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From very new to very old
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: House Hunting, Property Search, Singapore, Executive Maisonettes

We were slightly shocked by our “experience” with the 5-room resale flat we viewed at Casa Clementi and the others listed for sale in the Twin Skies, that is potentially having to pay a significant amount of money for essentially little incremental space.

These were not isolated instances — new HDB flats have generally become smaller in floor area over time. If we continued to pursue our strategy of going after resale flats that just completed their MOP not too long ago, there was no way we could avoid our conundrum.

That was when I told The Wife that my ex-colleague BX bought an executive maisonette (EM) in the Eastern Territories for only S$6xxK (note: this was unintentional misinformation — I later found out that BX paid S$7xxK). On a price per sq ft (psf) basis, it might make more sense to buy an older HDB flat.

While The Wife did not exactly brush me aside at that time, she also did not say much. “Let’s see,” she said.

A few days later, The Wife started sending me property listings for executive maisonettes. It would seem that she had changed her mind and our strategy pivot had shifted drastically.

Executive maisonettes are a rare breed of HDB flats that have two floors of space and an internal staircase within each unit. They are not quite the same as landed property but for some people, it is almost close enough.

They were first introduced in 1983 but HDB stopped building them in 1995 with the introduction of the executive condominium (EC) scheme, so supply is limited.

This also meant that they can be up to 37 years old, with as little as 62 years’ lease tenure left. This was a huge departure from our previous criteria of a potential flat having to have more than 90 years of remaining lease left.

The good thing about executive maisonettes is that their layouts are fairly standard. They evolved from Model A maisonettes and there are three distinctive layouts by generation — Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 3, with variations for certain developments.

The Wife and I prefer Gen 2 EMs (where the balcony is more squarish in shape and adjacent to both the living room and kitchen) over Gen 1 EMs (where the balcony is an elongated rectangular shape and next to only the living room).

Our layout preference aside, we began to shortlist the estates with EMs that we would like to live in.

Surprisingly, Clementi came up again as a specific possible location.

Anywhere in the Central Territories or within reasonable proximity could be considered.

It seemed that our property search had been resurrected and rejuvenated with new purpose.
Would we find triumph in the skies?
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: House Hunting, Property Search, Singapore

We were so dead set in our focus on Casa Clementi that when it did not work out, we were left without a plan. Then again, if we were to really spend close to S$1 million, we could probably buy a resale HDB flat almost anywhere we wanted, in a location much more convenient than Clementi.

What I realised at that point was that money is king and there is no such thing as a must-buy unit. If we missed or forwent the opportunity to buy one, we could simply find another unit elsewhere eventually. It would not be the same or might not even be something similar but different apartments have different mix of attributes and they cannot be compared directly.

In recalibrating our direction, I decided to relook at SkyVille @ Dawson and SkyTerrace @ Dawson, which, like The Pinnacle@Duxton, are iconic HDB developments designed by renowned architectural firms. This meant that there is an unexplainable aura over them and that alone justifies the price premium. Or not.

The flats in these two developments completed their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) only around mid-2020 and there was no past transaction data at that point of time when we were considering them. The transacted prices since then have been alarmingly high.
KriptoEkonomi Bülteni — 29. 16 Aralık 2020
By: Blockchainist Center
Tags: Kriptoekonomi, Singapore, Japan, Bitcoin, Libra

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airThe Aviation Institute of Singapore calls for travel bubbles from Southeast Asia
By: The Asian Affairs
Tags: Coronavirus, Asean, Singapore, Airlines

The Aviation Institute of Singapore called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to consider a structure for travel bubbles in Southeast Asia.

“While the Covid-19 pandemic has decimated the global aviation industry, the ten Southeast Asian countries comprising [ASEAN] have experienced declines in passenger traffic that have been much sharper than the global and Asia-Pacific averages,” says a whitepaper from the Technology and Design University of Singapore’s Aviation Studies Institute.

Data from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and other sources also suggest that ASEAN international travel has deteriorated even more than non-ASEAN travel connections,” the paper adds.”

The whitepaper, written by independent aviation consultant Brendan Sobie, states that this is not happening in Southeast Asia while air traffic is beginning to recover in other regions. Domestic passenger levels in the region are projected to be at 50 percent of usual levels, but this is not especially beneficial for airlines, considering that domestic sales are often inadequate to cover fixed costs.

This has resulted in airlines suspending lease payments or delaying them.

However since April, international travel in the area has been down 97 percent every month this year.

“Airline bankruptcies and collapses are expected, especially if ASEAN’s international air travel does not resume over the next few months,” the whitepaper notes. ASEAN airlines have an urgent need for revenue sources to be rebuilt. Tourism-dependent local economies have been hard-hit, too.

The number of passengers is highly limiting, while bilateral agreements allow for a limited amount of travel that is considered necessary. The white paper argues that travel bubbles that rely on checking passengers for Covid-19, and not quarantines, are the best way forward.

