Month: December 2021

Christmas gifting in the new normal

Post author By Dennis
Post date December 21, 2021
No Comments on Christmas gifting in the new normal

Arranging for a gift to be delivered to a loved one may not be the same as giving it yourself, but it’s still a great way to let others know that you’re thinking of them.

Even if gatherings remain small this festive season and it’s still a challenge to meet everyone in person, you can still pamper family and friends with gifts that they’ll love.

TEXT: MELODY TAN
PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS, SHUTTERSTOCK

Safe-distancing measures are still in place but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue the tradition of gifting this Christmas. More than ever, finding a way to continue spreading festive joy safely is just the type of thoughtful gesture we need as we look forward to a better 2022.

Arranging for a gift to be delivered to a friend or loved one may not be the same as giving it yourself, but it’s still a great way to let others know that you’re thinking of them. In fact, since household visits are currently limited to five unique visitors at home and many are still unable to meet loved ones living abroad, the recipients may appreciate your resourcefulness and kindness even more.

TOYS FOR TECH-SAVVY TYPES

After a year in which many continued to work from home, lifestyle and tech-related gifts are a good bet to put a smile on loved ones’ faces.

Whether for Zoom meetings or enjoying your favourite playlist in the evenings, unwrapping a new pair of headphones or a portable speaker on Christmas morning is likely to bring year-round cheer. For that keen gamer in your life, a new gaming mouse or keyboard can make all the difference between dominating the virtual battlefield or resigning yourself to digital defeat.

Logitech

From now until 31 December, enjoy S$5 off when you spend S$25 on Shopee’s Logitech official store. If interior design cred matters to your recipient, the POP Keys + Mouse bundle deals are available in fun colour options like Blast Yellow and Heartbreaker Rose.

Bose

If movie nights (complete with popcorn) are a regular thing in your home, complete the home cinema experience with a sleek new Bose soundbar (who says you can’t buy gifts for yourself?). At the Bose online store, HomeTeamNS members get 10 per cent off selected products and 20 per cent off Twin Bundle Deals – like the Bose Portable Home Speaker bundle for S$1,038.40 (usual price: S$1,298) and a SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker for S$286.40 (usual price: S$358).

Shure

Shure headphones and earphones offer serious sonic quality, whether you’re blasting your favourite tunes while out on a run, watching a movie or attending another Zoom meeting. Treat yourself, or the audiophile in your life, at the Shure online store, which is offering 10 per cent off storewide as well as a free vacuum flask from now until 31 December.

HAMPERS AND GIFTS TO SHARE THE JOY

While some may think hampers offer limited options, Christmas in the new normal has seen companies offer a range of gift baskets and hampers with a surprisingly diverse choice of goodies to suit any budget and personality.

From non-alcoholic chocolate treats to a lavish array of festive tipples and gourmet snacks, both children and grown-ups will be tempted by the offerings from Humming and Noel Gifts.

Humming

From festive floral arrangements to indulgent baskets of fine wines, Humming’s Christmas Collection has something for everyone. A minimum spend of S$80 on gifts or hampers entitles customers to a 10-per-cent discount until 31 December.

Noel Gifts

Friends and family might be far from us, but not forgotten. Noel Gifts is able to deliver a range of hampers and gift baskets to loved ones in Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Australia, Hong Kong and beyond. Local customers enjoy next-day delivery. HomeTeamNS members will get to enjoy 10 per cent off all Christmas gifts and hampers, capped at S$20 and valid until 31 December.

Hurry and shop till you drop! HomeTeamNS members can login to the HomeTeamNS Mobile App to reveal the promo codes for all the exciting treats above. Simply click on ‘Benefits’ to reveal the code. Happy shopping!

Lifestyle

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for festive fun

Post author By Dennis
Post date December 21, 2021
No Comments on It’s the most wonderful time of the year for festive fun

Looking for fun family activities during the festive period? From a DIY snowman-making lesson to a Clip ‘n Climb session, HomeTeamNS has plenty to offer.

TEXT: HOMETEAMNS
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, HOMETEAMNS

Wherever you are, whomever you’re with, one of the best parts about the festive season is reconnecting with family and friends. While safe-distancing measures may limit the number of household visitors you can receive, there are still many activities in Singapore that one can do with the people who matter the most to you.

And perhaps best of all, with organisations like HomeTeamNS organising so many activities, members will be spoilt for choice looking for ways to spend fun, quality time with their loved ones!

