Little Gina's birthday

Again this is another split blog as I bought a new toy which I used at Little Gina's birthday, so sorry scroll down when you finish this and click on "is life a recipe" and check out the food experience at Little Gina's birthday party.

A great day out in the beautiful Botanical Gardens of Singapore. We were there early, laden with eski, cooking stuff, food, kids ha ha. A BOILING hot and humid day, so as we were first on the scene our job was to find a nice cool, shaded spot. Not that easy when some of the girls on their day off literally sleepover night in the gazebos in the Gardens to reserve them the next day. They're like Mayfair on the Monopoly Board, prime real estate.

So we settled for under a tree. Nice and cool and very picnic like with that edge of Enid Blyton, "The Famous Five" adventure type thing. Plus alcohol!

"You say that it's cool here Dad, but MAN it's hot" - says Amy.

Hey look Dad if I get really close to the camera, my head looks massive (but still VERY handsome Ollie!)

Ahhhhhhhhh lazy days says Mary, fun with friends.

You know what Mary, I think I'll do the same and just sit here against this tree and relax. Mental note to self next time, don't wear all white when sitting on the ground and leaning against a tree. It was not all white later on.

But what's this kids, you're not hot now, you want to run around - how on earth do they do it? It took me a major amount of effort just to get up, stand and take this video clip, let alone running around loony tunes style. And yes I got the "Daddy look I am sweating like a pig!" - guess who said that, hmmmmm!

Our usual gaggle of friends showed up (late), so we had to disappear quite early as we had to get home to bed the kids for school next day. And clearly because they were late, they were a little embarrassed and shy as you can see! COUGH!

But yes wine, champagne, beers, amazing foods, laughs, music, dancing and well just FUN. But some boredom awaiting the taxi that got majorly lost, so let's get that camera out again please Dad.

Happy birthday Gina and the guys - it was actually a 3x birthday celebration. A lovely day thanks!

Happy 40th Sam

So I get an email from Ian, a great mate from UK. Well positioning first, we used to kick lumps out of each other on the football pitch when we were "younger" (cough cough!). Then I started playing with Brownie, who knew Nina really well through his wife Ailsa (come on you know the story) who knew Sam from Pfizer days, who's the wife of Ian. So, I can't remember which, but at one of Brownie's parties in walks Ian and Sam and that's how the friendship started.

So I get an email from my great mate Ian in UK; "We're coming to Singapore, then Malaysia, then SIngapore, then Hong Kong. It's Sam's birthday mate and I'm crap at organising can you help?" "Of course mate says I?"

Sam by the way lived in Singapore when she was 8 or so, hence this trip back to make special 40th, was a trip back to a special home memory, home #2 for Sam. Off to Penang in Malaysia to remember trips with her family there as a kid when living in Singapore etc etc.

So likewise we're discussing "love Broadstairs, BUT, look behind you!" I think they really get why it's tough to consider a move home ever!

Ian and I then began a covert operation to plan the night, and bless them we ended up going to to celebrate with Sam. What a fantastic night showing, and we hope a wonderful 40th for Sam. Just lovely to see you both.

The night goes as follows;

1900 - Fullerton Bay Hotel, Lantern Rooftop Bar.

Sorry no photos - whoops. A beautiful roof top setting overlooking Marina Bay Sand hotel, Merlion, Esplanade etc. Twinkly lights, light and lazer show from Marina Bay. Uber cool joint for Sam and Ian to enjoy a bottle of bubbles (tip RESERVE a table overlooking Marina Bay - it gets busy!). Mary and I then got kids to bed early early and managed to get to the guys about 2015 ish, amazing accomplishment, and it was surprise and Happy Birthday and lot's of chatting and reminiscing.

2100 - Cliffords Restaurant, Fullerton Bay Hotel.

OK never been before but I have recommended this to another mate of mine here for his wedding anniversary. It has good reviews. Mind you we rock up a little later than 2100 as we've been gassing upstairs, and it is EMPTY, like EMPTY. But who cares, some wine, some beers, a nice table, a greater waiter who was chatty, funny and took the snaps below and organised the wee cake (check the writing in chocolate on the plate).

Sorry but to see the food we ate, and the explanations, yep, you'll have to go to food blog. But to summarise boy it was good. From the start - duck roulade with amazing French bread and butter, foie gras, amazing cured hams, lobster starters. Mary went barramundi, I went suckling pig, but dish of the day for me was what Sam and Ian both ordered - braised veal cheeks - OMG, you gotta try this one if you go. It actually does melt in your mouth, I am not joking. Brian STOP, you're giving too much away - please visit "is life a recipe" link on the right hand side here somewhere - he he!

So some lovely snaps of us having fun. It really is a nice restaurant, very high ceilings, restored colonial style. Beautiful! Great staff too, made it very enjoyable experience.

The happy couple enjoying themselves, although really not sure what Ian is doing??? Waiting for a kiss, he's seen his next beer coming, or he's passing wind ........?

Here is Sam's birthday cake, a tad small to get 40 candles on it, ahhhhhh OK let's just have the one then.

And here we go with some video. Naught man Ian, but very very funny parting comment! Classic! Turn up the volume!

2330 Altitude Bar

The next little treat, and something different for Sam and Ian, as this is still quite a new experience in Singapore.

What you are not seeing here is that is on the 68th floor, and is literally the roof top, there is NOTHING but sky above. So groovy chill out tunes playing, a beautiful breeze, few beers and literally the ability to walk 360 degrees around the roof top to see amazing night time views of Singapore.

