One week to go

What I didn't mention last week was that on Monday night, heading out to the staff Christmas dinner, the taxi arrived earlier than expected so I gulped down an icy cold drink which set off that toothache that has intermittently been bothering me for about 2 months. I have been using the de-sensitizing toothpaste as recommended at two visits to the dentist but with little improvement. The pain would not go away so on Wednesday morning I revisited the National Dental Clinic at Outram as a walk-in patient and this time they discovered the crack in my wisdom tooth. No wonder the Sensodyne wasn't helping! To cut a long story short I opted to have it extracted on the spot rather than go through root canal treatment and a crown. This also saved us about Sg$2,000 and it probably wasn't any less uncomfortable. Is this another sign of the ageing process? Is it true they put horses down when they start loosing condition as their teeth deteriorate? You needn't worry about me yet though, despite my best efforts I still have plenty of condition.
So I missed work on Wednesday afternoon and the only teacher who happened to have down-time was Eric, his first ever classes where no students showed up all year. He had the pleasure of taking my 3yr old Nursery class and by all accounts enjoyed singing 'Old McDonald Has A Farm' and doing a colouring-in activity. Peter happened to turn up at the branch and caught him on camera.

On Sunday night after work we met Peter at Marina Bay Sands Theatre Complex to see Jersey Boys. I hope you all got to see it. We loved the way it told the story of how the four blue-collar NY kids, who had each spent time behind bars for 'small misdemeanours', became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. It was interesting to discover the origins of some of their hit songs Sherry, Stay, Oh What a Night and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. 

Listening to the familiar hits reminded me of days living in the terrace house in Dawson St, Ballarat (circa 1976) when the students next door bought a copy of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Greatest Hits. All we had to do was knock on the wall and ask them to turn it up louder. Peter, who unlike either of us can carry a tune, couldn't help himself and sang throughout the performance. I tried to limit myself to just toe tapping but by the encore I couldn't help but be seen jiving in the seat. On the platform waiting for the train home we were approached by a local who couldn't help but ask what we were doing as Peter and I tried to imitate the smooth moves of the band. When we got home we went straight onto uTube to see and hear more of them, we just couldn't get enough. This morning Peter sent us a text as we were heading to the MRT for the weekly walk that began like this: Oo Ooo Oo Oo Oo Oo Oo Ooo Walk like a man...... Funny bugger. I think my anthem on the trek might now be Big Girls Don't Cry. I'll sing it each time I try to rise from squatting over the long drop.

 Christmas decorations in Marina Bay sands Complex

 This is the first time we have seen the indoor waterfall open

This morning's walk was planned as something gentle, Eric suggests it is the classic training schedule where fine athletes taper off before a big event.  I know better, I know Peter recognises my knees are giving me trouble so he is going easy on the whole group. We walked all over Clementi Woods and then West Coast Park. This park is built entirely on reclaimed land. It has something for everyone with a bicycle obstacle course and buggies for hire, a designated dog run and overnight camping. What impressed us the most was the marsh garden which looked promising as a bird watching area but there was a lot of noise from the nearby container port terminal so we actually saw very little. Never mind, a very pleasant stroll and lovely lunch to follow at ViviCity. 

But before we got there Peter diverted us into Haw Par Villa. This is a Chinese mythological theme park complete with static concrete statues and dioramas depicting scenes of Chinese folklore. It was built in the 1930s by brothers from Myanmarr who moved to Singapore and expanded their very successful business. They were known as the Tiger Balm Kings of Rangoon. In the 80's it was taken over by the Singapore Tourism Board and restored. In our eyes it  is hideous but that probably only indicates our lack of knowledge about Chinese folklore and mythology. Founded on legends and values, the Ten Stages of Hell exhibit was particularly bizarre - a place that gave me the creeps, let alone take a child in there! According to Chinese mythology, a soul must pass through ten courts of judgment, before being allowed into heaven. In this ghastly place there are very detailed representations of these trials which include having your internal organs extracted via your belly button, your hands and head cut off, being impaled with a searingly hot metal rod. If you survive these punishments for crimes like having disrespectful thoughts about your parents, then you can enter heaven. How do people of sound mind come up with such torturous punishments?  Do people really believe it helps make young children behave better? Must say Eric and I were very lenient parents although there were times we might have considered an accompanied walk through this exhibit if it had been on hand. Maybe Mum should have had access to this when I was about 12!

