A Merry Christmas

We've had a lovely time catching up with family and friends. Christmas Eve with the Days and Christmas Day with the Bertrams. Very relaxed family affairs and lovely to be a part of the celebrations again. We've spent the last few days in Beechworth with Mum and Dad as they are house sitting. It was great to get a dose of Aussie countryside and the weather has been great. Done a few geocaches and just appreciated all the moments.

Good tidings

We've had some bad news and then some good. Matt was scheduled to fly Qantas today to Melbourne but it was cancelled because the plane is stuck in the UK. So now he's flying on the same Emirates flight as his family...he'd initially been on a different flight to us because his return date was earlier than ours and the price on Qantas was much better (so he says). After the stress of the cancelled flight it now looks like it's all turning out okay - it may even costs us less overall - go figure!

We had our little Singapore Christmas today. We woke to a special Christmas Parade by our girls dressed as a very jolly Santa and Rudolph then it was pressies and pancakes for breakfast and Goodwood Park Hotel for High Tea this afternoon. Just finishing packing the suitcases and we can't wait to see all the family. We hear it's going to be a wet and humid summer in Melbourne... sounds like a familiar weather report for us. See you soon!

Wrapping things up..

We've done a few more shows since last blog. Alice and Felicity were in the nativity play at Church and then Matt was in the Christmas Carols. Last day of school was on Wednesday and the girls both performed at the end of year assembly and carols concert. Alice played two songs on the recorder and did very well.

Last night we went to hear some school orchestras play in the Gardens. We then went to Tanglin Mall for the "snow" show and then saw all the lights on Orchard Road. Not long now and we'll be heading back to Oz. Bags are getting packed, presents wrapped and we are now trying to get around to all those last minute things. Two more sleeps...

Wind in the Willows

Avondale Grammar did their school production of Wind in the Willows on Thursday night. It was fantastic. Alice had a main part as Mole and enjoyed the whole thing. Most main characters were shared so that one person did act one and the other did act two. But the girl who was doing Mole in Act two left the school, so Alice was given both parts. So many lines and songs to learn but she loves it and seems to find it easy enough. Felicity has the part of a stoat and did her bit very well. The kids were amazingly relaxed on stage and we saw some truly awesome performances. It's received rave review from all the proud parents!

"I felt excited and knew I was ready to go on stage. Our teacher said just to keep going even when there are mistakes." said Alice.

"I liked doing the tango and stoats are cool," said Felicity.

Silly Season

Silly season is upon us. The next two weeks are filled with all those end of year parties, get-together and events. We have the girls school production of "Wind in the Willows" tonight and their nativity play on Sunday at Church and also Matt's in the carols at Church in the evening so there have been lots of rehearsals for everything.

Christmas arrived at the malls a month ago and Christmas trees just keep popping up everywhere. Decorations all over the place and an abundance of fairy lights. Orchard Road is fully decked out. Our Christmas tree looks somewhat pathetic considering there are so many Christmas trees that are several storeys high but we love it for its simplicity! (ie. its ability to pack down small during the 11 months of the year its not in use.)

On the weekend we formed the cheer squad for our friends Jackie and Dave as they competed in the half-marathon. It was a big effort. We had to get up at 6.30am on a Sunday! and I believe J and D found it quite sweaty and exhausting work too.

Alice and Matt saw the Walking with the Dinosaurs show at the Indoor Stadium and they loved it. On Sunday we all went with a group of friends to see the pantomime of Cinderel-lah! - The Singapore version of the show. Oh so funny - inappropriate in parts - but that's Singapore humour. They seem a lot less politically correct and so not easily offended (eg. it's ok in Singapore to go up to your friend who has put on one kg and say "You so fat Lah" as you pinch the invisible flab on their arms).

Well must go now and get ready for another show.