Unk Dicko and the Garden Minstrels...part 2

Today, for this particular blogpost, I'm trying out the new features and format just offered by Blogger.
This include the new browser window for editing and for uploading pictures from our saved files.
I must confess I'm as new to this as anyone. It'll take a little more time to get used to this new format.
Nothing has changed basically except that it's supposed to be more user-friendly.
Imagine you are driving a manual car and now convert to driving the same car but with automatic
transmission.
That's about it. But still practice is required. And I am to learn to be adept at this new format by
experimenting on my own. What I did was start a sample blogpost including photos etc..and make
all kinds of changes to that "test" post by testing out various "buttons" on the edit header.
Sure, all kinds of mistakes were made...but I am learning in the process.
So this  post is the result of that initial experiment. Still working out how to "format" it properly!


Last Saturday saw a maximum turnout at Hwan Gardens, Serangoon Gardens for the Mid-AutumnFestival Celabrations.

It was opened to residents and others in the nice and peaceful neighbourhood.

Not surprising to see many Europeans among the appreciative crowd. Many now live there and it is certainly a good sign they have immersed themselves in the community we live in.

The participants were given goodie bags with that most important item...special battery operated lanterns that come with music! In the past we used lighted candles which caused much sorrow to the kids when the lanterns caught fire accidentally. This way, no danger of setting off any fire in public too.



Mrs Lim Hwee Hua giving her Welcome Address





The Chairman of the event Mr John Leow speaking



Lion Dance Performance / Welcome for VIP   





These pair of twins will remember this night for a long time.





Unk Dicko's grandson enjoying himself







With the help of the CC, I have prepared songsheets with lyrics for distribution to all the guests. That was very useful for them to sing along with us as we started our medley of songs.

of old time songs.



The Emcee introducing the Garden Minstrels for the very 1st time
                                       with these words

" DICK YIP and THE GARDEN MINSTRELS
This newly formed musical Singalong Group, comprises seniors mainly from
Serangoon Gardens -
3 Ukulele players, I guitarist, several percussionists and passionate singers.
The Group is founded and led by Dick Yip, a veteran Ukulelist and singer.
In 1988, as the Leader of Serangoon Gardens historic
Singalong Group and under Dick's truly inspiring leadership,
Serangoon Gardens was crowned NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in the 1st island-
wide SING SINGAPORE COMPETITION.
That Outstanding Achievement cemented Serangoon Gardens' status in the history of local music.

The Garden Minstrels preparing for their Performance

 "

A Celebrity Ukulele Performance.

Gurmit watching closely as I showed him how to "slide" from C major chord to the C7 chord...using a sort of bridging motion that produces exqusite sounds when done properly.

The crowd had gathered because our celebrity Gurmit was right there with us. This must be a first of many kinds.

As far as I can recall...and that goes back a mighty long time, no local celebrity has ever appeared in a public performance...playing the Ukulele.

This was the 1st time it has happened.

And Gurmit...you have the distinction of doing that. And only after a few minutes of personal coaching from Unk Dicko. Great job!

This is the Line Dance area which was adjacent to our performing Pavillion. It had a large regular group of cowboys and cowgirls...mostly mamas and papas who were really enjoying themselves...doing those fabulous heel and toe steps.

Quite a number "migrated" over to our pavillion as like some told us," we cannot tahan...must come and join in the fun and the songs we all like!"

So what were the songs they "all like"? will do a special post just about the songs we did for the two

days. But they were truly a great bunch of people.

Well what do you expect..if you love country and western music you have to be great..just like Unk Dicko. Haha.

Unk Dicko teach Gurmit Singh Ukulele!

The Biggest Consumer Fair for the 50+ S'pore EXPO kicked off in grand style at the Suntec Convention Centre yesterday. It was opened by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development.

Photo: Unk Dicko, Gurmit, D2
[Gurmit...u think I play play one ah? Wait lah..read what Unk D say about me below. Not bluffin , real one! ]


When I arrived with D2, we were faced with a big problem...where to locate my "Performing" pavillion. The whole interior was jam packed with people, booths, displays, sounds and noise as well..it was really huge!
I received a call from Richard my fellow ukulelist...asking where to meet me. He was in the basement carpark. I saw a big BUS near us and that was our rendezvous point. Soon, I made contact with Justin Ho, the young man from PICO who led us to
the pavillion at the "Living "sector.

