Visitors coming, can't wait.

Visitors coming so cannot procrastinate with the housework any longer. Found a shelf I hadn't cleaned for 2 and half years! Got the rest of the regular stuff done too and its nice to think the next time we do it, someone might even appreciate it. Sandy and friends Di and Randall arrive on Saturday. We'll be at work but Sandy knows how to get to Lorong Lew Lian so they can relax for the afternoon and then catch a taxi to meet us at Cavalia. Cavalia was created by one of the co-founders of the famed Cirque du Soleil, but incorporates a mix of equestrian and performing arts, multimedia and special effects, acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts and live music. They have erected a massive Big Top which accommodates up to 2,000 people beside Marina Bay Sands. Apparently it looks like a majestic white cathedral or a fabulous castle, its four towers extending more than 30m high. If nothing else the show will not be anything like something we have seen before. 

Meanwhile, Eric came home from work on Wednesday feeling lousy, not again! Back to the Dr Thurs am. and back to bed instead of the seniors meeting. He has managed not to have any time off work but has stayed home and rested. Been very boring really. Has found some more music he just had to have, thank you Eric Clapton for releasing a tribute to JJ Cale - another of our old favourites. He has also collected the photobook he made of our Annapurna trek last December and that has cheered him up a little.

Kris came over for a ukulele lesson on Thursday morning which meant I needed to get it out and practice again. Rarely playing it at home as I have one at work I can play a few early childhood songs on. I have been playing the guitar more often recently, it had been sidelined by the novelty of the uke for a few months. 

Before work I joined a few other workmates to celebrate Marie's birthday at a popular Thai restaurant just around the corner from our Kovan branch. Unfortunately it is always crowded at night so we have never eaten there before. The food was very authentic but the music so loud I didn't really enjoy the setting. We moved on to the Hatter Street Bakehouse and Cafe for a brownie and ice cream before heading to work.  I had Alice, the one drizzled with salted caramel sauce. There was a good balance between the sweet and salty flavours which went perfectly with the brownie, not to mention the home made ice-cream which was rich and creamy. (Sounding like a food reviewer). As you can see from the picture the decor is inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland'.

On Friday I was due to walk again and Peter agreed to join me on a trail from Farmway (Sengkang LRT) to Heather and Michael's. I wanted to drop in and see how she was recuperating. Michael decided to join us as well. 

It was a nice cool walk along the river until we were caught in a deluge. Fortunately we were close to Oasis (Punggol LRT) so we jumped on and then caught a bus the rest of the way. Heather was as cheerful as you could expect for a gregarious person now couped up in an apartment. After a coffee, Peter and I caught another bus to get home, getting drenched again at Kovan on the way. One thing about getting caught in the rain here, you don't feel cold. 

After work in the evening we ate at Kovan as we often do with Richard. He rents a room from a local family in a condo close by and they all joined us. Simon is in business supplying the oil drilling business, his wife Regina is from southern Vietnam and they have four children, the maid was looking after the baby at home. They have a number of properties in a number of places including Gippsland where they will relocate to in a few years. 

I didn't feel flash on Saturday, and even worse on Sunday so I had a rare day off and the Dr diagnosed tonsillitis. Slept most of the day and had a very quiet couple of days. So guess what? I will be fine for the working week ahead! More importantly we will both be fit for the visitors. 

Eric walked from Bukit Timah to McRichie Reservoir on Monday with the walkers while I rested. He is happy that when he finished he felt fine, much fitter than the last time he did it. The group was very small owing to a number of illnesses and others have gone away for the weekend. 

On Tuesday we got the South Africa photobook finalized and then in the afternoon took the MRT in to Marina Bay Sands to see the Annie Leibovitz exhibition at the Arts Science Museum. Celebrated as one of Americas best known living artists, she certainly has had an interesting life and captured some amazing portraits on film. I enjoyed watching the documentary of her life and her personal reflections on her relationships and her work. My favourite image was the one she shot of Jack Nicholson. It is just how I would expect to find him if I was to drop in on him uninvited. As you might. 

Gets you motivated to put more thought into your own images; to make the subject the focus and try to capture something authentic about them. While Eric had a beer I tried my hand using the local subjects. Some work to do.

From there we made our way to Kampong Glam and strolled the streets, soaking up the atmosphere. I had to take some more snaps. 

Then we headed to Mustafas in Farrer Park for some shopping essentials and dinner at the Copper Chimney where we have enjoyed a meal previously. They didn't disappoint. 

So this week will be the announcement of who is staying, who is leaving, who is changing location or position. We are not expecting any surprises but who knows, tomorrow's meeting will reveal all.