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.

Another boat trip

After our experience in the Similan Islands and with some of the organised trips in Khao Sok, we were a little wary of joining another boat trip, but were still interested to see some of the smaller islands around Yao Noi and to get a bit of snorkelling.

As a result, we joined a trip - organised by Sabai -  with three other couples who were also guests there to visit 5 of the islands in the archipelago.

Our companions - a Swiss and a German couple of our age or slightly older and a young German couple - proved very enjoyable company and the trip worked out very well.
As we left Hat Pasai, we sailed past a fleet of longtails which were fishing for Jellyfish - for export to China. They are only available for 2-3 months of the year, but in a good day one boat can earn up to 8,000 Baht (about £160).
Our first stop was a little busy with boats from Krabi but after a short stop and a brief chat with the boatman, we spent the rest of the day away from the crowds and mostly on beaches where we were the only boat. On one of them we even managed to watch some Champions League football!

Along with some decent snorkelling, it was one of the best day trips of our holiday. The boatman even dropped us at the seawall by the resort so we hardly got our feet wet on our way home.

Koh Yao Noi

This is one of the largest inhabited islands in Phang Nga Bay but is still only 12km long and about 3km wide. It's about half way between Phuket and Krabi and has regular boat services from both - along with the daily boat from Tha Dan - when it is running.
While the beaches are not as white and sandy as the Andaman coast - most have some rocky stretches - it is slightly off the main tourist path and is therefore a lot quieter and more relaxed. There are probably 20-30 resorts here - ranging from £200 per night to £10 - a few restaurants and a couple of bars.

We spent half our time at Tabeak Viewpoint which is about 5 minutes from the beach on the side of a hill, with some wonderful views and a perfect spot to watch the Sunrise. The rest of the time we stayed at Sabai Corner - which is on the waterfront on the point dividing Hat   from Hat Pasai. Both have been very friendly and helpful and comfortable. They have both been full but with 8- 12 rooms each, they never feel busy.
Sabai has the slight advantage because it has a waterfront bar which opens at 5.00pm and serves excellent cocktails.

Conned - or not?

The best laid plans...

We had to travel by road from Khao Sok to Phang Nga and the ferry pier at Tha Dan for the only daily ferry to Koh Yao Noi.

Since there was no simple route, we arranged a private taxi through the hotel and agreed on a price - which was about average for a 90 min journey.

From there it went down hill - the taxi was 30 minutes late which reduced our time margin but then made up for it by driving like a lunatic - while busy with a succession of phone calls - many of which seemed to include our destination.

When we finally arrived at the jetty we were told that the ferry had been cancelled - due to mechanical problems - and that we could either hire a private longtail for the journey at a substantial price, or take a taxi - also a chunky price - to Phuket to catch one of their ferries or stay in Phang Nga for two nights and take the ferry on Monday.

After discussion and some negotiation, we settled for the private longtail at a slightly reduced price and set off on the journey with a nagging feeling that we had been set up.

However on arriving in Koh Yao Noi, we found that the ferry had in fact been cancelled. We had paid about £20 more than the going rate for the boat trip but we did enjoy a private tour of the bay passing Koh Panyi and the James Bond island on the way.

Man the Barricades!!!

Have just learned that my good friend Jimmy C and the long-suffering Mrs C (or in his words eternally fortunate) are heading for Suvarnabhumi Airport on their way home from their holiday mansion in Hua Hin. It appears there way may be blocked by striking rice farmers who have vowed to block all access to the airport for the next few days.

I will now be glued to the news coverage for sight of a tall - and somewhat distinguished Farang - standing on the barricades at one with the protesters - a bit like Hugh Jackman - or perhaps his father!

