My Weekend

Mel Ferdinands. PHOTO: ST FILE

No matter how busy he is, Singapore musician Mel Ferdinands always squeezes in some time for music during the weekends.

The 55-year-old won the now-defunct talent competition Talentime in 1971 with his brother Joe.

As part of the Esplanade's free programming, Ferdinands and his 28-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, a full-time musician and model, recently performed there together.

They live in a five-room condominium in Upper Bukit Timah with Ferdinands' wife, Gillian, who is in her late 40s.

Busy, or free and easy: How do you like your weekends?

I would love to have a laidback weekend to recharge, reflect and revitalise.

But I'm usually busy since it's the only time I can get chores done, such as changing sheets or doing some fixing and polishing work around the house.

What do you do for leisure?

I try to catch up with friends either through social media or Saturday gatherings.

I also like to write songs and practise playing the guitar alone. But when my family or my siblings are around, we'll get together to jam and play all kinds of music on the guitar.

Are there any restaurants you like to frequent during the weekend?

Coachman Inn Restaurant at Changi Sailing Club is a beautiful place to chill. It's always nice to feel the breeze on your face.

I also love the neighbourhood coffee shop in Eng Kong Terrace for its stir-fried crab with sliced ginger, and Sher Restaurant in Bukit Timah, which in my opinion, has the best mutton briyani and tandoori fish.

Complete this sentence: My perfect weekend would be...

Any weekend spent with loved ones and music.

Phoebe Low

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 19, 2016, with the headline My Weekend. Subscribe