www.Go To The Mountain - Musings of a Potential Guru

Game week 13 has significance. Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd., all drew which means AVB has some breathing space as Chelsea won after stumbling a few times.  Except for Wigan, all the bottom teams lost to go deeper into the abyss. Swansea, a Welsh team and Aston Villa with Welsh players tried and battled but found it hard to conjure anything more as they were shell-shocked by the demise of Gary Speed, still only 42, the current manager of the Wales team who was getting good results for Wales. Kenny Dalglish released Craig Bellamy saying sometimes there are more important things than football. Welsh Captain Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal would have been affected. Gary Speed himself has 85 caps for Wales, was the Wales Captain and current manager. Gary Speed A distinguished player for Leeds in the 1992 Championship winning team and later played significant and not bit roles for Everton, Newcastle and a key role at Bolton under Sam Allardyce's revival. He held the Premier...

Not many know this but when you are a participant of this event or even drop by to watch, you are passionate enough about soccer, Singapore soccer. This is a special event called Singapore 9s Masters. Where older men form and register their teams and participate in a friendly soccer tournament. Pot-bellied uncles and all are the order of the day but there are really very fit players around. There must have been at least 40 teams that participated some coming from overseas like Royal Selangor and teams from Hong Kong. Local teams comprising Singapore Malays, Lion City team of 1980, an ex Poly team called the Polynites and the Singapore Ex-Inetrnationals are regulars. The teams awaiting their turns at the terrace. I spotted ex national goalie David Lee and industry evergreen and veteran Tan Buck Seng and spoke to them briefly.  The Singapore Indians fielded a team too and Royal Selangor Club. I did not stay for the afternoon session where the ex i...

Fishing is like golf or as Forrest Gump said: "Life is a box of chocolate. You never know what you are going to get". Even if you are not at sea but at a river or pond. In the old days, the ponds will have tilapia, grass carps, big head carps, Japanese carps and even Soon Hock and eels. You don't know what is at the end of the line but you know it is going to be one of these and this is part of the fun especially when you got a fish and then the ensuing fight. I mentioned golf because the stalking of the bites, the fight and hauling the fish is like your chase for Eagles and Birdies. Later, the business side of it began to spawn. The ponds got much smaller such that you don't have more fun of casting your line longer like hitting it off with a driver. Do you know how fun it is to cast your line long, look at hooks, line and sinker flying into the distance and final drop into the waters, listening to the sound of the fishing line with this action, reeling the line...

A panda walks into a bar, ordered some food and drinks. When it finished, it whipped out a pistol and shot the guy to his right and promptly left. The other person seated next to its left was trembling and asked the bartender why it happened. The bartender replied: "It's a panda. Don't you know that a panda eats shoots and leaves?" If you didn't get it. Never mind. Read it again next week then maybe you will start laughing. So when I blog on food I am just like a panda - eats, shoots and then leave. Of course, I have to pay for it. Thai food consumption is like doing gymnastics with your tongue. Since we actually use different parts of our tongues to taste food and wine, having Thai food will give one a full work out. There used to be a good Thai tze char stall at the Sembawang Shopping centre that offers value for money for the delicious fare but I have not been there since they renovated the entire place and may be they may have relocated. Then t...

Fortunes they are a-changing. Christmas is coming and we will see from there on by gazing at the crystal ball what will things be like in the coming weeks and months. Big and important marquee games like Chelsea versus Liverpool can be season-defining. Their contrasting fortunes henceforth may begin from here. Stoke v Blackburn - I told you that Stoke will lose to QPR. Stoke has been poor while Blackburn scrambled a point at Wigan. Stoke has been much poorer perhaps they have over performed last season. They are due a win but they have not since they lost to Arsenal 4 games ago. Blackburn has not tasted victory for at least six games. Blackburn scored 3 and conceded 3 at Wigan, though Stoke lost at home to QPR, QPR is a much better team than Wigan. 3-2 to Stoke at home. Bolton v Everton - Bolton is at a time where they mostly lose. They could also win away then lose at home. Thrashed Stoke 5-0 then lose 1-3 to Swansea. It's like playing golf where you hit a dry patch such tha...

Legends What are legends? A legend is a traditional story or myth, traditional literature or inscription. Lee Kuan Yew is a legend. So was Bruce Lee. You can find legends in business, politics, leaders, music, movies and sports. Legends are heroes of the time, at that time, a moment in history and usually you will find it hard to replicate or reproduce like Jack Nicklaus in golf, England's 1966 World Cup soccer winning team, Brazil's World Cup team of 1970 and 1982. Maradona and Messi are soccer legends of Argentina, Platini and Zidane are legends of France, Beckanbauer and Muller from Germany and Cruyff, Neeskens, Marco van Basten of Holland.  Eventhough Holland did not win the World Cup, the whole team in 1974 were legends. So was Denmark when they won the European Nations Championship. Legends defy logic. They inspire. They make you want to be like them. They start a revolution. They can transform a nation. They can bring joy ...