It's not all beer and sunshine

Trying to keep track of important events - such as the six Nations - has been a bit frustrating. Firstly the time difference means that most matches have been played in the middle of our night. Secondly we have not seen a TV screen showing anything other than Thai news for a week or so, and finally our internet access has been limited - usually available in the bars or restaurants but not in the rooms or bungalows.
This has meant that I had to suffer the ignominy of hearing the Arsenal / Bayern Munich score from a friendly junior Doctor from Barts who subsequently revealed his true colours when he donned his Spurs shirt at the end of our boat trip.
Luckily there were no Englishmen around this morning when I learned the result of the match at Twickenham.
Still Arsenal won and Scotland managed to avoid defeat in Rome - not a total washout.

The lake

Cheow Lan lake was formed in 1982 when the river was dammed for a hydroelectric power plant. It covers 160sq km and is up to 120m deep in some places. 

 There are more than a hundred islands in the lake – some of them with Limestone peaks reaching to 6-700m

 The area surrounding the lake is all National Park and all of the development has been restricted to floating raft houses where you can stay overnight. We decided that a day trip was enough and avoided the 800m trek through one of the caves which everyone else did. We settled for some kayaking and a cooling swim - with a couple of cold Chang to maintain the hydration levels.

It was more than an hour in a longtail from the dam to the raft houses and the journey hack seemed long - particularly since the guide and driver were playing games and most of us got soaked in the spray. Not a particularly sensible move since it certainly reduced the size of their tip!
We were glad to be back on dry land - although the lake looked very different in the evening light.

The Big Flower

Went on a short trek this morning with a Thai guide and a Canadian couple to see the Rafflesia kerrii meier which had just been found flowering in the jungle nearby. At 60cm across, it was not as big as some examples – it can grow up to 80cm or more – but it was certainly worth the 45 min uphill hike to reach it.

One of our Canadian friends had been trying to see one of these for nearly 5 years and had regularly travelled to Thailand and Borneo with no previous success.

We were also impressed with our Thai guide who was very informative about the flora and fauna – not up to Sharon's standard of course but still one of the best we have had here.
We were kitted out in trekking sandals and the Canadians had serious walking boots - and leech socks??? - while our guide scampered up and down the hillside in a borrowed pair of flipflops which were at least 2 sizes too big.

Canoe trip

Having spent the morning changing rooms and catching up on email etc, we made a plan for the trips and treks we wanted to do and then decided to take a short hike in the National Park towards one of the waterfalls.

However, the trail was a little overgrown and a couple of the river crossings were out – which meant we had to resort to stepping stones and the inevitable wet feet. So we settled for a short loop walk and headed home for lunch before the canoe trip which we had booked to fill the afternoon – should have read the programme a bit better. We had assumed and prepared for a spot of kayaking, only to find that we were in three-man canoes with a paddler.

A very relaxing couple of hours watching the scenery and the birdlife while our paddler did all the work.

Spotted a number of Chinese Pond Herons and also a couple of Black Capped Kingfishers.

Khao Sok

Our arrival at Morning Mist resort in Khao Sok was not quite what we expected – we had been allocated the last available room which was somewhat below par and only stayed on the promise of an upgrade to a better room after one night. The owner/manager is a Thai/Chinese lady who seemed to spend most of her time behind the desk counting her money.

However, true to her word she arrange the new room for us after breakfast and has since been very helpful. The rooms are set amongst lovely gardens and we are surrounded by wildlife again.

There are probably a dozen or so small resorts on the road leading to the National Park along with a couple of bars, coffee shops and restaurants. While very different from Koh Ra, it is still fairly quiet and relaxed.

It is definitely warmer by a few degrees here than on the coast – and we miss the cooling sea breezes which were almost always there – early afternoon temperatures are probably over 30C but it cools down again quite quickly in the evening.

Koh Ra

Just like West Virginia – Almost Heaven?

It was quiet and tranquil, peaceful and relaxing, and there were never more than 24 other guests while we were there and about a dozen staff.

A beautiful beach on the edge of the jungle and a couple of easy walking trails. The food was good and the limited availability of electricity and cold-water showers were not major problems.

