Since it had now become my birthday in Aust we opened the French Champagne they had brought with them, it seemed no time at all before it was also my birthday local time so then we opened the Rose. Next morning we all went to Chinatown and then had lunch in the Arab St area before once again Eric and I headed for work. Y and J should have been flying out by that evening but unfortunately Jetstar had had to make diversionary plans due to bad weather in Darwin over the previous 24hr period so they got to stay an extra night. It was great to see them so relaxed after their holiday and share a little of our settling in period and my birthday.
As a birthday treat I shouted myself a foot therapy where you plunge your feet into a tank of water and the fish feed on all the dead skin. Might sound disgusting but it is actually quite ticklish. I also took the plunge and had a haircut, they still do the shampooing at the mirror and just rinse off at the sink. I love it.
4 weeks of work done and dusted already. Along with almost all the other teachers we tried out the Grapevine Cafe and Wine Bar on Sunday evening and although the service wasn't that flash we found they have a Yering Station Sauv Blanc on the wine list for less than $60. This week we administer the system-wide tests. Each session (other than the Nursery classes) complete the tests, we are not allowed to help in any way. Apparently the best way to get through the 2 hr session is to mark the test from the previous session, that way you don't have to take any work home. Doesn't sound too difficult.
The walkers club arranged an East Coast bike ride this week which we had every intention of joining, but I just couldn't get out of bed on Monday morning. We did eventually get to the starting point at Bedok but what with my sleeping in and us badly underestimating how long it would take us to train, bus and then walk to get there, we well and truly missed the group. We figured we might catch them on the return leg so we took off on bikes which you can hire for 3 hrs for just $8 ea. We headed towards the airport on bike trails following the coast passing by jetties with people fishing, skate parks, ponds and gardens, water ski tow facility, sailing and water sports club, the Laguna National Golf Club, Outward Bound etc.
This is a very popular spot on the weekends but fortunately for us, very quiet during the weekday. We continued on, since we hadn't seen the group returning, on a Park Connector trail through quite dense jungle and sometimes Casuarina forest, right alongside the airport and on to the Changi Ferry Terminal. By this time we had been cycling for an hour and we were hungry, not to mention saddle-sore. With no food outlets anywhere near us we headed all the way back to our starting point and collapsed into the air-conditioned comfort of a McCafe to demolish a foccacia and cappuccino. We figured the group must have been having lunch somewhere as we rode out. Not to worry we certainly got our $8 worth. It was a great way to enjoy the open spaces and see and hear a few local birds too. After all that exercise we felt not the least bit guilty munching on the fabulous chocolate chip cookies Y and J gave me. Had a quiet night in then, watching a video borrowed from the local library and began some research about travel to Laos for our 1st term break. Just 6 weeks away. Hope all our colleagues returning to work this week don't find it too stressful.
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