For ASEAN traffic to recover,”Borders need to reopen or travel bubbles need to be established for ASEAN traffic to recover,”Borders need to reopen or travel bubbles need to be established. International traffic within ASEAN is not going to increase beyond the current very low levels without air travel bubbles or a complete reopening of borders.’

The white paper suggests that the structure of the regional travel bubble could match that of the Singapore-Hong Kong bubble. This arrangement was scheduled to begin on 22 November, but has been postponed in Hong Kong due to a coronavirus outbreak.
Why not a GST Rebate?
By: Wesley Goh
Tags: Singapore, Covid19 Crisis, Opinion, Economics, Economy

The 2019 Coronavirus has presented itself to be one of the most trying times this young nation has ever faced. The fallout from the virus has produced innumerable challenges as borders shut and the world’s economy grinds to a halt. With unemployment rife and businesses closed, it is a test of our resolve and citizenry and it continues to test the political and economic systems that we have set in place 50 years ago.

For decades our government has preached fiscal and monetary prudency so that we can be well prepared for black swan events such as these. We were able to draw out an unprecedented $52 Billion dollars from our reserves without having to go into debt. This enabled millions of ordinary Singaporeans to tide through the economic hardships they were facing during the pandemic lockdowns.

Today, Singapore is cautiously easing towards phase 3 where more economic activity can resume. This is so that we can start to recover some of the economic losses that we have suffered as a result of the lockdowns.

To further encourage economic activity, MAS has lowered our Singapore Dollar policy band which results in the ever decreasing amount of interest rate you can receive from your ordinary savings accounts you have at the bank.

While a low interest rate environment has proven to be effective and we start to see sectors of the economy come back to life. It is time we consider a use of policy mix, combining fiscal and monetary policies in order to speed up the process of our economic recovery.

In order to achieve this, the government should implement a nationwide GST rebate system pegged to a dollar amount which can vary depending on the amount of economic activity they desire. While we may lose out temporarily on GST revenues, we may see an increase in the money multiplier effect as well as the velocity of money without costing much to the taxpayer.

This enables us to see a semi-organic growth in the economy as it disincentivises the hoarding of cash. Our government could even take a step further by reserving our yearly cash distributions in the form of a GST Voucher to lower income families or those who have not claimed the GST rebate. This will also ensure that we are able to effectively use our tax dollars to uplift those who are truly in need.

As a nation that thrives on trade, it is paramount that we facilitate an economy reflective of the times. Demand does not change overnight, but we can nudge towards it. The world is moving towards 2021 with a vaccine on the horizon, will Singapore be ready then?
Moderna confirms the MOH agreement to supply COVID-19 vaccine to Singapore
By: The Asian Affairs
Tags: Asean, Singapore

On Tuesday (Dec 15), Moderna said it had reached an agreement with the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Singapore to supply the country with mRNA-1273, its COVID-19 vaccine.

The agreement will “support ongoing efforts to secure access to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for the people of Singapore” the biotechnology company said.

The quantity of dosages and the financial details of the arrangement were not disclosed.

“We recognize that it will take a number of vaccines and therapeutic options to address this global pandemic, and we are proud of the role Moderna has played in this global effort,” said CEO Stephane Bancel.

Data from a Phase 3 study involving 30,000 U.S. participants showed 94.1% effectiveness against COVID-19 and a 100% success rate in the prevention of serious cases the company said.

From 2021, the company expects to be able to produce 500 million to 1 billion vaccine doses each year.

The vaccine remains stable at room temperature for up to 12 hours and at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, the temperature of a regular refrigerator, for up to 30 days. The vaccine remains stable for up to six months at -20 degrees Celsius.

On Friday, Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine received U.S. emergency-use approval. On Thursday, an outside advisory panel of the US Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to review the Moderna vaccine, with emergency use expected to be granted shortly afterwards.

On Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore has approved the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, with the first shipment due to arrive in the country by the end of this year.

Other vaccines are also expected to arrive in Singapore in the coming months and if everything goes according to plan, there will be enough vaccines for everyone by the third quarter of next year, he said in a televised address.

“Multiple bets” were made by the government to sign advance purchasing agreements and make early down payments for the most successful candidates for the vaccine, said Mr Lee. This included deals with Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac, with these deals set aside for more than S$1 billion.
Once upon a Casa: Part 2
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: House Hunting, Property Search, Singapore

We started to stalk PropertyGuru and 99.co umpteen times a day for property listings to appear for the 5-room resale flats we were eyeing in Casa Clementi.

In mid-May 2020, we saw a listing for a unit on the 2xth storey that fulfilled our criteria and The Wife contacted the property agent to express our interest in viewing the flat when it was allowed.

