Time flies, I think quicker when you don’t have seasons to differentiate one month from another.
It’s been a busy half year or so, and so I’ve completely neglected this blog. But now, having completed my MBA (woo hoo, weekends back!), moved house (and unpacked!), not having left Singapore for a couple of weeks and being a bit bored in the office, I’ve made the decision to resurrect it.
To catch up, here are my top 5 highlights of the last few months*:
1) Visits home. I was lucky enough to go back at Christmas, and with work in March, and on both occasions I ate as many pub meals as I could squeeze in, and caught up with nearly everyone I wanted to see. It was brilliant meeting babies Aliki and Martha, and getting comfortable in my room in Marion and Grant’s new flat. Sadly, I’m not yet sure when I’ll be back next, but hopefully it will be in the first half of 2015.
2) Visitors. Even better than flying half way round the world to see people, is when people make the journey out to see you! Mum came over in February, Hannah in April and Michelle and Aliki in May. While there are few things more annoying than being stuck at work while my favourite people are by the pool or exploring the sights, it was great introducing old friends to new ones (now I have some!), having an excuse to eat chilli crab, and go out every night!
3) Holidays. Another benefit of visitors is that they usually want to go somewhere else as well as Singapore. I’ve been doing my best to eke out my rather meager allowance of 18 days a year, and have managed to fit in Ubud with Mum, the Gilli’s with Han, and Railay with Michelle. On top of that Andy and I have enjoyed wonderful weekends in Tokyo and Langkawi (possibly my two favourite places in the world) and a whole week in Thailand!
4) Feeling at home. One of the benefits of moving to a flat that is slightly larger than a shoe box with an oven, microwave, toaster and everything, is that I have started rediscovering my recipe books (I even made chocolate brownies last weekend). It’s probably also an affect of having someone to share meals with, but Singapore is really starting to feel more like home now that we’re cooking more often than eating out, and enjoying nights in watching Happy Valley and The Honourable Woman!
5) Doing more new stuff. One of the things I love most about Singapore is how easy it is to try new things, and how many new things there are to try. I’ve loved having a go at paddleboarding, attempting to play tennis, and relearning Spanish. And next weekend we’re signed up for a keelboat sailing course!
* if all this sounds a bit too smug, there have been some low points too. Mostly involving jetlag, insomnia, homesickness, saying goodbye to good friends, and having to work 50 hour+ weeks. Still on balance, life is good and I feel very fortunate!