Adriene). Fresh air is a fantastic pick-me-up so a simple walk around the block can quickly boost your mood. If you can run around the block so much the better. 15 minutes of running can burn up to 150 calories.

2. Add varietyRepeating the same things again and again quickly gets boring. Mix it up by exercising to music and regularly changing your playlist. Another tip is to change the order of your workout.

3. Get dressedEven if you don’t feel like exercising, by the time you have put your workout clothes on, you will have gained some motivation. If you don’t believe this, just try it. It really does work!

4. Go at your own paceDon’t push yourself too hard or beat yourself up about missing a workout. Instead, think positively about what you are going to change next time. Approach this task in small increments. Tell yourself that all you have to do right now is to exercise for ten to 15 minutes. Remind yourself of the ancient Chinese saying: ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.’

5. Think about how you feel after you work outNearly everyone feels happier and healthier after working out. Exercise causes your body to release endorphins, the ‘feel good’ hormones that are often described as ‘the runner’s high’. So when you feel lethargic and demotivated, try to remember that post-workout sense of well-being. Write down a description of how fabulous you feel after exercising and save it on your phone or on a post-it note stuck to the fridge. Read it whenever your motivation starts to sag. It should be enough to get you up and started by which time the natural boosters will kick in to help you continue.

6. Remain active throughout the dayEven if you work at an office job, get up and go for a five-minute walk around the room, every two hours. If you can do it every hour, even better.

7. Use a fitness appThere are any number of great apps to help you achieve your fitness goals although some require a subscription. Sworkit and Keelo are useful for those who don’t have much time and want a swift workout. Fitbod is a good virtual assistant for weightlifting, helping you to choose your exercises and then keeping track of how many reps and sets you have done. Strava is a free app, which measures your distance and pace as you walk, run or cycle or you can simply try to better your daily totals on the step counter built into many smartphones.

Lastly, if none of the above resonate and you need someone to help you get moving, enrol in some personal training or Pilates sessions. The feeling of being fit is the ultimate motivator.

Congratulations to Carolyn Perkins, who was awarded a bottle of champagne for submitting the winning entry to our lockdown poetry competition. Carolyn was inspired to write the poem in AAABAB line format by her literary hero, Robert Burns. Known as the Habbie stanza, it can be found in about 50 of his most famous works including ‘To a Mouse’, ‘To a Louse’ and ‘Address to a Haggis’.

He follows me wherever I goMy sinister friend or welcome foeHe wants to know all that I know

Be in no doubtFor then will come the cutting blow

Of mighty cloutHe, like me, does this for pleasurePlundering all the worldly treasure

An odd but wondrous working leisureTo blot it out

A melancholic, blinkered measureA desperate shout

Entwined, enmeshed our souls, our breathWith daggers drawn unto the death

Combat until the ninetiethVirtual bout

I long to blank the shibbolethOf battle without

Yet I must face the honest truthA love of books, no misspent youth

No bit of rough, no love uncouthNo sexy pout

A life of learning, long in toothThat ends in nowt

Many thanks for all entries into the competition and may you be a lucky winner next time. Look out for more prizes and giveaways in future editions of The BEAM.

The BluestockingPoetry Competition Winner

1514 THEBEAM | Sep/Oct 2020THEBEAM | Sep/Oct 2020

The circuit breaker ignited an unforeseen interest in many people in Singapore. With the food situation in sharp focus, more people decided to join the already

thriving edible growers’ community, even if only in a small way.

Noticing the public resurgence in edible growing, NParks reacted by sending out free seeds to members of the public. On 18th June, Minister Desmond Lee launched the Gardening with Edibles programme. The public was invited to apply for free packets of seeds, and they responded in their thousands. The original offer of 150,000 free seed packets was increased to 400,000 and gardeners were soon waiting impatiently for their free seeds to drop into their mailbox. The seeds sent out by NParks are a good indication of the varieties that are suitable here and include kangkong (water spinach), okra, xiao bai cai, cucumber, tomato and aubergine (brinjal).

Additionally, you can go to the NParks Youtube channel and now their Facebook live channel for tips on what and how to plant. The videos are each just a couple of minutes long, and take you through the basics from mixing soil for edible plants to starting seedlings, growing leafy vegetables, making DIY fertiliser and so on.

On a slightly larger scale, community gardens and allotment gardens are also popular. If there is a community garden near you it is good place to have a look around to see what is growing well. There is a proud tradition of community gardens in Singapore, run under the Community in Bloom arm of the National Parks. Started in 2005, the scheme has given rise to over 1,500 community gardens run by over 40,000 gardening enthusiasts and volunteers.

On a private level, apartment, balcony, and corridor gardens thrive all over the island, and there is a plant for most situations. While many edible plants need full sun to give their best, there are plenty that will reward a scant few hours of sunshine per day with a tasty harvest ready to be enjoyed for lunch or dinner.

The tropical climate is both friend and foe to the keen gardener. Some plants thrive with little attention, while other familiar favourites are a little harder to cultivate here. Tomatoes are the bugbear for many a would-be balcony

grower in Singapore. A combination of humid conditions and lack of pollinators mean a never-ending search for the perfect sunny/shady/breezy spot for that coveted plant, as well as the right variety to thrive here, and early-morning forays armed with a paintbrush to perform pollination on the delicate flowers. Strawberries and rosemary are similar banes to the existence – while some dedicated growers manage to make them work, you need to be prepared for disappointment. The pragmatic gardener quickly comes to the conclusion that, rather than trying to make your plants adapt to the growing conditions, it is better to use the growing conditions to your advantage.

And the good news is that you don’t need much money or space to grow a small edible garden. Get some potting soil, a few pots and a packet of seeds delivered from a company such as Greenspade (greenspade.sg) or Steve & Leif (stevenleif.sg) and off you go. Both companies are Singapore-based so you know your supplies will arrive very quickly, often the next day.

When germinating seeds, one of the stumbling blocks is the temperature. Many seeds have a particular temperature range for best germination, and that range is often not possible here. Spinach needs a temperature of 40–75°F for example, to get started, and will often fail to germinate in warm soils. One of the most reliable plants I have found to germinate here is bok choy, which not only germinates easily, but also grows well and fast, giving edible heads in just four weeks from seed. Okra is also easy to grow and will carry on producing for months from the same plant.

If sowing seeds seems too ambitious, you can simply grow plants from edibles you already have in your pantry or fridge. If you’re having a fresh pineapple for dessert, don’t throw away the crown. Just slice the top off, trim a few of the lower leaves off and place the crown in a pot of soil. It will soon sprout new leaves from the middle of the crown, and within a year will be an enormous spiky plant. It takes two years for the plant to bear fruit, something you might wish to take into account when deciding whether to give precious garden space to a pineapple. You can do the same with celery, spring onions, and leeks.

There are also many plants that can be grown easily

from cuttings. Mint, rosemary, Brazilian spinach, Thai watercress, and Malabar spinach are all edible plants which will grow well from an existing plant. If you know a generous gardener, or if you find a particularly fresh-looking bunch of spinach at the wet market, you can take cuttings which you can root in a glass of water on a windowsill before planting into a larger pot. Passionfruit vines also can be grown from cuttings and trained along the balcony railing.

Hydroponics

If you want to go the hydroponic route, there are many options online for buying a cheap set up or you can DIY your own with a few plumbing supplies and a YouTube video. The advantage of the hydroponic system is the minimal maintenance needed. As long as you keep the water and nutrients topped up, and ensure that the pump is in working order you can reap the benefits of your planting with little effort. As a safety note, if you away from home for long periods it is a good idea to have someone to check your hydroponic system regularly. If for some reason the pump stops working not only will the plants suffer, but also the water will become stagnant and a breeding ground for mosquitoes, a definite no-no especially at the moment with exceptionally high dengue levels being recorded.

As a step up from a starter set-up, I now use a hydroponic tower system made by Singapore-based company Aerospring. It’s great quality (which is reflected in the price, although I managed to get a second-hand one for a smaller outlay!), and you can visit their shop in Sunset Way to buy seedlings and supplies to your heart’s content. I have endless supplies of kale, basil, Brazilian spinach and mint, and probably use some home-grown produce every other day from my tower. If you have no outdoor space, they also do an indoor version complete with lights so you can grow home-grown produce right in your living room.

BalconytoTableby Helen Woodhall


Are you interested in meeting new people, watching new releases and exploring

a wide range of film types and genres? Then the BA Cinema Club might be for you!The club is an ad hoc group for film lovers, meeting every 10–14 days, typically on weekday afternoons. In the last few months, during the lockdown period, we have been holding virtual get-togethers on Zoom. We have adapted by choosing a film, watching it individually within a set period of time and then ‘meeting’ to have a discussion. There are several screening platforms we can use for this. It was a great way to have some social contact when we were physically unable to meet up and also meant that those members in their home countries could also join us if we timed it right. Another advantage is the huge choice of older and less well-known films.

Although cinemas have now reopened in Singapore, after being cautious for so long, many of us are reluctant to spend two hours in an enclosed space with strangers, so we are continuing our Zoom chats.

Members have enjoyed this so much that once cinemas reopen, we will stay together after the film to discuss it over a drink rather than go straight home.

If you’re interested, simply send a Whatsapp to the number at the bottom and express your interest. You’ll be added to the group where you can see messages about the next film and meeting.

