Leaving Singapore...

Today is our last day in Singapore. It is such an amazing place. I'll put a longer post about it up sometime, but for now I've got to run, no packing done and leaving in an hour. Hmpf. It's also torrentially pouring with rain - which it hasn't done for about four weeks apparently. Nice of it to occur when we're meant to be going to the Botanic Gardens!

Lombok this afternoon beckons - and I can't wait. Not least because I'll be able to switch the alarm clock off and just let time wander on by without worrying about where to be when (apart from connecting flight to Bali on Sunday!). I'm not sure how much internet access I'll have from here on in, or how much I'll be inclined to use it, so there may not be any activity until I get back... but then again there might.

Thank you all for your comments by the way, very nice to read them in times of stress! James - it is indeed an amazing place. I'd love to give you loads of recommendations on where to go, but I've only been to two places outside of work: (1) to have a singapore sling in the Long Bar at Raffles, highly recommended just because you have to do it rather than because the drink is actually that nice (although I like it, but you really have to like sweet cocktails). You can get half yards of Tiger beer in there too though; and (2) the Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant at One Fullerton - highly recommended, right on the river waterfront, and serves excellent seafood, including a local signature dish, creamy crab (or pepper crab, chilli crab, butter crab... you get the idea!) and jugs of Tiger (note the recurring theme there!) I hope you have a great time and manage to escape work a bit more frequently than I have!

Business Class

Business Class is brilliant. The service was perfect, just attentive enough without being too much, the food was excellent (including warm bread, crockery, real cutlery (apart from the knives) and individual salt and pepper pots!), and the booze was flowing (although I was restrained, not least because I had a very sore throat (now easing off, thankfully!).

The only slight annoyance was the application of the new restrictions on hand luggage - which was basically patchy. I packed a bag exactly the size allowed, and made sure that I didn't have anything which could be taken away at security. Others didn't seem to have the same idea though, and had big rucksacks and other large bags on the plane with them... so the rule isn't being applied consistently, which is frustrating if nothing else.

Singapore is an amazing place. Everything is spotlessly clean, and the service is amazing in its efficiency, nothing is too much trouble. London could learn a few things in a few places I think!

The work aspect is going ok, but I'm looking forward to concluding this part of the trip and moving on to relaxing on the beach, reading lots and finally getting some chill out time.

In the meantime, I'm going to the rooftop pool for a swim...

More soon

Happy Belated Birthday to my blog

I meant to post this on the 23rd, but forgot. That was the first birthday of this blog. When I started it, just after we came back from Edinburgh last year, I really wasn't sure how long it would last, but, it's still here. And I think some people are still reading it.

A hell of a lot has changed in the past year, and this blog has noted some of that. It has avoided some of it, because of Dooce-esque reasons and the need to retain some privacy, but there have been some highlights and funny moments.

My posting rate has varied, most recently dipping off a bit, but I think the blog is here to stay.

I'm currently in the Business Class lounge at Heathrow. The laptop is finally behaving itself with the wireless trickery, so hopefully I should be able to post some updates whilst on my travels.

Ciao for now.

Singapore bound

Tomorrow, I leave for the much awaited trip to Singapore. It's a work trip, and I'm expecting it to be taxing, but I also have six days in Lombok and Bali on holiday to look forward to, so it's not all bad.

I'm really looking forward to the sitting on the beach relaxing bit - although I'll be on my own, and it'll be the first time I've done any travelling on my own. I'll also miss a certain person rather a lot I think.

In other news, since I last wrote, John and I went on a fab impromptu day trip to Brighton, we've been to the races in York (didn't win much, but had a very good day nonetheless!) and met my Bro, Lorna, and her bro for a nice fry up in the Sharm... all good.

Packing, however, is not good.

The hard drive on my laptop has been certified as dead, so I have a new one. I might be able to get some internet access whilst I'm away (for the first bit anyway, not planning on going anywhere near a computer for the second bit!) so may be able to update, if not, more when I get back!

The remainder of the Edinburgh Madness

After the laptop got Fished, my internet access was substantially reduced (although many thanks to Tom for letting me borrow his). This meant two things:

1) Photos

There were no daily updates of photos. You can now find Day 3, Day 4, Day 6 and Day 8 in their respective places.

There were no photos taken by me on Day 5 or Day 7, for entirely different reasons. On Day 5, I spent most of the day in bed, recovering from Day 4. On Day 7 it was quite simply too wet. More on both of those days below.