Mobile phone reception was limited and there was no Wifi – both plus points as long as you didn't need to be making travel arrangements.

There was an abundance of birdlife – we saw and identified at least a dozen new species – and a few mammals as well. We saw crab-eating macaques, dusky langurs and heard the wild boar rooting around at night.

We also saw a male Oriental Pied Hornbill feeding his mate who was shut into her tree trunk nest with her hatchlings, and there were White-bellied Sea Eagles and Brahminy Kites to keep us amused.

The meals were varied and all of good quality- and you got used to the fixed times quite easily – and they made proper coffee which was a definite bonus.

Definitely not for everyone – can't imagine the CC&Coke drinking, BMW driving Canadian banker cousin lasting through the first day and there wasn't any happy hour to satisfy Jimmy C's requirements – but a place we will certainly return to whenever we get the chance.

Thailand Fantasy

First night in Khao Sok and Linda ordered a cocktail called Thailand Fantacy:

I probably had something different in mind...

Just for Mark

Realising that it is currently a little cool in Mississauga, and remembering a kayaking trip that Mark and I made some years ago on the Yucatan peninsula, I thought I should include a photo of the beach that we visited by kayak this week. It was on the far side of the island from the resort but ours were the only footprints on the sand

Far from the madding crowd

We organised our transport to Kuraburi Pier through one of the local tour operators and were slightly surprised by the 12 seater minibus which showed up to collect us – it would probably have been more suited to Big Jim Walker or some New York Crack dealer. Gold mirrored walls and ceilings, multicoloured light strips and a substantial sound system – unfortunately not tuned to any station. However it was very comfortable and particularly well driven for Thailand.

Slight confusion about which pier we should be at, but third time lucky we found the longtail waiting to take us to the Ecolodge on Koh Ra.

There are 18 cabins here – a maximum of 36 guests and a dozen or so staff. Electricity for 5 hours each evening, cold water showers and communal meals – Jimmy C would be in his element.

We are living within the jungle, and all that entails. There are reportedly King Cobra on the island, but we haven't seen one yet although I did see a Bronzeback treesnake after lunch on the first day.

It is a very calm peaceful place and a great contrast from the crowds of the last few days. Think we could be here for a while.

Snorkelling in the Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are rated as on of the top ten diving and snorkelling destinations in the world and this was one of the main reasons for beginning our trip in Khao Lak.

Slightly concerned when we saw how many people were delivered to the pier at Thap Lamu but figured that 6 boats with 25-30 people each wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, when we got to the islands, we discovered that there another 25 boats and that they all followed a similar programme.

Luckily, we were one of the first to arrive and did get some great snorkelling – a huge variety of reef fish – in every colour you could imagine – and Hawksbill Turtle which seemed to swim amongst us without any concern. When we got back on the boat, we discovered that the turtles had been attracted by the slivers of watermelon which the guides were dropping off the boats. Guess the Turtles know that they will get some free food every day.

 Later in the day it got very crowded and our final stop on the beach at Ko Miang was a little like Piccadilly Circus

Mostly German and Russian tourists with a few French and other Europeans thrown in – only heard one other English voice.

I reckon my old friend Bruce – after whom we name one of our pigs each year – would have been in his element – lots of Russian babes in minuscule bikinis cavorting in the tide, posing for the cameras of their somewhat muscle-bound, tattooed partners.  

No Internet Access

Four days at Koh Ra (see below) without any internet access and only very limited mobile phone coverage - very peaceful, very laid back, very tranquil. You can see what the staff had to do to take a call.

Tunnocks Tea Cake

As we sat watching our first Thai sunset, I couldn't help thinking about chocolate.

Schnee Vogel

I am not sure if the Germans actually use this phrase in the same way that the Canadians do, but we are surrounded by them here at Nang Thong.