The property agent sent us a video walkthrough of the unit through WhatsApp and invited us to view the unit through a Zoom session. She made no reassurance that we would be able to view the unit in person because it might be sold by then. Apparently, people had been buying property (including HDB resale flats) after just “viewing” them virtually through Zoom.

Wow, I was shocked to learn that. Is that the “new norm”? Buying property involves a substantial amount of money, and I certainly would want to have a “touch and feel” of the place at least once before I commit to the purchase. Amazing how some people could treat it like run-of-the-mill online shopping.

And yes, our shortlisted unit did indeed go off the market after a few short weeks. Oh well, there was nothing we could do before physical property viewing was allowed. We were not about to make rash and unwise decisions.

We spotted another property listing around mid-June 2020 — this time for a unit on the 3xth floor, which meant an even bigger price tag. We were not overwhelmed by the photos but we decided that we really needed to check the place out before we could determine whether it was worth the high asking price.

We were approaching Phase 2 of the reopening, so we made an appointment to view the flat around one week after Phase 2 began. Finally, we could take a step forward.
Once upon a Casa: Part 3
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: House Hunting, Property Search, Singapore

Circa late-June 2020, during Phase 2 of the reopening, we made our way to Casa Clementi to view a 5-room HDB resale flat that was listed for sale.

As we walked through the estate, we generally liked the design, greenery and landscaping but felt that the estate maintenance and up keeping were not quite up to par for a young HDB estate that was only seven years old.

The shortlisted unit faces an opposite block within the same development and has a partially “unblocked” view. This view is not “guaranteed” as the HDB flats nearby are fairly old and might face redevelopment since they are sitting on a prime plot of land.

The unit itself did not have a lot of built-in carpentry which was good news for potential buyers but felt rather run down. The Wife’s biggest struggle was with the living room. Technically, a study room can be carved out but the resulting space in the living room will be significantly diminished.

The Wife and I compared notes discreetly and agreed that although the floor area is 1270 sq ft, it did not feel like a 5–room flat. “I cannot see where the extra space is,” The Wife told me, comparing it to our current place.

The asking price was in excess of S$950K, pegging it at the highest range of past transaction prices for 5–room flats in Casa Clementi.

We thanked the flat owner for letting us visit the unit. After that, we spoke briefly with his property agent and found out that there wasn’t much room for negotiation.

“Please let us think about it. We are considering resale flats in other locations as well. If we decide that we want to buy this unit, we will get back to you,” I lied without batting an eyelid.

There was no way we were ever buying the unit, I thought to myself.
Dental Equipment Market Worth $10.47 Billion By 2025
By: Gaurav Shah
Tags: Singapore, Medical Devices, Medical Tourism, Dental, Russia

The global dental equipment market size is expected to reach USD 10.47 billion by 2025, according to a report published by Grand View Research, Inc. It is anticipated to expand at a lucrative CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period. Key factors attributed to the growth include increasing demand for dental procedures owing to prevalence of dental disorders and rising awareness and demand for preventive, restorative, and surgical services for dental care.

Moreover, favorable government initiatives regarding dental hygiene is also a significant factor responsible for driving the market. Due to increasing number of initiatives, there is an increase in awareness regarding dental hygiene leading to increasing adoption of dental treatments, which in turn is anticipated to drive the market for dental equipment over the forecast period.

Dental equipment are classified on the basis of product into dental radiology, dental lasers, systems and parts, laboratory machines, hygiene equipment, and others. The systems and parts segment held the leading market share of 39.9% in 2018 and is anticipated to grow at a lucrative pace over the forecast period. The segment is further classified into instrument delivery systems, vacuums and compressors cone beam CT systems, cast machines, furnace and ovens, CAD/CAM, and electrosurgical equipment. The CAD/CAM sub-segment led in 2018 owing to the technological superiority of these equipment over traditional die casting techniques.

North America led with a market share of 29.6% in 2018. Some of the key reasons attributed to the high share include technological advancements, rising demand for dental surgeries, growing geriatric population, and increasing number of dentists and dental clinics. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period. Constantly developing healthcare infrastructure and increasing healthcare expenditure coupled with the presence of high unmet medical needs are expected to serve this market as high-impact rendering drivers.

Few significant companies venturing in the market include, Denstply International Inc.; A-Dec Inc.; Planmeca Oy; Sirona Dental Systems Inc.; Patterson Companies Inc.; Straumann; GC Corporation; Carestream Health Inc.; Biolase Inc.; Danaher Corporation; and 3M.

Click the link below:

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/dental-equipment-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:
Things You Need Before You Begin Work in Singapore Amidst The COVID-19 Situation
By: Joanne Guan
Tags: Singapore, Malaysia, Jobs, Work, Covid 19

Things You Need Before You Begin Work in Singapore Amidst The COVID-19 Situation

Photo by Shawn Ang on Unsplash

Are you Malaysian? Got a job offer from Singapore (SG)? Has your work pass been approved by Ministry of Manpower (MOM)? First time going to work in SG? Not sure what documents you need to get there?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you’re at the right place! These are some must-haves you require to print out in hardcopy prior to entering SG for work.

