[28 Sep 2008 Rebecca writes:]I'm sure that after a fairly typical weekend of hot cars, fast girls, burning rubber and aching muscles, you'll be looking forward to a gentler session on Wednesday at Kallang. Practice is from 6 to 7.30pm (just in time for the sunset), magnificent skyline to be enjoyed at your own discretion, if you can see it, you're obviously paddling at a far too leisurely pace. No excuses for lateness/no shows, it's a bank holiday after all!
Saturday's (4th October) practice will take the usual format (no surprise 10km thrown into the mix just for fun I'm afraid, that'll have to wait until next year). I hear the AustCham 10km after-party at Bungee Bar on Clarke Quay is open to all dragon boaters/Breast Cancer walk participators/revellers alike...
And now for something entirely unrelated to Dragon Boat (as always) - if you're looking for a place to live, room + en-suite bathroom available from 1 November, $1250 p/m including utilities. Very convenient location, only 10 mns to Raffles Place, 5 mns to Orchard and seconds away from GWC (that's Great World City to the uninitiated). If interested, please contact me at rebecca@britishdragonboat.com and I'll forward your details on.
[19 Sep 2008 Paul writes:]
After a fantastic weekend again last week, congratulations and thanks to everyone!
We start training again on SATURDAY 27th which is next week!
This is so that we can start back strong and hard and then the following Wednesday 1st Oct we will be at the pool as its closed again next Wednesday.
I only have a few paddlers signed up for the 10k race, if not enough takers then we will undertake a normal practice, I know quite a few are doing the Breast Cancer walk, I believe there is enough time to do both, do let us know.
[10 Sep 2008 Rebecca writes:]
It's only befitting that after weeks of training to make a lesser mortal weep, this Saturday should culminate with a 7.15am start. Sava Sprints glory is etched across the choppy waters of Bedok Reservoir and yours for the taking!
Paddlers taking part this weekend are:
Gill, Carina, Mifie, Kenny, Carol, Gemma, Chantal, Fiona, Alison, Lek Lek, Yukiko and Brooke.
Kian Wee, Anchit, Gary (Sim), JJ, Michael, Graham, Bernoulli, Joscha, Dennis, Paul, Adrian, Matt, Andy, Iton, Jeff and William.
If something of vital importance happens that only that 1 call can rectify, please contact Paul or Chantal. Once you've located the British Team tent (no how to assemble your tent in a 122 smooth moves this time round, we've pushed the proverbial boat out and rented one), seek out Mel and bestow upon her $40 with your gracious hand.
$40 covers race registration fee and tent rental, Saturday's Sandwich Shop sandwiches, Sunday's Pump Room dinner and enough beverages to stave off dehydration the entire weekend (Sunday night excepted). This is a one-time only fee (non negotiable even to those poor souls unable to make it to the post-race bash, getting to this figure has been a hard graft). Should your non-paddling friends want to bask in the team's glory at the Pump Room (from 8pm), $20 gets them dinner, an insight into an alternate reality and far more besides...
Don't forget to bring:
Photo ID (in the odd event that more than one version of you is required)
Racing kit (including bandana if you have one) - Kenny can sort you out if it's an either/neither scenario, first time racing paddlers get this bandana free (I knew there'd to be a freebie somewhere). For Sunday evening, drinking shirt is a must which no self-respecting paddler would leave home without.
Sunscreen (hope springs eternal) and mosquito repellent (when it comes crashing down)
Sunday lunch - I know Mel is providing brownies and organising Pot Luck Lunch (details to follow live on Saturday)
Times for the races (subject to change) will follow a constant pace (so bringing French homework, knitting to de-stress in those free moments is not advisable). Previsions for Saturday are something along the lines of 9.00, 10.15, 12.45 with possibly (certainly) more in the afternoon. Sunday will be a little more frenetic: currently 10.10, 10.20, 11.10 and freestyle at 15.45.