On day one, we woke as the first rays of sunshine lit the tops of the trees on the beach front. I could hear people outside and as I looked down on them from the balcony of our beachfront bungalow, there they were laying out their towels to book up all the loungers and deck chairs - just like the Canadians in Costa Rica and Mexico.

Some are short term visitors like ourselves but others have been here for the entire northern winter – given the skin tones which range from antique Pine to Walnut.
It is also clear that a substantial number of the men would have benefited from Linda's advice to leave the Speedos at home. 

Green Beach has been a good place to start our trip here and Nang Thong has every service you could need -however it is very busy and we are already planning a move further north to Ko Ra and the Ecolodge whch is the only place to stay on the island.

Thailand again

We arrived at our beachfront bungalow just as the last glimmer of light disappeared from the sky. An uneventful – if somewhat long – journey. 

I reckon the driver who brought us from the airport could have shaved an hour or two of the flight time from Perth if he had been on the flight deck of the Virgin 737.

Interesting bunch of fellow passengers – a few older single men who were probably heading for the attractions of Patong and a lot of young couples – some on honeymoon and some who our Aussie friends may have referred to as Bogans. I am not entirely sure of the definition but the copious tattoos, the garish jewellery and the gold Beats by Dr Dre seemed to be a bit of a giveaway – I am sure Colin will correct me if I have got this wrong.

Felt at home as soon as I sat down to a cold bottle of Chang and a plate of Pad Thai. Will have to wait till sunrise to see what the rest of the place looks like.

Time to go

After 3 weeks in WA, we are on our way to the airport today for our flight to Phuket and the next stage of our trip.

We left Augusta on Saturday and drove up the coast - stopped at Cape Naturaliste to see the lighthouse, then had an hour or so on the beach at Eagle Bay. Lunch at Busselton and walk to the end of the jetty - 1.8km. Busy place as they were getting ready for the Jetty swim on Sunday - about 800 swimmers covering the 3.6km course.

Got back to Kirsty's place in Fremantle in time for a shower and a glass of fizz before heading to North Freo and a new restaurant - Habitue - which had been written up in the weekend supplement and had crowds of people queuing down the street. Luckily we managed to get a table and had an excellent meal.

Sunday morning on the beach at Cottesloe while Tessa was at Surf Club - the place was heaving with kids of all ages along with the local equivalent of the 'Soccer Moms' -but still room to swim without too many interruptions.

Beach resort at Khao Lak tonight if all goes to plan.

Age improves with wine!

Apparently there are 132 wineries in the Margaret River Region and despite our best efforts, there is no way that we can get around them all – even Jimmy C would find this a challenge – particularly with the drink-driving rules.

As a result, we settled for an organised tour,with someone else doing the driving. I thought that their programme of only 4 wineries was a little unambitious, but after tasting between 10 and 12 wines in each one and stopping at a micro-brewery for the lunch break, I was quite satisfied by the end of the day – and still standing! We also squeezed in a coffee roaster, a cheese maker, an olive oil press and finished with the chocolatier.

.

Thankfully they picked us up from the house in Augusta – at 8.50 am – and deposited my somewhat somnolent body back on the doorstep just after 17.45pm.

Definitely the best way to deal with the problem – could have chosen different wineries but we still ended up with a representative sample of the best of the local wines and enjoyed a variety of other local produce.

Of course we also bought a few bottes along the way so that we could continue the tasting process when we got home.

Still trying to decide on the best wine to accompany my fish and chips – I think the Sauvignon Blanc Semillon or perhaps the Semillon Sauvignon Blanc!

Congratulations!

Just heard that Gavin has been confirmed in his promotion to Superintendent – Well done!

Good to know that even a Jambo can reap the rewards of talent, merit and hard work!

Another House – Another huge gas barbie

Could probably roast a veal calf on this one – certainly a whole hog.

It is such a pleasure to have both the weather and the equipment to barbecue properly. None of that buggering about with charcoal – just turn on the gas and start cooking – the canopy overhead is designed to keep off the sunshine – not stop the meat from getting soggy in the rain.

