popping in...

Just a quickie today.  We're off to HK later, so it's all a little fraught this end, but I didn't want to you to think I'd forgotten you!  Won't be back until the end of April.

Until then, happy Easter xx

things to do this week...

Think that just about covers it! xx

she's back!

  image courtesy of Shabby Blogs (thank you)

Pickle's been on her year 5 residential trip with school this week, and came back from Pulau Sibu (an island of eastern Malaysia) this afternoon, looking tired, tanned, happy and possibly a little more knowing, and smelling slightly musty!  The first thing she did when she saw me was squeeze me like a snake, which was lovely.  I think we've all REALLY missed her.  Breakfast was the strangest, as that's when we're generally all together, and by the time we got to this morning's cornflakes, it seemed like she'd been gone for an age.

She's been regaling us with stories ever since she got back, about making fire, building shelters, making bamboo rice, eating satay to mention but a few.... Then promptly fell asleep whilst Betsy was reading us all a story.  I think we still have a huge amount more to learn, and a whole heap more washing to do, but I'm really looking forward to hearing all about it this weekend - it's GREAT to have her back!

Happy weekending xo

all change...

Hope you like the new look.  I've tried to look at my blog with fresh eyes and have hopefully come up with a pared down version.

It took me ages to find the right coloured text, as I was reluctant to lose the prettiness of the pink effect, soft pastels being some of my favourite colours. (Did I tell you that our front door in London is a delicate shade of pink: poor Mr W doesn't stand a chance!)

I like to think I got round it by including the lilac building in my banner (think that's what the bit at the top's called). It's actually a shot of one of the shophouses in Chinatown that I took when we were there the other day.  I might still have a little tinkering to do, but all in all, I'm quite pleased.  Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

xo

this weekend...

Has been a bit of a mixed bag.  We had friends arriving on Saturday, a girlfriend and her family we met through NCT pretty much 10 years ago, before our eldest children were born.  Unfortunately, they didn't realise that you need to have 6+ months left on your passport to visit Singapore, and one of them only had 4 months....... so at the moment, only 2 of them are here.  The other 2 will hopefully fly out tonight once the passport has been sorted out.  So, whilst we've been trying to make the most of it over here, and the 2 boys back home have been living it up, it hasn't turned out to be quite the weekend we'd expected.  That said, we still managed to enjoy ourselves and do the tourist thing.

Yesterday, I had breakfast in bed in honour of Mother's Day - there was even a flower (and a rose at that) on the tray.  Then we had brunch at The Fullerton, which, coincidentally, was where we were last year for Mother's Day (I can see a tradition emerging here which I'm more than happy to adopt!)  After we'd completely stuffed ourselves, we took a boat trip around Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and even up as far as the Merlion (piccies to follow later this week).  It's something we've been threatening to do for ages, but we thought we should save it for when we have visitors.  I'd definitely recommend it, if only so you can fully appreciate the beautiful bronzes of the river boys jumping into the river...

Wishing you all a Happy Monday - we're off to Universal for the day - yippee! xx

singapore street life: lau pa sat

When I was doing my course a week or so ago, I would get off the bus at Raffles Link, pretty much in the heart of the city and work my way through to Club Street, at the back of Chinatown.  And every single time, I would walk through Lau Pa Sat hawker centre.

Now, I'm not a big fan of hawker centres, mainly because I'm such a woose in the food department (and then I wonder who Betsy takes after) but this one is BEAUTIFUL.  So, on my last day I went to my course laden down with all my files and my camera, because I just couldn't resist.  These photos were taken at about 9 o'clock in the morning, so well before the rush of office workers come in for lunch, but I just love the detail of this Victorian building.  And the fact that it's surrounded by some of Singapore's tallest, glossiest, most modern buildings makes it all the more surprising.

Happy weekend xo

PS I know I'm posting this late as far as Singapore time is concerned, but I have no guilt or terror or deep set panic - I think the wise words of this blog just might be paying off!

list no. 2...

So far this week, I have mainly been:

1. catching up with household chores after a couple of weeks studying

2. enjoying Pickle's recorder recital and Betsy's 'claymation' assembly at school

3. thinking about packing for Pickle's residential trip next week.  She's off to a Malaysian island on Tuesday (not Monday as I had initially thought!)

4. spring cleaning in anticipation of visitors arriving this weekend 

5. fiddling with photoshop as best I can 

6. thinking (but only thinking) about studying for my next exam.

7. very much looking forward to lunch with girlfriends today - we're trying the local fish & chippie!

 

Hope you're having a good week xo