I know the British Team's die-hard fans need this schedule to incorporate a timely jaunt down to Bedok Reservoir this weekend. Of course, Pump Room beer will be available to those parched from the effort of the journey and voiceless after showing their support (nothing less than adulation will do).
Post-race, there'll be no practice for a week (not sure at this point if we start practice again on 24th or 27th September - TBC). In the meantime, don't forget to let Paul know if you want to take part in the AustCham 10km, though many other events are happening on 4 October. Have a great weekend and see you soon, Rebecca
[01 Sep 2008 Rebecca writes:]
With 3 practices left before the SAVA sprints (13-14th September, http://www.sava.com.sg/events.html) and last Saturday showing paddlers sprinting at at least 105 strokes per minute (in real life of course, something a little more leisurely is infinitely preferable), is a medal within sight? Soon I'll be declaiming once more unto the breach, dear friends, but not before reminding you that this Wednesday's practice is back at Kallang (yes, we're going back to the source for the next couple of weeks) and to be there for 6ish.
Mel's email reminded me that I had to advertise the AustCham 10km event on 4 October (http://www.sdba.org.sg/pages/2008/austcham2008.htm) so contact Paul NOW (dragonboatcaptain@gmail.com) if interested. If you're still in emailing mode, let Fiona know your intention to party the night away on 14th September at the Pump Room post-race. It's never too early to start planning these things and never too late to find an appropriate accessory to emphasise that very attractive drinking shirt of ours. Another person draped over it a la boa constrictor would be a good start...
[20 Aug 2008 Rebecca writes:]
What happened to Wednesday practice? I show up this evening, weak with fatigue, jet-lagged and wearied, tired from work (happy camper that I was), expecting a bit of a paddle and some catching up. Instead, a new invigorating dragon boat boot camp experience, an assault to the senses that left me practically reeling it was that good. I expect abs of steel and biceps to match by morning or my $10 back!
Yes Paddlers, we're training hard and it appears I'm not alone in my enjoyment. As Paul remarked tonight, attendance has been superlative of late, both on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Long may it continue and I think that deserves a hearty metaphorical pat on the back (unless you know someone accommodating enough who'll pat you regardless). Anyway, on to serious matters.
Let's not forget, lest we become a tad shallow, and putting rippling muscles aside for a moment, the name of our game and the purpose of our training - the SAVA sprints (13-14 September, website fully functional at last: http://www.sava.com.sg/events.html). For those of you who haven't signed up yet, please let Paul know your interest ASAP (dragonboatcaptain@gmail.com) and send him your picture. No photo means no competition, and Paul knows how unashamedly good looking you all are in real life but the digitalized format will help keep the memory alive.
On the social side of things - there'll be a BBQ THIS Saturday 23 August after practice at Kallang to celebrate belatedly Paul's birthday (and Jason's, though he was being modest about it). Please email Fiona (fiona@britishdragonboat.com) ASAP by FRIDAY 22 August if you can make it, so that all necessary arrangements can be made (and I'm sure there's a cost implication involved, I will err on the side of caution and say $15 but it may well be less).
On the humanitarian side of things - Voon, one of our newer paddlers, is looking for a home or two for 2 very lovely cats (I have seen the photos). Please email her at voonshe@yahoo.com.sg for further details. Remember, you're nobody until you've been ignored by a cat. I'm very tempted myself, some hard decisions have to be made...
[07 Aug 2008 Paul writes:]
Happy National Day Everyone!
It's a great weekend ahead, with Olympics kicking off tomorrow, and the National Day Parade on Saturday, plus our dinner at Boat Quay, it's time to celebrate.
PADDLING THIS SATURDAY
We are officially not paddling this Saturday, however as some of you have asked to paddle and Jason is here too, we will paddle, so come on down for a 3:30pm START so be there by 3:15pm. Other teams will also be out and we may paddle together, but we'll see on Saturday. Some congestion should be expected around the Nichol Highway and we will only paddle in the Kallang Basin as the outer areas will be a restricted zone. According to SDBA
NATIONAL DAY DINNER
We will be finished by 5pm to give everyone plenty of time to freshen up and get down to Boat Quay by 7:30pm.
