The Diva Race

The diva race is a special one. It’s when all the female paddlers gather, with support of the male members of the team, and race against each other. This year the races were tight and everyone had fun. The Canadian Dragons were lucky enough to secure a third place finish, receiving a medal for their efforts. We are now in full training for the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival, which is coming up on June 30 and July 1 at Bedok Reservoir. Once again we will be striving for some medals at these races. Come on out and watch this fantastic event. When this is complete, our attention will turn forward to late August for the 10Km race. This is a more strenuous race requiring different stamina reserves.

We are a team of many nationalities and welcome paddlers new to dragon boating or paddlers returning to the sport but new to the team. If you are interested in joining our fun team, come out for training at Kallang Riverside Park. We train in the boat on Saturdays from 4:00 – 6:00, and Sundays from 10:00 – 12:00. Please come 30 minutes early to sign in, get kitted out – we have PDF’s and paddles, and to warm up. Hope to see you soon.

/ Sally Monteith

CIS Lakeside Campus Hosts 2nd Annual Athletics Banquet

On Tuesday, 5 June 2012, the Canadian international school (CIS) hosted the 2nd annual athletics banquet at the lakeside campus atrium. It was a very special event that commemorated the sportsmanship and achievements of all middle school and high school athletes and athletic teams throughout the school year. Their success was very evident in the awards and acknowledgements given on the night. 

Mr. Keith Bland, Middle School Principal said, “Over the years I have seen the steady growth in the range of sports and the number of students involved in our Middle School competitive sports teams and have also received many complimentary comments about the attitudes and sportsmanship of our students. This was reflected at the Banquet.”

Reflecting in a similar vein, Dr. David Ansbacher, High School Principal also commended both students and coaches for their dedication in the past year.

 “We all enjoyed seeing our young men and women standing together as teams, honouring individual accomplishment, and delighting in the successes of others. Thank you to all of the coaches and parents who supported our student athletes throughout the year - it was an evening full of husky pride!”

Bad Breath – Let’s deal with this

According to oral-b’s “smile more, brush more Singapore” campaign in 2012, 59% of Singaporeans identified bad breath as one of the reasons that stopped them from smiling more.

When it comes to bad breath or halitosis, nobody likes to hear or mention it, because it is an embarrassing topic to discuss.

     

Some possible causes of bad breath include:

•   Poor oral hygiene

•   Periodontal or gum disease

•   Localized dental problems such as infection, cracked fillings or dentures 

•   Dry mouth condition (xerostomia) which can occur due to hormonal changes or medication

•   Smoking

•   Consumption of certain food or drinks, e.g. coffee, garlic, onions, durians, etc.

•   Medical conditions such as digestive system problems, diabetes, ear or nose infections, or some forms of cancer

What you can do:

•   Brush your teeth twice daily, for at least for two minutes each time and visit your dentist twice a yearly

•   Have a balanced diet and regular meals

•   Drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated

•   Do not smoke or use tobacco products

If you are experiencing bad breath, visit your dentist to determine the cause of the problem. Your dentist can also refer you to a medical specialist if it turns out to be non-dental related.

To find out more about dental issues or to make a n appointment to visit the dentist, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com


Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). For more information on the different types of dental treatments, send an enquiry via www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883.

/ Contributed by Specialist Dental Group

Cooking Class: 30th May 2012

A very fun and delicious morning was enjoyed by all.  Gourmet Guru’s kitchen welcomed us with Nanyang Technical University students serving a lovely Pandan Tea .  Our instructor, Madame Rosni was well prepared for us.  The large cooking area was perfect for display of the ingredients used in the recipes.  We were able to bring our chairs right up to cooking surface to watch and learn.  Ingredients used in recipes were explained to us with many questions answered.

The Coconut Crab Curry was the first recipe for us to follow.  The ingredients went into a mortar and were pounded into a paste.  A few of us were given the task to help prepare the paste.  The curry was begun in pan and ingredients layered into the sauce.  Volunteers stirred and helped in preparation. The coconut cream and finally the crab were simmered in the pan.  The second recipe, a Kampung Fried Rice was then begun.  The fresh vegetables were also pounded into a paste. As ingredients were added and rice added, the wonderful aromas were intoxicating. 

We then moved to tables and the students artfully placed rice, and curry into dishes.  Garnishes were served and fish crackers and a sambal were also at the tables.  The dishes were heavenly and we were all pleasantly stuffed.  The pandan tea and a fruit salad were offered at end of lunch (for those who had room left).  We all learned how easy the recipes were to follow and I am sure many of us were heading to local wet markets with renewed inspiration.

 / Lynda Sellars