Mika concert

Niall and I went to the Max Pavilliion at the Expo on Monday 14th June.
Amazing man, so talented and fun

Corinna's year 11 Prom

Corinna is not fun size, everything is too short, so we had her prom dress made. She found a picture of a dress, front and back, we went to Arab street and found the perfect fabric, then we went to the 17th floor of an HDB (high development building) shared with a cat, a rabbit and hundreds of piles of fabric and old clothes - to Wai Wai's home.

She is a delightfully talented woman and had created her perfect dress, along with a pair of LK Bennett's wickedly high midnight blue patent court shoes, she will look gorgeous.

Corinna is 16

Corinna had Geography GCSE at 5pm on her birthday. Pippa brought her some balloons



Kayda and Guada and Hector came with us to Picotin for Corinna's birthday supper


2 birthday cakes...... Niall was in Bangkok on Corinna's birthday, so we went out to dinner the following day and had to have another birthday cake - not as good as Guada's!



yum, more chocolate!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Archie the icing sugar sprinkler!!!!!!!



Baby girl Corinna is 16

GCSE ART Exhibition

Corinna spent ages and ages completing her art coursework and also her practical exam. All the students had their work on display, it was so colourful and dramatic, even if they couldn't draw!

The Johnsons go to Houston

Bill, Kim, Kate and Tim are off to live in Houston, so we had a supper with them and the Reid's - Tim, Gill, Pippa and Ben

Bill and Kim couldn't take their half empty bottles with them, so kindly distributed them between us!


Niall, Gill, Bill, Kim, Tim and Sarah


Pippa, Kate, Tim, Archie, Ben, Doug and Ninna

Sarah Exhibits - Chinese Brushwork Art Exhibition

Mr Yap held an art exhibition for all his students, me being one of them!

My painting is of Peonies!

Old skills of Singapore - tour 29th May

Chinese calligraphy, it helps when you know what you are writing, so your paintbrush flows...........



We went to an Operatic/Musical supply shop tucked away in River Valley Road. They had costumes, wigs, makeup, shoes and then all the different types of musical instruments. I was very tempted to buy one of the gongs! The Erhu was very clever with 1 or 2 stings and a bow






monkey nuts - peanuts in their shells, this is how they grow, in the ground with the green leaf tops. Bamboo tubers and bitter ghourd for eating too, all at Ang Mo Kio Market





We went to a housemaking factory where they make houses, and any other household items that the chinese want to burn as offerings to their ancestors. Made from a very light bamboo frame with glue which is flour and water, then covered with gaudy paper










the sticks in the joss


the large joss sticks are decorated with faces


We went to a Joss Stick Maker - he specialises in the huge joss sticks that are burnt for special occassions. The joss sticks are made from the cinnamon wood- the sawdust is mixed with water and changes into this sticky, pliable dough that can be moulded and then when dry and with a wooden wick in the middle can be burnt.


I joined a tour led by Geraldene Lowe, who is a fascinating woman, who has lived in Signapore for the last 40 years, and has seen the city change from Orchard Road having Nutmeg Plantations, and Beach Road having the waterfront moved 100's of metres as the sea is reclaimed.

Geraldene took us on a tour of the old trades that are still kept alive by a few skilled craftsmen.