Fiona informs me that there are 5 places left for dinner on Saturday. You MUST email her if you have not told her already. Fiona has asked that everyone please where some red, as the national colours are red and white. You could wear red jewellery, or even underwear. But something needs to be red, and you need to prove it during the evening!
BIZ CARDS
I have our new Dragon Boat Business Cards, we'll start to distribute these on Saturday. The idea is for you to carry them with you and pass them to potential new paddlers. There is a space for you to write your name and number, and our web address is on there too!
LIFE JACKETS
Life jackets are here and I hope to also start distributing them from Saturday too, so for those who ordered please pass me your payment.
IN CLOSING
On Saturday I might ask for some help to relocate our cages, with the new Life jackets coming we will put up our new line up and move to an area of the yard less effected by the rain (we hope).
Finally our thoughts are with you Brooke for your operation in Australia and for Rebecca too with your Mother in the UK. We love ya ladies and our thoughts and best wishes are with you both, and we can't wait to have you back home soon!
[30 Jul 2008 Rebecca writes:]
I imagine that a fair few of you eager beavers are at pool practice as I type, a fine evening it is for it too... Anyway, before I start waxing lyrical about the luring pink sunset which now unfortunately has given way to darkness (yes, writing an email takes me that long), a few things from me.
Hope all of you signing up to the MR500 (13-14 September), have sent your picture to Paul, without which you won't be registered, you won't compete and we won't win. This sequence of events is too unbearable to think of, so do the right thing, send your picture now!
Practice this Saturday will, I assume, resume its normal pace. Those of us hoping for a lazy time last week in the easy boat were trumped by Harlin hopping in at the last moment and the whole experience ended up in a thoroughly enjoyable sado-masochistic the only pleasure is pain dragon boat sort of way. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't have a hangover, it could have been hideous. The competitive boat did 15mns sets, I'm sure new delights await us all this week.
Isolde wanted me to say au revoir to the team on her behalf and how much she enjoyed her last Saturday in Singapore. She will be missed, though not yet, since she’s still about until Friday, when the official mourning begins.
Since everything is short-lived and we’re all a bunch of ephemeral pleasure-seekers, the next social event on the calendar is TOMORROW (hence the need for capitals). Mel sent through the following details and if interested in joining her, contact her for the:
St Andrews Society event (open to all) Pub Night 7pm onwards
Biggest expat inter-group party EVER!!!!
Location: BAIZE / CHINA ONE
Clarke Quay along waterfront on 2nd level, adjacent to Bar Le Noir
A great opportunity to meet new people at our first event organised in association with:
THE EXPAT CLUB
EXPAT IN SINGAPORE / INTEREXPAT
THE LATIN CIRCLE
FOREIGN YOUTH CLUB
Swap a name card at the door for a wristband to benefit from the drinks deals (and leave your contact cards in the fishbowl / contact details on the sheet provided at the entrance for a chance to win all the stuff with * next to it below. Ed).
On top of the fantastic drinks offers (one for one on certain drinks), free pool and games.....and LOADS of fab people (approx 200 and increasing all the time)....there will be:
- FREE 2 Singfest tickets (for this Saturday) worth approx. $300 for one lucky prize draw winner - watch Travis and Simple Plan amongst others*
- FREE 50 drinks on arrival for the first 50 people*
- FREE jug (s) of beer for Wii game competition winners*
SEE YOU THERE!!!
And last but not least, there'll be NO PRACTICE on Saturday 9th August (National Day), something I'd entirely forgotten about when I happily invited a visiting Canadian Team to join our non-happening practice. I hope that paddlers paddling in Penang (wow an effortless alliteration in P!) will make contact during the competition and have a few drinks with them when they make it to Singapore. I wish I could but I'll probably be asking the Kingston Royals to show me their hospitality at about the same time. All I can say is dragon boat, it builds bridges across the world.