Think I may have to buy one when we get home - and build a bloody canopy to keep the rain off!

Some lovely lamb chops tonight – with Italian sausage on the side – washed down with an excellent Cabernet Merlot from the Parish Lane winery near Albany – you are not likely to find this in Oddbins or Majestic – but if any of you Aussie followers come across it, then buy a case at least.

Like grains of sand – they get everywhere!

Returning from a trip to Hamelin Bay- a sandy cove which seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see - we settled into our chairs on the shady deck at the back of the house with a cold libation. 

Suddenly we heard someone playing the pipes – Scotland the Brave, Amazing Grace and a variety of other marches that I couldn't name. Clearly another displaced Jock – marching up and down in his back garden getting in a bit of practice.

Are we going the right way?

Left Albany for a drive through the Southern Forests – with a couple of winery stops on the way.

On each of the 2 legs of the journey – about 90mins and 150km each - we saw a constant stream of cars and campervans heading towards us but only two vehicles on the road ahead of us.

Settled into our holiday home in Augusta in time for cold beer and a stroll up to the pub for supper. The house, which is owned by a friend of Kirsty's, is a great place – another great party venue and all the comforts of home – think we should be quite happy here for the week.

Have booked a wine tour of the Margaret River Wineries for tomorrow and just about to head for the beach.

Remembering

In addition to being the first British settlement in WA – some years before the Swan River – Albany is probably best known for being the port from which the ANZAC convoys sailed in 1914 on their way to Gallipoli.

There are major commemorations planned for 1^st November 2014– the centenary of the departure of the first convoy of 36 ships with 30,000 troops on board – and for 25^th April 2015 – the centenary of the landings at Gallipoli where over 11,000 of the troops were killed during 8 months of the unsucessful – and perhaps futile – assault.

Alongside the programme of events planned in the UK to commemorate the start of the war and the subsequent assaults with their ensuing carnage, it was sobering to recognise that the effects of the war were felt so keenly even at this distance.

It's not all beer and sunshine.

Our second day in Albany was grey and overcast – but still 24C – and we even had a passing rain shower to catch us out.

Moved to our self catering place today – would be a great place for a party – sleeps 8 and lots of space along with a great balcony looking over Princess Royal Bay.

We were glad to get away from our B&B landlady, while the place was fine and she was pleasant enough, she was just so stressed about every detail and insisted on telling us all about it. Her husband was a complete contrast – very relaxed ex-sheep farmer who seemed to take everything – particularly her – in his stride.

Did all the historic stuff this morning – the Museum and the replica of the Brig -Amity – which brought the first settlers. Also saw a great exhibition of the best from the ANZANG photography competition – some excellent wildlife shots.

Also managed our first wine tasting at Alkoomi, who conveniently have a little place right in town. Came away with a couple of samples – a Riesling and a Shiraz Viognier - to get us through Friday evening. Also found the local fish merchant and a couple of Queen Snapper fillets to go with the Riesling.

Thunderstorm right overhead to end the day, which knocked out the power for an hour or so – not long enough to affect our sundowners – and then the sky cleared to let us see the sunset behind the wind farm.

Albany

Two weeks since we left home and it seems as if we are just starting our trip after all the socialising with friends – old and new.

A bit cooler down here which is very pleasant – although Linda had to dig out a long sleeved shirt for the walk into town for dinner.

Staying in a B&B with a couple of garden suites – proprietors are a retired sheep farmer and his artist wife. She asked us to preorder our breakfast before 7.00pm – there are only 2 couples staying – and still managed to cock it up. Made us appreciate how well my cousin Sue copes with up to 24 guests with a much larger menu and no pre-ordering. God knows what will happen tomorrow when the third suite is also occupied.

We are only here for one more night and then we move to a self catering house on the side of Mount Clarence.