P.S. I’ll also include some obvious items in the list just in case, consider this a list for dummies like me haha.
Singapore Enters Phase 3 Readiness for Post-Covid19
By: Dr Michael Heng
Tags: Vaccines, Singapore, Health, Covid 19, Life

Singapore announced the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for pandemic use. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shall be free and voluntary vaccination for Singaporeans, long-term permanent residents and high-risk migrant workers. The first shipment of the vaccine is expected to arrive and be deployed by the end of December 2020.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the good news on public television and radio on transitioning to Phase 3 and the Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the Government’s planned schedule, Singapore will have enough vaccines for everyone here by the 3rd quarter 2021. Britain was the first country to approve the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on 2 Dec 2020, followed by the United States on 11 Dec 2020. There are currently 52 Covid-19 vaccine candidates in clinical trials worldwide.

Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine by Pfizer

At the same time, from 28 December 2020, current covid19 restrictions are further eased for business and religious activities as she embarks on Phase 3 of our readiness towards full post-covid19 opening.

All religious organisations will be allowed to increase their capacity for congregational and other worship services to a maximum of 250 people. Live performances will also be allowed to resume for rites, prayers or services held by religious organisations.

The capacity limit for malls and large standalone stores will be increased from 10 sq m per person to 8 sq m per person, though measures to prevent crowding in popular areas must continue to be in place.

These performances may involve a limited number of singers, as well as wind instruments and other instruments, with safe management measures in place.

Live instrumental music will be allowed for marriage solemnisations in indoor venues, as well as funerals and funerary-related activities, though wind instruments will not be allowed for these events.

Indoor live performances will also be allowed to have up to 250 people, while ongoing pilots for outdoor live performances can expand to a capacity of 250, up from the current 100.

For these performances, people must remain segregated in zones of up to 50 people each. Selective approvals will also be allowed in some higher-risk activities and settings such as busking and live performances in outdoor venues, karaoke and nightlife, for authorities to assess how these activities can take place and be scaled up safely.

Read More from The Straits Time Newspaper:

Covid-19 vaccines will be free for S’poreans; vaccination recommended but voluntary for adults;

Singapore to enter phase 3 on Dec 28: Groups of 8 to be allowed for social gatherings;

7 things to know about phase 3: Dining out in larger groups, free Covid-19 vaccinations and more;

Illustration by Singapore Ministry of Health
Once upon a Casa: Part 1
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: House Hunting, Property Search, Singapore

When we shortlisted Casa Clementi as a possible location to move to, it was early May 2020, while we were still deep in Merlion City’s Circuit Breaker. This meant that we were unable to do a site recce and any physical flat viewing.

Constrained to doing just desktop research, I found the original BTO brochure for Casa Clementi online.

(image credit: HDB)

Out of the seven blocks in the development, only two blocks have 5-room flats. In these two blocks, each level has four 5-room flats and two 4-room flats.

(image credit: HDB)

What I really liked about the flat layout in Casa Clementi was the design of the common bathroom. The WC and the shower area are segregated (like how it was in old HDB flats), allowing access to the wash basin outside when the WC and/or the shower area are being used. In addition, the common bathroom can be accessed from the balcony as well, making it even more convenient.

There are two 5-room layout configurations — one with a more squarish kitchen (“Layout 1”) and the other with a more rectangular kitchen (“Layout 2”). We preferred Layout 2 as non-structural walls can be hacked to expand the kitchen and the shape of the living room is more ideal. Moreover, units with Layout 1 are directly next to the lifts.

The two blocks with 5-room flats are 40 stories high. The “1st storey” is actually the 3rd storey due to two levels of parking space beneath. 2 blocks x 37 stories per block x 4 units per storey = 296 units available. At that time, 17 + 18 units had already been sold in the resale market, which meant only 261 units were “in play”

Given our criteria of a potential unit having to be at least on the 10th storey or higher (I adjusted it to 12th storey in this case), this left us with 29 stories that were viable. Since we didn’t like Layout 1, we could only go with Layout 2 — 29 stories x 2 units per storey = a total supply of 58 units, without even considering those that had already been sold.

I also researched the past transacted prices for the resale 5-room flats in the two blocks by checking the HDB (up to past 2 years) and 99.co websites. This would allow us to know if advertised asking prices were within range or nonsensical.

