Crisps return to Singapore

We are in the midst of Parent Teacher Meetings again at work.  It makes for a hectic week but it's good to meet the parents and understand why they are sending their children and what they want from the sessions. When an interpreter is required you realise just how little exposure some students have to spoken English, others want lots of help with grammar and comprehension, in some cases the parents just want to be assured that their children are able to confidently participate in classroom conversations. The whole range exists across your classes, including those that expect to see miracles in 6 weeks.
On Thursday we had another pd session. Eric ran one, updating the lessons for one of the Yr 3 themes. I attended a P6 session which was all about the English curriculum in this yr level where the exam results determine which secondary school the students will be able to enrol in.
On Friday morning I collected this from the framer at Boon Keng. Our one and only wall display. Very happy with our Javan batik. 

Today was my big sister's special birthday and to avoid any special attention, silly birthday celebrations or public humiliation (like she suffered at her 16th surprise party) she ran away to the other side of the globe. We hope she has had a wonderful day.
Saturday was our 34th wedding anniversary. As it was also Mother's Day this weekend, I was given a beautiful long stemmed rose by one of my kindergarten students which almost made me cry. When I told the class why I was so touched they all broke into a spontaneous round of applause. Wasn't that sweet! We tried a new local Nyonya restaurant during the week which was fabulous but the one we chose for our anniversary dinner, brew Berries,  was a shocker. Can't win all the time.
On Sunday night I dashed home to meet Joan and Jim who are with us for a few days on their way to Sri Lanka. We went to New Everest Kitchen together with a few of our closest friends here. It was beautiful food, good company and lots of flowers thanks to Peter! The only problem all night was when Jim double tapped his card at the MRT and was marched off to the management office to ensure he had a valid card. It seems maybe they have him under surveillance; on record as 'Jim the Crim', recognised from ten yrs ago when he was living here and was questioned over attempting to import pirated dvds from Malaysia (as everyone else was doing at the time) but he and an unnamed accomplice got caught. A very funny story we'll share with you off record sometime. Or you can ask Peter all about it. 
What makes us think this, is that next morning he and Eric were asked by the security guard at our local MTR station to surrender their bags for a check. Now Eric has walked through this station at least twice a day for the last 18 months without being checked, in fact neither of us have ever seen the security guards at any station doing anything much except sitting at their stations looking very bored. He was very obliging though and happily agreed the request for a picture. 

Our walk this week, requested by Joan because they hadn't done it already,  was the Southern Ridges from Kent Ridge to VivoCity via Hort Park, Henderson Waves and Mount Faber. The fountain of Thompson Reuters, who call themselves "one of the largest sources of intelligent information for businesses and professionals" (in other words offshore investing) was interesting. Are they brains on those poles? keeping the intelligence centres cool.

 Enjoying the shade

 On Henderson Waves

When we finished the 2 and a half hr walk and had eaten lunch at Food Republic at VivoCity we returned home and in no time we were in the pool. As Joan said "That was a Baptism of Fire". 

In the afternoon the boys took off to explore the local area, eating their way from here to Kovan and back. Well, they told us they had visited all the hawker stalls they could find each way. if they weren't eating, what else could they have been doing? We had plenty of cold beers in the fridge so why would they walk out there in the hot sun? Some behavior just cannot be explained......

In the evening we caught a bus to Serangoon Gardens and ate at Chomp Chomp. We feasted on seafood fried rice, black pepper crab, stingray flaps and satays. You wouldn't believe this! The beer stall was closed. Unheard of! Fortunately 7/11 across the road was open and no one objected when we brought in some take-aways. 

As it happened we were sitting right beside a soya bean curd stall, something I have been tempted to try since we enjoyed the buffalo curd in Sri Lanka. I took the chance and bought a selection of flavours to try at breakfast on Tuesday. We all agreed the mango and almond choices were good but no one showed much enthusiasm for the natural flavoured one. We found the only way to cope with the durian option was to hold your nose as you ate it.

 

Hmm, interesting

 

Pretending it was delicious to encourage the boys to be brave

 

Holding the nose to manage Durian flavour

We spent the morning at Gardens by the Bay which Jim and Joan found astonishing, this was all land being reclaimed when they were living here. 

 A different view of the super trees

 Tulipmania in the flower dome

We were joined by Peter for lunch at Marina Bay Sands and then wandered along the river to Clarke Quay and took the train home from there. 

In the evening, after some time with our feet up and creating a blog for the Crispy's, we went to the Botanic Gardens for dinner with Denise Purdey who has returned to MAE after teaching here back in the days when the Crisps were also here.  It was very pleasant sitting in the outdoors.

Wednesday morning we were taking the visitors on our regular local walk but Joan pulled a calf muscle scampering across the road so she and I returned for  an ice-pack and coffee treatment while Eric and Jim finished the walk and had breakfast at the local hawkers. Joan needs to recuperate before she tackles the walks in Sri Lanka.