Everyone arrived at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in time for the 8.10 ferry although we had thought we were catching a 9.10 ferry. A Public Holiday in Singapore meant a slightly different timetable! After a much smoother crossing than last time we I met the first hiccup to the weekend...villa not available until 3...and this at about 9am. We retired to the coffee lounge for a reviver then headed to the resort pool to cool down. Michael was able to prove that he has not lost the ability to fall asleep anywhere, anytime.
We were finally able to get in to our villa around 12. Everyone seemed to be pretty happy with it and after a light lunch it was in to our own private pool for a bit more splashing about. Outside the kitchen window we were able to see the results of the labours of a sunbird. Before dinner some us went for a stroll around one of the 2 magnificent golf courses to work up an appetite and we managed a bit of bird spotting as well.
The BBQ dinner to celebrate my birthday was amazing. It was cooked at our villa by a resort staff member and there was enough food to cover lunch on Tuesday as well, all at a very reasonable cost. My Singapore "family" gave me another pair of binoculars as a gift...this pair have a zoom function so they are great for looking at the tree opposite Rio Vista from the living room. My first pair will be used when I go walking and this pair will be more for less active birding.
We were introduced to a new bird species, the Ornum bird which has quite colourful breeding plumage and and a very distinctive mating call!
Some of the girls had teed up a surprise with Michael and we all know how he loves to dress up...I wonder where Duncan gets it from. It was a complete surprise to me...and most of the other guests as well.
After a slow start on Tuesday morning we welcomed Peter to the fray. Due to other commitments he was only able to join us for the day on Tuesday. He introduced the gathered throng to a few new items that HMmmm stood for finishing up with what I thought was a very appropriate "Her Majesty". The afternoon called for a bit more splashing about in the pool before another walk, with birds, around the second of the golf courses. The evening was topped off by the rising full moon.
After an uneventful return crossing, Wednesday seemed like quite a long day before I crawled in to bed.
We had lunch with Robert and Maria at Marche on Thursday to quietly celebrate Maria's upcoming birthday. Peter had decided that he would like to share a special whisky with Michael while he was here so after work on Thursday night we had dinner at the Smith's local before adjourning to their place for a nightcap or two. Consequently not much happened on Friday before noon.
After such an indulgent few days we felt we should take a walk to clear the cobwebs. We did a short walk from home along the Park connector and through Punggol Park. On the way back home we passed the recently opened HDB towers and found an interesting historical panel about the area. It would also appear that we will have another lot of food stalls to try close to home soon.
It was a quiet night at home on Friday night so Michael didn't end up with DVT again. After work on Saturday night we had a quick hawkers meal in Hougang before he headed to the airport for the journey home.
Some of the girls had teed up a surprise with Michael and we all know how he loves to dress up...I wonder where Duncan gets it from. It was a complete surprise to me...and most of the other guests as well.
After a slow start on Tuesday morning we welcomed Peter to the fray. Due to other commitments he was only able to join us for the day on Tuesday. He introduced the gathered throng to a few new items that HMmmm stood for finishing up with what I thought was a very appropriate "Her Majesty". The afternoon called for a bit more splashing about in the pool before another walk, with birds, around the second of the golf courses. The evening was topped off by the rising full moon.
After an uneventful return crossing, Wednesday seemed like quite a long day before I crawled in to bed.
It was a quiet night at home on Friday night so Michael didn't end up with DVT again. After work on Saturday night we had a quick hawkers meal in Hougang before he headed to the airport for the journey home.