The bigger problem was that existing flat owners might not be looking to sell their units at the same time when we were looking to buy a unit there. The scarcity of supply to match our extremely specific demand meant that if a unit was to be advertised for sale, we would not only have to act quickly, but also likely pay a much higher price.
Singapore educators exchange information with counterparts in Kazakhstan
By: The Asian Affairs
Tags: Asean, Singapore

Under a cooperation program rolled out earlier this month, educators from Singapore share their pedagogical expertise with their counterparts in Kazakhstan.

The relationship between the Temasek Foundation, Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) International, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan (MOES) focuses on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem).

The three-part capacity and development program conducted by NYP experts and associate lecturers, started last Monday (Dec 7).

The participants from Kazakhstan will share their experience and what they have experienced with their peers back home after the programme.

A $283,825 grant from the Temasek Foundation and around $231,000 from MOES of Kazakhstan would cover the costs of the non-profit venture.

Henry Heng, Chief Executive Officer of NYP International, said such programs could help NYP develop ties with overseas educational institutions.

He added: “Through these links, we can begin to create a whole spectrum of learning opportunities for our students, such as overseas internships, attachments, project work and immersion programmes.”

The program started with a 10-day online training course for 50 department heads of schools in Kazakhstan, including physics and chemistry. They will be introduced to topics such as design thinking, an approach to problem solving that aims to consider the needs of people and come up with solutions.

The second phase of the curriculum, which will also be available online, will put together 40 STEM specialist teachers in Kazakhstan.

This three-week course is scheduled to take place next March, and will go deeper into the real delivery of teaching, Mr Heng said.

For instance, participants can learn how NYP lecturers involve young minds with the learning of Stem, and how experience can be applied to real-world issues and projects.

The third section will be a five-day trip for 25 government officials and senior leaders from Kazakhstan to Singapore, tentatively in the middle of next year. Mr. Heng said he hopes that by then, international travel would be permitted.
Relationship with music Though music has always played a large part in the lives of those who make…
By: Viel April
Tags: Musicians, Songwriting, Singapore, Musicianship, Singer Songwriter

Relationship with music Though music has always played a large part in the lives of those who make it, scientists today are discovering just how important it is to society as a whole. Obvious to many are the emotional responses we get when we hear music: it stimulates old memories, causes us to calm down or feel other emotions, and can even inspire us for the future. Now, studies are showing that it actually builds new pathways in the brain, strengthens old ones, and contributes a completely unique type of neurological stimulation.

This only reaffirms that our job as musicians is extremely important. Not only does music help us live fulfilling lives, but it also helps society like nothing else can.

This is something to be extremely proud of. There are cases everywhere of people who were injured or traumatized and were able to come out of their hopeless state and heal through music. Here are five such cases that will make you feel very proud to be a musician.

By viel april
Could we afford the pinnacle of public housing?
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: House Hunting, Property Search, Hdb Flat, Singapore

While the primary reason for The Wife wanting to move house was to have more space (read: away from me), I began to realise that it was a good opportunity to reset some parameters — a “reincarnation” of sorts.

Notwithstanding the charm of the Far End of the Northwestern Territories, it was quite painful whenever we had to venture out, no matter how convenient the public transport network is. Commuting to work takes us at least 1 hour each direction every day — this means that we collectively spend 4 to 5 hours per day as lifeless souls on Merlion City’s world-leading public transport.

With that in mind, we started to identify areas which are closer to civilisation.

The first place that came to my mind was the iconic 50-storey The Pinnacle@Duxton, which is probably as accessible as it can ever get. While The Wife concurred, she expressed her reservation about the price — “Sure very expensive one.”

Looking at the listed units for sale, the price tags next to them were at least S$900,000, with many of them asking for over S$1 million. And these were just for the 4-room flats. Asking prices for 5-room flats were closer to S$1.2 million.

Discounting the price factor, the 4-room flat options would not have given us any more space than what we already had. The 5–room flats seemed to justify the significant price premium on the surface but upon closer examination, the combination of block, stack and level play an important factor in determining whether a unit in The Pinnacle@Duxton has a dazzling unblocked view of the heart of Merlion City.

We could potentially end up paying a lot of money for a mediocre 5-room flat (in terms of block, stack and level) in The Pinnacle@Duxton and not feeling like we got our money’s worth. The alternative would have been to pay even more money for a stellar unit and be much deeper in debt.

A 5–room flat in The Pinnacle@Duxton would have met most of our criteria, except that the remaining lease tenure is slightly less than 90 years. If money is not an issue, this would without a doubt have been our choice, but I would not say that the value necessarily matches the price.

After some discussion, we concluded that we have not reached the “pinnacle” of public housing yet and hence we would have to go hunting for value elsewhere.
新加坡收緊對香港入境措施
By: C Y S
Tags: Government, Singapore

A columnist in political development in Greater China region, technology and gadgets, media industry, parenting and other interesting topics.
Pufferly Tree: HomeMade Japanese Style Crispy Shell Cream Puff
By: Jo Kho
Tags: Singapore Food, Singapore, Cream Puff, Food, Homemade

There are many flavours to choose from. Cookie crumb topped, chocolate dipped, flavoured cream injected, or just sugar powder dusted. They are all so delicious it can be difficult deciding which ones to eat.

