Family and Friends

We spent Thursday retracing our steps for the Great Race, confirming questions and answers, their order and linking the legs together. We also created some quizzes to be completed midway, while teams are having a refreshment. At work that evening we were both feeling very weary and the next day we were stiff and sore from all the pavement walking. It has alerted us to the fact that participants better wear suitable walking shoes.
Friday morning was spent getting the apartment ship shape for the influx of visitors arriving the next day. 

Judy arrived first, about 4pm while we were still at work, so made her way to our place where we met her as soon as we finished work.  She looked pretty weary after that long flight from Melbourne but had found it easy to get to Cherry Hill. We all went over to Nex for a quick dinner then brought her home for a reasonably early night. The plan is that while we are at work on Sunday she will get the MRT to Esplanade and find her way onto the red open bus to see the highlights and orientate herself for the next couple of days.

Sandy and Trish arrived later the same night and we settled them in at Peter's Chiltern Park Condo which he has kindly made available to us while he is in Bali for his son Tim's wedding. They seem quite comfortable despite not being in our place. They only have the two nights before they take the ferry to Harris Waterfront Resort on Batam. We booked them on this and are very interested to hear reports because if it is favourable it will be another good weekend getaway for us too. 

On Sunday while we worked everyone managed OK. Jude was met by a tout at the open bus terminal and talked into the orange bus instead, which was perhaps not the best option for her, but the tout was very happy with the tip he helped himself to. She managed it all and got safely home though looked exhausted when I next saw her outside the condo, not convinced she was at the right place. But she had successfully managed it all by herself, no mean feat for your first time here on your own. Meanwhile Sandy and Trish spent time at the Botanic Gardens and Holland Village. We all went to dinner at La Pizzaiaola between here and Chiltern Park for a lovely evening. The only drama was arriving at the MRT to take the train home and suddenly realizing we would be lucky to get the last train. The gods were smiling on us, thank goodness. 

Eric joined the walkers as they tackled Bukit Timah for the first time since January. Someone suggested he looks a bit hot and tired. 

Sandy and Trish bought the excess luggage to our place and then we all caught a taxi to the Sindo Ferry Terminal at VivoCity for their departure. Judy and I moved on to Bayfront where we had a quick look at the Gardens by the Bay and then through Marina Bay Sands and around the Marina. I left her to jump back on her orange bus to finish the 48 hr pass and came home. Once Judy had arrived home and had time to put her feet up for a while we were back on the train, this time heading to Little India for dinner with Peter at New Everest. I'm so glad she got to meet him now he is back. 

Tuesday morning we took Judy out as our Great Race Guinea Pig to test the trails around Chinatown and Clarke Quay. Good thing we did, quite a few details needed editing and answers completed. 

 

Some interesting features on Erskine Rd. Do these look like royalty to you?

The afternoon was spent in the pool where Jude showed me what deep water running classes involve and I helped improve her freestyle breathing technique. Classes will continue on her return, we both have some practice to complete. 
Eric cooked his famous lamb chops with rosemary for dinner.