I love my mate Eddo

So Mr Edmonds happens to be in Singapore for work.

Let's some fun together over the weekend then. Well half day Saturday, Saturday night, sleepover and half a day Sunday. But a BELTER of a weekend. I think he likes it here!

Up first was Amy's first swimming lesson with our friend Linda. 

She really really did so so well. Here's a few snaps.

Practicing bringing her ams up and over, below. She nailed it and actually started swimming. Amazing. Ollie even made her a certificate at home, bless him!

Not quite certain what's happening below. I think she's a tiger or something, but why doing this at the sides of a swimming pool and mid lesson is beyond me. Funny girl!

Here she is again. Point the hands up and then swim with hands in front and head in water. She did it first time. So well done Amy, and thanks Linda - clearly an amazing teacher.

Here she goes look. She's actually doing front crawl here. Go Amy Go Amy Go Amy.

Next stop off to our great mate's Dani and SImon for an Australia Day BBQ.

Mwah, here's Eddo and Mary. Nice snap.

Our host Simon with his mate. Now notice the shadow of Simon. It was SO SO SO hot. Absolutely boiling. YOu could not stand on the floor barefoot type hot. Cooking, it really was. But also a beautiful day. Kids in pool and all that. Lovely!

Major battles between my two for the ownership of a bucket. Why? I don't know. Crazy.

Amy has it though for the time being. 

She's clearly very proud of herself.

Guys it's a bloody bucket!!!!!

A very happy couple below enjoying a great party.

I even took along my Asian Brussel Sprouts which seemingly went down a storm, with a massive bowl being completely consumed and being asked for the recipe.

A cracker of my mates new and old.

Dave and Barrie that we have met in Singapore, so now have known them for 5 years, and Eddo who I have known for 30. Great mates news and old. Lovely to share some laughs, and some cold beverages of course.

Leave party early to get to home, a quick change in to smart gear and off to The Fullerton Hotel and Post Bar. Tabitha Quiz & Auction night with my mate Reevey. Table of 8 for us (well 9 as Eddo came along too), with Ged & Sue and Terry & Mechelle.

What a giggle.

We were pretty rubbish though.

Way too much alcohol consumed of course, which caused me to bid and win some wine and a framed Everton football shirt for my mate Eddo.

Here we all are.

Clearly some alcohol has now been consumed.

Clearly some more now.

Perhaps the BBQ followed by the quiz was NOT such a good idea ha ha!

Come on its a quiz night.

So the thinkers!

The "light goes on" moment"!

"I'm sure I know this answer" moment!

"I do know the answer" moment!

Now to Sunday and a day of showing Eddo our "local" stuff.

So off for a Chinese foot massage and some hawker fair.

I absolutely did this on purpose as Eddo has a thing for feet. Well not a thing, he basically hates anything to do with them. In fact at the boiling hot BBQ the day before he still kept his socks on - class act my friend! Class act!

So here we go to our local massage place, and I have to say one if not the funniest massages of all time. The guy doing Eddo kept telling him of his worn out kidney, liver and lungs. It was hysterical.

Just look at Eddo's face. Do you think he was enjoying it...? NOT!!!! Ha Ha!

Come on son, grin and bear it.

Hold on a minute, I think he's passed out from the pain!

Then off for some food fun.

Of course we got the classic chicken rice, with roast pork belly, char siew and some chicken livers. Not bad and Eddo devoured the lot.

Hmm OK how to "test" him a little more.

Yep let's get him some iced mango kachang.

Looks nice doesn't it.

Basically shaved ice, with mango puree, moulded in to a pyramid with some flavoured and coloured liquids poured over. Also some secret ingredients. These secret ingredients completely threw Eddo and not a great deal of this was devoured by him.

I mean Eddo come on what's wrong with having sweetcorn, condensed milk, beans and black tea jelly with your iced kachang?

Ha Ha Ha Ha!

After lunch we said our goodbyes as he was off to visit his cousin. So we just vegged at home.

The we decided hawker number 2 for us and our dinner.

We went to Satay by the Bay, the brand new hawker over in Gardens by the Bay.

It is official this is now my absolute favourite hawker in the whole of Singapore - it is a BELTER.

But on the way of course we had some scooter fun. Amy's gliding swan impression.

And in reverse.

I actually took this picture though because her leotard is a little small now and it rode up her bum, exposing all her knickers. One to look back at when you are a little older hun.

Ollie showing off this MECCA.

It is just awesome. Not 100% open yet, with about 50% of the hawkers still to start cooking and serving but what was there - dear me.

Check the location too. Amazing airy views of the city and/or the river.

This was our first dish. Man oh man this chicken was heavenly. See it is cooked on proper BBQ charcoal. It was simply delicious, crispy and smoky. This did not last long on the plates.

It's just beautiful isn't it.

I love hawkers and food courts, as you all know, but this one os a doozy! It's almost like a hawker in a garden, well actually that is exactly what it is.

Eddo we're taking you here pal - and of course Mum, Miz and Yuko and anyone else that comes to visit.

We sat ourselves out the back-side - this is the view from the table. You can imagine what this looked like at night when dark and the lights came on. Oh yes!

The gang eagerly awaiting food food food. They were not disappointed.

Kai Lan with garlic, steamed and served with a wonderful sauce.

Skate wing with sambal, divine.

Jumbo prawns BBQ and served with sambal - OMG.

Satay that was to die for.

Seafood fried rice, smoky and just delicious.

And the chicken wings of course.

Is that a beer I spy on the table - I'll get to that.

Hold on a second!

What's this, have we left the hawker and gone to a trendy bar and bistro.

No friends. This is in the bloody hawker.

Yes there is a bar in the hawker that stays open til midnight. Cold jugs of beer for 17 bucks, bloody amazing. It is REALLY nice.