Suggestions are always welcome for new films or how to improve the club!

Contact Siân on 9002 6544

HUNT FOR THE WILDER PEOPLE(New Zealand adventure/comedy)‘The scenery was fantastic and the film was funny and touching. After watching the films on our own, the discussion group using Zoom was a great way to spend an hour or so…although I have missed going to the cinema, being able to get together “virtually” has been a pretty good substitute.’ – Pauline

THE SOLOIST(Bio on Nathaniel Ayers)‘A true tale about friendship, hope, talent, mental illness and homelessness. The film is compassionate in portraying the harsh, depressing reality of living on the streets in Los Angeles. Great chemistry between Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx. Lovely classical music accompanies the story. Recommend it to watch!’ – Kay

MAUDIE(Bio on Maud Lewis) ‘Simple true tale – great performances by Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke. A sobering insight into how tough and cruel life was in a rural community. Beautiful scenes in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. A tear-jerker!’ – Kay

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST:THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA(Comedy)‘‘Eurovision divided opinion, especially over the suitability of Will Ferrell in the lead male role, but we all agreed that the scenes of the contest were enjoyable and cheerfully upbeat. There was also beautiful Icelandic scenery and a crazy car ride through the streets of Edinburgh. If you’re a Eurovision fan, it’s definitely worth a look.’ – Pauline

...and on films we have seen during lockdown

JUDY(Bio on Judy Garland)‘Such a sad story, Renee Zellweger’s performance was amazing, totally deserved her Oscar’ – Pauline. ‘Judy was the best film that I saw with the Cinema Club and it made it even more enjoyable (and emotional) watching it together.’ - Sally

LITTLE WOMEN(Period Drama) ‘I enjoyed going to watch Little Women with the Cinema Club as it was a film my husband was not that keen to see.’ – Edith

Comments by members on films we have seen earlier in 2020...

PARASITE (Korean Drama)‘Wonderfully bizarre’ – Siân

BACinemaClubby Siân Brook Gillies


With over 2,000 registered charities in Singapore, it is a sad truth that we cannot give to them all, much as we feel they are deserving. The shockwaves of the pandemic left the British Association of Singapore with less in the piggy bank this year so we narrowed down our list of chosen charities to these local aid

organisations in order to make a respectable donation to each one.

CharityChatBy Carolyn Perkins

The Salvation Army has ‘been touching lives in Singapore since

1935 and we remain committed in serving the underprivileged in the

community without discrimination. To us, every life is precious and we actively help those in need regardless of age, race or religion.’

As you will have seen in the BA Diary on page 8, now that Eden Hall is refurbished, we are planning to reinstate the traditional Christmas Carols there on 4th December with the Salvation Army, who will be the beneficiary. If for any reason that event has to be cancelled (although we fervently hope not), we will make a donation to the Salvation Army from the proceeds of the BA’s ‘Memories of Singapore’ books (pictured below). These have artwork by the BA Sketchers and are available from the office for only $20. As very few of us can have houseguests at the moment, perhaps we can jot down our own memories of Singapore or put these charming notebooks to other good uses.

Sincere thanks to Philippa Goodger, who did sterling work as Charities

Coordinator for the BA during her time in Singapore. Now the BA is looking for a new Charities Coordinator to liaise with these aid organisations. If you would like to know more, please contact Edith at [email protected].

As well as dollars and cents being donated to our chosen charities, many BA members also give their hours and minutes to these and other deserving causes close to their heart. Look out for more on whom BA members are supporting with their time in the next edition of The BEAM.

Star Shelter ‘aims to provide a safe temporary refuge for women and

their children who are victims of family violence regardless of race,

language, creed or religion. We also empower the victims to manage and take responsibility for their lives, and assist them in rebuilding their lives free from violence.’

The good news is that Star Shelter will receive matched funding to our donation.

The Breadline Group ‘was formed because we share a concern for

the welfare of the old and needy in Singapore, and want to channel our efforts towards helping them. We operate with minimal overheads from members’ homes so that the funds we raise can go directly to the families in need. With Family Adoption Schemes, The Breadline Group has ‘adopted’ more than 200 families.’

Star PALS supports young people with life-threatening or life-

limiting conditions. PALS not only means friends but also Paediatric

Advanced Life Support. BA Chair Edith Blyth tells us more: ‘I joined this when I first came to Singapore and was shocked to learn that the families have to provide their own nursing support, life-giving machines and medicines. Star PALS trains helpers and provides support to these young people.’

From Solitary Sofa Reader toBA Book Clubber:

A Personal JourneyBy Rosalind Arwas

In January 2003, struggling through the literal fog of a London winter and the grief-and-anger fog of a relationship break up, I asked some old friends to meet me in a pub, and to bring with

them a copy of their favourite book. They got it. I wasn’t tuneful enough to join a choir or coordinated enough for a sports team but I badly needed a new hobby and some social interaction. Thus the Hungry Bookworm Group was born and it still meets even today, albeit with only one of the original members.

We began with the 2003 Booker Prize shortlist, disagreeing with the judges’ winning selection (Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre) and moved on to classics we felt we should have read but had never got around to (Lord of the Flies by William Golding) interspersed with modern blockbusters, such as Audrey Niffenegger’s mind-bendingly beautiful The Time Traveller’s Wife. We did discuss books, of course, but we also laughed at stories of disaster dates, dissected internet dating profiles, gave advice on relationship breakups and debated if a much older boyfriend, with grown-up kids, could possibly be The One, all whilst emptying a number of wine bottles.

In 2005, when I moved to Switzerland with my then boyfriend (now husband), I had to leave my Hungry Bookworms. The pros and cons of my risky adventure had been thoroughly chewed over throughout several book club meetings! The close friendship, however, remained as, over the years, we married the internet dates, triumphed over infertility, escaped from abusive lovers, coped with the sudden death of a partner and added more kids to the mature lover’s brood.

In Zurich I found a new book group through the International Club.

Not being one for small talk I was happily surprised by how easy it was to connect with other ‘bookies’, in comparison to the struggle to keep a coffee-break chat going with colleagues. We read unexpected sci-fi (Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro), hallucinatory explorations of dictatorship (The Palace of Dreams by Ismail Kadare) and Zadie Smith’s modern take on Howard’s End, On Beauty. One book, Russell H. Greenan’s 1968 cult classic It Happened in Boston, still haunts me today. I will never look at a restaurant sugar bowl in the same way again.

When I moved to Amsterdam three years later, finding a new book club was a top priority. I joined two simultaneously, one populated by cool young professionals, the other by a group of retirees with a passion for American Jewish literature. Both demographics were a welcome alternative to the rest of my social circle: sleep-deprived parents of children under four. Instead of nappies and tantrums, the book club participants shared their fascinating life stories: growing up in hiding on a farm during the Second World War; adopting a child; coming out; emigrating to the US from post-war Poland. We also read some beautiful books. The Jew in the Lotus by Rodger Kamenetz, the Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal and The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker being a few memorable examples. Once again, book club ties proved strong. Last year, when my BA Book Club read The Cut Out Girl, by Bart Van Es, the real-life story of a Dutch–Jewish child, I was prompted to get in touch with my book clubbers back in Amsterdam. They sent lovely emails, reminiscing about my time with the group and detailing all the books they had read in the eight years since I left.


After another move, I inherited the leadership of the International School Book Club in Heidelberg, Germany. Realising that the most divisive part of book club membership is deciding on the books, I dreamed up new ways to select our reading material. We spent a year ‘travelling’ the world, reading books linked by theme or author to every continent, and matching our potluck lunch contributions accordingly. In this regard, I was somewhat lazy. When we read Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, I made chocolate brownies because people in Lagos eat brownies, right? When we read Neuland by Eshkol Nevo and then Honour by Elif Shafak I assured the book club members that brownies are enjoyed by the residents of Buenos Aires and Istanbul too! We also explored different genres, from autobiography to short story to poetry.

On arriving in Singapore, the ex-sister-in-law of one of the Amsterdam playgroup friends introduced me to her book group. However, I only met them once before a dramatic falling out occurred, leaving me wondering which of the well-mannered, erudite, charming ladies had caused or taken such offence. Fortuitously one of them gave me a copy of the BEAM, which led me both to the BA and to Jane Walker’s Book Club. A selection of our recent reads can be found in the box below.

Of course, I couldn’t resist joining a second book club too. It’s the best way to short circuit small talk and really get to know people. Book clubs are not the chatty, cosy spaces you might expect. They can yank you far out of your comfort zone. First, you are obliged to read things you would never normally choose, be it military autobiography, science fiction or novels dictated by ghosts. And then the stories strike unexpected chords. When my BA Book Club read The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty, a minor character struggling

with undiagnosed post-natal depression prompted some deeply personal revelations. Identifying with the children in Jeanette Wall’s The Glass Castle, an acquaintance whose devout attention to bible study I had previously viewed with some cynicism, shared shocking stories of her alcoholic parents and how religion saved her from following their example. Unless by Carole Shields gave a member the confidence to talk about her sister’s heroin addiction. A medical condition described in So Lucky by Dawn O’Porter turned out to be a hidden daily reality for one of the readers. On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong inspired an emotional letter to a dead boyfriend.

