STI articles galore, before they make me pay!

From The Straits Times :

March 13, 2005

Extra-marital affairs: Will you get fired?

S'pore firms likely to take action; but singles are mostly in the clear

By Joyce Hooi and Sharlene Tan

AN OFFICE romance may earn you a nudge and a wink but an extra-marital affair with a colleague will very likely get you the boot in Singapore.

Nearly 20 companies told The Sunday Times that while they have no issues with, and even welcome, consensual relationships between single employees, many consider affairs to be dangerous liaisons which can cost a worker his job.

That was the line former Boeing chief executive Harry Stonecipher, 68, crossed early this month when he was fired for having an extra-marital affair with Ms Debra Peabody, 48, a Boeing vice-president who did not report directly to him.

Mr Stonecipher is married with two children and two grandchildren, while Ms Peabody is single.
Like Boeing, Canon Singapore does not tolerate infidelity.

The digital imaging firm, which has about 750 employees, has a number of ways of dealing with extra-marital affairs among workers, though such a need has never arisen. These range from counselling to outright termination, if the relationship becomes a full-blown scandal.

A company spokesman said: 'While we do not have a written policy, we strongly discourage affairs between couples where one or both of them are already married.

'If it affects working relationships and the morale of other staff members, we will intervene. We do not tolerate any sort of behaviour that could embarrass the company.'

Ms Carol Ho, a consultant for recruitment consultancy Michael Page International, said some companies go even further - they forbid employees from dating.

This is ostensibly done to prevent a sharing of sensitive information across departments, she said.

Other companies The Sunday Times spoke to said they are open to workplace relationships - unless conflicts of interest threaten workplace morale, or a cheating employee's spouse complains.

Telco M1 said that it respects employees' relationships, but these 'should not interfere with their official duties, have any adverse impact on their respective areas of work or create a professional conflict of interest'.

Other companies such as Sentosa Leisure Group, Marina Mandarin, and KFC and Pizza Hut, take a similar stance.

A Public Service Division spokesman said the civil service avoids 'posting married couples to a unit where one partner is subordinate to the other'.

Although most companies take a dim view of illicit affairs, a handful adopt a totally hands-off approach.

A spokesman for a local company said: 'We do not have a moral code, but we have an ethical one. We are not a church. Who are we to tell people how to live their personal lives?'

He added: 'We do not interfere in our employee's personal lives as long as what they do does not affect their performance or the business. We leave it very much to the integrity of the employees to separate their personal lives from their business lives.'

Other people The Sunday Times spoke to said that even if a company had rules about extra-marital affairs in the workplace, they can be hard to enforce.

A former dealer with a bank revealed that he once had a two-year relationship with a female colleague from a different department. He said the company did not take any action, nor did colleagues bring it up.

'It's not like we were behaving inappropriately in the office and from what I know there's no written policy about office relationships. It's very human to fall in love, one shouldn't be penalised for that,' he said.

This reminded me of the situation of one of my friend whose relationship with his gf in JC was discovered by the school administration and they started to exert all sorts of pressure on them to break up. I can understand all the arguments about conflict of interests, work productivity blah blah. But still I can't help but feel that relationships in the workplace should not really be frowned upon (extra marital affairs is quite something else and I don't think I have a firm opinion on that). As the last line paragraph, it is very human to fall in love. If your boss (who controls your bread and butter) clamps down and nips your romance in the bud, it is a sad workplace indeed. After all, we spend a significant portion of our time working and the chances of liking someone in our work place is much higher than say love at first sight across the dance floor in Zouk. If we are going to clamp down on work place romances, then we really should not be surprised at the low birth rates etc. Singapore is also burdened by the NS system, which makes it hard for romances from school to continue through to adulthood. That basically leaves university life and workplace as the main areas to find a life partner (well at least without the help of SDU). If workplace romance threatens your rice bowl, then I guess if you come out of university life single, then perhaps what the MCDS guy said during DPPS in July is true: "You are basically screwed".

