Monday, May 31, 2010

visitors & birthdays...




Please excuse my absence last week.  It was due to a number of factors.  Firstly, entertaining Mr W's parents requires a surprising amount of time spent food shopping, cooking deliciousness and generally keeping house.  Secondly, I don't have a well stocked photo library with which I can adorn my blog at the drop of  hat (something I need to work on).  And lastly, I'm still somewhat challenged in the blogging department and find tinkering takes A LOT longer than it should and almost always ends in a complete disaster!  It remains a complete mystery to me as to how I managed to put a book cover image in the side bar...so I've decided just to stick to a plain old list from now on!

Anyway, we've had a lovely week with my in laws.  We've been to China Town (still one of my favourite places), the Night Safari, the Zoo (Pickle was braver than me)...


swum lots, enjoyed Sunday Brunch (at Checkers Brasserie at the Hilton), and many other things in between.

Mr W's birthday was at the weekend, for which Pickle baked the most delicious cake, complete with glitter of course.  And we popped to Raffles for a Singapore Sling (or mojito in my case)


Tonight, we're meant to be having a bbq, although I'm not entirely convinced we'll be eating outside as it seems to be raining at the moment.  But to be honest, I don't mind either way, as the main thing is it's being cooked by my mother in law, so I don't have to lift a finger - happy days!

Wishing you a lovely week xx

Friday, May 21, 2010

lazy days off...


Today Pickle and Betsy have had the day off school, so after making sure everywhere looks ship shape in anticipation of the arrival of Mr W's parents, we have had a very relaxing day.  First up, Rabs (Pickle's much loved cuddly) had a long overdue wash and is now soaking up the rays to dry off.

Next, we started to make Pickle's party invitations.  Just over 4 weeks to go, and counting!


And then, just as I sat down with my afternoon cup of tea, this came in the post...



Lovely!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. x

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

crafting...


Over the last few days, the girls have been busy making things for Mr W's upcoming birthday.  They've also been making friendship bracelets to send to friends back home using this brilliant Klutz book.

It must be said that, much as they love the book and its brilliant designs, they do sometimes rely on their own interpretation, because otherwise they'd be there for ever.  But the hardest thing seems to be persuading them to start off with a sufficiently long piece of embroidery thread that will enable the recipient to put it round their wrist rather than one of their teddies!  Mind you, I remember endlessly cutting bits of ribbon, material and so on far too short as a child, so it must either be a family failing or a rite of passage!

Hope you're all having a lovely week. xx

PS Much as we had delicious food at 1 TwentySix on Friday night, the service wasn't what I would have hoped for, so I don't think we'll be rushing back there.  Shame, as the ambience and setting were lovely.

Friday, May 14, 2010

hurray for fridays...


What with one thing and another, this week has been a very busy week.  My in-laws arrive a week today, so I'm trying to do that last final push to tidy up the apartment and make sure that everything both has a rightful place, and is in it's rightful place.  I have therefore been to Ikea and, hopefully, built what is my first and last piece of furniture all by myself!  This usually falls into Mr W's remit, but he was going out that evening, and I couldn't wait.  As you can see, there is still an empty pigeon hole, but I suspect that won't last much beyond tonight - I believe it is the perfect size for Sylvanians.

This morning, after a very relaxing coffee with girlfriends, I decided, on a whim, to rearrange the girls' bedroom furniture, in an effort to give them a more sensible play space.  I think my endeavours have gone down well, although the downside, certainly as far as Pickle is concerned, is that her and Betsy's beds are now next to each other.  She is, however, next to her paintings that she did, so I think I've managed to get away with it!

I have also nearly finished sorting out the workroom.  There's a little bit of tweaking left to do, but hopefully pictures will follow next week. 

Tonight, Mr W and I are going out for a meal with some friends to 1 TwentySix which is on the East Coast.  I haven't been there before but have heard good reports from friends, so I am very much looking forward to sitting outside, relaxing, enjoying that very comforting view, and hopefully enjoying delicious food.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. xx

Monday, May 10, 2010

weekend fun...



So, Family Day was lovely.  Pretty much all the teachers were there.  The girls had their nails painted, hair braided, henna tattoos applied, and then bounced until very sticky on the bouncy castle!

Yesterday was Mothers' Day here, so I had lots of lovely cards to open.  I shall put these up in the workroom, which is still very much a work in progress.  In fact, I daren't show you any the pictures - it looks worse than it did 3 weeks ago!

Both the girls have just taken up inline skating, so they are now the proud owners of their very own skates and pads.  Needless to say, Betsy's are pink, whilst Pickle opted for the slightly more sophisticated blue.  They seem to be doing remarkably well, probably partly because we have done a lot of ice skating since we arrived, which I guess must help with their sense of balance.  I have to say, I'm very pleased.  Whilst I think that Betsy might have been interested back home, I don't imagine Pickle would have been - it's amazing how much more of an outdoor and active lifestyle we lead here.

Hope you all have a good week x

Friday, May 7, 2010

parcels and politics...



As you can see, I managed to package all my China Town goodies up and have posted them all back home already, which is very unusual for me.  Could have something to do with the fact that some of them are a little on the late side!

Talking of home, how exciting is the election?  As I type, I have the BBC News page up in the right hand corner of my screen, which I am listening to obsessively, possibly more so than ever before. 4am in the morning UK time, and no one knows who's going to be in government.  It will be very interesting to see what happens...

But enough of politics, hope you all have a fab weekend, we're off to a Family Day at school (whatever that means!).  See you on Monday xx

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

china town meanderings...


Saw this person a while or so ago and couldn't resist taking a photo, which I was reminded of  when I went to China Town again the other day.  I have to say, I love going up there and just mooching around all the lovely stalls.  I went because it seems to be birthday season for a lot of friends and family back home, so I wanted to get lots of little things to post back.  Now all I need to do is wrap them up, which is where the system tends to go wrong!  That is perhaps a job for tonight when it's a little cooler - is it me or is it REALLY hot at the moment?

Hope you're all enjoying your week x

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Better late than never...



[More blogging issues I'm afraid troops, so this post is two days late.  I'm still struggling with uploading pictures.  Anyway, here is Friday's missive.]

So, what do you think?  Completely different, cleaner, lighter, larger and just nicer to be in.  I'm SO pleased with the new improved kitchen, I can't begin to tell you.  Most things have a new home, so I keep going into the wrong cupboard, but I just don't mind.  In honour of the occasion, I cooked a very nice meal last night and already have a menu plan up to Sunday, which is unheard of unless we're entertaining!

Off to see Stereophonics tonight.  Surely this is what being an expat's all about. Hope you all have a fab weekend. xx