And this is the way they were behaving before they saw the exhibits! Remind you of a Beatles album cover?

Deepavali to Christmas

We sent our visitors off safely in the taxi to the airport on Tue evening and realised we only have one more visitor booked in for this year. We are really looking forward to Adrian joining us for our first Christmas here in Singapore. He arrives just after we get back from Nepal.

On Thursday we went back bird watching to Bidadari. The slasher was in operation so there were few birds about, but we did spot a raptor and took off into the longer grass in an attempt to get closer and identify it.  That's when we came across a big black snake. Thankfully it had heard or felt us approaching and was heading away, rather than towards us, but it certainly put the wind up me and I will not be so careless again. The other thing I have discovered is that stumbling around in the long grass is the worst thing for my knees; by late afternoon they are both painful and swollen. I've had to resort to anti-inflammatory drugs for the first time since we began training.

In the afternoon MAE Social Committee took the members to lunch at Bishan. Approaching the Mall I heard the first Christmas carols of the season. Talk about roll from one festival to the next! It was a Jessica Mauboy Christmas album of all things. Then we had our last meeting for the year, I will offer to relinquish the position next year and encourage another new staff member to take it up as it was a good way to meet other staff from different branches. While I was at the meeting Eric was left the task of researching online for an outlet for self inflating sleeping mats which we need for the trek. I picked up a good deal on one last week but there was only one left in stock at Mustafas. As a result of his time spent we went shopping on Friday morning and came home with his mat.

Getting those tax returns done was a good idea. It really wasn't that hard once I got started, spent a lot more time thinking about getting it done, than in the actual collation. Thanks to the agent in Darwin it is now done and dusted for 2012 and I can stop thinking about it as I swim laps of the pool and try to keep count at the same time.

On Monday the trekkers climbed Bukit Timah for the last time in 2012. We walked further than ever before and completed it in record time so gave each other a pat on the back. But after that effort we didn't commit to dancing the night away with Judie, one of the (younger) members of the group who was celebrating a birthday. 

Peter with candles on Hash Brown

 Birthday Girl

 Summit for the last time in 2012

Instead we went to the Line Restaurant at The Shangri La in town with the staff from our branch and also Punggol.  It was where I had arranged the End of Year function and was a spread even Ron would have been impressed with. I think he would have especially enjoyed the chocolate fountain. 

The Christmas lights in Orchard Rd are already in place and look pretty impressive. The Light-up and Switch-on Ceremony was held on Saturday night at the outdoor atrium of ION Orchard, one of the biggest malls. Besides the festivities the event is also a Charity Fundraiser. 

A number of our colleagues are leaving Singapore as their contracts are coming to an end. One thing that really amazed us when we arrived was that no one leaving the branch had left a box of 'trash and treasure' for us to pick through. So after a sleep-in this morning we had arranged for Bala (the chap who helped us collect the red sofa) to pick up Eric and they went around to Trisha's place. They loaded up Bala's van with bookshelves, airing rack and iron, kitchen stuff and general paraphernalia that a new person can make good use of. At home it now feels a bit cramped but it is only for a few weeks and we have scored a microwave and a good desk chair for ourselves for the cost of hiring Bala. 

Hari Raya Haji to Deepavali

Today we visited the Botanic Gardens with Mervyn and Yvonne, who are now on their way home from the trip to Koh Samui. There is an exhibition of Zadok Ben-David's sculptures on show which includes 17 installations, some are single pieces where others involve a number of figures. They are all made of rusted iron and take their inspiration from nature so plants, butterflies and the human figure are featured.  All are interesting, some beautiful. Being a public holiday there were many people in the park enjoying the gardens despite the intermittent rain.

