Recommendations

Just as we all love having his and hers sinks (and closets), here's our his and hers top recommendations!

Android Apps

• Grab 
• Carousell
• Duolingo

Singapore Food

• Roti prata - Casuarina
• Lor Mee
• Laksa
• Yong Tau Foo (124 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310124)

SG Experiences

• Zoo/ River Safari/  Night Safari

Art

• Sistine Chapel ceiling
• Ghent Altarpiece
• Pietà (Michelangelo)
• The Ambassadors

Books

• Never Split the Difference
• Influence
• (author) Jonathan Franzen

Ideas

• Oaktree Capital Management here
• Ray Dalio
• Lee Kuan Yew

Travel Destinations

• Ljubljana
• Istanbul
• Yosemite
• London

Personal Finance

• The number one resource https://www.moneysense.gov.sg/
• Singapore Income tax reliefs
• SRS
• Stashaway Simple
• CPF
• Cash
• DBS Multiplier
• Stashaway
• GXS
• Stock Brokerage
• Saxo
• iOCBC
• Moomoo
• Insurance
• Integrated Shield
• Personal Accident
• Endowment
• Foreign Currency
• Wise
• Property

Audio

• Yamaha Clavinova 635 (blog here)

Juggling Dad Life and Debussy: My Journey Learning Piano as an Adult in Singapore

The house is finally quiet. My daughter (now six!) and my son (a chaotic four-year-old) are fast asleep. For most parents in Singapore, this is prime time for Netflix or clearing life admin. For me? This is when I sit down and face my greatest challenge yet: the piano. Starting piano lessons as a full-grown adult felt like a crazy idea, a secret hobby I squeezed in between work deadlines and parenting duties.

My musical journey began with a melody so simple, it was almost comical. The first piece my teacher assigned felt like finger gymnastics. Coordinating my hands while trying to decipher the notes was a humbling experience. I was all thumbs. But then, a small miracle happened. After countless nights of practice, I played it smoothly. The best part? Hearing my daughter say, "Daddy, I know that song!" That simple tune became my foundation stone, the proof that it wasn't too late to learn.

Fast forward to today, and the piece I’m tackling is far more complex. It's full of unfamiliar chords and demands a level of finesse I'm still developing. There are moments of pure frustration, but each practice session is a small victory. It’s a powerful form of mental wellness, a complete escape from the daily grind. An hour at the piano clears my head more effectively than anything else. It’s my personal productivity hack for staying sane.

Looking back, every piece I’ve learned—from that first simple melody to the intricate passages I’m working on now—is a milestone. It’s a tangible map of my progress, a testament to sticking with something purely for the joy of it.

If you're an adult in Singapore thinking about picking up a new skill, I can't recommend it enough. It's not about becoming a concert pianist. It's about the rewarding journey of growth and finding a little harmony in our hectic lives. Go on, give it a try.

Sharing the pieces I'm learning. Learn what interests you!

Grasped and Refining

• The Entertainer, Joplin, Scott; Onac, David (simplified arrangement)
• The Song of Twilight, Yoshinao Nakada
• Prelude I in C major, BWV 846, Bach
• Sonata 'Moonlight' No. 14 Movement 1, Beethoven
• Prélude Opus 28 No. 4 in E Minor, Chopin
• Allegro, D Cimarosa
• Sonatina No. 1 in C Major, Op 36 Movement 1, Clementi

Learning

• Canon in D
• River flows in You, Yiruma
• Kiss the Rain, Yiruma
• In the Groove, M. Cornick
• Gymnopédie No.1, Erik Satie 
• Sonata No. 11 K. 331 3rd Movement, “Rondo alla Turca", Mozart
• Sonata No. 16, 1st Movement K. 545, Mozart