It’s never clear exactly which books will work in discussion. The best book club sessions can happen when some participants love a character and the rest despise her, as with Midori in Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. The subtle but horrifying emotional abuse suffered by the narrator of Platform Seven by Louise Doughty proved less of a talking point than its ghostly narrator, which sparked a conversation about unexplained supernatural encounters. In an international setting, strange discrepancies are sometimes thrown up by those who read the book in the original language and those who read it in translation. Occasionally the discussion itself may require translation. A discussion about Mitch Alborn’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven degenerated into confusion when it transpired that Americans are not familiar with the very British term ‘kerfuffle’.

‘Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.’ (Mark Twain, Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World) If you want to find out if this is correct, just join a book club.

The BA is lucky enough to have five Book Clubs, offering locations and meeting times to suit everyone:

BA Book ClubRound-UpBy Rosalind Arwas

Reading is always a personal dialogue between author and reader, but in book group it becomes a wider conversation,

which goes beyond our individual response. I find it fascinating to pick up a book I might never have chosen myself and to listen to a group of people who have read it with such different eyes, bringing their own perspectives and experiences to it, loving and hating and laughing at such different things.

Our members take it in turns to recommend books and to host. The books vary a lot, some are light, some heavier, some funny, some tackle issues, some are local, some from right around the world. We share our thoughts and feelings and give scores out of 10 for how well written we think the books are and how much we enjoyed them.

Circuit Breaker certainly gave everyone the opportunity to catch up on some reading. The 10 members of our Book Group also managed to get together on Zoom for some literary

discussion, although we missed the delicious meals and subsequent recipe sharing which typically make up our meetings. It was lovely to be able to keep in touch, even with members who were in the UK or quarantining in a hotel.

One of our favourite recent reads is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. We also enjoyed The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook, which was written by one of our member’s cousins’ (Anne Roberts)

East CoastMeets: Monthly, eveningsWhere: Members’ homes

Contact: Jo Harding

Supper ClubMeets: Monthly, eveningsWhere: Members’ homes

Contact: Anne Roberts

Some of the books we have particularly enjoyed reading over the past year are:

Year of Wonders by Geraldine BrooksTopical read about a village that quarantined itself during the plague. We loved the way the writing style, in the first person, brought historical realities to life.

Shantaram by Gregory David RobertsThe story of an escaped Australian convict hiding out in the underworld and slums of Bombay. A bit of an epic, accompanied by an epic author ego, but it painted a vivid and unforgettable picture of India. It made all of us think deeply about what drives us, and provoked discussion about what it really means to be a ‘good person’.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton MistryAlso set in India but without the ‘western ’perspective. This powerful piece of postcolonial literature gave us the insider’s voice. The realities it portrayed regarding caste and gender made it a demanding and heartbreaking read, but the characters were drawn with such compassion and humour that it was impossible not to love them and long for their hope to be fulfilled.

If you would like to give us a try, please do get in touch.’ (Jo Harding)

East Coast recommends:

The Hate U Give - Angie ThomasElizabeth is Missing - Emma HealeyOn Beauty - Zadie SmithThe Aftermath - Rhidian BrookOrigin - Dan BrownThe Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart TurtonBefore We Were Yours - Lisa WingateThe Universe Versus Alex Woods - Gavin ExtenceThe Maid’s Room - Fiona MitchellThe Beauty of Humanity Movement - Camilla Gibb


UnlockingClosedDoors

Edna Glennie opens up on behalf of BA members about the sometimes

unseen struggles with illness and disability in the hope of greater understanding for a more inclusive society.

Living with a terminal chronic lung disease can be a real challenge on a daily basis: so many things to consider and plan for, simple things that others take for granted. Something as simple as

taking a shower can be a tall order these days and requires so much time, not to mention sitting and resting a bit before even getting in the shower. Then there’s the pursed lip breathing that we have to do to just get through it. Are we able to towel dry or do we just shove on our robe instead? We need to sit down again and rest from having that shower. All this before we can even consider putting on our clothes and, of course, at each turn we have to rest. Brushing our hair then rest, blow-drying our hair then rest. Now you can understand what it takes to start our day or to go somewhere.

Then there’s the slow walking pace. We tell ourselves to walk faster and keep up with others but our breathlessness comes on and reminds us that we need to slow it right down. Most of us can only walk a little bit before we have to stop. We even have tricks we use to hide from others how breathless we really are. We act like we are looking in shop windows or checking our phone, all to try and get our breath back. Some of us have mastered this fine art but family members or very good friends can see through our little stunts.

Living with lung disease is not something that we can forget about. We have to think about our breathing when we eat, something that is second nature to most people, as we have to remind ourselves to exhale after swallowing instead of breathing in. The weather plays a large part in how our lungs behave and how breathless we become. Either the heat and humidity or the cold and the wind can take our breath away, quite literally.

We have to plan everything wherever we go. Do we have enough oxygen? How far do we have to walk once we arrive there? Do I need to take my medication with me or will I be home on time? Do I need my rollator, my wheelchair or my mobility scooter? Decisions, decisions.

It’s hard trying to lead a ‘normal’ life: hard when friends leave you out of things but sometimes just as hard to be a part of groups and social outings. We have to consider where we are going. Has it got a lift or stairs? Disabled toilets? Sometimes people go over the top to help you and bring more attention to the fact that you’re living with a disability and then others don’t seem to bother at all. It’s finding the balance like all things in life.

Living with any disability means a life of exclusions, really. Coupled with the sedentary lifestyle that contributes to weight gain, is it any wonder that anxiety and depression become the norm? I’m lucky in the respect I have a great medical team here in Singapore. I also have my very own physiotherapist, Kylie Sui, who visits me three times a week at home to go over nutrition and help me exercise. Kylie is a great advocate for an inclusive society. She would love for people to see past their disabilities, for others to not be so nonchalant towards people living with a disability and for things to become more accessible to all living here in Singapore.

Sometimes it smacks me in the face when I’m least expecting it and I just can’t help being sad, which is alright and we should allow ourselves that, for a bit, then it’s chin up and carry on. I try to learn as much as I can about this disease and do what I can to live longer and enjoy my life the best I can.

Every one of us has some kind of struggle and I do hope that this resonates with others out there who are living with a chronic illness and/or a disability. I also hope this brings awareness to anyone less familiar with the whole disabled ‘thing’.

In the words of Kylie, ‘We all need to challenge the status quo.’

‘We all need to challenge the status quo.’

~ Kylie

Our aim is to have a wide and varied reading list that encompasses books of all genres: fiction, non-fiction,

biographies, memoirs, books in translation, contemporary literature as well as old and modern classics. The choosing of the books is a communal and democratic effort.

When, unexpectedly, ‘a pandemic happened, Zoom came to the rescue of our Book Club which has been running for well over 15 years now. Group members were able to continue connecting and discussing books from the comfort of their desks (or from atop a mountain of cushions). The virtual come-together allowed one member who was caught in Australia during lockdown and another former member in the UK to join.

The group is always happy to welcome new arrivals to Singapore or long-standing residents who want to meet new people whilst sharing in our love of reading. Having been a member for 11 years myself, I know one might think I am biased, but I truly don’t exaggerate when I say we are a very nice bunch of ladies who read! (Noya Baark).

‘Thursday mornings’ recommends:Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed by Men by Caroline Criado PérezStasiland by Anna FunderHamnet by Maggie O’FarrellGiving Up the Ghost by Hilary Mantel10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

Although we kept on reading through the Circuit Breaker, it was hard not to be able to meet for our usual discussions, especially

as we had to say goodbye to two members who left Singapore during this period. We decide on our books democratically, based on member recommendations, newspaper reviews, book lists and word of mouth and we choose the books three or four months in advance to give members plenty of time to order, borrow or download them and, of course, to actually read. Some we love, others we don’t. Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans was an unexpected joy, whilst The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters by Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger was a massive disappointment. (Rosalind Arwas).

‘First Tuesday of the Month’ recommends:The Mercies by Kiran Millwood HargraveLady in Waiting by Anne GlenconnerDjinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa AnapparaThe Gift of Rain by Tan Twan EngThe Guest List by Sarah Blake

We meet the first Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm at someone’s house or occasionally at a restaurant. During circuit breaker

we suspended meetings but managed to resume in August. We currently have around eight members but with so many people leaving Singapore in recent months, we would welcome newcomers to our group.

See the Sports and Activities section on page 40 for details on how to contact each Book Club.

Thursday morningsMeets: Monthly, mornings

Where: ‘The Library’ in the lobby of the Shangri-la HotelContact: Belinda Fowler

First Tuesday of the MonthMeets: Monthly, mornings

Where: In the lobby of the Regent HotelContact: Jane Walker

Tuesday eveningsMeets: Monthly, eveningsWhere: Members’ homes

Contact: Marion Lang


How has IIX been delivering social and financial impact? Any quantifiable impacts you can share with us?IIX is unique in the space of impact investing because we bring an entire ecosystem approach – by supporting trailblazers with impact assessments, connecting them to investors through our Impact Partners crowdfunding platform; creating innovative financial products such as the Women’s Livelihood Bond and sharing our experiences and methodologies with the next generation of leaders.

