Two weekends - football, a sore carry over from last weekend to this, make-up time, barmAID, and food food food - sounds interesting??? Read on folks...

Life in the old dog yet? 

Last Sunday I donned the football boots again after 6 weeks or so off, and strolled out to play a full 90 minutes in 35 degree heat and 85% humidity - OMG - bring it on.

We played a Japanese team who were out there training for about 30 minutes before the game - just amazing, or mad, or both! My training was bending down to get my socks on and to tie my boots. Was shagged after doing that.

I think I did OK, bearing in mind it has been a while. Unfortunately we lost 2-0 though.

'Small-World' scenario was I ended up playing against Sota-San - the chap who I went to Cambodia with with Oliver - remember that blog when we visited Phnom Peng and then went off to the villages and orphanages to play football - yep that was him! Great to hook up again!

Yep - just about managed to keep running the whole game - man these guys were fit.

I think it was the promise of a beer afterwards that kept me going - or just leaning forwards and letting the weight of my gut create a forward motion - hmm one of the two or perhaps both - ha ha!

This was literally just after we got back from London - so Amy took great delight wearing her new Chelsea kit and having a kick around with her brother Ollie. 

Is this a sprint I am doing now?

I think I may have heard the referee blow the whistle for full-time and knowing there was that cold beer I think I was sprinting off to get changed.

Sccccrrrreeeechhhhh - brakes on - no it was no the final whistle DAMN!!!

But after one sliding tackle this game which scuffed off some skin, I have been in a bad way since - hence the reference to a 'carry-over'. Sore on Monday. Off to Malaysia for work Tue-Wed and my leg ballooned. I had an infection. Dr's Thursday back in Singapore, cleaning, anti-biotics and creams to rub on the wound which had now swollen and had infection all over my lower leg. 

That's that I thought. More later.

Anyway we went to Joe's - just a great local restaurant nearby where we live.

Kids having fun with their ice-cream desserts afterwards.

Lovely shot of Steve and Tracey with us at Joe's.

And our mate from HK down for some work - Lol came with us to watch the football and join us for beers and food.

Man did those beers slip down so very very well.

Now we slip to Friday and barmAID - remember the previous blogs.

Limited photos here as did not take the camera however we did have official photographers there.

There will be a new blog coming for this one once I have got my hands on those.

But let's just say - what an event. 

200+ people that attended to raise a mass of money for our charities in Cambodia - this year for Tabitha and Hope for Cambodian Children.

As it was 80's themed we ended up looking like this...

Need I say any more - I really don't think so....

Dear me - it's all for charity people - amazing what you'll do eh.

Seriously the training I had to do to get in to shape for this costume was just incredible.

When I said I though my leg was all over that Thursday. Nope, it wasn't.

Friday was barmAID as you have seen above - grin and bear it and allow the beer to remove the pain. Funny was that people thought the bandages were part of my outfit.

Saturday - holy cow this thing is hurting me big time.

Sunday - can't stand it any more - off to A&E. Two injections in my arse cheeks of mega antibiotics, a scrub to lose the infected skin from the wound (OUCH!), x-rays to check the infection had not got to the bone, a load of dressings and some knock-out pain-killers and I was home again. 

But before I go to A&E we have to get ready don't we.

Which includes Amy donning a rainbow dress and having her make-up done - yes to go to A&E.

I could hear lips puckering as I cleaned my teeth in the bathroom - I walked in to the bedroom to see my Amy applying copious amounts of lipstick - and then Mary helping her finish her off.

Finished article.

Very pretty AmyBoo - but maybe a little too much like Pageant Princesses in USA???

Nah not my Amy.

After the treatments above - feeling a little battered and bruised I needed to eat.

Off to a regular haunt that is usually so good. Hong Kong Tea House, Katong - sorry you let me down today! Not your usual good stuff and service - less than average to be honest!!!

An an annual appraisal at work you would have been marked 'Needs Improvement!'

Our lunch took over 2 hours.

You said you had my puff pastry char siew buns - one hour later after waiting you come back to advise actually you have none.

We wait 30 minutes for a dessert to be made.

Your serving staff were crap and bloody morbid!

Still some photos anyways.

A very interesting drink, and seriously try this at home - coca-cola, with lemon and ginger that you warm and serve hot.

Amy digs in to to her Xiao Long Bao - steamed pork buns with soup inside. She loves these things. But this one was sort of OK only. She only ate the outside of this this time.

I'll give them this - the steamed beaf balls were bloody amazing, with this spicy dip that I think was made from Worcestershire Sauce. 

What is the penguins of Madagascar say; 'Smile & wave boys, smile and wave.'

Rather than actually what was in my head, as my leg throbbed from 2+ hours of sitting waiting.

Home for a sleep as my pain-killers kicked in, then off out later for dinner time.

You know sometimes I read these blogs back to myself and think, do you guys all think that all we do is eat! Ha Ha!!! Food, food, food!!!