Pufferly Tree’s Cream Puff

Pufferly Tree’s Cream Puff is fashioned after the Japanese style cream puffs — baked cream puffs with a sweet, crackly, crunchy topping filled with chantilly cream.

Experimenting with different flavours and ingredients for months, Christine finally achieved the texture and flavours that her family members remember and love during their Japan trip.

At first, she made it only for her family. It was just something she did for the family to reminisce the beautiful memories of their Japan trip. However, she soon started sharing some with her friends.

She was pleasantly surprised when they came back with very positive feedback, and asked if she was selling these delightful pastries. She then decided to start “Pufferly Tree” and sell these cream puffs.

Choux Craquelin

The cream puffs have a crispy texture and come with six different flavours, custard, matcha, earl grey, coffee, coconut and chocolate.

The sweetness of the fillings is tempered to not only keep it from being too overwhelming but to also let everyone enjoy a healthier version of this delightful pastry without feeling guilty.

Small Size Gathering or Celebration

“It’s perfect and suitable for a birthday party or any kinds of parties”, says Christine.

She made her cream puffs smaller in size than the usual commercially available ones. This is so that one won’t be filled too quickly and would be able to experience a few different flavours in one sitting.

We had the opportunity one afternoon to have these delectable cream puffs ourselves over coffee and tea. The little puffs of flavour pop so ever delightfully in our mouths and the sips of coffee and tea that come after really enhances the whole experience. It definitely takes the experience of chilling a lazy afternoon away with friends and family to another level!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pufferlytree
Why a buyer’s agent may still make sense in purchasing a HDB resale flat
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: Singapore, Property Agent

While the procedures on buying a HDB resale flat can be difficult and time-consuming to understand, it is not an insurmountable task. In fact, potential buyers would have to log in to the HDB Resale Portal themselves throughout the process, which further diminishes the argument that hiring a property agent can help to reduce the paperwork that needs to be done by a potential buyer himself or herself.

So why would it make sense for a potential buyer to engage a property agent to represent him or her? After all, an agent’s fee at 1% of the transacted property price for buying a HDB resale flat can easily range from S$3,000 (for a S$300,000 flat) to S$10,000 (for a $1 million flat), money that can potentially go towards upping an offer and sweetening the deal.

Easing the property search: To even get to the stage of buying a HDB resale flat, there must be a flat shortlisted first. While it has become much easier to search for suitable properties for sale on portals such as PropertyGuru, 99.co, etc., having a property agent with strong knowledge of the property landscape and market will facilitate and speed up the process. They may also have exclusive and/or faster access to certain listings. Negotiating with potential sellers and their agents: Buying any property almost always requires some form of negotiation. Even if potential buyers are feeling particularly rich, asking prices are often not quite the same as reserve prices and they can avoid overpaying for the HDB resale flats they want through skilful negotiation. However, not everyone is a born negotiator (I hate to negotiate), and it is a delicate balance between getting the other party to accept a lower offer and lowballing so much that the deal is scuttled altogether. Property agents tend to be able to negotiate better as they know what is acceptable and what is not. Avoiding hidden pitfalls: Reading about or watching a video tutorial on how to drive a car doesn’t mean that one will be able to drive a car. Similarly, reading up on the HDB resale procedures doesn’t guarantee that potential buyers will always know exactly what to do or what not to do. Property agents have the benefit of past experience and will know how to advise their clients and check with the other party to make sure they meet any prerequisites or complete any steps in accordance with HDB’s requirements. Saving time and effort: Purchasing a HDB resale flat without a buyer’s agent requires a lot of time and effort, and sometimes potential buyers would rather delegate the task to a professional simply because they cannot spare the time to do it themselves.

All of the above would have been strong reasons to hire a buyer’s agent, but The Wife felt that we could manage Points 2 to 4 on our own. To her, the biggest value of a buyer’s agent would have been Point 1 — to help us zero in on a particular HDB resale flat that meets our criteria but she had plans of her own.
Active Wheelchair Market Size Worth $2.3 Billion By 2027
By: Gaurav Shah
Tags: Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Medical Devices, Russia

The global active wheelchair market size is expected to reach USD 2.3 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 4.4%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Surge in the geriatric and disabled population along with the rising prevalence of chronic diseases in the geriatric population are some of the key factors propelling the market growth.

Aging usually reduces the ability to move and perform physical tasks to maintain independent functioning. The increasing geriatric population is likely to create more demand for active wheelchairs over the forecast period. Moreover, they are more prone to falls, which can cause fatal or non-fatal injuries. The Western Europe region has the highest fall-related incidence and mortality rates in aged people. As per a research article published by Injury Prevention, in 2017, around 11.7 million aged people sought medical attention due to an injury, of which 8.4 million were owing to fall-related injuries. An increasing number of elderly people and rising incidents of falls in the elderly are projected to drive demand for active wheelchairs during the forecast period.

