Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Hope your celebrations have been joyous. We have enjoyed lots of fun with Bertrams and Days. We have enjoyed reunions with friends and the girls have had plays friends Sarah & Natalia, Aimee & Jade, Holly and Darcie and look forward to others in the new year. Christmas Day we headed back to Mordialloc Baptist Church which was fun and familiar. We then went to Penny and Christiaan's for lunch and then back to Tamsin's for the Day family shenanigans. It was great to have all the cousins together. Zoe remarked "Isn't it so great we are all together again." I agree with you Zo-zo!

On Boxing Day we headed to Pomonal and had a day of Grandma and Poppa to ourselves before the Bertram gang arrived. Once again it was cousin heaven! We enjoyed lazy mornings on the deck, good food, great games, horsey rides, tree climbs, cricket (some love it), and plenty of visits to the hen pen and bunny cage over at the neighbours, swims at Halls Gap pool and even a trip to the Halls Gap Wildlife Park which was greatly appreciated by our little animal lovers. On our way home we detoured to afternoon tea and easy conversation with the growing Brook family in Kensington. Best wishes for the Feb baby, Sarah,Stewart and Henry!

PS. Suggestions for names for the Brook baby.

I'm thinking Edwin for a boy! or Leo.

For a girl ( if Milly is now not an option) perhaps Ellie, Sally, Ally, Abigail, Tabitha, Emmeline (with the intention of calling her Emmy if it somehow morphs into Milly that's not your fault) or Matilda (with the intention of calling her Tilly and if it morphs into Milly , again not your fault).

First Christmas in Singapore

We decided to have an early family Christmas in Singapore so we weren't transporting kids' present halfway across the world. So today began with presents around the (very little) Christmas tree and then in the afternoon we went to Goodwood Park Hotel for high tea. It was a lovely treat. Now we have our bags packed and in two hours we will be in a taxi to the airport. See you soon.

O Christmas Tree

Last weekend we managed to find a quiet evening to visit the Botanical Gardens. Different organisations from around Singapore have each decorated a Christmas trees with around 150 in total. Some have been very creative. Hospitals decorated trees with drip bags and disposable gloves, nurseries decorated trees with children's colurful gardening implements and embassies decorated their trees with flags and tiny dolls dressed in national costume. We were fortunate to time our visit with a school bands Christmas concert which we enjoyed listening to while having our picnic tea. Not long now and we'll be back in Australia. Only another four parties, one BBQ and one high tea before we fly out on Sunday evening. Tis the season to be jolly busy...

Life's a stage

On Wednesday morning at 8am, I was on stage talking to about 100 presales people from across Asia Pacific and Japan.  11 hours and 3000kms later I was in the audience, watching Alice and Felicity perform in their school concert.  They did an excellent job and I was so pleased I made it on time.

I spent the last week in Guangzhou, China at an internal conference for HP Software and Solutions.  It was a great chance to get together with my colleagues from around the Asia Pacific region and a definite highlight was the Presales Managers beating all the Sales Manager teams at the Formula 1 car building and racing activity.  We had to measure and cut out different pieces of the car from thick cardboard, construct the vehicle and then race against the other teams.  In our semi-final, the competitor's vehicle collapsed, making us the easy winner.  Imagine our dismay when the organiser made us immediately re-race again against another team, who beat us by a car length.  All was put right when Anthony Nonnis from Australia talked the organiser into giving us another chance, which the other teams voted on as being ok.  We then pushed through for a clear victory in the final!

In the Spotlight

A month or so back Alice wanted to audition for one of the main parts in the School concert. There were only four main parts and auditions were open to all students from Year 2 to Year 6. It was one of the moments when you want to encourage your child but not set them up for disappointment. Yes, I said, go ahead, learn the lines, try out and do your best but remember Year 6 students are going for the same parts. All weekend she practised her lines and experimented with actions and facial expressions and then auditioned. A few days later she was so excited, as was the entire Year 2 (and her parents), to learn Alice had got one of the parts.