2) Blogs

There were no more daily blogs after Day 4 and a half. The remainder of the week (or at least what I can remember of it!) is here:

The rest of Day 4

After finally finishing some annoying online stuff, I felt far more able to relax. Richelle had planned a bar crawl in intricate detail, and we were all very much looking forward to it. Apart from me. As a relic from last year, Pete, Richelle and Rich had devised Edinburgh bingo. Each person had a ‘star’ challenge, and mine was to sing karaoke. I just don’t do karaoke. I can’t sing, and for someone who is usually fairly confident on a stage in whatever form, I was quite frankly petrified. If you look closely at the pics from the beginning of the night you can see the fear in my eyes!

Many drinks later, I finally managed to get up there and sing ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ – very very badly. Pete, Helen and Richelle came up with me though and provided very effective support, for which I am eternally grateful.

Of course once that ordeal was over, there was little else to do but drink…. And the photos will tell the rest of the story.

Day 5

Day 5… uhh, what happened on Day 5… ummm…. Oh yeah, I stayed in bed all day pondering why on earth I drank so much! And then scared myself by looking at the 200 photos which were taken (not all of which have made it on to Flickr!). Having finally stated to feel human again, we went to see Bill Bailey. Now, I’m not usually a fan of stand up comedy (my views on it having been partly poisoned by Steve’s Eddie Izzard obsession), but Tom persuaded me to give Bill a try when he booked the tickets, and of the mind that part of the point of the Fringe Festival is seeing stuff that you usually wouldn’t.

Despite the fact that I wasn’t in the complete-row-of-seat-rocking convulsive laughter league of Pete, Rich and Richelle, I did find him very funny.

Save the invisible mouse….

Day 6

Having fully recovered from the nightmare hangover (feeling extremely thankful that it didn’t mutate into a Two-Dayer), I was back on form for Day 6, which was good, because the pace of show viewing really picked up. Following lunch at the Mussel Inn (a welcome change from deep fried creations), we saw Chanbara in the afternoon – very good action with swords and drums, and just round the corner from the flat. Then it was on to the Underbelly for We Don’t Know Shiite, starring Pete’s brother Doug.

The show was excellent, and most thought provoking. It’s attracted all sorts of attention, and it sounds like the group may be destined for bigger things in the very near future… break a leg guys!

Then, it was on to the fabulous Bar Kohl for flavoured vodka and stunningly good cocktails. We’d actually been in there on Day 4, but of course I don’t really remember it… the photos prove I was there though! So, I made the most of it the second time round and consumed lots of yummily flavoured alcoholic things.

Then, it was on to the Speigel Tent for La Clique – the tent is a marque which feels like a cabaret venue inside, complete with seating booths and stained glass windows, and the show is essentially a burlesque cabaret. It was excellent, although some of the acts were slightly on the odd side, even for us lot!

Then home…. For more drink, of course!

Day 7

Mercifully hangover free, by now we were craving some wholesome food, so Pete Helen and I had Japanese for lunch… and then joined Tom, Richelle and Rich for beer and chips. So the wholesome thing didn’t exactly last long, but at least we tried!

We then headed to the other side of the city to see Kataklo, which was an amazing acrobatic dance show. Well worth it, but we got totally soaked on the way there, and only just dried out on the way back… I was wet all the way through!

So, a slightly more subdued evening, and then prep for the journey home…

Day 8

Which was generally uneventful and therefore doesn’t really deserve much more than that!

On Edinburgh 2006 overall:

I think a good time was had by all – it was a very different trip from last year, because we weren’t doing a show. Things were much more chilled out, much more of a ‘do your own thing’ effect, and I think everyone appreciated that, I certainly did, mainly because it allowed me to do more sleeping than usual, which I seemed to need. My body is still recovering from an accumulated sleep deficit I think!

Big thanks go to Pete for organising the train travel, accommodation, and some of the shows – not a mean feat for 15 or so people! Thoughts are already turning to next year and the possibility of doing another show… but that’s all a bit beyond my thinking at the moment!

Half of Day Four of the Edinburgh Madness 2006 TM

I've finally managed to get the stupid online test to work, so, it's done, and out of the way, and I'm feeling much much better for it.

That is assisted I think, by the fact that the day started with a Gutbuster = the biggest fried breakfast ever encountered. It was amazing. Last year we weren't able to have one, because they don't usually do them during the festival, but this year Richelle turned on her magic charms and persuaded them to do a special order for us. Yum yum yum. Of course there are photographs, but I can't put them on here until I return etc (see the 'Fished' bit in previous post!)