CHRISTMAS IN PERANAKAN LAND

What happens when Christmas is given a Peranakan twist? Visitors to T-Play Khatib on 25 December can find out for themselves. Take in the Peranakan Art Gallery, a showcase of Peranakan-themed craft sessions by HomeTeamNS members, or pose for a picture with jolly old Santa at Santa’s Peranakan House. Burn off some calories during the hour-long Joget-Joget sessions, and join in a T-Play Christmas Sing-A-Long from 7pm-9pm.

SANTA’S LUCKY DIP

From 11 to 25 December, participate in our lucky draw at T-Play Bukit Batok and you could win great prizes, including a two-hour Console Games Marathon session, Laser Quest Missions, 2D1N Villa Staycations and junior bike set.

CHRISTMAS ORIGAMI

Good news adventure lovers! Santa’s making a special Christmas Day appearance at our HomeTeamNS Tampines. Snap and print a picture with him after an adrenaline-filled session at Clip ‘n Climb or Laser Quest, and try your hand at creating a piece of Christmas origami.

CHRISTMAS WINTERLAND

HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok is creating its very own Christmas Wonderland from 20 to 31 December; the exciting festivities include:

Snowman building session (20-31 December, Lobby A)

It may not snow in Singapore but that doesn’t mean you can’t design your own snowman, with a little ingenuity and craft supplies.

Winter craft (26 December, 11am to 2pm, Lobby A)

Exclusive to members, explore your creativity and see what you can create with sand art and slime.

Santa surprise (26 December, 12-2pm, Clubhouse grounds)

You may not realise this, but Santa’s always ready to flash those pearly whites and pose for a photo op with families, so have your smartphone or camera handy when you spot him.

Winterland Snowy Experience (24-26 December, 11am-6pm)

Who says you can’t experience snow near the equator? Limited to a maximum of 5 people per group, head to the open area next to the swimming pool to experience snow, Singapore-style!

CAUSE IT’S CHRISTMAS

Tis’ the season of giving! Treat yourself and someone else to a little holiday cheer. Help HomeTeamNS Khatib by contributing care packages filled with daily necessities, or play passes to T-Play and Adventure HQ to the beneficiaries – Tak Takut Kids Club by 3 Pumpkins, and Sunshine Action Welfare Mission (SWAMI) Home residents.

Here’s one for those who aren’t camera shy! From 1 to 26 December, snap a wefie or selfie by the festive Christmas tree located along the main throughfare at HomeTeamNS Khatib and you could win vouchers. To enter, like and follow HomeTeamNS Khatib on Facebook, then submit your best snaps via the comments section.

HAVE A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS!

HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier is pulling out all the stops to spread festive cheer! From 1 to 31 December at 10am-8pm, check out the fun-filled activities and redemptions:

Help Santa lose weight!

Even Santa appreciates the importance a balanced diet! Enjoy a healthy meal at our F&B outlets or complete simple workouts to earn rewards and help Santa shed some pounds!

Christmas gift-making

Learn how to make a handcrafted Christmas gift for that special someone in your life!

Member’s delight

HomeTeamNS or JOM members are entitled to a special gift at the clubhouse.

F&B Christmas treats

Get a complimentary small log cake with every order above $40 in a single receipt at Indulge Teppanyaki & Grill House.

For the latest updates on HomeTeamNS events and activities, subscribe to our newsletter, visit our website or official Facebook page.

In The Force

Ready player one!

LCP Amirul (extreme right) with his e-sports team members at a tournament.

LCP Amirul Haqim Bin Omar, HomeTeamNS’ top-tier e-sports competitor, on why professional gamers and athletes have more in common than you think.

TEXT AND PHOTOS: SCDF

While many of us play video games for relaxation, very few are willing to put in the time and effort to test our skills at a competition level. Meet our very own competitive e-sports player and full-time National Serviceman, LCP Amirul Haqim Bin Omar, a Multimedia Specialist with the Corporate Communications Department of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

LCP Amirul started playing video games as a hobby at the age of 20. Since then, his interest has levelled up into a passionate pursuit. He is also now experimenting with video game streaming via social media to reach out to other e-sports enthusiasts in order to share gaming tips and strategies.

The 23-year-old is even toying with the possibility of turning pro after his National Service. In an interview with SCDF e-publication Rescue 995, LCP Amirul talked about his passion for e-sports and how being part of the virtual community helped him build real-world relationships with fellow e-sports players.

What is e-sports?

Like tennis, badminton or other sports where players compete against one another, e-sports is competitive sport played on a video game platform. One can play or compete as an individual or as a team, depending on the type of game.