Over the last few weeks we have gone over lines diligently. Alice was never too tired or distracted and would often bring me the script. There were a lot of lines for a Grade 2 and some of them very similar which made it difficult. Matt knew from the start that he probably wouldn't make the concert as he was in China for a conference but an early flight out meant he made the concert with 5 minutes to spare. So last night we were all able to attend the concert "Back to the Future". Four kids hop in and out of a time machine and in each scene a class performs. Felicity's class did the Middle Ages and Felicity was a very composed Maid Marian. Alice did brilliantly and was so confident and relaxed. It was a thrill to be there! Well done Alice - the hard work was worth it!

Family Fun

The Kennett family stayed with us for a couple of days so Paquita could run her first half marathon. Matt unfortunately only saw them one night before he had to leave for China. The kids all played great together creating dance shows, circuses, plays and art galleries. We enjoyed some of Singapore's highlights including a boat ride along the river and the lights on Orchard Road. While Paquita and my friend Jackie ran the race, Glenn and I found ourselves responsible for seven children. We dressed them all in green so that we could identify our little cheer squad members easily. Paquita's time was 2 hours 12 minutes but although we were at the finish line we never saw her as it is such a crowded race that about 10 people pass the line each 10 seconds so you can easily miss people. We saw Jackie though as she was in hot pink and she also spotted all the green people and came to kiss her kids before running across the line! Not a good run to try for a personal best because of the crowds.
















Glenn also managed to have a reunion with ex-girlfriend Tamsin over skype. Tamsin has quite a good choice in blokes - that's the second of her ex-boyfriends that's dropped by this year!

Detained...with children

Saturday night was the innaugural Avondale Grammar Dads and Kids camp (plus a couple of mums).  A 20 minute ferry trip got us to St Johns island. Originally a quarantine and hospital island for immigrants, its more recent history as a detention center explains the barbed-wire topped fences and guard towers. 

Afternoon games by the beach were fun and it was kind of weird having downtown Singapore as the backdrop.  In spite of our best efforts to wear out the children with activities including a nature hunt, tug of war and a bonfire, they managed to run riot until at least 11pm, before then all waking up at approximately 6:45am.  Sleeping in dormitory 16A was hot and uncomfortable, especially when the girl on the bunk above mine woke at 3:30am and started chatting to her neighbour.  Every little movement she made was transmitted throught the whole bunk bed. 

Sunday morning we enjoyed an early walk along the water's edge before returning to the camp for pancakes and fruit.  More beach games and swimming then followed, with the girls building a great sand castle.  After the ferry trip back to Singapore, I was well and truly ready for a long nap!  Alice and Felicity both enjoyed themselves and were a pleasure to be with.  It was a fun weekend.

Snow fights and Christmas lights and high tea delights

Singapore loves a festival. Christmas here is over the top. Orchard Road is decked out with lights and all the shopping malls have very elaborate decorations and celebrations going on. Many of the decorations this year have a winter wonderland theme which just seems wrong here. (The shops also have all their winter stock on display which I find confusing because the only place you need to wear a jacket is at the movies - I refuse to believe that so many people can be heading to the ski slopes of Japan or Europe.) Andy dropped in to see us for Friday night and we all went to experience the snow, Singapore-style, at Tanglin Mall. Machines pumped out layers of foam and the kids and Uncle Andy played happily in the mess although snowballs were not very effective. It was great seeing Andy and having a little part of home here and catching up on some news. We wish all you guys did blogs! Earlier on in the day I went to my first "High Tea" at Goodwood Park Hotel with Marion and Ruth from our condo and a friend of Marion's, Cathy, who we all knew from Ashburton Baptist. It may have been my first but it won't be my last!!

A Good Sport

Last weekend was a very sporty one - well for Alice at least. Alice was a part of the Avondale Swim team that went to the International Schools Swim meet. The whole family got up at a ridiculous hour like 6am on Saturday morning so we could cheer her on. Alice competed in the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle. As other schools have very serious-looking squads and Alice hasn't had weekly swim lessons for two years I feared she may lag along way behind but she actually held her own very well. She came third in her heat in the freestyle and fourth in the breaststroke although her breaststroke style was somewhat unconventional. Even though there was lots of waiting around, Alice enjoyed herself and cheered on the other kids. It's part of the advantage being at a small school being included in events like this.