Now, it's slightly after that, and room has been made for afternoon tea.

More soon

PS I think these entries are getting a bit mundane. I'm just not funny enough when I'm not drunk. I'll get my guest blogger to come up with some suggestions tonight (during the Brundle pub crawl) and unleash them on you tomorrow!

Day Three in the Edinburgh Madness 2006 TM

Well. Day three (Monday) was a bit of a wash out for me. There was a slight hint of a hangover, but the Tania/ Pete porridge soon saw that off. Then, I had some deeply frustrating IT issues whilst trying to do a test online - and then my laptop got Fished. That's a technical term for an IT hard drive failure, and it happens when things pass through the hands of the Ginger Rich. Tom and Raoul have been absolute stars in trying to get it fixed with boot keys and downloads and all sorts, but it's not quite there yet! Hopefully it will be fixed soon, because I really need it for the rest of my travels, but for now, my internet access has been restricted.

Should still be able to blog a bit, although maybe not every day. The worst casualty is that I won't be able to upload any more daily photo sets, as I don't have the software with me to do that on any of the other computers the lovable geeks have here! So, they will all come in a bit chunk when I return at this rate - thank god for 1Gb memory cards!

We did see a very good show today though, Talk Radio, with Mike McShane. And then beer and pizza, and a viewing of the excellently edited DVD version of Act 2's latest production, Electric Candlelight. All good. Still not quite relaxed though, but I'm getting there!

Day 2 in the Edinburgh Madness 2006TM

Day two: shows are booked, steak has been consumed, and whiskey has been drunk. All is well with the world (well, the tiny part of it that is Edinburgh that is!).

After taking some reasonably ok photos on Saturday, last night became Rubbish Photo Night. Some of the worst ones haven’t made it on to the site (I’d quite like these people to still be talking to me after this trip), but there is a good selection available for viewing anyway!

Day two mainly involved shopping, buying new outfits, wearing them, and having a few glasses of vino with some very good steak.

More shows tomorrow and for the rest of the week. The lovely Tania departs tomorrow, heading for her 6 week trip to Brazil. We’re all going to miss her very much and they’ll be a big send off at the station no doubt – and then a sorrow drowning visit to the whiskey distillery!

More soon.

Day 1 in the Edinburgh Madness 2006TM

We’re here. We’ve arrived. Poor old Edinburgh.

Following Chris and Jen's wedding yesterday, I was feeling slightly jaded for the train journey, but then I think we all were with a 6am start, on a Saturday… ugg. But, it’s most certainly worth it because we were in to the flat and settled into the first show (the excellent Gamarjobat – good, but perhaps not with as much energy as when we’ve seen them in previous years) by 5pm. And then there were beers, of course.

Lots and lots of photos will be appearing here in the course of the week, probably broken down into days – 116 taken on the first day already. It’s been a good day. We’re in excellent halls (we were meant to have been in these ones last year, but they got (most inconsiderately) vandalised just before we were due to arrive. We had good halls instead, but they were a very long way away, and they involved crossing the ‘Pee Meadows’ (meadows which always made us need to pee)) and we’re very close to all the main venues and the Royal Mile, and very near the best ‘take away fried stuff’ shop in Edinburgh – resulting in deep fried haggis and chips for dinner. Scrummy.

I’m beginning to relax… this is the first break I’ve had of 6 days off work since Edinburgh last August (and that didn’t really constitute a rest because of the show) and it’s all feeling a bit weird. Now that I’ve relaxed, it’s great, but it’s all a bit alien, actually having time on my hands to relax. I reckon by Monday I’ll be sorted – the four days off work effect will kick in and I’ll be well away!

Calm bliss... or is it

Again, a long gap between postings. So this may be a long posting. Rather a lot has happened since the last post, as usual.

Pete, Helen, John and I had a rather good meal at Locanda Locatelli. The food was amazing, really good and really well done. We had a lovely time. Then, there was Naomi's birthday do at Mokoko in St Albans. Na and I originally had a plan to work our way down one side of the cocktail menu, totalling ten cocktails (missing out two we don't like). However, we went slightly off plan and got stuck on rather a lot of Porn Star Martinis. Somehow, we didn't have hangovers the next day, and after a bit of a transport mission, we were on the road to Yeovil at a reasonable time. We got stuck in a reasonable amount of traffic, but managed to pull off a mastermind piece of navagating to avoid Stonehenge, without a map. See, girls can navigate boys.

