Return to the Walking Club

Can it really be a week already since we posted the last entry? The weeks are flying and there are only 3 to go before we have a break in Sri Lanka. It was green box week check at Kovan, this time last year I was stressed about having everything in place, now it's a piece of cake. They have advertised reading classes for next term, something we so far don't claim to teach, so it will be interesting to see what changes that will bring. I have been slated in for 3 classes but that won't necessarily happen.

This weekend we have at last had word back from Nandana in Sri Lanka that he will meet us at the airport and that we can stay in his guest quarters in Galle. They now have air con installed but we are not expecting to have to use it. It looks to be about the same weather as here and we haven't run the air con since we returned from nepal. That will change! Our itinerary includes wildlife watching in Yala National Park, blue whale watching off the south coast and  snorkelling/scuba. 

Organising holidays has certainly taken up a lot of time over the week, that's one of the reasons this is a little late being posted. But I can think of a lot worse reasons to be busy at the computer. As I sit here I am surrounded by bits of paper with figures, itineraries, flight schedules scribbled all over them - sounds just like my father. We have locked in our very special deal in Beijing that I mentioned a few weeks ago for the September break. We have organised to fly to Xi'an to see the tomb of the terracotta army first and then on to Beijing. We have also changed details of our trip to Batam in April because Trish Westaway is now joining Sandy when she visits us. A long weekend in Borobudur and the Portugal trip are still to be researched.

Eric had a bad case of solar dermatitis after our last snorkelling experience off Tioman but that has now cleared up. I visit the orthopaedic surgeon on Thursday for an update on how my knee is progressing. I say progressing as it is much better. I even managed to join the walkers for a stroll on Monday through Gardens By the Bay to the Barrage and along the east side of the river by the golf course. All very flat and a pleasant morning strolling through manicured gardens and riverbank verges. What an amazing skyline Singapore has!

 Gardens by the Bay

 Looking across the river to GBTB

The barrage is designed to keep the saltwater and freshwater separated at the mouth of the Singapore River. Gates, something like at a loch, can be opened on demand. As a result it creates a freshwater reservoir for water storage, flood control and recreation. It also means the river levels no longer fluctuate with the tides, so optimum commercial use of the riverbanks can be achieved. There is always a monetary influence behind every decision made here. At the barrage itself we found this lovely statue which depicts mother nature. the quote reads 'We (humans) think of ourselves as the supreme beings, above all others and in complete control of our destiny and surroundings. We live in a false sense of security only to be awakened by Mother Nature's fury, almost to be reminded of her presence and our responsibility toward her and her child (the earth). Lorenzo Quinn (Spain). How true that is, just look at the summer in Australia this year where once again there are floods, bushfires and cyclones. We are thinking of you.

 This s

On Monday night we had a fantastic evening at Wine Bos in the Arab Quarter celebrating a belated 60th birthday for Peter, which Eric organised. It is the first time we have all been able to get together, there has been so much happening lately. I took along my guitar and Michael Canaway from Jurong Branch belted out a few old standards which we all sang along to. It was fun but for some reason the guitar just cant produce the same sounds and rhythm in my hands.