Thinking of home

Tomorrow will be 6 months since we arrived in Singapore. The time has flown by and we've really adjusted to life here.  Things that were initially noticed for being different or strange are now just natural and unremarkable.  On Saturday morning, we caught the train out to a suburban swimming complex at Yishun.  Nothing fancy (apart from the electronic ticket machines and automated entry) but the girls do enjoy going to new places, even to just do things they could do at home (like swimming!).  While we were there, I was increasingly (but quietly) aware that the AFL Grand Final was underway.  Now those of you who know how closely I follow the football might be surprised, but when I looked up the half time scores on my iPhone, I almost choked up reporting to the girls that St Kilda were 6 points in front and it was obviously a close game.

Missing a Grand Final is a big deal, even for me.  One year, we watched the grand final from an outback pub at Arltunga, 100km east of Alice Springs.  The past few years we've been regulars at my sister Elissa's for the annual Grand Final BBQ, along with other friends we only see once a year.  So it brought on a bit of homesickness not to be there, hoping to win freddo frog for tipping the first goal (although, the fact that I was swimming in 32 degrees while it was 10 degrees and hailing in Melbourne did temper my wistful thoughts).

Coming back from swimming, the urge to get home was increasing, especially with the prospect of a close finish.  We stopped for lunch at a food court and then Alice and I began the dash home. We ended up running down the street and up the stairs.  The TV came on and I was able to sit down and enjoy the last 3 minutes of the fourth quarter.  I hadn't missed the Grand Final after all.