How long have you been a gamer and when did you become a competitive player?

I started competing in e-sports three years ago. Before that, I was only playing video games for fun. I started playing Rules of Survival (ROS) and when PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile (PubgM) was finally made available on mobile phones, I switched to that game. As I constantly topped the Leadership Board in ROS and PubgM, I was spotted by an e-sports team in Singapore, and they asked me to join them. I accepted the offer and now compete in e-sports to see how far I can go.

What is your favourite game?

It has to be both ROS and PubgM. They are player-versus-player shooters, which is my favourite genre.

You had participated in an e-sports tournament in 2020. Could you tell us more about it?

It was the three-week long PubG Mobile Professional League – Malaysia-Singapore (PMPL-MYSG), which was held in Kuala Lumpur (KL) from March to April 2020. Towards the last week of our stay in KL, we were informed that Singapore was going into a lockdown due to COVID-19. Upon hearing the news, all the Singapore players packed our bags and headed home immediately. Despite the mad rush, we arrived before the Circuit Breaker period started and continued the competition virtually from Singapore.

Even with the connectivity issues that we faced while playing the game through local servers, we are proud to have made it to the top three spot in Singapore, thereby giving us a chance to participate in the next stage, which was held in Malaysia.

Other than having natural talent, what are some of your tips to win an e-sports competition?

Practice makes perfect. Athletes must spend hours training hard before a competition — just like how SCDF firefighters and paramedics spend months building up their skills and endurance when they compete in the annual Singapore-Global Firefighters and Paramedic Challenge (SGFPC). One needs to have a personal training routine and constantly research how to play better. In addition, it is important to have a resilient mind to handle online criticism, especially when you are a leading player. Like anything in life, so long as you put in the hours and the effort, you will eventually become good at what you do.

We hear that there is a thriving e-sports community in SCDF!

Yes! The e-sports community in SCDF is known as the SCDF E-Sports League (SEL) and there is an SCDF e-sports team at the Sports & Recreation Guild of Home Team (SPRIGHT). Through competing, I got to know some players who are also SCDF personnel. That was how I noticed that there is a combined e-sports team known as Aventus Sovereign Gaming (AvSG), which consists of Police and SCDF officers. AvSG is, in fact, one of the top scorers in the region.

What do you like most about being part of the e-sports community?

I enjoy making friends within the community. Besides competing against our opponents, we also get to foster friendships with them through the virtual interactions. Some of us have become so close that we even share life stories and personal experiences. It is amazing how online multiplayer games like PubgM can connect players of various ages and walks of life. Such human connection, though virtual, is still important, especially when we try not to step out of our homes unnecessarily due to COVID-19 restrictions.

What are your future e-sports plans?

Moving forward, I plan to step out of my comfort zone by making it into a Malaysian e-sport organisation. Doing so will enable me to know their gaming style and expand my boundaries while perfecting my gaming skills.

In The Force

Family on the beat

Mr Prabodh Kumar Rai (left), Ms Mitashah Rai (middle) and Mdm Jasvindran Devi are firm believers in doing their part to keep their neighbourhood safe. Photo: MHA

Helping the community is just one of the reasons why this family serves as Citizens on Patrol volunteers.

TEXT AND PHOTOS: MHA

Ten years ago, Mr Prabodh Kumar Rai, 54, senior security officer and grassroots leader in Bishan Zone 2 RC, started volunteering for the Citizens on Patrol (COP) programme.

COP is a volunteer scheme launched in 1999 by the Singapore Police Force (SPF). Residents patrol their neighbourhoods and alert the SPF when they observe suspicious activities or persons, as well as engage the community on crime-prevention measures.

In 2016, his wife, Mdm Jasvindran Devi, and daughter, Ms Mitashah Rai, joined COP after witnessing his passion for keeping their neighbourhood safe. “We decided to get involved too, as we get to interact with the community, share our knowledge and raise awareness of crime prevention,” says Ms Rai, 19.

Initially, Ms Rai was not familiar with the COP scheme and did not know what was required of a volunteer. However, after participating in a few patrols, she felt empowered to contribute more. “It made me realise the value of being a volunteer and how I can spend my time wisely by giving back to the community. I also get to share crime prevention advisories with fellow residents,” she explains.

