Time for more mud - our local rugby ground

We play at Turf City which is an Old Race Track, surrounded by Jungle

Visitors - Julia and food

We were thrilled to be able to have our first visitor - Julia came out to stay with an old school friend of hers and managed to spare some time to come and see us - she was determined to have a cocktail in the pool and explore the more ethnic areas of Singapore -We had great fun looking around Little India and China Town, and food just happened to feature, including Jack Fruit, Banana Fritters, yummy chinese, and some indian, made even more tastier by eating it with our hands off banana leaves.

The photo in the pool drinking cocktails is not for general circulation, ask Julia, I am sure she will show you.

We had a great time, and Julia wa game to try.

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Singapore Zoo

We had a great day at the zoo - there are no wire netting fences to look through - all the animals have ópen' enclosures with either wet or dry moats. Amazing array of animals, birds and plants to see.

Lots of feeding times too and photo opportunities - the orangutans sat for the camera , a little too close for comfort.

We did have a ride on one of the elephants - they have very bony backs. The Kimodo Dragon was huge and we saw a video of it eating its prey - we would have gone down a treat! Also white lions.

The Sloth with its baby and Lemur were inches away from us had we wanted to touch them, slightly unnerving.

Half Term trips .......... to Litte India for Deepavali

Deepavali celebratioins were going on in Little India, so we went down to take a look and experience the atmosphere, the lights, and all the colour - so vibrant and bustling.

Corinna had a Henna design done on her hand - so beautifully done, it was meant to last about 15 days, but wiht sweaty riding gloves on, it wore off after about 8! It turned rather orange on her fair skin!

The lights along the roads were so colourful. Doug and Archie were pleased as we bought some crackers/bangers and sparklers. There were no fireworks to be found.

Bintan - Banyan Tree Beaches and Residents

The coastline was unspoilt where we were, with lovely white sandy beaches. The sea was warm and clear.

Around the villa we were joined by

lizards, squirrels, butterflies, tropical flowers and trees, with the scent of jasmine wafting around.

BINTAN - Rest and Relaxation in Indonesia 26-28th Oct

yummy Indonesian food

make yourself at home

its tough....................

We managed to get Niall to take a few days off work during the kids half term and took the 50 minute ferry across to Bintan which is an Indonesian island 3 times the size of Singapore. We stayed at the Banyan Tree Resort which was just beautiful, overlooking the South China Sea.

We had a Seaview Villa with Pool - the kids were one side of the infinity pool and we were the other side with a lovely bedroom that was open to the thatched roof, with a jacuzzi outside, and an outdoor bath at the back, and a shower room inside. We also had a bar/kitchenette for those emergency G&T's and glasses of Champagne.

The Denholms settled in pretty quickly and enjoyed some delicious Thai, Japanese, Indonesian and Western food. Not so sure about the nutritional value of Corinna's breakfasts!

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Rain, Rain and the Wet Season might be here?

When it rains here, you get wet with a vengeance - we had a massive storm on Saturday night, poor Archie was woken up by an illuminated bedroom, the house shook from clapps of thunder and it went on for hours. The pool was full to overflowing. The grass/ground was underwater. But it is still WARM! and it doesn't take long to drain through, unless you are playing rugby or walking on grass.

Another Rainstorm on monday, and its now wednesday and the thunder is very loud - Archie's tennis was cancelled, Corinna had her netball match inside and Doug's rugby was cancelled - too much water and lightening. Jet doesn't look too impressed either.

Singapore Drainage Canals

These are quite spectacular and run all across the country. When they are empty they carry abut 1ft of water along the bottom, but when full are raging rivers. The parks and gardens and private houses etc all have storm drainage and the amount of water that is collected is staggering. There are about 13 reservoirs on the island.

GUADALUPE'S ARRIVAL

On Saturday 18th October, Guadalupe (Guada) arrived from the Philipines. She is 47 and has a husband and 2 kids, her son is 20 and her daughter is 10. She worked in Singapore for 5 years for a Chinese family and an American faily when her son was 5 and then returned to the Philipines and had her daughter.

Guada has a great sense of humour and is very willing. The kids think she is great and so does Jet.

We have already had fun sharing the cooking and learning from each other.

SPITTING COBRA

Having been warned about the Spitting Cobra, and being told by

the kids not to go near them, or if you do, don't look at them, as

their spit can blind you if you get it in the eye, I took Jet for a walk

on Holland Plain, throwing her ball for her at 7.30 one damp

morning, as I have done for the past 7 weeks......... she disturbed a Cobra who must have been

resting in very short grass in the middle of the Plain - it reared up ready to attack - luckily Jet

had gone past the snake and I managed to get her back and put her on the lead.

The snake then slithered off, all 5ft of it, my adrenalin worked overtime!

I now throw the ball over the ground that I have walked on, rather than in front of me!

Click on the picture to enlarge it and you will see the snake clearly enough!

Accident Prone, or Rugby Player?

Archie's experience at the 24 hour

Emergency Hospital clinic, with 3 stitches in his head after hitting

it on the pool handle

Loving their rugby

Doug and Archie after a rugby

training session with Centaurs,

their new Rugby Club. They

were just too dirty to put in the

main car!