We had arrived back into Singapore quite late so we went up to the room, ant had a couple of half bottles of wine so we had a drink and chatted about our experiences and how we felt everything had gone, we were both really happy about the trip and though mum and aunty m were really lovely people. We went to sleep and woke quite late the next day. Unfortunately we really wanted to be back in France sorting things out in the house so we did not feel to inclined to do much, but we decided we would take a walk over to Clarke Quay and have a wander around there, which we did. It was a nice walk, very hot and sunny, so we popped into a couple of airconned malls to cool down a little. We passed by the Durian and the Merlion, then stopped for a beer at Clarke Quay. I had read that Royal Selangor, an artisanal metal work company, had a little museum there so we went to have a look at that, the museum was not up to much but there was a work space where you could learn how to beat out a pewter bowl, after a little procrastination we decided to give it a go. We enjoyed it immensely, ant did a bowl for me with d a and r all over it, our combined initials, and i did one with david loves anthony in the middle all surrounded by a heart made of x's, which he liked too, so it was a great little souvenir of Singapore. After this we wandered back to the hotel and had a little down time, whilst ant had a nap and i watched a little T.V.
In the evening we had decided to go to Bugis Street market, not that we needed anything but it would be good for a little entertainment. We decided, after much procrastination, to eat in the Japanesse food court in the mall, it was great, they gave us a card when we went in and you went to each of the food stands and they made the stuff in front of you. I had mussels wrapped in bacon on a spit griddled, and quail eggs in bacon on a spit to start, ant had some griddled dumplings, then i had a BBQ chicken leg with almond rice and salad for a main, ant had a potatoe rosti with Japanesse curry, not very typical but very nice. We had a good wander round the market and bought nothing, then we walked back to the hotel, passing a street full of food places, the smell was wonderful. Off to bed again.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
The Big Adventure Part Four
I had arranged to go down for breakfast with mum in the morning so ant could do some bits and aunty m could too. Mum and i met up at the lifts and headed down to the club, we sat and chatted for a couple of hours about all sorts of stuff and enjoyed a nice breakfast, finally ant and aunty m showed up and we all sat with coffee on the terrace. We had booked into a Chinese restaurant for Yum Cha at eleven so jumped a taxi over, what a great place, it was huge and busy, we sat down and waiters kept passing the table with steam trolleys with differing bits of dim sum that we could pick if we wanted, mum was clearly an expert at this and chose some very nice bits for us, i particularly enjoyed the ribs and the Bok Choi and the little BBQ pork pie things.
After lunch we headed over to Paddy's market and bought a couple of bits and pieces then we headed back to the hotel, ant and i got ready and we had to say our good byes. It was quite difficult to drive away in the bus and see them stood watching us leave, but it will not be the last time we will see them and we had had such a wonderful time, the memories of our first meeting will always be good ones.
The flight back to Singapore was pretty uneventful and i ate and slept and read, i was a little down in the dumps after having left and we still had two days in Singapore before heading home.
After lunch we headed over to Paddy's market and bought a couple of bits and pieces then we headed back to the hotel, ant and i got ready and we had to say our good byes. It was quite difficult to drive away in the bus and see them stood watching us leave, but it will not be the last time we will see them and we had had such a wonderful time, the memories of our first meeting will always be good ones.
The flight back to Singapore was pretty uneventful and i ate and slept and read, i was a little down in the dumps after having left and we still had two days in Singapore before heading home.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
The Big Adventure Part Three
We arrived in Sydney at about five in the morning, i was quite fresh and ant looked better than i had ever seen him after a flight. On the transport in to the city the nerves started to kick in a little and then when we got to the hotel it was too much. No sign of mum and aunty m in the lobby or bar, so i asked at the desk if they had a Carlin registered, no they hadn't, Wood? no, so i didn't know what to do and started to get a bit dithery. Ant booked us in and we went to our room, a suite which was lovely, he tried to get online to see if there were any messages for us but i said we had to go back down to the lobby and see of we had just missed them. Ant asked the receptionist if there were any messages for him, "no, oh wait yes!! your mum will phone you in your room" so we headed back up to the room and within a minute of getting through the door the phone rang. Ant answered it was mum, they were on the same floor as us so we headed over to their room, rang the door bell and waited. Mum answered the door, she was pretty much exactly the person i had in my head, we hugged for a while then hugged aunty m, there were very few tears and then we sat and chatted for a bit, we decided to go back to our room so ant could get changed and we could smoke there as well. When we got there we exchanged gifts, mum had given me two huge beautiful aussie cook books and a load of Kath and Kim goodies for ant, aunty m gave us a lovely book on the Pemberton region and two bottles of Salitage wine and a Salitage teeshirt and apron, i have been in the teeshirt daily and am wearing it as i type. Aunty m phoned aunty Bobbie and i had a quick chat to her. When we were all ready we headed down to the Sofitel club and had some breakfast then decided what to do with the day, it was still very early, mum suggested a city tour bus out to Bondi, which sounded good so we headed down to circular key to check it out.
