Guy's blog 2010

Tarte Tatin baked at home

2010-08-15T22:13:00.000+08:00

My favourite dessert recipe made with a twist: I picked the apples and lemons from trees in our garden. The caramelized sugar and citrus flavours are divine. Followed by a glass of home-made limoncello, this is a perfect Sunday evening.

Mount Rainier in Washington State

2010-03-22T03:53:00.003+08:00

We're visiting Jeff and Tomo in Seattle. Saturday morning we ski Crystal Mountain (great ski hill with varied terrain - photo shows view from the top) and then play 9 holes of golf in the late afternoon back near their house. On the final hole, Jeff hits an Eagle winning our four ball competition! Hot dogs on the barbecue and a hot tub end a perfect day.

Kirkwood, Tahoe

2010-03-07T15:25:00.003+08:00

I've found my local ski hill in California... This is a "hardcore locals only" type of ski station. Steep runs at the top: wind-blown cornice drop-offs are the entrance points for some of the double black diamonds.., and others are chutes through rock above Wagon Wheel Bowl. Lots of open tree glades mid-mountain, and few queues at the lifts unlike Northstar last weekend. The packed powder and nice soft bumps put many smiles on my face. Looking forward to the next time at Kirkwood. Off to Squaw Valley this coming sunday...

Mt Kinabalu (4095m), Sabah, Malaysia

2009-07-19T17:55:00.000+08:00

Two pals and I from Singapore make the popular trek/climb up Mount Kinabalu. A long walk-in split over two days. Fun trip.

Skiing in Niseko, Japan

2009-05-21T08:05:00.000+08:00

Our Australian cousin Tim has set up ski accomodation in Niseko, which I have heard is a great resort for powder skiing. Some colleagues in Singapore have holidayed up there and raved about it. Haven't been there myself but looking forward ...! Check out the ski accomodation here.

Some of the best pictures from France 2009 skiing trips

2009-05-13T19:48:00.007+08:00

Three days, three summits - Day 3: Aiguille de la Grande Sassière (3747m)

2009-05-03T20:44:00.006+08:00

My alarm rang at 4.45am. After the last two summits I struggled to get out of bed! I met Ben at 5.30am and we were moving by 6.15am. The Sassière valley is long and quite flat, so it took nearly 6 hours of plodding to get to the summit, walking with boot crampons up the final summit ridge. Day 3 and the third and final summit of this trip is finally taken!

Three days, three summits - Day 2: Mont Pourri (3779m)

2009-05-02T22:36:00.003+08:00

The second highest peak in the Vanoise, and an old favourite to climb on the second day. Brother Steve and I park in the recently closed ski resort of Arcs 2000 and climb the deserted ski area reaching the summit just after 12pm on 2nd May 2009

Three days, three summits - Day 1: La Grande Casse (3852m)

2009-05-01T20:20:00.001+08:00

My personal challenge was to climb the three highest summits in Vanoise, France in three consecutive days. Day 1 we climb La Grande Casse (3852m) with Philippe and Ben. We stayed overnight at the Refuge du col de la Vanoise and made the first track up to the summit arriving just after 11am, May 1st 2009.

For sale - used skis.

2009-03-07T18:31:00.003+08:00

Nearly new condition - one careful owner. Small repair needed and I'll even include a tube of glue in the price. Test ride these babies down the steps outside our house (please, no binding kickers). Go on, make me an offer!!

Fastest slalom race time in town this week.

2009-03-07T17:51:00.001+08:00

In the weekly Les Arcs 2000 giant slalom time trial I clocked the fastest time. Never mind that many of the eighty skiers were half my age ... :) I'm now the happy holder of the "Fleche Vermeil".

For my nephews James and Tim

2009-02-20T18:09:00.001+08:00

We had a great day skiing in La Rosiere and La Thuile today!

Inflation

2008-09-30T08:08:00.012+08:00

A little girl is advertising her dog for sale in the street. She is asking 1 million pounds for it. A passer-by warns that she won't get that much for her dog; but she is determined. When he returns later, the dog has gone and the girl is playing happily with two cats. She has sold the dog, she says. How much for? "1 million pounds of course," she replies. "I swapped it for these two cats and they are worth 500 thousand each".
The current turbulence in the world of finance is long overdue. Governments chose to be oblivious to high inflation and the consequences. Borrowers had little choice than to play the property game rather like the little girl in the street. People are not to blame as they simply behave like sheep: easy credit? rising house prices? play the free money game and win! The hangovers will continue after such a party. I don't believe bankers should be blamed - the responsibility lies with government regulators who chose to ignore the rise in easy credit with relaxed lending and the resulting "inflayshun". Somehow I'm sorry to see formerly sturdy mutuals like B&B in the wreckage.

Singapore flyer (ferris wheel)

2008-08-13T20:50:00.005+08:00

This evening Bonnie and I went to the flyer after work and saw a terrific sunset over Singapore.

Google founders describe their invention back in 1998

2008-08-05T18:31:00.001+08:00

I just read an 1998 paper written by the then university research students Page and Brin. The paper explains their ideas for search technology and they had already identified the name Google.

What I really enjoyed was the very last sentence of their paper "So we are optimistic ... that there is a bright future for search". Which was an absolutely brilliant understatement!

April holiday week in Les Arcs

2008-04-13T22:50:00.002+08:00

Heaps of snow still around but mixed weather prevented any major ski touring trips. I climb over 3500m during the week to access the best snow around - here are some pics

Airbus A380 at the inaugural Singapore airshow

2008-02-23T16:50:00.001+08:00

This new passenger aircraft made a fly-past before landing at the air show today. Surprisingly agile in flight, also much quieter than the roaring F-16 and F-18 displays.

Annette

2008-02-21T00:07:00.008+08:00

We mourn Annette, who passed away last night in London the 20th February 2008. She was an angel; a gift for the rest of our life. Our love and sympathy to Richard.

February week skiing in Les Arcs

2008-02-10T21:54:00.004+08:00

Excellent snow and weather conditions, great memories and fabulous pictures: aaahhhh...

Les Arcs opening weekend

2007-12-15T20:10:00.001+08:00

After three weeks in Helsinki, on the way home I snatch a weekend skiing with brother Steve. Best snow conditions in France in December since 1998!

Ducks beside Töölö lake in Helsinki

2007-12-02T18:51:00.000+08:00

Helvetinjärvi national park, Finland

2007-09-01T21:22:00.000+08:00

Timo Nieminen and I go hiking in this beautiful national park in Finland. The forest and nature are pristine - not a drop of litter seen anywhere. We were the first to arrive and see few people. The morning temperature was a chilly 4 degC. Excellent hiking over nearly 16km in sunny weather - Google Earth track here.

Singapore's 42nd National Day Parade

2007-08-09T18:05:00.000+08:00

Our view from Bonnie's office over the Padang and the historic colonial centre of Singapore with financial district behind. Thirty thousand people are using red & white umbrellas to create the flag of Singapore as part of the annual celebrations. Majulah Singapura!

Pictures from my 40th birthday

2007-07-26T20:00:00.000+08:00

Bonnie and I walked around that big red lump in the morning - Google Earth track here.

Today I turn forty!

2007-07-26T10:45:00.000+08:00

Thoughts written: download pdf file.