Had a great day today visiting the Gap, the Natural Bridge and the Blowholes in the Torrindup National Park. 

Also visited Whale World – the last whaling station in Australia – which closed in 1978. Great exhibition and a chance to look over one of their whale chasers – I'm sure we converted something similar into a standby boat in the dim distant past.

Then found our way down onto Salmon Holes beach for a lunch in the shade of a giant boulder – disappointed to find that there was someone else there - but they were more than 100metres away at the other end of the beach.

An early start

After the exertions of yesterday, we planned a leisurely drive down to Albany but had reckoned without Kirsty's invitation to join her for an early swim on Port Beach while Simon was kayaking.

As it turned out I ended up joining Simon with a spare kayak because someone else dropped out. Only a small swell and a couple of little breakers so launching was not too difficult – I did get dumped by the waves a couple of times but eventually managed to join the other paddlers. 

Took a while to get settled but lots of practice getting back on the kayak. Luckily I was out of range of Linda's camera. 

After an hour or so, I almost mastered the beaching until a wave broke behind me and tumbled me in a heap with the kayak. Minor contusions and a bruised rib and it was still not quite 07.00.

Was quite glad when we finished packing and settled into the five hour drive south.

Rottnest

Everything starts early here – or so it seems. With the ferry sailing at 07.15, we had to leave the house – on bikes – at 06.30. Minor hassles getting on board with bikes – Aussies are very fond of their rules for eveything – but we were still having our morning coffee in the Dome cafe on the island by 8.

Rode to the West end with a brief stop for snorkelling at Parker Point and then clambered down to a very secluded beach at Eagle Bay for a picnic lunch. Not sure that the only other people on the beach were pleased to see us arrive but we did outnumber them by at least 2 to 1!

Lovely shady spot to relax and prepare for the ride back to Geordie Bay for ice cream and then on to the Basin for a last swim before we got on the ferry.

Home in time for dinner and an early night.

A Block of Flats & a pair of Divas

Spent a few hours on board the 'Block of Flats' – Kirsty & Mark's boat on the Swan River. More floating caravan than gin palace but still a very pleasant place to be with a kilo of Mandurah king Prawns and a bottle of Sauvignon blanc. 

Then had to rush home to get spruced up for a trip into Perth for Divalicious – part of the Perth Fringe – in the Spiegeltent at the Cultural Centre. A pair of English sopranos who settled here some years ago – one of them a friend of Kirsty's.

Great show – well worth seeing if they ever play a venue near you.

Finished the day with some excellent Vietnamese food in Saigon restaurant in Northbridge.

Australia Day

We all headed down to the Fremantle yacht club for a few beers, a bit of a picnic and then out onto the jetty to watch the firework display. 

Followed the men's final in the Australian Open on someone's Iphone and I made the mistake of asking for an update on the last of the One Day Internationals. It appeared England had put themselves in a match winning position so it was particularly galling to find that they managed to throw it all away yet again – particularly among a bunch of sports mad Aussies.

Burns Night

With help from the Tourist Office in Perth, we found a butcher in Fremantle who sells haggis so we were all set.

No sign of Neeps in veggie stall so we served home made-tattie scones with haggis as a canape for all Kirstie's friends who showed up for the barbie on the eve of Australia Day. Simon gave us the English version of the Address to the Pudding and Anne managed to get everyone up to dance a reel.

Seemed an appropriate salute the Immortal Memory.

Fremantle

Back to the airport on Thursday morning to pick up a car - very helpful lady at Herz gave us an up grade to a full size Toyota Camry which looked very smart - but was Black - not very practical in these temperatures. She was very understanding when we asked for something in a lighter colour and swapped us back to our original choice.

Short drive to Kirstie's in Fremantle -although we missed the direct route and had a tour of the centre of town on the way. Her brother Simon and his wife Anne are also staying so it makes for a lively household.