Off now to recommendation from a friend and client who is actually Cambodian - Po. Off to Changi Road, to Siamese Cat Restaurant. No Thai food made here though. It is a mixture.

Po had recommended to me to try the Assam Fish Head Curry (clearly I recommended that to Mary - not for me) and I said this to the waiter that this came as a recommendation. A recommendation from my Cambodian friend. He said "Ah you must mean Po, he's always here..." Ha Ha!!!

Whilst waiting Amy asked me if her lipstick was still on.

'Daddy can you take a picture to show me if it is still on?'

He He! You look beautiful honey!

My absolute signature dish of this experience - black pepper beef.

Holy cow this was bloody amazing.

Hot, hot, hot - wow spicy.

Beef that just melted in your mouth.

This was fantastic - I would go back to have this, and this alone again. 

It really was that good - nuff said!

This is their 'off-the-menu' roast chicken with sambal dip.

Amy and I created a little game of making everyone look away so she could steal just the crispy skin.

Yep so again, like the eggs from Kilo, she made a load of naked chicken.

Dragon's Beard steamed with garlic.

You should have seen how Amy looked when eating this - something I missed with the camera.

Yep - it was all hanging down her face and over her chin - yep just like a beard - dragon girl!!!

The famous Assam Fish Head Curry.

Smelt amazing - but I am going nowhere near this one.

Thumbs up from Ollie and Mary though!

A quick dessert for yours truly.

Go on have a guess.

Any ideas???

A clue - the popular bloke a party could be called a fun guy...

Any ideas now???

It is basically mushroom (fungi - get it). It's a certain type, and in a sweet sauce with dates and longans.

Yep mushroom for dessert - mmm yummy!!!

We walk out to grab a cab, and I bump in to a place that my mate Barrie has told me all about.

Bar 328, again on Changi Road - sort of a private joint, but we mentioned Barrie's name and in we went. The main reason for this was that Siamese Cat does not have a drinks license - so having seen 328 how could we resist a quick stop off for refreshments

So finally a great end to a day of mixed things.

Wish me luck tomorrow as I go back to A&E at midday - hopefully a green light on the leg, if not - boo hoo more treatments to come for that one I am  sure.

And the final one from our UK trip - Powell Cotten Museum, a blast from the past for me!!!

But 1st things 1st - here is Amy Avatar!

Thanks to my brother for buying the face paints for Amy.

So after much pressure Ms Amy Kennett finally gets yours truly to get creative.

Here is the outcome!

Yes this was adorned in the morning, and she wore it all day.

Although gradually it sweated and wore off - leaving a sort of smudged Avatar face at the end.

A quick trip this afternoon to see Quex Park which I have not been too for I think something like 30 years. Quite amazing as it is literally 10 minutes from Mum;s and pretty damn amazing as a place.

But before we get to that, what did I espy in the car park.

OMG - this thing is better than The BatMobile. 

These are my kind of gadgets on a vehicle.

Look at this thing.

It's a bar on wheels.

Yep an 8 seater bar you ate sideways on and pedal.

See the barrel at the front - that is for the driver, and in the middle is a walk way for the bar person.

At eh back you wire up a beer barrel and there is then draft beer being served on tap as you pedal to your destination. Gives drink driving a whole new meaning doesn't it.

I want one!!!

I want it in Singapore.

What fun this would be.

Like a tuk tuk with a flipping bar.

I feel a franchise across the whole of South East Asia coming on - who wants in???

Ohhhhh I slipped in to Dreamy Land there, lah le lah le lah!!!

Before Quex Park House there is Quex Barn.

This is brand new to me, converted to a sort of local shop and restaurant.

I bought a black pudding in here that was the size of a small child for about 4 quid - nice!

Brian Doolittle Kennett talking to the animals.

Clearly no resemblance to Robert Redford and Horse Whisperer.

In fact I had had a beer at Quex Barn so leant in closely, breathed up it's nose and it was 'in my power'.

In to Quex House.

Owned by the Powell-Cotten family it is now a museum, heritage thing.

This one guy Major Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotten was an army chap who took it upon himself to explore the world with many forays to Asia and Africa, collecting knick knacks and shooting anything he could to stuff and mount (ooer) back at his house.

This was back in early 1900's, and then he was called an early conservationist - what because he shot everything that moved? I think I even saw a Squeezel on the wall in one of the rooms! He is revered by some as the man who has collected the largest collection of stuff shot by an individual. Conservation or Culling - you choose!!!

He went overseas 28 times during 1887 and 1939, and wrote some books such as 'A sporting trip through Abyssinia' - now Ethiopia. 

In 1905 he got married whilst on an expedition and to save stopping that trip his new bride came with him on a honeymoon that ended up lasting 2 years. Crazy. Imagine how dirty the white wedding dress would have got in Africa. Silly really! If he'd had had a stag night he'd have probably ended up shooting it!!!