When we got there the place was shut so we sat and waited for it to open, aunty m's daughter phoned and we all had a chat to her. When it opened we decided it was ridiculously priced so we headed off for a coffee then decided we would take the ferry to Manly and have a look round there, which we did. At Manly we had a bit of a wander then settled down in a German beer bar and all had a beer, then we headed back to circular to get the ferry to darling and find some lunch. On the ferry on the way back over i noticed two of my old teachers from Kirkbie Kendal, Mr and Mrs Thompson, i went over and said hello, they live there now and had just got their permanent residency, what a coincidence!!
We headed over to darling and found a place for food, we all had fish and chips, which were very good and sat with a bottle of Riesling, which was also very good. We decided we had to get a couple of hours sleep in so headed back to the hotel and fell straight to sleep when we got into the loveliest bed i have ever slept in. At seven we met up again and headed out to a local restaurant where we ate some very good modern aussie cuisine, then headed back to the hotel where we had another drink then went up to our room to look at some photos on aunty m's ipod on the tv. Finally it was time to say good night and we all headed off to sleeptown very happy.
When we got there the place was shut so we sat and waited for it to open, aunty m's daughter phoned and we all had a chat to her. When it opened we decided it was ridiculously priced so we headed off for a coffee then decided we would take the ferry to Manly and have a look round there, which we did. At Manly we had a bit of a wander then settled down in a German beer bar and all had a beer, then we headed back to circular to get the ferry to darling and find some lunch. On the ferry on the way back over i noticed two of my old teachers from Kirkbie Kendal, Mr and Mrs Thompson, i went over and said hello, they live there now and had just got their permanent residency, what a coincidence!!
We headed over to darling and found a place for food, we all had fish and chips, which were very good and sat with a bottle of Riesling, which was also very good. We decided we had to get a couple of hours sleep in so headed back to the hotel and fell straight to sleep when we got into the loveliest bed i have ever slept in. At seven we met up again and headed out to a local restaurant where we ate some very good modern aussie cuisine, then headed back to the hotel where we had another drink then went up to our room to look at some photos on aunty m's ipod on the tv. Finally it was time to say good night and we all headed off to sleeptown very happy.
The Big Adventure Part Two
I woke at three in the morning, i couldn't wake ant so i went online for a little while, his laptop is terrible to use but i managed. By Six it was light and time to wake him so i got him up and we headed down to the breakfast buffet where i royally pigged out on dim sum and Japanese and traditional English breakfast stuff, they even had a honey comb suspended in a frame, which was very good. After breakfast we went for a wander through the malls next to the hotel, these go on for miles and no shops were open as it was still to early and after an hour or so i suggested we wander back. Then the shops started opening, so we mooched through a couple. I decided it would be nice to relax by the pool for a bit so we searched out some swimming shorts and headed to the pool. We had a lovely afternoon relaxing reading and swimming, unfortunately ant got somewhat burnt and i did to a lesser extent. In the evening we decided to check out the asian food court at the raffles plaza, it has had a face lift since the last time we were there, so we got some food and sat and ate for a bit then headed back to the room for an early night, we finished off the bottle of wine from the night before then fell asleep.
The next morning i woke at a much more sensible hour, we got up and headed out to hunt down some breakfast, then did a little shopping. Ant wanted me to have some pajamas for the flight so i would not look too crumpled when we arrived in Sydeney and we got a little something for mum for a birthday pressie. The day before we had seen a place advertising Doctor Fish and ant became obsessed with finding it again, which we did. We paid for fifteen minutes and went into a room full of long fish tanks, we had to wash our feet then sit on the side of the tank and dangle out feet in. It was a very strange experience, as soon as we put our feet in the fish swarmed about them nibbling all the dead skin off them, it was almost like tiny electric shocks but boy did it work. So with really smooth feet we headed back to the hotel to start preparation for heading off to Sydney. When we got to the airport the girl on the desk held me back to the end and the nerves started to kick in a little but i got on the flight and was put in first class again, i was determined to get some sleep and changed into my new pjs before the plane had even taken off, i looked a bit of a nong i am sure but it did help when i got off at the other end. I managed to sleep a little and watched a film and then the flight was over, but thats another day.