[23 Jul 2008 Rebecca writes:]
Hope the Wednesday night training was successful, I must have been there in spirit because I'm shattered! Just a few things from me...
Those of you signing up for the MR500 on 13-14 September, please send a picture to Paul ASAP. No photo means no registration, candid shots/ holiday pictures are entirely acceptable as long as you're vaguely recognisable (no masks please).
Neither Paul nor Jason are about this Saturday but fear not, help is at hand with Harlin (ex-National Philippines squad member) taking over the practice session. I'm confident that we'll all be pacing at 100 strokes per minute by the end of the afternoon. Practice will take the same format as last week, normal training 16.00 to 18.00, anyone wanting to stay on for the extra 45mns to practice freestyle stays in the boat while the rest of us warm up the beer.
Mel, Mifie, Chris and I (depending on how decisive I feel), will try and keep things coordinated but remember, if you have any spontaneous urges to get the boat in/out of the water, gather paddles/lifejackets after practice, clear the boats of discarded bottles of water, please, don't hold back! We'll love you all the more for it for not having to do it ourselves (sad but true).
Remember Isolde's leaving drinks at the Blu Jazz Cafe on Bali Lane from 20.30 onwards. And if you're wondering what to do for National Day (9th August - after that no more dodging National Service recruit bumboats on the Kallang making waves and flying oversized balloons, what a relief), Fiona has the answer:
Come and join us for the national day celebrations and some excellent food…..Our Village Indian restaurant on Boat Quay. Table booked for 20 pax at 7:30. Please let me know as soon as possible in case I need to amend the booking. Fiona
[16 Jul 2008 Rebecca writes:]
If you'd like your own personal flotation device to keep at home for personal usage and/or maritime pursuits generally, please let Paul know ASAP via email as he's placing an order for the team. $38 gets you your very own revolutionary red life jacket. You can bring it home, give it a name, keep it clean, speak to it on those long and lonely nights and ensure that you never smell of Eau de Kallang again (at least not before practice). Is that a hard sell or what? I'm almost tempted...
And now for something a little pricier: Fiona has got 3 spare F1 Grandstand tickets for the upper grandstand (in front of the floating platform) 3 day pass Fri/Sat/Sun 26/27/28 September at a cost of $300 each. If interested, do contact Fiona now.
On a last note, please put Saturday 26th July in your diary as the lovely Isolde, known for her many talents including paddling/boxing/daring to party at Clarke Quay dressed as Poison Ivy, is going Dutch on us and leaving Singapore soon. I hope that can join me from 8.30 at the Blu Jaz Cafe and making this a proper send off.
[15 Jul 2008 Rebecca writes:]
Only 2 working days to pool practice, 4 working days to the weekend, it's going to be a long week.
Saturday was first practice back from our 2 week break: downside - creeky back, bruises on knees, upside - we lengthened our strokes, nobody fell overboard when trying freestyle (standing) paddling and we got to see part of the National Day rehearsal (be prepared for jet fighters and outsized inflatable birds, somebody got the short straw somewhere).
Anyway, onwards and forwards: The SAVA Sprints are coming up (admittedly on 13-14th September which seems way way away right now) and Paul needs to know numbers NOW (drop him a line PRONTO and you need to provide him with a PHOTO (via email), without which you can't partake in the proceedings). The website with all the information should be updated soon, possibly even as this email goes to press - http://www.sava.com.sg/index.html
Practice on Saturdays will be extended by 1 hour to enhance our freestyle skills. If I remember this correctly, there are only 3 expat teams (and that includes the British team) who'll compete in this event at the next races, so if we don't bag a medal, frankly, that's just poor show.
And last but not least, the lovely Fiona (Social Secretary) is still looking for a flatmate, so if there's anyone out there "who would like to share a lovely house with two Brits, master bedroom with en suite" please contact her now.