We had a fantastic weekend, starting with an amazing meal at Little Barwick House and finished off with a visit to the beach at Lyme Regis and then a BBQ. Fab.

Now that I have more time on my hands and can leave work at a reasonable time, I'm finding it a bit odd. I'd slept rather a lot this past week, which is unusual. It's almost as though my body is like "oh, so we get to sleep now. Oh good. Let's do that at every possible moment then"... in the car, during films, on the DLR... too much perhaps, I'm feeling a bit spaced. Kind of have that idea that I shouldn't completely grind to a halt, because then I might get ill, and that's the last thing I (or anyone else for that matter) wants before we go to Edinburgh next week. In fact, I think I should just shut up and enjoy the quiet time whilst it's here, because in the next six weeks I'm going to be here, there and everywhere!

The first stage is Edinburgh though, and I'm very much looking forward to it. For a series of boring reasons, I'll be taking the laptop with me. Pete and I have promised that we will blog (he's going to be a guest blogger) and upload photos as we go along so that Na and Steve, who aren't coming, sob sob sob, will be able to keep up to date with our antics. So, expect some late night drunken blog entries (although they may not actually appear late at night, because we'll have to search out some internet access in a famous coffee establishment I think!)

Oh, and just because I really rather like it, here's a rather nice photo:

Paris - the account

So. A fantastic time was had. We saw lots, ate lots, and drank lots. John was a wonderful tour guide, allowing just the right amount of time in each place, not rushing too much, and being really flexible. I also managed (and this may surprise some of you) to be completely the follower all weekend. See, see, I can do it when I want to (although that's what I did in Rome, and that nearly ended in tears because as I wasn't taking responsibility for anything, I then got very drunk! Thankfully that didn't happen in Paris!)

We got the Eurostar from Waterloo on Friday evening (I even managed to leave work on time!) and arrived in Paris about 10.30. We were both tired, so no exploring was done on the Friday night, but the hotel was in a fab location, and had air conditioning (although it left a little to be desired, it succeeded in making sure the room wasn't hot, but didn't actually manage to make it cool). After possibly the best sleep I've had in weeks, we were up and about in time for breakfast on Saturday and then into the Briden Paris TourTM. First, Foulcault's Pendulum in the Pantheon. John did try to get me to understand how it works, but I just don't. I also want to know why there's a black marble cat next to it. Then, it was on to the Ile de la Cite, in an attempt to get the best ice cream in Paris, which was foiled by the fact that the shop had closed for August - on the 29 July. Go figure... but we still had ice cream. Then we strolled past Notre Dame, and on to Saint Chapelle and the Palais du Justice. The glass in Saint Chapelle is real take-your-breath away stuff, and we spent a fair bit of time in there trying to work out the stories in each panel.

After that, we went back across the river to the Louvre. We did the 'top three' things, including the Mona Lisa (tiny, dirty, and massive crowds. The most impressive bit for me though I think was the ancient bits in the basement which were discovered when they were excavating for the creation of the pyramid.

We then went and had a rather nice steak, frites and beer lunch, and then wandered through the gardens by the Louvre to see Monet's Waterlillies in the recently re-opened Orangerie. I didn't take any photos in there, I didn't think I could do the paintings justice. John and I hatched a plan in pondering how much it would cost to have exclusive access for 20 minutes - the paintings are amazing, but I can't help but think how striking they would be without any one in there, in peace, without lots of tourists and flashing cameras.

After that, it was off to Napoleon's Tomb. Sightseeing'd out, we then retired to various bars, including rather famous one. More beers, and a very nice meal later, and our first day was complete.

Sunday bought a more relaxed day, a stroll around the Marais and Place des Vosges, and brunch. And then rain, lots and lots of rain. Which required doing what the natives do - getting more coffee, staying in the cafe, reading our books, and waiting for the rain to fade away. Which it duly did, and then before we knew it, we were speeding through the French countryside en route home (not so speedy through the Kent countryside, it's not high speed yet!)

All in all, it was a fantastic, restful and most enjoyable weekend. Thank you John. Venice next?

Pay back time

Today, I got to work at 10.30, had an hour and a half for lunch, and left at 5. Fantastic. Pay back time has started - some time to invest in me for a change, to sit back and take things easy and enjoy the summer. And get some of that stuff done that I've been putting off for months.

Oh, and to write a nice long account of Paris, which I'm working on now, and to blog a bit more, and to read, hopefully a lot more. Happy days...