Through this approach, our work has grown to span 46 countries, and we have unlocked US $200 million of private sector capital to support 150+ enterprises, avoided over 1.1 million metric tons of carbon and impacted more than 80 million underserved communities.

Tell us about She is More. Why did you decide to come up with the initative?She is More aligns with my vision for IIX which I started 11 years ago – to change the narrative of women as victims, to recognize them as solution-builders; to drive women’s empowerment by building opportunities for everyone.

To enable everyone to be an advocate for women’s empowerment, IIX Foundation launched the inaugural SHE IS MORE initiative in 2019: a Global Youth Art Competition for budding artists and

youth to celebrate the value of women through art, culminating in an Opening Night Celebration and auction fundraiser in 2019 at the renowned Sundaram Tagore Gallery in Singapore.

Empowering women and girls isn’t a one-off initiative. For us, it means sparking a movement that celebrates the different roles women play in society. That is why we are proud to launch the second edition of SHE IS MORE in 2020 with SHE IS COURAGE as the theme, celebrating the women who have the courage to lead, the courage to innovate and the courage to change the world.

We’ve received hundreds of artworks depicting ‘Courage’, from the streets of Dhaka to the shores of Fiji. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to take part. If you are an art enthusiast reading this, or a parent who would like to support a young artist, we encourage you to visit our online ‘gallery’ and pick an artwork you would like to sponsor.

Now more than ever, with COVID sharpening gender and racial inequalities, we need SHE IS MORE to ensure that our most vulnerable communities are part of a better, post-COVID world. For that reason, we’re taking SHE IS MORE completely online. We welcome everyone to join us for the youth art competition, which runs from May-September 2020, and for our online exhibition and auction in November. https://iixglobal.com/sheismore/

She is

More

The BEAM sat down with the 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award Winner to talk about impact investing and She is More, an ongoing global youth art competition for young budding artists to drive youth and women’s empowerment through art. The British Association of Singapore was a partner of She is More 2019 which also saw the participation of BA member and artist, Chloë Manasseh. With the help of artists like Chloë, She is More 2019 went on to support over 17,280 hours of computer literacy training for underserved women living in the slums of Dhaka Bangladesh and over 240 hours of art therapy for female survivors of domestic abuse in Singapore. Learn more about She is More at https://iixglobal.com/sheismore/.

Durreen Shahnaz, a global leader of social impact and impact investing, is the founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and

IIX Foundation. Over the past three decades, her mission has been to build a more inclusive, sustainable world by transforming financial markets and bringing underserved women to the forefront of capital markets.

What was your childhood like growing up in post-war Bangladesh?Growing up in post-war, poverty-stricken Bangladesh opened my eyes to the realities of inequality and the need to empower underserved communities — especially women — to build a sustainable, inclusive future. The country’s economic struggles were magnified by the fact that half its population — the women, were not being valued, were deprived of equal opportunity, and were not given a chance to be an economically-contributing member of society.

The maltreatment of women was exacerbated by a conservative culture. Growing up in such an environment made me defiant. I am also the fourth daughter of a traditional Bengali Muslim family, which is far from ideal in my part of the world, and being fourth – even less so. I refused to accept the practising norms and did not believe that my gender defined my worth, so I set off on my own to the US at 17.

Eventually I became the first Bangladeshi woman on Wall Street, where I realised that financial markets were both a powerful force in society, as well as an elite club that excluded large communities around the world. My defiance and optimism eventually led to the creation of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) to transform financial markets so that women, underserved communities, and the environment were given a voice and a value.

How do you make impact investing accessible to the masses? What are some challenges you face?It has been 11 years since IIX was founded to innovate a new approach to finance and development, and it is also 11 years since the term impact investing was coined. I have been inspired by the growing number of countries, companies, investors, and communities that are joining the impact economy. From billion-dollar funds to rock stars, the space has gained well-deserved recognition for its potential to transform the world.

The whole space of sustainability is moving from the margins to the mainstream with an estimated market size of hundreds of billions, effectively shifting the paradigm on how the world approaches finance and development. At the same time, we are seeing a growing gap between those who are mobilizing capital at an astonishing scale, and those who are on the ground making impact a reality for vulnerable communities. These gaps have created significant blind spots and concerning trends, including a mismatch between the size of funds and the availability of investment-ready, high-impact enterprises.

Understanding the market trends, we effectively addressed it with solutions like the Women Livelihood Bond series which matched the market need for innovative financial product and gave investors financial return and social return. Having demonstrated the success of Women’s Livelihood Bond 1 and 2, we are now getting ready to launch Women’s Livelihood Bond 3.


down a well and nobody even knows. Today’s stateless people, fleeing people, invisible people who fall through the gaps in society. For me, Nguyen Du is expressing something that is not otherworldly at all, but very much rooted in the world we see. Our fear of what could happen to any of us, and a compassionate call to respond.

For these neglected souls a joss stick is lit, a dish of food is offered. At the same time, in Singapore’s heartlands there are community concerts and feasts and ‘hungry ghost’ auctions where proceeds are directed towards local charities – to hospitals and care homes and those offering food and support to the most needy among us. However routine it may have become for some, however mixed up the motives or the spirituality of it all, there is something profound in the connection between the story and the response which challenges me, and makes me look forward to its multi-sensory arrival every year.

When we first stumble on a cultural tradition like Singapore’s Seventh Month festival, it is very easy to focus on difference, to highlight the unusual and the

superstitious elements that feel foreign to secular western imagination. Food offerings in the temples and on the streets to appease the hunger of ravenous spirits. Paper money and carefully crafted household items, prayerfully incinerated to supply the deceased with whatever they might need. Getai stages for song and dance to entertain invisible audiences. Community feasts and noisy auctions and rituals for the departed.

Some of these practices are common throughout the year, but the seventh month of the lunar calendar, when the gates of the netherworld are opened for ‘whomever and whatever’ to wander our city, is the time when we see fire on the paths across all our heartland communities, and even the most nominal believers might go to visit the columbarium, take a little extra care if they are out after dark, and wind each other up with spooky tales of strange encounters.

Which is where something inside of me pauses and senses familiar territory. In Europe we have our own repertoire of ghostly stories and close encounters. We have our own long tradition of ‘thin places’ in the veil between this world and ‘the other’, and moments in the year when we are especially conscious of these things.

Whatever I might believe personally (or think of as ‘real’ or symbolic), I have come to feel over the years that there is profound meaning in the stories we tell each other about life and death and the spaces between them. These stories invariably take us into places that feel unresolved and incomplete, where there is emotional business to be done or difficult realities to be faced. Life is precarious. There are so many things we cannot control. 2020 has been an uncomfortable reminder. And the history of this island carries more than a fair share of harrowing moments, from colonial exploitation to Japanese occupation, and a myriad individual stories of migration and hard labour and survival against the odds.

With this in mind, one of the things I find most moving about the wandering ghost idea right across this region is the way it scoops up some of the most painful of human experiences and offers a moment of recognition. How is a wandering ghost made? When someone dies in tragic circumstances without the care of family. A soldier or migrant far from home. A victim of famine. Of poverty. Of drowning. Of murder. Of despair.

In his famous poem for Seventh Month, ‘Calling All Souls’, Nguyen Du (1765–1820), lays out tenderly line by line all those categories of persons who have become ‘abandoned souls’ with no one to burn incense for them in the afterlife. He covers everyone from the beggar sleeping under the bridge to the person who falls

Thoughts uponSeventh Monthby Jo Harding

Here are some extracts from Nguyen Du’s poem, ‘Calling All Souls’:

In this seventh month the rain is endless,The cold penetrates into the dry bones,

The autumn evening is mournful and sad,The reeds are livid, the leaves of plane trees withered,

In the twilight the birch trees are drooping,The pear trees shrouded in mist,Whoever can remain unmoved?

If the world of the living is so sad,Much sadder must be the world of the dead.

In the utter darkness of the eternal night,Appear, lost souls, like will-o’-the-wisps, reveal your

presence! O poor beings, creatures of the ten categories,

Your abandoned souls are roaming in strange lands!No incense is burning for you.

There were those who spent their lives begging,Sleeping under bridges, on the ground.

Yet, like others, they were human beings,They lived on charity and now lie in roadside graves.

Struck by fate midway on the path of life,They followed each other to the other world,

Each with a different destiny,Where are they now, those lost souls?


Two weeks into the Circuit Breaker (CB), having exhausted my usual home-based activities, I realised that what I really needed was a new project to get my teeth into. One of my Netflix trawls had

introduced me to K-dramas (Korean dramas). I watched one series and was soon hooked (no judgement, please!). So hooked that I realised I’d started picking up a few words – yes, no, please, thank you, excuse me, I’m sorry etc. I realised I’d found my new project. Next stop, Book Depository for a Korean text book and dictionary.

I learned that the Korean language has 24 unique symbols (vowels and consonant sounds) that are put together to build words. No long list of characters that have to be memorised, like Mandarin or Japanese. An hour a day with the text book during CB now means I can at least order two beers and a BBQ with side dishes in Korean, next time I visit!

Other aspects of Korean life being depicted in the dramas also intrigued me. Why does the most senior person at the table pour the drinks first? Why do the drinkers receive a glass with both hands, turning sideways and using the flat of their hand to shield the glass? It’s all part of a drinking etiquette that has its roots in a complex system of respect and good manners between people of different ages and seniority.