 This one is Midnight Dance

 A Crimson Sunbird at the Botanic Gardens

The night before we returned to Little India to enjoy the spectacle of the Deepavali  Festival. Meaning “row of lights,” it is celebrated by Hindus across the world and is the most important festival in Hinduism. The street decorations are amongst the brightest we've seen so far in Singapore with Serangoon Rd in Little India lined with thousands of lights, representing the oil lamps once lit by Hindus to celebrate Lord Krishna's victory over the tyrannical King Narakasura.  

Singapore celebrates with another Public Holiday but since it falls on a Tuesday this year MAE teachers are already on their 'weekend'. New clothes are worn during Deepavali and the streets and bazaars are stacked with outfits in every colour combination you could imagine. There are also stalls preparing flower garlands, sweets and cookies and henna artists who will paint your hands with temporary tattoos. Singapore has a significant number of Indians (nearly 10% of the population) and I think they all congregated in this one suburb last night. The streets were full of traffic and pedestrians, the footpaths crammed - especially when another downpour was unleashed upon us. The whole place was crowded with Indian families and throngs of Indian construction workers who have a rare day off the next day. And that's not counting the tourists and sticky-beak ex-pats! Taking shelter from the rain in the Mustafa Centre, we managed to pick up some bargains without loosing each other, which is quite a feat in itself since this mega-store is spread over a number of buildings and up to 6 floors. There are not many lines they don't carry with stock piled high and often spilling into the narrow aisles between. In the fabric department on basement Level 2, I was reminded of the old Job Shop in Collins St, Melb with bolts of cloth stacked to the ceiling, women diving their hands deep into the stacks, yet not a sign of advertising to be seen. It is certainly a contrast to the glitz of many of the modern shopping centres. After that little spending spree we were in need of another meal so we went to New Everest again to share a Nepalese dinner. 

Earlier in the day we skipped the walking group's bike ride and instead walked through Bidadari where the Corellas and Black Bazas are still in residence. After a swim we took the MRT to Bugis, essentially to look for materials but it is easy to get distracted by other shops of interest in this area. According to Mervyn it was a good thing I didn't mention the beautiful glass bead shops to Yvonne, or we would still be there! From there we made our way on foot through Albert Mall to Little India.

We are not the only keen birders most mornings at Bidadari

 Arab St district

Yvonne was in seventh heaven

On Friday morning before work we took our first trip to Expo which is a massive convention and exhibition facility comprising 10 interconnected halls. Apart from the international trade fares held here, there are also local companies holding 3 day sales most weekends, all year round. This weekend it was the turn of a chain called Wintertime who cater for locals taking holidays to China, Japan, Korea etc in the Dec-Jan holiday break. We were able to buy some thermals and woollen layers for our Nepal holiday. It would have been nice to put the money into the Nepalese economy but we are wary that we may not be able to find our sizes in Kathmandu.

Numbers in the senior classes are starting to drop away now as schools have finished assessment for the year and families are taking holidays. My junior classes are stable. Eric is noticing an obvious change in attitude in some of his classes and he is being challenged to keep the students engaged. Luckily, with all his broad experience and general knowledge he is up to it. He entertained the staff at our regular Wednesday meeting by running a tribute Melb Cup Race where the teachers made up the field and he had prepared a carefully crafted, but very amusing form guide. Once again he managed to amuse everyone while not  offending any one. Not an easy task with some personalities you work with over the years. Kovan Branch will miss his input next year.

Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup Day today so we are thinking of everyone back in Springtime Melbourne. Smelling roses and freshly mown grass as I write this. We fondly remember the one time we went to Flemington with Doug, must have been in the early 80s. Anyway, there we were on Derby Day, don't remember what I wore but it was probably cords and dessert boots rather than a fancy dress and fascinator. I was putting my $2 on each race and found Sarfraz at 10:1. Not knowing anything about horses I was amazed that the name was 'ringing bells'. I was so excited when I returned to Eric and Doug only to have them take all the 'wind from my sails'. Sarfraz, they reminded me, was a bowler for the Pakistani Test Cricket Team. None the less, to everyone's surprise, and mine in particular, it won and I think I came out even on the day (at least that's what I told Eric at the time and he still believes me). 

We are off to the Singapore Turf Club today to enjoy a Melb Cup Race Day event hosted by ANZA, the Aust and NZ Association (voluntary expat community). This is the first event of theirs we have attended, though we have been aware they exist and it has been suggested we join.  They hold a number of functions throughout the year to 'enhance your time in Singapore'. So far, we haven't had time, so much to do! Would be really useful if you were home all day while your partner worked............... Anyway, today should be a lot of fun and if we win any money it can go towards the Gudel School fundraising. Last week at the Annual Dinner the very attractive ticket sellers raised over $600!

And that reminds me to say a big THANK YOU to every one of you who has donated, I believe I have sent you a personal email response but if I haven't then I'm not sure where the money went. Please get in touch! This time next month we will be setting out on our trek. Yesterday the well seasoned walkers made it to the Bukit Timah Summit again. When we woke it was raining and the thought did occur to us that perhaps Peter might call it off, and we could just roll over and sleep in, but the call never came. Bleary-eyed and tired we all assembled at the usual McDonalds outlet for coffee, no one dares to be a piker at this stage of the preparation. Our other walks last week took us back bird watching to Bidadari where we found nesting Tanimbar Corellas. these are sharing the same dead tree where we found sulphur crested cockatoos the week before. Noisy neighbours! Both are feral residents to Singapore. The best new sighting was of a black baza. 

The Australian Baza was a favourite of ours in Darwin, a regular visitor to the Casuarina Coastal Reserve near the hospital. He's a raptor that looks like all the left over pieces have been put together. Love that crest.
















We have also had the company of Mervyn and Yvonne, Tahlia's Mum and Dad, for one night through the week. They were on their way to Koh Samui, an island off the east coast of Thailand. It was only for one might on the way there, but they will spend a few days with us on the return leg. We enjoyed strolling all through the Gardens by the Bay together on Friday before we headed to work and they went to the airport. No doubt they will come back feeling a lot more refreshed and rejuvenated. The last time we were in Koh Samui Adrian was a crawling baby and there was no airport, you arrived by ferry. It will be interesting to here about the development. Heading to the gardens we visited the Marina Bay Sands shopping complex and I couldn't help taking a photo of this window display. Pretty eye-catching isn't it. The work is done by well known Japanese artist Yayoi Kasuma, perhaps you saw similar in the Melbourne or Sydney stores.

But by far and away the biggest achievement for last week was compiling all our documents for 2012 tax returns. At least I think I have.  It is all in the hands of the agent now in Darwin and I hope she has plenty of fresh coffee on hand!

Late Update:
We had a fabulous day at the Races (where the track looked fantastic and not a hoof to chop it up all day). Good job! Meant we didn't have to leave our table all day and the champaign kept flowing. Our welcoming glass of Chandon bubbles was poured at 10am and we were plied with red, white or beer all day. There was a buffet breakfast followed by an a la carte lunch and afternoon nibbles. Meanwhile the ANZA group entertained us with Fashions on the Field and raffles. A fabulous day in the opulent Committee Room of the Turf Club Grandstand. Eric discovered he had worn the wrong shoes as we headed towards the buses that were to take us on into town about 3.30pm. The ones he had chosen were wobbly, so we just caught the MRT home. I backed Gallileo's Choice in the Cup and did my dough but Eric had a win in the sweep so not all was lost. Anything else I won, I swiftly lost again. That's my usual form on Cup days. 

 The only horses we saw all day.

 We were in here.

 With Trish, Richard and Amy

 View of the track.

 MAE table

 No caption required.