I was a volunteer timekeeper at the swim meet. There were three of us for each lane and we were told we were not allowed to cheer. All very serious. Apparently there have been many parent protest over the years. The timekeeping may all seem very simple - just clicking a button - but then that makes it worse if you muck up. Fortunately I managed to get the hang of it and only let out a spontaneous cheer for an Avondale swimmer on a few occasions.

Then on Sunday Alice took part in a four hour high jump workshop with a former Olympian. Lots of jumping and running around and throwing yourself backward over a bar - just the thing for her.

Ho Hum...

It has been drawn to my attention that our blogs are full of events and parties. The mundane of course happens - it’s just not worth writing about. Washing still needs to done, dishes need to be put away and dinner has to be made. But to appease those of you who think our life is just partying and outings and long lunches by the pool here are few ordinary things that happened to us this week.
On Sunday Matt discovers on the AMP life predictor that he’s only going to live to 71. Apparently if he earned less he’d have a better chance of living longer. One tap dance class and one 10km walk each week do not qualify as enough exercise. Get’s a bit depressed.

On Monday Alice’s scooter requires a new wheel. Costs $30 which is about half as much as the scooter cost. The scooter is only four weeks old.
On Tuesday Buckley has a vaccination for some disease that rats in Singapore might give him if they poo in water that he happens to drink.
On Wednesday we run out of Milo and earl grey tea.
On Thursday Matt and I have a coffee at Starbucks with Buckley.
On Friday I get caught in a downpour, without my umbrella, in the 10 metres from the building where yoga class is to the bus stop. Little Athletics is cancelled due to rain.

Party! Party!

This weekend was one long party beginning on Friday night with a 40th birthday for Scott from our condo. We all had to dress up as something beginning with "S". Matt and I went all out and donned soccer t-shirts. It was a fun night where we got to mingle with she-devils, superman, saints, sheiks, strawberry shortcake and a sleepwalker. Matt and I stayed late - not because we are die-hard party animals but because our bedroom is close to the function room at the condo and we wouldn't have been able to get to sleep anyway.

The next day Alice and I went to a party for a boy in her class which included about 20 eight years olds running around in a form of organised chaos. In between ice-cube fights, water fights and all-out brawls there were only a handful of tears. Someone made the comment that a sign of a good party is when nobody goes to hospital - so I guess that made it a good party...

Then on Sunday Felicity celebrated her 7th birthday. Her friend Eleanor slept over on Saturday night and then we went to a musical called "Duck'n'Dive" in the morning which was lots of fun. In the evening we invited a few neighbours over for cake. Thanks to all those who emailed or skyped on the day and to all those wonderful, organised people who sent presents ahead of time. She was thrilled to see the big pile, loved everything she received and kept saying how lucky she was. She will email you soon to say thanks personally.

Melbourne Cup

Well we didn't get a holiday but I took the day off anyway. The Australian New Zealand Association (ANZA) held a big Melbourne Cup luncheon at the Singapore Turf Club where the races were televised, live betting, fashion of the fields etc. I went with a bunch of Avondale mums and we felt like we were almost at the real thing. I even won a lucky door prize of a lunch at a cafe.

All spooked out!

Singapore seems to adopt any festival they can - halloween is quite big here. Our halloween festivities included two halloween/birthday parties, trick or treat night and a condo party night. Management did the Condo function room up as a haunted house which inlcuded a mummy lying on the floor that grabbed your foot as you walked through and vampire that jumped out at you. They also had a lot of activities and games for the kids. Trick or treat was done the next night. Matt took the kids around the condo knocking on the doors that displayed the trick or treat sign. Of course we have way too much "candy" now. I stayed back at the apartment to hand out treats to the other condo kids who dared to knock on our door. I dressed up as a witch which really just required me wearing a black dress and brushing my hair so it went frizzy! I looked quite authentic - had I lived in the middle ages I would definitely have been thrown in a well. I cooked up a big pot of spaghetti noodles, let them cool and the kids had to find their treat by fishing through the "worms". I had fun and probably only turned up in a few kids nightmares. Photos below include one of our front door which we decorated with cobwebs, warning signs and fake rats, mice, cockroaches and snakes.

