Normal service resumed

So..... two weeks back at Moyhill, the layers (ducks and hens) produced a full complement of eggs (6) today for the first time - guess they are all settled back home.
We have setted into our routines as well and getting on with a long list of jobs preparing for the new growing season.

However the biggest excitement today was the arrival of our two new pigs - Billy and Bruce (the fourth) - see old blogs if you need an explanation. We picked them up this evening and managed to transfer them to their new home without any drama (ish).

Bruce is on the left - slightly larger with a black spot while Billy is staring at the camera. They are 8 weeks old (about 10 kg each ) and spending their first night away from their mother and siblings -  have been over to check on them once already and will probably be back again before I sleep.

Leaving Singapore

With a bit of time to kill on Monday before our overnight flight to London, we visited the Gardens by the Bay - which is probably best described as a botanical theme park - where there were fewer people and the two Biomes were maintained at a very pleasant temperature.

We also had excellent Dim Sum in the fish restaurant.
Then back to the flat - with Sushi - to have a glass of wine and a snack with Jeanette and Debs before Gabriel showed up to take us to the airport.

The flight to London was uneventful - unless you include the fact that I, unwittingly, dropped a chocolate on my seat after dinner and then spent the rest of the flight sitting and laying on it. By the time we got off at Heathrow I had an amusing pattern of dark brown streaks on the seat of my khaki walking trousers - nobody was pressing to close to me in the crush for the shuttle at Terminal 5.

We had a bit of a wait for our connecting flight - during which neither Heathrow Airport or BA dealt with us as we had expected - but eventually arrived at Shannon where June was waiting to collect us and bring us up to date on all the local news on the short drive home.

Finally got home 48 days after we left, 7 flights, 13 beds, 8 boat journeys and 12 Islands. Good to be back and all seems to be fine except for a couple more trees blown over in the February storms.

Hockey Sixes

Luckily Susan's first game was scheduled for a 12.20 start so we had time for a lay-in followed by a leisurely bacon sandwich before we had to be at the SCC to watch the game.

Spent the whole afternoon watching hockey - on grass not that game the Canadians win gold medals for - drinking cold beer, eating Roti Pratha and enjoying the atmosphere.

Unfortunately Susan's team only made it as far as the quarter final but it meant she could then join us for the afternoon in the stands along with Annie, Jude and Ella and Rupert, of course.

Think the last time we were here to watch the sixes was 1998 - even came across a programme from 1997 which included a photo of Linda playing for Valley - before she joined CSC.

Old Habits

Saturday night in Singapore? Or pub night in Mississauga  - have we been here before?

Copious amounts of beer and wine, great food and even better company -finished off with Jameson Signature Reserve.
Linda on the Barocca this morning!

Nightlife

After dinner at the Natural Restaurant - which was highly recommended but more than a little disappointing - we stopped off at the Rocking Angels Blues bar for a nightcap or two.
We were enjoying the big screen presentation of Eric Clapton from some mega venue somewhere in the world until the local band took over - I was quite happy with the recorded 'Slowhand' but the band had other ideas.
Eventually, they started playing 'Living next door to Alice' originally by Smokie and disappointed me by not singing the chorus - which I am sure Susan McKay remembers.
Time to leave - in more ways than one

Lahinch beach next

Had a walk along Long Beach as the sun rose this morning - our last beach until we are back in Clare. We are on our way to Phuket Town at lunchtime for a night out and probably some shopping before we head for Singapore, the Hockey Sixes and then our flight home on Monday night.
Have enjoyed Yao Noi but it feels like it is time to head home. Have already started working on the list of jobs that will need to be done when we get there.
While the cocktail bar at Sabai Corner was a real attraction, I think I prefer the views from the deck of our chalet at Tabeak. Just before the sun comes over the hills on the other side of the bay the Hornbills fly down from their roosts on the hillside behind us to start feeding and to gather food for their mates who are locked inside their nest holes. This morning I counted 27 of them.

Thai cooking

Obviously, we couldn't spend 3 weeks in Thailand without a cookery course, so we were pleased to find that Mina's cookery class on Yao Noi was listed No.1 of all the islands activities on Tripadvisor.

We had the class to ourselves and really enjoyed both the class and Mina's company and her attitude. The fact that she could have been Jeanette's Thai sister was a little disconcerting but we got used to it.

This was a simple and effective introduction to cooking Thai food which dealt with all the basics but also concentrated on the style of cooking rather than just with a few set recipes. Had to stop at the market on the way back to pick up some dried ingredients to carry home and will have to look in the hardware shops in Phuket town for a coconut grater - although I doubt mine will be as stylish as Mina's.

A great way to spend the morning and a good lunch as well.