I have now been home in the UK for 5
weeks which puts me nicely six weeks behind again so it is time to
update the news!!
Having spent a week on the island
eating healthily and simply I can only describe my return to
Singapore as 'rich'!!
Not only was I back in the world of ice-cream
and chocolate, but I also had ten days in which to indulge all my
desires in Singapore.
Lisa had coped fantastically during my
absence and Emelia was now beginning to pay attention to things
around her.
Our afternoons by the pool became times
of smiles and stimulation in between her naps.
Swim nappies were sourced allowing us
all to enjoy the warm waters of the hot tub.
Even the smallest nappies were enormous
as I don't think anyone expected a child so young to love swimming so
much!
Emelia was a natural in the water
relaxing peacefully as if she were in her bath not floating in a
large pool.
Basic swim motions were explained?
Before she was wrapped in new fluffy
towels ready for her evening bath!!
This was one clean baby!!
Between the swims,Lisa and I drew up a
short list of things to be done before I left while Emelia occupied
the rest of our time.
Number One on the list was to dye my
hair Blue! I had already sourced the place, the price and the colour
before I had left for langkawi, now all that remained was to turn up
at the shop and get it done! With Steve in work, Emelia safely in her
wrap Lisa and I headed out to China town to do the deed.
The boy in the shop spoke NO English,
we spoke NO Malay so with the aid of a passing couple I made my
request (the last time I had visited there had been an English
speaker amongst the staff!!) Details were discussed between the
couple and my hair dresser while Lisa and I looked on a wee bit
baffled!
My request was confirmed by the couple,
relayed to the hair dresser and looking rather bored by the whole
thing, the boy led me into the shop and work began.
Potions and lotions were mixed and
spooned onto my hair, fumes filled the small space and Lisa retired
to the corridor outside to recover.
The bleach was removed and the colour
was combed through leaving me with a chemical soup on my head.
Twenty minutes later the soup was
washed away and the hair dryer was found. Fluffing and puffing,
blowing and brushing followed as the boy tweeked and twisted my hair
into its final resting place.
Dark blue now peeped through my normal
hair while blue highlights shone in the day light.
Thrilled with my new look we treated
ourselves to feet massages and nail polishing before heading off to
the shops for a touch more retail therapy!
Although the wrap kept Emelia safe and
asleep, the temperature of Singapore was steadily rising and Lisa's
back was suffering not only from Emelia's increasing weight but also
from the heat. A pram was needed.
Steve was consulted, Emelia was given
the job of test driving, I studied the accessory rack while Lisa
studied the specifics and reviews.
A good few hours later they had made
their choice and Emelia drove out of the shop in her new buggy …
only to be picked up and put back into the wrap 50m later as we
deposited all the shopping into the now empty buggy …. !
My Birthday arrived and passed with
some amazing gifts from all my new friends.
We had a Girls day out with fish
pedicures and manicures.
We got back rubs, feet rubs, nails
painted and dinner out!
In the evening we had a Pizza party at
the condo – the menu consisted of chocolate, pizza's, sweets and
chocolate, a few biscuits and some pizza with a few plates of
chocolate! … Oh and long craft balloons!
A perfect party!!
With the food consumer, the balloons
twisted and popped, we all sat down by the pool until late drinking
wine while the children and men played in the pool …
such a
difficult start to my reverse 35
th year!!
With now only a few days left until my
flight home a trip was organised to the Bird Park at Junrong.
Emelia was now getting the hang of her
new pram and travelling for days out was getting easier and easier.
Jurong Bird park is fantastic, penguins
get fed to the delight of the crowds, as do the hawks as they fly
en-mass overhead.
Acrobatic displays woo the crowds,
while sign posts give information to those pausing long enough to
read.
We walked, we talked and we rested and
read the signs,
then we headed to the water park!!
As Emelia slept on happily, the boys
changed into swim wear
and Evie devoured fabulous
ice-cream.....
Before heading into the water fountains
to wash off.
The water park is superb and my desire
to be ten years old with bathers knew no bounds!
I paddled, helped children down slides,
organised fountain lying parties,
and took selfies of the back of my head
just so I could see my blue hair!!
I splashed and jumped, kicked and
danced, slid and slipped until it was time to head home for a swim in
one of the condo pools!!
After all our fabulous days out, we then had the huge decision, each evening,
of which food hall to dine at!!
Sometimes we headed out as a group
with children and scooters, sometimes Lisa, Steve and I went alone
with a pushchair and shopping basket.
The day before my flight, Lisa and I
walked around the huge lake at Lakeside,
mainly because it was there and had
been there all the time I had been living next door to it!
Together, we three generations of
girls, strolled through lush gardens,
and interesting concepts.
We sat and gazed at statues hidden away
down tiny pathways where lizards bathes in the sun,
We strolled past beautiful pagodas and
lakes, enjoying our last day together.
On our way home, we spent an hour
looking at all the rescued turtles at the Turtle museum,
we watched the fish spiral their large
tank into a whirlpool,
and marvelled at the strange yet lethal
hunting skills of the captive prehistoric creatures.
We fed the terrapins, fed ourselves and
as the sun began to drop we headed back to the condo.
My flight wasn't until the wee hours of
the morning so we still had time for a final meal with the crowd,
with of course a visit to the park.
Over the four months I had been in
Singapore, our three families had become friends. All the children
and grown ups now called me Ippy, I felt part of this extended family
and I was sad to leave.
I had also acquired so many gifts
during my travels that my departure looked quite extreme! No longer
did I just own a bag that I could slip over a shoulder and wander
where I wished. A pull bag, back pack plus carrier bag with my UK
boots and coat hung from my shoulders and arms, thank goodness the
MRT was only 500m away.
I kissed my grand daughter and daughter
goodbye, hugged Steve
and headed down the lift and into the
warm night air.
Tomorrow I would awake in the UK, the
day after I would open the Workshop to the public.
Another season awaited, new ideas, new
people, new adventures.
But in eight months time I would be
back on a flight bound for Singapore – I was a Grand Mother now! I
had responsibilities lol x x x