From The Straits Times:

March 13, 2005

Have game, will travel

But remember to buy your Premiership tickets early or you may end up punching yourself

By Chan Yi Shen

THE English Premiership's blend of fire and flair has been winning football fans all over the world. Not least the young generation brought up on Big League soccer. More and more Singaporeans are leaving home with their favourite English team's jersey in their travelling bags.
While VisitBritain does not have the exact number of Singaporeans visiting England to watch the Premier League, the tourism board's South-east Asia manager Alex Mawer reveals that football is a major reason why the country attracts around 90,000 Singaporeans yearly.

Arsenal fan Elvin Chong was among those who made his long-awaited trip to Highbury last May.

The plan was to watch his Gunners take on Leicester in their final home game of the season.

The significance of the match was not lost on the 26-year-old fresh graduate.

The clash was a historic occasion for the Gunners, who were hoping to end the entire season undefeated.

As it turned out, they succeeded with a 2-1 win.

But he did not get to watch history unfold before his eyes as he failed to secure tickets for the game.

So how does one avoid the disappointment that Chong felt when he was locked out?

Obviously, early planning is a must - or you may end up punching yourself for not getting the tickets earlier, paying an exorbitant price on the black market or having smoke blown into your eyes in a dingy pub while drowning your sorrows.

Fortunately for Chong, all's well that ends well.

After graduating from Nanyang Technological University in December, he embarked on another football trip.

This time, his 10-day trip included five Premier League matches, a Champions League match and a League Championship (last season's previous English First Division) match.

The highlight of his itinerary? The London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea on Dec 12.
Unlike before, planning for the big trip started as far back as September.

He said: 'I knew there was no chance of getting a ticket for that game through the club website, so I went for the hospitality package instead.'

At a hefty £250 (S$780), it came with a talk by Arsenal legend Charlie George, buffet lunch, souvenirs and post-game tea.

Said Chong, a fan since the age of 10: 'Somehow, I don't feel like a real Arsenal fan without watching a real competitive game.

'It's that special buzz that comes with being at the stadium itself.

'To avoid disappointment, plan early. The night matches on weekdays are not as popular, so it's easier to get tickets. Still, you have to apply at least a month earlier.'

Or pay the Premium packages price, such as match ball sponsorship, which can cost as much as £1,000 per person for a single match. A normal ticket costs between £25 and £50.

In all, Chong spent close to $6,000 for his entire trip.

He is among thousands of Singaporeans flying halfway round the world just to catch a glimpse of their Premiership heroes in the flesh.

Last year alone, at least 80 Liverpool fans made their way to Anfield.

Many of them made arrangements through the official Liverpool fan club in Singapore.

Said club secretary James Lim, who travels to Anfield yearly: 'Because of our close affiliation with Liverpool, our members get special benefits, such as visits to the museum, the Melwood training ground, the academy and also attend reserve matches.'

These privileges are part of the travel package which the club offers.

Company director Seet Puay Seng, his wife Mary and son Gabriel were among the 18 Reds fans who made the trip for the club's Southampton and Chelsea fixtures earlier this season.

'Everything was taken care of,' he said. 'We didn't have to worry about anything. It was just talking, watching and living football.

'We were seated right in front. I even shook hands with the manager Rafael Benitez and got his autograph.'

For Manchester United fan Dennis Foo, first-class treatment at Old Trafford comes free.

The nightlife entrepreneur, who owns Devil's Bar here - part of the Manchester United franchise - is invited to the Theatre of Dreams every year for one of the biggest matches of the season - Manchester United versus Arsenal.

He even gets to sit in the directors' box and receives the full VIP treatment.

In 2002, he was seated behind David Beckham in the box, something that got his wife Jenny excited even though she was not a football fan.

He also managed to get up close and personal with both managers, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

And he found that the Arsenal manager Wenger was not the sourpuss the media made him out to be.

'We had a conversation and he struck me as a friendly and soft-spoken man. Quite humble as well,' he revealed.

Last September, Chelsea fan Colin Pereira spent two weeks in London with his wife Susan.
Among other things, they visited Big Ben and the London Eye, shopped at Harrods and enjoyed theatre at The West End.

But Pereira's priority was to visit Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea.

'My wife is not a big football fan,' he said. 'But for me, that was the icing on the cake.'

Everton fan Damon Wee proved that no one needs to break the bank to watch their dream team.