The characters in the dramas all seemed to like their beer and soju on a night on the town. But what is soju? (If you’ve never come across it before either, it’s a fermented rice wine.). I just had to try that, and it turns out there’s a broad range of flavours available. Be warned, some flavours just taste of bubble gum. Soju is also added to beer, for an extra alcoholic ‘kick’ on a boozy night out.

Then came the questions about the foods I watched being eaten on screen. I knew about Korean fried chicken, BBQ meats, and cabbage kimchi. But bibimbap, jjigae (Korean stew), red rice cakes, bulgogi, grilled pork belly, or potato pancakes had never come my way before. I explored recipes for the full regional range of kimchis and tasty side dishes (banchan) – whatever did we do before the internet?

I decided to try making a basic meal: chicken bulgogi with rice, a few banchan (side dishes), salad leaves and dipping sauces, all served with Korean beer and soju. I hunted out several Korean supermarkets offering Korean foodstuffs here, although I found the main supermarkets carry a full range of Korean goodies. Things I had previously passed by, in my ignorance. As I shopped and cooked I was also adding to my Korean vocabulary for various meats, vegetables and flavourings.

My ‘try it out’ Korean MenuMy Korean menu included Chicken Bulgogi, steamed rice, and side dishes (banchan) including blanched spinach (sigeumchi namul), ready-made cabbage kimchi, and a green salad.

I googled many of the recipes, and the ones I have shown here are an amalgamation of several of those searches. However, two websites were particularly authentic and helpful for explaining how and why certain flavours are used and what side dishes are served with the main dishes. If you would like to try other Korean recipes, I recommend the following sites: Koreanbapsang.com and Mykoreankitchen.com.

A Taste of

Koreaby Jane McDermott

So began a new journey exploring Korean language, history, culture and food. Travel abroad might have been suspended during CB, but it was great fun to ‘armchair travel’ to Korea, by preparing a meal and finding out more about the country through travel programmes, films and drama. The only question now is ‘Where next’?

A few basic ingredients I used in my Korean cook-festGochujangA thick, sticky Korean hot pepper paste, very spicy, but with sweetness. A little goes a long way, but great as a spicy flavour in BBQ sauces or marinades for meats, also spicing up soups, stews, salad dressings and dipping sauces. Use like any other chilli sauce. Gochugaru are dried chilli flakes and used differently.

ChamgireumSesame oil, is widely used in many Korean side dishes and rice dishes, and dipping sauces. Roasted sesame seeds (bokken chamggae) also make a frequent appearance in Korean cooking, sprinkled over salads or into side dishes and dipping sauces.

GanjangSoy sauce is used in many ways, including as an alternative to salt and to deepen the umami flavour.

MirimRice wine

SsalShort-grain rice. This form of rice is a short grain, Japonica rice strain.

ManulGarlic is in most dishes

SaenggangGinger is used in side dishes, marinades, some kimchis

BaechuNapa cabbage/Chinese cabbage is used to make kimchi and many other side dishes and soups.

GganipPerilla leaves belong to the mint family and have a strong aroma, used in side dishes and as ‘greens’ to wrap foods.

PaSpring onions. Popular for making a spring kimchi, Korean spring onions (jjokpa) are finer, darker in colour, and less bulbous with a sweeter, stronger flavour than the more bulbous spring onions (silpa) that I am used to in the UK. Silpa are harvested when young and tender, and used more as a garnish or herb, whilst the jjokpa are used in pa kimchi or pancakes (pajeon).

MuWhite radish, or daikon is used for kimchis, white radish pickles, in soups and stews. Korean radish is shorter and rounder than the longer, slimmer daikon used here.

KimchiSalted and seasoned vegetables and roots, some of which are fermented for preservation. The early spring leaves and vegetables are flavoured in a similar way to the autumn harvest vegetables, but not always fermented. Cabbage and daikon kimchis remain a firm favourite, although the Korean spring onion kimchi is also popular. Kimchi recipes vary from region to region.

I found three types of kimchi and many other Korean ingredients available in Cold Storage at Tanglin Mall, however, it’s worth visiting one of the several Korean supermarkets here in Singapore (Lee-Mart, Shine Korea, Solmart, Koryo Mart, Harin Mart, or Seoul Mart to name a few) and many of these also have online shopping or home delivery options. Some Korean supermarkets have fresh food counters for kimchi, gimbap (Korean sushi rolls), ready marinated meats etc.

Chicken (Dak) Bulgogi/Korean BBQ chicken

Bulgogi means ‘fire meat’. More usually made with beef, this chicken version is not spicy. If you want more heat, add 1 tablespoon of Korean chilli paste to the marinade. Serve the chicken bulgogi pieces wrapped in salad or perilla leaves with a dollop of dipping sauce. It can also be served with steamed rice, salad and side dishes.

I used chicken breast, sliced into smaller pieces for pan frying. If barbequing, boneless thighs kept whole would work well, and I suggest marinating the meat for longer to keep it moist during cooking.

For 4 persons

400g of chicken breast or thigh meat

Marinade

3 tablespoons soy sauce1 ½ tablespoons of soft brown sugar, palm sugar or honey1 tablespoon rice wine (substitute dry sherry or dry white wine)1 tablespoon lemon juice½ tablespoon minced garlic (3–4 cloves)2 teaspoons grated ginger½ – 1 tablespoon sesame oil (to taste)

Garnish

sliced spring onionssesame seeds

Mix the marinade ingredients until the sugar has dissolved.

Coat the chicken in the marinade and leave for at least 30 minutes, preferably a couple of hours or overnight.

Preheat the frying pan and add the meat, reserving the marinade. Cook until done and slightly caramelised.

Ssamjang (spicy dipping sauce)

2 tablespoons doenjang (Korean soybean paste)1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean red chili pepper paste)1 teaspoon minced garlic2 teaspoons sesame oil1 teaspoon sesame seeds1 tablespoon rice wine or mirim, optional

Mix the ingredients together. Thin with water, if needed.

Sigemuchi namul (blanched spinach)

1 large bunch local spinach about 10 ounces1 spring onion, finely sliced2 to 3 teaspoons gochujang (Korean red chilli paste), optional2 teaspoons soy sauce1 teaspoon minced garlic½ teaspoon sugar1 teaspoon sesame oil1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Blanch the spinach leaves in boiling water for 30 seconds to wilt the leaves. Immediately plunge into cold water to stop the cooking, drain and gently squeeze out excess water.

Chop roughly, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Leaf wraps

Use a mix of butterhead or oakleaf lettuce, spinach, chard and perilla. Put some finely sliced red onion, Japanese cucumber and nashi pear in a bowl. Then take some meat, kimchi, or side dish and the dip, and wrap in a leaf to eat.


The SFA (Singapore Food Authority) was set up in early 2019 to bring together all aspects of the food supply chain formerly overseen by other departments. Its brief is to ‘oversee food

safety and food security from farm-to-fork.’

This food security comprises ‘Three Food Baskets’ – the three sources of food that Singapore needs to retain a safe, diversified and universally available supply of food.

The first basketThe first basket is imports, and especially the diversification of imports. Singapore currently imports 90 percent of its food from over 170 countries and regions, from close neighbours such as Malaysia and Thailand, to further away France, Argentina and Spain. Food importers need to be licensed and registered, and are only allowed to import food from accredited food establishments in approved countries. In addition, importers may be required to plan against supply disruptions as a further measure to protect food supply chains.

Second basketThe second basket is locally grown produce and it is here that efforts are being made to increase the quantities grown locally. In March 2019, Singapore announced its ’30 by 30’ food production target, declaring that by 2030 they aimed to produce 30 percent of its nutritional needs here on the island. The idea is to provide a buffer in the event of disruption of food supplies, while keeping an eye on the sustainability of farming practices and providing local jobs.

There is a way to go to reach this target; in 2018 the island produced 13 percent of the vegetables, 9 percent of the fish, and 24 percent of the eggs consumed. One of the aims of the Singapore Food Agency is to provide technical support and research and development information for new and existing farmers. New forms of protein, such as insects, are being explored, and fish farms are being built off the coast to take advantage of the natural ocean environment.

The challenges of greater self-sufficiency are significant, and involve a wholesale reorganisation of the farming industry. Land is scarce and the climate is unpredictable. Gone are the bucolic days of orchards and birdsong, the future of farming is driven by technology and Singapore wants to lead the world in the brave new world of technological farming. Laboratory-grown food, insect farms, plant-

based protein, indoor hydroponics, and aquaculture, in which the water in fish farms is recirculated to provide fertiliser for vegetable growing, are all part of this strategy. A brand new agri-tech hub is being developed in Sungei Kadut that will cover 18 hectares and contain insect farms, indoor farming developments and animal feed factories. It is scheduled to open in 2021.

You can even go to university to study Urban Agricultural Technology at Republic Polytechnic, and join the new wave of modern agricultural workers who are skilled in aquaculture and hydroponics.

If you want to support local agriculture, new local branding initiatives mean that you can keep a lookout for the locally grown produce, and choose local producers such as Sustenir for greens, or Chews’ eggs.

Third basketThe third basket is local companies which grow overseas. This too is a growing sector, with some companies growing much of their produce overseas, from vegetable farms in Thailand to fish farms in Australia and Brunei, with the produce being imported back to the country.

