The eye of the tiger

Yesterday I did an unselfish thing. I put you ahead of my own glory when I put the promise to you to write about Singapore ahead of my own triumph at running.

Yes, that's right I did it. I ran all the way round my route*. Took me about as long to be able to do it as running the lake, which is encouraging news in my old age.

*Please note: these steps are not included in the route. They are merely steps linking two parts of the route together that I have to go up. Running up these is impossible and I don't think this photo does them justice. What you can see is only half of them, and they are followed by a mighty big hill. Like I said, this just links two parts of the route.

I was getting close for a while, but today I did it when I ran up the other hill that finishes my circuit. Ah, to think in the beginning, I could not even get to the first lamppost on that never ending hill and today I ran the whole thing. Like when I ran the lake I didn't actually go out planning to not stop, it just worked out like that.

Now, to keep doing it.

Singapore stories. Actually.

I know, I say I'm going to post photos and then I don't. I've let you down. Again. And what's worse I've let myself down. I hope my apology makes up in some small way for the disappointment you must have felt when Monday came around and there was nothing from me. Maybe in the fullness of time you can forgive me.

But enough delay, here are some of the photos from my time in Singapore. It really was a nostalgia tour. I went back to my old haunts around and about Singapore. Lots had changed, lots was different and lots I had forgotten about.

The Sights

Ra ra Singapore. It was National Day when I was there. It celebrates their independence from Malaysia in 1965. When I lived there Clare, Derek, the girls and I went out for dinner and walked through Botanic Gardens, which as the celebrations happen mostly by the river, was strangely quiet. This year I went to see Harry Potter. Hmm. It's not that I'm protesting her independence from Malaysia, although I appreciate it may look like that.

I love this view. Old and new Singapore. The little houses are just opposite where Raffles first landed (apparently. At least that's where they put his statue). Now, they're all bars and restaurants. The big buildings are, well big buildings, MNCs, banks and the like. Incase you're interested, these are the big buildings that sit behind Rico Hizon, albeit from a different angle, when he does his asian business report on World Business Report at silly o'clock before BBC Breakfast comes on. No, probably not.

One of my most favourite places in the world, East Coast Park. The day I went it was quite dark and grey. Although of course I still sweated as I cycled through.

I went to Sentosa one afternoon. They missed out one crucial weather forecasting tip. Stone losing half its body weight in sweat - Crazy Singapore heat.

Singapore's newest shopping mall, ION Orchard. (Those who have been to Singapore will know of Singapore's desperate need for yet another shopping mall.) I'm not sure whether it's supposed to be like an eye on Orchard Road, or a funny way of saying I'm on Orchard, but one thing I know is it's much bigger than an ion. The funny bubble thing at the bottom is the new entrance to the MRT (underground rail). Fancy eh?

You used to be able to cross this street, but not any more. You have to use that fancy bubble entrance and walk through the hordes of shops in Ion. When I was there it was just open and so half of Singapore could be found beneath Orchard Road shuffling along. Singaporeans are not known for their quick walking. ION makes Wheelock Place (the cone on the left there) look a bit sad and old. No doubt it'll only last another five years then before they knock it down to make way for another newer shopping mall.

Like I said, ION was just new. Any time I was past during my three weeks there, there was never not a queue outside Dunkin' Donuts. Never.

Memories

Roti prata, chicken korma and lime juice. Worth the airfare alone to go back to my local Indian. Food in Singapore is truly great and I had some great eating when I was there. Indian, Japanese, real Chinese (including kai lan, Hong Kong noodles and dim sum), Mexican and even steak...I could go on. Imporantly though, I did not eat at the school canteen. Still stinking by all accounts.

This moving walkway in my former local supermarket is the scene of an event that's in my top 3 funniest things I've ever seen (the other two are a man's wheel falling off his bike as he rode along the Champs-Elysees (his onions went everywhere!) and a man's own dog peeing up his leg. I think that gives you a good indication of what I find funny and perhaps you'll see why I laughed at this next one). A woman pushed her elderly mother who was in a wheelchair on this moving walkway ramp thing. Thing was the grippy magnetic thing only works for supermarket trollies and the woman couldn't hold the wheelchair back from accelerating down the slope into the vegetable stand at the bottom. I know I shouldn't have laughed, but it was hilarious. If I think back hard enough I can still hear the shouts from the women for people to move out of the way and I can still see stunned shoppers not knowing which way to move.

