Mundays on Thursday

If you have email, you really should read it. We had sent Jenni and Glenn the details of how to find our apartment, same set Luke and Tahlia had no trouble with, but they didn't read them. They did get to our condo but then had no idea which level or number. Fortunately I found them in the lobby not too long after, but it wasn't the open arms welcome they were expecting. Pity that. We spent Friday in the Arab Street precinct, the area around the Mosque was alive with all the men making their way to prayers. We stopped by the Dinky Di Secondhand Store where I bought the mahjong set a few years back. This store is amazing, you can't step in more than about a metre because every bit of space is occupied with trash and treasure. We found an old sewing machine that I thought could be useful but you had to wind the wheel by hand, not electric, so saved my money. Before we headed off to work we enjoyed another lovely murtabah upstairs at Zam Zams and then left Jenni and Glenn to wander and shop on their own.  That evening we returned from work to a home cooked meal which was quite a novelty and much appreciated. 

It wasn't easy to get to work on Saturday morning but as usual the day went very quickly and afterwards we headed straight to Little India where we found the Mundays sharing a beer at a sidewalk cafe, enjoying all the sights and colours of this vibrant district.  They had spent the day indulging in retail therapy, something they have had little opportunity to do of late while towing a camper van through the centre of Aust. We shared a meal at the New Everest Restaurant where some of the staff now recognise us which is nice.

While we worked, Jenni and Glenn ventured into town and explored the Marina Bay area including a circuit on the Singapore Flyer. By sheer coincidence I had arranged with Punggol Branch that Kovan staff would share drinks with them after the working week on this particular Sunday. They are at the end of the line so to speak, 5 stations further east from Kovan and it seems they feel a bit isolated at times. So after work on Sunday Jenni and Glenn met us for a quick tour of the branch and then we all caught the MRT to Punggol and then the light rail to Riviera.  This area is all new development so the skyline is littered with cranes and glitzy new buildings.  We found the local staff, including Wayne and Pauline Ash who lived in Butterwoth with us in the 80s, at a bistro.  It was a chance for the Mundays to catch up with them, and amazingly, there was another chap at the table who had also been a work colleague of Glenn.s on the Central Coast.  Small world! The bistro was in a great location overlooking the river and its meandering walkway; looks like a good option for a future walking club venue. 

Although a sleep-in on Monday morning would have been appreciated, we all headed up Bukit Timah with the walkers.  Jenni and Glenn were very brave to tackle this, as it is the only significant hill on the whole island, but then they have done Kota Kinabalu in Sabah so why not? In comparison this is just a pimple. I used my new hiking pole that I bought in Turkey and believe it really did make a difference for my knee in handling all those deep steps. 

After lunch at Beauty Plaza we had a spa at the condo and contemplated the next dinner setting and menu options.  How is it that when you are busy, a cheese sandwich and apple can feel quite satisfactory, but when you have time to think about it you can spend so much time and energy discussing and considering food?  We settled on Chomp Chomp Hawker Stalls in Serangoon Gardens where we dined on stingray flaps, satays and bee hoon. 

On Tuesday we all enjoyed that long overdue sleep-in.  The Gardens By the Bay opened only a week ago so we took the MRT to Marina Bay precinct to see the latest of the Govt's projects which are transforming Singapore into the 'City in a Garden'.  Jenni paddled a dragon boat across this same marina in an event just a few years ago and they are staggered by the development that has gone up around it in such a short time.  Only the first stage of the garden, 54ha of a 100ha site, is developed at this point and apart from the beautiful plants it also has supertree sculptures (which are really vertical gardens) that stand up to 50m high and 2 cool indoor biomes, one moist and one dry. 

We only had time to scratch the surface of all that there is on display and words, even pictures, can't do justice to the colours, perfumes and scenery.  You'll have to come and enjoy it for yourselves.  Eric and I will definitely be happy to revisit with you, especially as the Mundays generously bought us year passes to the ticketed areas. I had to dash off to the Skin Clinic for a check up in the afternoon, happy to report that all is well.  Love the medical system here, only wait a week to see a specialist, only pay S$80 for an appointment with them! 

In the evening I was committed to a Book Club mtg.  Felt I had to go since I had suggested the book this time.  It was 'Year of Wonders' by Geraldine Brooks and everyone loved it, if you are looking for a recommendation, though it is not on the new releases list. 2001 I think, we have to select books that everyone can get copies of in Singapore. The others all ate at Lau Pa Sat which offers hawker food right between the big business towers of Raffles Quay. We all arrived home within minutes of each other, which was a good thing since they had both sets of keys. 

Initially there were a couple of options for Wednesday morning before we went back to work and they departed for the airport: we could visit Singapore's Biennial Flower Show at Sun Tec City, shop at Marina Bay Sands or just share some relaxed down-time together. The night before we were all full of enthusiasm but when the morning dawned (or truthfully it was a bit later) option 3 seemed to suit everyone best. Jenni and I blogged (yes she now has a blog up and running) and then she taught me (again) how to play Australian Rummy. The last time we played this she was spending 4 hours in Gosford General Hospital Outpatients while her allergic reaction to betel leaf subsided. Eric and Glenn discussed music and shared movies and digital books. All too soon it was time we made our way to work and they picked up the last few items before packing.  We have so enjoyed their company over the last week - the select kind of friends you can see very little of over the years but pick up conversation with as if you had seen them last week. Special.