Photo credit: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Food Securityby Helen Woodhall

The events of 2020 threw the issue of food security onto the front pages around the world. In the UK, farmers sounded the alarm that travel restrictions would adversely impact the movement

of seasonal labourers, and appealed for students and furloughed workers to get back to the land, while in Singapore the sight of supermarket shelves stripped bare of rice (and toilet paper…) led many to worry about the long-term implications of closed borders.

The issue of food security however, is not a new one in Singapore; in fact it has occupied the minds of the Singapore government for decades, and the COVID situation seems to have demonstrated the efficacity of their planning. Despite the country’s geographical disadvantages, this forward planning meant that Singapore came in first in the 2019 Global Food Security Index organised by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The index measures the affordability, availability, quality and safety of food in 113 countries worldwide – Singapore was the only Asian country to make the top twenty out of those analysed, and came out the clear leader over Ireland in second place.

At the 1996 World Food Summit, food security was defined as the situation when ‘all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets

their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.’

The four main elements that make up this definition are:

The physical availability of food – the supply side, which depends on food production and trade, and stock levels

Economic and physical access to food – the ability of each household to feed itself

Efficient utilisation of food – the nuts and bolts of the preparation and consumption of diverse and healthy food to produce good nutritional levels

The stability of the above three elements over time – many factors can influence the stability or otherwise of the food supply, from weather and seasonal factors, to political instability and

unemployment, or, as we now know, a global pandemic.

What is food security?


Enhance creativity by engaging with the local culture

Build mental resilience through coping with challenges and unfamiliar situations

Do you travel to widen your experience of the world’s many peoples: their history, geography and culture? According to a 2014 study,

Singapore is the most religiously diverse country in the world thus you can easily find mosques and churches, Hindu and Buddhist temples, monasteries and synagogues to visit. Self-guided neighbourhood trails are another great option to learn about the social history of modern Singapore. Start with Queenstown, built in 1952 as Singapore’s first satellite new town and named after Queen Elizabeth II, and meander from black-and-whites to HDBs, from libraries to hospitals and past many religious buildings.

HDBs have their own story to tell, which can be found at the Housing Development Board Hub in Toa Payoh. For a rare glimpse of the way

Singaporeans lived before HDBs took over, you can take a bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal over to Pulau Ubin. Alternatively, If you’re short on time head instead for Singapore’s last kampong, Lorong Buangkok, a tiny slice of dirt paths, vegetable patches and single-storey dwellings sandwiched between the high rises.

Is travelling the way in which you usually force yourself outside of your comfort zone? Successfully purchasing a train ticket from someone who speaks no English, daring yourself to sample an untranslatable dish or overcoming nerves to skydive can all give you a happiness high,

meaning that you arrive home filled with greater confidence to tackle the everyday. To achieve the same buzz in Singapore, try:

Wakeboarding and WakesurfingRyders, Edge and Wakemusters are watersport adventure companies clustered in the north east of the island: all provide lessons and promise fun. Wake Park on the East Coast is the country’s only cable-ski park and anyone over the age of six can give it a go. And for any would-be travellers who prefer to build mental resilience by watching rather than doing, there are beach clubs and restaurants onsite.

Kayaking and Stand Up PaddlingKayakasia offers seven different tours promising you a different perspective on Singapore’s seas and rivers. No prior experience is needed for what the company describes as a “journey of discovery together”. Adventure Paddlers in Pasir Ris offers tours to Pulau Ubin or you can rent your own kayaks and stand up paddle boards and explore on your own. For extra novelty, they even offer stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) with your dog!

Singapore QuarryHidden inside Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, rugged reddish cliffs rise unexpectedly from a peaceful green oasis, less than 2 km from Hillview MRT station. Combine a walk to the quarry with a hike up the steep steps that trail up Bukit Timah Hill, the aforementioned highest point on the island and an important part of Singapore’s wartime history. Alternatively stroll along the Pipeline Path at the edge of the Nature Reserve or cycle the jungle trails reserved for mountain bikes.

https://www.rydersatponggol.comhttp://www.singaporewakepark.com/home/http://edgewake.com/wakeboarding-tips/https://wakemusters.com/surfing/

https://kayakasia.org/destinations/https://www.adventurepaddlers.com.sg/portfolio/sup-with-dogs/

http://www.mycommunity.org.sg/pdf/Queestown_Heritage_Trail_Booklet.pdf

https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/where2shop/explore/toa-payoh/hdb-hub

https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/kampong-lorong-buangkok-singapore-secrets/

Vacation

StaycationBy Rosalind Arwas

Singapore is a dream place to live and work,

blessed with year-round sunshine, great shopping and a lot of lovely food. But it is also a teeny tiny splat of land without any outstanding natural wonders. At 339 times smaller than the UK and with Bukit Timah Hill, the highest point on the island, only a whisper over half as tall as the Shard, pre COVID-19 holidays were all about chalking up air miles to check out bigger neighbours.

Now that a tiny virus has stitched up the borders and transformed travel from exotic pleasure to scary necessity, the BEAM has discovered that size isn’t everything. According to a 2018 Forbes article, one of the main benefits of travel is the boost it gives our

mental health. Here are some of the quirky, colourful and Instagrammable experiences that will grant you the same sense of wellbeing right here in our 721.5 km² backyard:

De-stress and unwind

Collect new experiences

Boost happiness and satisfaction

Do you enjoy travelling as a distraction from stressful situations occurring at home? Or has the lengthy COVID-19 induced period of close proximity with your beloved family triggered your

inner scream? Singapore has some great solutions. Visit the Fragment Room, which describes itself as “the most exciting anger therapy in the market”. Here you can hurl plates, glasses, bottles and electronic equipment at the walls and smash the pieces up with baseball bats until your frustrations are spent. If you still need another outlet, try the Axe Factor, where you can vent your feeling by chucking axes at a target board.

Do you find that planning a trip boosts the endorphins long before the airport comes in sight? If so, the good news is that most of Singapore’s regular attractions (such as the Zoo and Universal

Studios) now require you to pre-book to manage social distancing.

If holiday pampering is more your thing, there are a myriad of affordable massage, mani, pedi and foot spa options to choose from. However, for something a little more exotic, check out the Dead Sea Flotation Experience at Palm Avenue Float Club. The exact opposite of the usual excuses for travel, the flotation tank aims for sensory deprivation, reducing external stimuli to provide a deep state of restorative calm. The water temperature exactly matches that of your skin, and the excessive quantities of salt remove the need for your muscles to support you, leaving your mind free to wander. It’s so relaxing that you may even fall asleep (don’t worry, you can’t sink). Another unusual option is halotherapy. The benefits of this therapy by salt were first noted in the mid 1800s when salt miners were observed to be in particularly good health. In Singapore, the Breathya spa claims to clear the sinuses, improve sleep and boost general well-being.

Do you travel to see things the daily grind denies you (and then hope to make your friends jealous by posting about them on social media?) Perhaps you crave natural beauty as an

antidote to traffic and skyscrapers? Here are a few hidden gems in Singapore which tourists, in their haste to photograph the Merlion and the downtown skyline, often overlook:

Sembawang Hot SpringsSingapore’s only natural hot springs were reopened to the public in January 2020 after extensive renovation. First discovered in the early 1900s and later used as a bathhouse by Japanese soldiers during the Occupation, the area is now a public park, where visitors can soak their feet in a cascading pool and boil their own eggs.

The Fragment Roomhttps://thefragmentroom.com

The Axe Factorhttps://axefactor.com.sg

https://palmavefloatclub.comwww.breathya.com

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/sembawang-hot-spring-park

Photo Credit: Tammar Stein

Photo Credit: Mina Bregman


(Zooming In and)

Out and AboutCompiled by Helen Woodhall

FESTIVALS

ONLINE FILM FESTIVALS

OTHER ONLINE EVENTS

ART EXHIBITIONS

5th Annual FT Weekend FestivalThursday 3rd – Saturday 5th SeptemberTickets from $35 to $45The global digital festival will feature hundreds of speakers (such as Dr Anthony Fauci, Evan Spiegel, Paul Smith, Andrew Neil, Natasha Tretheway, Daniel Humm, Simon Schama, Lionel Barber and more) as well as familiar FT Weekend columnists and editors. A heady mix of debate on the wrenching issues of the day, wine tasting with Jancis Robinson, cocktail masterclasses, poetry readings and performances from the comfort of your home.

Singapore Cocktail FestivalFriday 23rd – Friday 30th OctoberTickets from $48 to $85There are two elements to the festival. Firstly, the Singapore City Takeover runs from 23rd to 30th October. Cocktail enthusiasts and lovers can visit any of the 45 participating bars to enjoy exclusive cocktails at a special price, available only with the Sluggr App. In parallel, the Singapore Cocktail Festival Village will be at the Bayfront Event Space, 12a Bayfront Avenue from 23rd to 25th October 2020.

Booking information on www.singaporecocktailfestival.com.

ART. ACCESS. APPRECIATIONA 3D virtual art exhibition of Singapore ArtsFriday 18th – Sunday 27th September, 10.00am to 11.30pm dailyReal-life 3D virtual exhibition to be seen from the comfort of your home. 21 artists, 50 artworks – affordable and amazing!