This always made me laugh when I lived there. Ah beauty industry tell us how we should look and then create products for us to buy so we can achieve that dream.

Who remembers my love for the circular escalator. Ok, so no one except me. And I though I should remind you.

These don't really fit in either category but I thought I'd show them anyway

Thank goodness. I was looking for someone to tell me it'd be ok to steal a bike.

Is this Mr. Tayto's Asian cousin? I think so.

The best bit of the whole trip was of course going back into school. It actually became ridiculous, it was like I couldn't stay away! I was genuinely surprised and chuffed with the students reactions to me being back. They were very sweet. It was nice to be able to see how they'd grown up but also how they were still like the students I remember. My timing in many ways was crap because I just missed the school play. My old Year 4s made up half the main roles (Sandy, Rizzo, Jan, various T-Birds, heck even Vince Fontaine) but I did get to sneek into rehearsals to see them!

So there you have it. No, I know, I don't know it took me so long to put them up there either.

Singapore stories. Well kind of.

With the Singapore Grand Prix on, I think this is now the time to put on my Singapore photos and tell you a few stories about my trip there this summer. Critics might say the time for this was sometime the week after I got back but I shall ignore them.

I know, this isn't me in Singapore, but I put this in just to remind you about the humidity in Singapore. Beyonce's hair is struggling. Mind you, that Pussy Cat Doll girl must just have set down her GHDs.

After France, I only had a couple of days at home before setting off again. My journey out was fairly long. In fact I can't think of a longer door-to-door trip I have taken. I left Wednesday morning and wasn't there until Thursday night, which even with time differences taken account of, it was a 36 hour journey. The reason of course was this was the cheapest route to fly. So fine, I will spend 7 hours in the middle of the night in Dubai, and fine, I will land in Sri Lanka for no apparent reason.

I like a good airport, me. But Birmingham, yours is not a good airport. A severe lack of seating is more than disappointing. And this corridor is in clear need of a moving walkway. Criminal. Get on it please.

My flight to Dubai was lovely. I had four seats all to myself. The plane was only a quarter full so we were able to move down to the back of the plane and stretch out. Nice. Of course, it still being the afternoon on my body clock I wasn't really able to take advantage of this, but it did give me a taste of what First Class must be like. One day, maybe.

Always.

Seven hours in Dubai were spent in this chair. Well, once I was in it I didn't want to get out and lose it. Even though I spent the last 3 hours needing to use the bathroom and desperately wanting to brush my teeth. Good job I didn't get out though, turned out that while I had toothpaste and my toothbrush holder, the crucial element in teethbrushing, the toothbrush, was still sitting at home. I would have been raging if I'd lost my lounger seat for that!

Look how cute this child is. He kept me entertained for an hour or two as he ran up and down past me.

I was very jealous of my other neighbour's blanket. Dubai airport is freezing. Like freezing. Probably making up for outside. This girl clearly stole this blanket from her flight and I wished I had been that clever.

So that was the journey out to Singapore. It was spent blogging, reading and listening to music. And Dubai, despite the cold, congratulations on your free wifi service which allowed me to email ahead to the welcome party for a toothbrush to be brought to greet me. Nice work.

Right, I think that will do you for now. I know, we're so close to actually getting to Singapore, but if I don't spread it out over a day or two, it'll be a massively long post and then there'll be nothing. No, don't fret, I'll go write it now so you know it'll definitely come.

No, still not Singapore stories

I was out for a run tonight (going well, thanks for asking. Although I had a sore head today.) Two thoughts seemed to dominate:

1. How much I needed to pee, then wondering if I could do a Paula Radcliffe (albeit a number 1)

2. How much 43 marathons would kill.

Perfect day

On Friday, Chris Moyles played the BBC version of Perfect Day during the Golden Hour. I've been playing it on You Tube tonight and remembering how much I love it.

Reap, reap, reap.

Incidentally, my day was pretty good too. Productive meeting this morning, nice father-daughter time at the airshow and then over to see the nephew, then home for a late Chinese with the parents.

Oh what a perfect day.

My latest dinner*

Dundrum Oyster, Crab Toe, Peeled Prawns and Kiln Smoked Salmon with Asian Leaf Salad and Unwaxed Lemon Soy.

Nice.

*that I ate