While setting up our performing gear, I noticed a most familiar face in Singapore watching us intently. Who?

Mr Phua Chu Kang himself...no, no I mean GURMIT SINGH, our well known local Celebrity comedienne.

I was tuning my Ukulele just then. Unk Dicko asked him, " Hi Gurmit, great to see you here! You play the Ukulele?"

Gurmit: " No, but I do play the guitar. Are the chords the same as guitar? "

Me: " No...but it's not difficult to pick up." With that, I put my Ukulele into Gurmit's hand and gave him an instant on the spot Ukulele lesson...showing him a few of the basic chords on my other Ukulele...the Kamaka.

He really surprised me, paying close attention to the fingering I showed him.

And we strummed along.

The emcee announced to the by now large crowd, "and now ladies and gentlemen we have for you a very special Ukulele performance by Mr Dick Yip, Richard Chee and Ronald ( from Scout Hq ) who asked to join us as a trio."

At the mic, I said, " and one more....Gurmit Singh too! "

The crowd cheered and clapped loudly.

Cameras and camcorders came flashing around.


I led this quartet as we played a selection of our local favourites...Gelang Si -Paku Gelang,

Di Tanjong Katong, Chan Mali Chan etc..

The crowd was really clapping away and enjoying every bit of the beautiful music that came from 4 combined Ukuleles. We had a portable amplifier to jazz things up.

Gurmit was able to follow on the Ukulele and sing along! Amazing!

HATS off to you GURMIT !
More stories, updates and photos of Gurmit etc..to come.

Today, Sunday 11 June, Unk Dicko and friends will be at the same place to entertain with another super selection of songs....at 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm.

Don't miss it!

50+ Singapore EXPO 2009

One of the biggest event of the new year starts tomorrow, Saturday 10 January 2009, at the Suntec City Convention Centre... Hall 4, Level 4. It is anticipated to draw in a large crowd of at least 70,000 visitors. Wow...that's huge!
I received news about this mega-event end of last year through C3A.

Below is a gist I got from C3A through an email sent to all the 7 Active Ager Award Winners.

"As some of you may have been informed, C3A will be organising the 50+ Singapore Expo 2009 at the Suntec City Convention Centre on 10th January 2009. 50+ Singapore Expo 2009 is the largest fair for seniors. There will be different exhibitors offering products and services designed for seniors so that they could adopt a more active ageing lifestyle. In addition, there will be performances by interest groups, celebrities and other community organisations. In the Expo, we will also hold public forum on various health and wellness topics. To make this Expo a success, we will definitely need your help and support. We are currently designing programmes for all of you, be it a talk or a performance, so that all of you can show the participants how seniors can age actively and meaningfully. "

Unk Dicko has been invited to give a TALK on " How the internet can enhance an active ager's lifestyle". In addition, I have been invited to perform a medley of songs on the Ukulele. There will be 4 separate performances or entertainment segments, 2 per day. For this portion, I have co-invited my close friend and fellow ukelele player Richard( white shirt ) to join me as a duo. I had hoped we could make it a treble but my original ukulele disciple...T Ping ( in red shirt ) could not make it on those days. So,it will be a Ukulele duo.

For those of you who are visitors of this site and my online friends like Peter, Stanley, Thimbuktu, Chun See, Victor, YG, Jackie, and all the aspiring bloggers as well as all others, do visit this EXPO. Besides all the GREAT OFFERS ( we've been told in advance ) and lots of activities, we have the golden opportunity to meet in person for hopefully more than a chat! I
would really hope to meet up with all of you...there.

Details of Unk Dicko's Committments:

Talk on Sunday 11th Jan at 12 noon, at the Living Pavillion, Room B
Topic:
Making Your Life Easier with the Internet
Date/Time:
11 Jan, 12pm
Location:
Room B

Content:
Dick Yip, winner of the Active Agers – Infocomm Champion Award 2008, shares how he uses the Internet to blog, shop, catch up on news and be entertained… In short, to simplify and enrich his life.

Speaker:
Dick Yip, Active Agers – Infocomm Champion Award 2008 winner

Ukulele Performance:
Sat 10th Jan : 12.30 - 12.45 pm and 1.30 - 1.45 pm
Sun 11th Jan : 2.45 - 3.00 pm and 5.30 - 5.45 pm

For FULL Details of this mega event click the link below.
http://50plussingapore.com/html_Visitors/forums.html

Cheers!