The next morning i woke at a much more sensible hour, we got up and headed out to hunt down some breakfast, then did a little shopping. Ant wanted me to have some pajamas for the flight so i would not look too crumpled when we arrived in Sydeney and we got a little something for mum for a birthday pressie. The day before we had seen a place advertising Doctor Fish and ant became obsessed with finding it again, which we did. We paid for fifteen minutes and went into a room full of long fish tanks, we had to wash our feet then sit on the side of the tank and dangle out feet in. It was a very strange experience, as soon as we put our feet in the fish swarmed about them nibbling all the dead skin off them, it was almost like tiny electric shocks but boy did it work. So with really smooth feet we headed back to the hotel to start preparation for heading off to Sydney. When we got to the airport the girl on the desk held me back to the end and the nerves started to kick in a little but i got on the flight and was put in first class again, i was determined to get some sleep and changed into my new pjs before the plane had even taken off, i looked a bit of a nong i am sure but it did help when i got off at the other end. I managed to sleep a little and watched a film and then the flight was over, but thats another day.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
the big adventure part one
i am sat at the desk of a room on the thirty third floor of the Swissotel Stamford Singapore, it is four twenty in the morning local time. Anthony is still asleep and i am trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake him. As usual i have not managed my sleep pattern very well but it will all sort itself out by tomorrow morning. The adventure began two days ago, again i woke early and then had too much time to waste before the off, but eventually we left the house and headed to the train station with Marthe, the trains ran perfectly and after two and a bit hours we were in London. Even the underground didn't give us any trouble, despite it being rush hour we got seats, it was very hot and a little over crowded but it got us there in good time and relative comfort.
At Heathrow we had to go to terminal four and see if i could check in, i could not, i was too early and would have to come back at 8.45, 2 and a bit hours later, so i sent ant off so he could get himself sorted for work and amused myself. Terminal four is horrible now, there were no seats in departures so i went down to arrivals and mooched about. I tried to book into the pod hotel for a couple of hours but they were full so i found a seat and read some of the short history of australia. Eventually the time came to go back to the staff travel desk, it is always harrowing experience, not knowing if you will get on the flight, but this time the pressure was more intense. I got chatting with a lady stood waiting, she was traveling with the captain so i knew she would get on. Finally our names were called, they gave me a seat in club, lovely, so i rushed through security and got to the gate, it was already boarding, we went straight to the executive channel and were informed we had been bumped back down to cattle class, a bit of disappointment but we had got on.
When we boarded the flight we introduced ourselves to the csd and were ushered in to a galley to wait till they could re seat us, when everyone was on we were seated, 4a, my usual seat in first class, couldn't be happier. I forwent the champagne but tucked into the macadamia nuts, my favourite nut, perused the menu and the wine list then planned my viewing choices. Finally were got off the ground and the journey began, the flight was long but the seat very comfortable, the little pre-dinner nibbles were lovely, i was a little disappointed that the crayfish ravioli had gone by the time i ordered my meal, but that's the way of things. I had an asparagus salad starter, then a lamb curry thing that stripped all the tastebuds from my tongue, half a glass of pinot noir, a very nice chocolate desert and then settled in to the films, Wolverine the beginnings, not bad, then Star Treck, simply awful. I tried to get to sleep but only managed a couple of hours.
Singapore was just as i remembered it, i got through the airport quickly, not stopping to find the roof top bar i love to go to for a smoke, headed straight outside and was hit by the damp heat, then enjoyed that smoke so long in coming for the last fourteen hours. The crew were out quickly and we headed into the city. At the hotel we got to our room, very comfortable, with the biggest firmest bed and best view of any hotel i have ever stayed in, refreshed ourselves then headed to the mall to get provisions for a room picnic. Back in the room we settled in or a relaxing night, i quickly polished off a chicken teryaki burger and a scallop thing in rice, delicious and very cheap from mos burger, and ant had a huge bucket of chicken nuggets. We relaxed and opened the bottle of wine we had bought, ant was asleep before he had had two sips so i drank a glass and finished his then went to sleep too.