You can't get the experience from the photos, well maybe from the faces, but check it out. Literally you are standing in the clouds, nothing above, no cages, railings, just a glass partition to stop the drunks falling off the edge I suppose!

Looking down on Marin Bay Sands Hotel, ha ha! Sorry private joke, but I hate that place. Get yourself to altitude, pay 25 bucks and get a free drink and have a view that 30 or so floor higher and better than Sands, and a 5th the price for the view.

0100, Last stop - Uncabunca, Boat Quay

So lot's of glitz and glam, let's have a night cap but at somewhere more "normal". So off to Boat Quay, well Circular Road to my mate Dave Wu's place - Uncabunca. Very nice, shame no Mr Wu there that night. But it's a bar-bar if you know what I mean. So a few more beers, mojitos for the girls and chat chat chat until about 3am and then home to bed.

I think we're still looking pretty damn fresh after what was a pretty long night!

So what can Mary and I say to Sam and I, but a massive thank you for allowing us to celebrate your 40th with you. It was such fun, and we hope good memories for you. Looking forward to Saturday.

Nina

Ollie and I were messing about on the computer burning some CD's an DVD's and he needed to get some blank CD's. So there he is rummaging through a box in Amy's room and he came across some with writing on them. So I have investigated them now and found loads of what I thought were lost photos, here are a selection for you all to see.

I thought you'd all love to see these, it now being 3+ year since Ni left us, but she's always in our thoughts and memories.

I especially like the one of us all in Japan, Ni with her family - Mum, Nan, Sister, Aunt, Cousins and Nieces, just a beautiful photo that I am so pleased to have found.

Photos from Japan, Australia, Singapore - again Naoko living her dream to travel and of course have the kids with her. So many memories!

Melbourne;

Japan;

Singapore;

We even get to hear her voice again for a short while.

She looks amazing doesn't she.

A very sad moment, and a very happy moment to find these.

Love you Ni, miss you Ni xxx

It's New Years Eve and Day

New Years Eve

Well I have to admit this one came as a BIG surprise. What shall we do? Where shall we go? We've got the kids though? We've had a busy Christmas and pre-Christmas! It would be nice to be at home, but also finding something for the kids to do? What a quandry.

Then it all came nicely in to place.

We would stay at the condo. we would go to Uncle Gordon's for some food and drinks, then to the Condo Countdown Party, then to river side to watch fireworks. Well that was the plan. Sounds good.

I think we were all thinking that the condo countdown was not going to be that good. As it happens it was excellent. Entertainment, games for the kids with prizes, juggler, magician, raffle, food, streamers, countdown and one thing I am missing, hmm what was is now - oh yeah free flow beer (he he!) And all for the princely sum of $20 each drinking adult, everyone else was free.

Here's the kids all sitting perfectly quiet, just watching watching. It was a great show for all ages, and kept the kids so occupied it enabled the adults to have time off and some fun too.

We were joined by JT and Ellie, Dave Brown, Nereh, Gordon and Thes and of course Mary, me and the two kids (yes 100$ only for all us to go). It was fantastic fun. We were all entertained all night, we were in raffles, we had drinks and laughs and a great countdown at the end. We all retired at 0130am including the kids, thanks Costa Rhu that was excellent! The girls will show you that;

Amy had a lovely time with Ellie, although we all missed Liz and Charlie of course. But JT thanks for coming over mate, was lovely to share New Year Eve with you both.

Love you Ellie, Love you Amy

Here's Amy playing the game of bat man, super man and wonder woman - bless her, lots of ahhahahahahs from the audience when she was playing. She did well but did n't win, although everyone entering got a prize. Check the face, she is having BIG fun!

Then Ollie entered too for the boys and guess who won. Well done Ollie Boo. As you can see from the videos of New Years Day at Maricel's, Mary stole the idea and got all the girls playing too. Good game.

Mr magician was very good and very funny (sometimes just for the adults too).

Dancing Dancing - everyone is Happy;

Happy New Year Everyone;

Here we all are literally just after the countdown;

How fresh do the kids look,

Maybe not quite the same could be said for the adults ha ha!

New Years Day

The lovely girls invited us to a fun day at Maricel's employers, well originally the beach but because of rain it changed to the house. But as it happened a beautiful sunny day, enjoyed sat in the garden eating drinking, and of course playing silly games.

And here they are - the girls.

Here'a Amy indoors practicing her balance skills. Ollie did it straight away and of course little sister then wants to copy big brother. So after much practicing she suddenly "got it" and here she is.

So the girls played the sack race with a strange Filipina spin on it. The sack goes on your heads. Don't try this at home kids, a plastic bag on the end is not a game, unless you are a Filipina with a few beers inside you of course. So one has bagged head, the other is the "guide", so run to end, round the chair and then swop the bag and repeat to all team members have been bagged - and this is what you get, check out the giggles. Maybe not good to be a neighbour of Maricel's house this day.

Towards the end and after a few ciders the girls even coaxed me, Gordon and Ollie to join in the games. OK no cider for Ollie of course! This was a game where you knelt down, placed on an apron and then ha to blow flour from a bowl (as held by Gordy), of course most of which goes right up your nose and in your eyes and forms a paste (nice), then once all the flour is blown away, eat a ferrero roche chocolate, and then once finished that try to whistle (you try it, it's virtually impossible). Gordy one this with some spurious adaption to the rules by throwing the flour in to the air and blowing on it - hmmmmm!

Great food, great weather and great company. Thanks Maricel and Geena for just a lovely day for me and the kids, you are family.