It was also the perfect opportunity for the trio to bond amid their hectic schedules. “Volunteering for COP gives us the opportunity to come together as a family while serving the community. It also made us better understand and appreciate my dad’s volunteer efforts over the years,” says Ms Rai, now working as a nurse in SGH Eye Centre. To juggle between COP duties and their respective work and academic responsibilities, the family members cross-check their schedules against the upcoming patrol dates and arrange their patrol duties accordingly.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

The volunteering journey has not however always been a smooth one. Over the years, Mr Kumar and his family have experienced their fair share of challenging situations — and people — during their patrols around Bishan Park.

They have had to deal with parkgoers who breach safety rules such as cycling at prohibited areas, smoking and creating a public nuisance after 10.30pm. “We tackle such situations by sharing information and explaining to the parties involved,” says Ms Rai. “If they fail to understand or cooperate with us, we will then call the nearby Neighbourhood Police Centre for support.”

ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERISM

The family shares with Frontline that they would continue with their COP commitments. They also encourage other families to come forward to give their time. “It is important to advocate volunteerism as volunteers play a key role in helping raise awareness for the cause and the organisation,” adds Mdm Devi, 55, a housewife. “In this case, for COP, we play a part in ensuring the safety and security of the community we live and work in.”

“Volunteering helps build closeness among family members and helps anyone pick up competencies in areas such as learning how to handle tricky situations calmly and honing their critical-thinking abilities”, notes Mr Kumar, who adds that “volunteering demonstrates the importance of giving back to the community as well”.

Find out more about how you can make a difference in your community.

Visit mha.gov.sg/volunteers and volunteer.gov.sg/mha for more information about their volunteer schemes or connect with the Home Team Volunteer Network on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.

In The Force

To inform and protect

SC/CPL Nur Hakim Hazrin

Community Engagement officers play an essential role in driving the SPF’s partnership efforts.

TEXT SPF
PHOTOS SPF

Operating at the heart of our community, the Community Engagement (CE) Officers’ policing work involves liaising with the wider public. Their aim is to actively educate and raise awareness on illegal/unlawful activities through Crime Prevention exhibitions and road shows, house-to-house visits and advisory posters in our neighbourhoods. In addition, they partner with external stakeholders to organise school talks and Citizens on Patrol (COP) activities.

Citizens on Patrol is a volunteer programme where members look out for and report suspicious activities, as well as promote crime prevention measures in their community, to jointly create a safer living environment.

To achieve greater effectiveness in their engagement efforts, CE Officers are trained to develop both service-oriented skills and mindsets. The training improves their communication skills and helps them establish strong rapport with the public.

CE is one of many vocations open to Police Full-time National Servicemen (PNSFs) such as SC/CPL Nur Hakim Hazrin from Foxtrot Division. Here, he shares his enriching journey serving the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the public as a CE Officer.

STAYING ADAPTABLE

Due to COVID-19, CE Officers’ engagement efforts have gone online. While this necessitated new processes, SC/CPL Hakim and his colleagues have adapted and successfully organised various virtual activities. These included training COP volunteers and crime prevention talks for pre-schoolers.

STAYING POSITIVE

One of the most challenging work experiences SC/CPL Hakim faced was when he had to engage a handful of uncooperative scam victims. They expressed little to no interest when he advised them to sign up for the Community Alert Service (CAS). This made it demoralising and difficult for SC/CPL Hakim to communicate with them.

However, with constant practice and support from his colleagues, SC/CPL Hakim adopted a positive mindset, allowing him to perform his duties more confidently.

For instance, if he makes a mistake while handling a complaint from the public, he keeps his chin up and learns how to handle such situations better in future. This gives SC/CPL Hakim added confidence when performing his duties.

With the increasing number of scams, CE Officers strongly encourage the public to subscribe to the Police Community Alert Service (CAS). Subscribers receive free alerts about the latest crime trends and advice on crime prevention measures. By keeping updated through CAS, members of the public will become more vigilant and less likely to become victims of crime.

STAYING INSPIRED

SC/CPL Hakim strongly believes that the work he does is meaningful and worthwhile, and he was able to learn public speaking, improve rapport-building skills and achieve a service-oriented mindset. Being further inspired by the CE Officers’ framework of volunteerism, SC/CPL Hakim goes the extra mile and volunteers during his free time.

An active volunteer at the Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre (AMKFSC), he recently befriended seniors at AMKFSC. This gave him a better understanding of older residents. He also hopes his newfound knowledge will enable him to better assist them during his policing duties.

CE Officers work closely together with the community to help maintain a safe and secure living environment for all. The vocation also goes to show that PNSFs can contribute to frontline policing effort in various ways, and that the work they do is just as essential as that done by any other frontline police officers in safeguarding Singapore.

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