At Heathrow we had to go to terminal four and see if i could check in, i could not, i was too early and would have to come back at 8.45, 2 and a bit hours later, so i sent ant off so he could get himself sorted for work and amused myself. Terminal four is horrible now, there were no seats in departures so i went down to arrivals and mooched about. I tried to book into the pod hotel for a couple of hours but they were full so i found a seat and read some of the short history of australia. Eventually the time came to go back to the staff travel desk, it is always harrowing experience, not knowing if you will get on the flight, but this time the pressure was more intense. I got chatting with a lady stood waiting, she was traveling with the captain so i knew she would get on. Finally our names were called, they gave me a seat in club, lovely, so i rushed through security and got to the gate, it was already boarding, we went straight to the executive channel and were informed we had been bumped back down to cattle class, a bit of disappointment but we had got on.
When we boarded the flight we introduced ourselves to the csd and were ushered in to a galley to wait till they could re seat us, when everyone was on we were seated, 4a, my usual seat in first class, couldn't be happier. I forwent the champagne but tucked into the macadamia nuts, my favourite nut, perused the menu and the wine list then planned my viewing choices. Finally were got off the ground and the journey began, the flight was long but the seat very comfortable, the little pre-dinner nibbles were lovely, i was a little disappointed that the crayfish ravioli had gone by the time i ordered my meal, but that's the way of things. I had an asparagus salad starter, then a lamb curry thing that stripped all the tastebuds from my tongue, half a glass of pinot noir, a very nice chocolate desert and then settled in to the films, Wolverine the beginnings, not bad, then Star Treck, simply awful. I tried to get to sleep but only managed a couple of hours.
Singapore was just as i remembered it, i got through the airport quickly, not stopping to find the roof top bar i love to go to for a smoke, headed straight outside and was hit by the damp heat, then enjoyed that smoke so long in coming for the last fourteen hours. The crew were out quickly and we headed into the city. At the hotel we got to our room, very comfortable, with the biggest firmest bed and best view of any hotel i have ever stayed in, refreshed ourselves then headed to the mall to get provisions for a room picnic. Back in the room we settled in or a relaxing night, i quickly polished off a chicken teryaki burger and a scallop thing in rice, delicious and very cheap from mos burger, and ant had a huge bucket of chicken nuggets. We relaxed and opened the bottle of wine we had bought, ant was asleep before he had had two sips so i drank a glass and finished his then went to sleep too.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Sunday 09th August
Just one day until we head off, and it was quite a packed one. When we were all up and ready we headed into Hesin, did a little shopping and then went to the Hesdin Brocant, like a big car boot sale without the car. We headed over to Maggie and Mikes place where they had opened their courtyard and were selling stuff, Marion was there, and Rosie, Jackie and Tony. So we had a good morning of sitting around in the sun chatting, Sandra and Jim turned up for a bit and several others wandered in and out of the scene. We didn't buy anything but ant and Ian had a couple of drinks and at lunch time we all had a something to eat off the barbie.
We headed home about half two, Maggie had given us some curtains for the house which will be better than the ones up at the moment. On the way home i could sense ant was getting tired so i suggested he get a nap in before the evening, ian and i went to sort out the rabbits, then we headed off in search of an open tabac, a bit of a task on a Sunday. When we got back ant started on the packing, and i sorted out the stuff i was going to take, i got everything i needed into a small bag and ant did the same, it makes it easier when we are heading across London on the tube. Fen and Tally got picked up so that was another thing off the list, and then i started on preparations for the Apero, ant washed down the table outside and ian cleared the garden of doggy gifts.
Just as we finished our preparations Janine arrived, with a bag of tomatoes and a courgette. About half an hour later Marte arrived and we had a lovely evening sitting out eating and chatting and making merry, Ian was quite impressed at our ability to speak the lingo and said he really enjoyed sitting there listening to it. The lady's left at about nine and we stayed out until about eleven, it was a lovely clear night, very starry and a very pleasant evening all in all. We headed off to bed at eleven, i decided the dogs could come in with us as we would not be seeing them again for a while and the richardson-rigg family all headed off to snooze town in one big pile.
Ant woke at seven this morning, monday, to find one of the dogs had very kindly had several accidents all over the carpet, so it was a lovely task for me clearing it up, it's a good job i am not hungover, i will need to vax the rooms upstairs when i get back anyway. Unfortunately this means i am up very early, seven o'clock, and have until one twenty this afternoon to wait until we actually set off into the unknown, so a long morning of finding things to keep me occupied. I am not sure if i will be able to keep the blog up while we are away, i am leaving my lap top at home but i will have ants notebook so who knows, so that may be all till we get back.