Italian Film Festival 2020Projector + (online at theprojector.sg)On now until Wednesday 30th September$12 per movieProjector +, the online extension of the Projector theatre, in association with the Italian Embassy, presents its Italian Film Festival online for the 2020 edition. A selection of the most recent, popular and critically acclaimed comedies, dramas and arthouse releases. You can even get delivery of beer, cocktails and snacks from The Intermission bar while you watch.

Thus Have I SeenBuddhist Film Festival 2020Saturday 5th – Sunday 13th SeptemberTickets from $12 (single tickets) to $108 (full access)Organised by non-profit organisation Dharma in Action Limited (DIA), this biennial event will be held online this year. Go to www.thisfilmfest.com to register.

All details correct at time of going to press. Please be sure to check with the venue before heading out the door.

SISTIC has introduced a livestream option for many events. Some are free, others are pay-to-view. Go to sistic.com.sg and click on the SISTIC Live option to see what is available. Options range from children’s shows to classical music to exercise classes.

Eventbrite also have a range of online events from cooking classes to online raves or trivia quizzes. Go to Eventbrite.sg for more information.

Proposals for Novel Ways of BeingNational Gallery Singapore & Singapore Art MuseumAugust 2020 – February 2021National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum have come together to launch a new local initiative of unprecedented scale and scope, titled Proposals for Novel Ways of Being. The project will see the museums join forces with ten other local art institutions and independent art spaces and collectives to present a series of exhibitions and programmes, both physical and online, that feature the works of over 170 local artists and cultural workers. A united response by the visual arts community to the changes brought about by COVID-19, these exhibitions and programmes will open between August 2020 and February 2021. Audiences can look forward to a wide range of art experiences that explore new ways of living in a world irrevocably changed by this pandemic, and imagine new possibilities for the future.

Besides being an eyesore, marine litter can suffocate animals such as fish, birds and turtles. The turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and choke or starve.

It takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to break down and at least ten to 20 years for a single-use plastic bag, according to US National Park Services. When plastics break down in the ocean, most of them never entirely disappear but instead slowly degrade into smaller and smaller pieces. These bitesize microplastics become more likely to spread and be eaten by fish and other marine animals, big and small, across food chains and ecosystems. 80% of plastic debris comes from land and makes its way into the sea via drains, rivers and canals. It is currently estimated that there are 100 million tonnes of plastic in the world’s oceans.

The hawksbill and green turtles are the most commonly sighted sea turtles in Singapore, living in waters around Malaysia and returning to Singapore to lay eggs between April and October. Both species are critically endangered.

NParks has recently announced that turtles are being more active on the East Coast Park beaches this year. They survey the beaches during the

breeding season (you can volunteer to help them with this) and protect the nesting mothers during the egg-laying. If the site is deemed to be unsafe for the baby turtles, then they transfer the eggs carefully to the turtle hatchery at Sisters’

Island Marine Park to protect them from predators like monitor lizards. Once hatched they hope that the hatchlings imprint on the Sisters’ Island beach to return one day to lay their own eggs.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said there has been an almost 90% increase in the amount of rubbish collected from the beaches in East Coast Park at this time of year, due to the south and southeast monsoon tides. The NEA has increased the frequency of cleaning operations from four times a week to twice daily to try to cope. Despite this, it is impossible to eliminate the rubbish entirely as each high tide brings new waves of flotsam from the open sea.

We need to keep the beaches clear to help the turtles find good nesting sites and to protect the hatchlings as they make their way to the sea. So for this reason only, let’s do what we can to help.

We aim to meet on the first Sunday of each month, so if you’d like to help, please let Siân know on 9002 6544. Feel free to bring family and friends along. Many hands make light work!

Launching theBA BeachClean-UpBy Siân Brook Gillies

On Sunday 2nd August, the BA Beach Clean-Up Group (and friends) sprang into

action for the first time.We convened at East Coast Park on the westernmost beach, little used by leisure seekers. We were shocked at the visibly long trail of predominantly plastic bottles along the high tide line but set to work with gusto. In less than two hours, we cleared the whole of the first section into a total of 31 rubbish bags.


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THE EXCISEMAN WHISKY BARBA members are entitled to 10% off all drams, wines by the glass and food. Bottle sales not included.

A BA card must be shown on each visit.

Location: 8 Raffles Place, 02-27 Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802.

Call 6963 1192 ore-mail [email protected]

MASTERS’ YOGA SADHANBA members are entitled to four yoga sessions for $30 and 20% off of any package. A valid BA membership card must be shown on each visit.

Contact: [email protected] mastersyogasadhan.com

OSTERIA ART AND &SONS10% off total food and beverage bill for à la carte dinner menu at Osteria Art and &Sons from Monday to Saturday.

Not valid on eve of or on public holidays or with any other discounts or promotions.

Reservations are required.

MONSOON BOOKSBuy a paperback from www.monsoonbooks.com.sg and get the ebook bundled free. Delivery is free in the UK and costs £3.50 per book for international orders. Use coupon ‘BEAM’ to get a 10% discount on any purchase on the Monsoon website (the discount applies to the price of books, not the postage fee).

#1 SALONBA members are entitled to 15% off all hair services except wash and blow dry at Bishan and Ang Mo Kio Salons.

A valid BA membership card must be shown on each visit. Contact: Bishan 6258 3218 / Ang Mo Kio 6483 2528.

TOTAL HEALTH CHIROPRACTIC50% off first visit (UP $160) at only $80: includes consultation, posture analysis and treatment.

Clinics in CBD, Tampines, Toa Payoh and Clementi. Call 6224 6326 for an appointment.

FRENCH & SPANISH STUDIO10% discount on group classes for adults and children.

Email [email protected] or contact@ frenchstudio.sg quoting you BA Number and the course you wish to register for.

www.spanishstudio.sg / www.frenchstudio.sg

Pink Fish™Pink Fish™ is a casual fast food chain from Norway serving up the freshest salmon in healthy and delicious burgers, wraps and raw bowls.

BA members get 20% off the total bill on production of their membership card, quoting The BEAM. Promotion runs until 31st December 2020 and is not valid with any other discounts or promotions. Not applicable to kids’ items or kids’ combos. Management reserves the right to amend T&Cs.

We look forward to seeing you at #B1-261/262 Jewel Changi Airport.

ITAI SPORTSITAI SPORTS is the leading one-stop provider for all sports and healthcare products to help you achieve your sports and health goals. The company strongly believes in providing you the best, thus extensive research and testing are done before the continually expanding range of products is brought to you at reasonable prices.

BA Members will receive 10% off all purchases from itaisports.com with the promo code BA10. Promo code must be used during checkout.

SANDBANK10% off total bill except on Happy Hour beverages, promotional items and cannot be used in conjunction with other privileges.

www.sandbank.com.sg

EYE LOOK GOOD10% off (First time customer)Branded contact lenses at lowest prices delivered to your doorsteps.Acuvue, Bausch & Lomb, Biomedics & more.

Use promo code upon checkout: BA2017www.EyeLookGood.com

DENTAL ESSENCE1st Appointment consultation, polishing, fluoride treatment, X-ray and Air Prophyflex for $175.

See Website for further details.

BEAM SPACEVisit us on www.BEAMspace.com or download The BEAM SPACE mobile app in App Store or Google Play. Use the code BAORG on signup to enjoy 50% off your storage bill for the first month.

SQUE ROTISSERIE AND ALEHOUSE10% off all items of food and drink, excluding draught beers.

The Central, Clarke Quay Tel: 6222 1887www.sque.com.sg

HIGHLANDER CLARKE QUAYThe offer is 10% off à la carte items, excludes bottles of wine.

*Terms and conditions apply.

BA

BenefitsAll discounts listed below were correct at the time of publication.Vendors and outlets will have the final say on discounts and any discrepancy will be resolved without any involvement from the BA.

THE MEAT CLUB SINGAPORE$50 off first order for new members subscribing to our Auto Pilot delivery service.

$100 minimum spend on club prices applies.

Our products are proudly Australian and carefully curated to meet the quality and freshness our members have come to enjoy.

Enter SNS50 on checkout to redeem.

www.themeatclub.org.sg

THE GLASS ONION BISTRO AND BARServing a union of Japanese and Western dishes, using fresh, quality produce to stimulate your senses!

Receive 15% discount off à la carte items and all day Happy Hour pricing on alcoholic beverages. www.theglassonion.com.sg

MCGETTIGAN’S BAR, CLARKE QUAY10% discount on food and drink all day, every day!

www.mcgettigans.com

ALLIED PICKFORDSTwo hours free handyman service worth over $200 when you book your move with Allied Pickfords. Call 6862 4700 to redeem.

www.alliedpickfords.com.sg

QUEEN AND MANGOSTEEN10% off all à la carte items, excluding bottles of wine from the wine menu.

Vivocity Shopping Centre Tel: 6376 9380www.queenandmangosteen.com

FABINDIA10% discount on garments, linens, jewellery and gifts.

Vivocity, Harbourfront Tel: 6376 9355Paragon, Orchard Rd Tel: 6733 4741www.facebook.com/fabindiasingapore

SMITHS FISH & CHIPSBA members enjoy a fantastic 10% off food when ordered in this delicious and traditional fish and chip shop.

