On Thursday Eric had his blocked ears candled and feeling better, we then walked to Serangoon Gardens and bought some treats from the French deli which we shared with Heather for lunch. She and I have been working on a revised Whales unit for P4. The food was fabulous; baguette, pate, soft cheese. All such rarities on menus here. In the evening we had a quick meal with Peter at Kovan again.
Friday morning was overcast so we walked around Eco Green out at Tampines. We saw lots of different birds but the skies were so overcast we didn't get a lot of good shots. More woodpeckers and weaver bird nests than we have ever seen in one spot before though.
After work on Saturday we met up with Bev, Kris, Heather and June at Molly Roffeys Irish Pub in Bras Basah for a quick dinner then joined the crowds on the streets enjoying the Night Festival. Our highlight was the stunning light installation on the National Museum featuring Anooki (the world's smallest inuits apparently, I thought of the android logo as I was watching them). The designer is from France but they paid a special birthday tribute to Singapore as part of their shenanigans.
Spark were a perfectly choreographed LED-lit drumming group who entertained with both their fabulous music as well as their marching antics.
But the place was so crowded. I soon felt very weary after a full day at work and we headed back on a train from Dhoby Ghaut. Needed a good night's sleep as a full day on Sunday was to follow. We finished that day and the working week with dinner at Grapevine. We were a bit disappointed to learn that the management are finishing up at the end of the month. Hopefully there wont be a lot of changes.
A bike ride at East Coast Park was scheduled for Monday but to be honest we were both wishing it would be washed out or the bike shop announce it was closed. Neither of those events took place so we dragged ourselves out the back gate to the bus stop. Turned out we were the only ones to turn up! June was doing her best to make the deadline but caught a bus that took her via Bedok so was very, very late and we rode off without her. Once we got riding we were both happy we had made the effort as it was pleasantly cool and we were rewarded with a great sight - a pair of pied hornbills, once thought to be extinct in Singapore, but now breeding again on a recovery program. Now that makes it all worthwhile.
We rode east along the coast for about 50 mins and were at least halfway back when we came across June. She joined us for the last leg then took off on the rest of her 2 hr bike hire period while we walked back to Parkway Parade, a shopping centre that caters for a lot of expats and where I was hoping I might find trousers for our annual dinner this year. No luck so then we took a bus to Dhoby Ghaut. This turned out to be a very interesting ride which swung over the Kallang River, by the Fountain of Wealth at Suntec City, the F1 track which is currently being prepared for the next race and Marina Bay Sands to name a few landmarks.
At Dhoby Ghaut I went to Spotlight and bought a pattern and material so now have a new sewing project about to get underway. I was standing in the queue at the cutting counter when Judy rang to update me on news of Mum who has now gone to Col's place until we get back, and that there are locals interested in purchasing her home. Some things can move faster than you expect? I thought we would find her a new home first.
A huge incinerator was being filled with stacks of hell money and paper offerings at the HDB across the road when we returned. Later in the afternoon it was burned by relatives to appease their deceased family members – taking care of their material needs even in the afterlife in accordance with the rituals of the Hungry Ghost Festival. Meanwhile a truck full of more offerings was being unloaded at the store.
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