We headed home about half two, Maggie had given us some curtains for the house which will be better than the ones up at the moment. On the way home i could sense ant was getting tired so i suggested he get a nap in before the evening, ian and i went to sort out the rabbits, then we headed off in search of an open tabac, a bit of a task on a Sunday. When we got back ant started on the packing, and i sorted out the stuff i was going to take, i got everything i needed into a small bag and ant did the same, it makes it easier when we are heading across London on the tube. Fen and Tally got picked up so that was another thing off the list, and then i started on preparations for the Apero, ant washed down the table outside and ian cleared the garden of doggy gifts.
Just as we finished our preparations Janine arrived, with a bag of tomatoes and a courgette. About half an hour later Marte arrived and we had a lovely evening sitting out eating and chatting and making merry, Ian was quite impressed at our ability to speak the lingo and said he really enjoyed sitting there listening to it. The lady's left at about nine and we stayed out until about eleven, it was a lovely clear night, very starry and a very pleasant evening all in all. We headed off to bed at eleven, i decided the dogs could come in with us as we would not be seeing them again for a while and the richardson-rigg family all headed off to snooze town in one big pile.
Ant woke at seven this morning, monday, to find one of the dogs had very kindly had several accidents all over the carpet, so it was a lovely task for me clearing it up, it's a good job i am not hungover, i will need to vax the rooms upstairs when i get back anyway. Unfortunately this means i am up very early, seven o'clock, and have until one twenty this afternoon to wait until we actually set off into the unknown, so a long morning of finding things to keep me occupied. I am not sure if i will be able to keep the blog up while we are away, i am leaving my lap top at home but i will have ants notebook so who knows, so that may be all till we get back.
Friday 7th August and Sat 8th
I know i have missed a day and i apologist, but there has been so much going on that it slipped down on the importance stakes, so here are two days for the price of one!! On Thursday we had to nip into town to get some materials for the house as we now have a long to do list, and i needed to get some things for the dinner party in the evening. Whilst at Carrefore we bumped into Mark so gave him a lift back to Le Parq. I sorted out his scanner for him and ant chatted to David for a while then we headed home. Ant spent the afternoon ripping up the nasty carpet on the stairs and then trying to remove the underlay that had been glued down so as to withstand a nuclear blast, in doing so he created enough dust to re sand the Sahara! He looked so funny in just a pair of undies and a t shirt covered in underlay dust. I set to on the dinner party, a chilled pea soup to start, then a beef bourguignon, cheese plate and finishing with peaches steeped in muscat wine. At about four in the arvo i released ant for his servitude and sent him off for a nap. Tony, Jackie, Paul and Ally arrived at about seven thirty, Ally was very taken with the house, it is a cute place, and we had a really good evening full of chat and laughter, ant and i even got old photo's out so we must have been a little merry!!
On Saturday we got up at eight thirty, tidied up a bit and then headed off to pick Ian up from Paris. It is about a two and a half hour drive, and we stopped on the way down to eat as i was absolutely famished. He arrived on time and we headed back home. We dropped his stuff at the house and relaxed for half an hour then headed out to the supermarket to get supplies for Ian's time here alone. When i was satisfied he had everything he would need for the duration we came home. The headache i was owed by my hangover started to kick in with force so ant said he would cook and i could go relax in front of the telly while he and Ian chatted in the kitchen, i did this for about half an hour then joined them. We had a good night, ant did a very nice chicken in white wine stew with roasted potatoes and we sat and drank beer and chatted till about eleven then all headed off to bed. Only Sunday to go then we will start our trip, so there will be plenty of excitement on Monday morning!!
On Saturday we got up at eight thirty, tidied up a bit and then headed off to pick Ian up from Paris. It is about a two and a half hour drive, and we stopped on the way down to eat as i was absolutely famished. He arrived on time and we headed back home. We dropped his stuff at the house and relaxed for half an hour then headed out to the supermarket to get supplies for Ian's time here alone. When i was satisfied he had everything he would need for the duration we came home. The headache i was owed by my hangover started to kick in with force so ant said he would cook and i could go relax in front of the telly while he and Ian chatted in the kitchen, i did this for about half an hour then joined them. We had a good night, ant did a very nice chicken in white wine stew with roasted potatoes and we sat and drank beer and chatted till about eleven then all headed off to bed. Only Sunday to go then we will start our trip, so there will be plenty of excitement on Monday morning!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