One time though the animals fought back. He thought he had shot and killed a lion in 1907. Whoopsy, not he didn't. When getting near to have a looksie at his fine handiwork the bloody thing jumps up and starts to try and eat him. Get this though, he had a rolled up copy of Punch Magazine in his breast pocket that deflected most of the blows and he survived - although when you see the suit he was wearing on display it was pretty mangled.

There you go kids - an early IronMan suit - all you need is a few rolled up comics and hey presto!

Lion 1 - Percy 0

In to the house.

FULL of stuff from his trips.

This a beautiful Japanese statue of a boy gathering fire wood.

 

See what I mean - just tonnes of really cool stuff.

Chinese, Japanese, African, Malaysian etc etc... It goes on and on.

Doubling up but worth seeing the whole statue - really liked this.

Although he is walking like I did after a game of football these days.

Scary one.

The laughing philosopher apparently.

If I had a black pen I would have put some dots for eyeballs - scary without.

Plus mate, next time I come I'll bring you a toothbrush.

I have to admit I would't be laughing with them pegs!!!

Bits and pieces from all over the world.

French clock from Paris with what I think is a backdrop of Chinese wall-paper.

Cabinets of Japanese artefacts from his travels.

Japanese stirrups encrusted with mother of pearl.

I would assume very rare and expensive Satsuma porcelain figurines.

Do you think this one is seedless?

WTF is this?

Is it a Squeezel???

No its a baby chimpanzee in preservative.

Daddy-Pedia - did you know they use formaldehyde in Tiger Beer - perhaps that's why I look like this when I have a few pints of that.

Loads of butterflies.

Yuko next time you are over you have to come see.

Pretty amazing collection.

Not brilliant photo as they have dimmed all the lights to protect the colours now.

The you get to the stuffed animals.

Seriously this elephant is the size of a bus - those tusks are about 6 feet long - it is HUGE.

Sadly though the museum got broken in to in 2012, what were the thieves after? Have a guess? I better you'll never get it. Was it the Satsuma porcelain, maybe the Delftware porcelain.

No it was the rhinoceros horns - can you believe it!

Stolen to give to the Chinese for herbal remedies - they get everywhere even Birchington, Kent.

Now the exhibits all have fake Rhino horns.

Sadly not satisfied with slaughtering whole Rhinos and leaving the bodies to decompose in the African sun, they will now go after the dead to 'feed' their bizarre habits. Sad!

Amy got a little scared with this one.

Big male lion munching on a water buffalo - actually the water buffalo is the most dangerous animal to man in the wilds of Africa - did you know that?

I look at this and it reminds me of lunchtimes with the kids...

Different horse, different field - but Dr Doolittle is back.

Amazing story I heard recently.

Did you hear about the really stupid guy who was playing water polo? He drowned his horse.

Last one - bye bye beautiful horsey.

He looks sad doesn't he.

Sad to see me go do you think?

If not sad to see me go why the long face?

"Cos I'm a horse numb nuts!"

Beautiful beautiful Manorfields

I tell you what, when the sun is out in UK it makes such a difference.

I took Mary and Ollie for a walk through Manorfields where the flat is in Putney. Literally it is a load of flats in these blocks on this private piece of walled off land - very beautiful, almost like a national park inside. Back to the 'when the sun is out' - it looks amazing doesn't it. We're off to get Sunday brekkie from the van at the bus depot - egg and bacon sarnies and a mug of tea - oh yes!

But I have also been here mid UK winter when it is grey, cold, sleeting, no leaves, bleak etc. But hey let's just enjoy this whilst we have it.

Look in the middle beneath the tree.

Can you see it?

Yep squirrel.

There were LOADS out this morning!

All I could think of when I saw these scampering across the grass was the music from 'Rhubarb & Custard' - remember them and that song as they scampered across the field.

So when I see squirrel all I can think of is them!

That and Anthony Bourdain actually. When he went to (I think) Northern borders of Vietnam and went to the mountains. He popped in to this street side cafe and was served up what was called 'squeezel". In his amiable style Mr Boardain said; "What the f*cks a squeezel?" Ollie and I laughed so much at this episode it was a beauty. Squeezel-Squirrel - see where I am coming from...

Look at this, isn't it just gorgeous. When we lived in Putney this was literally my back garden. Loads memories of me Ni and Ollie playing here come rain or shine or snow.

"Er hello" says I,

"Are you a squirrel or a squeezel?" says I.

"What the f*ck you looking at fatty!" says the squeezel!

Very cute though aren't they.

There were loads out at 8am this Sunday morning.

This one was just about to go to the boot of his car and get his rod and tackle out and wet a line.

Dynamo Squeezel - the amazing street magician squirrel.

"OK so I now close the box."

"See nothing up my fur."

"And hey presto your nuts have disappeared."

Munch, munch, munch.

OK OK - no more botanical stuff - just a quick two snaps of some lovely lilies and thistles in the sunny garden. Just loving the colours on these.

Finally Oliver or should that actually be Gulliver.

Man oh man my son is getting bigger every day!!!

Love you Manorfields!