By the time we had lunch and a chat, the temperature had started to drop and we headed to the river for a swim. I followed Tessa and Eric up onto the rocks - just to watch them jumping-  but ended up to close to the edge with a crowd below - encouraged by Kirstie -shouting for me to jump! The water was great - once I got there.

Perth

It seemed just as hot on our second day in the city, but we managed to take care of a variety of minor tasks and still have time to visit the Art Gallery. On the way there crossed the square in front of the Post Office where the local kids had found an ideal way to keep cool.

In the evening we met up with Linda's second cousin Colin and his wife Karen who had moved to Perth a couple of years ago. Caught up on all their news over a couple of beers and a meal in a pub called 'TheLucky Shag' as we watched Andy Murray - unfortunately - get knocked out of the Australian Open by Roger Federer.

Moving On

Tuesday morning and we are heading for the airport – Debbie had booked one of her friendly taxis for us and Gabriel did an excellent job getting us to the airport through the morning rush.

The Tigerair flight to Perth was prompt and comfortable – they have copied the good parts of Ryanair and managed to ignore some of O'Leary's more annoying practices – despite some of his recent changes.

Perth is another city which seems to be in a continual state of redevelopment – new airport terminals, new access roads, and lots of new highrise buildings downtown – although they appear to crowding out some of the better parts of the waterfront.

Our hotel is in the City Centre and we were grateful for the air-conditioned refuge from the 38ºC on the shady side of the street – no standing around in the sun here! Luckily we had chosen the Deluxe room which meant that there was no danger of the cat cracking his skull on the way round, but only just.

We managed a quick walk around the city to identify the major landmarks followed by a cooling ale, some fish and chips and an early night – need to catch up on some sleep after 5 nights in Singapore.

Old Friends

Singapore

It is 39 years since I first arrived in Singapore and 12 years since we were last here and there have, of course, been lots of changes – not least that the Island is physically larger by about 1/3^rd due to land reclamation and that the population has grown at least 3-fold.

The roads and transport systems all work well but everywhere was extremely busy – we managed to use the buses, the MRT and a few taxis during our stay and never seemed to be delayed at all – even in peak times.

Thankfully some things are still recognisable and we spent a few hours on Monday wandering through the Botanic Gardens which was as pleasant and peaceful as I remember. Wonderful orchid gardens although a little surprised to see some of the people they have honoured in the VIP collection - Bertie Aherne??

As a complete contrast, we then dropped into Chinatown. It was only 10 days before the Lunar New Year so there was a hint of chaos about the place. Luckily the Heritage Centre was an oasis of calm – and well worth a visit.

We finished the day with Chilli Crab, Black pepper Crayfish and Stingray Sambal in the Hawker centre at Bukit Merah - just as good as ever – probably another of Bernie's favourites.  

Jade

A weekend is enough

Peaceful Monday morning after a busy weekend. The social round in Singapore seems just as lively as ever.

Friday was a quiet night on Boat Quay - frozen Margaritas, a few beers, Mexican food, some live music and great people watching - even made it home at a reasonable hour.
Spent Saturday looking at tech shops but didn't find any real deals - will have to look again on the way home.

Dinner at Forlino with Jeanette, Debbie, Susan and Rupert. A tremendous meal with some excellent wines and very good service from our waiter Frankie. We had lots of fun catching up, hard to believe it is nearly 7 years since we last saw Rupert yet it felt like it was last week.

We finished up as usual in a trendy bar - Kinki  - over-looking Marina Bay - interesting place and even more interesting people - I shared the lift with three young ladies who appeared to have taken a drink or two and were totally oblivious to my presence as they discussed - in detail - the physical attributes of one of their male friends. Slightly later to bed but still standing up.

Then - just to finish up - a champagne brunch with free flow Veuve Cliquot followed by an afternoon by the pool at the W hotel on Sentosa before we headed home to watch the Sunday Premier League games.

The high life

Our arrival at Singapore was just as stress-free as our departure from Shannon - 25 minutes from landing to getting into a taxi on the way to meet Jinty and Debs.