Christmas decorations are going up all along Orchard Road and in the malls so I think we now move onto the next festival.

why does the caged bird sing?

There are some who say the caged bird sings of freedom, or hope, a prayer for other birds, out of boredom or because she has an annoying song stuck in her head. Last weekend we decided to find out for ourselves and headed out to Tiong Bahru to see the Bird Arena. This is where a whole lot of uncles bring their caged birds in their ornate cages to have a little sing together on a Sunday morning. We are still not sure why they sing - Alice thinks its because they are happy and Felicity thinks its because they want to get a boyfriend. But for whatever reason the caged bird sings, at least here in Singapore, they have a support group of other caged birds.

Also on the weekend we discovered a really cool public waterpark at Jurong East that's almost as good as Wild Wild Wet and a heck of a lot cheaper. We can see we'll be heading back there again but only when Felicity is definitely 120cm. We managed to get her on the waterslides this time but more diligent pool supervisors may not have let her slide past the height chart for being ever-so-slightly on the short side of 120cm.

Lucinda joins the YouTube Generation

Last night, Lucinda and the girls had great fun avoiding bed by watching funny dog videos on YouTube.  This inspired them to create and share their own video of Buckly being unable to get off the swivel chair:

Encounters with the deadly snakes and other leisurely activities

Bintan Island is a short 55 minute ferry ride from Singapore. It's an idyllic spot (except for the prices!) and most people never even leave the resort. With beautiful beaches, a swim-up bar, waterslides and a kids club there is a lot of reasons to stay where you are. However we found we can only do so much relaxing by the pool in banana lounges so we signed up for the Mangrove Tour. Alice eagerly asked our guide, "Will we see snakes?" "Oh yes," he replied "lots of them." We all laughed... until we realised he was telling the truth. We were to look out for pythons, green snakes, Mangrove snakes and spitting cobras. The deadliest of these are the black and yellow Mangrove snake - if they bite you the venom reaches your heart in a minute. It wasn't long into the trip when we spotted our first Mangrove Snake. We got a really good view of it because the captain parked the our little dinghy right underneath it. The guide told us they are not dangerous during the day because they are asleep. "then why is it moving its head?" says the slightly-freaked-out Matthew. "That's because I'm shaking the branch a little and it can feel the vibrations," our guide explains. Yep, right, that makes sense. So we continue down through the mangroves which are dripping with deadly snakes and bizarrely enjoy the whole experience in the way one does a really scary rollercoaster. We were glad to disembark safely and head back to paradise.

Been busy...

School holidays have flown past so quickly this time around. During the first week of the holidays the kids had a tennis lesson followed by rollerblading lessons all at the Condo. After that we tended to head to the pool with the other families involved and settle in for the day. It was a nice routine. The girls also represented Avondale at the Internationals Schools Cross Country and both placed in the top 20 in their field. Felicity came 13th and Alice 19th. They were very hot and tired at the end but happy to have been a part of it all.

Last weekend we became a backpackers haven. Andy dropped in for the day. When he left, Ross and Alison arrived to camp on the living room floor for a night and at the same time Chris Wenban arrived to spend three days with us before embarking on around the world trip. Nights Safaris, a Tea Ceremony, Rainforest walks, steamboat and hawker centre dinners and trips to Little India and Chinatown all followed. This week we did a few more things with Avondale families - had sleepovers, went to the movies, been back to Forest Adventure and Wild Wild Wet. Need to relax a bit so now we're off to Bintan, an island in Indonesia, for the long weekend. Happy Deepavali!

Treasure hunting for big and little people

We've just had the pleasure of Uncle Andy coming to stay for a few days. Yesterday he took us Geocaching which is a worldwide game of high-tech hiding and seeking treasure. Anyone can hide a little box of treasures and then puts the GPS co-ordinates and some clues up on the internet. When you find the little container you take out a little treasure and replace it with another one and write your name on the little log book. It's great fun and we successfully found four. Three were small plastic containers hidden in trees while one was located on a busy street overpass in a shoe polish tin with magnets attached, discreetly hidden under a pole. Geocaching is a great way to explore areas we would otherwise never have discovered.

All four caches were within walking distance of our home.












Check out http://www.geocaching.com/about/ to find out more.