Singapore Stop Over

Singapore Hotel
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Sat 29 March

We arrived all bright eyed and bushy tailed 2 ½ hrs before departure to learn that the shiny new Airbus 380 was broken and still in Singapore. Major Bummer!

A shitty start after a terrific get together over dinner with our respective children the night before.

Singapore’s solution was to fly us to Melbourne on Virgin Blue (budget airline, yuck) and then to Singapore on a 777 in First Class. Sounded great but they forgot to tell Virgin and after standing at check-in counters for nearly 3 hrs we were finally recognised by the computer systems. With ½ an hour to go we were bussed to the Sydney domestic terminal and pushed to the head of the Virgin cue. A little later I was walking across the tarmac to the rear door steps thinking this is not how I imagined a relaxing flight in business class on the A380 to be like.

Sue & Rob T Shirts
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A Singapore Airlines representative met us on arrival in Melbourne and in just over ½ an hour we had picked up our bags, checked in, cleared customs and were boarding the flight to Singapore. Now all of you will be visualising how this was achieved and you would be right, Rob and I guarded the luggage and left the girls to talk quietly and calmly to the airlines. I should mention there was a $500 compensation for each, as well as first class.

The flight was good and all except Anne ate and drank everything on the menu. Champagne and caviar, white wine with leak and potato soup, salad, massamum curry and red wine, pudding and port with a whisky to finish. The noise cancelling headphones then kicked in and both Rob and I missed the steak sandwitch.

More T Shirts
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We checked in to our hotel in Singapore and took the MRT to Newton’s Circus for tea. Dick discraced himself (as usual) on a chilli crab that was all over his face and hands. (But I did not get it on my clothes because I really would have been in trouble)!

A committee meeting later that night (the girls shanghaied us after we were out of the country) and Ireland is now on the itinerary!

Summary, the first day started as crap but ended up pretty good.

Sun 30 March

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Day 2 started with the girls doing synchronised aerobics in the pool at 7.00 am. When the boys arose later some of us had a large serving of bacon and eggs, with tomato.

We wrestled with Singapore airlines, got our bribes but could not find if any of the A380s were flying. Looks like pot luck tomorrow for the flight to London.

It was a shopping day with some bargains to be had. Bargaining is still the same and good fun. Lunched at a Singapore outdoor food hall, very nice and sunk a few more Tiger beers.

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Dick was left behind (purposely I suspect) when the MRT doors closed after Sue, Rob and Anne forced their way onto a train. I arrived on the next train to be photographed by the paparazzi (Rob).

Singapore is still great place, friendly people and easy to get around.

Rob succumbed to great temptation and bought a very small computer. It is amazing comes with Vista and has a screen about 6” across. Better still it came with a free digital LCD television. We picked it up tonight and he was asked if he wanted the ‘frog’ or the ‘rabbit’ model. One was green and the other yellow. There was much raucous laughter when Rob unpacked the box, even the frog TV is labelled Robby on the box. Just what was needed something else to take to London.

The robby
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Rob has a new nickname ‘ribbid’ and we will do our best to make it stick.

Mon 31 March

Today Sue, Anne and Dick were tortured by our personal trainer in the hotel pool. My synchronisation was way off (first timer) and the display was not as good as it normally is.

More shopping today. The carry-on is getting heavier by the day. More local fare for lunch, it was good and with drinks and desert (for the girls) cost A$14.

The robby
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I had my arm twisted today and Anne now has a photo printer for her camera. It makes post cards and other things so you may even get one eventually.

Went to Sentosa Island today and walked through Fort Siloso. Dramatic reminder of WW2 in Singapore.

Arrived early at Changi airport expecting the worst. We were disappointed (very pleased). Check-in was a breeze, the A380 is flying and we are now in the lounge having Singapore Slings and other goodies. 13 ½ hrs to London and a very different temperature.