Air tickets aside, he spent less than £200 on his three-day visit to Liverpool two years ago to catch the Toffees play Leeds.

He did that by staying at a hostel which charged £40 for three days, and roughing it out.
'I've no regrets,' he said. 'It's all about fulfilling a life-long dream.'

From The Straits Times:

March 13, 2005

Destination Premiership

How to get tickets?

The Premier League clubs themselves, through booking hotline, online or postage application. But demand is high and it is near impossible to obtain big-game tickets unless one is a club member.

Official supporters' clubs in Singapore. Many fan clubs are able to help secure tickets and some, such as Liverpool and Chelsea, actually offer tour packages. You have to join the clubs first, of course.


Online ticket companies, such as ticketmaster ( www.ticketmaster.co.uk ), offer tickets for sale but mainly for smaller matches.


Tour agencies, like Diners World Travel and Tradewinds, do organise tour packages but they are subject to availability of match tickets. Tips for your EPL trip


The most important thing is tickets. So plan early. Big games are usually sold out months ahead.


If you are willing to pay more, buying tickets on the black market is fine. But do check if they're genuine and where the seats are. Sitting among rival supporters will really restrict your enjoyment.


On the same note, do not wear club jersey unless you already know where your seats are.


Stadium tours are not conducted on match days, so plan and book in advance if you want one.


Beware women fans. The English tend to be more passionate than Singaporeans and it can get pretty rowdy at times, especially near the pitch and behind the goal.


Learn the club songs and sing along. English fans are generally more receptive if you join in their songs and chants.


Check train schedules. Navigating London's tube and England's rail system is not as simple as taking the MRT. If in doubt, just ask.


Budget travellers can consider accommodation near university campuses, where food is generally less expensive than the city centres.


Try to avoid the Christmas period. There are reduced services for trains and buses, and many shops are closed.


Cold weather. Be prepared for freezing conditions, especially in the North during winter.


Watch your belongings.


I only have one complaint in the article: WHY AM I NOT FEATURED INSIDE???????

Hahahahaha, ok lah just joking. These dudes who fly halfway round the globe just to catch a 90 min football game have to be pretty hard core. Some of the advice given are also pretty sensible, but some perspective is needed.

For example the line that the Everton guy proved that no one needs to break the bank requires some qualification. Everton tickets are easily available over ticketmaster and so getting tickets for normal matches (definitely not against Liverpool) is pretty easy. It is definitely not THAT easy for Man United or Arsenal tickets. Paying over the odds is often necessary if you don't have contacts.

Secondly, staying at youth hostel does not equal roughing it out. It all depends on your luck really. 15 pounds can get you a fairly decent youth hostel bed which I don't consider to be roughing it out.

Roughing it out = sleeping on your ground sheet with your field pack on, on top of a hill in Pasir Laba, but not daring to fall totally asleep in anticipation of a turnout.

As for the wearing jersey part. Its all common sense really. If you are going to Old Trafford to watch United then what the hell is wrong with wearing a jersey? Of course the touts are going to sell tickets to you which are with the home fans simply because they are more available. Who is going to sell you an AWAY ticket? Duh.

As for the English fans being rowdy part, perhaps I am a violent person myself but matches these days are generally docile. (Rememeber I am only talking about Man United matches) The crowd is generally quite all right unless you really suey to sit beside those true hooligans, which are small in proportion. But you do have to endure the swearing and the loud voices behind you. If a person behind you sings loudly and passionately, I suggest you enjoy it, for they are rare. If you don't enjoy that, I suggest you go and watch an orchestra concert instead. Football is meant to be noisy, not like a fucking library.

I guess it does help and adds to your enjoyment if you know the songs and sing along. But to get truly accepted by the locals, it is even more important not to make stupid comments. And by that I mean when Ruud misses a chance, saying "Ruud is fucking useless, he should be sold" is a sure sign that you are a muppet. If United loses, complaining that Fergie should get sacked is an invitation to have weird glances cast in your direction.

Bah enough grumbling for now, still sore that they never ask me for my comments :P Anyway does anybody still have the email that I sent when I went to Cardiff for the League Cup final with Liverpool? Can forward it back to me? I want to preserve it as a memory.....