The introduction of technologically advanced active wheelchairs is also expected to drive the market as it provides more comfort to the users. In addition, increasing government initiatives to support the elderly and disabled population is boosting the market. For instance, the U.S. government provides various disability services to its citizens such as insurance for short-term and long-term disability, financial assistance & support services for the disabled, and education & jobs for persons with disabilities. In 2017, the Government of India offered free eldercare assistive devices under RashtriyaVayoshriYojana (RVY) to senior citizens belonging to lower economic strata of the country.

Furthermore, favorable reimbursement policies for the purchase of active wheelchairs, rising incidence of accidents, increasing spending on healthcare infrastructure, and increasing obese population across the globe due to drastic changes in daily lifestyle are also anticipated to propel the growth of the market.

Click the link below:

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/active-wheelchair-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:
5 Basic Tips To Take Care of Your Hair
Tags: Hair, Lifestyle, Beauty, Singapore, Hair Care

By Farah for Thread MY

Hair is one of the important parts of beauty which some often overlook. We must make sure our hair doesn’t have any major problems that will make us feel down on its condition. Experts said almost 74% of women less confident if they have bad hair day.

There are various causes that can cause damaged hair, like dullness, thinning, dryness, frizz, and more. We need to be very diligent to spend time taking care of our hair. It is a commitment to make in order to get healthy and beautiful hair. With a few simple steps, it will help you to start a new relationship with your hair. Below are 5 basic tips to take care of your hair.

1. WASH AND SHAMPOO EACH SINGLE DAY

No matter how busy we are, we need to make time to We must take care of our hair too. Wash and shampoo your hair every single day. Choose the correct brand of shampoo that suitable for your hair.

Washing your hair is not enough as you need to shampoo to remove dirt and oil from your hair especially if you had a long day out. Did you know your scalp can produce oil that causes foul odour? The foul odour can also cause discomfort indirectly will make you feel less confident.

2. DRYING HAIR THE TRADITIONAL WAY, NOT A HAIRDRYER

Wash and shampoo your hair one or two hours before you go out. It will help you to easily dry your hair naturally. Avoid using a hairdryer regularly, because it will make your hair become dry unless you are really in a rush.

3. USE A CONDITIONER

The conditioner will help moisturize your hair. Use conditioner after using shampoo. Apply conditioner to the mid-half and ends of your hair, then let it soak in a couple of minutes. Do not apply conditioner to the scalp as this will cause oil and clog the ducts.

4. TRIM HAIR REGULARLY

Trim your hair regularly because it helps to prevent over-drying and breakage hair. You need your stylist’s advice on how long you need to trim them because they will know the condition of your hair. Normally if you have normal and less problem with your hair, you are advised to trim only every 5 or 6 months.

5. DO HAIR TREATMENT

If you are busy and don’t have time to take care of your hair, meet your stylist, and do a treatment. They will help you with your hair needs. Build a good relationship with your stylist, and they will easily help you in order giving advice and suggestions personally and professionally about your hair.

Buy haircare essentials here >
Jardine Matheson — avoid. After covering the top company by…
By: Syazwan Sultan
Tags: Investment, Investing, Singapore, Stock Market

After covering the top company by market cap in Singapore (DBS) and its local peers, I thought I’d turn my attention to the next big company: Jardine Matheson. Here are the reasons why I don’t think this is a good stock to own.

Lack of synergy

This is how a simplified version of the conglomerate looks like

Below are where it derive its FY2019 profits from

Annual Report FY2019

The disparate business segments do not hold much synergies. The company loosely markets itself as banking on growing the consumer story in Asia. There are also significant overlaps between the different associate entities, such as Astra and Jardine Pacific, Jardine Motors and Jardine Cycle & Carriage.

Basically, the business model as a whole does not make sense. I doubt the conglomerate’s value is greater than the sum of its parts, which is really is the only yardstick to judge a conglomerate.

2. Hong Kong

58% of the group’s income is derived from Hong Kong, which is experiencing turbulent times recently with the National Security law, protests and pressures from China. This has impacted the group’s FY2019 financial results and further uncertainty will be detrimental to the business.

