One Year Singaversary!

I have lived in Singapore for a full year today! I have no idea how that has happened – in some ways it feels like I have been here forever, and it’s as though I have always lived with Nick, in our little flat, and that winter and jumpers are a thing of the past. But on the other hand, I still feel new, as though Singapore still has a lot to offer that I haven’t had a chance to uncover yet, and as though I’m only just scratching the surface.

            In the past year I have moved to Singapore, got engaged, started a new job, made a batch of new friends and have travelled to Thailand (about four times), Penang in Malaysia, Batam and Bali in Indonesia (twice), Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Melbourne, the Gilli Islands and Hong Kong. Not bad for 12 months work!

            To mark the occasion Nick and I went for a wine-free dinner at a very posh restaurant that would normally be well out of our price bracket thanks to the wine costs along. We munched our way through steak and prawns, then skipped dinner to take a stroll with a view by the big Marina Bay Sands building before turning in. We were home by 10pm. No wines makes for a much cheaper and earlier night then usual!

            Here’s to one more year! The year we get married no less! 

Breakfast with the ponies

One of the main joys of not drinking is that you can get up on the crack of dawn at the weekend and you don’t feel like it’s a ridiculous decision. Well, that’s what I think – I can’t say that Nick agrees with me, but I am sure he’ll come around to my way of thinking eventually.

This weekend we decided to breakfast at one of my favourite spots in Singapore, Riders Café. A casual but gorgeous colonial style restaurant in the middle of the countryside, this is nestled in amongst a riding school that used to serve as the main stables for the old turf club, but now homes a number of privately owned ponies who get mucked out and kitted up in full gymkhana style kit even for a little jaunt around the fields. It seems that even in the tropics people are willing to wear knee-high black riding boots, fitted jackets and cravats to take their horses out for a quick loop around the park. They may be crazy, but it makes for a lovely view while we drink coffee and scoff breakfast eggs.

While enjoying watching the crazy people hose off their horses and practise jumping in the neighbouring fields Nick and I met up with our friends Nick, Jing and their one year old Kate, who kept us entertained with her endless appetite and chubby little legs while we had a long and lazy breakfast.

            After an hour or so Kate called time on our catch up, and we will be seeing them in Thailand in a couple of week's time anyway so we allowed her to send us all home. We took our time bidding farewell to the ponies and flagging down a taxi (which always takes an age when you are out in the sticks) before heading back into town to stop off at Raffles on our way home.

The World Press Photographer Competition currently on show at Raffles, so making the most of a sprightly, hangover-free Saturday we took a turn around the art, some of which was heart warming, some heart breaking, but all of it really incredible to see. Nick made a quick stop off at a tailor in the middle of Raffles to see how much they might charge to make him a tailored waistcoat for our wedding, and then it was time to wander home in the amazing breeze that has currently settled in Singapore ready for a nice little afternoon nap. What a great way to spend a lazy weekend day! 

Sober weekend entertainment

Since returning from a very boozey and champagne fuelled break at home over Christmas, Nick and I have returned to Singapore and got straight into good behaviour mode. Last weekend the only thing that we had planned in for Sunday was a nice early breakfast with some friends out in a very green and lush part of town.

            We arrived, we ate eggs and salad and then on our way home we accidentally got side-lined by some of the tatt shops in the area, and somehow I came away with a slightly ridiculous jewellery box. It’s a fun and welcome addition to our flat, but I have to admit that when there’s no wine in our weekends, we still seem to find other ways to spend our money! Still, it wasn’t really very expensive at all, and I do think it’s a rather glorious antique!

The latest addition to our random collection of local goodies! 

This weekend we are set to do more of the same. Friday night was spent at an Art After Dark event at the old Gillman Barracks. The building still look as though the army use them for accommodation, but each of the barrack blocks have been transformed into warehouse style art galleries, and with the Art After Dark event going on, it felt like the perfect time to go and check out what they have on offer.

Art After Dark at the Gillman Barracks 

We arrived early and wandered around the galleries for an hour or so. A lot of the art was incredibly modern, and I have to admit that some of it was lost on Nick and I, but we spent some time soaking up the atmosphere, and enjoyed a ginger beer surrounded by food carts and vintage cars whilst listening to live jazz being performed on the balcony of the main barracks building.   

            After a while we stopped off at one of the main restaurants to share a pizza before heading home. We were back at the flat by around 9:30, fed, cultured and so very ready for a cup of tea. Not drinking means that nights which could have gone on for hours end fairly early, but this is good for us as we’re booked in for breakfast with Nick’s friend and his baby pretty early tomorrow. We’re going to need all the sleep preparation that we can get!  

I’m back!

I thought I had finished updating this blog – I kept getting behind on updates and finding myself with weeks of gaps to fill in which was frustrating for readers and meant that I had mountains to catch up on by the time I got a spare moment over the weekend.

            However, following a string of emails asking what’s going on and telling me off for the lack of sharing, I have realised that without this blog there is a lot going on in my life that I forget to tell people about, so perhaps the diary-style blog really is the way forwards after all.

            If I don’t make updates as much as I should then please forgive me for my sloppiness, but hopefully you will enjoy the odd update here and there, and fingers crossed I will have some vaguely fun things to share with you in the coming months.

            Since my last update Nick and I got engaged during a glorious long weekend trip to the Gillis:

We went home for an incredible two week Christmas holiday spent with the family back in the Shire:

We planned the main details of our wedding – the venue, the church, the band and the catering, and I even have a dress on order ready for fitting when I get back in the summer:

Since all the fun and excitement of December, we have returned to Singapore to try and organise the wedding from afar, whilst also doing out best to get back into the good behavior groove (not least as we have a wedding to slim down for, and I have a dress on order that is going to have to fit no matter what!).

            Well, that’s a very basic run down of what you’ve missed over the past month or so. Let’s see if I can drum up any other interesting or exciting news to share with you soon!

A very trying week

This week has not been the best that I’ve had in Singapore, and I blame it all on work. The battle of the bosses continues, which is tiring, stressful and occasionally annoying, but I’ve tried to just focus on our lovely little weekend away and power on through.

            Trying to make the most of any time not spent in the office I’ve used one of my many GroupOn deals to get a nice manicure and pedicure ahead of our trip (I ended up with sparkly Christmas colours even though we’re jetting off to the tropics but never mind). I’ve done a little shopping, I’ve finished all my Christmas preparation, I’ve caught up with a couple of friends that we won’t be seeing again until after the Christmas holidays and I’ve pretty much done anything and everything I can to not thing about work.

            Now it’s Thursday morning and I am just a few hours away from being free of the office and on our way to the Gilis to finish up celebrating my birthday (haha, sort of). I can’t wait!!!