And get this. One of the yet to open hawker stands is only a Turkish Kebab joint. Yes I can go to a hawker just over the water from where I live and get a doner kebab and a beer. I am truly in heaven.

We have committed to visit this place frequently as you can imagine. For me that could be every night of the week ha ha!

This is the view from the bloody toilet of all places.

Couldn't resist a snap, it's just so so beautiful.

Night now drawing in and the lights come on. It's just so dammed pretty.

You HAVE to try this place.

My gorgeous little angel showing it off for me.

Two beautiful things!

And here it is now at night as we leave.

Truly an oasis in our back yard. A mere 20 minute walk and we're there.

A little fun on the way back with the kids splashing in the fountains

I know you were waiting for it and here it is...

FACEBOOK FACEBOOK!

Oh yeah and a walk past this sort of thing.

How amazing does it look? 

This is our back garden!

Come visit I'd love to show it to you someday.

What a place!

Gordon & Thes say goodbye - a happy/sad day

Bit of a strange day really.

Great fun having a long lunch with our great mates, truly great mates - but with a sad undertone, as the very lunch we had was to celebrate the departure of Gordon and Thes to Gordon's new job and new home in Malaysia. So very sad to see them go. 

But we wish Mr Sutherland all the very best in the new role, you'll knock it out of the park mate. We'll come visit once you get your feet under the table. Let us know when that is matey! We'd love to visit.

So off we go.

4-5 hours of fun at the world famous Colbar. A Colonial place, relocated brick by brick some years previous. All corrugated iron. It's just great. There are even some planks at the front of the place, that hold, almost museum like, the history of Colbar. These planks have Japanese characters painted on them from when the Japanese invaded and occupied Singapore before the British got it back.

We always sit outside, although when you go in there is the old lady owner who has been in there for 60 years, yep SIXTY. Fading photos of football teams of years past, mazing football kits with great big lapels. It really is like going back in time.

The old lady and her sons and daughters, and now grand-daughters and grand-sons run the place. Hacking away at huge lumps of ice for your drinks. Honesty system prevails with them only taking cash. Amazing to add to this is one mate went and ate and drank. Inadvertently he left without paying. Realising that when he got home he rang and apologised

What do they do for refreshments? This is a "must do visit" once in your life. Memories flooding back here. They have 4 to 5 HUGE fridges fully stocked with UK ciders and UK beers. It's amazing. Yesterday I was trying strawberry, toffee apple, tutti fruity - oh yes. Plus the food is bloody ACE. Remember in UK after a good night out you'd go to your local Chinese and get curry and chips. Oh yeah baby, it's that curry. It comes with a chicken breast, chips, curry sauce and toast. So simple but so bloody good. It is awesome. Amy always has sausage, chips and bacon followed by ice cream.

Do you think she may have just had the ice cream??

Mwah the departing couple. Our great mates Gordon and Thes. We're going to massively miss you guys. Best friends for ever!

Colbar is cool they even have their own "bunny girls". Fantastic service.
Curry, cider and Sexy Ladies - don't get much better than that, ha ha!

Here is phase 1 of the day. More came later. A great turn out to say goodbye is it not. All great friends having fun and food and froths. A lovely day. All smiles. And boy did Mary and I need this after what we've had to endure lately and still are for that matter. No cares just fun! Thanks you everyone.

OK the bunny girl turns "bunny boiler". What happened there Mary, someone steal one of your chips?

I guarantee this is NOT a Facebook, Facebook, Facebook!

Mary and the kids. Ahhhh bless. Just beeeeeautiful!

It's funny Kev's daughter said she was trying to ruin the photo above, but turns out it is a beauty!

What happened above? Maybe too much curry. Loos are turn left and they're on the right. HURRY!!!!!

He is indeed a handsome chap is he not! Nice one Ollie! Prince Charmer!

All the fun of the fair. Yours truly enjoying a toffee apple. Ha Ha! I kid you not, this cider is actually toffee apple. It is awesome. Reminds of trips to the circus with Mum as a kid. OK minus the alcohol.

The twins looking lovely. He He!

Flock of seagulls.
Herd of cows.
Gaggle of geese.
Flock of sheep.

What do you call a load of Filipinos?
A gammit?
A bunch?
A bevvie?

Well here is one of them with Prince Charmer!

And the boys! Nicely done chaps, looking good. If I was a girl who'd just had 14 ciders I think I'd go for the lot of you. NICE!

And to the girls!
No need for cider, you're all gorgeous. Well maybe one or two might help a little, ha ha ha!
Joking, joking, joking!

A wonderful snap of the departing couple. A keeper this one Mr Sutherland! You look ACE!

Probably just THE Smallest thing Thes has every purchased. You couldn't even get your keys in this.
A great little pressie, as it contained some Barbie shoes, and other bits.
What do you mean does Thes like shopping? No, who told you that?

LOVE it.
A smashing snap of mine with Thes and Gena. Just lovely!

Master and Dog or is it the other way round? I think the dog wears the trousers definitely.

Mr McCormick massaging the hound. Usually he's massaging the monkey, but we'll let him off this time.

The dog literally passed out, almost like it had broken it's neck.

Amy and I playing. She got a little grumpy as she was tired so we had to cheer her up!

JOB DONE!

Just behind the bar is this little grassy area.

The kids clearly a little bored now decided to go jump the runoff trench. 

I really like these two snaps. Kids in motion, and others (the older ones) clearly having a chat about the latest social economic climate in the Asean countries, and the impact of the volatility of the dollar.

And after such a great day, what is the outcome.

NUFF SAID!

To all: thank you. 

We had a ball. 

A sad but happy occasion - what a great day!