3. Governance issues

I reproduce a quote from an article from the Financial Times below that summarises succinctly my disquiet with this company:

“But today’s Jardines is primarily Sir Henry’s creation. It is an intensely conservative institution that does not give a fig for modernity or the views of outside shareholders, and is overseen by an all-male, family infused board of directors. It is equally a daring merchant adventurer with plenty of grit.” (Link: https://www.ft.com/content/c92d52ce-0525-11e9-9d01-cd4d49afbbe3)

This is a company driven very much by one man and a close knit of family. All well and good when the main man is alive and kicking at the top. Once he is gone, the flaws of such a system will come home to roost.
Riding the Irrationality ( Singtel)
By: Artist In The City
Tags: Trading, Singapore, Reflections, Investing, Stock Market

Current holdings — 20,000 Shares

Average price — S$2.629/share

4th December, Singtel — Grab alliance have successfully clinch the Digital Banking license in Singapore. By sheer luck, that very morning I’ve bought myself 3000 shares at 2.32/share to further average down my holdings.

Having invested in Singtel for the past 4 years, it is a most welcomed news. Yet I sold the 3000 shares immediately on 7th December. Reflecting on my move for the week…

Irrational Surge in Price

The morning of 7th December, the price shot up immediately to 2.5-ish. An overnight surge of almost 10%. While the news is great, it does not warner an immediately pay off to justify such a rally.

New Business takes TIME, RISK

4 years of investing, I’ve seen how businesses regularly fail to reinvent and get new business segment to profitability. Digital- life , and the recently closed down HOOQ of Singtel is a great example of this.

Prior to the business taking off, it is wise to expect a rise on operation cost and promotion to attract business off the major banks of Singapore. This takes time, and RISK.

Why only sell 3000 shares?

Uncertainty. I have a unique ability of selling my shares only to have them shot up over the next few weeks. Buying only to have them falling immediately… Short term trading have never worked for me. I also truly believe in Singtel’s business model and future of 5G.

By selling only a small portion of my holdings, I believe I am reducing my risk of being wrong. Now that the price have fallen back, I could reacquire my sold stock to further average down my price.

Overcame my “Loss Aversion”

A big step this year is overcoming my aversion to selling stock at a “loss” due to my average prices. Accounting losses and cash position are very different.

The short trade in a short 3 days netted me a S$500 Cash profit, but in my own accounting book would result in a loss of S$300 dollars.

Me, a year ago would be reluctant to make such a transaction. I’ve came to understand that Cash flow is as important as accounting numbers.

Conclusion

Singtel remains my 2nd Biggest holding in my portfolio.

I believe the near future do not look well for this stock. 2021 would be a year filled with increased operating expenses.

Earnings recovery post Covid might even be diverted to fund research or acquire business to aid in their 5G and Digital Banking venture.Investment in Airtel proved to take a longer time frame to see returns.

I would continue holding onto the stock. Am expecting a more robust return in 2022.

Warning, I am not a financial consultant and these are merely reflections for myself as I research the stock. This is not a professional financial advise/stock analyst.
Figuring out HDB resale procedures
By: Money Pit Digger
Tags: Hdb Resale Procedures, Singapore

Because my life wasn’t complicated enough (and I essentially dug a hole for myself), I began to do research on the intricate web of confusion known as the procedures for buying a HDB resale flat.

To be fair, everything that potential buyers (and sellers) need to know is indeed all available on the HDB website. This meant that I couldn’t tell The Wife that the know-how to buy a HDB resale flat without a buyer’s agent is not out there. Dang!

I found myself reading and re-reading sections on the HDB website and trying to make sense of exactly what we needed to do. I guess my challenge was that in my opinion, the information is not presented intuitively and fully in a linear fashion from start to end. Not ideal but imperfection is part of life, I guess.

What I struggle to understand = what I cannot explain to The Wife. Not that she would accept that as an excuse since breaking complex concepts/issues down and making them easy to comprehend is supposed to be my forte. Who knew that one of my greatest strengths would lead to my downfall one day?

It looked like in trying to prove that we need a buyer’s agent, I have actually built a case towards not needing one, which meant that I have ended up doing some work to ensure I would get to do even more work. Joy joy.

Nevertheless, if we were to go down the DIY route, we would have to keep referring back to the HDB website at various stages and navigate through a virtual ball of yarn (or yawn, if you want to be cynical) to figure out what we needed to do and verify whether we are doing something right. Since there was no way out for me, I got down to work.

I took every bit of useful information pertaining to the procedures for buying a HDB flat and pencilled them down on a single sheet of paper, condensing all the salient points — key steps, dependencies, timeline, and costs involved.

As we would need to sell our current place eventually as well, I delved into the procedures for selling a HDB resale flat at the same time. I realised that the buying and selling procedures approximate each other at various points, much like twins along a parallel line.

It thus made sense for me to incorporate the selling procedures into my single-sheet summary too. It is important that potential buyers know what potential sellers need to do at various points so as to ensure that the transaction goes through smoothly according to the expected timeline.

(image credit: me)

At the end of the exercise, I was fairly pleased with what I have managed to achieve and became more confident that we could purchase a HDB resale flat on our own without a buyer’s agent. Wait, why did I feel like I have fallen into a trap somehow?