A valid BA Membership card must be shown.

BRUNETTI SINGAPOREEnjoy a 10% discount on all dishes, pastries, cakes, ice cream and drinks at Brunetti in Tanglin Mall. Valid every day except eve of public holidays and public holidays.

Find us at: www.facebook.com/BrunettiSingapore, 163 Tanglin Road, #01-35 Tanglin Mall, Singapore (247933)

RAFFLES MEDICAL GROUPProgrammes for BA members include Enhanced and Specialist Screening Packages from $405, GP consultation from $18 in Raffles Medical Clinics,15% savings on regular-priced Raffles and Kids supplements in Raffles Health.

Terms and conditions apply.

Visit www.raffleshospital.com for more packages and further information or email: [email protected].

The First PourThe First Pour represents a number of quintessential British and Irish spirits and drinks brands in Singapore. It is offering a 10% discount to all BA members whenever they purchase from its website.

Go to https://thefirstpour.com to place an order, enter discount code BEAM10 at checkout and The First Pour will deliver to your door.

For enquiries, please [email protected] or call 6733 7663.

BRITISH AIRWAYSThere has never been a better time to fly for British Association Members!

10% discount for BA Members. Applies to flights that originate in Singapore with a destination of London, Sydney or the USA. The discount will be applied to the base fare excluding airport taxes and carrier charges.

Please email [email protected] to receive the code.

*Terms and conditions apply.

BA Benefits are offered to BA members upon presentation of a valid BA membership card.


MAHJONGAll abilities welcome – instructions given. Meetings are on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings at Boomerang Bar, Robertson Quay.

Morning sessions run from 10.00am – 12.30pm and afternoon sessions run from 2.00pm – 4.30pm.

Tuesday afternoons: Sam Blundell on 8189 4672

Wednesday mornings: Jane McDermott at [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHYWe are a group of enthusiastic photographers from beginners upwards. Join us for walks and exhibitions to compare notes and receive tips.

Contact Carolyn Perkins 9054 1073

TENNISAnyone for tennis? Join us every Friday morning from 10.00am – 12.00pm at the British Club for a few games, lots of chat and a coffee.

Contact Davina Borton-Sutherland at [email protected] or Martin Wigglesworth at [email protected]

HANDICRAFTSKnitting/crochet/cross-stitch/quilting/card making – bring along any kind of handicraft work-in-progress! Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, our social group meets on Thursday afternoons 2.00pm - 4.30pm, usually at one of the group members’ houses. We have occasional trips out to fabric & crafting shops, relevant exhibitions etc.

Contact Jane McDermott at [email protected] for more information or to be added to the Whatsapp group

MAY I?‘MAY I?’ is a card game similar to rummy but you start with 12 cards each. The aim of the game is to lay down all your cards in runs of the same suit or sets, e.g. three 3s, five 7s or both depending on the round. There are 12 rounds throughout an entire game and each round is different. The score can change drastically throughout the games, which makes it all the more exciting!

We meet every Thursday at 2.00pm at the Boomerang Bar, Boat Quay. Contact Sally Harris 8113 4160 or Anne Roberts 9011 0631

SKETCHERSAre you inspired to sketch when you experience some of the amazing and unusual sights here in Singapore? Come along to Sketchers – no experience needed!

Contact Joanne Bull 9422 0832

WALKIE TALKIESBAY WALKIE TALKIES: We meet every Tuesday at 8.00am at Gardens by the Bay at Supertree Grove beside Hill Street Coffee Shop.

Contact Tara Codling at [email protected]

EAST COAST: We meet on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8.00am

Contact Julie Avery at [email protected]

BOTANICS WALKIE TALKIES: We meet every Monday and Friday at 8.00am at the Visitor Centre at the Nassim Road entrance to the Botanic Gardens. We also sometimes meet for evening walks and other longer walks around Singapore. The group caters for all paces whether you like to walk fast or slow. On Mondays, the BA Joggers group meet at the same venue. All welcome to join us in any of the groups and afterwards when we meet up for coffee and chat.

Contact Miranda Thomas on 8685 9912 or [email protected]

BA Joggers: Anne Brangan on 8464 8440 or [email protected]

For more information on Sports and Activities, visit our website www.britishassociation.org.sgAll activities run in line with MOH guidelines

Sports and

ActivitiesBOOK GROUPWe have several groups across the island who meet once a month on different days both in the daytime and evenings. If you love literature and enjoy meeting up with a bunch of friendly people for a chat and a coffee, then there is bound to be a group to suit you!East Coast: Jo Harding at [email protected] Club: Anne Roberts at [email protected] mornings: Jane Walker at [email protected] evenings: Marion Lang at [email protected] mornings: Belinda Fowler at [email protected]

BUNCOJoin us for a game of Bunco at the Boomerang Bar, Robertson Quay. Bunco is a very simple but fun dice game and a great way to get together one evening a month to mingle with friends old and new. Please book via the BA website. A Whatsapp Bunco group will be set up for all of those who are interested.

Contact Jo 9069 5748 or Anne 9011 0631 requesting to be added to the group.

BA GOLFJoin us for a friendly round of golf on regulation 18-hole golf courses in Singapore, with the occasional trip to Indonesia and Malaysia. The BA golfers meet weekly on Wednesdays and players will need to have a handicap or proficiency card. Tee off times will be from 7.30am. We can advise you on joining My Golf Kaki to get a handicap.

Contact Edith Blyth at [email protected]

GOLF – THE LADYBIRD GOLF GROUPMeet monthly at Palm Resort in Malaysia usually on the last Thursday of the month, leaving Singapore around 7.30am – transport can be arranged and cost of the round is around RM99 inclusive of buggy and lunch. PRs can enjoy a special rate at Marina Bay Golf Course of $85 on weekdays (18 holes). You need handicap card and ID to play!

Contact Jean Murdoch at [email protected]

BRITISH CLUB ACTIVITIES1. Bingo Nights - 1st and 3rd Tuesday, 8.00pm at Windsor Arms

2. Pub Quiz Nights - 2nd and 4th Wednesday, 8.00pm at Windsor Arms

You must show your BA membership card to gain entry to the club for both the Bingo Night and the Quiz Night. Visitors are not permitted. F&B spending is payable by credit card only.

CINEMA CLUBCome join us at the movies. We meet a few times a month to see newly released films. RomComs, SciFi, thrillers, drama, adventure, action, comedy – we cover all genres! We have a WhatsApp group chat to keep you posted on when and where.

Contact Siân Brook Gillies at [email protected]

BEGINNERS’ GOLFIf you are interested in taking up golf, join the Swingers beginners’ golf group.

Contact Nancy Peirson at [email protected] or 8468 1448


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BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEMBERS’ USE OF THE BRITISH CLUB

TIMING ALL FOOD & BEVERAGE OUTLETS SPORTING FACILITIES CHINOIS SPA

DAY

Within F&B Outlets' Operating Hours Squash Courts 8am - 2pm

MONDAY Tennis Courts 12pm - 4pm 10am - 6pm (Mountbatten Restaurant closed) Swimming Pool 8am - 9.30pm

TUESDAY Within F&B Outlets' Operating Hours Squash Courts 9am - 12pm 10am - 6pm

WEDNESDAY Within F&B Outlets' Operating Hours Not permitted 10am - 6pm

THURSDAY Within F&B Outlets' Operating Hours Not permitted 10am - 9.45pm

FRIDAY Until 3pm Group Tennis 10am - 1pm 10am - 9.45pm (group bookings only)

SATURDAY & SUNDAY Not permitted Not permitted Not permitted

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Not permitted Not permitted Not permitted

Windsor Shop operating hours – Monday to Thursday: 11.00am to 10.00pm Friday to Sunday, Public Holidays: 10.00am to 10.00pm

Terms & Conditions

BA Members must show their valid Membership cards when entering the Club. BA Members must sign in at the Main Clubhouse. An entry fee of $5 per person per entry applies, with the exception of attending ticketed

BA Coffee Mornings held at The British Club. Extension of invites to BA Members for Best of British events at the Club. BA Members may not bring guests to the Club. BA Members must abide by the Rules and By-Laws of the Club at all times. BA Members may not use the Club facilities on Saturdays, Sundays or Public Holidays. All children of BA Members below 21 years must be accompanied by a parent. Squash and Tennis courts may only be booked three days in advance quoting your BA Membership number. Please contact 6410 1173. Payment for use of facilities or F&B outlets is by Credit Card only. BA Members who are British Club Members are entitled a $20 credit for use in all F&B outlets on a monthly basis.

For further information on Membership at the British Club, please contact 6410 1100. The above benefits can be varied at the sole discretion of The British Club.

Updated 19 April 2018

BA SPONSORS

White Sponsors Blue Sponsors Friends of the Association

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORERegistry of Societies number UEN S61SS0152B


Welcome to

Centennial Business Suites, 15 Scotts Road,#04-08 Thong Teck Building,Singapore [email protected] 9773www.britishassociation.org.sg

Book Groups, Bunco, Cinema Club, Golf, Handicrafts, Mahjong, Cards, Photography, Sketchers, Tennis, Walkie Talkies

Become a member now -we can’t wait to meet you!

All Nationalities Welcome to Join

BEAM - British Association Singapore

Documents

Transcript of BEAM - British Association Singapore