Aussie Open Tennis Begins in Melbourne

If the Aussie Open is on, it means Melbourne is either in for some scorchers or some wet, windy chill and I see that the forecast for this week is blisteringly hot. Hope you can cope OK Mum, after the lovely weather you had last week in Hervey Bay. (Doesn't she get around!)
We received an unexpected phone call on Thursday morning to let us know that the new sewing machine was already in the store and if I could drop in I could arrange for a quick lesson. Wow, this one has heaps of stitch options, an automated 1 step button-holer, a foot to roll hems and another one to finish edges like an over-locker. I won't know myself once I get the chance to experiment with it - not bad for someone who has only owned one that goes forward and backward or zig-zag up to now.  It is still on the table where I left it when I rushed home and then off to work. 

Friday morning was tied up with a mahjong morning at Michael and Heather's and then of course it was the weekend when we work all day. Our branch, and quite a few from Punggol, returned to Joe's Cafe on Sunday night. I'm sure they were very happy to see us all back. We had the usual orders of wine, beer and pizza, but there were calls for more from one who now lives just around the corner this year. This could turn out to be dangerous. 

On Monday the walkers arranged a bike ride along East Coast Park. This is a fixture on the schedule as it is a good opportunity for new staff to get together and discover something that they might like to do again with visitors. As it turned out it was just the old stagers who turned up and the young son of one of the Chinese trekkers, who has been in Sg for the last 6 weeks doing an English course. I was remembering how I missed this event last year, in too much pain from my sore knee, still waiting for the specialist appointment and just managing work, but little else. It made it all the more pleasant to be with everyone this year, cycling under the shade of the trees and enjoying the sea breeze. This time last year Luke and Tahlia were with us.

In the afternoon we had a bit of a housework blitz as the owners' agent had arranged to drop in for an end of lease/lease renewal inspection. He was non-plussed about the issues we showed him, called them all expected wear and tear and paid us at last for the tv we had replaced months earlier. As it turns out Deeno is a keen guitarist and he spotted my acoustic. When I mentioned the strings needed replacing, but I didn't know how with this peg model, he offered to show me. About an hour later he left after restringing and tuning my guitar, showing me some different apps on the ipad and encouraging me to sign up for Ultimate Guitar at just $25 for life. Now I am completely re-motivated, having put it aside since about October to concentrate on the ukulele. The uke is fantastic in the classroom, I played it this week with the 'littlies' and now have to learn Happy Birthday as they are all wanting to sing to me in a fortnight. 

We've kept up the exercise, both happy to slip in a walk or gym session most days: I did get to the pool one morning but the weather here is decidedly chilly. Two days last week the top temperature only reached 28 and one night it was as cool as 23! We walked to Kovan this morning and checked out where Peter now lives in a condo just off the main street. 

In the afternoon Heather and Michael came over and he gave me a hand with the new laptop while Eric spent a long time with the local internet provider arranging a new contract using faster fibre.  In the evening we went to Sque Bar in Clarke Quay where Eric was hosting the first Social Club Mtg for the year. Reps from each of the branches met on one table while the partners sat at another, then those interested stayed on for an early dinner at the sparkling riverside. 

The Singapore River you see today is a far cry from the one that flowed through here in the past. 

I've just spent some time exploring the history of Singapore, inspired by a novel I've just started reading called "When There Were Tigers in Singapore". It's a moving family saga of the Japanese invasion. The river was Singapore's trading and commercial lifeline for over a century, but as a result became a dumping ground for street hawkers and squatters. In 1977, the government embarked on a massive task to clean up the river. The "Great River Clean-up" campaign included relocating the unloading of cargo to Pasir Panjang, removal of  rubbish along the river and its banks, and reconstructing the river wall. When outdoor dining areas were introduced along the river banks, buildings were conserved, tree-lined promenades designed, etc it breathed new life into the river. The vision successfully transformed it into a river sparkling with life. A very pleasant spot for an evening by the waterside.