Transiting Heathrow and departing from terminal 5 - for the first time - was a slightly different experience. More like a giant shopping mall than an airport terminal - luckily the BA lounge and a glass of champagne provided sufficient distraction.

No problems on the flight - except that the stewardess on Linda's side - a Scot, naturally - poured larger measures that the Singaporean on my side. Slightly odd facing backwards for take-off and landing - but still managed to sleep for most of the flight.

Our plan for a quiet night in - to recover from the journey - ended up in Holland Village for a few beers and a great meal in IndoChine followed by a nightcap or two. No problem getting to sleep.

Leisurely start to day one - made it to the Crossroads bar at Scotts Road - where we met for our first date - by midday and then strolled along Orchard Road to the Chatterbox at the Mandarin for Chicken Rice. Food was as good as I remember but the building has been completely redeveloped - not quite the same!

After a quick look around the shops we decided to head home for a siesta and a swim to prepare for Friday night on Boat Quay.

There's nothing like a deadline!

There are a number of pre-holiday tasks that can only be done in the days or hours before you leave – my particular favourite was always to start packing as the taxi arrived for the trip to the airport – a definite adrenalin rush!

However, there are a couple of tasks which we discussed last year while we were in South Africa which had still not made it to the top of the list. Suddenly, at about 9.00pm yesterday – less than 18 hours before we leave – and 10 months since we got home from the last trip – we realised that the our plan to make some changes our wills was still outstanding.

Still, we managed to get it all sorted before we left and even found some friendly neighbours to witness the changes. Hope to catch up on my sleep on the 13 hour flight to Singapore tonight.

Linda was berating me for leaving everything to the last minute but we were still ready and waiting 10 minutes before the taxi arrived.

The journey to Shannon with June – our local taxi driver – is always amusing and informative – she manages to drive and talk non-stop for 45 minutes.. Over the last few years, we have learned more about her life and family than is really necessary and today was no exception. From her opinion of the local Garda – who appear to concentrate on harassing taxi drivers rather than tackling the aggressive youths outside the local pub – to her opinion of Italian food on her holy week trip to Rome – she ate biscuits for 4 days because she doesnt like pasta and will not eat cheese!

It is always a joy to travel from Shannon – 10 minutes from dropping off outside to sitting in the Bar with a pint of Guinness (and that includes the time to pour the pint!). We were invited to use the fast track through security but it seemed pointless since we were the only people there.

It's that time again

If its January, then its time to pack the laying hens and ducks off to their temporary homes, dust off the Samsonite and dig out the swimmers*.
Each year we try to reduce the amount of stuff that we take on our trip - reckon that we could get away with hand baggage only this year if it wasn't for the security restrictions on liquids etc. It seems that Linda's lotions and unguents only come in industrial size packages which exceed the 100ml max allowance.
We depart from Shannon on Wednesday with a connection in London for Singapore (where it all began!) and a few nights with Jinty and Debs. Hope to catch up with Susan and Rupert while we are there and there are a few old favourites on the list:- Champagne brunch, Chilli Crabs, Hainanese Chicken Rice, the Botanic Gardens and perhaps a bottle or two of Anchor beer.
From there we head on to Fremantle and a joint Burn's Night / Australia Day celebration with Kirsty followed by a little gentle sightseeing, a winery or two on Margaret River and some great white shark dodging on the WA beaches.
Then we head north for a couple of weeks island-hopping on the Andaman Sea coast of Thailand - snorkelling, kayaking and laying in the shade with a cool Singha beer.
So - watch this space - while we hope that the journey will be peaceful and uneventful, there are bound to be some stories to tell!!

* swimmers - as usual ( it happens every year) I dug out my speedos and tried to hide them in the bag - but Linda's eagle eye spotted them and substituted the surf shorts instead - probably for the best - would be embarrassing to be arrested for indecent exposure.